COVER
I went through Hell to become President – PMB
…I will laugh last- Atiku
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he passed through tough times in three previous elections he contested before he was elected the President.
He said this when he received Report of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said: “I went through a terrible time getting here for the three times I contested elections.
“Both young and ordinary Nigerians depend on leadership to ensure justice is always done.
“So we must ensure that trust is not compromised. This administration will take the report seriously.”
He noted that efforts to ensure autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary will further strengthen democracy and deepen inclusiveness of citizens by guaranteeing fairness for ordinary Nigerians.
Chairman of the Committee, immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said implementation of the recommendations would entrench constitutionalism, democratic principles and separation of powers.
“The recommendations clearly spell out that if uniform modules for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and state judiciary are approved for implementation across 36 states, it will no doubt strengthen Nigeria’s democratic principles, practices and public governance,’’ he said.
Malami said the committee had observed that most states honoured the constitutional provisions for financial autonomy in the breach, than in observance.
He said the legislature and judiciary had remained the last hope of the common man and should be given autonomy, even as he noted that the committee consulted with state governors, Chief Judges of states, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Civil Society Organizations and relevant stakeholders, including members of the public.
The Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary was inaugurated by President Buhari on March 22, 2019, to fashion out strategies and modalities for implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and judiciary in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution (As Amended).
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration’s goal of building an inclusive, secured and prosperous Nigeria is achievable
The president, who stated this when he received a delegation from Nasarawa State, led by Gov. Abdullahi Sule, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, added that the administration remains committed to the Change Agenda.
He, however, stressed the need for states, local governments as well as traditional and religious leaders to partner with the Federal Government in ensuring compliance of government agenda.
“In the next four years, I want to assure you that we will remain committed to the change agenda. Our goal of building an inclusive, secure and prosperous Nigeria is achievable.
“However, the federal government cannot do it alone. We need the full cooperation and support of states, local governments as well as traditional and religious leaders.
“I must commend you the Nasarawa elders and leaders for maintaining peace within the state. In the last four years, you collectively put aside your political, religious and ethnic differences for the interest of stability and prosperity.
“You must continue to preach peace and understanding in your various communities,’’ he said.
The president, who noted that the responsibility of governance was enormous, pledged that hisd administration would continue to pay greater attention towards enhancing security, inclusive economic empowerment and fighting corruption.
“In all these areas we have made progress despite the significant challenges we faced,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has said he would have the last laugh in his quest to be victorious, noting that his request and that of his party to inspect the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not rejected by the Presidential Election Tribunal.
In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, entitled, “He who laughs last, laughs best,” on Tuesday, Aiku said the tribunal rather ruled that proceeding was still at preliminary stages and the main case has begun, adding that that the matter of granting access to inspect the INEC server is not relevant to the preliminary stage.
He said the tribunal held that it is a matter to be adjudicated upon when the main case is being heard.
Atiku was responding to a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, rejoicing over the ruling of the tribunal on the request by Atiku and PDP to inspect the INEC server.
He said: “The celebration by the administration of General Buhari that their electoral heist has been covered is premature. Their giddiness has even blinded them to the eye witness testimony given to multiple media in interviews by the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission that there is indeed a server and that they actually submitted results and accreditation through it.
“In their rush to claim a Pyrrhic victory, the General Buhari administration missed out the fact that the 2019 budget has multiple line items for procurement, maintenance and service of the server they claim does not exist.”
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Governor-elect, Dr. Peter Mbah has promised to reward the people of the state with projects and policies that they will be proud of.
Mbah, who made the pledge during his acceptance speech after he was announced winner of the March 18 Governorship election in the state, also pledged to also dualise the Abakpa, Ugwuogo Nike-Nsukka road.
He also said that his administration would build a monorail from Enugu to Nsukka, Udi, Awgu and construct a ring road to connect all the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
According him, his administration would embark on development of infrastructure, health, tourism, education and development of Enugu state in general, to fast-track growth.
He emphasized that he will build a world class theme pack in Enugu, establish special economic zone in all Local Government Areas, as well as agro allied processing zones and industrial parks in all the Senatorial zones.
He said that he will unleash the tech talent in young people, grow and nurture their interest in business and vocational skills.
He assured the people of the state that his administration will not be for a section of the state but will be an inclusive government that is designed to provide an inclusive economic development to the state.
“Ours will not be a government of any section of Enugu State. It is your government, Ndi Enugu. Under our administration, there can never be division between Nsukka and Nkanu or any other section of the state. We are all brothers and sisters. Those who attempted to create a wedge between us failed woefully.
“We were massively voted by every section of the state. Those who wanted to smack our heads together had an ulterior motive and it was to create perpetual fussing and fighting between us. We resisted their machination and today, we are coming together stronger. Our resolve thereafter is to pursue the spirit of divisiveness from our state”.
From David Torough, Makurdi
The Benue chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday said it will challenge its defeat on both the governorship and state assembly elections at the tribunal.
The Acting state Chairman, Mr Isaac Mffo, made this known during a press conference on Thursday in Makurdi.
“It is the decision of the Benue Chapter of the PDP that the outcome of the March 18 elections be challenged at the state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi.
“It is our belief that we owe democracy in our country, Nigeria, a duty to help deepen it by taking such an action to reverse the ‘hijacking’ of the popular mandate of the people as done by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last elections.
“It is our faith that the mandate of the Benue electorate will be restored to our great party as was rightfully given by the people on March 18,” Mffo said.
He said that the party owes a load of gratitude to their teeming members and supporters across the state who exhibited uncommon courage to go out and vote in the elections despite alleged heavy militarisation of the polls and the use of thugs, aided by security agents sent to the state by the Federal Authorities.
He commended the leader of the party in the state, Gov. Samuel Ortom; the governorship candidate, Mr Titus Uba, and his running mate, Mr John Ngbede, Senators Gabriel Suswam, Patrick Abba Moro and Orker Jev; National Assembly and State Assembly caucus members of the party, among many others.
A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, have been found guilty of organ trafficking in the United Kingdom.
The duo alongside a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.
They criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney, the jury found yesterday.
The judge, Justice Jeremy Johnson, will pass a sentence at a later date.
Ekweremadu, Beatrice, their daughter, Sonia, and Obeta had been standing trial at the Old Bailey for organ trafficking.
Their conviction yesterday was the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act.
Ekweremadu and his wife were last year arrested in the United Kingdom for allegedly trafficking a young man into the country to harvest his kidney.
The young man was said to have been falsely presented as Sonia’s cousin in a failed bid to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The young man was said to have been offered an illegal reward to become a donor for Sonia after kidney disease forced her to drop out of a master’s degree in film at Newcastle University.
The prosecutor, Hugh Davies KC, told the court the Ekweremadus and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward”.
He said they entered an “emotionally cold commercial transaction” with the man.
The behaviour of Ekweremadu showed “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy”, Davies told the jury.
He said Ekweremadu “agreed to reward someone for a kidney for his daughter – somebody in circumstances of poverty and from whom he distanced himself and made no inquiries, and with whom, for his own political protection, he wanted no direct contact”.
“What he agreed to do was not simply expedient in the clinical interests of his daughter, Sonia, it was exploitation, it was criminal. It is no defence to say he acted out of love for his daughter. Her clinical needs cannot come at the expense of the exploitation of somebody in poverty,” Davies added.
Ramadan: 7,750 IDPs in Borno, Yobe, Kano to Benefit from KSrelief Donation – NEMA
Share Post Views: 90 The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 7,750 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Yobe and...
We respect Nigeria, but names alone don’t Play Football, says Guinea Bissau Captain Nogueira
Share Post Views: 69 Jorge Nogueira, Captain of Guinea Bissau, says his team had a lot of respect for Nigeria,...
Native Doctor Slaughters Mad Man During Treatment in Adamawa
Share Post Views: 70 From Yagana Ali, Yola. A 48 – year old native doctor, Ezekiel Buba, is in police...
Justices of the Apex Court and the Verdict of History
Share Post Views: 72 By Eugene Winful With knees on our necks, gasping for the last breadth of hope for...
Towards a Democracy-sensitive, People-oriented Judiciary
Share Post Views: 74 By Tunde Olusunle That Nigeria’s very highly regarded *The Guardian* newspaper published a two-part editorial in...
PDP Berates INEC over alleged Frustrating Issuance of CTC of Results
Share Post Views: 76 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged directives...
Tuberculosis: Africa Achieves 26% Death Reduction, WHO Says
Share Post Views: 63 By Laide Akinboade, Abuja The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the African continent was...
Appeal Court Dismisses PDP Suit Against Tinubu, Shettima over Alleged Double Nomination
Share Post Views: 68 The Court of Appeal, Abuja, Friday evening, dismissed an appeal by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking...
Nigeria Ranks High in TB Infection Despite Free Testing, FG Laments
Share Post Views: 65 By Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Federal Government has expressed dismay with the country’s position in the...
2023 Presidential Poll: Protesters Storm NASS, Reject Tinubu
Share Post Views: 91 By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja Protesters, in their numbers, under the auspices of Free Nigeria Movement, stormed...