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Nigerians will be more united under Tinubu – Bello

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The Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Amb. Adejare Bello, has assured all interested parties that under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Nigerians will be more united than ever.

On May 29, 2023, Tinubu would take office as the 16th president of Nigeria.

Bello claimed that his conviction was supported by the antecedents of the president-elect, which many Nigerians both at home and abroad attested to.
He characterized Tinubu as a leader who could unite the country’s various regions, build on current welding efforts, and instill hope, patriotism, and a sense of unity among its constituents.
Bello confirmed that over the years, various adminis­trations in the country had struggled with the challenge of harmonizing disparate interests and managing dissensions, but assured that the president-elect had the will and the managerial amplitude to respond to the challenges.

Read Also: Court overturns interim orders against Seplat Energy CEO

According to Bello, Tinu­bu would make sure that appointments were not lop­sided, which would endear his administration into the warm embrace of all Nige­rians.

He described Tinubu as one Nigerian who knew the country well and someone abreast with its cultural and historical developments, adding that he is surround­ed by brilliant Nigerians with sound minds.
“None of you can fault in terms of intellect and understanding of the del­icate issues in the country in different aspects of the economy. This gives him an advantage not to play poli­tics of ‘me and my people,” he added.
He stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) now needed to show that the politics of uniting the country required unconventional approaches in light of the divisive campaigns sponsored by opposition parties, especially around the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Shettima.

Bello stated that it would not be difficult to win over everyone because Tinubu was not a religious bigot, regardless of religion or place of origin.

“With Tinubu in the saddle, Nigerians will have an organic relationship built on the pillars of friendship, empathy, and unity devoid of political resentment.

Read Also: Gunmen murder cattle dealer, his 14-year-old daughter in Abuja

Given the enthusiastic reception his campaign train received across the nation, he said, “It is, therefore, a little surprising that he is so widely accepted by the people on the other side of the Niger.”

Council warns Bauchi religious leaders against inciteful sermons

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The Bauchi State Security Council has issued a warning, stating that it will not tolerate religious leaders stirring up trouble and dividing the people.

Two significant issues threatening the relative peace in the state were discussed, according to Ibrahim Kassim, Chairman of the Council and Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, who briefed journalists at the conclusion of the meeting on Monday at the Government House.

According to him, the council talked about the resurgence of young, armed thugs known as “Sara Suka,” who are attacking innocent residents and robbing them of their possessions.

Kassim said that the recent preaching by an Islamic scholar in the state during a Ramadan Tafsir, which he claimed, generated a lot of heat, reactions and counter-preachings, was also discussed extensively.

Read Also: Bauchi APC group condemns suspension of ex officio member

“As you are aware, we have just finished a period of very intense campaigning for elections. Since then, a lot of events have occurred that call for extensive security measures. Thank God, they are under our control, and the state remains tranquil as it always has.

“As you are aware, there have been some rumblings and back-and-forth discussions about matters pertaining to preaching, the comprehension of the context of the preaching, and the heat it has been generating. The problems have been discussed.

We talked about the preaching, the accusation against it, and the counterpreaching in relation to the state’s immediate security issue. In our opinion, the problem is not one of politics or ideology, but rather of statements that are intended to incite conflict among our people.

“So we’ve met, discussed it and we are resolved that Bauchi is a very peaceful state and we will do everything within our power to make sure that it remains peaceful,” he said. “We will not allow anybody either through actions or utterances to disrupt the peace that we’ve been enjoying in the state. That’s why we felt it is important that we meet here today and after that, we are now briefing you, members of the press, and the public.” The SSG said that the Bauchi State Government was aware of its responsibilities with the major responsibility being security of lives and properties of the people of the state.

 

APC seeks dismissal of petitions against Tinubu’s victory

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has filed a petition to dismiss three opposition parties’ petitions that contest Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s election as their presidential candidate.

Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Peoples Party (APP), three political parties, had contested Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election in separate petitions.
Due to the alleged double nomination of his vice presidential candidate, the APM claimed that Tinubu was ineligible to run for office.

The party took issue with Shettima’s replacement of the original vice presidential candidate, Kabir Masari. The APP petitioned that Tinubu was, at the time of the election, not qualified to contest for the presidency under the provisions of sections 131(c) and 142 of the Constitution and Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022.

The AA sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, its presidential candidate, and the President-elect, Tinubu, while also asking that the presidential election is declared void.

Read Also: Breaking: Former Justice Minister, Attorney General of Federation of Nigeria is dead

APC counter-petition
In response to the suits, the APC, in three separate counter-petitions, prayed to the tribunal to dismiss the petitions.

The party wrote to the tribunal on Sunday, April 9, through its legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

The APC argued that its candidate was duly elected, having won the majority of lawful votes cast in the presidential election.

It maintained that the petitions were baseless and without merit.

The party noted that facts are unavailable “to validate the petitioners’ claims and/or purported right to present the instant petition”.

“For an election petition to be competent, it must complain against the return and/or election of the winner of the disputed election.

“The instant petition is neither challenging and/or questioning the election of the 2nd and/or 3rd respondent (APC/Tinubu).

“The petition as presently constituted amounts to a pre-election matter of nomination and sponsorship of candidate(s).

“The crux of the petition being the nomination and sponsorship of the 1st petitioner’s candidate is statute-barred, having not been commenced within the mandatory 14 days provided for under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999,” the APC noted.

The party faulted the competence of the petitions by the APP, APM, and AA, adding that they are based solely on pre-election issues.

“Issues of nomination, sponsorship, and exclusion of candidates for an election are issues that precede the conduct of an election and are pre-election matters that cannot be raised or canvased before an election tribunal.

“Facts in support of the petition speak to intra —party issues, pre-election disputes, and administrative actions of INEC triable by Federal High Court under Section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered by the 4th Alteration Act and outside the original jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal being a Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”

The presidential election
The 2023 presidential election took place on February 25. Tinubu, the ruling party candidate, won the tight race and is to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as the next President of Nigeria.

Tinubu won with 8,794,726 votes, defeating 17 other candidates.

According to INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, Tinubu, “having satisfied the law requirements,” was declared the winner “and is returned elected”.

Read also: INEC should conduct credible Adamawa gubernatorial election rerun: IPAC

However, the election is surrounded by controversies. Several political parties have questioned the election process and its outcome, and are calling for the cancellation of what they called a “sham” of an election.

There have been numerous legal challenges from opposition parties to the election’s outcome.

The presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, are also challenging the outcome of the election.
The party took issue with Shettima’s replacement of the original vice presidential candidate, Kabir Masari. The APP petitioned that Tinubu was, at the time of the election, not qualified to contest for the presidency under the provisions of sections 131(c) and 142 of the Constitution and Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Bauchi APC group condemns suspension of ex officio member

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing in Bauchi State on Monday denounced the Gamawa Local Government Area branch of the party for suspending Sirajo Dada, the party’s national ex-officio.

Dada’s suspension was denounced by the group APC Concerned Youth Group at a press conference in Bauchi, where its chairman, Muhammad Muhammad, said that the alleged suspension was improper.

In the most recent general election, Muhammad claimed that Dada’s outstanding performances helped the APC win in Gamawa LGA. He added that this helped to inform the group’s vote of confidence in the embattled national ex-officio.

Read Also: INEC should conduct credible Adamawa gubernatorial election rerun: IPAC

According to him, the allegation of anti-party activities levelled against Dada by the local government chairman of the party, Saleh Supa, was baseless. Instead, Muhammad alleged, it was indeed the chairman that was accused of compromise, personalisation of party affairs and working for a certain group of individuals to damage the unity among party members in the state.

While calling on the party to investigate the actions of the party chairman, Muhammad called on the public to disregard Dada’s purported suspension, adding that the suspension of any national officials of the party must follow all the provisions of the party’s constitution.

“As members of the All Progressives Congress, APC Bauchi State, we stand to urge the public to disregard the letter that was improperly suspended, which was signed by the chairman of the APC in Gamawa LGA of Bauchi State and stated the party’s national ex-officio had been suspended.

Read Also: Gunmen murder cattle dealer, his 14-year-old daughter in Abuja

“We want to make it very clear that, prior to its release, the suspension of [a] national figure must abide by all party constitution’s provisions, which in this case the letter did not. The letter doesn’t have any of the expected proper authentication that is described in the party constitution, Muhammad claimed.

Gunmen murder cattle dealer, his 14-year-old daughter in Abuja

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coic
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Isiaka Dogara, a cattle dealer, and Fatima, his 14-year-old daughter, were shot and killed by gunmen.

They were kidnapped when their home in Chitumu, Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, was attacked.

A source claims that around 15 armed men broke into the neighborhood late on Saturday night and went right to the cattle dealer’s home.

He continued, “They quickly kidnapped him along with his daughter Fatima, who was about 14 years old. Later, they were killed.

He stated that another person was shot in the abdomen as neighbors tried to step in and was taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

Police haven’t officially confirmed the incident yet.

Breaking: Former Justice Minister, Attorney General of Federation of Nigeria is dead

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coic
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Prince Bola Ajibola, a former Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria, has passed away.

At the age of 89, Ajibola, a former judge at The Hague, Netherlands-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), passed away.

The late jurist’s eldest child, Segun Ajibola (SAN), announced his death at midnight on Saturday in a statement on Sunday.

“Asalamaleikun,” he wrote. with the deepest gratitude to the All-Powerful Allah. Over midnight, our father, Prince Bola Ajibola, left this world. May the All-Powerful Allah grant him Aljanah firdaus.

Ajibola, a Prince from Owu, was president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) between 1984 and 1985. He was born on March 22, 1934.
He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) at the Holborn College of Law, University of London between 1959 and 1962 and was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn in 1962.

Prince Ajibola was a Judge of ICJ between 1991 and 1994. He was Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice of Nigeria from 1985 to 1991.

Prince Ajibola was the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002.

Court overturns interim orders against Seplat Energy CEO

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coic
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The ex parte interim orders against Seplat Energy Plc, its CEO Roger Brown, and board chairman Basil Omiyi have been overturned by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Also vacated was the order that restrained Brown from participating in the running of the company, according to a statement on Thursday, April 6, signed by Omiyi.

“The case has been adjourned to May 16, 2023, to continue the hearing,” the statement read.

The interim orders were in relation to a court petition filed by five persons who claimed to be minority shareholders of Seplat, collectively holding 161 units of shares.

“The Company maintains that the petition lacks proper basis and is premised on false allegations,” the statement also read in part.

The court had adjourned the case on March 30 till Thursday, April 6 to rule on all pending applications that sought to vacate the ex-parte order, based on the lawyers’ consent.

Read Also: Breaking: Thugs kidnap and kill retired immigration officer in Nasarawa

The court had restrained Brown from carrying out his official duties pending the determination of a suit instituted against him, The ICIR can recall.

Brown had been accused of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.

The defendants in suit no. FHC/L/402/2023 against the respondents (Seplat Energy, Brown, and Omiyi) are Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye, and Robert Ibekwe.

In accordance with the court order, Brown had stepped down and delegated his official responsibilities to Samson Ezugworie, the company’s chief operating officer, as contained in a statement released by Seplat on March 10.

2023 Census: Clergy Hold Prayer Rally For Credible Census

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…Calls for Citizens Participation

Few weeks to the forthcoming National Population Census , the exercise has received a major boost following the joint prayer rally organized by the College of Bishops Imams and Clergy Councils ( CBICC) in Abuja on Easter Good Friday.

Addressing journalists after the interdenominational prayer rally which held at the unity fountain, convener of the group Bishop Abel King harped on the imperatives for a successful and credible census exercise as it remains the only way forward for true and reflective development in any society

“A credible census is the only way out of the current lack of direction” we need accurate data to plan for the limited resources available at goverment disposal ”

“When goverment plans on reliable data, it reduces waste and misapplication of resources thus focusing on specific areas of citizens need ”

“As clergy, it is incumbent on us to take the message to the people; and the message is to open the eyes of our people on the need for citizen participation in the census as a critical exercise for national development ” this is why we are here.

In a similar reaction, Sheik Ibrahim Muktar who led the Muslim prayer for a successful census exercise said nothing could be successful without the help of God” and this is why we are here”

” We need to pray for the country, pray for the president and the the commission because if they succeed with a credible census, we the citizens will be the greatest beneficiaries”

The group particularly commended the management of the National Population Commission under the leadership of Alh Nasir Isa Kwarra for the stability and direction it has brought to bear on the commission, insisting the management commitment was reflected in the manner the forthcoming census exercise is being professionally coordinated.

” With deployment of state of the art Information Communication Technology, satellite systems, advanced GIS mapping and security infrastructure to compliment manpower, it was almost a given that the 2023 census exercise will be the most credible since, independence ”

“We have prayed for success as clergy men, Muslims and christians, men and women, young and old united on the common good of the country” we hope that the commission truly lives up to expectations of Nigerians and Mr President.

The various groups led by the clergy passed a voice vote of confidence in support of the (2023) Census exercise and pledged wider consultation and advocacy needed for the success of the exercise.

INEC should conduct credible Adamawa gubernatorial election rerun: IPAC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Adamawa chapter, to hold a credible and orderly governorship rerun election in the state.

Bello Babajo, IPAC’s chairman in Adamawa, made the appeal at a news conference on Thursday in Yola.

INEC declared the governorship election inconclusive in Adamawa and scheduled for a rerun on April 15.

Mr Babajo noted that Adamawa is peaceful and has never experienced political crises.

“The 2023 election has come and gone in some places, while in Adamawa, ours is inconclusive as declared by INEC due to their own reasons. Adamawa state is a peaceful State which has never experienced any political crisis in the history of political struggles,” the IPAC state chairman explained.

Mr Babajo added, “As you are aware, the constitution of Nigeria enshrines INEC with a responsibility to conduct elections and declare the winner. We call on all citizens to remain calm as we continue to enjoy our peaceful co-existence as we pursue it in a legitimate procedure.”

According to him, to record a credible rerun election, the INEC chairman needs to deploy a new resident electoral commissioner to the state, pointing out that all political parties are ready to support and cooperate for credible elections in Adamawa.

Buhari sacks Saratu Umar as NIPC boss

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Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Saratu Umar, executive secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Thursday.

This is the second time that Umar would be sacked from the same position.
Umar was first appointed to the position in July 2014, but was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2015 over alleged unethical practices.

She was fired for allegedly leaking information on the granting of questionable tax waivers estimated to be worth $20 billion.

Her dismissal had come exactly eight days after a nine-month-old letter on the controversial waivers was leaked to the media — and six days after the NIPC staff union petitioned the president to ask for her removal.

But in July 2022, she was reappointed for a fresh term of five years by Buhari.

READ ALSO: Latest release of 2023 world billionaire rankings as three Nigerians

Adesina said the most senior director in the commission has been appointed as Umar’s replacement in the interim.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has terminated the appointment of Hajiya Saratu Umar as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

“In a directive to the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo CON, the President also mandated the most senior Director in the Commission to immediately take over in the interim.”

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