Jacob Shaahu

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum(AYCF) has advised that outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi should be supported to emerge as Senate President in the spirit of national stability cohesion under incoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima Wednesday evening, insisted that “in this national healing moment, the Southeast should be given the opportunity to take a shot at the Senate Presidency, this time around”.

“Our true position is that the Southeast needs to have a stronger sense of belonging, in the Nigerian project, by being actively involved in democratic governance. We want the mistakes of past government to serve as a lesson in democratic governance for the incoming administration.

“It is on record that Umahi is the most-perforing governor in the history of the Southeast. He has the reputation of being a gentleman per excellence. He has demonstrated these sterling qualities throughout his sojourn as a governor. This makes his candidature for the Senate quite suitable. We have no doubt in his ability to give the 10th Senate a good sense of direction. It is time to show full recognition to the leadership qualities of integrity and accountability, and these are some of the strongest attributes of governor Umahi”, the statement noted.

AYCF urged all the relevant stakeholders in the current dispensation, to rally round the Southeast for Senate Presidency, “in the spirit of forgiveness, national unity, cohesion and ending the culture of rubber stamp legislature”.

The AYCF further advised that the incoming administration should see their electoral victory as a golden opportunity to turn around Nigeria’s fortunes by allowing for the emergence of responsible leadership at all levels “and especially that of the Senate”.

AYCF, in the statement, also called on the President elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “strive to put a legacy in place of a very suitable leadership, especially for the Senate”.

The group warned that “a very good sense of justice in the emergence of National Assembly leaders is to ensure that a nationalist, accountable Nigerian leads the Senate”.

*Says Tinubu unfit to rule Nigeria

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that he has been able to run for the office of the President of Nigeria since 1993 without any controversy because unlike his main rival and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, he is unencumbered by drugs and identity scandals.

These revelations are contained in Atiku’s response to Tinubu’s and APC’s reply to his petition challenging the process and the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

Besides, Atiku said that his own identity, comprising age, state of origin, and educational qualifications, have never been in dispute like those of Tinubu.

In his response to Tinubu’s reply to his petition, Atiku insisted that Tinubu is constitutionally disabled from contesting for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Amongst others, Atiku alleged that Tinubu is unfit to lead Nigeria having been indicted for drug related offences in the United States of America (USA) and made to forfeit a sum of $460,000 as a compromise agreement.

In the response filed by his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the PDP presidential candidate justified why the declaration of Tinubu as President-elect cannot stand, adding that against the law, “Tinubu holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and Guinea, having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Guinea”.

Similarly, Atiku accused Tinubu of not disclosing facts of his constitutional qualifications in his Form EC9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), contrary to the provisions of the law.

The petitioner while admitting that Tinubu may be a “Titan and a Maestro”, he however said that the “President-elect is certainly not a titan and maestro in national stature but in controversies such as age, state of origin, identity, educational qualifications represented by certificates obtained from universities and colleges”.

Apparently reacting to Tinubu’s response in which he described Atiku as a serial election loser, the former Vice President said that Tinubu is a giant in forfeiture, drug related offences and failure to disclose dual nationality to INEC.

“The comparison of the second respondent (Tinubu) with the first petitioner ( Atiku) who had attained the eminent position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years is totally unfounded”, he said.

Justifying his request for the annulment of the declaration of Tinubu as President-elect, Atiku said that Tinubu and APC never won the majority of the lawful votes cast in the February 25 presidential election.

Amongst others, the PDP presidential candidate maintained that Tinubu failed part of the constitutional requirements, having failed to secure 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as constitutionally required.

He insisted that the return of Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election is undue, unlawful, and invalid because Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirements as to qualification.

Rather than addressing the issues raised against him and the disputed election, Atiku said that Tinubu deliberately chose not to answer points of substance in the petition and opted for extraneous facts, contradictory, evasive, speculative and vague assertions.

In reaction to another issue raised against Atiku’s petition, the former Vice President claimed that his petition did not in any way constitute a gross abuse of any court process, adding that the originating summons of February 28, 2023, filed at the Supreme Court by Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta , Edo, and Sokoto states have since been discontinued.

At any rate, Atiku said that parties in the suit of the six PDP controlled states are not the same in his own petition and therefore prayed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to discountenance the objections and the averments raised against the petition by Tinubu and grant him all the reliefs sought in the petition.

Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul Ibe said that the only thing common between Atiku and Tinubu is the year 1993.

He said while it was the year that Atiku started his presidential campaign run, it was also the same year that Tinubu fell to the US justice system over his indictment and conviction for drug trafficking and money laundering for which he forfeited a whopping sum of $460,000.

Meanwhile, J K Gadzama, SAN, has ceded the headship of the Atiku legal team of the PEPT to Chief Chris Uche, SAN.

Filings by the Atiku legal team responding to Tinubu’s and APC’s reply to Atiku’s petition were signed by Chris Uche, SAN.

Additionally, Atiku’s legal team has filed an application for pre-trial hearing notice pursuant to paragraph 18(1) and (2) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022.

The Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Phrank Shaibu has called on the National Assembly to publish a report of its investigation on the N52bn Special Works Programme implemented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo.

Shaibu said this in a statement, while reacting to Keyamo’s acquisition of a house in the United States at the cost of over $300,000.

Recall that in 2021, the Federal Government had in a bid to ameliorate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, approved the sum of N52bn for the hiring of 774,000 Nigerians across all the local government areas in the country for three months.

The 774,000 Nigerians were hired to take on menial jobs such as clearing of drainages, sweeping of markets, cutting grass and other community services.

Keyamo had specifically orchestrated the sacking of the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Nasiru Argungu, insisting that he was in charge of the N52bn project which the National Assembly noted was a flop.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had stated that many of the beneficiaries of the funds did not get anything, while others who got did not do any job. They, therefore, questioned Keyamo’s running of the programme and promised to launch an investigation into the matter.

Reacting to Keyamo’s claim that he owns several houses in the US, Shaibu said: “The National Assembly had described the special works programme as a sham and also questioned how the funds were spent. Keyamo had, for the last two years, defended the shambolic implementation of the programme.

“With his open confession that he has acquired houses in the US, I hereby call on the National Assembly to publish its report on the failed project. I also call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately probe the finances of Festus Keyamo, who only became a senior advocate two years before becoming a minister.

“It is public record that Keyamo was an activist and a prosecutor for the EFCC, doing mostly pro bono cases before taking public office. However, he now boasts of being a real estate mogul after becoming a minister. This is laughable and an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians.

“In any case, Keyamo’s time as minister of state for labour and employment witnessed the highest level of unemployment, which KPMG says is about to hit 40%. Under Keyamo, universities also witnessed prolonged strikes, as ASUU proceeded on 10 months strike in 2020 and eight months industrial action in 2021. Keyamo clearly failed as a minister but grew wealthier in the process through his so-called real estate business. He thus needs to be investigated with immediate effect.”

Keyamo had said that by letters dated March 6, 2019, before he was appointed a Minister, he wrote to the relevant government agencies, informing them of the closure of his foreign accounts and the repatriation of his funds to the country since Nigerian law does not allow public officials to operate foreign bank accounts.

He further stated, “My assets declaration is there for all to see. Some of us don’t need government funds or patronage to get by. Whatever we do and whoever we support is out of our deep convictions.”

Reacting, however, Shaibu dared Keyamo to publish his asset declaration form as submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2019.

He said since Keyamo had boasted many times about being an EFCC prosecutor and an anti-corruption champion, he ought to be bold enough to make his asset declaration forms public to prove that he was telling the truth.

Shaibu said, “Keyamo has one month left on his tenure as minister, which means he will need to declare his assets before the CCB next month. Let him make public his asset declaration forms, before and after office, to prove to Nigerians that he did not steal.

“The truth about Keyamo is that he is a hypocrite, a rabble-rouser who pretends to be on the side of the masses but is only after his stomach. He started as a disciple of the great Gani Fawehinmi but has since strayed from Gani’s ideals by serving as Spokesman for a man who was an anathema to Gani and who Gani had accused of forgery and fraud – Bola Tinubu.”

By: Mike Odeh James

The inability of the Federal Government to evacuate Nigerians, especially students living in conflict torn Sudan has drawn severe criticisms from a pan northern group, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum .

In a press release signed by the National President of the group, Ahmed Yerima and made available to journalists, the group noted that it is only the Nigeria government that has not taken steps to evacuate it’s citizens from the war-torn country

“It is totally unacceptable that while several countries were evacuating their citizens from Sudan, ours is the only African nation giving excuses.

The AYCF also stated that thousands of Nigerians mainly students of Northern extraction are stranded and stand the risk of being caught up in the violence that engulfed the North African country.

Furthermore, the Northern Group laid the blame squarely on the doorstep of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan

While urging for quick action to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan, it warned that, it would hold Nigerian Embassy Staff in Sudan responsible

“With thousands of Nigerians in Sudan, especially male and female Northern students being the majority, we reject the lame excuse given in a letter by the Nigeria Embassy about the difficulty of evacuating our sons and daughters. No Northerner in this country is at peace since the killings and arson started in Sudan.

Senator Dr. Orji Kalu is young, enthusiastic and high-spirited. However, his rise to national and international limelight is quite meteoric.

Dr. Orji who hails from Igbere, Bende, Abia North in Abia state was born on April 21, 1960. He is a Christian and he’s happily married.

He attended Christ the king school, Aba in 1974, Government College, Umuahia in 1979, University of Maiduguri in 1980 and Abia state university, Uturu in 2001.

His educational qualifications include Doctor of Public Administration from the university of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2017, B.Sc in political science from Abia state university in 2001 and his West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in 1979.

Dr. Kalu is seen as one of the most visible businessmen, politicians, Philanthropist and humanists in Nigeria today. 1992 to 1994, he was a member of the House of Representatives, 1999 to 2007, he served as the Governor of Abia state, then senator federal Republic of Nigeria from 2019 till date.

He once served as the chairman of Borno Water Board, Cooperative and Commerce Bank limited, Orji Uzor Kalu Foundations, Senate committee on Banking and other financial institutions and amongst others.

Dr. Orji is part of different committees in Nigeria. He’s a member of the senate committee on selection, Banking and other financial institutions, committee on Defence, on works, water resources, power, special duties and more.

Due to his humanitarian nature and contribution to the society, Dr. Orji has been recognized and given varieties of awards. In 1986, he received the National Merit Award, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce industrialist of the year, also, member order of the Niger.

Despite his busy schedule, he engages in watching football, listening to music, traveling, swimming and farming which serves as his hobbies.

Dr. Orji has maintains his standard on evolution and has done well for himself.

*Says evidence at PDP’s disposal will nail APC

Following the controversies that met the declaration on winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, the SA Youth to the Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas has told Nigerians to be hopeful as the party and candidate have all it takes to reclaim their mandate in court.

Ambassador Abbas expressed this in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday April 20, to felicitate Muslim faithful on the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

“We are all aware of all the intrigues that came with this year’s general election. The double standards displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the declaration of a winner under controversial circumstances.

“The declaration unlike in the past, saw no celebration on the streets, Nigerians were surprised and shocked to their marrows, bringing about deep reflection on the issue.

“My message to all Nigerians this Sallah is that hope is not lost. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON will reclaim the mandate freely given to him by Nigerians if all ethnicity and religions. The courts will not be blind to all the facts that the PDP will be arguing with,” he said.

He congratulated Muslims for completing the mandatory Ramadan Fast, while praying that their prayers in the holy month will be speedily answered by Almighty Allah.

*Urges Supreme Court Judges to maintain integrity and resist inducement

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the Supreme Court Judges to maintain their integrity and resist any attempt of subversiveness through inducement as regards the Osun governorship matter.

He said some desperate politicians have began move to upturn Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory at Appeal Court at all cost.

Frank also raised the alarm that recent intelligence reports available suggest that the enemies of democracy and fascist elements operating in the ruling party are bent on truncating democracy by using every state apparatus available in perpetuating mischief and subversion of legitimacy, as evident in the just concluded Adamawa governorship rerun election.

In a statement released to newsmen Thursday in Abuja, the political activist opined that with an overwhelming Court of Appeal judgement, affirming the victory of Sennator Ademola Adeleke as the Osun state governor, and a previous Supreme Court judgment clearing all issues as regards his eligibility and certificates, “it is clear that any further judicial exercise is akin to witch hunt.”

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, alleged that some desperate politicians in the ruling APC have arisen once again to compromise the integrity of the judiciary by vowing to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal by any means necessary in relation to the Osun state Supreme Court decision.

He alleged that monetary inducement, coercion and intimidation using state security agencies to influence the judgment of the Supreme Court are rife and underway.

“Howbeit, these same elements who’ve been operating without fear for consequences have once again arisen to compromise the integrity of the judiciary by vowing to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, by any means necessary in relation to the Osun state Supreme Court decision. Monetary inducement of $2million per JSC on this matter is the offer inherent as well as coercion and intimidation using state security agencies to greatly influence the judgment of the SC is in top gear and underway.

“The Supreme Court must be put on notice that Nigerians are very interested in the outcomes of judgement decisions from the SC and will continue to beam it’s searchlights on the discreet activities of the Judges especially after the ridiculous decisions as regards Sen Ahmed Lawan and Sen Gods will Akabio. We are constrained to believe that indeed, recent decisions from the SC suggest that certain compromise may have been plausible by the outcomes of judicial matters.

“The hopes of many Nigerians is fast fading away as most Nigerians doubt the independence of the judiciary in the dispense of justice. The SC must not be seen going the way of the INEC chairman, who blatantly voided it’s own rules to subvert the will of the people save for personal agradissment. The JSC must put the country first in its discharge of their constitutional duties. The 2023 Presidential Elections results are still rife in the minds of many and thus any attempt to deliver any controversial judgement may end up in anarchy.

“The SC must be reminded that the Osun State matter will be first litmus test for the JSC. The facts of the matterr are very clear, with the CA putting to rest the issues of overvoting and any other discrepancies. Therefore the minimum expectations for the SC is to stand by the truth and avoid any semblance of intimidation and coercion. The Right thing must be done, as it is clear that the Osun people are extremely pleased with the choice of their governor and are elated with his performance since his inception into office.

“In other to demonstrate independence and integrity the SC should as a matter of Public Opinion approve for the use of live telecast in broadcasting it’s proceeding for the Presidential Elections matter. The Supreme Court must stand on what is right and just and endeavor to reclaim it’s already batterd image,” Frank stated.

…Says Declaration by REC amounts to Civilian Coup

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for taking the bold step to suspend the collation of the Adamawa State supplementary governorship poll.

According to the Former lawmaker, a situation, where the Resident Electoral Commission declared the APC governorship candidate the winner of the election as against the Returning Officer while the election process is still on “is equivalent to a civilian coup.”

Sen. Shehu Sani who disclosed this in a swift reaction to the what he termed ‘Ilegal declaration” by Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists in Kaduna today commended Professor Mahmud Yakubu and the INEC for prompt intervention.

He further stated ,”It was obvious that the REC was out to truncate democracy in the state and by extension Nigeria if his action was allowed unchecked .

He expressed joy that the statement signed by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye ,where the electoral umpire slammed the action of the Adamawa REC, saying it usurps the power of the Returning Officer is highly appreciated.

Noting that the good step about the statement is that it declared the announcement ,”… null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.”

Senator Shehu Sani’s Statement further reads: ” The declaration by Adamawa REC is an equivalent of a civilian coup.

“The action of the Rec stands condemnable. Our democracy can’t survive if we condone such brazen act of criminality and brigandage.

He however, said it not enough to summon the REC and other perpetrators but also advised that ,”The REC and the security men, who perpetrated the acts must be prosecuted.

While stressing that “Our political culture and attitude to election needs chemotherapy,he noted , “The Dangerous trend in our electoral system has gone beyond the culture of Violence,Vote buying and falsification of results to the most obnoxiously and brazenly crude phase of taking over the collation center,seizing the Mic and illegally declaring the results of an election.”

By: Binta Usman

Kaduna

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has endorsed Hon. James Faleke as Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A press statement issued by the national president Alhaji Yerima Shettima said, as stakeholders and keen watchers of the ongoing wrap-up of civilian-to-civilan transition, they feel it is not just important but very necessary to state their position on the national conversation regarding the best man for office of the next Chief of Staff.

“We belief Hon James Faleke is a very loyal Tinubu supporter and associate who has proved to be reliable as ambassador to president-elect any day and Nigeria has had serious challenges caused by the communication gap between the President, ministers and even State governors, so this is an oppprtunity for the President-elect to get someone with good skills of managing the relationship between the President, officials of government and the rest of Nigerians

” Hon. Faleke, being a highly-experienced lawmaker can build very cordial relationship between the Executive and legislative arms of government in the new dispensation because he represents the new generation of Nigerian political class, politically savvy and intellectually vibrant.

“We are in a new, ideas-driven world and Nigeria’s Presidency therefore, needs a Chief of Staff on tune with modern system of democratic governance. We expect that by now, President-elect Bola Ahamed Tinubu is fully aware of the consequences of our past mistakes of choices on Chiefs of Staff and won’t allow a repeat of the inglorious past.

“In view of the forgoing, we urge President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure he makes an informed choice of his Chief of Staff with loyal, proactive progressive and hale and hearty parliamentarian like Hon James Faleke”.

ENDS

As Christians worldwide as well in Nigeria are celebrating the Easter Festival in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, the Northern Christian Youths Professionals have extended warm wishes to all Nigerians on the event .

In a statement issued and signed by the President of the group Isaac Abrak and made available to journalists, the group called on Nigerians to reflect on the virtues of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and emulate theses virtues their daily lives.

The group also seized the opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation and the outcomes of the Presidential and Gubnatorial elections adding that though the processes posed challenges, it however believed that there is light in the tunnel

“We must also use this opportunity to reflect on the state of our nation and the challenges we face. In light of the Presidential election, we congratulate His Excellency Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. We believe that under his leadership, Nigeria can make significant progress in improving our economy and security.

It further appealed for Unity amongst Nigerians saying that President Elect Bola Tinubu would unite Nigeria s

“We are aware that not all Nigerians voted for President Elect HE Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but we urge those who did not vote for him to put aside their differences and support him in his efforts to improve the lives of all Nigerians. He will now be responsible for the well-being of all citizens, and it is important that we all work together towards a better Nigeria.

As a Christian organization, we firmly believe in the power of prayer and the importance of leadership that upholds Christian values. We urge all Nigerians, irrespective of religious beliefs, to support President Elect HE Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts to improve the lives of Nigerians.

The Northern Christian Youths Professionals further urged Nigerians to distance themselves from calls by certain individuals not to handover power to President Elect Bola Tinubu come May 29, 2023

“However, we note with concern the recent calls by some individuals and groups to shelve the handover of power to President Elect HE Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We call on all Nigerians to distance themselves from any person or group that calls for the subversion of the will of the people. We must all work together to tackle the various challenges facing our nation, including insecurity, economic hardship, and political unrest

. Ends