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Kaduna bombing a mistake, shouldn’t warrant COAS’ resignation — Yar’Adua

Published

5 months ago

December 7, 2023

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja

Kaduna bombing a mistake, shouldn’t warrant COAS’ resignation — Yar’Adua

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdul’aziz Yar’Adua, has described the accidental drone attack that claimed the lives of scores of Kaduna villagers as an honest mistake that should not warrant the resignation of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

In an exclusive interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, the lawmaker, who instead commended the COAS for his admittance of the mistake, urged that peace be given a chance.

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The Senator was reacting to calls by the Northern Elders Forum that top military brass resign over the incident that claimed the lives of at least 85 villagers and injured several others at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.

He maintained that precision miscalculations was not exclusive to the Nigerian Army.

The Senator further advised the Kaduna State Government to direct members of the Muslim community to always apprise the government of any huge gatherings in the state, so that security can be reinforced to avert any such occurrence.

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Tinubu won’t allow frustration of Rivers State Govt operations – Presidency

Published

9 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Siminalayi Fubara, Nyesom Wike

Tinubu won’t allow frustration of Rivers State Govt operations – Presidency

The Presidency, yesterday, said President Bola Tinubu will not take sides between Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the ongoing political crisis rocking Rivers State.

This came as the Rivers State government, yesterday took a swipe at the Abdulahi Ganduje-led All Progressives Congress, APC, over comment that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has committed impeachable offence.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson in Port Harcourt, said Ganduje has no legal ground to talk about the impeachment of Governor Fubara.

Also, Rivers State elders and leaders in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, said to be loyal to Federal Capital Territory, FTC, Minister, Nyesom Wike, warned Governor Fubara not to tamper with structures at the House of Assembly quarters.

Meanwhile, court-suspended factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule has insisted that the structures at the Assembly quarters were in excellent condition, fully functional and currently occupied by the lawmakers and their family members.

In another development, youths of Rivers State have urged President Bola Tinubu to take action and call his FTC Minister, Wike, to order over the continued political crisis in the state.

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Tinubu won’t take sides between Wike, Fubara

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this during an interview on TVC.

Ngelale said anyone with the belief that President Tinubu would take their side in the political crisis would be disappointed. According to him, President Tinubu won’t allow any attempt to frustrate the Rivers government.

He said: “I believe that anyone who believes that by their actions, whether it’s from the federal level, state level or the legislative branch in the state or the executive branch in the state, if they are banking on Mr. President to take sides on this matter, they’re mistaking and they’ll be disappointed.

“Mr. President will not do that. What he will do is to ensure that everybody has what they need in order to work.

“He will also ensure that any attempt to frustrate the operation of the Rivers State government in conducting its affairs in a way that it would benefit the Rivers people, that’s obviously is not going to be allowed by this President or anybody else.

“So, I think there’s a need for all stakeholders to understand that Mr President won’t take sides.”

You lack moral standing to talk about impeachment, Rivers govt tells Ganduje-led APC.

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Johnson noted that Fubara has not committed any offence that would warrant his impeachment, adding that Ganduje still has legal issues to clear himself from.

He said: “Gaduje is under the loose of the law. He has not even been able to clear himself from the challenges of what his ward that suspended him and other issues against him pending before the court.

“Is it Ganduja that will tell me that Fubara, who has no offence, Fubara who is as clean as the cover of a book should be impeached? He was the governor of a state and the state faced some issues of integrity. I would have expected that he finishes issues around his integrity before he talks about Fubara.

“Fubara cannot be impeached by the devices of cronies. There is nothing serious about his speech because Fubara is standing on a clean slate. Governor Fubarar has not committed any offence. Fubara had sometime in October, 2023, ask ‘what is my offence’ and nobody has been able to tell us what Governor Fubara has done.

“I, therefore, condemn that statement and say that Ganduje should go and look for his political bearing back home. Ganduje is the chairman of APC on acting capacity and there are legal impediments. In law, there are pendency that are hanging on Ganduje which cannot allow him to stand on a good ground to talk.”

Tinubu won’t allow frustration of Rivers State Govt operations – Presidency

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They offered me bribe to impeach Fubara – Rivers’ Chief of Staff

Published

13 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Governor Siminalayi Fubara

They offered me bribe to impeach Fubara – Rivers’ Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff to Rivers State Government, Edison Ehie, has said some persons tried to co-opt him into the plots to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The former factional speaker of the State House of Assembly alleged that he was offered money to impeach the governor.

He made the allegation while addressing
a rally in Ahoada East area of the state.

Ehie, however, did not divulge the identities of those who offered him money for the purported plot to impeach the governor.

He disclosed that he was subsequently declared wanted because he declined their offer.

“They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested.

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“They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted,” Ehie said in a viral video clip from the rally.

Last year, Ehie was declared wanted by the police in connection with the invasion of the State House of Assembly.

In October 2023, an explosion rattled the state assembly building amidst reports of lawmakers attempting to impeach Fubara.

It was alleged that certain individuals with close ties to the governor were implicated in the incident.

The Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers had reportedly lodged criminal complaints against Ehie with the Rivers State Police Command regarding the invasion and arson of the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers by unidentified hoodlums.

Ehie’s revelation is the latest in the slew of events and actions that have characterised the protracted crisis in the state, stemming from the conflict between Fubara and his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

They offered me bribe to impeach Fubara – Rivers’ Chief of Staff

News

Obasanjo to Gov Adeleke: Don’t leave dancing but ensure you work

Published

25 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Obasanjo to Gov Adeleke: Don’t leave dancing but ensure you work

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun is his dance partner.

Obasanjo made the remark at the inauguration of a VIP lodge in Osun Government House, on Sunday in Osogbo.

He, however, told Adeleke, who is usually referred to as the “dancing governor,” to focus on governing the state and do so with honesty and integrity.

“You remember that at one time I phoned you; I told you I didn’t have problems with your dancing. I said, ‘Don’t leave dancing, but as you are dancing, ensure you are working’.

“Some people once despised you as just a dancer, but I said only happy people dance; you are my dancing partner.

“You have to be honest with your conscience, with the people, and with your God.

“You have to be a man of character. Let people say ‘when he sees an opportunity to dance, he will dance, but he is a man of integrity, he is honest, and works hard. It is very important.

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“Anywhere we meet, we would dance and rejoice, if anybody wants to abuse us, they should go ahead,” he said.

Obasanjo also commended Adeleke on his developmental programmes in Osun.

According to him, what he heard and saw since his arrival in the state was a testimony to the good work the governor was doing.

“You are working on roads, don’t joke with it because when we make necessary provision for the people to have jobs, the state will work.

“Many Yoruba people want to work, but what is impeding that is the road to ply.

“When we provide wherewithal for them, they would work. I will plead with you to continue with that.

“You said government is a continuum and that all the abandoned projects are being completed. God will make it good for you,” he said

In his remarks, Adeleke said that his administration would continue to ensure that laudable projects were completed for the common use of the people.

The governor, who noted that the VIP lodge was started by the APC government, said that he completed it due to his belief that public infrastructure should not be politicised.

“We assure all lovers of good governance that our administration is passionate about delivering on quality pro-people policies for the benefit of all residents of the state,” he said.