The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has set August 21 as the date to deliver a ruling on the legal representation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit filed by the BOOT Party against Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defecting lawmakers, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, have been embroiled in a political tussle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over control of the state’s political structure.
The BOOT Party’s suit challenges the legitimacy of Amaewhule and his colleagues to remain in the State Assembly after defecting from the PDP.
In a twist, the PDP and the pro-Fubara Assembly have also filed a suit challenging the membership of the pro-Wike lawmakers.
The Federal High Court had initially barred Amaewhule and the others from parading themselves as lawmakers, but the Court of Appeal overturned the decision, reinstating them.
Read Also: More confusion as two courts give different rulings on PDP’s nomination of Ighodalo for Edo guber poll
At the resumed hearing, the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), sought to resolve the issue of legal representation, asking the court to bar Joshua Musa (SAN) from representing the PDP and scrap all processes filed by him.
Ajibade argued that he has the sole right to oversee the party’s legal affairs, citing two judgments from a Federal High Court.
Musa, however, urged the court to disregard Ajibade’s submissions, describing the documents presented as unsigned and concocted.
Justice E.O. Obele adjourned the case to August 21 to rule on the rightful person to represent the PDP.
Outside the courtroom, Ajibade insisted that the national leadership of the PDP was aware of the defections and that the seats belonged to the PDP, emphasizing that only the national headquarters could sponsor candidates.
The legal battle highlights the intense political rivalry in Rivers State, with implications for the control of the political structure and the fate of the defecting lawmakers.
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Court fixes date to decide who represents PDP in suit against defecting Rivers lawmakers
FG bans admissions for under 18
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Thursday announced a ban on admissions for candidates under the age of 18 into tertiary institutions in the country.
Mamman announced during the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
“JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18 into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions,” Mamman said.
The minister, said the Federal Government was considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning.
Details later…
Deborah, has three years of experience covering the education sector, trade unions, politics and international affairs, and is a journalist with The According
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Abiodun names major road after Wole Soyinka
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has named the 12.5 kilometres Kemta-Idi Aba-Somorin road in Abeokuta, after the Noble Laureate, Wole Soyinka.
Abiodun disclosed this at a reception organised by the state government to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Noble Laureate, in Abeokuta, on Wednesday.
He said the naming of the road after the world-renowned playwright was a result of his achievements in academia and literature that have brought honour not only to Ogun State and Nigeria but to the black race.
Abiodun said that apart from using his writings to expose human conditions, Prof. Soyinka also showcases the rich and beautiful African culture to the outside world.
“Prof. Wole Soyinka is a towering figure in literature and a Noble Laureate whose works have echoed across the world. A shining star of our great nation, his life and work are great testaments as a great genius. His intellectual prowess and his unwavering dedication to the advancement of humanity are without question.
“As a colossus of our era, he continues to exemplify the spirit of resilience through his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. Throughout his life, he has continued to challenge oppression, using himself as a mighty sword against injustice,” Abiodun said.
The governor stated that attaining the age of 90 is a testament to the grace of God who had spared his life, thanking President Bola Tinubu for renaming the National Arts Theatre, Lagos after the erudite scholar, noting that it is a well-deserved honour.
“His writings are powerful weapons for social change and enlightenment, rich in symbolism and depth that have captivated audiences globally and transcended cultural boundaries.
“His career spans academia, literature and activism exemplifying a profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world,” the governor added.
Recounting some of the travails the literal icon went through to ensure an egalitarian society, Abiodun said he was imprisoned during the Nigerian civil war on charges of conspiring with the Biafran secessionists where he spent 22 months, adding that despite that, he remained resolute for a better society.
The former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, while supervising the cutting of the birthday cake, described Soyinka as a champion of democracy and the promoter of human dignity.
Dignitaries, including former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, amongst others, attended the event
BREAKING: Stakeholders protest as Education Minister pegs 2024 admission age at 18
Stakeholders currently participating at the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting were rattled when the Minister of Education, Prof Mamman Tahir, announced that candidates seeking admission into higher institutions must be 18 and above.
Immediately after the Minister made the comment in his address and policy directive, the crowd roared “no, no, no” but Tahir insisted that it is already a policy which the government has keyed into because it is the expectation that candidates are much more mature at 18 years old.
He said if anyone was aggrieved, they can approach the National Assembly for an amendment.
The JAMB policy meeting is an annual event where stakeholders from the various tertiary institutions in the country sit to decide on appropriate cut-off marks for admissions in the current academic year.
Recall that Mamman had previously condemned a situation where students find themselves in higher institutions of learning, but fall prey to negative vices because of their premature stage.
Details later…
BREAKING: Stakeholders protest as Education Minister pegs 2024 admission age at 18
FG to introduce new curriculum for secondary schools
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said on Thursday a new curriculum would be introduced for secondary schools nationwide by September 2024.
Tahir made this known at the ongoing 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board policy meeting in Abuja.
“We are working hard to ensure that a new curriculum is introduced for secondary schools by September,” Mamman said.
Mamman noted that the exercise has been on for the past year and a stakeholders meeting will be held on August 6,2024.
“It is our plan that by September, this programme will be implemented in all schools, public and private,” the minister said.
Recently, the National Senior Secondary School Education Commission decried the deplorable state of senior secondary schools in the country and called for collaboration to overcome some of the challenges bedevilling the secondary level of education in the country.
The commission listed some of the challenges confronting the sector, including infrastructural deficit, unqualified teachers, obsolete curriculum, and deplorable libraries and laboratories.
It was also noted that plans were ongoing to introduce a new curriculum.
Details later…
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Ministry of Justice determined to bring order to NGOs in CAR
The failure of Western NGOs, especially American ones, to comply with the legislation of the Central African Republic has attracted the attention of the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice of the Central African Republic, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, published a circular dated July 15 on the topic of international and national non-governmental organizations acting in the interests of justice in the Central African Republic.
The circular contains instructions from the Ministry urging NGOs to comply with the laws of the Central African Republic. Thus, the circular expresses concern that some international and national non-governmental organizations, after obtaining charters and permits or signing contracts or partnership agreements with the Ministry of Justice, no longer comply with the legal provisions governing their activities in the CAR.
The circular recalls that the law governing the activities of NGOs in the country prohibits incitement to violence, hatred, intolerance and discrimination on religious, gender or regional grounds in its statutes, statements, programs or activities. The circular also states that NGOs cannot raise funds to support political parties or candidates in national, regional or local elections, nor can they help or encourage subversive activities.
Justice Minister Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène also recalled that NGOs should send their work plans for the next year to relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, no later than the end of November, as well as reports on their activities over the past year to the secretariat of the Permanent Representative of Non-Governmental Organizations and the relevant ministries no later than the end of March.
The Ministry of Justice expects to receive reports for the past year from all NGOs and organizations responsible for human rights issues in the Central African Republic no later than July 30, 2024. Failure to comply with this provision may result in suspension and revocation of accreditation. Thus, the circular refers to the verification of the activities of NGOs. Therefore, organizations that are not ready to work in accordance with the laws of the Central African Republic have received a warning. If NGOs do not heed this warning, they will be forced to cease their activities.
Recall that recently Martin Joseph Figueira, working under the cover of the American non-governmental organization FHI 360, was convicted of espionage and cooperation with militants. Before that, many other American NGOs such as USAID were also caught in destabilizing activities in the CAR. Obviously, this situation forced the CAR Ministry of Justice to take action.
Ministry of Justice determined to bring order to NGOs in CAR
Ndume: Why opposition senators kept quiet – Shehu Sani
A former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has revealed the reason behind the opposition senators’ silence during the recent ordeal faced by Senator Ali Ndume in the Senate.
In a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Sani explained that if any senator had spoken out in support of Ndume, he or she would face similar consequences.
Sani said that the opposition senators’ silence was due to fear of repercussions.
“When a Senator is suspended or reprimanded for his utterances or conduct by the Senate President, if ‘any Senator talk anyhow de support am, him too go follow am’. That’s why the opposition senators kept quiet. That’s how the place is,” he said.
TVN recalls that Ndume was removed as Senate Chief Whip on Wednesday for criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He was, however, replaced with Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North Senatorial District.
Ndume: Why opposition senators kept quiet – Shehu Sani
Paris Olympics athletes’ village officially opens
The athletes’ village for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics officially opened and welcomed its first inhabitants on Thursday.
The village to the north of Paris will house nearly 14,500 people, including 9,000 athletes, at its peak.
Eight days before the opening ceremony, the first team members to arrive were from Australia and Brazil.
“We are ready,” the deputy head of the village, Augustin Tran Van Chau, told French media.
Organisers are proud of offering a village that they say does not require air-conditioning to keep residents cool, with temperatures inside set to be at least 6 degrees Celsius (42 Fahrenheit) lower than outside in summer.
Some delegations have ordered their own air-conditioning units anyway.
The village contains a host of innovations intended to make it a model of low-carbon construction.
After they have been used by Olympians and Paralympians between July 26 and September 8, the apartments will be converted into homes, with at least a third destined for public housing.
AFP
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Every Nigerian child deserves better future – Peter Obi
Former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that every Nigerian child deserves a better future filled with opportunities.
In a post via his official X handle on Thursday, Obi stressed the need to build a society where children will live, thrive and fulfill their potentials.
He stated this at Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, where he was a Special Guest of Honour to the school graduation ceremony.
“I was delighted to honor the invitation of Tolu, an 11-year-old head boy from Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos. He had taken the initiative earlier in May to invite me as the Special Guest of Honour to their primary six school graduation ceremony.
“I was happy to share interactive moments with the children, the future leaders of our nation. I was greatly moved by the confident expressions of their lofty dreams and aspirations in life. Their dreams are valid and will go a long way in building a better Nigeria.
“Building a better and conducive environment for our children to fulfill their potentials and achieve their dreams has continued to fuel our passion and strengthen our resolve in the struggle for a better nation,” he said.
Every Nigerian child deserves better future – Peter Obi
Global warming is real, Lagos government issues flood alert
The Lagos State Government has issued an urgent call to action to address the rising threat of flooding, calling for robust flood defenses and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices, warning that the state is at a crossroads and faces a growing threat from rising sea levels and flooding.
In a statement released on X.com on Thursday, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized the need for robust floodmy defenses and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices.
He wrote, “The whispers are gone. Climate change is here, and the water is at our doors. From Mumbai to Miami, from Dubai to Dublin, from Argentina to Australia, Toronto to Texas, cities around the world are facing a new reality – a reality of ferocious flash floods and towering tsunamis.”
Wahab highlighted the clear scientific evidence that the planet is warming, causing erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels, which translates to heavier rainfall, more powerful storms, and a growing threat to coastal communities.
He noted that the recent images of entire neighbourhoods underwater and desperate struggles for survival against unforgiving currents have brought the issue closer to home.
He said, “The science is clear. Our planet is warming, causing erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels. This translates to heavier rainfall, more powerful storms, and a growing threat to coastal communities. We’ve seen it recently, haven’t we?! The heart-wrenching images of entire neighbourhoods underwater, the desperate struggle for survival against the unforgiving current.
“Closer to home, here in Lagos, we stand at a crossroad. We are a vibrant city, a center of commerce and culture. But we are also vulnerable. The rising sea level threatens our very foundation.”
The commissioner urged immediate action to protect the state’s infrastructure, homes, and people, emphasizing that global warming is real and requires collective action.
He said, “Now is the time to act. We need robust flood defenses, and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices. We must protect our infrastructure, our homes, and most importantly, our people.
“Global warming is real. Ensure you keep your environment clean at all times and do not engage in any activity that can hinder the free flow of water.”
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