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All Eyes On Court To Finish Job INEC Did ‘Halfway’ In Feb 25 Election – Onaiyekan
Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said all eyes are on the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal to finish the job the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did ‘halfway’ during the February 25 election.
Speaking to journalists after a special mass to mark the 2023 World Communication Week of the Catholic Church at St. Gabriel’s Chaplaincy in Abuja on Sunday, the respected cleric called on the judiciary to find a way to allow live telecast of the petition tribunal, even though it has not been done before.
Onaiyekan stateD that as the petition tribunal proceeds, Nigerians are waiting with bated breath to see what the outcome will be.
READ ALSO: It Doesn’t Make Sense To Swear In People When There Are Issues In Court – Onaiyekan
“All eyes are on the court. We tried our best to vote; we were told to go to court. We are now in court. All eyes are on the court. We have trust in the court that they finish the job that INEC did halfway,” the religious leader said.
He, therefore, emphasized the importance of transparency in the process and argued that if witnesses have anything to say that people shouldn’t know, they shouldn’t be saying it.
“It is in the interest of the judiciary is to allow the people to see what is happening, even if it means adjusting their rules.
“Voters don’t have the locus standi in court to challenge election outcomes. The matter is left to the candidates. That’s why it’s important that the court proceedings are seen live on TV,” Onaiyekan said.
READ ALSO: Nigerians Will Fight If 2023 Elections Are Rigged – Cardinal Onaiyekan Warns Politicians
On the topic of communication, the Emeritus Archbishop noted that communication is essential for resolving conflicts and building relationships.
“The social media has come into the picture. You cannot ignore it anymore.
“Communication is meant to build and not to destroy; to unite and not divide; to entertain and not to sadden. This is what we are praying for today,” he said.
Speaking during the special mass, the National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, echoed this sentiment, describing Christ as the grand communicator of God to humanity.
He said because the Church is an extension of the mission of Christ, that is the reason “every Christian must strive to develop the skill of being an effective communicator after the model of Jesus, the perfect communicator.”
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JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.
READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed
The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.
Details later…
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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.
These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.
The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.
The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.
READ ALSO:FG Introduces Chinese Language Into School Curriculum
By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.
The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.
“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”
Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.
“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.
READ ALSO:FG Gives Mining Firms Deadline For Community Agreements
“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.
He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.
“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”
In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.
READ ALSO:FG Gazettes New Tax Reform Laws
He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.
Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.
According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.
This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.
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