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I’ve retired from elective politics — Senator Goje

NEWS

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December 9, 2019

I’ve retired from elective politics — Senator Goje

In what came to many as a huge surprise, one time Governor of Gombe State who is currently representing Gombe Central as a Senator, Muhammad Danjuma Goje has announced his retirement from elective politics in order to give way to others particularly the upcoming politicians in the state.

While dropping the bombshell in Gombe, during a parley with APC members and other politicians supporting him at the Pantami stadium on Sunday, he however stressed emphatically that he is not leaving politics entirely but intentionally leaving the elective stage for the younger ones saying however that, “by the grace of God if alive, I will be actively involved in the campaigns in 2023.”

According to him, there are some politicians who feel he has been blocking them from achieving their dream saying, “It is time for me to leave the stage for the younger ones to occupy the stage in elective politics. From now hence, the floor is opened for anyone to contest even the Senate seat I am currently occupying in 2023”.

He stated that as a political mentor for many in the State, he will continue to remain supportive of the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State.

Human Rights Summit: Buhari, Ganduje, Bello, Malami, Kanyip, others honour invitation

Judiciary

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December 9, 2019

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Human Rights Summit: Buhari, Ganduje, Bello, Malami, Kanyip, others honour invitation

In order to ensure that the country improves on its Human Rights reporting obligations, public enlightenment and the need to institutionalize a broad national consultative process to assess the human rights situation in the country periodically.

The National Human Rights Commission organized 2019 Annual Human Rights Summit to provide a platform for human rights stakeholders to put into proper perspective various issues concerning the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, Esq expressed optimism that the summit would assist Nigeria in fulfilling in its International, Regional and National obligations towards the Promotion, Protection and Enforcement of Human Rights.

The Acting President, National industrial Court of Nigeria, His lordship, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip ably represented by Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado joined the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari; the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alh. Musa Bello; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, United Nations Development Representative, Captains of Industries, Non-Governmental Organizations and many notable guests.

The Nigeria Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata delivered the President Buhari keynote address expressed that President Buhari administration identified wholeheartedly with the mission and vision of the Commission and assured government continued commitment towards entrenching the respect for Human Rights and Dignity in the country.

Also speaking at the event, the Resident Coordinator, United Nation Development Programme, Mr Edward Kallon urged Nigerians to support the agenda of the President Buhari to lift 100 thousand out of poverty for promotion of social-economic development.

In addition, the Executive Governor of Kano State used the avenue to educate the forum on the state giant stride on Girls Child Education and Integration of Almajiri System of Education and setting up of a commission for physically challenge person to cater for their Education and Empowerment, likewise the design of State Infrastructure to comply with their rights and status.

The summit was held yesterday Sunday 8^th December 2019 at the Sheraton Hotels, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and also featured Human Rights Awards to Individuals, Federal/State agencies and Corporate Institutions.

N’Delta youths give IPOB 7 days to apologize over attack on Rotimi Amaechi or risk destruction of Igbo properties in Ikwerre land

national disaster

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December 9, 2019

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N’Delta youths give IPOB 7 days to apologize over attack on Rotimi Amaechi or risk destruction of Igbo properties in Ikwerre land

Days after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) claimed responsiblity over the near-attack against former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Niger Delta youths under the auspices of Concerned Youths of Niger Delta (CYND) have threatened to destroy properties owned by Igbos in Ikwerre land if an apology is not issued by the proscribed secessionist group.

The youth group drawn from the six Niger Delta states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River and Edo described the attack as a ‘national embarrassment’.

In a statement issued by the groups’s National Coordinator Commander Chikaru Oronda Ndamati, the Niger Delta Youths who gave IPOB 7 days to issue the apology to Rotimi Amaechi added that they will appeal to the Federal Government “to take the matter before the international community to compel world leaders to always beef up security around Nigerian leaders on foreign trips”.

The statement read in parts;

“The IPOB should remember that all the Igbos in South-South have and do businesses in Rivers state particularly in Ikwere land, which happens to be Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s ethnic nationality.

“We are going to destroy all the Igbo properties in Ikwere land and Niger Delta if they try it again. Ikwere ethnic nationality has four Local Government Areas in Rivers state including Port Harcourt City, Obio Akpor, Emohua and Ikwere Echie Local Governments.

“Having accepted the responsibility of the attack on Amaechi in Spain, IPOB should also be ready to take full responsibility for any reaction that will come out from their dastardly act if IPOB fails to tender apology within seven days.”

APC Governors Exchange Heated Words Over Oshiomole At Meeting With Buhari

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December 9, 2019

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Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress exchanged hot words and shouted at one another during last Thursday’s meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, with some of them demanding the removal of party national chairman Adams Oshiomhole; while others insisted on his stay in office, Equity news.ng learnt from top party sources at the weekend.

The meeting ended in stalemate and when the governors emerged from the meeting, none of them agreed to speak to newsmen.

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Chief of Staff to the President Mallam Abba Kyari also attended the meeting.

Equity news learnt that five governors pushed for Oshiomhole’s immediate removal, saying he had mismanaged the party due to selfish interest and has endangered its future.

They are Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, who is also chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum; Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna; Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, who is chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum; Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State and Governor Andrew Obaseki of Edo. The latter is in a bitter political quarrel with his predecessor and former godfather, Oshiomhole. He is also up for re-election next year.

On the other hand, governors who supported Oshiomhole included Babagana Zulum of Borno, Sanwo-olu of Lagos, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Engineer Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa.

Among the APC governors that were either not at the meeting or who sat on the fence were Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Mohamed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Mohamed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara.

The pro-Oshiomhole governors said no meeting of APC governors was held to discuss the matter before Governor Bagudu phoned each one of them on Wednesday night and invited them to the meeting with Buhari on Thursday morning.

Many had to charter planes in order to attend the meeting, they said. Sources told Equity news.ng there was a sharp exchange between one governor from the northwest who opposed Oshiomhole and another from the northeast who supported him.

While the former said they were clamouring for the chairman’s sack out of loyalty to President Buhari and his legacy, the latter accused the former of being a late comer to the Buhari camp.

He said he was a Buhari local government coordinator in 2003 when the former was a top anti-Buhari PDP operator. Buhari refused to support and side in the argument, sources said. he instead said he initially supported Oshiomhole to become national chairman because he had a good record both as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and as Edo State governor.

The president, however. said if party members wanted to remove him, they should follow the normal procedure. One of the governors, who supported Oshiomhole, however added that if Buhari wanted the chairman removed, he should say so and they would support him.

Equity news.ng also learnt that when APC state chairmen met with the president over the same issue last Friday, 24 of them indicated support for Oshiomhole to continue as party chairman; while the others either opposed him or sat on the fence. Again there was no consensus at the meeting,

APC to Dickson: Accept defeat, stop heating up the polity

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December 9, 2019

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APC to Dickson: Accept defeat, stop heating up the polity

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa on Sunday urged the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, to stop threatening the state over the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 16 governorship election, Douye Diri. APC advised Dickson to take the path of democracy and rule of law by taking his grievances to the court.

The APC Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, stated these in a statement issued in Yenagoa, the state capital. He said the call was premised on repeated allegations by Dickson after the PDP defeat in the governorship election.

According to him, Diri lost to the APC candidate, Chief David Lyon, who won with over 70 percent of the votes and defeated his opponent in six of the eight local government areas of the state. The statement read: “In the last few weeks, since the overwhelming victory of our candidate at the November 16 governorship election, Chief David Lyon, Governor Dickson has inundated the state and the country with wild allegations and inciting comments.

Dickson “He has screamed blue murder at all relevant institutions of the state, from the electoral body to security agencies, and the winning APC. “And he has absolved only himself and his section of the PDP of blame. “From his furious mind, Dickson has issued threats to the electorate in Bayelsa and APC members, particularly, and he has boasted about his capacity to unleash violence and turn the state upside down. “

Dickson has displayed everything, but the commitment to democratic ideals and legal processes of electoral conflict resolution. “We, however, unequivocally state and also remind Dickson that the elections have been concluded and the governor-elect, Chief David Lyon, is only waiting to be sworn into office as the next governor of Bayelsa. And for those who feel aggrieved, like Dickson, there are constitutionally prescribed processes open to them to follow in trying to redress their grievances. “

Disparaging the institutions of state and inciting the public to violence are, certainly not among the processes. “Dickson is not a court of law, he should stop holding court on the governorship election. He cannot be the plaintiff and judge in a case in which he is an interested party. If he has grievances, the place to go is the electoral tribunal. “

Dickson is also not Bayelsa, and he cannot claim to be voicing the opinion of the people, who have overwhelmingly spoken with their votes against his nearly eight years of misrule and mistreatment. “The people of Bayelsa spoke on November 16 across political boundaries and the message was clear. Dickson must respect the voice of the people.” (NAN)

Ganduje gives Emir Sanusi new appointment amid face-off

National

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December 9, 2019

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Ganduje gives Emir Sanusi new appointment amid face-off

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appointed the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II as the first chairman of the newly-formed State Council of Chiefs.

The appointment was announced amid the face-off between Ganduje and Sanusi over the

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appointed the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II as the first chairman of the newly-formed State Council of Chiefs.

The appointment was announced amid the face-off between Ganduje and Sanusi over the

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appointed the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II as the first chairman of the newly-formed State Council of Chiefs.

The appointment was announced amid the face-off between Ganduje and Sanusi over the creation of new kano emirates signed into law last week by Ganduje.

There had been speculations that the Emir of Bichi, Aminu Bayero, would be appointed to chair the council.

In a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Abba Anwar, Ganduje ordered Sanusi to summon council meeting immediately.

“By the powers conferred on the Governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, by Sections 4 (2) (g) and Section 5((1) (2) of the Kano State Emirate Councils Law 2019, he makes the following appointments; that His Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano Emirate, as Chairman Kano State Council of Chiefs,” it read.

“Among other members of the State Council of Chiefs are all other Four First Class Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Alhaji Dr Tafida Abubakar (Autan Bawo), Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Abubakar II and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir, who are also automatic members of the Council, as enshrined in the State Emirate Council Law.

“Also Section 4(2) gives other members as Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner for Local Governments
five (5) Chairmen of Local Government Councils one each from the Local Government Council where the Emir’s palace is situated.

“Others according to this Section comprises at least Ten (10) Kingmakers, 2 each from the Five (5) Emirates mentioned under Section 3(1) of the Law, Chief Imam of each Emirate.

“Other members include a representative of the Business Community from each Emirate to be appointed by the Governor, as the names of Alhaji Dalhat Al-Hamsad and Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano are appointed by the Governor, as two of them.

“So also the Law stipulates, as members of the State Council of Chiefs, a representative of Security Agencies, the Police, State Security Service and Civil Defence Corps. And not more than two (2) other members to be appointed by the Governor, the names of Alhaji Nasiru Aliko Koki is nominated as member of the State Council of Chiefs, under this category. And then the Secretary of the Council who would be appointed by the Council of Chiefs.

“Section 5(1), (2) of the Law provides that, the Chairmanship of the State Council of Chiefs shall be rotational among the Five (5) Emirs of the Emirates and the sequence of which is to be determined by the Governor and the Chairman shall serve for a period of two (2) years only.

“The appointment is with effect from Monday, the 9th Day of December, 2019. It is also directed that the Chairman shall immediately summon the inaugural meeting of the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

“Governor Ganduje urges all the Council members to utilize the opportunity to serve the people in the state and to strengthen the Emirates and the traditional system of administration in the State in advising the state government, more particularly on security matters.