Headlines
Group Rejects APC’s Choice, Gbajabiamila, for House Speaker, Endorses Wase
Elders under the aegis of North Central Elders Forum have formerly endorsed the Deputy House Leader of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, for the seat of the speaker in the ninth assembly.
The forum made its stand known on Tuesday at a press conference in Abuja.
Muhammadu Ari-Gwaska, who spoke for the group, said after due consultations, the forum decided to adopt its most senior member for the position.
He said he was optimistic that Umaru Bago, another aspirant from the zone, would step down for his “senior brother”.
He went further to say the North Central geo-political zone in its diverse nature and peaceful disposition had always been predisposed to being shortchanged in power sharing.
“The people of this zone have over the years molded our diversity into a strong quilt that has strengthened us with the capacity to engage and interrogate the exogenous manipulation of power, leadership and patronage among the comity of nations to bring into sharp focus the understanding of our place as a bridge in the Nigerian Project,” he said.
He appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) hierarchy to as a matter of deliberate policy, give the speakership to the geo-political zone.
This he said was for the purpose of fairness, equity, justice, unity and loyalty as necessary ingredients in forming a government that will effectively drive the agenda of the party.
Mr. Wase, who is yet to formally declare his intention to run for the position, will be facing some of his colleagues in the race.
They include the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, Mukhtar Betara, Abdulrazak Namdas and Umar Bago.
The APC leadership recently declared support for Yobe senator, Ahmed Lawan, for Senate President. The party is also believed to be in support of Mr Gbajabiamila for Speaker.
The adoption of Mr Lawan was condemned by some APC lawmakers, including Borno senator, Ali Ndume, who also seeks to be the Senate president.
Mr Ndume has vowed to continue with his ambition, saying he enjoys the support of many APC senators-elect.
The APC enjoys a clear majority in the incoming House of Representatives, winning over 200 of the 360 seats.
The party is expected to produce the Speaker, but as it happened in 2015, a different candidate other than that endorsed by the party leadership may contest the election.
While both Messrs Lawan and Gbajabiamila were endorsed by the party for the positions in 2015, Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara emerged as the Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively.
The two winners later defected from the APC to the PDP.
Premium Times
Headlines
Residents Flee As Community Where 16 Soldiers Were Killed is Razed
According to a report on Channels Television, the Delta community where 16 soldiers were killed on Thursday has been razed.
The military on Saturday confirmed the killing, and said inveatigation is on to unravel the perpetrators. The slain officers include the commanding officer, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers.
Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general and Deputy Director, Information, of the Nigerian military, had in his Saturday statement said the military would investigate and bring the culprits to book.
The troops were deployed to restore order between two warring communities: Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State.
According to Channels Television, the Okuama coastal community where the killing of the soldiers took place was razed Sunday morning.
It is not clear who razed the houses in the community or if anyone died from it but the television station reported that residents have fled to the neighbouring Ughelli community for fear of reprisals by soldiers.
Headlines
Military Confirms Killing of Commanding Officer, Majors, Captain, 12 Soldiers by Delta Youths
By Eric Elezuo
The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the killing of it personnel comprising a Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers by youths in Delta State While on peace keeping mission in Okuama Community.
The Military made the confirmation via a statement signed by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau.
The statement acknowledged that the soldiers were surrounded in an ambush while responding to a distress call relating to communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities of Delta State. The incident occurred on Thursday.
The statement in details:
SITUATION REPORT ON THE ATTACK AND KILLING OF MILITARY PERSONNEL ON PEACE MISSION BY OKUAMA COMMUNITY.
The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State while on peace mission to OKUOMA community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.
The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers.
The Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Govt.
However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. Additional details later.
Headlines
Tinubu Succumbs to APC Pressure to Reject South East-CBN Board Nominee over Affiliation with LP
President Bola Tinubu plans to withdraw the nomination of Ruby Onwudiwe as board member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to a report by Western Post, the decision follows pressure mounted on the president by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding Onwudiwe’s political affliation.
A post via her account on X, which reads “it was a landslide victory for Labour Party at my polling unit Lekki polling unit” was said to have incited the APC supporters who protested the nomination by Tinubu.
According to the report, flaunting her support for Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, and a display of the result at her polling unit, was a basis for the party members “to protest to senior government officials on the abnormality of the nomination of an opposition figure to serve at the apex bank”.
Tinubu reportedly immediately requested that the senate step down Onwudiwe’s nomination.
On March 14, Tinubu asked the senate to confirm the appointment of Onwudiwe as a member of the board of directors of the CBN.
Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpiabio, and read at the plenary on March 13.
“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the senate, the appointment of Dr Ruby Onwudiwe as a member of the CBN board of directors,” Tinubu said.
The president said Onwudiwe is a replacement for Urom Kalu Eke, who was unavailable due to conflict of interest.
Eke declined the nomination because he is still a consultant at the World Bank.
The new nomination came one month after Tinubu asked the senate to confirm five people as directors of the board of the CBN.
On February 29, the senate confirmed four people (excluding Eke) as members of the board.
The directors of the board are; Robert O. Agbide, Ado Yakubu Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, and Olayinka Aliyu.
TheCable