Category: News

Atiku spoke when he and his running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, appeared on “The Peoples Town Hall”, organised by Channels Television.

The former vice president was responding to a tweet read on the programme querying the sense in taking down a post on Twitter initially condemning the murder in May.

Atiku said he condemned the murder because it was against the tenets of Islam for anybody to take someone’s life without following due process.

He said, “I have said that I asked that the tweet be deleted because I normally approve every tweet. So, since I didn’t approve it, I said delete it.

“If you read my subsequent statements on that matter, I condemned it. There is nowhere, where it is said or it is an injunction in the Islamic faith that you can go and take somebody’s life. Nowhere! It has to be through due process.”

Samuel, a Year Two student of the school located in Sokoto was murdered and burnt by some irate young Muslim students for allegedly blaspheming against their faith in a post on her class’ WhatsApp group.

However, in a post on twitter, Atiku had initially condemned the incident and called for the arrest of those behind the dastardly act, declaring that all those behind the killing must be brought to book.

“There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends,” he had written.

But the post was taken down afterwards, to the surprise of many Nigerians. But Atiku explained then that he did not sign off on the tweet before it was posted, as he usually did.

Atiku relayed his plan to rescue the country if elected in the 2023 general election, promising to undertake critical decisions to tackle insecurity and revamp the dwindling economy.

He vowed to ensure accountability in the spending of the controversial security votes handed down to chief executives at the federal and state levels monthly, but noted that he won’t scrap the practice.

The PDP candidate expressed the hope that by devolving power to the sub-nationals, the agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be greatly reduced while strategic negotiations will be embarked upon with those open to talking with government.

He also pledged to end the current multiple exchange rates, remove petrol subsidy and channel the funds to areas of infrastructure where they were desperately needed.

He, again, highlighted the combined “experience” of the PDP team, insisting that the best hands to manage Nigeria given its current precarious state, is the Atiku/Okowa ticket.

Describing Nigeria’s poverty rate as the worst in the world, Atiku stated that unemployment and illiteracy had become critical problems, which only people with a record of performance like him could resolve.

On IPOB, Atiku said,  “The IPOB issue, as far as I am concerned, is a fight for the realisation of Biafra. Is it possible for Biafra to be realised today? How will it be achieved? Is it by negotiations or do we need another civil war, which we can’t afford?

“So, I believe we will negotiate with the agitators from the South-east as far as the issue of IPOB is concerned. We believe that what they need is more autonomy as far as their sovereignty is concerned and that’s why we propose the restructuring of the country, which will mean devolution of more powers to the federating units.

“After all, there was Eastern Nigeria in the First Republic and they developed at their own pace and with their own resources, so I see no reason why a middle of the road solution should not solve the agitations.”

He stressed that there was the political part of the agitation, but said that there was no way a part of the country could secure political power without friendship across the Niger.

Atiku also stated that security votes had always existed even before independence, maintaining that he will ensure that it is properly disbursed and well spent.

He stated, “The problem is allowing the federal government, states and local governments to expend the security votes as they like. It has been abused and there’s no doubt about that and we cannot close our eyes to that. Just like you are called to account for your budget, you should be called to account for security vote.”

Atiku said if elected president next year, his government would adopt the Dubai policing strategy, stating that it is rare to see policemen in uniform or soldiers in the streets of that country, yet there is constant monitoring of what is happening all around, with the deployment of technology.

“From the moment you step into the country, you are being monitored,” he noted, adding that the most immediate requirement to curb the crimes in the country is to reform the structure of policing in the country and then work towards the use of technology.

Okowa, in his contribution, stated that politicians as well as civil servants must be on the same page with the security agencies who must have a seamless relationship, rather than what currently obtained. “We must also begin to think about how to get Nigerians gainfully employed,” he stressed.

On the possible return of militancy in the Niger Delta, Okowa stated that the restiveness in the past was because of government neglect, but noted that the Atiku/Okowa government will carry everyone in the region along.

On the economy, Atiku stated that the sale of state assets and removal of fuel subsidy would save as much as $10 billion for government, which will be deployed in revamping small and medium scale businesses. He noted that he would work closely with the National Assembly on the matter.

Atiku stated that he would not scrap the so-called pro-poor programmes of the current administration, including tradermoni and others, but said that they will be institutionalised to remove some of the current problems bedevilling the programmes.

He promised to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop multiple exchange rates and incentivise foreign investors to bring in foreign exchange into the country.

Atiku described the current multiple exchange rate as corruption-ridden, explaining that the central bank will deploy all the tools available to it to, at least, bring the rates to dual instead of multiple rates.

“We will remove subsidy and establish palliatives and whether we like it or not, by June next year, by law, subsidy will have to stop,” he said on the rising cost of petrol subsidy.

Okowa also said monies recovered from subsidy removal would be deployed to revamping education, health, road infrastructure, among others, describing the current budget as abnormal.

On the lingering disagreement with the governor of Rivers state, Mr. Nyesom Wike, Atiku stated that he had met Wike five times in person in the last few months, stressing that the problem is not from him, but from the Wike team.

“I have met with Wike two times in Port Harcourt, two times in Abuja and one time in London, personally,” he stated.

Atiku also promised to revamp the creative industry by ensuring that government invested in the sector, which he described as one of the biggest employers of labour, aside agriculture.

(Arise News)

In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel led by Justice Kudirat Ekekere-Ekun dismissed an appeal that was filed by an aggrieved aspirant for the senatorial seat, Princess Ann Agom-Eze.

The panel held that the appeal lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.

Agom-Eze had approached the court to set aside the concurrent judgements of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld the outcome of the primary election that produced Governor Umahi.

Mrs Agom-eze had emerged second in the initial senatorial primary the APC held on May 28, which was won by Austin Umahi, the younger brother of Governor Umahi.

However, after Governor Umahi failed in his bid to clinch the presidential ticket of the APC, his younger brother was said to have voluntarily relinquished the senatorial ticket to him.

Not satisfied with the process, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it would not recognize his candidacy.

Following a suit that was filed by Mrs Agom-Eze, a Federal High Court sitting at Abakaliki nullified Governor Umahi’s candidacy and ordered that a fresh primary election should be conducted within two weeks.

Owing to the court judgement, APC conducted a second primary election on July 31, which was won by Governor Umahi.

The appellant, who was dissatisfied with the decision of the party to conduct the new primary election, went to court to secure a restraining order.

The suit was dismissed by both the High Court and the appellate court which held that it found no reason to invalidate the outcome of the second primary election.

In its judgement on Friday, the Supreme Court also upheld the primary election and affirmed governor Umahi’s candidacy.

(Channels TV)

It also dissolved the party’s Ogun State Executive Committee effective immediately.

The decision was part of far reaching decisions taken during the NWC meeting holding in Abuja, on Friday.

Arabambi had written a petition alleging mismanagement of the party’s fund’s by the National Chairman, Julius Abure.

Reading the communique after the NWC meeting, the party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim said: “The NWC held its meeting today 9th December 2022. The following resolution was adopted.

“The Ag. National publicity secretory was relieved of his Ag. Appointment by the NWC.

“Disciplinary Committee has been constituted to investigate his anti-party activities as a member of the party.

“The Ogun State chairman and the Exco have been Suspended. A care taker should be appointed to take charge of the party’s activities in the state pending the recommendation of the Disciplinary committee set up to investigate their anti- Party activities.

“The NWC has unanimously passed a vote of Confidence on the leadership the National chairman Barr.  Julius Abure.”

…details later

DSS Spokesman, Peter Afunanya, on Thursday, stated that failure to make Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) available to Nigerians would prompt the services to activate its operations across the country.

However, Falana who made a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday described the ultimatum as an empty threat.

He stressed that the NNPC had the responsibility of supplying petroleum products to all parts of Nigeria, adding that if the organisation failed to carry out its duty, the Federal Government was obliged to call the officials to order and possibly relieve them of their responsibilities.

“(As) you know, every year, at the end of the year – once it is Christmas – there must be artificial supply of fuel,” he said. “The ultimatum will not work because there is no sanction for impunity in Nigeria.

“The State Security Service (SSS) does not operate under the law in Nigeria. It does its own thing. There is nobody to call the agency to order. They will know that it’s just an empty threat because nobody is going to be arrested and prosecuted to teach a lesson.

“The other day, toxic fuel was brought to Nigeria. The government promised, ‘We’re going to deal with them, it will never happen again.’ Was anybody arrested? Was anybody prosecuted? It’s the same thing because they know the people behind it. It’s like oil theft. They know them.”

Falana acknowledged the security concerns of the secret service, attributing the threat to economic sabotage. According to him, the continued presence of long queues at filling stations could lead to “serious security problems.”

Citing the constitution, the senior lawyer noted that the police was saddled with the responsibility of maintaining internal security in the country.

In the event that the police cannot maintain adequate internal security, Falana said the president is empowered to call in the military.

“So, this agency is a secret agency required to submit reports: ‘We fear that there will be a threat to the security in Nigeria.’ And the president will then take appropriate action. We must run this country in line with the provisions of the law.

“That (enactment establishing the DSS) is a decree made by the military. But now, we have the constitution. Section 215 has imposed a duty on the police to maintain the internal security of the country.

“But what the SSS –  not DSS; it is not a department of state security. It is not a department of the Presidency. It’s the State Security Service for all of us. That body is required to submit reports to the government: ‘This problem may lead to insecurity. What can we do very quickly?’ The internal security of our country is the role of the police,” he said.

Scarcity Amid Sufficiency 

Announcing the 48-hour ultimatum on Thursday, the DSS stated that the challenge of fuel scarcity had assumed a dimension that was detrimental to the security of the country.

Afunanya, who spoke at the headquarters of the secret police in Abuja after over three hours closed-door meeting with stakeholders in the petroleum sector, confirmed the availability of PMS during and after the Yuletide season.

For weeks, vehicle owners especially in Lagos and Abuja have had a tough time getting petrol from filling stations. Whilst many outlets are closed, the few ones that are open sell the indispensable commodity for as high as N250 per litre from the uniform price of N169/litre.

The shortage of supply has led to long, grueling snake-like queues at the few open filling stations as motorists and business owners jostle to buy fuel while others resort to black market. The situation has also worsened traffic on major roads as vehicle owners block at least one lane to join queues to filling stations.

(Channels TV)