Headlines
Kano NNPP Accuses APC of Plans to Buy PVCs
The New Nigeria Peoples Party in Kano State has allegedly uncovered plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress to reduce the number of people having Permanent Voter Cards in the state by luring and seizing the cards from their original owners with the purpose of disenfranchising the owners.
This is just as the party noted that, for the very first time in the history of governance in Kano State, the incumbent has turned government affairs into a family affair, as, according to the NNPP, evidently seen in government policies and appointments.
The party alleged that it is more worrisome, sad and disastrous that the “anointed APC governorship” candidate has sworn by the Holy Qur’an to continue with these uninterrupted destruction of Kano State.
The party made these allegations in a communiqué issued at the end of a sensitisation workshop organised by the party for its governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, state house of assemblies’ candidates and party executives held on September 15 in Kano.
The communiqué said it was a pointer to the state government’s abandonment of its primary responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of the citizens by being myopic and driven by sentiments, emotions, vendetta, and self-enrichment.
According to the communiqué jointly signed by the workshop chairman, Garba Diso, and secretary, Hamisu Ali, the workshop called for quick solutions to the threat of disenfranchisement and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to, as a matter of urgency, publish and paste the names of all uncollected PVCs in order to create awareness for the rightful owners to claim them.
“Among other issues highlighted by the workshop were the destruction of the educational system following the closure and de-boarding of Unity Schools; non-payment of all examination fees by the state government to WAEC, NECO, and NBAIS; delayed and non-payment of scholarship allowances to foreign and local students; and the creation of non-educationally friendly environment within school premises through the construction of corner shops in schools like the Northwest University, Kano,’’ the communique said.
The communique noted that Kano State is now one of the leading states in terms of drug abuse and thuggery under the watch of Governor Umar Ganduje and his administration, adding that the Kiru Rehabilitation Centre, which was established by the Kwankwaso’s administration for drug abuse, has since been closed down by Ganduje’s administration.
Another disturbing issue raised by the workshop is that of land-grabbing and dubious allocations and selling of land to intentionally deface Kano State. It stated that despite the mechanisms put in place by the previous administrations to control illegal and sub-standard buildings, the government of Governor Ganduje intentionally allowed these illegal practices with government approval, which have resulted in flooding, building collapse and even death.
It, therefore, expressed utmost concern over the flooding and collapse of buildings that occurred recently at Kantin Kwari and Civic Centre markets respectively which led to loss of lives and properties, among others, just as it extended its profound condolences and sympathy to all those affected by the disaster “on behalf of the national leader/presidential candidate of the party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the state executives, the party governorship (candidate) and his running mate, Senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly candidates.’’
The workshop declared total support of the NNPP’s position in the state, reiterating that the 2023 elections must be completely different from previous ones, adding that the party will do all it can within the ambit of law to ensure that the 2023 elections are free, fair and credible.
The Punch
The Presidency has dismissed claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent comments were directed at the political situation in Rivers State or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s constitutional decisions on the matter.
In a statement on Friday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, the Presidency described the reports as a “gross misrepresentation.”
The statement clarified that Vice President Shettima’s remarks at the public presentation of a book by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), were misconstrued by some online platforms and individuals.
“These reports have distorted the Vice President’s comments in pursuit of a mischievous agenda,” it stated.
“They twisted his account of how the administration of former President Jonathan considered removing him as Borno Governor during the insurgency to falsely link it with current events in Rivers State.”
The Vice President, who spoke at the launch of OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block in Abuja on Thursday, was said to have referenced the past solely to commend Adoke’s professionalism while in office, and to reflect on Nigeria’s constitutional evolution regarding federal and state relations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. The constitutional measure implemented was a suspension, not an outright removal.
“This action was taken in response to the grave political crisis in Rivers State at the time, with the governor facing a looming impeachment and the State Assembly complex under demolition,” Nkwocha clarified.
The Presidency insisted that the action taken by President Tinubu in declaring a state of emergency and suspending the Governor was fully in line with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which authorises such measures when there is a breakdown of public order requiring extraordinary intervention.
According to the statement, the President’s proclamation invoking Section 305(2) was subsequently ratified by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the National Assembly, confirming the legitimacy and constitutional propriety of the decision.
“The action of President Tinubu in suspending Mr. Fubara and others from exercising the functions of office averted the governor’s outright removal. To conflate suspension with removal is misleading,” the statement further noted.
Nkwocha also stressed that Vice President Shettima’s comments were delivered extemporaneously and intended to underline the importance of public accountability and historical documentation.
He referenced the Vice President’s mention of past public servants, including Adoke and former Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to illustrate principled leadership.
“His remarks were not in any way a criticism of President Tinubu’s actions, which the Vice President and the entire administration fully support and stand by without reservation,” the spokesman stated.
The Vice President, the statement added, remains in “loyal concert” with President Tinubu and is committed to implementing all constitutional measures necessary to safeguard democracy and uphold order across the country.
Concluding, the Presidency called on media organisations and political actors to desist from misrepresenting public remarks for sensational or partisan purposes.
“We urge media organisations and political actors to desist from the destructive practice of wrenching statements from context in order to fabricate nonexistent conflicts,” Nkwocha said.
Headlines
Akpabio Relieves Natasha of Committee Chairmanship Position, Appoints Akwa Ibom Senator As Replacement
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has replaced suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora/Non-Governmental Organisations.
In her place, Akpabio named Senator Bassey Aniekun Etim (Akwa Ibom -East).
The Senate President, who made the announcement on the floor in Abuja on Thursday, did not give any reasons.
The committee position had remained vacant since March when the Senate suspended the Kogi-Central Senatorial District lawmaker for six months for flouting the Senate’s rule on the seating arrangement and seat allocation.
The suspended lawmaker, at a point, chaired the Senate Committee on Local Content before Akpabio reassigned her to the Committee on Diaspora/NGO, shortly before she ran into trouble with the Senate over her conduct on seat allocation.
The Supreme Court has affirmed the 2024 governorship election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo.
In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the apex court ruled that the appeal lacked merit. It upheld the earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had both declared Okpebholo the validly elected governor.
