Oyo Governorship: Gunmen Invade Folarin’s Family Compound, Injure Many

 A reprisal attack in retaliation for yesterday’s killing of three members of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Oyo State, some hooded gunmen on Thursday evening attacked the ancestral home of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, shot sporadically and injured many while searching for the politician.

The black-colored dressed gunmen invaded the Oja’gbo, Ibadan South East Local Government Area compound in 10 Hilux Toyota vehicles around 8 pm few hours after a PDP Councillor and two other PDP members had been shot dead in the Ile Tuntun area of Ibadan, while a House of Representatives candidate, Abass Adigun (a.k.a. Agboworin), was on a campaign trail with his supporters.

According to eyewitnesses who said that the 10 Toyota Hilux vehicles driven into the compound had their number plates covered, “We escaped death by whiskers but several of us sustained varying degrees of injuries as we scampered for safety.

The gunmen were wearing black dresses with face masks. They were shouting ‘where is Folarin, iku lokan E (It is your turn to die) while shooting sporadically. They burgled Oja’gbo Palace, in search of Oloye.

“They dispersed hundreds of us who were waiting for Senator Folarin with gunshots. God saved our lives,” an eyewitness said.

Confirming the attack, Folarin’s media aide, Comrade YSO Olaniyi in a statement this morning said, “At about 8:10 pm on Thursday, March 16, a group of gunmen numbering about 30 driving in a motorcade of 10 vehicles, stormed the ancestral home of Senator Teslim Folarin with a mission to terminate his life.

“They thought Oloye Folarin would be there at that particular time to carry out the assassination. Senator Folarin was billed to have a meeting with his kinsmen at his Oja’gbo Palace last night but could not make it due to an extended interactive session with Oyo State stakeholders at YES FM Media House.

“You know Oloye Folarin is Mogaji of his family compound, Ile Baale in the Oja’gbo area of Ibadan and Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadanland. He had a scheduled meeting with his family members at his Palace but could not make it.

“The unknown gunmen thought Oloye would be at the meeting to carry out the assassination plan but thanked God for his life.

“We have informed the security agencies to investigate the incident, promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice,” Olaniyi said.

Olaniyi, who expressed concern about the safety of his principal, urged the police and the DSS to beef up security around the APC governorship candidate.

Adamu Garba Slams GRV For Not Removing His Cap & Shoes At Oba's Palace In Lagos

 Adamu Garba Slams GRV For Not Removing His Cap And Shoes At Oba's Palace In Lagos (Photos)

A chieftain and ex-presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Adamu Garba has criticized Labour Party's gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, for not removing his cap and shoes when he visited Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu at his Palace on Thursday, IGBERETV reports.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Adamu shared photo of himself at the Oba's palace, and wrote;

"Even I, a Fulani removed my cap & shoes when I paid homage at the Ooni of Ife’s palace. That’s the tradition

But Obidient surrogate in Lagos, entered Oba of Lagos palace with his shoes & cap. Oba, who doesn’t waste time told him Sanwo will win but he can waist around if he likes"

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, praying it to set aside the judgement that ordered it to allow electorates with Temporary Voter Cards, TVC, to vote in the Governorship and National Assembly elections billed for Saturday. In the legal process it filed through a team of lawyers led by Mr. Taminu Inuwa, SAN, the electoral body applied for “an order of injunction against execution of the judgement delivered 9th March 2023, directing the Applicant to allow the Plaintiffs/Respondents to use the Temporary Voter Cards in lieu of the Permanent Voter Cards for the 2023 general election”, pending the determination of its appeal. INEC, in its three grounds of appeal, maintained that the Federal High Court in Abuja erred in its judgement, when it dismissed its position that allowing use of the TVC would amount to usurpation of the powers of the National Assembly under Item II of the concurrent legislative list. It faulted the trial court for declaring that PVC was not mentioned in the Constitution or the Electoral Act as a condition to be allowed to vote or as the only means a voter would be entitled to be verified, accredited and to vote. According to INEC, “by combined provision of Section 47 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Paragraph 5(IV) of INEC Regulations & Guidelines for the conduct of elections 2022, a person is eligible to vote at an election conducted by the Commission, if he or she presents a valid PVC at the polling unit in which he is registered as a voter”. It further argued that by virtue of section 18(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, “the intendment of the lawmakers is clear for the effect that a PVC is the only valid instrument for voter accreditation at polling unit with the use of BVAS machine in elections”. “The whole essence of the Manual & Guidelines was defeated by the decision of the trial court when it embarked on judicial legislation and jettisoned the relevance and import of the said Manual & Guidelines which prescribed in detail, accreditation and voting procedure with the exclusive use of PVCs”, INEC added. It will be recalled that Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the high court had in his judgement, ordered INEC to allow two aggrieved registered voters, Kofoworola Olusegun and Wilson Allwell, to participate in the elections with their TVCs. The plaintiffs had in their suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/180/2023, lamented that despite their effort and repeated visits to INEC office, they were unable to obtain their PVCs, before February 6 which the electoral body fixed as deadline for collection of the cards. The trial court held that evidence before it established that the plaintiffs were duly registered with their details captured in INEC’s database. It, therefore, issued an order, compelling INEC to allow them to vote during the forthcoming elections, using the TVC issued by the electoral body, having been duly captured in the National Register of Voter’s database. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs, on Thursday, confirmed service of INEC’s appeal on them, even as they accused the electoral body of attempting to breach their constitutional right to participate in the elections. Speaking through their lead counsel, Mr Victor Opatola, the plaintiffs said they would challenge the appeal. “We have only just received their notice of appeal and application for stay of execution of the judgment and we have five days (starting from today) within which to reply to them and be heard in court. “It is the law that stay of execution and filing of notice of Appeal does not invalidate the existing judgement of Federal High Court in this matter. “We will respond within time and they would have their day in court to move their Motion for Stay. However, INEC is mandated by law to comply with the subsisting judgment of court until the court of appeals decides otherwise “It is also trite law, that the judgment of Court is valid until set aside and takes effect immediately upon pronouncement by the Court, and that as soon as the Court makes the order, that order takes immediate effect”, counsel to the plaintiffs added.

 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he would not accept any offer to be part of Bola Tinubu’s Government of National Unity.

Tinubu, the president-elect and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been dragged to court by Obi over the outcome of the February 25 election.

The camp of the APC candidate had hinted that the former Lagos Governor would form an all-inclusive government to carry all his opponents along in his government.

While featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Obi was asked what he would do if he was called upon to be a member of Tinubu’s Government of National Unity.

In his response, Obi said he was still challenging the process of the election and the declaration.

According to him, the process of the election should be put right first before anyone could talk of the Government of National Unity.

“The first thing I want to see is that the process is right. The process through which you achieve anything is far more fundamental than what you do thereafter. Let us go back first, I am challenging the process and the declaration.

“Until we get it right, then we can talk about a government of national unity. Otherwise, we would go and sit down and say that those who stopped a train and kidnapped people can call us to discuss peace when they have people in captivity. Until things are done rightly, we will be encouraging what we don’t need to encourage,” he said.

When he was asked whether or not he would accept the outcome if it is not in his favour, Obi said he would be shocked if the court upholds Tinubu’s election.

His words: “Issues about the election will be sorted out in court. I will be shocked if this country goes on with that situation. It will then stand that it is a corporate criminalised country. We can’t allow it. We need to start unbundling this criminality.

“When people were talking about structure, it is this fraud and criminality that we witnessed that they were talking about, and we want to unbundle it for the sake of our children.”

The former Anambra State governor said he believes the judiciary would do the right thing.

March 18 Elections: INEC Files Appeal, Insists On Use Of PVC

 The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, praying it to set aside the judgement that ordered it to allow electorates with Temporary Voter Cards, TVC, to vote in the Governorship and National Assembly elections billed for Saturday.

In the legal process it filed through a team of lawyers led by Mr. Taminu Inuwa, SAN, the electoral body applied for “an order of injunction against execution of the judgement delivered 9th March 2023, directing the Applicant to allow the Plaintiffs/Respondents to use the Temporary Voter Cards in lieu of the Permanent Voter Cards for the 2023 general election”, pending the determination of its appeal.

INEC, in its three grounds of appeal, maintained that the Federal High Court in Abuja erred in its judgement, when it dismissed its position that allowing use of the TVC would amount to usurpation of the powers of the National Assembly under Item II of the concurrent legislative list.

It faulted the trial court for declaring that PVC was not mentioned in the Constitution or the Electoral Act as a condition to be allowed to vote or as the only means a voter would be entitled to be verified, accredited and to vote.

According to INEC, “by combined provision of Section 47 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Paragraph 5(IV) of INEC Regulations & Guidelines for the conduct of elections 2022, a person is eligible to vote at an election conducted by the Commission, if he or she presents a valid PVC at the polling unit in which he is registered as a voter”. 

It further argued that by virtue of section 18(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, “the intendment of the lawmakers is clear for the effect that a PVC is the only valid instrument for voter accreditation at polling unit with the use of BVAS machine in elections”. 

“The whole essence of the Manual & Guidelines was defeated by the decision of the trial court when it embarked on judicial legislation and jettisoned the relevance and import of the said Manual & Guidelines which prescribed in detail, accreditation and voting procedure with the exclusive use of PVCs”, INEC added.

It will be recalled that Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the high court had in his judgement, ordered INEC to allow two aggrieved registered voters, Kofoworola Olusegun and Wilson Allwell, to participate in the elections with their TVCs.

The plaintiffs had in their suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/180/2023, lamented that despite their effort and repeated visits to INEC office, they were unable to obtain their PVCs, before February 6 which the electoral body fixed as deadline for collection of the cards.

The trial court held that evidence before it established that the plaintiffs were duly registered with their details captured in INEC’s database.

It, therefore, issued an order, compelling INEC to allow them to vote during the forthcoming elections, using the TVC issued by the electoral body, having been duly captured in the National Register of Voter’s database.

Meanwhile, the plaintiffs, on Thursday, confirmed service of INEC’s appeal on them, even as they accused the electoral body of attempting to breach their constitutional right to participate in the elections.

Speaking through their lead counsel, Mr Victor Opatola, the plaintiffs said they would challenge the appeal.

“We have only just received their notice of appeal and application for stay of execution of the judgment and we have five days (starting from today) within which to reply to them and be heard in court.

“It is the law that stay of execution and filing of notice of Appeal does not invalidate the existing judgement of Federal High Court in this matter.

“We will respond within time and they would have their day in court to move their Motion for Stay. However, INEC is mandated by law to comply with the subsisting judgment of court until the court of appeals decides otherwise

“It is also trite law, that the judgment of Court is valid until set aside and takes effect immediately upon pronouncement by the Court, and that as soon as the Court makes the order, that order takes immediate effect”,counsel to the plaintiffs added.

Your Victory Is A Call To Leadership - Omo-ikirodah Congratulates Oshiomhole

 Your Victory Is A Call To Leadership -Moses Omo-Ikirodah Congratulates Adams Oshiomhole 

Moses Omo-Ikirodah, a prominent PDP chieftain in Edo State, has congratulated Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole on his recent victory as senator elect for Edo North senatorial district.

The PDP stalwart said in a letter of congratulations on Wednesday that Adams Oshiomhole is deserving of praise and that his victory in the recently held senatorial race for Edo North demonstrates how much his people love him.

Moses Omo-Ikirodah sees his victory as a call to duty as well as to leadership, as Edo North is expected to play significant roles in our national polity.

" I have no doubt that Adams Oshiomhole would attract a large Federal presence to our senatorial district, given his background as a former Labour Union leader, former Governor of Edo State, and former National Chairman of the ruling party, the APC.

Without a question, Adams Oshiomhole has been trusted and tested in every position he has held. As State Governor, his policies restructured and reengineered Edo State mentally, socially, infrastructurally, and economically. 

The people have spoken with a resounding voice, and Edo North has demonstrated that it has a leader that is broadly regarded as being capable.

This is not merely a call to duty, but also to leadership, as Edo North requires leadership that will position our district for national significance more than ever before. I trust that God will provide you good health and the knowledge required for a successful tenure in office."

Shi’ites Clash With El-rufai’s Convoy, Four Dead

 

Four people are suspected to have been killed when security operatives attached to the convoy of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State clashed with Shi’ite members in Bakin Ruwa Area of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Thursday.

Details of the incident are sketchy but sources told Daily Trust that the clash happened around 4:15pm when the governor visited the community.

It was gathered that the convoy came in contact with the Shi’ite members who were performing their weekly procession at Bakin Ruwa along Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway.

According to Tasiu Muhammed, an eyewitness, some of the Shi’ite members started shouting as the convoy tried to pass through the procession.

Thugs invade pre-election meeting, gun down APC members

He said the situation led to commotion as the security men opened fire when some youth threw stones at them.

A relation of Yushehu Muhammed, one of the victims killed, said his late nephew was not a Shi’ia member but a commercial driver who was hit by a stray bullet.

‘It was a sad incident. I received a call that my nephew who was a commercial driver was hit by a bullet,” he said.

He demanded investigation as well as compensation because his nephew was a married man.

Daily Trust also gathered that the security men arrested some youths at the scene and whisked them away.

Contacted, a Shi’ite representative in the state, Abdullahi Usman, said none of those killed was their member.

According to him, they were commercial drivers at a bus stop near where the incident happened.

He also said it was not true that their members clashed or pelted the convoy with stones.

The State Police command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Jalige, said investigation was ongoing and that a statement would be issued later.

Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, neither responded to calls nor responded to a text message sent to him as at the time of filling the report.

Rivers Govt Petitions Defence Minister Over Amaechi, Orders Arrest Of 27 Persons

 RIVERS PETITIONS MINISTER OF DEFENCE, OTHERS OVER AMAECHI’s PLOT TO UNLEASH VIOLENCE DURING ELECTION

* Declares Friday, March 17, 2023, as a public holiday

Rivers State government has petitioned the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and other relevant authorities not to release army personnel to former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi or any politician to interfere in Saturday’s election.

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in a state broadcast on Thursday said the State government decided to petition the aforementioned based credible intelligence indicating the plans by Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to overrun and disrupt the Saturday elections in Rivers State with army personnel and civilian thugs and cultists dressed in army and police uniforms.

The governor said Amaechi, who alongside the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, were indicted by a Judicial Panel of Inquiry for fraudulently acquiring the State’s valued assets and diverting the State’s $50,000,000.00 to themselves, wants to unleash violence during Saturday election.

“We have written to notify the Hon. Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, and the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, and requested that no military personnel is released to Rotimi Amaechi or any other politician to interfere with next Saturday’s elections in Rivers State.

“Furthermore, we have noticed that the Anti-terrorism Unit of the State Police command continues to provide VIP security services to politicians in defiance of the Inspector-General’s order to withdraw all police personnel attached to VIPs during the elections.

“We, therefore request the Inspector-General of Police to enforce his order by ensuring that all political leaders are restricted to their polling units and prevented from moving about with police escort.”

Governor Wike also requested the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the following 27 local politicians who are plotting to disrupt the elections with armed thugs, cultists, and gangsters in military and police uniforms.

The politicians are: Dr. Lenoonu Nwibubasa, Bright Nwinyoodee, Barika Bareh, Friday Sinee, Dumbari Deezua, Neeka Ikina, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, Giobari Poiba, Barisi Bonikoo, Hon. Mike Amachree, Paul Lawrence Paul, Anosike Odua, Mr. Ogbams Ojimah, Kenneth Chinda, Smiles Azundah and Gift Welebe.

Others include, Nwobueze Amadi, Chidi Wosa, Ugochukwu Wosu, Ndidi Erim, Lucky Mmai, Baridi Edmund Katara, Solo Filiman Mon, Charles Anyanwu, Christian Don Pedro, Iworiabo Amachree, and Arokosimiya Ikalama.

Governor Wike said the State government expects the security high command to live up to their assurance of providing adequate security beef-of throughout the State to forestall any security breaches or breakdown of law and order during and after the elections.

“We assure everyone that we will do everything within our power to resist and prevent a repeat of what happened in 2019 when the Nigerian Army was used to rig, kill our people and destroy property during the elections across the State.

The governor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to guarantee and ensure that next Saturday’s elections are free, fair, and credible, by allowing the electorate to decide their leaders.

Governor Wike stressed that with the quality of progress his administration has delivered in the last eight years, it is evident that Rivers State will be more outstanding and closer to fulfilling its purpose if the current development tempo is strengthened and sustained for the next four years.

To this end, he maintained that his successor should be someone who will consolidate and continue with the new Rivers vision, defend and protect the State’s interests, and propel it to more remarkable progress and prosperity.

“This is precisely what the candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, have committed to accomplishing with their blueprint for consolidation and continuity. Siminalayi Fubara is a Christian, a Knight of St. Christopher, and an Accountant with over two decades of working experience in civil service.

“He progressed to the zenith of his public service career as Permanent Secretary and Accountant General of Rivers State, where he recently resigned to contest as the governorship candidate of the PDP.

“Siminalayi Fubara’s running mate, Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Odu, is also Christian with an excellent public service career. She is a former Permanent Secretary, Commissioner for Education, and university lecturer.”

He explained that both candidates are persons of impeccable character and knowledgeable technocrats with excellent public service records. According to him, the PDP governorship candidates are familiar with the workings of government, the standard public service rules, and the precepts of good governance, having worked closely with him in different capacities.

The governor harped that this is the first time former civil servants with knowledge, capacity, competence, passion and experience have been given a chance to administer the State and drive its development with their blueprint for the consolidation and continuity of the New Rivers Vision.

“Therefore, this is the turn of civil servants to be at the helm of State affairs. It is a golden opportunity for every civil and public servant, serving and retired, to fully embrace and ensure that the next Governor and Deputy Governor come from their constituency. 

“We must agree that this election is about the future of Rivers State. It is about moving Rivers State forward to the next level. It is about advancing the security and well-being of our people. It is about protecting and defending the interests of Rivers State.”

To ensure effective participation in Saturday’s election, governor Wike has therefore declared Friday, March 17, 2023, as a public holiday to enable all private and public sector workers to travel to their communities and vote in their polling units.

Governor Wike has meanwhile appreciated the voters of Rivers State for overwhelmingly voting for the State’s National Assembly candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election.

“We are particularly elated with the emergence of my Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, as one of the only three elected women Senators of Nigeria for the 10th National Assembly.”

Kelvin Ebiri

Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State governor.

March 16, 2023.