Politics
Obaseki accuses me of dining with his enemies, humiliates me – Deputy Gov Shaibu
Obaseki accused me of dining with his enemies, humiliates me – Deputy Gov Shaibu
The cold war between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, blew open on Friday with the latter going public with alleged serial humiliation he has been subjected to by his principal in the last one month.
Shaibu claimed he had even been penciled down for impeachment by the governor through the State House of Assembly.
Immediate relief however came the way of the deputy governor after the Federal High Court Abuja, to which he ran for intervention, ordered status quo ante pending when the respondents in the suit would be able to show reasons why they should not be restrained.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in the certified true copy (CTC) of the motion which was seen Friday, asked the plaintiff and the defendants to allow things remain the way they were before the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/2023 was filed.
The defendants are the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Security Service (SSS), the Edo State Governor, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State.
Justice Mohammed said, “It is hereby directed that parties shall maintain status quo ante bellum pending when the defendants have shown cause as directed by the court in its ruling of 27/07/2023.”
The judge directed the issuance of hearing notices in the IGP, SSS and the Governor (who were not represented in court by any lawyer) and adjourned till August 10.
Shuaibu said he incurred the wrath of the governor after expressing his interest to contest the next governorship election in the state on the platform of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
The deputy governor said that sequel to his public declaration to seek the PDP governorship ticket, Obaseki had been denying him the opportunity to function in his official capacity, including threat to withdraw his security details.
He therefore sought, in the suit commenced via originating summons, for an order restraining Obaseki, the Speaker, the Chief Judge and their agents from taking steps to impeach him.
He also prayed the court to issue an order restraining the IGP, SSS and the Governor from withdrawing the security details attached to him and his office.
Shuaibu, in the supporting affidavit, detailed the genesis of the friction between him and his principal, saying: “Sometime this year, I made clearly known my intention to contest for the post of Governor of Edo State upon the expiration of the tenure of the 3rd defendant (Obaseki) in the year 2024 with my experience as the Deputy Governor of the state for eight years.
“Ever since I made known my intention, the 3rd defendant was not pleased and openly told me to jettison any idea of succeeding him in office, to which I refused and has since then become his enemy.
“The 3rd defendant has been doing all he can to prevent me from carrying out my official functions as the Deputy Governor of the state and has ever since refused to involve me in all matters pertaining to the state administration of which I hitherto participated and acted creditably with commendation.”
Shuaibu listed instances when Obaseki and his agents allegedly prevented him from performing his official functions.
He stated, “On Thursday, 13th July, 2023, a circular (letter) emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to all MDAs that all Ministries, MDAs including Local Government Councils should henceforth deal with Mr. Governor, saddled with the responsibility of Internally Generated Revenue, which used to come through my office.
“The office of the 3rd defendant posted, as usual, the schedule of meetings of the Governor for Monday, 17th July 2023.
“Amongst the meetings for that day was the one scheduled for 11:00am with HOLGAs, bankers, tech partners, EIRS and Edo-GIS – which was to hold at the State Executive Chambers.
“Before the appointed time at the Exco Chambers, all the named persons and bodies, including the Deputy Governor and the SSG, were all seated.
“The said meeting for 11:00am at the State Executive Council Chambers however never held as the 3rd defendant did not come to the Chambers for the meeting, but the attendees, except the Deputy Governor, were invited into the Governor’s Office by the Chief of Staff to Mr. Governor for discussion and dispersed from there.
“Since that day, the Office of the Deputy Governor has not been receiving any schedule of the meetings and events of the 3rd defendant, contrary to the existing practice and procedure in Government House.
“On Wednesday, 19th July, 2023 it was when briefs for the State Executive Council Meetings were forwarded to my (Personal Private Secretary) that I knew that there would be Exco meeting that day at 11:00am for the meeting at 10:00am as no schedule of Mr Governor was sent to my office as it used to be.”
He also said, “In spite of the intervention of well-meaning stakeholders in Edo State, including the Oba of Benin, the 3rd defendant is hell bent on dealing with me and has vowed to use all machineries in his power to remove me from office as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.”
The Nation
Politics
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has received a large number of grassroots leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senator it would soon be rare to see someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, in Kano State.
Responding to a question on the gale of defections rocking the NNPP in Kano, he said the rate at which the NNPP members, including their leaders, are trooping to the APC is a testament to the growing popularity and support APC is getting in Kano despite being an opposition party.
“I will continue to receive NNPP members rushing to join our party. Politics is a game of numbers. If you have a political party and members of other parties are not joining you, it means there is a problem.
“The NNPP members are attracted to the APC by our numerous interventions across critical spheres of our state and the country at large by the President Tinubu administration.
“At the formation of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu went across the country to woo people to the party. And this was why the party became popular in the country.
“We will continue receiving NNPP and other party members regardless of what some people say. Time will come. You will be looking for someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya, and you won’t see any in Kano. We will get there soon.
“We are doing this to lay a solid foundation for our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to win the presidential, governorship, national and state House of Assembly elections come 2027 in Kano and beyond,” he was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir.
The Deputy National Women Leader of the APC, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, who witnessed the defection, commended Senator Barau, describing him as a blessing to the APC, the people of Kano, the North and the country.
“The massive support our party is receiving in Kano shows the days of the NNPP are numbered in the state. We will take back our state at the poll come 2027, by Allah’s grace,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate has received members of the APC Amalgamated Support Groups in Kano State at the National Assembly.
Under the leadership of Hon. Shehu Isa Direba, the group was at the National Assembly to reaffirm their support and appreciation for Senator Barau over his various interventions in the state.
The group, comprising former LG chairmen, party stakeholders, farmers, businessmen, and civil servants, among others, said that with the support and interventions of Senator Barau, APC is no longer considered an opposition party in Kano.
“APC members are envied in Kano State by the NNPP, the ruling party in the state, because of Senator Barau’s numerous interventions, projects and programmes,” the group said.
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Politics
Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on security agencies to step in and forestall any potential unrest and breach of public peace in the state.
According to the party, the intervention is needed to prevent the state government from disobeying court orders.
The state chairman of the PDP, Aaron Chukwuemeka, made call on Thursday, after delivering protest letters to security agencies in the state.
PDP members in Rivers State, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and members of the All Progressives Congress loyal to Tony Okocha, embarked on a public demonstration demanding the suspension of the local government council elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.
The protesters gathered at the PDP state secretariat on Aba Road before marching to the offices of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters to express their concerns.
Chukwuemeka warned that if security agencies fail to act, the PDP will take laws in its hands and ensure that the elections do not take place, emphasizing the party’s commitment to maintaining peace and upholding the rule of law.
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He said, “We are here to submit a petition to you from the Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State ably led by my humble self, the state chairman of our great party, Hon, Aaron Chukwuemeka.
“And attached to this letter is an order of court, Federal High Court, a judgement of Federal High Court on 30 September, 2023.
“In that order, it was expressly stated that RSIEC should not go ahead with the election. In that same judgement, INEC should not give them voter register, and then, the security agencies were told not to participate in that election.
“And as law abiding citizens, we believe in justice and equity, we believe in rule of law. And that is why we came to you, to tell you that, that election, the governor, the RSIEC, should obey that judgment.
“No man is bigger than the law. We as a party, we are not going to participate. And then if they go ahead to do that election, and that becomes crisis, we as PDP, we will not fold our hands.
“And that is why we are begging the security agencies to stop them from conducting that election.”
Addressing the protesters, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, Adepoju Olugbenga, assured the the protesters that their letter would be delivered to the appropriate authorities.
Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections
Politics
960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano
960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano
In a significant political shift in Kano State, over 960 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Alhaji Baba Sabiu, Chairman of the party in Dala Local Government Area, have defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The defection comes ahead of the upcoming local government elections slated for October 26.
The defectors, including former councillors from 12 wards in the Dala LGA, cited a need for progressive change as their reason for joining the NNPP.
Alhaji Sabiu, speaking on behalf of the group, expressed confidence in the NNPP’s ability to bring about meaningful reforms and bolster its chances in the polls.
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Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the NNPP, warmly welcomed the new members, assuring them that they would be treated equally within the party.
He reiterated the NNPP’s commitment to fostering socio-economic and political advancement for Nigeria, with a clear focus on the 2027 agenda.
“NNPP is dedicated to promoting unity and driving Nigeria towards greater progress,” Kwankwaso stated, urging Kano residents and Nigerians nationwide to rally behind the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He called on voters to come out en masse and support the NNPP, emphasizing the party’s vision for a stronger, united Nigeria.
960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano
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