Headlines
Abuja Pastors That Endorsed Tinubu Are on Their Own, Says PFN
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has distanced itself from the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, by the Nigeria Coalition of Pastors for Good Leaders.
The Deputy National Chairman, Bishop Don Daniel, while addressing newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, said members of the coalition have the free will to endorse any candidate of their choice, adding that it has nothing to do with PFN.
He said, “The pastors endorsing Tinubu do not change our stance as a bloc of CAN in supporting credible candidates. We still stand on the same agreement and injunction that CAN has given. Everybody is not part of CAN. They chose to and everybody is entitled to their own free will.
“They cannot force anybody to follow them to do what they have decided to do. So if they said they had endorsed a candidate, that is purely their own doing. Everybody has a right and choice of who they want to vote for. It has nothing to do with us.”
Daniel also reiterated the position of PFN on the Muslim-Muslim ticket saying it has not changed.
He said, “We have not changed our stance because we are still part of CAN and we are still frowning at the Muslim-Muslim ticket. We believe that the church can vote for people that are credible and competent. And you know that our president made a press conference recently and he clarified that we are looking for people to move the country forward. And if a Muslim is credible to take the nation forward, we will vote for him.
“The church frowned at the Muslim-Muslim ticket, but it is not a dead end and we are still praying. We have not been able to come up with something definite or specific to say that this is who everybody should vote for. The election is still about three months away. Who knows if the church through CAN can come up with a resolution. But our stance still remains.”
The cleric urged Nigerians to take responsibility by getting their PVCs and be strategically prepared to vote for credible leaders that would take the nation forward and unite the country on all fronts.
He also disclosed that the fellowship visited Bayelsa and Kogi states to donate some relief items to flood victims in a bid to alleviate their sufferings.
He added that the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Shimon Ben-Shoshan, paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the fellowship where they had a mutual discussion on immigration and agriculture.
The Punch
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
