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Senate Presidency: APC Backs Lawan’s Consultations with Opposition
The ruling All Progressives Congress on Sunday said it was not against the decision of Senator Ahmed Lawan and other senators-elect to consult with members of the opposition on the election of leaders of the Ninth National Assembly.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
The party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had while announcing the party’s choice of Lawan as the next Senate President, boasted that the APC did not need members of the Peoples Democratic Party to produce the next presiding officials of the National Assembly.
There were, however, recent reports that Lawan had been reaching out to members of the opposition, a claim that has been confirmed by the senator’s campaign organisation.
Issa-Onilu said the APC was not against negotiation by Lawan and other senators-elect working to fulfil the position taken by the party.
He said, “We have been inundated with reports of our members in the National Assembly holding consultations with members of the opposition over the election of leaders into the Ninth National Assembly.
“Let me state that our party has no objection to such consultations. It is a normal democratic practice world over to stretch hands across the divides.
And contrary to some media reports, the actions of our members do not contradict the party’s position. APC has comfortable majority in both chambers, therefore; we have the number to produce the leadership.
“But democracy recognises the importance of the opposition, especially when you do not have two-third which would be required at some very critical situations.
The Punch
From the time that Bello Matawalle was nominated as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023, Dauda Lawal the Governor of Zamfara State has been ill at ease.
The circumstances of his victory at the gubernatorial election as well as subsequent victory at the Election petition Tribunal did not give room for sound sleep. He knew that when pushing comes to shoving, the former Governor held the aces in the State politically.
Dauda Lawal having realised that it would be difficult to keep Matawalle’s new influence under check as Minister of State for Defence hatched another plan after his first moves to indict him through the cargo Airport controversy.This was to hoodwink a former aides to Matawalle who could provide information on his activities while in government.
This was what led to the unveiling of Bashir Hadejia, who we will dwell on later in the write-up
The original plan was to paint Bello Matawalle black over his achievements as Governor of Zamfara between 2019 and 2023. This however failed flat as the people of the state knew the legacies he left. And so they were not buying into that. After failing to achieve this, Dauda Lawal Dare thought out other plans.
Our sources believe that the Zamfara Governor connected with the former Jigawa Governor who is presently the Minister of Defence and both of them agreed that it was in their interests to cut Matawalle to size because of his looming influence and good relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
They found a willing tool in Jackson Ude, a former presidential aide to Jonathan. Jackson Ude is a Nigerian journalist who has made a name for himself as a blackmailer. Not less than twenty different top Nigerians, including the DG of World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala have either taken him to court and won or sued him.
Jackson Ude has since become a major ally of Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal. Together, they allegedly decided that the best way to tackle Matawalle growing influence in the Tinubu government was to continue to label him as backing the bandits and terrorists terrorizing the State he once governed.
Bello Matawalle’s rise in status and having become the poster boy of the Tinubu administration’s success in the Defence sector did not make his co-minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar comfortable. What you don’t have, you cannot give.
Many sources in the media confirmed that the two Ministers seemed to be opposites hence it was only a matter of time that their differences became obvious. According to our sources, while Matawalle would come to state what the Ministry was doing and encourage the troops and it’s leadership to do more, Badaru has never been a man who wanted visibility. He has always been too taciturn and withdrawn, as if sulking. So when the story came out that he was not too happy with the Minister of State for taking the shine off him, and aligning with Dauda Lawal to undermine Matawalle, not many people doubted it.
Sources claimed Badaru has grouses, with Tinubu appointing him as Defence Minister and not putting the Chiefs of Staff under him. It was also alleged that he was angry with the president because he wanted the FCT Ministry portfolio, which was given to Nyesom WIKE, a non- partyman. Abubakar Badaru, according to our sources felt he should have been given the portfolio of the FCT Ministry because he dropped his presidential ambition to support Tinubu when the President indicated interest in contesting.
Our source further revealed that Badaru, and Governor Lawal have teamed up to work and ensure that Matawalle is frustrated out of the Tinubu government so as to further dent whatever achievements the Tinubu government can claim to have while also denting Matawalle’s achievements.
Governor Lawal’s romance with terrorists is well known in the State despite all the air of arrogance he surrounds himself with as several pictures of his meetings and discussion abound everywhere on the social media.Impeccable sources gathered that Bello Turji works for the Zamfara Governor and the friends and allies of the bandits leader know this.
Sources confided in us that this is why it has been impossible for Bello Turji to be captured or killed as the State government virtually protects him, leaks information about troops movement if they have them and also support them with logistics. This explains why he makes so much noise and boasts of his invincibility.
Bello Turji’s MEN and other bandit leaders are also said to enjoy the same status as he enjoys..
Our sources also confirmed that Turji and a few other top bandits work for Dauda Lawal by ensuring his firm grip on the mining business in Zamfara.
Through them, the governor is alleged to have controlled a large chunk of the mining fields and also collected royalties on the governor’s behalf.
It is even alleged in some circles that some of the late bandits leaders eliminated by the military in its recent onslaught were bagkeepers for the governor who kept his money especially from the mines hence the reason why he was not too happy with their death and their elimination was not celebrated by the state.
Our sources also linked a powerful former NSA from the state with the gold mining business in the state. According to the sources, because of their vested interest, the powerful NSA who retired from the military as a general would do anything to ensure that his mining interests are protected in Zamfara hence the move to support the Governor and ensure that the top bandits who protect their vested interests are not touched. These gang-up believe that any attempt by Matawalle to upset the applecart in the mining sectors of the state will affect their vested interests since it is the bandits who are protecting their interests there and they need the continued presence of the bandits to ward off government prying eyes.
The implications of all these are germane here.
Key stakeholders in Zamfara state who ordinarily should be working for the success of the military are working at cross-purposes with the security apparatus of the state. They are not ready to allow the
security agencies operate. Rather, they work against them. They not only do this, they give out information against the security agencies to bandits and terrorists who through this organise ambushes for the security agencies all ina bid to paint the Minister of State Defence in bad light as well as maintain their strangle hold on the mining sector in the state.
Frightening Dimensions
The recruitment of Bashir Hadejia as well as the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, into this dastardly group constitutes a frightening dimensions to a problem that was hitherto localized. Our sources revealed that Bashir Hadejia was born in Niger Republic and maintains a home there just like the Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru. Having worked with Bello Matawalle, he understands the workings of the former Governor’s network as well as what he did to curb the excesses of the bandits while in power.
That Bashir Hadejia, working with Governor Dauda Lawal were able to cladenstinely sponsor anti- Nigerian protests during the August 1-10 protests in Nigeria signify the extent of their hatred for the country and its constitued authority. Though they set out to embarrass the Minister of State for Defence, and by implications the Tinubu government, the move showed the extent the Dauda Lawal gang-up could go in portraying Matawalle in bad light and their cause. Having recruited a notorious journalist who does not operate in the country, yet spews outright lies and also thrive on blackmail, no wonder they have dominated the cyber space with unverifiable stories upon stories against the Minister of State, Bello Matawalle.
The World Conference of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach held at Ngor Okpala in Imo State reportedly recorded diverse miracles, according to video highlights making the rounds, and a statement from the movement.
The statement reported as follows: “One of the cases is that of a UK-based woman who had been unable to walk for three years without walking aid and got healed by God and began to walk while Evangelist Ebuka Obi was praying.
“A second woman who had had stroke and paralysis for ten years also testified of being healed as she jumped up from her wheel chair and walked for the first time in ten years while prayers were going on.
“There was also an Nsukka, Enugu State, indigene who got healed of severe pain caused by a femur fracture suffered years ago. The pain had made it difficult for him to walk or stand.”
Watch the video below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_VyUlZtI86/?igsh=MWFicnprNjQ1MTF5bA==
Evangelist Ebuka Obi, Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, has announced the venue for the 2024 World Conference.
Speaking at the Sunday Fellowship at Zion Ground in Okota, Lagos, last week, Evangelist Ebuka announced that the 3-day crusade will be held at Ngor Okpala, Imo State, from Friday, August 23, to Sunday, August 25. It is the first time the annual conference will be held outside Lagos, and the crusade will mark the end of the 100 Days Fast and Prayer by the ministry.
He explained that, going by last year’s experience, Zion ground in Lagos would not be able to accommodate the huge crowd expected to attend this year’s edition, necessitating the need to move it to Ngor Okpala where the ministry had acquired a much larger site also stating that it is Her Permanent Site
The Evangelist added that the crusade is expected to record thousands of people giving up their lives to Christ, awesome miracles, instant healings, deliverance from bondage, salvation of souls and verifiable testimonies.
Watch the video below:
