Author: Oluwasegun Adesuyi

2023: Osinbajo Appoints Senator Gaya Head Of Presidential Campaign Council

 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has appointed the Senator representing Kano South in the National Assembly, Kabiru Gaya, as the head of his presidential campaign council.

Gaya confirmed his appointment at a press conference on Thursday during his assumption as the Chairman of The Progressive Project (TPP), an umbrella body of support groups for Osinbajo’s presidential campaign.

The lawmaker expressed confidence that the vice president will emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and go ahead to win the 2023 election.

Senator Gaya pointed out that Osinbajo has the qualities and competence to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, adding that his presidential declaration showed his brilliance.

He asserted that his principal’s ambition is not personal but a response to the call of the people to serve and defend the honour of the country.

“Without an iota of doubt, I am certain that all the knowledgeable people here can attest to the qualities and competence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo,” Senator Gaya said.

He said: “You will also agree with me that his chosen method redefines presidential declarations in Nigeria; he has clearly signalled that noble citizens have no need to descend into gutters – no touts were hired by anyone and his message effectively reverberated across the entire country and the diaspora.

“Globally, climate change, insecurity, drug trafficking, economic problems such as unemployment and inflation along with many other challenges have worsened and all these impact Nigeria and many other countries.

“However, by electing someone of Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s pedigree who has direct insight into the depth of our challenges as well as current strategies and tactics being laid out to tackle them, we have a great chance to move ahead without much waste of time.

“I have total confidence that by the power of the Almighty and the electoral power of millions of Nigerian citizens across the six geo-political zones, Yemi Osinbajo will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari on May 20, 2023.”

Speaking on the N100 million for the party’s presidential nomination form, Gaya said: “Just one youth group with TPP says that they can raise N100m with rough voluntary contributions of N10, 000 each by 10, 000 of their supporters who are keen about seeing a better future.

“Our populist mathematics is flawless and very strong; moneybags within or outside APC will only lose their dollars in any contest against the people’s will.”

 

JUST IN: Man United Appoints Erik Ten Hag As New Manager

 

Manchester United has appointed former Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag, as new United manager.

Dutchman will replaces Ralf Rangnick as the manager.

Official statement by Manchester United and Ajax confirms the agreement had been sealed.

Based on the deal, Hag will stay at Oldtrafford until June 2025 and an option to extend till June 2026.
United said the 52-year-old Dutch will become the manager at the end of the 2021/22 season.

United said, “The evolution in Ten Hag’s reputation has been meticulous, mirroring a rise which has been methodical rather than meteoric. A sharp, ball-playing central defender in his playing days, Erik spent the majority of his career spread across three stints with FC Twente, with whom he won the KNVB Cup in 2001.

“After hanging up his boots, a steady ascent up the coaching ladder began, inevitably within the familiar ranks at Twente. When former Reds no.2 Steve McClaren was made manager in 2008, Erik stepped up to become assistant manager and made an immediate impression.”

 

2023: EFCC should investigate Osinbajo if he buys N100 million APC Form – Omokri

 

Social Critic and Ex-Presidential media aide, Reno Omokri has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo if he pays for the APC Presidential nomination form.

The party made headlines on Wednesday after it announced that Presidential Nomination forms will cost N100 million. Omokri, on Thursday, in a statement via social media, said that the VP, going by his annual salary, should not be able to afford it.

“VP Osunbade’s salary is ₦12 million per annum. Ministers earn half of that. By law, they can’t have side businesses.”

“So if he, or Amaechi, or Ngige, or any government official buys that ₦100 million form, EFCC has to investigate them, or apologise to Obi Cubana!”

“If any group should say they are donating the ₦100 million that VP Osunbade, Amaechi, and Ngige, or any government official uses to buy that form, such groups should be prosecuted by INEC for going above the individual financial limits set for campaign donation!”, he wrote.

 

2023: PDP Makes ₦646m From 17 Presidential Aspirants, Ends Forms Sale

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday ended the sale and submission of its nomination and expression of interest forms for all elective positions ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The main opposition party at the end of the submission of forms had 17 presidential aspirants fighting for the presidential ticket of the party.

As at yesterday, PDP had generated ₦646m from the sale of the forms.

The presidential aspirants of the main opposition party include; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; former president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Others are Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; a United States-based medical practitioner, Nwachukwu Anakwenze and media mogul, Dele Momodu.

The likes of former banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa, former Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe, Charles Ugwu, Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu are also interested in the ticket of the party.

The only female aspirant in the race, Oliver Tareila Diana only paid for the expression of interest form which is N6m.

The primaries of the party have been fixed for May 28-29.

 

Lagos driver crushes LASTMA official to death

A yet-to-be-identified driver has crushed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Jamiu Issa, to death in the Lekki-Ajah areaof the state.

A statement by the spokesperson for the agency, Olumide Filade, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Wednesday.

Filade said the driver was driving against traffic when he rammed into Issa, who wanted to apprehend him for the traffic offense.

He added that Isa was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The statement read, “The driver of a green Toyota Sienna vehicle, with number plate, FST 901 AR, knocked down and run over a LASTMA official, Jamiu Issa, who was later confirmed dead, on April 19, 2022.

“The late Issa was said to have approached and accosted the Sienna vehicle driver who was driving against the direction of flow of traffic, facing oncoming vehicles from Chevron towards the Conservation Toll Plaza.

“It was reported that Issa was knocked down and run over by the traffic law offender. Issa’s colleague at the scene of the event quickly put a call through to the zonal head while some good Samaritans/eyewitnesses pursued the escaping Sienna driver to the Chevron Waterfront area where he was eventually apprehended and taken first to Ilasan police station, and eventually to Ajiwe police station, under which jurisdiction the event happened for proper investigation.

“Also, according to other eyewitnesses’ accounts, the Sienna driver also knocked down another person while trying to escape from the scene before the driver was apprehended.

“At the same time that the above scenario was going on, the fatally injured Issa was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where it was confirmed that he was brought in dead. His remains have been deposited at the morgue of same hospital.”

Filade said the General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, commiserated with the family of the deceased officer, adding that those who refused all entreaties to desist from assaulting and injuring government officials, would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

 

VIRAL VIDEO: Kuda Bank Defends Manhandling Of Customer On Its Premises

 

The Kuda Microfinance Bank has blamed one of its customers for the way he was manhandled by security officers on the bank’s premises in the Yaba area of Lagos, Nigeria.

A video had surfaced online showing law enforcement officers rough handling the yet-to-be-identified customer of Kuda Bank.

The video was shared by the brother of the customer who lamented the inhumane treatment meted out to his brother, saying that the officers went as far as releasing tear gas on his brother’s face.

Reacting in a statement released on its Twitter page, the bank defended the harsh treatment, saying that as a financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, they are obligated to comply with the mandate of all applicable government and law enforcement agencies.

While failing to mention the customer’s exact offence, the bank added that it was the customer’s failure to cooperate with the officers that led to them manhandling him.

“It has come to our attention that a couple of videos are being circulated online regarding the experience of one of our customers yesterday. The videos show the customer being forcefully escorted off our premises by members of the Nigerian Police Force.

“As a financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, we have an obligation to comply with the mandates of all applicable government and law enforcement agencies, supported by the appropriate documentation. While complying with such mandates, we liaise with the affected customers so that any pending matters between the customers and the agencies are resolved.”

“It is also expected that such affected customers will cooperate fully with the law enforcement agencies involved in order to reach a resolution on each matter. It is truly unfortunate that the customer’s failure to cooperate with the law enforcement officers unfolded in the manner that it did, particularly as the customer was being apprehended by the members of the Nigerian Police Force further in their investigation into alleged criminal activity on the customer’s account,” the bank said.

Kuda bank also attempted to absolve itself of any blame, saying that no staff of the bank was involved in the incident which played out in the video.

“We wish to reiterate that no staff of the Kuda MFB was involved in the unfortunate incident that was captured in the video,” the statement said.

The bank concluded by saying that it had, “commenced internal investigations into this matter would liaise with the customer as well as the relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the matter is addressed.”

The brother of the customer first spoke out against the bank on Sunday, 17th April 2022, narrating how the bank locked his brother’s account after he transferred the sum of N577,491 from his Moneypoint POS into the account on the 13th of April.

“For someone that has sent a huge amount of over N10 million at once without you guys locking it, so why did you suddenly lock the account for an amount less than that? You locked his total amount of 1.2 million naira without even feeling remorseful or thinking about how this person would feel after locking his account,” he tweeted.

The customer’s brother, who tweeted via his handle (@I_Am_Jamotech), asked that the bank opened the account because his brother needed the money for his business activities.

“Please kindly open back his account (because) the money is for his business and he needs it to continue his daily activities. You can do whatever investigations but I’m telling you that it is not fraud money and we need you guys to open his account so he can continue with his business, thank you,” he said.

He further tweeted on Tuesday that his brother eventually had to visit Kuda Bank’s customer support office in Yaba, Lagos to rectify the issue when he was accosted by law enforcement officers.

“So my brother went to @kudabankhelp office today at Yaba to know the reason why his account was locked and still not opened after dropping his proof to them that it’s legit money and not fraud money at all.

“So funny how when he got there this morning, they sent their MOPOL to arrest him and started harassing him for no reason. So, every young guy’s money has to be fraudulent? Do they who our father is? He called me on the phone and I was listening in the background while they were harassing him, trying to detain him. Please twitter help us do your thing,” he said.

After this, he posted the video showing the security operatives manhandling his brother who could be seen lying on the floor and pleading for water while an officer held him by the belt.

 

Breaking: APC Pegs Presidential Nomination Form At ₦100m

 

The ruling All Progressives Congress on Wednesday fixed its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at ₦100 million.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Felix Morka revealed this after the 11th National Executive Meeting in Abuja.

APC noted that the nomination form would go for ₦70 million while expression of interest forms would go for ₦30 million.

The party’s forms for governorship aspirants cost ₦50 million; Senate, ₦20 million; House of Representatives, ₦10 million and State Houses of Assembly, ₦2 million.

Morka said women are entitled to free nomination forms but will pay for their expression of interest forms.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on its part fixed its presidential form at ₦40 million.

The expression form stands at ₦5 million, while the nomination form was pegged at ₦35 million.

In a related development, APC on Wednesday ruled out consensus mode to choose its presidential candidate, ahead of the 2023 general election.

The party, however, stated that it would choose its presidential candidate through an indirect primary.

 

JUST IN: APC National Chairman Accuses Governors Of Working Against Him

 

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Adamu, has accused some governors of working at cross purposes with the leadership of the party, stressing that it could affect the party’s chances in the 2023 elections.

Adamu stated this at the opening of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja on Wednesday.

The meeting is the first since the new NEC emerged weeks ago to pilot the affairs of the party.

The meeting is being attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, and other critical stakeholders who are members of the NEC.

All elected NEC members and governors under the platform of the party are also in attendance.

While acknowledging that state governors are leaders of the party in their states, Adamu said the APC constitution does not have provision for dual leadership in the states.

He called for recognition of his position as contained in the party’s constitution and not dualism in leadership.

While also blaming former governors as stoking the embers of disunity which could hurt the party, Adamu said these former governors are also leaders in their own right and so should be respected by serving governors.

Details later….

 

 

JUST IN: Unknown gunmen strike again, bomb Anambra police station 

  • A police sergeant got injured and several vehicles were burnt during an attack on Wednesday morning on Ayamelum Divisional Police Station, Anaku, in Anambra by some unknown gunmen.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the police said they repelled the attack.

Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the attackers after being successfully repelled threw a locally made explosive into the compound, but no casualties were recorded.

“The operatives stood firm and engaged the hoodlums which made them flee the scene,” Ikenga said.

 

 

Wednesday morning’s attack in Anambra State is the latest violence in the southeast region where separatist violence is on the rise.

Authorities have blamed attacks on either the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, which is campaigning for a separate state for the ethnic Igbo people, or its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The group has denied responsibility for the violence.

 

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