Niger's Ousted President Bazoum Complains About Bad Treatment He Receives

 

Ousted President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum has complained bitterly.

 

Lamenting, Bazoum said he is being kept isolated and forced to eat dry rice and pasta by the military junta who overthrew him and are refusing to bow to international pressure to cede power.

 

In a series of text messages to a friend reportedly seen by CNN, Bazoum said he has been “deprived of all human contact” since Friday, with no one supplying him food or medicine.

 

Bazoum said he has been living without electricity for a week, a normal occurrence for all Nigeriens after Nigeria cut off electric power in response to the coup.

 

Bazoum says all of the perishable food he was supplied with has since gone bad, and he is now eating dry pasta and rice.

 

Though denied the chance to speak with acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during her visit to Niamey, the Nigerien capital, on Monday, Bazoum has been in contact with the outside world.  

 

Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, the prime minister in Bazoum’s government, told French TV that the president was in good spirits despite being held in a “catastrophic situation.”

 

Nuland’s meeting on Monday with senior coup leaders lasted more than two hours, consisting of “extremely frank and at times quite difficult” conversations. A Tuesday face-to-face meeting that was supposed to take place in Niamey between the junta and representatives from the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was canceled at short notice.

 

Junta leaders said in a letter that postponement of the meeting was “necessary” in “this atmosphere of threatened aggression against Niger.”

 

However, Mahamadou, Bazoum’s prime minister, told French state-funded broadcaster TV5-Monde that the junta would like to continue dialogue with ECOWAS, the bloc that has been leading the regional response to the political crisis in Niger.

 

ECOWAS leaders are due to meet on Thursday in Nigeria to discuss the coup, though specifics regarding the gathering remain unclear.

 

The regional bloc had given the junta one week to return to their barracks and reinstall Bazoum, but that deadline came and went on Sunday without any change.

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Announces $500,000 Bounty On Simon Ekpa

 

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization has placed $500,000 bounty on Finland-based agitator, Simon Ekpa.

 

Ohanaeze announced the bounty after accusing Ekpa of declaring a second Biafra war in the Southeast.

  

In a statement by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, the group urged President Bola Tinubu to deploy soldiers to every corner of the Southeast.

 

Speaking with DAILY POST, Isiguzoro said: “We are telling Tinubu that the second Biafra war has begun and he should deploy soldiers to all the nooks and crannies of the Southeast.

“The Southeast governors need help and Ohanaeze is asking the Southeast governors to defend themselves from external enemies.

“At this point in time, we can’t allow somebody in far-away Finland to dictate the pace.

“The government of Ebonyi State and the Southeast must ensure that the terrorist activities of Ekpa are solved in his homeland.

“What we are saying is that Ekpa has declared a second civil war in the Southeast and anybody with useful information will be given $500, 000.

”This is a self-help to ensure that our people get a secure environment.

“The Southeast governors appear to be weak and they are using the wrong approach in dealing with Ekpa. Our suspicion has been confirmed that what Ekpa is doing is to destroy the economy of the Southeast.”

 

Ekpa has been at the centre of the renewed crisis across the Southeast following the sit-at-home he declared.

 

The latest sit-at-home had crippled the economy of the Southeast.

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I'm Aware That Nigerians Are Suffering – President Tinubu

 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that he is aware of the sufferings experienced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy.

He assured Nigerians that the decision was in the best interest of the country, especially in guaranteeing future prosperity.

The President stated this when he received the 18 governors who served with him, Class of 1999, at the Presidential Villa, on July 12. He assured Nigerians that the framework for palliatives to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal was being worked out.

Tinubu said the government will increase effort, speed up the process and ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer.

“I understand that our people are suffering yet there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the relief that comes after the pain. Nigeria is reborn already with fuel subsidy removal. It is a rebirth of the country for the largest number over a few smugglers. Please tell the people to be a little patient.

The palliative is coming. I don’t want cash-transfer to fall into wrong hands. I know it pinches and it is difficult. In the end, we will rejoice in the prosperity of our country,’’ he told the governors, who were led by former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.

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President Tinubu Meets Class Of 1999 Governors At Aso Villa

 

Nigeria's number one man, President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with “The class of 1999 governors” at the presidential villa, Abuja, TheCable reports.

The former governors in attendance include James Ibori ( Delta state); Donald Duke (Cross River); Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti); Lucky Igbinedion(Edo); Orji Uzor Kalu( Abia ) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).

Others are Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Adamu Muazu (Bauchi); Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom)’ Olusegun Osoba (Ogun); Bisi Akande (Osun); Ahmad Yerima (Zamfara); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau).

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AIT Broadcaster Ijeoma Osamor Testifies For Peter Obi Against Tinubu

 A broadcast journalist with DAAR Communications Plc, Ms Ijeoma Osamor, testified on Friday at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), Daily Post reports.

Osamor, who anchors the programme “Democracy Today” on Africa Independent Television (AIT) was subpoenaed as the 7th witness (PW 7) for Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

Obi and LP are petitioners in the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 challenging the election that brought President Bola Tinubu into power.

Respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Osamor, while being cross-examined by APC counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko, avowed that INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the results of the Feb. 25 presidential election would be transmitted live.

One of the grounds raised by the petitioners in support of their prayers to invalidate the return of Bola Tinubu as President was that Yakubu reneged on his promise to upload the results sent to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time.

The video evidence tendered before the PEPC by the petitioners bordered on clips showing the INEC chairman at different times assuring Nigerians of the use of technology in the presidential election.

The court again admitted in evidence another flash drive and played out of it in the open court a clip of Mahmoud delivering a speech emphasising the deployment of BVAS and IReV for the elections.

When asked by Owonikoko if she was aware that a few days before the election, Yakubu, in a press statement, said the results would no longer be uploaded in real-time, Osamor said her news organisation is focused on live coverage of events and programmes.

Owonikoko cited a publication by The Tribune on Feb. 23 that election results would no longer be transmitted in real-time, but Osamor said the publication by The Tribune could have been based on an interview granted to the reporter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The Tribune on Feb. 23 published a story with the headline “We Won’t Transmit Raw Figures of Election Results, INEC Chairman.”

According to The Tribune, Yakubu said that at a meeting with the leaders of the international election observers who visited him at the commission.

Osamor, however, insisted that while covering the beat, she was present during the said period at all press briefings and at the collation centre, particularly on the said day.

She said that Yakubu did not make such a statement.

Meanwhile, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned until Monday for the cross-examination of the witness and further hearing of the petition.

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Senator Akpabio elected President of 10th Nigerian Senate

 

Former Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, has been elected the President of the 10th Nigerian Senate. He defeated his closest rival, Abdul-Aziz Yari, former Zamfara state governor.

 

The election took place this morning June 13.

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Profile of Acting CBN Governor, Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi

 

Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, appointed acting governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, is not your typical banker. 

The CBN deputy governor (operations) trained as a mechanical engineer, went into marketing, moved into information technology — and became a central banker.

TheCable understands that the decision to suspend Godwin Emefiele, the governor, was taken on Friday afternoon after a number of scenarios, including an outright sack, was contemplated.

However, presidential sources said a sack was considered legally complicated because of the CBN law which empowers only the senate to remove the governor by two-thirds majority.

By law, one of the deputies must complete Emefiele’s tenure, which expires May 2024.

The central bank has four deputy governors but Shonubi was considered above Aishah Ahmed, Edward Adamu, and Kingsley Obiora.

PRODUCT OF UNILAG

Shonubi, born on March 7, 1962, is a product of the University of Lagos.

He attended the university from 1978 to 1983, receiving a BSc in mechanical engineering before studying for an MSc in the same field at the same university.

After working as a consultant engineer at Mek-ind Associates from 1984 to 1989, he changed his line of education and profession by studying for an MBA with focus on finance.

With an MBA in his hands, he moved into the IT industry which would later shape his career.

THE OPERATIONS MAN

He was marketing executive at the Inlaks Computers Ltd from 1989 to 1990 and took a giant leap when he was appointed head of treasury operations at Citibank Nigeria Ltd in 1990.

In 1993, he moved to Agusto & Co. Ltd as a supervising consultant, working there for three years before joining MBC International Ltd as deputy general manager, banking operations and IT.

In 1999, he was on the move yet again, taking up the position of vice-president, operations and information technology at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Ltd.

He left FCMB in 2003 for Ecobank Nigeria Plc, where he became executive director, operations and information technology.

Shonubi was also director, information technology and corporate services at Renaissance Securities Nigeria Ltd as well as executive director, operations, technology and services at Union Bank of Nigeria Ltd from 2009 to 2012.

Before he was appointed into CBN in October 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari, he was MD/CEO of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

Pending the appointment of a new CBN governor or the unlikely recall of Emefiele, who was suspended by Tinubu Friday night, Shonubi is now the chief central banker of Africa’s biggest economy.

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Lack Of 25% In FCT Disqualifies Tinubu & Atiku -Presidential Tribunal

 

A witness has said neither Atiku Abubakar nor President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be declared as president because they failed to secure 25 per cent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

The witness representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Abubakar stated this while answering questions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) counsel, Mohammed Aliyu,

 

The witness stated that attaining 25 per cent in the FCT was a mandatory requirement for presidential candidates.

 

Asked if this was his personal opinion, he clarified that it was based on constitutional provisions.

 

When queried on whether his candidate, Atiku Abubakar, obtained the required result in the FCT, the witness responded, “My candidate did not score 25 per cent of votes in the FCT by the purported result published by INEC.”

 

Even under questioning by Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to Tinubu, the witness maintained that his claim was legally based, despite admitting that he was neither a lawyer nor a mathematician.

 

The witness did concede, under questioning by counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), that the FCT holds the same weight as any other state.

 

It is noteworthy that during the February 25 election, Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, managed to garner over 25 per cent of votes in the FCT.

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Wike Explains What He’ll Do If Tinubu Offers Him Appointment

 

Nyesom Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State has revealed what he will do if offered a ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

 

According to Wike, he would consult his wife and friends if Tinubu gives him an appointment.

 

Speaking with BBC Pidgin, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain also noted that he wants to rest after serving as a governor for eight years.

 

According to Wike: “I’m going to rest; I have worked for eight years, so I’m going to rest.

“Tinubu has not informed me about getting an appointment; I’m not too big to serve my country, but he has never told me that he would give me an appointment.

“If he asks me, the first thing I will do is ask my wife and friends what they think about it.

“I will also assess myself if I’m prepared. I will never do what I’m not ready for.”

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All About Tinubu's Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila

 

Femi Gbajabiamila, the newly appointed Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu is, without a doubt, not a stranger at all to Nigeria’s political sphere.

Popularly called ‘Gbaja,’ the CoS is an age-long associate of Tinubu, and both have maintained this relationship on a steady course.

No wonder he was designated as the 3rd most powerful man after the president and his vice, at the Executive level of government.

The primary duty of a Chief of Staff is to act as the principal aide and advisor to the President or Governor, as the case may be. They serve as a key liaison between the President and other government officials, political leaders, and stakeholders.

Often regarded as the ‘gatekeeper’ to the President, the Chief of Staff does not hold direct constitutional powers. Yet, the influence and impact of the office on decision-making processes cannot be underestimated.

Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, was appointed as the CoS by Tinubu, on Friday, June 2.

He has over 20 years of experience in Nigerian politics, making him familiar with the modus operandi of the nation’s much-heated political system.

Born on June 25, 1962, Gbajabiamlila had his secondary education at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos and proceeded from there to the King Williams College, Isle of Man, the United Kingdom for his Advanced Level.

He graduated at the top of his class and went on to the University of Lagos for a three-year Bachelor of Laws degree programme. He graduated from the University of Lagos with honours in 1983 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984.

Femi Gbajabiamila started his career as a lawyer with the law firm of Bentley, Edu and Co., where he distinguished himself with an exemplary discipline and good work ethic. He eventually left Bentley, Edu and Co. to set up his practice, Femi Gbaja and Co.

In 1998, he returned to school at the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from John Marshall and earned for himself a Juris Doctor degree. He then went on to write and pass the Georgia Bar exams, after which he set up another thriving law office where he practised until his return to Nigeria.

Gbajabiamila delved into partisan politics and offered himself up for service on the platform of the then Alliance for Democracy and has thereafter been elected for six consecutive terms to represent the people of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos in the National Assembly.

The CoS was always on the side of truth and justice, and his views truly reflected the wishes and aspirations of his constituents. This was especially evident during the “third term debate” when he was Chairman of the 2007 movement in the House, a group primarily credited for ending the “third term agenda” of the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

He served as the Minority Whip of the house, and by the end of his second term in office, Gbajabiamila had sponsored the highest number of Bills in the National Assembly.

Rep. Gbajabiamila proposed an amendment to the National Honours Act of 1964 to make stringent guidelines for selection of National Award nominees. Gbajabiamila thus became the third and youngest Nigerian to reject National Honours after Late Chinua Achebe and Prof. Grace Alele-Williams.

In 2015, Gbajabiamila put himself forward to lead the House as Speaker of the 8th House. He narrowly lost that election. He put himself forward again in 2019 and was on the 12th of June, 2019 overwhelmingly elected Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

Gbajabiamila also served as the Chairman of the Conference of African Speakers of Parliament.

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RMAFC Reveals How Much Tinubu & Governors Will Earn Monthly

 

The amount President-elect Bola Tinubu and other Governors-elect will pocket as monthly salary has been revealed.

 

The revelation was made by the Executive Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu.

 

He said the monthly salary of the Nigerian President currently stands at N1.2 million, while that of Governors is pegged at N1.1 million.

 

He said President-elect, Bola Tinubu, would earn the same package unless the the proposed review of the Remuneration Act for elected and designated public officials designed by RMAFC is passed into law before President Muhamamdu Buhari administration winds down on May 29.

 

Shehu said some heads of Federal Government agencies earn higher monthly salaries than the president and governors. He noted that no public servant ought to earn higher than the president or state governors.

 

He made these disclosures in Abuja at the Economic Confidential public lecture and book presentation themed “Economic diversification in an evolving cashless society” organized by Economic Confidential, Publishers of PR Nigeria and Economy Digest. Two books were unveiled at the occasion- Pantami: Trials & Triumphs Digital Economy Maestro and The eNarial Revolution.

 

The RMAFC Chairman said: “The salary of Mr. President is N1.2 million a month. I’m sure some MDAs heads earn N5million and some N2 million a month. No public servant in Nigeria should earn more than Mr. President and the governor of a state. Elected National Assembly members earn N12 million and N8million respectively. All those monies some people alluded to are not their salary. They have operational costs and other expenses added to it. These monies were put into it by the National Assembly as logistics and they are paid from the system. We don’t have the power to checkmate that. Only the Nigerian public can challenge that.”

 

He recalled that the salaries of political office holders and other designated public and judicial office holders were last reviewed in 2008, emphasising that the exercise was overdue for review.

 

He said revenue from solid minerals is now being shared while 13 percent derivation is paid to solid minerals producing states as is the case with oil producing states.

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Lt Col Yusuf Appointed ADC of President-Elect Bola Tinubu

 

Lieutenant Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf has been appointed as the Aide-de-Camp of President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

 

Yusuf is the son of a monarch, Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi, the Elemona of Ilemona in the Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

 

According to Vanguard, Yusuf is billed to resume official duties on Monday, May 1, 2023.

 

Sources revealed that Tinubu’s ADC designate has previously served in sensitive roles in the Presidential Villa during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

 

This means that Yusuf is bringing his experience in intelligence and VIP protocol and protection to the new role.

 

Yusuf’s antecedents must have prompted Tinubu to seek the permission of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, to have the senior military officer work with him as he prepares to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.

 

Yusuf’s rise in military ranks

After completing his Ordinary National Diploma in Computer Science from Offa Polytechnic in 2000, Yusuf enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical-Electronics).

 

Between 2004 and 2005, he attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), in the United Kingdom.

 

The RMAS is an institution where all officers in the British Army are trained to take on the responsibility of leading their soldiers.

 

In 2006, he attended the Nigerian Army Intelligence School in Lagos where he was trained in intelligence and security-related subjects in accordance with the Nigerian Army training policies and directives.

 

Attending the Young Officer’s Course Infantry, NASI, another course in Kaduna in 2007 equipped him with military skills on the use of various types of weapon systems used in infantry units as well as special operations

 

In 2008, Yusuf completed the Tactical Intelligence Officers and Security Investigations courses to improve his capabilities as a military officer.

 

Between 2009 and 2018, the multilingual officer, who is fluent in Yoruba, Hausa, English and French, had several military trainings in Mali, Pakistan, China, Israel and the United Kingdom.

 

The trainings include Military Intelligence Basic Officers Course (Mali); Junior Staff Course (China); Officers Advanced Intelligence Course, SMI, (Pakistan) Advanced Command and Staff Course (Shrivenham UK).

 

While acquiring military training, Yusuf obtained a master’s degree in Defence Studies from Kings College, London in 2018, and a postgraduate diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University (NOUN).

 

Yusuf recently completed another military course designed for Commanding Officers in Jaji, Kaduna, prior to his appointment as the ADC designate to the president-elect.

 

Other courses he took include Joint Information Course, Darfur, Sudan (2013); Humanitarian Recovery and Development Unit Course, Sudan (2013); Basic Counter Terrorism Training, Kontagora (2013); VIP Protection Leadership Training, Israel (2013); UN Military Observers Course, Egypt (2019); Joint Basic French Course (A1), Alliance Francais, Abuja (2019) and Joint Basic French Course (A2), Paris, France.

 

Yusuf’s past roles

Yusuf served as an officer in charge (Technical) for 119 Intelligence Group, Lagos. He was thereafter transferred to HQ 4 Brigade, Benin, where he served as Operations Officer.

 

He also served as Officer Commanding at State House Military Intelligence Group and in 2015, he was promoted to Officer Commanding, Presidential Body Guard, State House, Abuja.

 

In 2017, Yusuf served the Nigerian Army as Staff Officer Grade 1 for the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corp (NAIC).

 

Yusuf was commissioned into the Officers Cadre from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK, in 2005 and proceeded to become Military Assistant to the Chief of Training/Operations at Army Headquarters between 2017 and 2019. Later, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Intelligence/Security.

 

From 2020 to 2022, Yusuf served at Nigerian Defence Section, in Paris, France as DDA Librarian, and until his appointment as Tinubu’s ADC, he was Staff Officer, Headquarters, NAIC, Abuja.

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Rotimi Amaechi Revealed That Tinubu's Camp Nominated Yakubu For INEC Chairman

 

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives of compromising the governorship and state assembly polls in Rivers State.

Amaechi expressed his frustrations over the conduct of the ongoing exercise, especially in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state where he cast his vote on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Addressing journalists after voting at his Ward 8, Polling Unit 14, Ubima Community, the former Rivers governor accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state led by Governor Nyesom Wike of victimising opposition parties.

According to him, the situation has led to voter apathy in the state as most people who are determined not to vote for the PDP refused to come out for the exercise over fears of being assaulted.

“There is a total failure of governance in the country, complete failure such that police is helping PDP arrest APC, and SDP members.

“People are being arrested and nobody has spoken. The governor has no right to declare anyone wanted.

“The Inspector General of Police is doing nothing, nobody is doing anything. Now there is voter apathy. I don’t know if it cuts across the country but there is complete voter apathy in Rivers State,” the former Minister stated.

Speaking further, Amaechi berated the performance of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in the 2023 general elections, saying he and some other people were opposed to his re-appointment to lead the commission.

Recall that Yakubu was heavily criticised for his handling of the presidential election which was tainted by the failure of the commission to upload results on its results viewing portal in real time.

Meanwhile, Amaechi said he's unsurprised by the electoral umpire's conduct, alleging that an unnamed person from the camp of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, nominated Yakubu for the INEC job.

He also insinuated that Yakubu might be beholden to Wike having previously worked under the latter as the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Rivers State.

Amaechi's words: "There are those of us who opposed the re-appointment of Mahmood. The person who nominated him for appointment is a member of Tinubu's camp. So what are you expecting? success?"

"Here in Rivers State, Mahmood worked under Wike as Executive Secretary of TETFund. So what you're having in Rivers State is that APC, SDP, and others are contesting election not against PDP, it's against INEC and the police."

Watch video below;

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I’m More Lagosian Than Sanwo-Olu - Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV)

 

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has reacted to claims that he's not authentic Yoruba.

 

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State while answering the question said he's more Yoruba than the current Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 

Rhodes-Vivour during an interactive session with Nigerian comedian AY said that the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is not even from Lagos, but came from Ijebu, Ogun State.

 

According to the LP candidate, his family’s pedigree in Lagos spans over 100 years as his great-grandfather was the first black man to participate in the Nigerian government.

 

According to him, you can't talk about Lagos without talking about his family.

 

Rhodes Vivour also said the second judge ever appointed in Nigeria was from his family adding his family rented the first passport office to Nigeria.

 

Watch video below:

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Nationwide Strike Looms As NLC Gives CBN & FG 7-Day Ultimatum To End Cash Shortage

 

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to end the cash crunch in the country in seven days.

 

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero issued the ultimatum on Monday in Abuja, at the opening session of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the labour union.

 

Ajaero, who frowned at the difficult situation foisted on Nigerians as a result of the cash swap policy of the Federal Government, warned that on the expiration of the seven days, workers would be directed to stay away from work if nothing is done to ameliorate the situation.

 

The NLC president equally criticised the current fuel scarcity in the country, lamenting that workers and Nigerians are being pushed to the wall.

 

“On this issue of fuel scarcity and cash crunch, Congress wish to inform the Federal Government that we will no longer keep quiet.

“NLC is giving the CBN and the FG seven working days, if they fail to do the needful at the expiration of the seven days, all workers in Nigeria should stay at home,” Ajaero stated before the meeting went into a closed-door session.

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Governor Sanwo-Olu Seen Shaking Hands With Church Members

 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos state governor, has been seen paying a visit to Harvesters church.

He visited Harvesters Church in the state today March 12, to worship with the church members.

After the service, the governor stood at the entrance of the church where he exchanged handshakes with members of the church as they left for their homes.

A video from the church has gone viral on social media.

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INEC Presents Certificates Of Return to 2023 Election Senators-Elect

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to Senators-elect who won the February 25, 2023 Senatorial elections.

 

The presentation took place  on Tuesday, March 7.

 

Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu made the presentation at the National Collation Centre (the International Conference Centre) in Abuja.

 

In terms of party representation for the 10th Assembly, the INEC Chairman said APC won 57 Senate seats; the PDP, 29; LP, 6; SDP, 2; NNPP, 2; YPP, 1; and APGA, 1. For the lower chamber, the electoral chair said the APC has 162 seats; PDP, 102; LP, 34; NNPP, 18; APGA, 4; ADC, 2; SDP, 2; YPP, 1.

 

House of Representatives-elect are expected to receive theirs on Wednesday at the same venue. 

 

Here are photos from the presentation below

Ongoing...
Presentation of Certificates of Return to Senators-Elect at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. pic.twitter.com/4SYkcBfe3w

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 7, 2023

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Actress Georgina Onuoha Swears That Tinubu Will Never Sit On The Throne

 

Nollywood actress, Georgina Onuoha has expressed sadness following the declaration of Bola Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential election.

 

She accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of shortchanging Nigerians.

 

According to the actress, INEC stole the mandate of the people and went ahead to declare Tinubu winner in the early hours of Wednesday, March 1.

 

The former Lagos State governor scored 8,805,420 votes to defeat his counterparts, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the tight race.

  

Expressing displeasure over the action of INEC, Georgina said that the electoral body stole the people’s mandate.

 

She wrote: “You will never sit on this throne Tinubu. Lord we’ve been raped as a nation and denied justice and fairness How? This is criminal… This is a sham NOT my President @inecnigeria you stole our mandate.”

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Tension As Nigerians Stage Protest In Abuja Over Presidential Elections

 

Some Nigerian have taken to the streets of Abuja to stage a peaceful protest over the outcome of the Saturday, February 25, Presidential and National Assembly elections.

 

The protesters contested that INEC failed to keep its promise of using the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System BVAS to transmit the results collated during the elections.

 

The electoral body had promised before the elections that the results from polling units will be uploaded immediately to its central server, iRev, for quick collation of the results. However during the election, the BVAS were said not have been working and the results were collated manually. This has caused many to doubt the authenticity of the results being released by the electoral group.

 

The protesters demanded the INEC chairman to fulfill his promise of conducting an electoral exercise that is transparent and open.

 

Watch videos of the protesters below:

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Dino Melaye and Other PDP Agents Walk Out From INEC Collation Centre

 

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), agents, Senator Dino Melaye and Emeka Ihedioha have walked out of the collation centre in Abuja, The Nation reports.

Melaye and Ihedioha as well as some party agents alleged manipulation of some figures, calling on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Prof Mahood Yakubu to review them. 

They also insisted the figures from the different States should be uploaded on the server of the commission. 

But Yakubu said there would be no review until the process was completed, a development that made Melaye and Ihedioha to walk out of the centre. 

The exercise resumed immediately.

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