Politics
Tinubu will be sworn in, Datti merely gave an opinion – Falana
Tinubu will be sworn in, Datti merely gave an opinion – Falana
Famous rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has dismissed the claim by the Federal Government that the Labour Party (LP) presidential team of Peter Obi and Baba Datti-Ahmed is engaging in subversive acts.
He however said President-elect Bola Tinubu would be sworn in on May 29 this year, stressing no law of the land gave anything to the contrary.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had accused the LP candidates of plotting violent change of government in Nigeria by not accepting the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll.
Datti, Obi’s running mate in the election, in particular, has been in the eye of the storm over his comment that the winner of the poll, Bola Tinubu, should not be sworn in on May 29.
But Falana said all the candidates pronounced victorious by INEC in the different segments of the elections would be sworn in on the said day, including those of LP.
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Dismissing government’s charge of treason against Obi, Falana said Section 37 of the Criminal Code Act is clear and the duo of Obi and Datti had not broken the law by their recent utterances.
He said, “They have approached the court to challenge the results of the presidential election in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
“The law provides that the persons declared by INEC to have won the elections shall be sworn in pending the determination of the election petitions.
“The law prescribes 180 days (six months) for hearing of election petitions and 60 days for appeals arising from the decisions of trial courts or tribunals.”
Speaking on Datti’s comments, Falana said an expression of one’s opinion did not amount to treason.
“Whoever says inauguration will not hold is merely expressing his or her opinion. It is not treason to express one’s personal opinion” he said, adding, “by virtue of section 37 of the Criminal Code Act, treason occurs when any person levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overwhelm the President or governor of a state. Any person found guilty of treason is liable to the punishment of death,” he stated.
Tinubu will be sworn in, Datti merely gave an opinion – Falana
Politics
I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde
I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says he has dismantle the shackles of godfatherism that once characterised the State politics.
Makinde said Oyo State was once known for ‘who is your father’ politics, stating that such style of political arrangement has ended with him.
Makinde spoke on Wednesday at Students’ Legislative Summit organised by the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan.
Makinde disclosed that his father was not wealthy or influential and the Oyo State people still gave him the opportunity to lead.
The governor underscores the need to get youths into leadership position, imploring Nigerian youths to become more actively involved in governance by increasing their participation.
Makinde said that the issue of leadership is imperative in preparing the youth for the future and governance.
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“For us here, we have seen the common situation where ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day but we have been able to break that in Oyo State. My father was a ‘nobody’ and the Oyo State people still gave me the opportunity to lead.
“We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future. Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation amongst the youth.
“I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960 and six years after, in 1966, the person that became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years and some months old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.
“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.
“You have the students here and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on. If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”
I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde
Politics
Updated: Rivers crisis worsens as attorney-general, finance commissioner resign
Updated: Rivers crisis worsens as attorney-general, finance commissioner resign
The power tussle in Rivers State took a new turn on Wednesday as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Zacchaeus Adangor, resigned his appointment and as a member of the state executive council.
This is after the commissioner had rejected his redeployment by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as Commissioner for Special Duties.
Similarly, Isaac Kamalu has resigned as Commissioner of Finance after he was redeployed to the Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment Ministry by the governor.
Zacchaeus on 14 December first resigned his position as the Attorney-General of the state following the face-off between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Zacchaeus and other commissioners who resigned due to the political crisis in the state, however, returned to the government after being reconfirmed by the state House of Assembly.
Fubara, earlier in the week, reshuffled his cabinet and redeployed Zacchaeus as the commissioner for Special Duties (Governor’s Office).
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Rivers State government, Zacchaeus rejected his new office.
In his resignation letter, he accused Governor Fubara of interfering with the performance of his duties as the state’s attorney general.
For Kamalu, who served as commissioner for Budget and Economics under former Governor Wike, he forwarded his resignation letter to Governor Fubura and the Secretary to the Government, Tammy Danagogo.
He accused Fubara of lying about the internally generated revenue of Rivers State.
Politics
Just in: Ex-Imo Gov Ihedioha heads for LP, dumps PDP
Just in: Ex-Imo Gov Ihedioha heads for LP, dumps PDP
Former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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