News
JUST IN: Senators Tackle Akpabio Over Choice Of Senate Minority Leaders
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
There was an uproar in the Senate on Tuesday following the announcement of two minority leaders by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The seats of the Senate Minority Leader and Minority Whip became vacant after the Court of Appeal sacked the former occupants, Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) and Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) respectively.
The courts nullified the election of Mwadkwon and ordered a rerun while Nwokocha was removed as Augustine Akobundu of the PDP was declared as the authentic winner of the 25 February election in the senatorial district.
The PDP senators had, last week, held an emergency crucial meeting on the replacement for the principal positions of Senate Minority Leader and Minority Whip. Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Bauchi), who briefed journalists after the closed-door meeting, had said the opposition lawmakers settled for the North Central geo-political zone to produce the Minority Leader.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Ex-minister, Abba Moro Emerges Senate Minority Leader
During Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio announced the duo of Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) as minority leader and Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) as minority whip.
The Senate President said the new minority leaders had the majority support of their colleagues in the opposition.
He said 41 minority senators signed the document endorsing Moro as minority leader while 30 backed Ngwu for the minority whip seat. The announcement did not sit well with other parties in the minority caucus, especially the Labour Party.
Raising a point of order, Senator Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu North), protested the absence of his party in the minority leadership, describing the arrangement as an injustice against other minority parties.
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“How can the PDP take three minority leadership seats? This is unfair, unjust, and unacceptable,” he said.
The Senate after that degenerated into a rowdy session with LP lawmakers rejecting their party’s exclusion in the minority leadership.
Amid the uproar, Senator Tony Nwoyi (LP, Anambra North) accused Akpabio of picking minority leaders for the opposition parties.
“How can you be choosing minority leaders for us? Are we your slaves?” Nwoyi tackled the Senate President. Lawmakers from the ruling party made frantic efforts to pacify their colleagues from LP, some of whom approached Akpabio for consultation.
READ ALSO: Why INEC’s Biggest Problem In 2023 Elections – Daniel Bwala
After about 15 minutes of rowdy session, the Senate President addressed the opposition lawmakers and dismissed the claim of his interfering in the affairs of the opposition.
Akpabio said he only announced the names forwarded to him by the opposition caucus and that it would be unfair not to respect the voice of the majority.
He, therefore, urged the opposition caucus to always put their house in order before forwarding any name to him.
He said, “All we need to produce a leader is a simple majority. What’s the reason for not agreeing with the position of the majority?
READ ALSO: Why We Need Political Reforms Now – Labour Party
“41 minority senators signed for Abah Moro and 30 signed for Osita Ngwu. They have the majority. It will be unfair for me not to announce them after getting a majority of support. My job is not to work with individual opinion but with the majority of positions.
“Efforts by Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi) to convince Akpabio to stay action on the seat of the minority whip failed as the Senate President ruled him out of order.”
Aliero explained that the opposition caucus resolved that Abba Moro should be the minority leader but was yet to decide on the position of the minority whip.
But Akpabio referred him to Senate Standing Rule 52(6), which says it shall be out of order for any senator to speak on any issue that has already been decided.
Akpabio, therefore, ruled Aliero out of order.
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News
NYSC Urges Bauchi Governor To Reconstruct Collapsed Camp Fence
Published
42 minutes agoon
June 14, 2025By
Editor
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Bauchi State, on Friday, called on Gov. Bala Mohammed to help reconstruct the collapsed orientation camp’s perimeter fence.
Mr Kofre Umoren, the NYSC Coordinator in the state made the call at the scheme’s permanent orientation camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area during the swearing in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ stream II corps members deployed to the state.
According to him, the fence which was destroyed by a natural disaster had exposed the corps members and NYSC officials to invasion.
“I wish to remind his Excellency about our broken fence which needs urgent attention considering the security implications which make the camp porous and expose the camp community to invasion,” he pleaded.
READ ALSO: NYSC Assures Impactful Participation Of Corps Members On Host Communities
Umoren, who expressed gratitude to the governor over the complete renovation of corps members’ hostels and the construction of a brand new Multi-purpose Hall, said there could be no better demonstration of commitment, love and fatherly care for the youth than the gesture.
“On behalf of the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen Olakunle Nafiu, management and corps members in Bauchi state, I wish to thank His Excellency for giving the NYSC a befitting and conducive orientation camp.
“As we continue to savour the beauty of this new camp; may I assure the governor and the good people of Bauchi that the corps members will continue to provide services where they are most needed in the state, especially in the rural areas,” said Umoren.
The State Coordinator explained that a total of 1,107 Corps Members, comprising 585 males and 522 females, were successfully registered and were ready to be sworn-in.
READ ALSO: NYSC Coordinator Lauds Gov. Mohammed’s Commitment Towards Scheme’s Success
He warned the corps members to adhere strictly to the orientation course timetable, NYSC Bye-laws, extant rules and other relevant policies, sayong any deviation from them could result in appropriate sanctions.
Responding, Gov. Bala Mohammed who was represented by Alh. Auwal Jatau, his Deputy, said that the people of Bauchi State appreciated and supported the goals and objectives of the scheme.
This, he said, was the reason why his government has been collaborating with the scheme in every possible way to ensure the success of the NYSC in the state.
He explained that the renovation of corps members’ hostels and construction of the new multipurpose hall were just in the first phase of projects intended to be executed in the camp by his administration.
“The second phase which I assure would start very soon shall include, construction of staff accommodation, a clinic and other necessary facilities including the reconstruction of the collapsed fence that I’ve just been requested by the state coordinator,” he said.
News
Wike Defends ₦39bn ICC Renovation, Renaming Edifice After Tinubu
Published
3 hours agoon
June 14, 2025By
Editor
..Put your houses in order, Tinubu tells opposition parties
Amid growing accusations that President Bola Tinubu is behind the leadership crises plaguing various opposition parties and allegedly working toward a one-party state, the President has advised opposition parties to focus on putting their houses in order ahead of the 2027 general election.
President Tinubu, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, made this call on Friday at the commissioning of the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Stage II, from Ring Road 1 (Apo Junction) to Wasa Junction, in Abuja.
Earlier in his remarks, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and responded to mounting criticisms over the ₦39 billion spent on renovating the International Conference Centre (ICC) and renaming it after the President.
Addressing lingering concerns about the opposition’s dwindling influence, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to multiparty democracy as pledged during his Democracy Day address. He insisted that, as a member of another political party, he could not mediate in opposition disputes.
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“The opposition should put their houses together before the next election, so that nobody will accuse anybody of trying to stifle the opposition,” he said. “The President wants you to come together. If you cannot come together, the President cannot help you. This is politics. You’ll never unite if you continue to spread lies daily, condemning everything. Was Nigeria like this in 1960? Was Abuja like this three years ago?”
The President commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, for reactivating and completing abandoned infrastructure projects across the city.
“With the commissioning of this Left-Hand Service Carriageway, we are addressing a longstanding challenge. I commend the FCTA for completing projects with discipline, quality, and efficiency,” Tinubu stated.
In his speech, Wike argued that the President deserved the honour, having significantly contributed to the development of the Federal Capital Territory.
“As politicians, yes, we must criticize. But because you’re criticizing doesn’t mean you shouldn’t acknowledge progress. We are not flagging off; we are commissioning completed work,” Wike said.
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Responding to allegations of wasteful spending, Wike said: “Some people just lack good taste. The only thing in that building that wasn’t changed is the blockwork. Everything else in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is brand new.”
He dismissed claims that the renovation was unnecessary or politically motivated, saying: “If you love this country, you will not criticize this project. It’s not about wearing one pair of shoes or carrying a backpack. It’s about delivering value and building for the future.”
Taking a swipe at a media house that reportedly questioned the rationale behind naming the ICC after Tinubu, Wike said: “Somebody said it should have been named after the original builder. Nnamdi Azikiwe didn’t build the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport. Moshood Abiola didn’t build the stadium named after him. That argument doesn’t hold.”
He also challenged critics who referenced the original 1991 construction cost of ₦240 million: “What was the exchange rate then? What is it today in 2025? People must learn to analyze with context instead of criticizing.”
(Tribune)
News
Parole Board Sensitizes Inmates In Benin, Urges Them To Key In
Published
4 hours agoon
June 14, 2025By
Editor
Chairman, Edo State Parole Board, Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (rtd.), has called on inmates in the state to utilise the opportunity provided by the parole.
INFO DAILY reports that parole is a means through which the government, in line with the appropriate laws, provides an opportunity to inmates who were convicted for at least seven years and above, and have served one-third of their sentence years to be released, and inmates sentenced for life and have served at least ten years to to be released, after such inmates must have applied to the parole board and the necessary investigations and documentations must have been done.
INFO DAILY also reports that, however, the parole law exempts people convicted for treason, first degree murder, sexual offences, rape, etc from benefiting.
Speaking at a sensitization tour of inmates at the Benin and Oko Correctional centres, Edodo-Eruaga, said parole was the creation of Section 40 of the Correctional Service Act, 2019, adding that it’s aimed at rehabilitating and decongesting correctional centres across the country.
READ ALSO: 7 Inmates Escape From Osun Prison
Edodo-Eruaga, accompanied by other members of the board, however, warned inmates who are eligible for the parole to be honest and be of good behaviour, stressing that anyone who gives misleading information in his or her application would be disqualified.
“Good behaviour means the individual has not caused problems while in custody and has learned a trade to enable peaceful community reintegration,” she added.
The parole board chairman, who emphasized that parole aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating the inmates into the society, declared that no one would be released into emptiness, that is, inmates to be released on parole must have something to contribute to the society in terms of trade, etc.
“This is why the parole will not just give anyone that opportunity. Such person must be of good behaviour, must have learnt a trade, so that when such inmate is released he will contribute to the society. The parole will not release anyone into emptiness. Such a person must have something to show that this is what I do that I can use to contribute to society,” she stressed.
READ ALSO:Niger Pardons 11 Inmates On Death Row
She also told the inmates that they would not just be released on parole, but a non-custodian officer would be assigned to them to follow up anyone released on parole.
Also speaking, Mr. Abraham Naibo, Programme Assistant of the Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), urged the inmates to capitalize on their stay at the correctional centre to learn a trade, pointing out that, it will be wrong for them to appear before the board without a learnt skill.
He said the skill learnt while serving their terms will form the ground they could start their lives when they are finally reintegrated into the society.
Mr. Naibo further admonished the inmates to always carry the officers of the Correctional Centres along on their day-to-day activities while still on Parole, adding that, such will enable them (officers) know how reformed they have been.
For the Controller of Corrections, Edo State, Sunday Oyakhire, represented by the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Ogbue Paul Agiliga, he appealed to the inmates to register for a skill, stressing that, it is going to be an added advantage for them to be qualified for the Parole programme.
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