Connect with us

News

Umeh to Soludo: Shame on you! Ask for Igbo forgiveness not votes, for betraying Obi

Published

on

Nothing short of immediate and unreserved apologies, is needed from Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, to assuage the feelings of the people of the South East, particularly the indigenes of the state for his attempt to destroy the presidential quest of Peter Obi, in the February 25 election.

On November 14 2022, Soludo had come out with his infamous public letter to Nigerians, in which he claimed that Obi was a non-starter in the election, as the race was purely between Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and had since then acted in manners suggesting that he did not want Obi to win the election.

Against the backdrop of Soludo’s recent campaigns to the people of the state to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APGA) in Saturday’s state elections for the House of Assembly, which is the only election that would be taking place in the state, given that the governorship election had just taken place, last year, Victor Umeh, a top politician from the state, advised him to take the first step of apologising to the people currently hurting from his anti-Igbo activities.

Umeh, former National Chairman of APGA, who was quite instrumental to Soludo’s emergence as governor, said on Wednesday, said APGA had no moral justification to seek votes for candidates in the coming election, after sabotaging Obi in the just- concluded presidential election.

Advertisement

Umeh, who dumped APGA for LP, after he was denied ticket by the party leadership, said the required apology, not only to the people of Anambra but entire Igbo, should come in form of a statewide broadcast.

See also  BREAKING: LP dares NLC, re-elects Abure for second term

Making his point as a guest of a radio programme in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Umeh who said the governor should not expect any reward for his infamy, added that the people had no place for the treachery for which the new leadership of APGA had become known.

Describing as unnecessary Soludo’s plea for votes, which he said was borne of out fear of impeachment, urging people of the State to ignore such last minute appeal and vote for LP candidates in the Saturday’s election, he said: “Governor Soludo should do a state broadcast and apologise to Anambra State, Peter Obi, Ndigbo and Nigerians for campaigning against the leader of the new political movement in Nigeria Mr Obi before asking for votes for candidates of APGA in the State Assembly election coming up on Saturday.

“Our campaign in LP is top to bottom and top to bottom ends on March 11. Mr. Obi called a world press conference at Abuja and asked us to vote for LP candidates for governorship and the house of assembly election on march 11.

“Soludo said that Peter Obi will not get 25 per cent in three states but according to INEC, Peter Obi got 25 per cent in 20 states but when they announce the real result, Obi will get 25 per cent in 30 states.

Advertisement

“It is surprising and amusing that Governor Soludo is now desperate to call meetings and begging everyone to vote for APGA on march 11 so that he will not be impeached. But that is an exercise in futility, House of Assembly is not the property of anybody.

See also  Democracy in Africa, alive and well – Tinubu *Hails Faye, Senegal President-elect

“No one will impeach him, but we need legislators that will check his executive recklessness. He should stop being afraid of his shadows, and face his work and do well instead of pleading for rubber stamp lawmakers. The only way for democracy to thrive in Nigeria is when you have independent lawmakers.

“Soludo’s arrogance should be checkmated. If he doesn’t have a skeleton in his cupboard then he will do his work with his executive power. Independent legislators are needed to stop his impunity.

“If he doesn’t commit an impeachable offence, then he won’t be impeached. Obi was a governor in his first term in office with no APGA legislator. When he was removed by the legislators, he came back through the court because he committed no impeachable offence.”

Advertisement

News

BREAKING: Anjarwalla, fleeing Binance boss, sues FG

Published

on

Justice Inyang Ekwo, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, will on April 8, begin hearing in the case filed by detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Executive Manager, West African Region, over their detention by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

The suit filed by Olujoke Aliyu, from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, Gambaryan, through an originating motion dated and filed March 18, is however now concentrating on the latter, since the escape of Anjarwalla from custody, as legal representation on his behalf has now been withdrawn.

Aliyu, in filing the matter, sought five reliefs on behalf of Gambaryan, while Anjarwalla, who allegedly escaped on Friday, March 22, reportedly filed a separate case also bothering on enforcement of rights.

Advertisement

Marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, the suits both against the ONSA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as first and second respondents, with Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, specifically seeking a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

Arguing that the act amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution, he also sought an order directing the authorities to release him from their custody and return his international travel passport with immediate effect.

Gambaryan, who also prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the ONSA and EFCC as well as their agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance, also demanded a public apology to him, and bearing the cost of the legal action on a full indemnity basis.

See also  BREAKING: LP dares NLC, re-elects Abure for second term

He argued in his statement supporting the claim that as an American citizen he only visited Nigeria on February 26, along with Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.

Giving 11-ground argument why his application should be granted, he said that he and Anjarwalla, dutifully attended the meeting, but were detained thereafter and had since remained in detention since then.

Advertisement

Maintaining that he did not commit any offence during the meeting, neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time, he added: “The only reason for my detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company. I am not a member of the Board of Directors of Binance.

T.J. Krukrubo (SAN), who initially appeared for both petitioners, while reminding the court that though the respondents were served two days ago, they were not represented in court, however, drew the attention of the court to the notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Anjarwalla filed on March 26, though he did not give details of why they were withdrawing their legal representation.

Ekwo, while acknowledging that such move meant that the applicant had no legal representation, but must be accorded, one, said he had to adjourn to enable him seek legal representation and for the respondents to be given an opportunity to come to court.

He therefore announced April 8 for further mention and to enable both the ONSA and EFCC, to file their response to the application in the case of Gambaryan.

See also  Obasanjo to youths: Put the guns down, you’re now leaders of today, not tomorrow

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

We must cure destructive malaise of defections in political parties – Ganduje

Published

on

Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, attributed what he termed incessant and reckless defection of politicians from one political party to another in Nigeria, to lack of ideology, a malaise, which he said must be cured to create an enduring democratic ethos.

Ganduje, former Governor of Kano, who bemoaned the parlous situation, insisted that political parties must now begin to build enduring ideologies and party identities to ensure stability.

The party boss, who spoke when he inaugurated the party’s zonal coordinators across the country, adding that the trend must change for the better, indicated that the zonal coordinators would be in charge of the six geo-political zones of the country.

The event saw the former governor naming Hope Uzodimma of Imo as the coordinator for the South-East, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara as that of the North-Central, while Mai Mala Buni would coordinate the North-East.

Advertisement

Others, in the arrangement which is supposed to keep the party busy at all times, and maintain constant links with the national leadership, were Uba Sani of Kaduna state for the North-West, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will serve as the South-West and Bassey Otu of Cross River for the South-South coordinator.

Giving the governors the charge, he said: “They should liaise with the party to commence the immediate process of genuine reconciliation of aggrieved members in the geo-political zone. mobilise governor’s of the zones to effectively and physically participate in the party’s activities in the zone, consult with governor’s and resolve issues that will further enhance its progress and unity.

See also  A compromised judiciary, danger to democracy – Fagbemi

“They are to also assist the party on resource mobilisation in serving the party and participate in any other activity that may be assigned by the party. We want to change the narrative, we want our political party to be active throughout the year, therefore, all our offices must be physically operational, all our offices must be functionally operational. Right from the local government to state level, there must be activities throughout, but this cannot happen by chance.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: At last, Enugu LP lawmakers defect to PDP, meet Mbah

Published

on

After weeks of speculations, six members of the Enugu State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) finally announced their defection to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, on Thursday, in what indicates a likely bandwagon, as a result of the crisis rocking one Nigeria’s main opposition parties.

The LP, which emerged third in reckoning after the 2023 general elections, has been embroiled in internecine crisis, with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), its parent body, insisting on the ouster of Julius Abure, as the National Chairman.

Incidentally, Abure, was re-elected at the party convention called to choose new leaders expected to take to the next stage after putting up a stellar performance during the last election, a development, which itself, had also sunk into controversy, as both the NLC and the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), dismissed it as a sham and insisted on taking over its leadership.

Apparently, seizing the moment, the Enugu lawmakers who have been speculated were eager to shift loyalty, cited the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters,” as their reason.

Advertisement

The Nigerian constitution forbids defection from one party to another by elected political office holders, except in cases of division in their original parties, or in the case of the merger of the previous parties, a loophole, the Enugu lawmakers, have now exploited to make good their long-expected switch.

While presenting themselves to Peter Mbah, the Governor of the state, they added: “Regrettably, the party has evolved into state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.

See also  Abuja looting: There’s danger! *Act now before it’s too late, PRP warns Tinubu

“The Labour Party once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas have regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of electorate.”

Citing the national leadership tussle between the factions of Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa as well as the national treasurer as some of the crises within the opposition party, they expressed hope that the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leadership of the Labour Party for their support.

The defectors include the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Igboeze North I, Ejike Eze; the leader of the House and member representing Enugu North, Johnson Ugwu; the member representing Enugu South Urban, Princess Ugwu; member representing Nsukka West, Pius Ezeugwu; member representing Igbo-Etiti East, Amuka Williams, and member representing Oji River, Osita Eze.

Advertisement

After move through a motion for their defection was moved by Iloabuchi Aniagu and was seconded by Jane Eneh, Harrison Ogara, spokesman of the Assembly, also elected on the platform of the party, said though the lawmakers enjoyed freedom of association, they should know that there is a section of the Constitution that states that any member of a political party that defects to another political party without fulfilling the constitutional provisions for defection will automatically lose his or her seat.

Ogara insisted that there was no crisis at ward, local government, and state levels of the party in Enugu State as well as the national level of the party that would have warranted them to defect to another political party.

See also  BREAKING: LP dares NLC, re-elects Abure for second term

Continue Reading

Trending