Headlines
Recite the National Anthem, Dino Melaye Challenges Keyamo at Ministerial Screening
There was a mild drama on Friday when the senator representing Kogi West, Mr Dino Melaye, asked the Director of Strategic Communication for the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), who is a ministerial nominee, to recite the second stanza of the national anthem.
The scene played out on the floor of the Senate when Keyamo, a ministerial nominee from Delta State, appeared for screening.
While asking the nominee questions during the screening, Melaye started by describing Keyamo as his good friend and that their relationship dated back to years.
TheCable reported the senator as saying, “I want to start by congratulating my friend, Festus Keyamo. I just want to start by saluting your intellectual sagacity and from your CV, you have practised law in and out and this practice has been so recognised by you getting the highest title any lawyer can earn in this country, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and your being a prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for so many years.
“I want to ask you as a qualified lawyer and a man who is even qualified for the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Peradventure the President sends you to the Ministry of Justice with all your experiences, do you think in the last four years, the power of the Attorney General met these three conditions: public interest, interest of justice and need to prevent abuse of legal process?”
After the questions, Melaye then asked Keyamo to recite the second stanza of the national anthem.
“I just want to say that as a versatile minister, I know you to be intellectually mobile, you recite the second stanza of the national anthem,” he said.
However, the senator’s request was met with a thunderous “no.” But Melaye stood his ground even after his microphone was switched off.
Shouting on the top of his voice, the Kogi lawmaker said, “Mr Chairman, screening as it has been described is meant for us to screen the candidates…”
But the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, overruled Melaye.
“That is not a question. So you have asked about two questions. You have asked very serious questions, so you can disregard the other part,” he said.
Meanwhile, Keyamo at the screening has pledged to unbundle the Supreme Court of Nigeria if appointed as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Keyamo, who is also a board member of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, said the apex court was congested with frivolous and scandalous cases that should not find their way to it in the first instance.
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.
