Connect with us

POLITICS

Anambra Polls: Etiaba not Our Candidate—AA tells INEC

Published

on

Share

By Jude Opara, Abuja

With barely two months to the November 6 Anambra State governorship election, the Action Alliance (AA) has protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the adoption of Ben Etiaba as the party’s candidate for the election.

National Chairman of the party, Barr.

Kenneth Udeze who led the protest told newsmen that INEC has also failed to only operate as an unbiased umpire, even as he alleged that some staff of the commission had decided to compromise the process by ensuring the recognition of Etiaba instead of their preferred candidate, John Okechukwu Ikeotunye.

The AA leadership who also submitted a formal protest letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu reminded the Commission about some earlier litigations to buttress its points said there were credible suspicion that some staff of the Commission were hell-bent in destroying the party.

He added that it was as a result of the Court Order which INEC was forced to comply with that also saw the National Chairman of AA, Chief Udeze emerging as the National Legal Adviser of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

“Moving on, the Party conducted its National elective convention on April 8th, 2017 where Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led National Executive committee (NEC) of Action Alliance AA, was duly elected under your supervision for a four years term renewable.

“Fast forward 2019, INEC having been dealing with Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze as AA National Chairman, UDEZE was elected the National Legal Adviser of the Inter Party Advisory council (IPAC) within your first tenure as INEC Chairman.” 

The National Chairman further contended that the AA was also challenged in another suit instituted against it by one Adekunle Omoaje, but the Court struck it out for want of diligent prosecution.

“In another related suit, in an FCT high court Suit NO: FCT/HC/CV/2705/2019 presided over by Hon. Justice O.C. Agabaza, dismissed a suit for an order of court  to stop  the National Chairman, chief Barr Kenneth Udeze from parading himself as AA National Chairman. 

“While these valid court judgements and findings subsists and never been challenged on appeal including the latest judgement of Justice Binta Mohammed in SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/2080/2020 between Chief Kenneth Udeze Vs. INEC & 2 ORS delivered on 12th day of February,  2021, your commission out of over zealousness and lawlessness refused to give effects to the orders and findings of courts of competent jurisdiction because it is compromised through some of your staff, who must be made to declare truly their interest in Action Alliance and the reason to destroy our party.”  

The AA therefore charged INEC to rise up and dig deep to fish out the alleged fifth columnists within its operations especially as it concerns some alleged compromised staff of the Commission with a view to unknot the avoidable causes of pre-election cases by recalcitrant political parties that work in connivance with INEC Staff.

“It appears that this same INEC staff, has accepted to be used by external forces (politicians from other parties, especially in APC) to hijack the party by facilitating every form of illegality and sabotage against the leadership of Chief Barr Kenneth Udez led National Executive and we have come to officially inform you that we cannot allow such intimidation to stand or thrive, not under our leadership.” 

The party concluded that apart from John Okechukwu Ikeotuonye, any other person parading himself as the candidate of the AA in the November 6 Anambra state governorship election is illegitimate and cannot stand.

POLITICS

Assembly Passes Edo N675bn 2025 Budget for Assent 

Published

on

Share

The Edo House of Assembly on Monday passed the state 2025 budget of N675 billion for assent.

The passage followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Budget and Project Monitoring at plenary in Benin.

Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Sunday Fada, (PDP Esan Central) said the budget was made up of N225 billion recurrent expenditure and N451 billion capital expenditure.

Fada noted that the committee came up with the increase in the budgetary allocation to enable the governor carry out his five points agenda in the state.

The House at the committee of Supply, considered the budget clause by clause and subsequently, approved the increase from N605.

7 billion to N675 billion.

The Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, thereafter directed Mr Yahaya Omogbai, the clerk of the house to forward clean copies of the budget to the governor for his assent. (NAN)

Continue Reading

POLITICS

Poverty, Behind Deadly Stampedes Across Nigeria, says Falana

Published

on

Missing N500bn: Probe CBN, Falana, Others Tell PMB
Share

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, on Sunday attributed the deadly stampede that claimedmore than 105 lives in stampedes during food and cash distribution events to “poverty-induced neoliberal economic policies” and “criminal negligence.

In a statement released on Sunday, Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond ASCAB, demanded justice for victims of the tragic events, saying, “These tragic events are a national shame, the victims were not just statistics but human beings driven to desperation by systemic poverty and the gross incompetence of those entrusted with their safety.

On December 21, 12 people died and 32 others were injured in Okija, Anambra State, during a scramble for rice distributed by a philanthropist.

On the same day, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including children, as over 3,000 people jostled for palliatives.

Just two days prior, on December 19, 35 children lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas funfair at an Islamic High School, Basorun. in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The loss of these innocent lives is heart-wrenching,” Falana lamented.

“It underscores the indignity that poverty imposes on our people.”

Falana also criticized the elite for their treatment of the poor during such events, stating, “No member of the elite invites others to lunch by throwing the food,” and condemned what he termed “class prejudice” in the distribution of humanitarian aid.

He also announced plans to mobilize lawyers to pursue civil suits against the organizers of these events.

“We will ensure survivors and families of the deceased are adequately compensated,” Falana affirmed. “Those responsible for these avoidable tragedies must be held accountable.”

Continue Reading

POLITICS

2025 budget: LP Chieftain Lauds Tinubu for Diving Priority to Security, Others

Published

on

Share

Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, National Deputy Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) ,has commended  President Bola Tinubu for giving  priority to security and other key sectors in the 2025 Appropriation Bill .

Olorunfemi gave the commendation while speaking with newsmeon Thursday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the President had on Wednesday  presented  the N47.

9 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill , christened “Budget of Restoration, Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity” , to a joint session of the National Assembly .

The President listed highlights of the 2025 budget allocations to include: defense and security: N4.91 trillion; infrastructure: N4.06 trillion; Health: N2.

48 trillion and Education: N3.52 trillion.

Reacting , Olorunfemi  described security as an enabler of development.

He called on the President to ensure proper implementation ,saying budgets had always been well-crafted but usually lacked monitoring and implementation.

“There is nothing that can happen if there is no security. This is good if the budget is properly utilised for the purpose.

“Our problem is not about policies and budgets, it is about monitoring and implementation.

“There is nothing wrong in bringing a budget proposal forward in terms of expectation, what we want to do, how we want to do it, and how much we want to spend.

“Now, the most important thing is the implementation,, budgets in Nigeria have always been properly crafted,” the LP boss said.

Olorunfemi called on the President to build strong institutions to prevent sabotaging of his policies.

“If this government wants to do anything, it must wake up to the responsibility of monitoring policies and ensure  severe penalty for anyone who attempts to sabotage such policies.

“We need institutions that no one will be able to interfere with. We must allow these institutions to work, that is what we expect.

“Once we have strong institutions, most of our problems are solved,” he said.

He  also called on the President to take steps to address  the problems experienced by Nigerians in the banking sector.

Olorunfemi  decried the inability of many Nigerians to get cash at  bank’s Automated Teller Machines and the high charges paid  to get cash from Point of Sales (POS) operators.

The LP boss also urged the President to devise ways of  ending multiple taxations and high fuel price, describing them as major causes  of  hardship .

Recalled that the President said that the budget was a demonstration of government’s commitment to stabilising the economy, improving lives and repositioning the country for greater performance.

He also said the budget sought to consolidate the key policies instituted to restructure the economy, boost human capital development, increase the volume of trade and investments and bolster oil and gas production. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS3 minutes ago

FG Declares Public Holidays for Christmas, New Year

ShareThe Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays. This is contained in a statement signed...

NEWS8 minutes ago

Hoodlums Attack Etsu Lokoja’s Palace, Raze Properties

Share Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within...

NEWS13 minutes ago

Eight Dead, Three Injured in Ohafia Road Crash

ShareThe Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two...

NEWS16 minutes ago

Sen. Abiru, ATTF President others Inspect SAIL Innovation Lab in Ibeju Lekki

Share Sen.  Mukhail Abiru (Lagos -East) with other notable personalities on Monday,  inspected the nearly completed SAIL Innovation Lab and...

POLITICS19 minutes ago

Assembly Passes Edo N675bn 2025 Budget for Assent 

Share The Edo House of Assembly on Monday passed the state 2025 budget of N675 billion for assent. The passage...

Health22 minutes ago

2000 FCT Residents Get free Medical Services

Share No fewer than 2000 residents of Jiwa community in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Kaida Tsoho in Gwagwalada area council...

NEWS25 minutes ago

2025: KDSG Allocates N74.02 bn to Stimulate Agriculture

ShareThe Kaduna State Government said it allocated 7.4 per cent of its 2025 budget, amounting to N74.02 billion  to stimulate...

Foreign News28 minutes ago

Mozambique’s Death Toll from Cyclone Chido Rises to 94- Reports

Share Mozambique’s disaster management agency announced that the death toll from Cyclone Chido has risen to 94. The cyclone had...

NEWS32 minutes ago

Yuletide: Police Restricts Movement in 5 Plateau LGs

Share The Police Command in Plateau has restricted movement in five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, ahead of...

NEWS48 minutes ago

Lassa Fever: Nigeria Records 190 Deaths – DG NCDC

Share By Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Federal Government, FG, has revealed on Monday, that there were 190 deaths since January...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc