A civic organisation, The Inclusion Project (TIP) has congratulated Nigerian workers in both the private and public organisations while urging the Nigerian government and private employers to end all forms of discrimination in workplaces.
The TIP in a statement on Sunday obtained by SaharaReporters listed some forms of exclusion and discrimination including; the “prevalence of gender discrimination and exclusion in the workplace despite Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which specifically provides that a citizen of Nigeria shall not be subjected to any disabilities or restriction, expressly or in the application of any law or any executive or administrative action of the government just because he/she is such a person or be subjected to disabilities or restriction due to their place of origin, sex, religion or political opinions.”

The statement signed by the programme officer, Eniola Tikare, reads further, “Sadly, our Labour Act is rife with discriminatory provisions such as Section 55, which prohibits female nurses from undertaking night work or private industrial undertaking or any agricultural undertaking, and Section56, which further prevents women from being employed in an underground mine except for those employed in management, health and service training.
“Therefore, TIP calls on the National Assembly to amend the Labour Act and remove these discriminatory provisions in the Act. We also call on the federal, and state governments to immediately implement the removal of salary and promotion dichotomy in our tertiary institutions amongst holders of High National Diploma degrees and other University degrees as the same violates the provisions of Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“TIP further calls on all tiers of Government in Nigeria and the private sector to remove all forms of employment policies that exclude some classes of individuals in the country, especially persons with special needs, pregnant and nursing mothers, and beckons on the Nigeria Government to implement the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act specifically Section 29 which mandates public institutions to reserve at least five per cent of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.”

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The Christian Association of Nigeria has commended the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Muslim faithful in the country as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitri.
CAN urged them to continue to abide by the teaching and the principles of Ramadan in their daily activities, as exemplified by the prophet of Islam during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The apex Christian body also described as pseudo-Muslims, those who fight and kill in the name of religion, stressing that they are largely responsible for the unending killings and abductions in the country.
This was disclosed on Sunday in a statement titled, ‘Eid-el-Fitri: CAN Felicitates With Sultan, Muslim at Sallah,’ signed by the National General Secretary, Daramola Bade Joseph. Esq.
He said, “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) rejoices with Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the entire Muslims as they celebrate this year Eid-el-Fitr.
“CAN congratulates our Muslims, brothers, and sisters at the end of the Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month during which Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset. 
“Since the month, among other things, aims to purify the soul and bring the individual closer to God, we urge you all to abide by the teaching and the principles of Ramadan in your daily activities.
“We know that It is these pseudo-Muslims who are slaughtering fellow human beings and who burn down worship and market places, all in the name of God who is peace personified. We are praying for their repentance. 
“The CAN leadership will not cease having dialogues on peace and unity with the leadership of NSCIA at the forum provided for us by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
“In the same vein, we call on the Federal government to reconsider the de-radicalising and rehabilitating of the arrested and the surrendered terrorists simply because it seems the programme considered laudable is becoming counterproductive."

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The Edo State Police Command says it gunned down five suspected kidnappers in a shootout on Saturday in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
The daredevil assailants were reportedly on a mission to abduct an expatriate at Okomu Oil Palm Plantation, police spokesman in the state, Bello Kotongs, said.

Kotongs said the police deployed to the location after receiving information that kidnappers had perfected plans to abduct an expatriate at the plantation.
He said the kidnappers opened fire on the police team on getting to the location, forcing them to return the fire.
“In the ensuing gun battle, the operatives neutralised five of the suspected kidnappers while others escaped with gunshot injuries,” the spokesman said.
Kontongs added that an operation to fish out the fleeing kidnappers was ongoing. 
According to him, the items recovered after the standoff include an AK-47, one single-barrelled cut-to-size gun, one long-barrelled gun and eight live cartridges.

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Mr Joe Anatune, a strong ally of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, is dead.
Anatune, who managed the media campaign of Soludo in the buildup to the state governorship election, died 11 days after he was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency.

Anatune died on Saturday at the age of 62.
In a statement signed by Mr Christian Aburime, Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, but issued on behalf of the governor on Sunday, Soludo expressed shock and disbelief over the incident.
“Joe Anatune was one of the foremost Apostles of the Soludo project with uncommon strength and courage to deliver on any given assignment.
“He stated further that Joe’s personal sacrifices during his electioneering campaign were not only exceptional but highly commendable.
“He spearheaded the Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF) and for two years used the platform to engage the professionals in mainstream politics. The government and the good people of Anambra State will sorely miss Joe Anatune,” the statement read.
It said Soludo has since commiserated with Anatune’s wife, children, the Anatune family and Awa community over the sudden loss.

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Six aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State ahead of the 2023 elections have been screened, the party said on Sunday.
Jimi Agbaje, the party’s candidate in the last two consecutive elections, was however not named among those screened by the party, according to the party's spokesman, Hakeem Amode.

It is not immediately clear whether Agbaje purchased PDP nomination forms, though there had been talks about him eyeing the party’s ticket for the third time in a row, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Amode said that the chapter had screened aspirants for the Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly on Wednesday.
He commended the party’s screening committee and aspirants for the exercise he described as successful.
PDP will conduct a national convention to nominate its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections on May 28 and 29.
It also fixed May 21 for its governorship primary elections to pick its candidates.
Primary elections for the nomination of House of Representatives and Senate candidates will hold on May 12 and 14 respectively, while the congresses to nominate candidates for House of Assembly will hold on May 7.
 

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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye says the current outbreak of COVID-19 across the world will only subside but will not be ‘completely eradicated’.
Adeboye disclosed this on Sunday at the National Headquarters of the church in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State while delivering a sermon titled, ‘Supernatural Elevation’.

The octogenarian preacher, who said he had just returned from a ministration in Europe, observed that residents had shunned the use of facemasks.
He lamented the increase of persons who took delight in staying away from church with coronavirus as an excuse, saying that he had prophesied that it would subside and not go away.
“I just returned from our European convention, I’m not sure I saw up to two people wearing masks. I read in the newspaper that 200,000 people died from malaria; coronavirus is less than 200,000. Which one is more deadly, is it ‘Coro’ or malaria?
“Any young person staying away from church is disobeying God. Anyone older than I, is old and anyone younger than I, is young. If you want to wear a facemask, fine. God told me coronavirus will subside but it will not go away. Safety is of the lord, stop fearing the devil,” Adeboye said. 

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The umbrella body of self-determination groups in Nigeria, the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS), said on Sunday that the longer Nigeria retains the fraudulent 1999 Constitution, the more the killings, kidnappings and miseries the people are suffering will continue.
NINAS noted that the constitution rendered the “indigenous peoples defenceless to face armed Fulani invaders.”

The NINAS statement was titled, “NINAS Redirection To Afe Babalola’s Interim Government Proposition: The Devil In The Detail.”
The legal luminary, Babalola had called for a cancellation of the 2023 general elections and the installation of a national interim government till all the constitutional issues facing the country were resolved.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, NINAS said, “The fact that Elder Afe Babalola, SAN, recently promoted several of the five propositions of NINAS for solving Nigeria’s constitutional entanglement is most welcome, (and giving a little credit to NINAS would have been welcome too!). Nevertheless, Chief Babalola adds some suggestions to his proposal that would not resolve the long-lingering Union Dispute, so NINAS hereby provides clarification.
“We say to all Nigerians, the longer we linger under the fraudulent 1999 Constitution that renders indigenous peoples defenceless to face armed Fulani invaders, is the longer we prolong our miseries, our suffering, and needless kidnappings and killings. Since 16th December 2020 when NINAS Declared a Constitutional Force Majeure, clear Propositions have been placed on the table for all to see and read. This is a painstaking work of some 22 years, so there is no need (and no advantage or comfort provided for those facing the Fulani onslaught and urgently wanting relief) in trying to re-invent the wheel.
“Moreover, integrity and honesty dictate that given the clear potency of the entire NINAS Orderly Process, rather than appropriating bits and pieces from it, those in the public eye should use their influence to point their audience and followers straight to the NINAS Strategy. This is a matter of life and death. The increasing insecurity and terrorism can be contained and stopped, and the NINAS Propositions are the non-violent way to get it done.”

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Muhammadu Buhari

The Equity and Justice Forum, a group under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Aso Rock cabal of planning to retain power in the North come 2023 presidential election.
The cabal comprising some members of Buhari’s extended family and friends are the powers behind the throne. 

Muhammadu Buhari
This group is said to have the ear of the President, influence policy-making and determine those who get major appointments.
James Olakunle, Coordinator of the group said the North has had its turn of eight years at the presidency and should support power to shift to the Southern region for equity and justice.
Olakunle asked President Buhari to ignore the cabal and support a presidential candidate from Southern Nigeria in line with the idea of a rotational presidency between the North and the South.
The statement read, “We wish to draw the attention of the nation to ongoing underhand schemings by Buhari and the people around him (Aso Rock cabal) to retain power in the North come the 2023 presidential election. When we say the North, we mean the imposition of another Fulani oligarch candidate on the nation. Apart from the country having had enough of their misrule, it is only fair and equitable that power shifts to the south at this time, if we are interested in building a unified and resilient nation.
“The Northern Political Oligarchs have had their turn of eight years at the presidency, and it is time for power to shift to the South. Some people, who are being clever by half, may argue that this is 'undemocratic' but in the Nigerian context, this is the only way to ensure equity and give all the parts of Nigeria a sense of belonging. Some of the opponents of power shift today were the most strident critics of Jonathan in 2011 and 2015, and their hobby horse was that power must shift to the North in order to complete the tenure of the late Musa Yar'Adua.  
“It is a mark of the high level of dishonesty amongst the Northern Fulani politicians that today many of them are lining up to contest for the same presidency after eight years of Buhari's regime. We believe that Buhari himself is a party to this scheme to retain power in the North. What is obvious is that the Northern political oligarchy is not restricted by party affiliations in their bid to retain power; which means that if they cannot get what they want in APC, they will swing to PDP in order to get it. If you doubt this, please reflect on the import of the recent secretive consultations between Buhari and Tambuwal, a declared presidential candidate of the opposition party, PDP. 
"We are sounding this warning because any arrangement to foist another Northerner on this nation will not augur well for the country.
“These are the attitudes and actions that have propelled the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB and Sunday Igboho of the Odua nation. These schemes by the northern political oligarchy under the clandestine support of Buhari justify the agitations of IPOB, Odua nation, and other proponents of separation because no self-respecting person or people will agree to remain under the perpetual subjugation of another man.
“Our forefathers refused to live under the continual rule of the British during the colonial era, they struggled and attained independence for the nation. It should be noted that the struggle for independence was mostly championed by Southerners led by Herbert Macaulay, Azikiwe, Awolowo, Mbonu Ojike, Enahoro, etc. 
"We think wisdom should tell the Northern Fulani power block that it will not be possible to enslave a people as educated and dynamic as the people of Southern Nigeria. More so, when the Fulani oligarchs have demonstrated an appalling lack of capacity to govern, with Buhari's regime being the epitome of this incompetence.
“Buhari and his cohorts should realise that it is easy to begin a crisis but nobody can predict the geography and ramifications of such a crisis once it starts. In other words, they can scheme all they want and they may even go-ahead to impose their likes on this nation but after that, the repercussions will be out of their control. Today, Russia with all its military might is still struggling against little Ukraine. Therefore, let Buhari and his Fulani fundamentalist advisers not think that they can ride roughshod over the interests of Southern Nigeria. That self-deceit may lead to the end of this contraption called Nigeria.
“The solutions are simple: First, there must be a power shift to the south come 2023. Secondly, there must be a review of the basis of the Nigerian nation-state; by this we mean restructuring. Nigeria must be a federation not just in name but indeed. Each federating unit must have a level of autonomy over its resources and security. Today Nigeria is embroiled with intractable security challenges championed by the terrorists and so-called bandits holding sway over large swathes of the north and some parts of the South. 
“The Buhari administration has failed woefully in resolving these challenges, perhaps because these terrorists and Fulani bandits were allegedly imported by Buhari, El-Rufai and others in order to make the country ungovernable should Jonathan win the 2015 election. However, the genie has since left the bottle and they can no longer control their terrorist foot soldiers. These bandits are running wild and have perfected the act of wholesale kidnappings and brigandage. Today one of the biggest risks in Nigeria is to travel by road, by rail, and even by air. Nothing serious is being done to wipe out these terrorists and their sponsors; all we see are knee-jerk reactions to deceive the gullible. 
“But when it comes to agitators for equity and justice in the south, the full power of the military and all security apparatus are unleashed on them. The Nigerian government can pursue Nnamdi Kanu to Kenya and go after Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic but they cannot arrest the leaders of Fulani bandits and terrorists, who are running very large camps and settlements in Nigeria; where innocent Nigerians are kidnapped and held for ransom, tortured and slaughtered. In fact, these bandits have become untouchables with officials of government, such as El-Rufai making excuses for them by describing them as 'businessmen'. 
“In calling for power shift to the South, we are not ignoring the fact that it is high time for the South-Eastern part of Nigeria to produce a president of this nation, given the long history of marginalisation and political emasculation that they have suffered since the end of the civil war in 1970. It is their right to produce the president and indeed they boast many capable hands who can change the fortunes of this nation for the better if allowed to govern. 
“However, at this time the entire South will have to unite and fight for power to shift to the South. If the South fails to unite for this, then they will be playing into the hands of the North who are scheming to retain power, not for the development and advancement of the country but in order to satisfy their selfish pecuniary interests and hold back the advancement of Southern Nigeria. We subscribe fully to the recent statement by the Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo that the North is not ready to yield power to the South. Every self-respecting Southerner should listen to that statement because the Chief has said it all. 
“It is left for Southerners to take their fate in their hands in order to ensure that we and our future generations do not live in perpetual servitude to the repressive and brutal Fulanis.” 

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Seyi Makinde

Some aggrieved local government lawmakers in Oyo State have accused the state governor, Seyi Makinde of lying that they are receiving N300,000 as monthly salary while he only pays them N120,000.

 

The councillors also said they had not been paid their constituency allowances to cater for their people at the grassroots level.

Seyi Makinde

SaharaReporters learnt that the allegations were made by the lawmakers on their WhatsApp group with about 360 members.

 

A lawmaker representing ward 9 in the Surulere Local Government Area of the state, who simply identified himself as Omikunle, said the governor refused to pay them their entitlements and had at a time said there was enough money in the coffers of the local government areas in the state.

 

He said, "Hon. Kayode, let's be very sincere with ourselves, we don't know how the governor is running the affairs of governance in the state, especially at the local government level. Let me say the truth, I was a smuggler and I had customers in all the states of the southwest states. 

 

"If not that the federal government shut the borders, I wouldn't have contested for councillorship in the state. The money we have collected in a whole year since we were elected, I can get it in two trips. I have friends in all the southwest local government legislative arms. I used to ask about their welfare in their respective state and they all blame Seyi Makinde for the way he treats us.

 

"Why is local government administration now bad in Oyo state? Our colleagues in other states used to tell us that people said Seyi was rich even before he became governor. Some of us said the last administration embezzled money. Which money did they embezzle? Have you forgotten when we were fighting on the issue of ALGON, Makinde said it openly that the outgone local government executives were after the money in the council. 

 

"He further said he would not give them the money. I was the secretary to the local government chairman and the governor told us at that time that we were becoming rich soon. He said we would be the ones to spend the money. That was a year ago and where is the money today? I know at least four councillors in Osun state. Their salary is N250,000 and after that, they are receiving N100,000 imprest monthly. Oyetola also gave them N250,000 for their people in each ward. He has also given them N170,000 for the Sallah celebration now. 

 

"Today, a year after, we remain councillor-elect. We purchased the form at N350,000 and while that of the House of Assembly was N600,000. Please, compare the kind of life we are living to that of state honourable. All the councillors in the state have been ridiculed. 

 

"We have been lying to our constituents since we got to the office. But we are happy that they are all aware that the governor is not doing well for us. They used to tell us that they are aware that the governor is not doing well for us. They used to tell us that since they voted for Seyi, they didn't see him again. They used to tell us that they knew that we didn't have money to eat let alone give them money. 

 

"We cannot campaign to anyone in our respective wards again. They are asking us to tell them what we have benefited from in the last four years. We have spent a year in office now, no allowance, no renovation of offices. We resume under the tree every day. We are not doing anything. No project to monitor. Is this a good life? 

 

"Even a local government caretaker in Osun State is better than an elected local government executive in Oyo. Since I have been doing politics since 1999, I have never seen this kind of government before. If I had known that this is what I would encounter, I wouldn't have contested."

 

 

 

 

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President Muhammadu Buhari has said the military operations in the South-East region have started yielding results and have led to the arrest of a large number of suspects.
Buhari on Sunday noted that the “disturbing rise in criminal attacks targeting law enforcement and public facilities in the South-East, concerted military operations” are on to “rid the region of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) elements.”

The President also spoke while sending his best wishes to Muslims in Nigeria and across the world celebrating the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan that ended.
Buhari, who said “The fight has been long and hard. Final victory is within sight. Boko Haram and its offshoots’ final embers are now fading,” adding that “After a period of fasting and reflection, this year, we have cause to welcome the occasion in hope.”
The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, further directed increased coordination and cooperation among security agencies.
Buhari assured there would be no shortage of funds to provide security for the citizens.
The President, who appraised the security situation across the country, said: “Last month, the leader of ISWAP was killed in an airstrike. Since the New Year, thousands of fighters have surrendered to enter rehabilitation programmes. The territories they used to occupy are now seeing the return of those who were forced to flee their barbarity. Normality is finally beginning to return to the Northeast. It is a long process. Yet it is one we are, together, now embarking upon.
“With the designation of bandit groups as terrorists, the challenges of banditry and kidnapping are being tackled differently in the North-western and North Central states where the latest military acquisitions and the Armed Forces are being fanned out across the region to thwart acts of terror.
“The administration is equally getting impressive reports of the special operations to curb crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the South-South, with millions of illegally refined products being impounded and illegal refineries destroyed.
“While we are making progress cleaning the environment, some evil people are busy causing more pollution and destruction. In response to the disturbing rise in criminal attacks targeting law enforcement and public facilities in the South-East, concerted military operations to rid the region of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) elements have, in recent weeks, led to the overrunning of IPOB/ESN bases, the seizure of weapons and the arrest of a large number of suspects.” 

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, has urged Nigerian soldiers to remain apolitical and professional in discharging their constitutional responsibilities during the electioneering.
Yahaya gave the charge in his goodwill message to troops on the occasion of the Eid-El-Fitri celebration, which was released by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in Abuja, NAN reports.

 
He said, “The best Sallah gift he expects from them is to eliminate as many bandits, kidnappers and terrorists as possible and recover as many weapons and ammunition from criminal elements.”
The COAS advised officers and soldiers to defend the nation’s democracy, and avoid being lured into politics. He also commended them for their sacrifices and commitment to the ongoing operations nationwide.
He urged them to leverage the holy season of Ramadan to reflect on the significance of loyalty, obedience and sacrifice.
Yahaya said the season provided a unique opportunity to re-examine and re-adjust efforts toward fulfilling their constitutional roles and justifying the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians.
He charged field commanders to redouble their efforts in ongoing operations and achieve results.
The COAS paid special tributes to officers and soldiers who paid the supreme price in defence of their fatherland and reiterated his commitment to the training and welfare of personnel, promising to improve medical facilities and services.
He said the treatment of personnel and their families, particularly those wounded in action, would continue to get support and special vocational training to help them cope with their new health status and overcome associated psychological trauma.
The COAS expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians for their unflinching support to the Nigerian Army in executing its constitutional mandate.
 
 

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A Nigerian senator, Stella Oduah and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State, Chief Chris Uba, have been fingered in the manipulation of the delegates' list of the party from the state in a clandestine attempt to insert their associates and cronies.
SaharaReporters learnt from witnesses that Uba, who was earlier in April 2022 suspended by the party leadership in Anambra and Oduah allegedly attempted to write results of Anambra PDP ad hoc delegates' lists in the 326 wards of the state.

The manipulation was reportedly carried out in Chief Uba’s Asokoro, Abuja residence – a plot which was foiled by some vigilant Anambra PDP stakeholders and members.
Oduah who had been in the All Progressives Congress has secretly returned to the PDP and kept her return unofficial in order not to incur the wrath of the ruling party, APC.
A witness said, “Today Sunday is a watershed in the history of PDP Anambra State and internal democracy in Nigeria, because of how over 2,000 stakeholders and members of the PDP sitting at the PDP secretariat at Awka foiled attempts to criminally and fraudulently write results of the three man ad hoc delegates in the 326 wards of Anambra State.
“It started when the National Secretariat of the party via the National Organising Secretary, Bature Usman, set up a 5-member panel handpicked by Chris Uba and Senator Stella Oduah, purely for the duo to go and write names in Abuja whereas the exercise ought to hold in 326 wards in Anambra State,” he explained.  
“The Chris Uba and Stella Oduah syndicate handpicked one Ahmed Jibrin as Chairman and Engr Ogbonna Victor Okorie as Secretary. The Chairman of the panel collected the original results sheets in Abuja yesterday (Saturday) and handed it over to Chris Uba and Stella Oduah, the entire results of the 326 wards in the state. He now flew to the east with the photocopies of the result sheets.
“When they arrived in Awka, Anambra State with other members of the panel, they decided to hide themselves in an undisclosed hotel. Party stakeholders and members waited patiently from Saturday morning till 6pm in their respective wards and also state party headquarters without seeing any of the members of the 5-man panel from the national headquarters of the party.
“The same fate befell the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials whose staff went to 326 wards in the state to monitor the exercise, but none of the members that will conduct it showed up. It was on 6pm on Saturday that Ahmed Jibrin, Chairman of the panel put a call to Anambra State PDP administration secretary in Awka and security agencies that the exercise had been postponed to 11am; Sunday,1st of May 2022.
“As earlier as 10am on Sunday morning (today) over 2,000 members and stalwarts of Anambra PDP stormed the state headquarters and waited calmly and received the 5-man panel. It was in the course of argument and discussions on the modalities that the stalwarts demanded the original results for the conduct of the exercise in the 326 wards.
“The Chairman of the panel, Ahmed Jibrin, lied to the stalwarts that he left the original results in his hotel room and that he came only with the photocopies. He demanded to go to his hotel to collect the original copies, but the party stalwarts refused. He appealed for police and one of his aides to be allowed to go to bring them at his hotel, this request was granted. It was after the stalwarts waited for 2 hours that he confessed that Chris Uba and Senator Stella Oduah had collected the original result sheets in Abuja,” another source said.
“Stakeholders insisted that he must write it as a report before they will allow the members of the panel to go. This is the usual antics of Chris Uba and Stella Oduah, always trying to subvert the people's wish,” a victim lamented.
Recently, there were media reports that the crisis rocking the Anambra State chapter of the PDP had got messier after the faction loyal to Chief Chris Uba suspended the acting Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Okey Asolo.
Chairman of Ndubisi Nwobu-led faction of PDP, Mr Okey Asolo, had on April 2, 2022, suspended Chief Chris Uba and Chief Linus Ukachukwu from the PDP for anti-party activities.
In a communiqué after a recent meeting, Mr Alex Anah and Mr Chigbo Onyia, its chairman and secretary, said that Mr Okey Asolo had no ground to be the PDP state chairman.
According to the communique, Asolo had been suspended from his Ward (13) PDP, Onitsha North Local Government Area, of Anambra for violation of the party’s constitution.
The party said the suspension of Asolo was anchored on the provisions of Article 58 (1) and 59 (1) and (2) of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended.

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Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung,

A former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has lambasted the Nigerian government, describing its leadership as "a mad man holding matches at a filling station".
Dalung, in Yola, the Adamawa State capital on Sunday, urged Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying "it is our country's worst disaster".

Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, PREMIUM TIMES
He was on the entourage of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatudeen, who was in Yola to confer with the party's delegates ahead of the May 18 nomination.
Speaking in Hausa, the former minister expressed dismay at the state of the nation and called for a holistic action to chase the APC party out in 2023.
He said, "In 2015 we chased the PDP out and committed our collective destiny into the hands of those we now know were all along like a mad man holding matches at a filling station.
"The result is what we have today, Nigeria is no longer safe, Nigeria is now a nation of hungry people, Nigeria is now led by a leader who is not touched by the pains of the masses.
"We must avoid this type of mistake in 2023; yes, we should reject a leader whose decisions are laced with religious and ethnic considerations.
"As it is currently biting, the negative impact of their bad leadership is blind to tribe, section or religion. Whenever bandits come calling, they don't discriminate who to pick for ransom. This informs why we must chase them out in 2023."
Dalung, however, denied joining the PDP, saying, "I've left the APC but I have not joined the PDP. I'm here to support a candidate I believe has what is required to pull Nigeria through."
 

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Nigeria's former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is not fit to run for the country's President following a United States Congress report on corruption implicating him, Kassim Afegbua has said.
Afegbua is a former campaign spokesperson for Atiku. 
Afegbua, also a former spokesperson for a former Nigerian dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, in a press release, called on the Code of Conduct Bureau to open an inquiry into the US Congress report against Abubakar.

According to him, Abubakar and his estranged wife, Jennifer, should be serving jail terms, just like their American alleged accomplice, Senator Jefferson. Afegbua also urged the US to press extradition charges against Abubakar, so he could defend himself in a law court.
He said, "Rather than seek election under the umbrella of the PDP in 2023, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will do well to visit the United States of America to resolve his lingering corruption allegations which have led Senator Jefferson to jail. 
"The outcome of an investigation against him and his 'former' wife Jennifer revealed a lot of underhand transactions bordering on money laundering and other financial malfeasance. 
"The onerous thing to do was for him to visit the United States of America to answer to those weighty allegations which were the outcome of the comprehensive investigations carried out by the United States Congress. 
"In the 2019 presidential campaigns, we were inundated with several news reports, demanding that our party candidate should visit America. When the request became so compelling, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was reportedly granted a waiver by the United States Consular Office in Lagos to enable him to visit the United States with the then Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. 
"After that visit till date, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has not been able to visit America again ostensibly on the stretch of those weighty allegations which have not been dispensed with. The entire report of the US Congress copiously indicted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on issues concerning money laundering. 
"It will make judicious sense if the United States Government is able to treat this pending matter once and for all, by way of extraditing the former Vice President to answer those lingering queries on financial impropriety. 
"As an alumnus of the Les Aspin School of Government and Good Governance, Washington DC, who was exposed to the rudiments of anti-corruption studies in 2004 and sponsored by the United States Government, I feel patriotically disturbed that those who should be cooling off in jail, are still walking the streets as free men and even trying to run for the highest office in the land", he said.   

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The Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for a lady seen having sex with a dog in a viral TikTok video.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said posting bestial-natured videos online won’t be tolerated.

Adejobi also vowed that the police would apprehend the lady in the viral video.
In a statement to journalists on Sunday night, the FPRO said, “I really want us to take necessary action on these ladies that are involved in unnatural offences (including bestiality) and post same online. We want to urge you to give us any useful information on how to get these ladies. We need to fish them out please. Thanks.”
Commenting specifically on action of the lady setting the Internet ablaze, Adejobi said, “We will get her.”
A light-skinned lady in a trending video had earlier claimed she was paid a lump sum to sleep with the dog.
The video was said to be recorded in Nigeria but the exact location could not immediately be verified.
According to lawyers, the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act criminalise sleeping with an animal and that the act attracts up to 14 years imprisonment in Nigeria.
Months earlier, the leaked sex tape of singer Ikuforiji Abdulrahman, aka Oxlade, and another sex tape involving singer Tiwa Savage had gone viral with many condemning the salacious act. While those of the two singers were with intimate human partners, the latest video involved a young lady and a dog.
Many had also argued that the obscene display of nudes and the sharing of sex tapes on the Internet is capable of causing damage to public decency and national morality.

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The National Association of Nigerian Students on Sunday declared that no political party will hold a convention to select any presidential candidate in Abuja, the capital city. 


NANS President, Sunday Asefon, made this known in a statement made available to our correspondent.


The Peoples Democratic Party picked the Federal Capital Territory for its May Convention to select its presidential candidate among 15 aspirants from all over the country. The ruling All Progressives Congress is also reported to have considered Abuja for its presidential primary later this month.


However, NANS, in its statement, told the political parties to either end the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities since February 14, 2022 or forget about holding any presidential primary in the nation’s capital.


The apex students’ union body also expressed anger that those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the smooth running of the education sector including Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; have picked up the outrageous N100m presidential forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).


In the statement titled, ‘End ASUU Strike Or Forget Political Activities In Abuja’, the NANS president said, “We have also in the past weeks seen those saddled with great responsibility in the education sector and those saddled with responsibilities of resolving labour crises declaring interest to contest for the seat of the President come 2023.


“We are surprised by their effrontery and total disrespect to the Nigerian people for having the courage to even mute the idea of contesting talkless of picking up the 100 million naira presidential form while students languish at home because of their collective failures.


“Politicians have shown no concern for the plight of the students but are only busy with their selfish and inordinate ambitions to become the next President.


“Let me say without mincing words, the two major political parties should forget any political gathering in Abuja or elsewhere except there is a solution to the lingering ASUU strike.


“We will frustrate all the activities leading to the selection of party candidates if we remain on strike. We also want to advise the government and the politicians who are busy campaigning to be President to either resolve the ASUU crises or give direct orders to the security operative to shoot us at the site during party conventions to select a presidential candidate. If we remain on strike, they should just forget it.”


ASUU, on March 14, at the expiration of its four-week warning strike which it declared on Monday, February 14, had extended the industrial action by two months.


The union led by Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said it decided to extend the strike to give the Federal Government and its agencies enough time to meet the lingering demands of the union.


The union had embarked on a nine-month strike in 2020 before it was called off in December of that year.


 
 

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Lawyer for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor, has joined the debate about the eligibility of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, to run again for President in the 2023 general elections.
Ejimakor in an article on Sunday obtained by SaharaReporters, toed the path of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, while highlighting the reasons why Jonathan constitutionally could not run for the 2023 presidency.

His position is at variance with another senior lawyer on Kanu’s legal team, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who had argued days ago that Jonathan was eligible to run.
On Sunday, Ejimakor wrote, “If you insist that Goodluck Jonathan can run for President because the 4th Alteration Act cannot be retrospective, please read the black letters of the Alteration Act again. And read it together with its Explanatory Memorandum, which is reproduced, as follows:
“'Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No. 16 Act, 2017 Explanatory Memorandum): This Act alters the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to disqualify a person who was sworn in as President or Governor to complete the term of the elected President or Governor from being elected to the same office for more than a single term'.
“In reading the above Explanatory Memorandum, keep in mind that its wordings bear the best and only evidence of the legislative intendment of the Act, and be guided to focus on the copious use of the word: was (instead of is), which is also repeated in the pertinent provisions of the Act, to wit: “A person who was sworn-in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term”.
“Thus, in plain terms and without more, the plain language of the Act disqualifies Jonathan because he was sworn in to complete Yar’Adua’s term and was thereafter elected to the same office for a single term.
“In other words, having been elected, Jonathan shall not be elected as President for more than the single term he already enjoyed. That’s the plain meaning and intendment of the Act.
“To be clear, the retrospective (or retroactive) reach of the Act lies in the express use of the phrase: ‘was sworn in'. If the National Assembly intended the Act to be ‘prospective’, it would have instead resorted to using the phrase: ‘is sworn-in’.
“So, the repeated and emphatic use of the phrase ‘was sworn-in’ in both the Act and its Explanatory Memorandum demonstrated a clear legislative and constitutional intent to make the Act retrospective.
“The thesis that applying the Act to Jonathan would appear that he is personally targeted is a moral question, not a legal question.
“Plus, one can argue that Jonathan is, as it were, the very mischief the Act set out to cure. That is the mischief that lies in a Jonathan overshooting the eight years constitutional term limit if, perchance, he is elected to two terms after completing Yar’Adua’s unexpired term.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the retrospective tenor of the Act received judicial approval in the recent case of Toyin v. PDP where the Supreme Court held the 4th Alteration Act to be retrospective, not prospective.
“In this very case, the apex Court retrospectively applied the sister provisions of the Act to a 2015 pre-election matter which was filed and pending long before the Act was enacted.
“In view of the foregoing, Jonathan’s candidacy would be burdened by a helluva of nasty legal challenges that would significantly diminish his electability and mar his legacy.”
 

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Sheikh Musa Lukwa, the Islamic cleric who led his followers to observe Eid Prayers on Sunday, has defended his action.
Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, who is the head of all Muslims in Nigeria, had declared Monday as Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Sultan had announced that the new moon of Shawwal, 1443AH, was not sighted on Saturday, but Sheik Luka said the Sultan’s position was not correct.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Lukwa said, “A lecturer at the Usman Danfodiyo University, Dr. Maigari, also confirmed the sighting of the new moon at the main campus of the university and there were reports on the new moon from about 10 communities in Jega, Kebbi state, which was confirmed by the Chief Imam of Jega, Malam Bashar.
“And Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi also confirmed the sighting of the new moon in many places in the country.
“So, we observed our Eid in compliance with the instruction of the Holy Prophet who asked us to fast and to break the fast at the sighting of the new moon. It is agreed that obedience to our leaders, especially, the Sultan, is compulsory for every Muslim but on the condition that he did not disobey Allah and His Prophet (SAW).
“You can’t make decisions based on scientific evidence by astronauts because it's against our religion and even Imam Malik discouraged this.”
On whether they reported their observation to the Committee on Moon Sighting, Sheik Lukwa said there was no need because they had already made up their mind.
He recalled many instances where such reports were turned down by the committee.
“In 2011, a similar incident happened. The new moon was sighted in many places and was duly reported to the committee and when they presented their report to the Sultan, he kicked against it. This was the reason why the chairman of the committee, Professor A. A. Gwandu, resigned at the time.”
“And there was a time the moon was sighted at Mabera area and it was communicated to the village head of Mabera who in turn forwarded the report to the District Head of Gagi and the District head called the Secretary of the Palace several times without response.
“He then wrote to the Sultan but the Sultan replied that the new moon would only be sighted the next day. I saw the reply. We can’t obey someone who is disobeying Allah and His Prophet (SAW),” he said.
On Saturday, the Sultan, who is the head of all Muslims in Nigeria, announced that the new moon of Shawwal, 1443AH, had not been sighted. 

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The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden and his advisers are still in conversations about how to approach November’s Group of 20 summit in Indonesia.
Indonesia received confirmation on Friday that Russian President, Vladimir Putin plans to attend.

President Biden said President Putin and his country should be ejected from the G20.
Senior members of Biden’s government have walked out of G20 events where Russian delegates were present.
And there were discussions with Indonesia about stepping up its condemnation of Russia, but the Asian country has only called for peace among the war countries and members of the G20.
Joe Biden’s Press Secretary, Jen Psaki said on Friday that there would not likely be a decision in the near-term as they weigh the downsides of skipping the event and ceding the table to Russia and China.
“The President has expressed publicly his opposition to President Putin attending the G20.
“It is six months away. So we don’t know how to predict, we can’t predict at this point, what that will look like.
“We’ve conveyed our view that we don’t think they should be a part of it publicly and privately as well,” Psaki said.
The White House as realistic members of G20 will not collectively agree to kick out Russia since the decision would likely require consensus.
China has already opposed such a move, insisting it does not support it.
According to CNN, a statement from the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo stressed unity among the member countries.
“Indonesia wants to unite the G20. Don’t let there be a split,” part of the statement said, confirming the Russian leader had accepted his invitation to attend the summit in November.

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aloy

If you insist that Goodluck Jonathan can run for President because the 4th Alteration Act cannot be retrospective, please read the black letters of the Alteration Act again. And read it together with its Explanatory Memorandum, which is reproduced, as follows:


“Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No. 16 Act, 2017 Explanatory Memorandum): This Act alters the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to disqualify a person who was sworn-in as President or Governor to complete the term of the elected President or Governor from being elected to the same office for more than a single term”.


In reading above Explanatory Memorandum, keep in mind that its wordings bear the best and only evidence of the legislative intendment of the Act; and be guided to focus on the copious use of the word: was (instead of is), which is also repeated in the pertinent provisions of the Act, to wit: “A person who was sworn-in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term”.


Thus, in plain terms and without more, the plain language of the Act disqualifies Jonathan because he was sworn-in to complete Yar’Adua’s term and was thereafter elected to the same office for a singleterm.


In other words, having been elected, Jonathan shall not be elected as President for more than the single term he already enjoyed. That’s the plain meaning and intendment of the Act.


To be clear, the retrospective (or retroactive) reach of the Act lies in the express use of the phrase: ‘was sworn-in’. If the National Assembly intended the Act to be ‘prospective’, it would have instead resorted to using the phrase: ‘is sworn-in’.


So, the repeated and emphatic use of the phrase ‘was sworn-in’ in both the Act and its Explanatory Memorandum demonstrated a clear legislative and constitutional intent to make the Act retrospective.


The thesis that applying the Act to Jonathan would appear that he is personally targeted is a moral question, not a legal question.


Plus, one can argue that Jonathan is, as it were, the very mischief the Act set out to cure. That is: the mischief that lies in a Jonathan overshooting the eight years constitutional term limit if, perchance, he is elected to two terms after completing Yar’Adua’s unexpired term.


For avoidance of doubt, the retrospective tenor of the Act received judicial approval in the recent case of Toyin v. PDP where the Supreme Court held the 4th Alteration Act to be retrospective, not prospective.


In this very case, the apex Court retrospectively applied the sister provisions of the Act to a 2015 pre-election matter which was filed and pending long before the Act was enacted.


In view of the foregoing, Jonathan’s candidacy would be burdened by a helluva of nasty legal challenges that would significantly diminish his electability and mar his legacy.
--

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