Television Nigerian

The All Progressives Congress chapter in Rivers State stated that the 27 members of the House of Assembly, who are currently facing many challenges, do not require a physical building or the now-demolished House of Assembly complex in order to perform their jobs.

This was revealed on Thursday when a delegation from the state caretaker committee visited the APC’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The 27 legislators who support Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, recently switched from the Peoples Democratic Party to the African National Congress (APC).

Since then, a group of the House of Assembly that supports Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor, has declared that their seats are vacant.

In order to replace them, the Independent National Electoral Commission has been requested to hold new elections by the PDP’s National Working Committee.

Speaking to reporters, Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the Rivers APC committee, reaffirmed that the majority of lawmakers can convene wherever to debate as long as the mace is there.

Okocha, a supporter of Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, also provided justification for the House of Assembly members’ defection, stating that their behavior was normal.

“The House of Assembly can be moved to anyplace,” he declared. It’s not always about a structure. Members are free to sit anywhere as long as the mace is there. The 27 legislators convened this morning and even signed a few resolutions.

“The governor never bothered to form a panel or committee to conduct an investigation, not even after the building caught fire. We seem to know that he was the mastermind.

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The government hauled it down yesterday, Wednesday, to show the members that defected that it was a fait accompli. However, as a party, we have vowed to combat illegal activity and to stop anyone from harassing lawmakers.

“We want the world to know that we support.” Their actions are not exceptional. There is nothing new about defection. After the PDP ran aground in 2014, a large number of its members defected to the other party.

“The PDP in Rivers has collapsed, and the benefits are being shared with us. We are informing the governor that he cannot survive on criminal activity. The legal advisor has been instructed by me to ask the NJC to file a complaint against the court for issuing the “Jankara” ruling.

Okocha sidestepped the subject but maintained that impeachment is a necessary part of the political process when questioned if the MPs had truly intended to remove Governor Sim Fubara before the legislative building was demolished.

The chair of the Rivers APC caretaker committee also argued that the constitution has clauses explaining why any member may quit a party.

Since I am not a member of the House of Assembly, I will be hesitant to respond to that (the attempt to impeach Fubara). Once more, the impeachment procedure is characteristic of democracy. I am aware that we haven’t reached that point yet. We will battle the government for their uncivilized approach, that’s all. The constitution contains clauses that outline the grounds for a person to leave a party. Do you not know that members left because of their indiscretion?

However, it is wrong and against the law to have four members who sat. As a political party, we shall oppose any and all violations by the governor. When we were doing Renewed Hope, I openly courted Wike to come to Macedonia and assist us.

“The APC won in 2023 as a result of his refusal to cooperate with the PDP’s presidential candidate. I restated our request for him to come yesterday, and he will take over as the party’s head. However, Fubara has entirely abandoned government in Rivers and is starting to pursue shadows, he claimed.

The N21 billion new Presidential Clinic built by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari last year was toured on Monday by Femi Gbajabiamila, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

The hospital, which is housed on the grounds of Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja and has cutting-edge amenities, is meant to discourage senior government officials and the first family from traveling abroad for medical care, according to the government.

Gbajabiamila gave the clinic excellent marks for facilities and said that the project’s funding was well spent in his remarks following his tour.

“There’s been a lot of talk about this clinic, not just today, even when I was in the National Assembly as Speaker,” Gbajabiamila said when asked about his assessment of the establishment. “Having been here a few months, I thought, let’s have a look and see exactly what is going on.”

“You went around with me, so I’m sure you’re as impressed as I am with what I saw. The standard of care in this facility is very high, just like it is anywhere else in the world. It is top-notch equipment. According to what I understand, several pieces of equipment aren’t even common over the entire globe.

Regarding clinics, their capabilities, and equipment, I mean, I just finished listening to one of the greatest speakers about kidney transplants. A world-class catheter lab is one of many other things.

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It makes me happy that, at least as Speaker of the House of Representatives, I can track the expenditure of funds thanks to a piece of technology known as C-ARM.

Therefore, it’s up to them to complete the necessary tasks and make the necessary adjustments. When they do, we can confidently declare that we have an international-standard clinic like this one.

When questioned what the CoS meant by “dotting the I’s” and “crossing the T’s,” Dr. Jane Ifechukwu, Chairman, Clinical Services, responded. outlined the situation from where the previous government left off, saying, “Everything is in place.” The phrasing, however, indicated that they wanted this administration to control the proceedings.

“We’ve supported our principals; now it’s time for them to approve us.” The condition of this place is skeletal, exactly like the Villa Clinic. This is what we carry out. They give us the all-clear and we are free to proceed, but after we cross all the Is, we are unable to make decisions for ourselves.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has proclaimed Dr. Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel, to be sought.

The minister, who is from Ondo State’s Akoko North Local Government Area, was put on the anti-graft agency’s wanted list due to a suspected case of forgery and corruption.

The EFCC reportedly questioned Agunloye in September on a purported $6 billion Build, Operate, and Transfer contract.

On Wednesday, the commission informed the public and made this disclosure on its website.
The EFCC shared material that included a photograph of Agunloye.

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“If you have any useful information regarding his whereabouts, please get in touch with the Commission at its offices in Benin, Kaduna, Ibadan, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Mardi, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Uyo, Port Harcourt, and Abuja. Alternatively, you can reach us at 08093322644 or email info@efcc.gov.ng.”

Agunloye became the Social Democratic Party’s nominee for governor of the state in 2016 after joining the organization.

Tinubu meets with Ondo leaders once more; the failing governor will forward a letter to parliament.

• Akeredolu guarantees a full recovery before returning to the assembly during a closed-door meeting.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who is sick, is going back to Germany to receive more care.

Mr. Richard Olatunde, the chief press secretary for the governor, said in a statement on Tuesday that Akeredolu would send a letter to the state House of Assembly designating his deputy, Lucy Aiyedatiwa, as the acting governor.

Said to have cancer, Akeredolu has been traveling to Germany for treatment, at which time he turned himself over to Aiyedatiwa in an acting capacity.

On April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, the governor took medical leave.

He then turned control over to the deputy governor. On September 7, he left the nation again and wrote to the state House of Assembly to let the members know.

Despite coming back to Ondo State in September from a medical leave in Germany, the governor was not seen there since he was reportedly residing at his Ibadan private property.

Due to his absence, the state experienced a leadership vacuum, and the executive council split into groups loyal to the deputy governor and the governor.

In September, the governor fired all of the media assistants working for the deputy governor’s office.

The assistants were fired due to their disobedience and flagrant contempt for the proper authority, according to an insider source.

The state leaders of the All Progressive Congress and Mr. Olamide Oladiji, the speaker of the state assembly, met with President Bola Tinubu in November.

Informing the media in Akure of the meeting’s decision on November 28, Oladiji stated that all parties involved had decided to withdraw their court petitions and to end the impeachment procedures.

He claimed that before taking office, the deputy governor was required to draft an undated resignation letter.

Unfortunately, the parties to the dispute refused to drop their legal actions, therefore none of the resolutions were put into action.

Olatunde, the chief press secretary for Akeredolu, announced in a statement that Tinubu had opted to return to Germany on Wednesday for medical treatment, following the party leader’s meeting with the deputy governor and state APC officials on Monday night.

“Governor Akeredolu will prioritize his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties,” Olatunde stated. “He will take a medical leave of absence.” The House of Assembly will get a formal notice of power transfer in accordance with the Nigerian constitution and an official letter regarding the medical leave.

“When Governor Akeredolu is not present, the Deputy Governor, the Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will act as the governor.” In his message, Governor Akeredolu thanks the people of Ondo State for their steadfast love and support. He reassures them that his government is still dedicated to advancing the interests of the populace and bringing about prosperity.

Help for Akeredolu

“Governor Akeredolu has routinely given authority to his deputy while on his yearly vacations as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a well-respected Nigerian. On April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he left on prior vacations, this pattern was noted, according to Olatunde.

Our correspondent’s research, however, revealed that as of Tuesday night, when this article was filed, the Assembly—which convened in private on Tuesday—had not yet received Akeredolu’s letter.

“During the meeting on Monday, the President instructed the House to obtain the letter transferring power to Aiyedatiwa. If they were unable to obtain the letter from the governor, the House was to adopt the Doctrine of Necessity,” according to a source in the Assembly.

“I am confident that the House will release a statement tomorrow (Wednesday),” the legislators said after debating the presidential direction. However, the Assembly has not yet received the governor’s letter when I speak with you.

The Assembly spokesperson, Mr. Olatunji Oshati, informed our correspondent over the phone, “I will call you back.” I’m in a meeting with the legislature.

Aiyedatiwa has been encouraged to launch a probe into claims of forgery of Akeredolu’s signature by an organization called the Ondo State Conscience Movement.

If confirmed, the accusations would seriously jeopardize the legitimacy of the state’s leadership, as well as its resources and reputation, according to a statement released by the group on Tuesday and signed by its chairman, Shalom Olaseni.

“We must draw attention to the detrimental effects of the purported forgery of the governor’s signature,” Olaseni stated. Such an act jeopardizes not only the state’s democratic foundation but also the distribution and application of resources. The possible mishandling of the sick governor’s signature can result in financial theft, damaging Ondo State’s image and imperiling its development initiatives.

“The Ondo State Conscience Movement makes a direct appeal to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the acting governor, pleading with him to use his power and launch a swift and thorough investigation into the claims that members of his cabinet had faked the signature of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

“Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa is essential to maintaining the values of justice and accountability as the present steward of the state’s executive responsibilities. The Movement is begging him to stand up for openness by ordering a comprehensive investigation and making sure the results are released to the public. This action would not only show his steadfast devotion to the integrity and well-being of Ondo State, but also his adherence to the rule of law.Thus, an in-depth examination of the purported signature forgery is strongly demanded by the Ondo State Conscience Movement. To maintain transparency and keep persons accountable for their actions, the results must be made public. The movement claims that this inquiry is an essential step in restoring the integrity of the state’s governing systems as well as an issue deserving of legal examination.

According to a related development, the state’s citizens, not outside parties, are the only ones who can fix the state’s ongoing political problem, according to lawyer Dr. Tunji Abayomi.

The SAN counsels natives

In an interview with journalists in Akure on Tuesday, Abayomi—who also serves as the pro-chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University—stated as much.

“The crisis is not resolved in Abuja,” he declared. The president is just there to assist us. The issue in Ondo State has to be resolved. The President is not authorized by law to rule the state. He is limited to governing the nation. The Ondo State executive is the one with resolution power. We must find a solution, and whether or not one is found is up to the Ondo State authorities.

Through the National Vehicle Registry Policy, or VREG, the Nigerian government has revealed plans to stop the smuggling of automobiles into the nation.

VREG unifies vehicle data from multiple organizations, such as the Federal Road Safety Corps database, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Police, Vehicles Inspection Offices, and the National Central Vehicles Data.

Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, promised to stop car importers from evading customs duties when he spoke to attendees of the VREG Zonal Sensitization Campaign yesterday in Abuja.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance is burdened with the responsibility of managing the country’s finances and revenue streams,” he declared.

The government had to act quickly to address these problems because of the declining oil prices, the mono-economy, and revenue leaks via plugging loopholes such customs duty payment evasion.

In addition, despite Nigeria being the largest vehicle importer in Africa and having an additional 15 million vehicles operating there, there is a lack of a dynamic and centralized platform for national vehicular information.

The threats of customs duty evasion, a lack of data for the development of vehicular policies, nationwide vehicle administration for revenue leakages, vehicle theft and related crimes, difficulties enforcing traffic regulations, restricted access to credit facilities, and inadequate vehicle insurance coverage, monitoring, and evaluation had all been exacerbated by this massive vacuum.

It is noteworthy that the VREG has yielded several advantages since its inception in 2021. One such benefit is its ability to be used as a tool to reduce instances of customs duty evasion.

“At this point, VREG has been able to integrate with the important stakeholders present in a seamless manner, and these relationships have resulted in the exchange of dynamic, real-time information.”