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Edo 2020:APC NWC May Disqualify Obaseki Over Certificate Issue

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Ahead of the June 22 gover­norship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, there are feelers that Governor Godwin Obase­ki may be disqualified from participating in the primaries by the screening committeeset up by the national lead­ership of the party.

A credible source in the party said aside the mode of primaries which has become a subject of contro­versy, there is a likelihood that Obaseki may not scale the screening session of the APC which may scuttle his chances of becoming the party’s flag bearer in the September 19 governorship election.

According to him, the party said it is trying to pre­vent a reoccurrence of what happened in Bayelsa when the Supreme Court nullified the victory of David Lyon, the governor-elect, on the grounds that his running mate, Senator Biobarakumo Degi-Eremienyo, presented forged certificates to the In­dependent National Elector­al Commission (INEC).

“The national chairman and his group want to use some lack of original certif­icates to disqualify Gover­nor Godwin Obaseki at the screening.

“If they succeed, the implication is that the gov­ernor may not even partici­pate in the primary, wheth­er direct or indirect,” the source said.

“The Obaseki group are also spoiling for war. They will soon be releasing docu­ments from when Oshiom­hole was governor to nail him, how he was moving monies around.

“Already, they are circu­lating videos of all the nega­tive things Oshiomhole said about Ize-Iyamu during the 2016 governorship election and how he is unfit to rule the state,” he said.

Also on Sunday, gover­nors elected on the platform of the APC met with the par­ty’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the fate of Governor Obaseki and the mode of primaries to be ad­opted.

According to our source, about nine APC governors, led by Governor Atiku Ba­gudu, who is the chairman of the Progressives Gover­nors’ Forum, attended the meeting with Tinubu at the State House, Marina.

“Yes, the APC governors, led by Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu, met with Asi­waju Tinubu behind closed doors yesterday. I saw them but I don’t know what was discussed at the meeting,” he said.

In a related development, the Ize-Iyamu campaign or­ganisation on Sunday said Governor Obaseki was plot­ting to obtain a court injunc­tion to stop Ize-Iyamu from participating in the prima­ries.

A statement signed by Prince John Mayaki, Direc­tor of Communication and Media, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu Campaign Organi­sation, and made available to our correspondent, read: “The embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, is plotting to procure an in­terim injunction at the Abu­du High Court or any other court in Edo State barring the APC from conducting its internal primary election scheduled for June 22 and re­straining Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, his main challenger, from contesting the election, according to reliable sourc­es.

“Also named in the plot are Osarodion Ogie, the Sec­retary to the State Govern­ment, Wole Iyamu, SAN, So­licitor General of the State, and Ken Mozia, SAN.

“These officials, acting on the instruction of Godwin Obaseki, have allegedly in­duced Justice Eborieme of the High Court in Abudu to grant a baseless application for the interim injunction.

“Civil society groups privy to the plan have issued a stern warning to the Edo State judiciary not to avail itself as a tool to scuttle the democracy of the state.

“As the bastion of democ­racy, the courts are to protect democratic institutions and processes.

“They are not meant to be used by the government of the state, or any govern­ment official, to truncate democratic processes or serve personal political am­bitions.”

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Power Belongs To God – Fubara Taunts Detractors

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Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara says he is not bothered about a second term in office. Fubara told traditional rulers, chiefs, and leaders of Kalabari-Ijaw who visited him in Port Harcourt that his current preoccupation was ensuring peace and development in the state.

Sounding philosophical, he said: ‘’power resides with God.’’

Fubara referred to a politician (Abubakar Audu ) who was elected governor of Kogi State but never lived to witness his inauguration.

He was also quick to tell the delegation that his supporters needed not worry about his re-election because “when we get to the bridge we will cross it.”

His words: “Power belongs to God. There is a late governor-elect, from one of the northern states, he won an election. After winning, he didn’t live to be sworn in, not even sworn in, to be declared before swearing-in.

“So, I believe that when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. So, you don’t need to worry when we get to that bridge we will cross it. It will be in a way that our enemies will be struggling and they won’t see when we are passing and they will wake up to see that we are on the other side of the bridge.”

The governor said people should realise the limited nature of life and know that the most important task remained to be peaceful with themselves and their neighbours.

“It (peaceful co-existence) reduces every acrimony. It is only when there is peace that there will be development. It is only when there is peace in our communities that government can come in to do things,” Fubara said.

The governor said he was overwhelmed by the calibre of Kalabari people that visited him and mocked those, who he said could not mobilise five percent of his visitors for a reception.

He said: “What I see here is only the Kalabari, we have not added the Igbanis or the Okrika and Ogu/Gbolo people. Some people organise a reception in the name of Ijaw but they did not have five percent of what we have here and the quality of chiefs that we have here, including the traditional rulers that are here. So, we have here, the right people sitting with the true Kalabari ethnic nationality.

“There is no story anywhere and nothing to be said. Look at the faces of the people here. These are the true faces of the Kalabari people, anybody who is not here, there might be a reason, probably an issue of nature. The truth about it is that you have spoken and everybody has heard you. The message is clear and I am secure.”

The governor commended his visitors, saying that his gestures towards their communities were not borne out of his desire for votes but ‘’out of responsibility to make their lives better.’’

Fubara said: “You have given me so much energy and a reason to dare other areas within your place where others are scared to enter. We entered the first, then we can enter the second one.

“It is usually said that honesty is very expensive and you don’t expect it from cheap people. My heart is very clean and my commitment to governance is pure.

“So, when you see what we are doing, you will understand that we are not cheap people, we are honest and expensive with the quality of the things we are doing. Don’t expect it from others, you can only get it from those their intentions are pure”.

The governor explained that his administration ventured into the Trans-Kalabari Road with its eyes open.

“It isn’t a joke. it is a big project and we believe that at the end, the level of development that it will attract to that line entry into Kalabari will be unprecedented”, he said.

Fubara commended his visitors and promised that his government would visit issues of shore protection and reclamation of more land. swamps and creeks.

The governor, who also spoke on tertiary education in the state, said: “It won’t be like those campuses created but not self-sustaining, and as of today there is a memo requesting that those campuses be consolidated back to the main campus of the university. Ours won’t be that way.

He praised Kalabari sons and daughters in his administration, especially the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Tammy Danagogo for their overwhelming support.

On the characters of the Ijaw, he said: “You know our people, our Ijaw people no matter the ethnic group whether the Igbani, the Kalabari, the Wakrike and even part of Abua, they are people with character. We have conquered because of our strong will.

“We are a people that even if you are feeding us when you do the wrong thing we will ask you to take your food, but we will stand by the truth.

‘’I want us to continue to be that strong people. They will come in different ways to divide us, but we must remain strong. You have been standing. Continue to stand with us.

“Be assured that we will continue to defend you. Those of you who have legal battles because you are supporting us, we will not abandon you. Your success is our success. I am happy to talk to you people and honestly very emotional.”

 

 

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Supreme Court Dismisses Gov Fubara’s Suit Seeking To Remove 27 Pro-Wike Lawmakers In Rivers

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The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara over the re-presentation of the 2024 budget before the 27 members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike.

The Apex Court on Monday dismissed the suit in a ruling delivered by Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji following the dramatic withdrawal of the appeal by Fubara through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali SAN.

Governor Fubara, in the notice for withdrawal of the case, simply informed a 3-man panel of Justices of the Court that events had overtaken his suit.

The request for the withdrawal of the contentious suit was not opposed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, who were represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN.

Following no objections from the parties, the Apex Court dismissed the case and awarded N4M against Fubara to be paid to the House of Assembly and Amaewhule.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the dismissal of the suit, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze said that the coast had been finally cleared for the 27 lawmakers to take over the House of Assembly fully.

The senior advocate explained that all steps taken by Fubara in the absence of the 27 lawmakers, including the presentation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to only three lawmakers, among others, have become a nullity.

The Court of Appeal had, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, dismissed Fubara’s appeal on the same matter.

Similarly, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho on January 22, 2024, nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four members of the House of Assembly.

The court had described the bill’s passage by the four lawmakers, led by Hon. Ehie Edison, as an aberration and illegality.

It consequently ordered Governor Fubara to re-present the budget to the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly.

The suit filed by the 27 members of the Assembly loyal to the former governor of the state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, received the blessings of the lower court.

Listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 are the National Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Clerk to the National Assembly.

Others include Governor Fubara, Hon. Edison, the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

Justice Omotosho, while ruling on an ex-parte motion by the 27 legislators, issued an interim order restraining Fubara and his agents from obstructing the pro-Wike legislators from carrying out their constitutional duties.

He also restrained the governor from removing/redeploying the Clerk of the Assembly and withholding funds meant for the Assembly, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

But, while the order subsisted, Governor Fubara presented the budget passed by the four lawmakers loyal to him. The governor also prevented the pro-Wike legislators from sitting by demolishing part of the Assembly complex and withholding funds for legislative functions.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the four lawmakers’ passage of the budget and other actions taken while the November 30, 2023 order subsisted amounted to a nullity.

He said the governor acted like a tyrant in the manner in which the Assembly complex was partially demolished and funds for legislative activities were withheld.

The judge issued an order restraining Fubara from frustrating the Assembly, led by Hon. Amaewhule, from sitting or interfering in its activities.

He also described as unlawful Governor Fubara’s redeployment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk out of the Assembly, stating that the action amounted to an affront on the separation of powers.

The judge ordered the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to resume office immediately and unhindered.

Apart from asking Fubara to promptly release all monies standing to the credit of the Assembly, he also ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to immediately deploy his operatives to the Assembly complex.

The judge had also barred the National Assembly from taking over the Assembly or accepting or treating any request by Governor Fubara on any matter affecting the legislature.

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Kwankwaso Wooing Aregbesola To Get S’West Votes – Kwankwasiya Chieftain

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Emerging information has suggested that last Saturday’s meeting between former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, may have been a strategic move by Kwankwaso to assess his political options in the South-West ahead of the 2027 elections.

The two political heavyweights held a closed-door meeting at Aregbesola’s residence in Lagos.

While details of their discussion were not made public, the encounter has fuelled speculation about a possible coalition or alignment.

A source within the Kwankwasiya camp told The PUNCH that Kwankwaso is seeking to leverage Aregbesola’s influence, especially given his estrangement from President Bola Tinubu and his recent exit from the All Progressives Congress.

“It is no secret that Kwankwaso has long sought to expand his political influence beyond the Niger. However, he has faced challenges because many influential figures in the South-West are loyal to Asiwaju. Aregbesola presents an opportunity for him to rekindle his dream of capturing the region, particularly in Lagos and Osun, where Aregbesola commands significant clout,” the source said.

Recently, the Aregbesola-backed political group, Omoluabi Progressives, announced its exit from the APC in Osun, citing victimisation by the party’s mainstream leadership.

Since then, speculation has mounted over Aregbesola’s next political move.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, confirmed that the meeting between Aregbesola and Kwankwaso was part of efforts to “build bridges across the Niger.”

“All the cards are on the table. If it were left to Kwankwaso, nothing would have leaked to the media. These are still early-stage discussions. However, as you may have noticed, Aregbesola has also been meeting with various political figures. So, it’s not just about him and Kwankwaso. They are, however, two prominent individuals in the evolving political landscape,” Johnson stated.

When asked whether Aregbesola might align with the North to work against Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, Johnson emphasized that the former Osun governor does not require an invitation to stake his claim in any political movement.

He also dismissed the idea that Tinubu’s allies could intimidate Aregbesola, describing him as a formidable grassroots politician with deep-rooted structures in Osun, Lagos, and across Yorubaland.

“Didn’t he oppose Tinubu in 2023? He did, and the sky didn’t fall. Now that he is no longer in the APC, he is politically free. Aregbesola played a major role in Tinubu’s political machinery for years. He was the driving force behind many of Tinubu’s successful campaigns, especially in Lagos. It is well known that in the past, Tinubu could barely move through Alimosho without Aregbesola,” Johnson said.

He further noted that both Kwankwaso and Aregbesola are known for their grassroots approach to politics, adding that whether or not either of them contests in 2027, their influence will be a game-changer for any political group or candidate they choose to support.

“At the moment, I don’t think Aregbesola is planning to contest any position. But he would be a massive ally in the South for Kwankwaso. If they don’t run, they will still dramatically impact whichever candidates or parties they align with. It’s still early days, and many things will crystallise by the last quarter of this year or next,” Johnson added.

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