“The government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election.”
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Election losers want to overthrow government through protest, says Wike
Election losers want to overthrow government through protest, says Wike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has vowed to resist any protest geared towards overthrowing the present government.
Wike claimed there are people who lost elections and want to stage the proposed protest to achieve their aim.
He said this while speaking at a town hall meeting with FCT stakeholders organised by the FCT Administration on Saturday.
The Minister, who called on all to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assured that all the issues on ground would be tackled very soon, adding that Tinubu has the capacity to do much more and further deliver the dividends of democracy.
Wike urged people to shun the planned protest which he said will further bring a setback to the nation.
He said: “There are politicians who want to be in power at all cost, who are these people who want to protest. Even on social media that have applied to me to grant the Eagle Square for protest. Do you apply to me through social media? You will write to the office of the minister, I will see you, and ask you how many days do you want to spend? How much will you pay?
“There are people who lost elections, the only way they can be relevant is to overthrow the government in whichever way. We will not allow that. I have seen all kinds of threats that I will die tomorrow, I know I will die one day, so you do not need to remind me of that. If I die tomorrow, you are not the one that killed me, it is my time. I will die the day God says I will die.
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“If Abuja is working, Nigeria will work. When we came on board so many people cried out that things were not moving. But by the grace of God with the support we had from President Tinubu there are changes. And we are committed to making more changes. When we came in, insecurity was so high. For the first time we went out to all the area councils, we spoke with the Chiefs, Muslim and Christian leaders, youths, women, and other stakeholders and we asked them what they want us to do, the government alone cannot do it.
“And with the support that you have given with the security agencies you can attest to the fact that the situation is different. We are not saying that we have brought insecurity to the end, nobody in this world, no country that there is no insecurity.
“Afterall they nearly killed Trump recently. If it was in Nigeria now we would have said our security agencies are not working and that things have failed. Yesterday (Friday) they sabotaged the train system in Paris, keeping over 800 thousand people stranded. If it was here they would say that our security people are not working. And that is an advanced country.
“Nobody can say that you can completely eliminate insecurity. If they tell you everyday what they do everyday to secure us.You will be shocked. Hundreds of criminals are arrested everyday, prosecuted everyday. If they let you know, it will put fear in you. Very soon we will start building security stations as they requested in the area councils. How can we now see all these and people will say nothing has been done or nothing is happening. Let us be sincere to ourselves. I agree that we have the problem of hunger.
“We have a duty to provide food and we also have a duty to provide infrastructure. This problem we are talking about is not a problem of today. That is why when you see a decayed economy, you need leadership that will bring policies. Now the president has said there are problems and there are challenges, I have the capacity to face the problems and challenges”.
On the issue of granting the Eagle Square for protest, Wike said: “I watch some people on channel news telling the Inspector -General of Police that they have applied. You don’t apply to me through channels TV. You must apply properly. You must pay what we call security cost. So that if there is any damage to the facility, we will use that security cost to repair. People have applied in months, so it must be first come, first serve.
“Protest does not solve any problem. Protest creates small problems because hoodlums will always want to take advantage in order to cause a crisis. I have always said that there is nothing wrong, it is your right to protest, but it will be within the ambit of the law. A protest that is geared towards destruction, and geared to overthrow the government then that is not a legitimate protest”.
Religious leaders, women societies among other stakeholders vowed to ensure that peace reign and assured that they will not be part of the forthcoming protest.
The Minister also went to Kuje where he urged residents to shun the planned protest and support the present administration.
Election losers want to overthrow government through protest, says Wike
News
Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest
Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest
The National Union of the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch has arranged for what it called a mother of all protest to remain at the National Assembly until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the Pension Exit Bill.
The Bill to exit the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme and the bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board, as the police retirees are patiently waiting for, and there is the tendency that, the promise may not be fulfilled, as September is winding up.
This is contained in a press release signed by the chairman of the Police Retirees Kaduna State Chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd and the Vice Chairman ASP Danlami Maigamo Rtd and distributed to journalists in Kaduna.
CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd lamented that the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme are dying immensely due to poverty and hunger.
“The union is also pleading that, as the death toll is on the increase among the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme and the prices of commodity of any type is also on the increase.”
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He said: “Federal government should come to the aid of the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme before they all perish, by immediately paying the following allowances to the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme.
“Two point five percent differential, the Federal Government Palliative and three consecutive pension increases by the Federal Government as well as the minimum wage increase.
“During the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch monthly meeting held last Wednesday at Police Officers Mess Kaduna. Members became shocked and worried, as there is a sign of unfulfillment of a promise that began to manifest itself because it can be recalled that, on 22/09/24.
“The National Union of the Police Retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme carried out a nationwide peaceful protest to the National Assembly Abuja.
“During the protest, the Chairman of Senate Committee for Police Affairs, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Malamadori, addressed some of the retirees in his office, where he promised the retirees that, before September 24, they would be exited from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the Define Benefit Scheme (DBS) that the two Police Bills would be Harmonize.
“Sequel to this, the blood pressure of many concerned police retirees has risen above maximum. Therefore, the Kaduna Branch has unanimously agreed that, if by the end of this September, the Nigeria Police is not exempted from the contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.
Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest
News
Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo
Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has ordered a judicial review concerning the criminal summons issued against Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship election.
The court’s decision follows an application submitted by Okpebholo’s legal counsel, Adaze Emwanta.
The presiding judge, Justice O.C. Agbaza, delivered a ruling after hearing an ex-parte motion on Wednesday. He agreed to the reliefs sought by Okpebholo’s counsel, setting the next hearing for October 28.
The criminal summons was initially issued by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar of Wuse Zone 2, who had ordered Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20.
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The summons stemmed from allegations that the APC candidate provided false information regarding his date of birth on forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The case, which was filed by an Edo indigene, Honesty Aginbatse, accused Okpebholo of conflicting dates of birth in his nomination documents. In response, Okpebholo sought intervention from the FCT High Court to prevent the summons from proceeding. His legal team argued that the criminal charge was part of a plot to tarnish his image ahead of the election.
According to Okpebholo’s defense, the issue of his birthdate had already been addressed and resolved at the Supreme Court’s registry through a Deed of Regularisation, which was officially gazetted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in August. The APC candidate also alleged that the summons was not served to him directly but circulated on social media to damage his reputation on the eve of the election.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to rule on a motion filed by the APC seeking to amend its summons in a lawsuit involving INEC, Asue Ighodalo, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Peter Lifu has reserved his judgment on the case, with both the PDP and Ighodalo contesting the jurisdiction of the suit.
The legal battles surrounding Okpebholo continue as the Edo governorship election approaches, raising questions about their impact on the candidate’s campaign.
Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo
News
JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election
JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election
The Edo government has declared September 20 as a work-free day to facilitate travel for workers and residents ahead of the state’s governorship election.
The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, across 18 LGAs in the state.
In a statement, Joseph Eboigbe, secretary to the state government (SSG), assured that adequate security arrangements are in place for a secure and democratic election process.
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“This is to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State” he said.
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