Politics
Gunmen Kill APC Chieftain After Crossover Night Service In Akwa Ibom
Published
2 years agoon
By
EditorGunmen suspected to be hired assassins in the early hours of January 1, 2022, shot dead one Mr Otu Inyang, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State while he was returning from crossover service with his family at Qua Iboe church, Ikot Udoma village in Eket Local Government Area of the state.
According to a source from the village, the deceased was ambushed by his assailants who fired several bullets into his head a few minutes to his residence adding that other worshippers going home after the service did not suspect that the sounds they heard were that of gunshots as there were several other sounds from fireworks to herald the new year.
Also, the President of Ekid Peoples Union and former governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People Party, Dr Samuel Udonsek, reacting to the incident described the deceased as a formidable politician and community leader.
Udonsak, who condemned the murder noted that such a model of conflict resolution was uncommon in Ekid land even as he prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
He said, “I knew Elder Otuinyang very well, back in our days in ANPP 2000 – 2003 when he helped us build a formidable opposition party. The late Prof Etuk Nssien Etuk, of blessed memory, regarded him rightly then, as a formidable pillar of his strong and resilient political empire and structure.
“When we attended his thanksgiving service after his retirement, I got to know first hand, how devoted he was to his native Ikot Udoma and the Qua Iboe Church. And, also how his people regarded and respected him.
READ ALSO: ‘I Rejected Money To Accept Uba’s Purported Victory At Anambra Primary Election’ – Ngige
“On assuming the leadership of the Ekid People’s Union, we noted that his APC members were a bit distant from the Union, so he was one of those we consulted, on how to make the Union more inclusive for all, irrespective of political party affiliations. Sadly, he has died before this crucial task has been accomplished.
“For me, and indeed the generality of the remnants of our old ANPP structure; a great friend and loyalist has departed, may God in his infinite mercies forgive whatever his human frailties were and accept his soul to eternal rest in paradise.”
Confirming the incident to DAILY POST, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP Odiko Macdon said the commissioner of Police Andrew Amiengheme has ordered the deputy commissioner of Police in the state, to conduct a discreet investigation into the incident and ensure that the culprits are brought to book very soon.
“The command has received such report and it is unfortunate. The CP has ordered the deputy commissioner of Police in the command to conduct a discreet investigation into the incident and ensure that the culprits are brought to book. So, we are on top of the situation and I want to assure that they will not escape” Macdon said.
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Politics
Edo Guber: Why I Want To Become Governor – APGA Candidate, Osifo
Published
6 hours agoon
April 23, 2024By
EditorBy Joseph Ebi Kanjo
The Edo State All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in the forthcoming election, Dr. Isaiah Osifo, has said the yearning by Edo people for good leadership propelled him to join the race.
The former Chief of Staff to Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, who lamented that Edo State has been lacking good leaders for long, promised to deliver good governance if elected into office.
Dr. Osifo stated this during a chat with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, over the weekend.
Rolling out some qualities expected of a good leader, the APGA governorship candidate said: “Many people have asked me why am I contesting? I have several reasons for contesting this election.”
He continued: “What is lacking in Edo State and in African democracy is good leadership. And that is what we’ve been battling with in Africa and Edo State.
“We have an abundance of young men and women, patriotic and talented young men and women that are ready to work. But what is lacking now is good leadership.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Again, Amaewhule-led Assembly Overrides Fubara, Passes LG Bill Into Law
“It is that good leadership that’s motivating me to contest the election so that I can feel that gap; that vacuum of lack of good leadership. I said this repeatedly, and God has been so wonderful to me.”
“So, good leadership is needed for Edo State to develop. Good leadership is needed for Edo State to have democracy, because we already have the grace of God upon our life.”
Speaking on how some Edo South Elders are making moves to get the best candidate on board, Osifo noted: “When I met with them I told them there are three things that can make a state to be great: The grace of God; hardworking men and women, patriotism, and of course good leadership.”
He said in Edo people’s bid to elect a good leader in the September 21st governorship election, they must look out for three qualifications, viz: legal, political and moral qualifications, boasting that he is the only candidate that possessed all these qualifications.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber Final List : Group Knocks LP, Commends, INEC, Yakubu
He added: “Legal question: Now, you must meet some requirements as a law for you to contest as governor. You cannot go to the Oko prison to go and bring an ex-convict to contest for an election. The law does not allow it. A child that is 30 or 35 years below cannot contest for governor because the law says he must be above 35 years as a necessary requirement. That is a legal qualification.
“Session 182 of the constitution is so clear that if you have sworn to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country or to a foreign power, you are not qualified to contest for any public office.
“Ethically, a politician or a public servant who has sworn to an oath of allegiance is a traitor. Because patriotism is what defines citizenship. So, if you go and swear to an oath of allegiance to a foreign power, it shows you are a traitor. The Nigerian constitution forbids it. And that if you have sworn to an oath of office to a foreign power or country, you are not qualified to hold any public office.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Labour Party Faults INEC Final List
“If you have sworn to an oath of office to foreign power and are still going about telling Edo people to vote for you, you are not going to be a good leader, because you have already lied, liars are not good leaders.”
He continued: “Political qualification: Franchise is defined as a right to vote and to be voted for. For you to be a candidate, you must be a voter here in Edo State. Now, if you have never voted in Edo state, and you are now trying to struggle to get a fresh voter card or to do a transfer, politically you are not qualified to run in this election.
“Moral qualification: I come from a cultural background, whereby a popular adage says you don’t use a stranger to make a head of a community. If you are an Edo man but you have not lived here before as an adult, your family is not here, your children don’t attend any school here, your wife does not go to any market here in Edo State, and you want to be governor, governor over who? “
Politics
Edo Guber Final List : Group Knocks LP, Commends, INEC, Yakubu
Published
7 hours agoon
April 23, 2024By
EditorA youth group within the Edo State Labour Party (LP), on Monday, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Professor Mahmood Yakubu for adhering strictly to the rule of law in deepening democracy particularly in the party’s candidates list ahead of the September governorship election.
in Edo State (SYEG), Tuesday has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu for adhering strictly to the rule of law in deepening democracy in Edo State Labour Party’s candidates list ahead of the September governorship election.
The statement by SYEG came in reaction to an earlier statement by the Edo State chairman of LP, Kelly Ogbaloi who faulted INEC’s listing Oluyinka Faith Alufohai as the running mate to Olumide Akpata.
A statement signed by chairman of the group, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary, Osagie Omoregie also knocked the Edo State chairman of the party over his rejection of INEC final list and reminded the party that what the electoral body has done was in accordance with the law, hence deserves commendation.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates
The body under the umbrella ‘Shine Your Eyes Group’, also noted that what has become the lot and tragedy for the Labour Party in Edo State was a clear reflection of the shambles primary it conducted in the state where the “wishes of party’s faithful were subverted by those entrusted to run the affairs of the party.”
Ifada in a widely circulated statement in Benin noted, “Our attention has been drawn to the ranting by the Edo State chairman of the Labour Party, Kelly Ogbaloi, rejecting the nomination of Oluyinka Faith Alufohai in INEC announced final list of candidates as ludicrous.
“We want to state equivocally and remind Ogbaloi that INEC is not like the Labour party and that what INEC has done was in line with the rule of law and deserves commendation for being vigilance and thorough.
“We had warned the Labour Party to play by the rules of the game but they choose to bow to the weight of naira and dollars to subvert democracy and the wishes of our people.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Labour Party Faults INEC Final List
“As stakeholders, we are however confident that the abnormality by the party would be corrected by the court as we have it on good authority that one of the aspirants, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon has gone to court to seek interpretation of the constitution as regards issues in the party’s primary.”
Recall that Imansuangbon in his petition stated that Barrister Olumide Akpata committed a horde of offences ranging from giving false information to the acquisition of citizenship of another country, which is a grand departure from the Nigerian Constitution’s accepted norms.
On the allegation of false information, Barrister Imansuangbon alleged that Barrister Akpata, while filling INEC form EC 9 “stated his name to be Akpata Olumide Anthony which is different from and not the same as Akpata Olumide Osaigbovo” which he earlier stated on oath to be his name and under which he contested and reportedly won the primary election of the LP.
Imansuangbon wanted the court to determine whether Akpata “has not supplied or otherwise given false information to the INEC within the meaning or contemplation of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
READ ALSO: Okuama-Ewu identifies 11 persons Killed By Military, 413 Houses Destroyed
On Akpata taking an oath of allegiance of Vanuatu, an independent and sovereign nation, Imansuangbon wanted clear interpretation of the Nigerian constitution to know if Akpata’s “claim on oath, in the said INEC form EC 9 that he has not voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country is not or does not amount to false information, within the meaning of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended).”
On Oluyinka Faith Alufokhai, “who is parading herself” as the running mate of Barrister Akpata, the petitioner cited some information that she supplied in INEC form EC 9 which do not add up. The information includes that “she was born in 1981 and that she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate in the same year of her birth.
“Her name is Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith while her former name was Ikheafe and she obtained three certificates namely OND, HND and PGD the same year, 2005.”
Politics
Ondo APC Primary; A Disgrace To Democracy – Cleric
Published
1 day agoon
April 22, 2024By
Editor…It’s a shame APC is taking Nigeria back to dark days
The Senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has faulted the conduct of the governorship primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ondo state.
Giwa, described the exercise as a disgrace to democracy and called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly intervene.
Recall that the exercise was characterized with violence, protest in Okitipupa, ldanre, Akure, the state capital, Supare, Akoko South-West, and other areas, by governorship aspirants, party members across the state.
Political thugs who stormed voting centers, disrupted the exercise and prevent supporters of some governorship aspirants from voting.
READ ALSO:BREAKING: Aiyedatiwa Sweeps Ondo APC’s Governorship Primary Election [See results…]
The governorship aspirants complained that election materials were reportedly not taken to many wards across the state.
Giwa, while speaking in Akure, called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to invite the State Commissioner of Police for questioning.
“We all witnessed what happened in our state.The exercise in Ondo state was a season of great disappointment and embarrassment. We thought the era of thuggery was gone, not until it resurfaced.
“You deliberately bought sophisticated weapons for political thugs to wreck havoc on the people you intend to govern. It’s a shame that the APC is taking Nigeria back to the dark days.
READ ALSO: Another Aspirant Seeks For Cancellation Of Ondo APC Gov Primary
“Thugs were freely moving around the state with AK-47 riffles in the presence of security agents, and nothing happened.
“What are they turning this Nigeria into? Why do politicians want to be in power at all costs?
” If people say they don’t want you, thank God and leave the position honorably.
“A journalist was beaten, harassed and attacked like a party member. What a shameful act!
“A good name is more desirable than great riches. I don’t know why people don’t think that nothing is permanent in life.
READ ALSO: It’s A Sham, Akinterinwa, Oke Fault Ondo APC Gov Primary
“As one of the stakeholders in Ondo state, it will be unfair for me to encourage or support rascality. The exercise is a disgrace to the nation’s democracy.
“If the APC could fail to conduct a primary election within themselves, how can they transform Nigeria?
“Let me call on President Bola Tinubu to quickly intervene for the interest of the nation’s democracy.
“Also, I urge the Inspector General of Police to invite the State Commissioner of Police for questioning why his officers failed to arrest the political thugs who were moving freely with guns and other dangerous weapons,” he said.
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