Cross Rivers APC Chairman Dies In Fatal Crash

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Dr Matthew Achigbe has died in a ghastly motor accident.
Achigbe died in the accident while traveling from Ebonyi State to Obubra Local Government area in Cross River.
Sen. John Owan-Enoh, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Cross River has described as “shocking” the death of Achigbe.
Owan-Enoh, who spoke in a telephone interview with NAN, said that Achigbe was a fine gentleman who united the party in the state.
“I am very shock at the death of Dr Achigbe. He was such a fine gentleman who worked tirelessly to unite the party in the state.
“It is regrettable for Dr Achigbe to die at this critical point in time.
“His death is a loss to his family, the state and the entire APC family. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” he said.
Also Mr Hilliard Eta, the National Vice Chairman of APC, South South, described Achigbe’s death as devastating.
“I am in a state of shock. I am completely devastated. This is a lost too much. I am not completely in charge of the right words to use now,” he said.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, also described the death as a big lost to the state.
“His demise is very pathetic. He was such a fine gentleman who was down to earth,” he said.

Buruji Kashamu Now Ogun State PDP Governorship Candidate

Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district at the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu has emerged the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Ogun State in the forthcoming 2019 elections.
Kshamu will be replacing Adeleke Shittu, who emerged winner in the party primaries, to run in the coming elections. Shittu announced his voluntary withdrawal from the race.
Confirming the development, Kashamu’s  media aide, Mr. Austin Oniyokor, said the leaders of the party prevailed on Kashamu to replace Shittu to brighten the party’s chances of winning the governorship election.
Oniyokor said, “The party’s stakeholders, leaders and elders met and decided that it would be better for Senator Buruji Kashamu to run if the PDP wants to win.
“Mr Adeleke Shittu, who was at the meeting,  also saw reason with them.
“I can confirm to you that Mr Shittu  last week Friday signed the withdrawal  letter and at the Senate he has informed INEC of his withdrawal from the race.”

Buhari Toeing The Paths Of Obasanjo, Jonathan—Ezekwesili

The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has expressed dissatisfaction with the challenges confronting Nigeria, saying that the same mistakes of previous administrations were being repeated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, one day after flagging off her campaign, Ezekwesili said Nigeria needed a leader like her to make the country realise its potential.

She warned Nigerians not to resign to low standards by voting opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party or All Progressives Congress. 

It would be recalled that President Buhari had last week also warned Nigerians against voting the PDP in the forthcoming presidential elections, saying that any other party could produce the next president but not the PDP. 

Ezekwesili said, “Sometimes it is hard to believe Nigeria’s greatness in the midst of our daily struggles, and as we watch our country repeat the same mistakes over and over again. It is hard to remember the contributions our country has made for freedom and peace across the African continent.

“I cannot stand it when we choose to accept mediocrity or resign ourselves to lowly standards. Nigeria can do much better. I care about Nigeria and Nigerians enough to know that the back-to-back failed leadership has held us back for far too long, and if we do not take a stand and take our country back, they would still be here in years to come, holding back our children and their children. God forbid!”

She assured Nigerians that she would fulfil her electoral promises, adding that a situation where elected candidates deny their promises was bad for Nigeria’s growth.

“The APC campaigned in 2015 on a manifesto that propagated the doctrine of restructuring. President Buhari went along with it every step of the way because it is all about getting into power for him. He won and then began to renege on his promises, including on restructuring. He suddenly remembered all the reasons why ‘structure is not the problem’ with Nigeria.

“I want to reignite belief in Nigeria’s greatness by leading a government that would make clear promises to citizens and deliver on them, not like the current leadership which spent its first year in office denying all the promises it made to get into that office,” she added.

She accused Buhari of placing a lesser value on the lives of Nigerians, warning that Nigerians needed to vote for a candidate who would take their well-being as a priority.

The former Vice-President of World Bank explained that Nigeria’s current federal structure was not working and recommended a review.

She said, “Entire communities and even local government areas in this country have been driven into hunger and poverty, as their sources of livelihoods are completely wiped out due to insecurity. The value of a Nigerian life has been devalued and cheapened. 

“The structure of a federation is its skeleton. A functional structure gives shape, support, and aids the movement of the federation. No wonder Nigeria is handicapped under this dysfunctional structure.”

She added, “There was a time when the APC agreed on the need to restructure the federation and devolve more powers to the regions and states.”

I’m Not Behind Oshiomhole’s Alleged Detention – Amosun Cries Out

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has dismissed rumours that he and Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo are behind the alleged detention and grilling of All Progressives Congress(APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole was reportedly detained and questioned on Nov. 4 by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the fallout of the APC primaries.
Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Amosun said he did not have such capacity.
“I think you are giving me an oversight role.
“I am not a security person; so, clearly, that question will probably not be for me.
“I don’t hide under a finger and fight; if there is need for me to put my views across, you know by now, I will do it.”
The governor, who sounded evasive, said that all that needed to be said about the APC crisis had been said; hence no need to sound like `a broken gammaphone’.
He said it was not true that he was having problem with the leadership of the party.
It would be realled that three APC governors — Okorocha, Amosun and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara have been at loggerheads with Oshiomhole over the outcome of the party’s primaries.

Ekweremadu: Attack Was Attempted Burglary Not Assassination – Police

The police said they have arrested a suspect in connection with the attempted burglary in the Abuja residence of deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, debunking a statement at the senate alleging assassination.
According to the police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, the arrested suspect, Mohammed Yusuf, from Kaura Namoda in Zamfara state attempted the burglary, along with one Ali, who is now at large.
He said the duo had earlier broken into another home belonging to Mr. Haliru Adamu at Denis Osadebey Crescent, within the same estate, where they stole phones, jewelleries and other valuables.
The residence of the Deputy Senate President was their second target, the police said.
Moshood said Yusuf and his accomplice broke into the Apo Legislative Quarters home of Ekweremadu at about 0430hrs.
“The Police have commenced investigation into the crime and the principal suspect Mohammed Yusuf of Kaura Namoda have volunteered confessional statement after interrogation admitting to the crime and mentioned one Ali (other name unknown) now at large, who escaped from the scene to have carried out the crime along with him.
“Exhibits recovered from them include a motor jack, big screw driver, a big rod, a small kitchen knife and other house breaking implements.
“Preliminary investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his family but a case of burglary.
“However, investigation is ongoing to determine if there is any other motive behind the offence.
According to the police, both Ekweremadu and Adamu have made

PDP Cautions Tinubu Over ‘Unsavoury Comment’ On Atiku

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to be part of the “smear campaign and unsavoury comments” against Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate.
The party gave the warning in reaction to Tinubu’s comment on Abubakar when he visited Aso Rock on Wednesday.
Tinubu had said whether Abubakar and PDP leaders visited Dubai or the jungle for strategy meeting, the country would not go back “to the illusion of the PDP” which allegedly had misruled Nigeria for 16 years.
Reacting, the PDP said as an elder, Tinubu should not reduce his pedigree by engaging in indecorous utterances which has become the trademark of his dysfunctional party.
“It is also instructive to state that a person of Asiwaju status can conduct his political activities without recourse to indecent language that is lacking in respect for a personality, such as Atiku, whom Nigerians, across board, have generally resolved to be their next President,” the statement read.
“For the avoidance of doubt, despite the ludicrous disposition of APC and its leaders towards the 2019 Election campaign, the repositioned PDP and our presidential candidate remain committed to our promise to focus on solutions to the myriad of problems facing our people and transform their lives for the better.
“The PDP, therefore, cautions Tinubu to redirect the discourse of his party to productive issues instead of this unbridled resort to lies, deception, beguilement, propaganda, smear campaign and uncouth language, which Nigerians now resent.”

Court Removes Benue Lawmaker, Orders Refund Of Salaries And Allowances

The Appeal Court in Makurdi has ordered the immediate sack of Benjamin Nungwa, a lawmaker in the Benue State House of Assembly, after three years of legal battle and gave judgment in favour of Joseph Boko.
NAN reports that both Boko and Nungwa contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary of Kwande West legislative seat in the state house of assembly in April 2015, which was won by Boko.
Dissatisfied with the conduct of the primary, Nungwa, sent a petition concerning the outcome of the primary to the APC National Secretariat for arbitration.
NAN reports that an Arbitration Panel was set up by the National Working Committee of the party to resolve the disputed primary election.
The appellant, who dragged Nungwa, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and joined the APC in the matter, had averred that the said panel, which claimed to have held sittings in Makurdi, never invited him but took decisions from its purported sittings that had adverse effects on him.
He, therefore, prayed the court to declare that the panel was not competent to sit since it was not in the first instance, properly constituted.
Boko averred that the panel had no chairman and secretary and therefore, did not form a quorum to take decisions.
He also argued that by excluding him from its proceedings, his right of fair hearing was infringed upon.
The appellant also averred that he was properly nominated as the party’s candidate for the election and prayed the court to order Nungwa to relinquish the seat he was occupying to him.
Boko had also argued that many weeks after the deadline for substitution of candidates at INEC had already closed, his name was illegally substituted with that of Nungwa.
The appellant averred that it was his name that was sent to INEC and wondered who authorised the substitution.
He argued that “After submitting names to the INEC, it is only the candidate himself that can withdraw or it could be withdrawn if he dies; I did not withdraw my name and I am not dead.’’
However, in her judgment, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Makurdi, affirmed Nungwa as the APC’s candidate and cited the decision of the National Working Committee of the party as the basis.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Boko approached the Supreme Court, which after hearing the matter, expunged all cross appeals and motions that were unnecessary to the case and transmitted it back to the Appeal Court with a directive for a speedy retrial on merit.
In a unanimous judgement, read by Justice Joseph Ekanem and supported by Justice Hannatu Sankey, on Friday in Makurdi, the court overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court, which affirmed Nungwa as the winner of the legislative seat.
The court, therefore, ordered the immediate sack of Nungwa, who was described as “an illegal occupant of the Kwande West legislative seat’’.
The jurists also ordered him to refund all salaries and allowances earned within the three years he occupied the seat in the Benue House of Assembly and granted N200,000 costs to the appellant.
The appellate court resolved three out of five issues brought to it for determination by the appellant in his favour.
The court resolved that the arbitration panel of the NWC of the APC that claimed to resolve the disputed Kwande West primary was not competent to handle the crises, hence it was not properly constituted.
It also resolved that the appellant was denied fair hearing since he was not invited to appear before the panel and agreed that the nomination of the appellant was done in accordance with the party’s procedures.
NAN reports that Nungwa is currently serving a six-month suspension by the Benue House of Assembly for allegedly plotting to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom.
Speaking to NAN on the court’s verdict, an elated Boko, said he was grateful to God and the judiciary for being the last hope of the ordinary man.
He regretted the cost of pursuing justice from the Federal High Court through the Supreme Court and appealed for a review of the laws of the courts to allow speedy trials.