New p 16 for page planning

New p 16 for page planning

Disquiet in C/River APC over suspension of ex-Gov Ebri

From Eyo Charles, Calabar

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mkpani/Agoi council ward of Yakurr ?Local Government Area of Cross River State, has suspended a former governor of the state, Chief Clement Ebri.

In a letter dated March 2, signed by 17 members, including the chairman, Monday Emma Oboma, and secretary, Joel Ekpo Agborty, the ward leadership said the former governor was suspended because he had engaged in anti-party activities.

However, the state chairman of the party, John Ochala, said such action was of no effect because it was undertaken by misguided elements in the party.

“Such action cannot stand. Those involved were misguided. They did not follow laid down procedure and party constitution,” Ochala said.

The letter, which the Mkpani ward sent to Ebri reads in part: “We write to you? as required by Article 21 Section B subsection vi(b) as the local adjudicatory body of first instance, over complaints or allegations from the ward level.

“A report of anti-party activities was forwarded to the ward and a seven-man panel was constituted ?to investigate and report to the ward executive within seven (7) days. The committee’s report officially indicted Chief Clement David Ebri of anti-party activities, before and during the Yakurr II state constituency rerun election of 12th March, 2016.”

A copy of the letter, which the Yakurr Local Government chapter also allegedly endorsed, has been forwarded to the national vice chairman of the party, Prince Hilliard Eta, for his information.

Group warns Wike against anti-Buhari protest

By Abbas Jimoh

The New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NILC), has warned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, to stop instigating Nigerians against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Executive director of the group, Reverend Steven Onwu, said yesterday that the planned protest against Buhari on Thursday in Port Harcourt was uncalled for.

He said the announcement by facilitators of the protest, which was tagged: “Occupy Nigeria Season 2”, where they revealed that a protest was being planned against the federal government’s inability to solve the perennial fuel scarcity in the country is mischievous, and that the mass action, apparently being sponsored by Governor Wike, was because President Muhammadu Buhari consistently maintained his neutrality in the Rivers State’s rerun poll.

“The issue between the Minister of Transport and immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Wike has reached its limit. It is the reason Wike is sponsoring the so-called ‘Occupy Nigeria Season 2’ to both embarrass and sabotage the federal government.”

Sen. Sani rejects award in solidarity with Nigerians

From Andrew Agbese, Kaduna

The Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, Comrade Shehu Sani, yesterday rejected an award to be conferred on him on grounds that the prevailing economic situation in the country was not suitable for such ceremonies.

He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed, saying though the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government had not succeeded in giving 24 hours of electricity, or in ending the fuel queues, it has been able to defeat Boko Haram insurgents in the country.

Sani, however, advised the APC-led government to end the economic hardship Nigerians were currently facing saying if the government failed to reshape the economy, it stood the risk of being voted out of power or through a social revolution.

Senator Sani, who spoke during an award ceremony by the members of the Ansar Ud-Deen Muslim Youth Association of Nigeria, held at Arewa House, Kaduna, said he decided to re-present the award to the group till the economy improved.

“It is very painful to receive an award when our people are suffering on a long queue at filling stations all over the country. It is painful to receive an award when Nigerians are still expecting dividends of democracy. I will receive this award at the appropriate time, when the condition and welfare of Nigerians improves. I wish to re-present it back to you until such a time,” he said.

CCT Trial: Saraki will shame his accusers – Kwara APC

From Romoke W. Ahmad, Ilorin

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has said the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has assumed the dimension of a mere media trial where the prosecution team embarked on a petty journey of comedy and humor, entertaining Nigerians with drama and folk tales that signifies nothing.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, said they support the determination of the Senate President to face his accusers headlong.

He described Saraki as a courageous leader that is worth his pedigree.

“Given the hyped trial of the Senate President, one would have been tempted to assume the prosecution team had evidence to proof the charges filed against him.

“However, the comedy-filled 48 hours ?after the commencement of the trial has shown that the CCB has no case against the Senate President, and the whole trial might have been initiated to put the Senate President on media trial with the sole goal of painting him black in the minds of unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Even if the plot is to convict Dr. Saraki in the court of public opinion, the plot is destined to fail because those folk tales cannot stand the test of credibility in the face of the facts and water-tight arguments,” the state secretary, said.

He added that the CCB, having realised that it has no evidence against the Senate President, took a detour on a journey of rigmarole and rabble-rousing, entertaining Nigerians with drama and folktales.

“If the witness lined up by the prosecutor claimed money was deposited into Dr. Saraki’s bank account 50 times within a day, is there any iota of credible indication that the money involved was gotten from the public till?”

Defection: Bello extends overtures to Sen. Adeyemi

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has extended hands of fellowship to Senator Smart Adeyemi who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daily Trust reports that Ademyemi, who was a two term senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District under the platform of the PDP, has defected to the APC at the weekend in Abuja.

While announcing his defection, Adeyemi said the decision was as a result of neglect the Kogi West Senatorial District had suffered from the successive PDP administrations in the state.

Kingsley Fanwo, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bello, said in a statement that his principal welcomes Sen. Adeyemi to the APC, and urged him to work with party leaders in the state to bring ‘real change’ to the people.

The governor said the PDP had been losing important leaders to the APC since 2014, and others who are still in the opposition party to jump ship.

‘Kogi Assembly leadership tussle will soon end’

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

The lingering crisis rocking the Kogi State House of Assembly would soon be over, Mr. Bawa Dangana, a media aide to factional speaker Imam Umar has said.

Dangana noted that the recent legal opinion preferred by the Attorney General (AG) of the federation, Abubakar Malami, over the Kogi assembly crisis, clearly indicates that an end has come to the crisis.

According to him, the Attorney General had described the crisis in the Kogi assembly as an internal problem that would be resolved by the house members using their internal mechanism.

He called on the warring members to embrace peace and forge a common ground in the interest of their constituencies, saying that members must put public interest above personal desires.

The Attorney had in a letter to the Inspector General Police, Solomon Arase, dated April 5, 2016, advised the National Assembly to allow Kogi House of Assembly to explore all legal means to solve their face-off.