Politics

Igbogbo\Bayeiku APC primaries: Candidate petitions Sanwoolu, accuses chairman of unethical activities

Published

3 years ago

June 21, 2021

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$Igbogbo\Bayeiku LCDA$

Mayokun

There seems to be no end in sight for the crisis generated by the just-concluded local government primaries elections in the Igbogbo\Bayeiku LCDA branch of the All Progressives Congress.

Following the several cases of illegalities that characterized the elections, a strong-worded petition was submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and party leaders on behalf of the incumbent Vice Chairman, Hon Adegboyega Titilola, by a reputable law firm.

Among other allegations, he alleged that the Chairman, Hon Sesan Daini Mayokun, has turned Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA to a private property and, indeed arrogated the role of party leader to himself by allocating the LASIEC form to his stooges without due consultation with the party Leaders.

He also reminded Governor Sanwoolu of his pending case with the EFCC.

Attached is the petition.

Ref:AD/ AOT/CR/01/2021

15th June,2021
HIS EXCELLENCY
THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE,
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.
LAGOS STATE SECRETARIAT.
ALAUSA, IKEJA. LAGOS.

Your Excellency,

PETITION AND APPEAL FOR JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS REGARDING THE ONGOING PARTY PRIMARY OVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

We are Solicitors to HON. ADEGBOYEGA OLADIMEJI TITILOLA (“our Client”) on whose instruction we hereby petition your good offices for succour in respect of the above captioned.

It is our brief that our Client is the incumbent Vice Chairman of lgbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area and doubles as the Chairman of the Tenders Committee of the said LCDA.

It is pertinent to state that our Client has been loyal to both his political party and the Chairman of his LCDA to a fault, despite and irrespective of this fact and development, the Chairman and his godfathers in politics are scheming to deny him of his right to re-contest and/ or be re-elected as the Vice Chairman and a first timer in political office contrary to the policy objective of the Party.

READ Why I attend church events – Peter Obi

According to our Client, the EFCC got wind of the huge financial misappropriation by the Chairman for which reason, invitation was extended to him to come and explain numerous allegations pertaining to his refusal and neglect, to allow the LCDA expenses beyond N500,000.00, pass through the Tenders Committee and the laid down financial procedure.

The said information got to our Client through the Chairman, who then solicited his assistance to cover up the said misdeeds stating that the image of our Client’ s great party will be affected by the scandal that will be generated as a result of the confirmation of the truth of the allegations aforesaid just as the chances of his re-election bid will be jeopardized.

Our Client consulted with the party leadership at the Loal level and he was advised that the Chairman be assisted, and as a result of which advice he was assisted in the defence of the allegation against him by his Vice Chairman.

Furthermore, many of the vouchers used in the defence of the Chairman at EFCC were procured by the Chairman personally and they were not official vouchers of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA while at the same time is still pending before EFCC, the Chairman having not been cleared.
It was gathered, as it turned out that because our Client has full and detailed knowledge of the financial atrocities committed by the Chairman. the Chairman no longer feel comfortable with his Vice Chairman and developed a scheme, together with his godfathers in politics to get rid of him and run him out of circulation in the Local political arena contrary to the party’s directive that all first timer should be allowed to proceed on second term.

READ 2023: We’re working to get a consensus PDP presidential candidate – Saraki

Consequently, our Client had been manipulated out of his second term tenure by Hon. Oluwasesan Daini who is the incumbent lgbogbo/ Baiyeku LCDA Chairman.

The Council Chairman aforesaid has arrogated the sole power to himself without any due consultation with the party leadership at the Local level by giving LAlSEC Election Vice Chairmanship Form meant for our Client as the incumbent Vice Chairman to his stooge/ favorite in the person of Mr. Nureni Maja.

According to our Client, a lot of his entitlements as the incumbent Vice Chairman of lgbogbo/ Baiyeku LCDA were withheld by the Chairman without any form of complaint by the vice chairman; while relying on the Chairman’s promise to pay the same in the future as well as assurance to repay our Client’s loyalty with second term in office.
Rather than for the Chairman to fulfil his said promise, he resolved to go to the way of a Machiavellian by his attempt to edge our Client out and repay his good with evil, and to add insult upon injury, he resorted to the use of cheap blackmail and/or backstabbing by claiming that our Client is the whistle blower that exposed or leaked his financial atrocities as Council Chairman to the EFCC with a view to destroying his political career.

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Consequently, the slot of Chief Reuben Aderenle Olowu which our Client is using as the Vice Chairman was withheld and arranged to be given to another person, and thereby denied our Client the opportunity to re-contest and be re-elected as the Vice Chairman of lgbogbo/ Baiyeku LCDA.
What is more, the Chairman is threatening our Client with criminal violence and a possible termination of his life, through the use of miscreants and Cult boys, and he is equally boasting openly that he will see how our Client will make public the truth that he knows, about his financial atrocities in office without him being dealt with accordingly.
Rather than release the foregoing development to the print, electronic and social media, our Client upon our advice has resolved to bring the said ugly development to your Excellency’s notice for intervention with a view to providing succour by handling the scandalous development in-house for the sake of our great party.

It is our demand that our Client should be given back his mandate to contest as the Vice Chairman of lgbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA come July, 2021 Local Government Election otherwise our Client will be ready to confidently ventilate his grievance against the Chairman and the electoral process at a Court of law.

We pray on behalf of our Client for your timeous intervention before the matter gets out of hand.

Thank you

Akin Duyilemi Esq

Politics

Peter Obi meets Atiku, Lamido, Saraki in Abuja

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2024

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election Peter Obi has met with ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and former Governor of Jigawa State Sule Lamido in separate visits.

Atiku posted photos of him and Obi during their Monday meeting on his X handle.

“It was my honour and privilege to host @PeterObi today,” Atiku wrote.

In a statement following the meetings, the LP presidential campaign spokesman Tanko Yunusa said Obi visited them to discuss the “state of the nation”.

“Worried about the state of the nation and the increasing uncertainty in the living conditions of the poor and underprivileged, Obi in Abuja on Monday visited some top Nigerians, among whom are former vice president, and PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, the former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki and the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido,” the statement read.

READ 2023: We’re working to get a consensus PDP presidential candidate – Saraki

“At the centre of discussion during each of these visits was the state of the nation and how to reduce the suffering of all Nigerians irrespective of class and location. In particular, the desperate condition of the downtrodden in our midst was highlighted.

“Of particular interest and emphasis in these discussions was the worrisome situation in the northern parts of the country.”

Obi was Atiku’s running mate in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 presidential election.

But Obi, a former Anambra governor, left the PDP ahead of the 2023 poll and teamed up with the Labour Party (LP).

Atiku flew the PDP’s flag in the poll, losing out to President Bola Tinubu.

Politics

Fubara to probe Wike’s administration

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2024

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says a judicial panel of inquiry will be set up to investigate the management of the state’s resources and affairs under past administrations.

Fubara spoke on Monday while swearing in Dagogo Iboroma, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the Rivers’ attorney-general and commissioner for justice, at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

“Let me also say this: you have a big task. We will be setting up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of governance. So, brace up; I am not going back on it,” the governor said.

Earlier on Monday, the Rivers house of assembly led by Victor Jumbo, the factional speaker, screened and cleared Iboroma as a commissioner nominee.

Iboroma’s appointment follows the resignation of Zacchaeus Adangor in April.

“Please defend us. We know that you are going to defend us because your record is clean. You are a gentleman who is peaceful. You are not a noise-maker. People like you are endowed, and they have the fear of God,” Fubara told Iboroma.

READ Why I attend church events – Peter Obi

Fubara succeeded Nyesom Wike, who is the current minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), as governor in May 2023.

He was the accountant-general under Wike.

In May 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Fubara and 58 others wanted over an alleged N435 billion fraud.

‘THIS IS A NEW ERA’

Fubara said the swearing-in of Iboroma marked the beginning of a new era for his government, which he noted has moved on from the political crisis in the state.

“I am happy that this is happening today to mark the beginning of a new era in our administration. When I said that I had a reason for being patient, it is because I know that we are all from one family and if we have a disagreement, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved amicably,” Fubara said.

“But it has become very clear that this disagreement, there is no way to resolve it amicably. And for a lot of reasons, there is visible evidence that there is sabotage and deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.

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“For that reason, we have to move forward. And moving forward, if it means taking decisions that are going to hurt anybody. We are not going back on the protection of the interest of Rivers people.”

THE CRISIS

The Rivers house of assembly has been polarised since 2023 following the rift between Fubara and Wike.

In December, 27 members of the assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly, after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.

Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to Fubara.

The lawmakers in the Amaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

The political crisis took a fresh twist last Wednesday after Jumbo, a lawmaker representing the Bonny state constituency, was elected factional speaker.

READ Outrage, knocks trail FG’s suspension of Twitter in Nigeria

Last Friday, a state high court in Port Harcourt granted an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule from acting as a speaker of the Rivers assembly.

Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.

The motion ex parte was filed by Jumbo and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy — loyal to Fubara.

Politics

Obtaining injunction at 2am can’t sack lawmakers | Backing you was a mistake, Wike tells Fubara

Published

3 days ago

May 12, 2024

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Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says no one has the power to sack elected members of the Rivers house of assembly.

Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, have been locked in a battle for the political structure of Rivers since 2023.

The rift between both men has led to a polarisation of the Rivers house of assembly — with each camp electing a speaker loyal to either man.

In December, 25 Rivers lawmakers loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Their seats were subsequently declared vacant by Edison Ehie, who was then speaker of the camp loyal to Fubara.

THE INJUNCTION

On May 6, Fubara told state legislators loyal to Wike that they owe their existence to him.

“Those group of men who claim they are our assembly members are not assembly members — they are not existing,” Fubara said.

READ Plateau guber dispute: Mutfwang hails Tinubu for resisting pressure to influence supreme court verdict

On May 10, a Rivers high court granted an interim injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule, a lawmaker loyal to Wike, from parading himself as speaker of the state assembly.

Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.

The motion ex parte was filed by Victor Jumbo, the factional speaker and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy. All three legislators are loyal to Fubara.

‘MY JOB IS TO MAKE THEM ANGRY’

Speaking on Saturday in Ogu-Bolo LGA of Rivers at an event to honour George Sekibo, a former senator who has spent 36 years in public service, Wike aimed more thinly veiled barbs Fubara’s way.

The former governor’s remarks also came after Fubara gazetted an executive order moving the sitting of the state house of assembly to the government house.

Addressing Anorld Davids, lawmaker representing Ogu-Bolo constituency in the assembly, Wike said: “Let me say this clearly, Arnold, don’t be frightened that anybody would remove you as an assembly member.”

READ 2023: Amaechi, Ngige, others may be disqualified over failure to resign

“Nobody will remove you as an assembly member.

“Most of you don’t understand. This is our work. What l am doing is to make them fear, to make them angry.

“I have no other job than to make them angry everyday, to make them make mistakes everyday. And they will be in trouble everyday. So, don’t worry about yourselves.

“If they like, they can go to anybody by 2am, 4am to get an injunction. The law will take its course. We are not afraid. We followed due process. We must follow due process.

“We are not going to harm anybody. We are not going to give money to anybody to buy arms and kill anybody. We won’t do that.”

‘HANDPICKING YOU WAS A MISTAKE’

Again, Wike apologised for backing Fubara to succeed him as governor.

“I have made a mistake. I own up. And I ask God to forgive me. I have said all of you forgive me. But, we will correct it at the appropriate time,” he said.

READ Outrage, knocks trail FG’s suspension of Twitter in Nigeria

“I am a human being. I am bound to make a mistake. My judgment can be wrong. So, forgive me for making a wrong judgment. That is life.”