Politics

CAN Scribe Defends Inclusion In APC Campaign List

Published

3 years ago

October 21, 2022

The Assistant General Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle Biodun Sanyaolu, on Friday, defended the appearance of his name on the Presidential Campaign Council list of the All Progressives Congress.

According to him, as a member of CAN and an Apostle of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, he has been in partisan politics for over three decades.

Sanyaolu, who was reacting to criticisms that have trailed the “surprise appearance” of about eight members opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket on the list of the APC campaign council, clarified that the resolve to serve in the APC campaign council was a personal decision.”

Apart from Sanyaolu who was recruited as Assistant Coordinator; others were the Lagos State chairman of CAN, Stephen Adegbite (member); Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Comfort Chigbue (member); and Testimony Onifade, former Personal Assistant to immediate past CAN President, Samson Ayokunle (member).

Others were Victor Ivoke, Personal Assistant to Rev. Daniel Okoh, current President of CAN (member); CAN former Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel (member), and Prof. Para-Mallam (member).

Although the tenure of the CAN officials would elapse in ten days time, sources said that Samuel has applied for reappointment.

Since the names were made public, the issue had remained the topic of discussion in several churches and WhatsApp groups of CAN leaders.

But Sanyaolu in a statement titled, ‘Membership of Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign Council: Setting the record straight’, said the decision was personal.

The statement read, “I wish to humbly react and set the record straight as regard the press statement signed by the National President of CAN, wherein CAN distanced itself from members of the association in the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 President Campaign Council list. Naturally, I shouldn’t say anything after the President has spoken.

“But reading through the various comments by different people, who have spoken out of ignorance, I consider it necessary to let them know who I am, and where I am coming from.

“CAN as an association has the exclusive and inalienable right to distance itself from the APC presidential list because of its long-standing position against the same-faith ticket of the ruling party. The position subsists and it is the voice of the Christians in Nigeria. Again, CAN is father to all.

“Notwithstanding, we must not lose cognizance of the fact that the party consists of members across all religious divides whom at their individual levels are still entitled to their fundamental human rights.

“It is pertinent for me to state that as a member of CAN and an Apostle of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, I have been in partisan politics for some over three decades. I have been involved in politics from the Grassroot to State and National Level. In the course of my political sojourn I have had cause to be a member of several political parties and lately, the APC. My participation in partisan politics is largely known to the Church, members of the congregation and CAN.

“In 1993, I was the State Secretary of the NRC in Ogun State. Additionally, I was the party representative at the State Collation Centre despite the fact that MKO Abiola, who was keenly contesting that election as an SDP candidate, was an indigene of Egba where I hailed from.

“On the return of democracy, I served in the cabinet of His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Governor of Ogun State, as an Honourable Commissioner between 2003 and 2007. I was later appointed as the Chairman of the Ogun State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board based on my publicly known religious postures and involvements.

“Even while as a Director in CAN, I was the Peoples Democratic Party Senatorial flagbearer in the 2019 general election where I contested to represent the Ogun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly. It was shortly after losing that election to Governor Amosun that I was appointed as the Assistant General Secretary of CAN after its General Assembly, in November 2019, the tenure of which will lapse in November 2023. Because the new President is from my bloc, and the consistitution does not support the two officers from same bloc, I have offered to resign in a few days away.

“I can say without equivocation and with all sense of modesty that along all these engagements, I have comported myself as a true Christian and Apostle of God. I have never discredited, ridiculed or brought disrepute to the name of CAN which is the largest ecumenical body in Africa.

“It was while serving as the Assistant General Secretary in 2020 that I moved into the APC because of the unending internal crisis in the PDP in Ogun State. Yet again, I obtained the nomination form and actually re-contested for the Ogun Central Senatorial District at the primary election held in May 2022 on the platform of the APC, and on the prompting of CAN that members should be involved in politics.

“My nomination into the PCC came in the estimation and recognition of my several political involvements spanning 30 years at the national, state and grassroots levels and not on the basis of being an officer of CAN. Even as a Commissioner, I never compromised my faith, nor hide the fact that I am an Apostle in God’s Vineyard. Anyone who cares to know can verify this.

“I am not a politician without a second address. I am a Chartered Accountant by profession and a big time farmer and therefore, I cannot descend so low or trade the name of CAN or any other body for pecuniary gains. It is not in my character and it can never be. My nomination into the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 President campaign council list is based on my political involvements rather than CAN.

“Above all, permit me to put on record that my decision to serve in the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 President Campaign Council is a personal decision, which has nothing to do with CAN. At moments like these, we may need to separate the man from the office.”

Politics

Reps Raise The Alarm Over Terrorists’ Threat To Bomb N’Assembly Complex

Published

1 day ago

October 28, 2025

Editor

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Garba Muhammad, on Tuesday disclosed that the National Assembly has received threats from terrorists to bomb the complex and called for urgent fortification of the edifice as a proactive measure.

Garba disclosed this in Abuja at a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, which seeks to enhance security management, protect the lawmakers, staff members and visitors to the nation’s parliament.

The edifice housing the Senate, the House of Representatives and sundry offices, he said, has been facing security challenges, including cases of car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.

Recall that on May 4, 2021, a similar incident was rumoured when security alert warned lawmakers of a planned Boko Haram attack on the National Assembly complex and other VIP/government locations in Abuja. In response, security measures were intensified, including strict vehicle checks that caused significant congestion at the gates.

Lawmakers were advised to use the less-congested presidential gate for safer access. The alert underscored concerns over Boko Haram’s growing threat, with insurgents reportedly operating as close as Niger State, near the Federal Capital Territory.

Following the alert, the National Assembly limited members’ presence on the premises for safety, and security experts called for stronger federal protection of national infrastructure and assets.

Garba said, “We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly.

“Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access to their offices without any formal appointment.

“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly. If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all — and that will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the stability of the system, and our nation at large.

The Kano lawmaker noted that robust security management requires a holistic and coordinated approach, integrating multi-layered approaches to secure the National Assembly environment to enable lawmakers to discharge their duties in an atmosphere of peace.

“That is why this bill is important. It seeks to address all the challenges as aforesaid and adopt the world’s best practices of parliamentary security procedures and architecture.

“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasised because parliament has to remain accessible to the public. However, this bill is committed to ensuring the best security architecture in the National Assembly — to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property,” he said.

He urged State Houses of Assembly to take urgent steps to protect their complexes nationwide.

He called for support among stakeholders to ensure the quick passage of the bill, describing it as a major step toward securing Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“I wish us a peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in the National Assembly’s security architecture,” he said.

Politics

N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2025

Editor

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.

According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.

Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.

When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.

The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.

According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part

Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.

Politics

PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

Published

4 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.

He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.

Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.

The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.

“The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.

Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.