Can any good come from Atiku Abubakar?

 

             Atiku Ababakar 

By Ben AHANONU 

While some Nigerians have described as Freudian slip Atiku Ababakar's recent odious remarks about Yorubas and Igbos,  I, however consider such as acerbic rantings of a politically handicapped and drowning man that catches at a straw.

 Atiku Abubakar said during the recent Arewa town hall policy dialogue in Kaduna, that:  “What the average Northerner needs is somebody who is from the North … he doesn’t need a Yoruba Candidate or an Igbo candidate”.

I am not surprised by Atiku Abubakar's desperate pronouncement because as a drowning man with defeat staring in his face and which he must embrace soon,  Atiku, has resorted to whipping up ethnic sentiments - he cannot and will never rule Nigeria.

He claims to be a bridge builder and unifier but his actions and pronouncements portray him as antithesis of a pan-Nigerian politician.

A unifier cannot go to southeast and promise to handover to an Igbo after eight years and  move to south-south to make the same promise and by so doing exposing his treacherous underbelly.

Is he coming as  Nigerian President, who will seek a united and prosperous country, or a tribal northern president? 

I want to also believe that Atiku's classification of North does not include Northern Christians, who have been besieged, killed and despoiled by Fulani expansionist terrorists because he will be insulting their psyche.

When Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, was stoned to death and burnt by some misguided fellows for allegedly posting comments that blasphemed Prophet Mohammed, the same Atiku Ababakar was quick on flip-flop to delete a statement he issued condemning the killing on his Facebook and Twitter accounts after coming under pressure from those he thought will vote for him, claiming that it was done without his approval.

It is obvious that Atiku Abubakar only pays lip service to national unity, despite the fact that it features as one of the 5 cardinal points of his so-called “Covenant with Nigerians."

Atiku Abubakar cannot pretend again as his real configuration as a tribal champion ready to divide and rule  is now fully naked before the Nigerian people.

Meanwhile, there are indications  that the former Vice-President, through his statement in Kaduna, might have breached Section 97 of the Electoral Act.

The section states: “A candidate, person or association that engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal or sectional reason to promote or oppose a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to (a) a maximum fine of N1m or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both and (b) in the case of a political party, to a maximum of N10m.’’

The question is, why is it not about what Nigeria and Nigerians need? Nigerians need bold and visionary leadership with firm commitment to national unity, over and above ethnic or sectional interests.

Atiku’s comment smacks of extreme and mindless desperation and such an extremely desperate man cannot and must not be given the most important job in Nigeria i.e. the President because it is a job with the core duty of leading, uniting and working in the best interest of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, sex or creed.

Interestingly, Atiku Ababakar, who sold Nigeria's critical assets cheaply as Chairman of National Council on Privatization ( NCP) and brought darkness to Nigeria is eager to sell more even the NNPC; the same Atiku who cannot  manage his family well - as Jennifer left, has already destroyed the PDP and  wants to bring the same division and destruction into the affairs of the country. 

Indeed, the five PDP Governors led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike have been proven right and true lovers of the country.

Atiku Ababakar does not believe in equity, justice and fairness otherwise he will not continue to insist on Iyorchia Ayu as PDP Chairman.

Atiku Ababakar is an ethnic champion, who wants to rule Nigeria by all means but lacks the capacity to govern well. He can marry from every tribe in Nigeria but that will not make any difference. 

I take pity on those supporting him because they are on a wild goose chase. So long as I am concerned, Atiku's ambition to govern Nigeria will remain a mirage and this is based on the fact that nothing good will ever come from him.

Police to Daily Sun: Retract false publication or face legal action

 

                            CP Barde

By our correspondent

The Nigeria Police, Imo State Command has the Nigeria Police, Imo State Command Owerri, Imo State, has given the  Daily Sun, twenty - four hours to retract what it viewed as offensive and false news publication in the edition of 20/6/2022, or prepare for legal action against the publisher. 

In a release signed by the Imo Police Public Relations officer, CSP Michael Abbatam, the  Nigeria Police Imo Command, said it is preposterous and most unfortunate that, a notable national newspaper will publish a sensitive story without ascertaining the true facts. 

"The command is miffed and view this publication as malicious, false, misleading and a calculated attempt to undermine the already improved security situation being enjoyed in the state and also to dampen the confidence the Command has achieved with the good people of the state since the arrival of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde.

"According to the release, there was no bomb explosion in Izombe Central Market on 20/6/2022, and there was no record that, the traders were at anytime warned by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or it militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) not to come out on Mondays for their businesses. 

"However, preliminary investigation conducted by the Police Operatives on arrival at the market while responding to the distress call on Monday 20/6/2022, revealed that some overzealous miscreants came to Izombe Central Market in Oguta Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, on a motorcycle, went to a bus canvassing for passengers traveling to Owerri and set it ablaze in the name of enforcing "sit-at-home" order in the Community and left almost immediately after the act. However, no life was lost and most of the people had already  left.

"The Command considers the said publication as not only unprofessional but also at variance with the ethics of the profession of journalism."

 

Reasons why Petrol can't be sold at N165 - IPMAN

 

                 NNPC Retail outlet

By our correspondent

Residents of  Lagos on Monday spent hours waiting on queues in filling stations at various locations in the state.

This was as a result of the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol which affected businesses that depend on the product for power due to the erratic supply of electricity in the country.

In an interview, the Lagos Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Akin Akinrinade, explained the rationale behind the fuel scarcity.

According to him, the situation across the state is as a result of the operating environment which has become hostile to their businesses.

Akinrinade specifically stated that the petroleum marketers were not on strike as feared but have found it difficult to operate considering the dependence on diesel whose price has skyrocketed.

“Members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN have shut down their stations, not because we are striking; we are not on strike,” he said.

“Rather, the business environment has been very hostile to us such that we can no longer do business under this condition. For you to load a litre of petrol, you pay in N162 per litre.”

The IPMAN official was quick to say the situation had nothing to do with the removal of subsidy or deregulation of the petroleum sector.

He listed the high cost of buying petrol at the depots, the high cost of diesel for running their station, and the increased cost of freight as the major factors responsible.

Akinrinade stressed that it was no longer feasible to sell the product at the recommended price of N165 to a litre, adding that the landing cost of petrol was between N175 to N178 naira to the litre.

“You now have to add the cost of transportation which is between N6 to N8, depending on the distance within Lagos,” he explained. “If it is outside Lagos, it is much more than that.

“So, if you add N8 to N162, you already have N170 and the government which is the regulator wants us to sell at N165; we have not even added the charges at the depot and the running cost at our stations.”

“You know what diesel says now, and you know how epileptic power supply is; we run on generator, using diesel at N800 per litre. There is no station in Lagos that uses less than 50 litres (of diesel) per day.

“So, our members can no longer sell (petrol) at N165 per litre; in fact, there is no reasonable person in this business that can sell below N180 per litre, so it is not as if we are on strike,” he concluded.

Obi's case:A National and Southeast Project

By Christian Akpunonu

The saying may soon manifest as the truth that every disappointment is likely a blessing in disguise. Although the above statement is not an aphorism, yet it applies oftentimes. Experience, and revelation knowledge shows that,any change in position is accompanied by if not commensurate status change,but,at least an obvious deviation from status quo antebellum.In the Biblical account, the Patriarch Abraham was depicted,not only as a righteous man,but,one whose obedience was credited as righteousness.At the behest of the Almighty God , Abraham took a bold stride to change from his native home town to the place the Spirit of God led him Excuse the biblical allusions in the spirit of religious tolerance.

The abrupt quitting from the Peoples Democratic Party's primary election and the final exit from the mega party in all, are clear manifestations of the direction of the unseen hands of the final arbiter of life,the Godhead.

It was a volatile decision that triggered up a whirlwind of the impending political revolution.The youths as whole, regardless of either religious or ethnic sentiment are geared towards one page.The major drive is this need to change the narratives of the power stronghold as the exclusive preserve of the cabalistic and mafioso clique of power dispensers.This time around is to say,no, enough is enough.The destiny of Nigeria should be in the hands of the Nigerians, especially the youths supposedly, the future hope of tomorrow.

Besides, the burgeoning national consciousness among the youths in particular,the victim of the inequity is the Southeast.The youths of this nation for once made an indelible historical impact with the End-SARS protests And, the outcome of the presidential party primaries of the two mega parties namely the ruling APC and the PDP serves just one purpose of being a political eye opener to all and sundry.This is another opportunity for the youths of Nigeria to prove their mettle.

It was an impolite way of institutionalizing sleaze, treachery, injustice and brazen inequity in the national scheme of things.It simply and bluntly states with impunity too,that, the Southeast of Nigeria is not in the picture as the major national political stakeholders.

 Interestingly,the message being sent to you and I is simple,the inconsequential nature of the electorates and the supremacy of the power . Obviously, money answers all questions.Must our conscience be bought by money always? We can resist the devil,to it flee.Let us get this disgusting bum fluffy pancakes for the people to regain freedom.

In disguise, the antics of money bag politicking took the centre stage to press forward preponderance of the stereotype political pendulum.They know and determine where the pendulum swings and who the cap fits.The feeling of the electorate and the youths remain inconsequential.The Hausa-Fulani oligarchy continues to reign supreme.They will set and detect the pace.

The forgoing insinuates thus; the time is now for the youths to change the narratives.Also, the time is now for the people of the Southeast to make a political statement.Similarly,those engrossed in the virtues of patriotism viz-a-vis national consciousness should be repudiate evil trends.They need to show that,any rejected one does not reject oneself. Doing so,is madness and irrevocable submission to perpetual subjugation and intimidation.The Hausa-Fulani oppression is bound to be sustained.

If the national consciousness is not directed towards the deserving radical step as the prevailing socio-political circumstances entails,then,the country teeters on brinks of disintegration ipso facto. This implies that the national unity is imposed not imbibed.

Any attempt to cover up or down play this arrant injustice is not only too dangerous for the national health, but quite inimical to the collective psyches of the citizens.

However, it's not enough to simply decry evil and let it abate.The worst sin against the tenets of criminal justice is complacency.Although,procrastination is an accomplice, being equally a thief of time--an idle man's apology, it's of the same sin,but inaction is the next enemy of equity and great Energizer of injustice.Of course, keeping mute and inactive all the time, extends suffering and  fans the ambers of injustice like nothing else.

Nigerians especially, the youths and Southeast should rise up to this challenge.Say no to the usual nonsense, condemn evil through the power of voting. If our votes count, let's do the needful,resolved to put an end to impunity, financial rascality and brazen injustice.It is turn of the southeast to produce the next President, respecting affirmative actions like federal character, quota system and adjustments to suite our peculiarities .The candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi is the best candidate among others.So,let part leanings countless, because,a new normal is possible.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are entirely that of the writer and does not reflect the opinion of Nigerian Academic Excellence Magazine 

Federal High Court stops INEC from ending voter registration

 

By our correspondent

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon (Court 10),  Monday, granted an order of interim injunction,  stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from ending voter registration on June 30, 2022, following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had filed the lawsuit against INEC asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights.”

In the suit, SERAP had asked the court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the 30th June 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The suit was adjourned to 29th June, 2022 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

The suit followed the decision by INEC to extend the deadline for the conduct of primaries by political parties by six days, from June 3 to June 9. But the commission failed to also extend the online pre-registration which ended May 30 2022 and the Continuous Voter Registration ending June 30, 2022.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1034/2022 filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and transferred to Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether the failure of INEC to extend the deadline for voter registration is not a violation of Nigerian Constitution, 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, and international standards.”

According SERAP, this pursuant to the fact that  “The Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution’.

“Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 also provides that ‘the registration of voters, updating and revision of the Register of Voters under this section shall not stop not later than 90 days before any election covered by this Act’.

“Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance guarantee the right to political participation.

“These human rights treaties also require states parties including Nigeria to ensure the independence and impartiality of national electoral bodies responsible for the management of elections, as well as to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation.

“The right of people to participate in their government is a fundamental feature of any democratic society, and any undue restriction of the right would strike at the heart of representative government.”

Tourism Ministry commences recertification of hotels, tourist facilities

 

 ...To close facilities in breach of statutory obligations

                           Mazi Ohia

Imo State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has began the recertification of tourism facilities and establishments with an inspection visit to Rento Hotel and Suites, Owerri, Thursday.

Speaking during the visit, the Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mazi Uche Ohia, PhD, said: "The objective of the recertification exercise is to verify the registration, operations and compliance of hotels and other facilities in the tourism and hospitality industry with existing laws and regulations and to ensure that all registered tourism establishments observe minimum standards and maintain best industry practices."

Mazi Ohia, pointed out that the recertification exercise is mandatory and warned that any tourism facility or establishment that fails to undergo the recertification exercise will be sealed off by Government.

In a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Rento Hotel and Suites, Chief Chika Emenike, the Commissioner said: "We are here specifically on an official visit to inspect the facilities you have and to ensure that you comply with standards. Government appreciates the investment you made and I am satisfied with what I have seen; Rento is an exemplary facility". 

He urged the hotel management not to regard government as an enemy when there is drive for payment of statutory revenue and advised that hotel proprietors should call on the office to know their obligations and fulfill them."

He gave an assurance that Government will continue to provide infrastructure and security to ensure conducive business environment in the state.

Responding, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rento Hotel and Suites, Chief Chika Emenike, noted that as a law abiding investor, he will meet all statutory obligations adding that Government should be socially oriented in its revenue generation efforts.

"Let your drive not be to make money alone but to enforce standards and make things work for the benefit of the people", he admonished

Chief Emenike, who said he believes in excellence and would be part of any endeavour to make Imo better lamented the distortions of Owerri Master Plan. He disclosed that his investments were in the East and has over 3000 employees. The renowned industrialist charged the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to ensure that Imo State does not lose its leadership position in hospitality and tourism in South East Nigeria.

The team inspected facilities in the hotel including the kitchen, VIP bar, the fitness gym, rooms, barbing salon, and reception hall, among others, and returned an "A" rating for the facilities and services rendered at the hotel.

In the Commissioner's team were Hon Bobby Michaels Uchechukwu, Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Creative Arts; Sir T.U.C Nwokonkwo, Permanent Secretary; Heads of Departments of the Ministry; and the Acting General Manager of Imo State Tourism Board, among other staff of the Ministry.

President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not my President - Umahi

 

                           Umahi

By our correspondent

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has expressed total disappointment with the leadership of Ohaneze Nd'Igbo and what he called the high level of betrayal by delegates from Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo States during the just concluded presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).     

Umahi, who spoke during the maiden matriculation ceremony of King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu said, "Igbo delegates failed to make a statement with their votes despite the widespread clamour for power shift to the zone.

“I have lost total confidence in the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation, and will openly confront anyone who challenges the Ebonyi agenda.”

“I am ashamed of the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He can no longer be my president. It is a very big shame and every Igbo man should be weeping for himself. Let me warn the youths in Ebonyi State that those leaders selling us out should not be considered our leaders again.

“You talk about marginalisation and Biafra and I continue to say that Ebonyi State cannot be part of Biafra. I weep for our leaders.

“Anyone that comes against the Ebonyi people, I will fight in public to protect the integrity of Ebonyi man. We must aspire and the kingdom of darkness cannot hold Ebonyi down.

“We have a fighting spirit and we have nothing to be afraid of. When honourable people are needed in the Southeast, they will look for Ebonyi people.”

His words: “Ebonyi people are wonderful people. It will not be good for me not to take out time to express my gratitude to you after the presidential primary election.

“The presidential election was an eye opener for Ebonyi State. I thank God that through your support we had a victory. We decided to contest so that the Igbo people would not say that we do not have qualified people.

“The Igbo man has five states and we should be asking why. Is there any fairness? Other states have 40 to 50 local government areas. How do you expect an Igbo man to win?

“But the worst is the attitude of delegates from the Southeast.

“Only Ebonyi people in PDP stood for both the PDP and APC. It is a very big shame that our people are crying over marginalisation.

“I had a series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone in the company of its national vice-chairman. I implored the delegates that the issue was not about me, but the mood of the Igbo in the nation.

“We would have made a strong statement in the process that the Igbo are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country.

“They will come later to preach about Igbo unity and its agenda but henceforth, the only agenda I know is the Ebonyi agenda. This shows that even if we have equal number of local government areas and delegates such as other zones, we would still trade our votes.

“We are currently regarded as people who can sell anything but they should remember that anyone who betrays his brother will lose the trust of those who gained from the betrayal.

“There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive, but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbo to the fore.

“You (Ebonyi delegates) have made yourselves reference points of steadfastness in the country and when people are seeking trustworthy people, they will come for you," he stressed.