Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 31st May 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 31/05/22
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E2%80%93-senator-kwankwaso 2023: I Was Considering To Make Peter Obi My Running Mate In NNPP – Senator Kwankwaso
Former Governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, would have been his running mate if he hadn’t joined another party.
Kwankwaso admitted that he met with Obi few days before he (Obi) declared to join the Labour Party and that he wished him well.
The former Kano governor stated these in an interview on ChannelsTV on Monday.
“Actually we had an opportunity to talk to ourselves on many national issues until few days to the time he declared for the Labour Party of which he is now the presidential candidate. I wish him well and I wish all other presidential candidates well and I’m sure all these will be decided by people across the country who are going to vote on the 25th of February, 2023.
“Yes, many people suggested that (for Obi to become my running mate); I believe that it could have been possible if not because he joined another party and now he’s already a candidate as we have seen in the news just now and we look forward to what happens in the next few days or weeks.”
According to the chairman of NNPP, he said “lazy politicians” were the ones clamouring for zoning, noting that Nigeria needed a capable president.
He noted that he was not desperate to become the president.
He said, “What Nigerians across the country are saying is that in 2023, they want to see a capable president; somebody who has integrity, who can do the job and the parties are saying who can win the election for them; plus somebody who can do the job; we have passed the level of all these sentiments which some politicians in my opinion put forward – many of who are lazy politicians. I’m not contesting because I’m from northwest or from Kano State; I’m contesting because I’m from Nigeria.”
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BREAKING: Imo Ex-governor, Okorocha Sues Malami, EFCC, Demands N1bn Damages Over Abuja Home Invasion
Former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged breach of his fundamental human rights.
Operatives of the EFCC had arrested Okorocha last Tuesday, after over six hours of laying siege to his Maitama Abuja home. Dozens of protesters had stormed his Abuja home to protest against the siege to arrest him.
The arrest followed an alleged refusal by the former governor to make himself available for trial.
EFCC said it needed to forcibly arrest Okorocha after he jumped an administrative bail granted to him by the commission.
It also said he evaded service of court papers in his trial at an Abuja court on charges of conspiracy, stealing, and laundering N2.9 billion of Imo State funds.
Okorocha, in a suit filed through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told the court that on May 24, the respondents invaded his home in Abuja, depriving him and members of his family access to their private and family life while surrounding his apartment with heavy armed men.
He prayed the court to declare the action as “illegal, null and void”.
Okorocha also prayed the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining or keeping him in custody.
The senator asked the court to order the respondents to pay him N1 billion as general damages and apologise to him publicly.
The court document read, “A DECLARATION that the siege over the house of the Applicant, at No. 3 Nyasa Close Mississippi, Of Ontario Crescent Abuja, by the officers and men of the 1st Respondentson 24th May, 2022, without any legal justification whatsoever, thereby denying the Application his Constitutional rights to private family life is unconstitutional, illegal, wrongful and a flagrant abuse of the fundamental rights of the Applicant contrary to Section 33, 35, 37,38 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended).
“2. A DECLARATION that the seige over the house of the Applicant at No. 3 Nyasa Close, Mississippi, Off Ontario Crescent, Abuja, by the officers and men of the 1st Respondent on the the 24th May, 2022, without any legal justification whatsoever, thereby depriving the Applicant, freedom of movement and also denying the Applicant’s family members, political colleagues, friends and well wishers access to the Applicant, is illegal, wrongful, unconstitutional and amounts to an abuse of the fundamental rights of the Applicant as provided for under Section 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article II of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Acts, Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
“3. A Declaration that the attempt on the life of the Applicant, by the 1st Respondent through the officers working under them, who shot sporadically at the Applicant’s compound broke into the Applicant’s home through the roof top all the way into his bedroom and immediately apprehended the Applicant’s family members phones, including that of the Applicant on the 24th May, 2022, is illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconscionable, unconstitutional and constitute a flagrant and reckless violation and or threat to violate the Applicant’s right to life, as provided for under, Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as altered).”
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E2%80%99s-withdrawal-%E2%80%94-governor-wike UPDATED: I Lost PDP Presidential Primary Because Of Tambuwal’s Withdrawal — Governor Wike Laments
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that he failed to secure the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary because of his colleague, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who was allowed to return to the podium to announce his withdrawal from the race.
Wike made this known on Monday at a reception in his honour at the Government House in Port Harcourt following his return to the state after the primary in Abuja.
“I have never seen how people can violate procedures and guidelines. Somebody has spoken; it is at that point he was speaking that he would have said; I am withdrawing. You don’t call him back,” Wike said. “I just said, ‘Look, this our party must not be destroyed.’ It is God’s will, let us not bother ourselves so much,” Wike added.
He went on to accuse governors of the southern region of betrayal.
“Shame to those who will sell out their own; I have never seen a thing like that. No wonder we cannot move on with development. Look at, a region ganged up. Then, your own region cannot gang up,” Wike argued.
Recall that Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, again emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP.
Abubakar defeated 12 other candidates in a keenly contested presidential primary held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
Of the 767 accredited ballots at the election, he polled 371 votes while his closest challenger, Wike, came second with 237 votes.
Nigeria’s former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, scored 70 votes to come a distant third while Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, came fourth with 38 votes.
The only female in the race, Oliver Diana, and another contestant, Sam Ohuabunwa, scored one vote each.
A former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes while Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, scored 20 votes.
The other contestants – including former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Magazine Publisher, Dele Momodu – got zero votes.
Twelve invalid votes were recorded.
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Uber, Bolt Drivers Begin Strike In Abuja, Demand Upward Review Of Transport Fare
Dozens of Uber and Bolt e-cab drivers on Monday in Abuja under the auspices of National Coalition of Ridesharing Professionals (NACORP) embarked on a three-day warning strike over alleged exploitation and extortion by the e-hailing companies.
The drivers are calling for immediate upward review of e-cab fares to reflect the current economic realities in the country.
The strike by the drivers slowed down movements and commercial activities in the nation’s capital as commuters were stranded at various bus stops.
The NACORP Deputy Coordinator, Administration, Fred Aleburu, who addressed journalists on behalf of the group on Monday, also called for the profiling of the riders (passengers) for security purpose.
He called on the government authorities to come to their aid by invoking relevant laws to regulate the activities and operations of the ride-hailing companies.
Aleburu said the apps companies had refused to review its fare as the companies continued to charge N300 for a trip despite the daunting economic situation in the country.
He accused the companies of being insensitive to their plight despite all the efforts to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He wondered why the service providers were only interested in profiling only drivers and reluctant to request for the valid means of identification of their customers (riders).
He vowed that they would cripple the operation of the companies for subjecting them to untold hardship and untimely death.
“We have come together to organise this three day warning strike because since the inception of Uber and Bolt in Nigeria they have refused to profile their riders. We have been on several protests and yet our drivers are dying. When passengers enter our vehicles, they kill the drivers and in the end, both Uber and Bolt will not have valid identity documents of so-called passengers.
“This is simple; let us share valid and equal identity with the riders, so that when they perpetrate evil, we will be able to know who did what. Secondly the fare has been reduced so much in this harsh economy and that is what we are facing right now.
“Uber and Bolt can give you a trip of N300 as drop-off when we are buying fuel at a very high rate and we are servicing our car at a high cost. There is no servicing of vehicle now that is less than N10,000.”
LABOR/WORKERS’ RIGHTS
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Russian Military Kills French Journalist On Evacuation Convoy In Ukraine
A 32-year-old French journalist has been killed after an armoured evacuation vehicle in which he was travelling got hit by shrapnel suspected from a Russian military’s shell in the city of Sievierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine.
BFMTV journalist, Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, died on Monday, May 30, when shell shrapnel struck the humanitarian aid bus he was travelling in to Lysychansk, Severodonetsk.
News channel BFMTV said in a statement it was “immensely saddened” to announce the death of Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, 32, who had worked for it for six years and was on his second tour of the conflict, adding that the journalist and cameraman was killed on the road to Lysychansk.
“Our reporter was covering the ongoing war. He was the victim of shrapnel while following a humanitarian operation in an armoured vehicle on Monday,” the 24-hour news station said.
“He was accompanied by his colleague, Maxime Brandstaetter, who was slightly injured during this strike, and their fixer, Oksana Leuta, who was unharmed.”
Leclerc-Imhoff had been reporting from the easternmost Ukrainian-held city, which has come under intense attack from Russia.
Reacting to the death of Leclerc-Imhoff, French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the reporter “was in Ukraine to show the reality of the war.”
According him, Leclerc-Imhoff was onboard a humanitarian bus, alongside civilians forced to flee to escape Russian bombs and he was fatally shot. “I share the pain of the family, relatives, and colleagues of Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, to whom I send my condolences.”
France’s new foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, has called for an investigation into Leclerc-Imhoff’s death.
“France demands that a probe is carried out as soon as possible and in transparency on the circumstances of this drama,” she said in a statement.
Luhansk’s regional governor, Serhiy Haidai, said on Telegram that the armoured evacuation vehicle came “under enemy fire” as it went to collect 10 people from the area.
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Policemen Abandon Checkpoints, Residents Desert Anambra Streets Over Sit-at-home
Streets of major cities in Anambra State were again on Monday empty as residents stayed indoors in compliance with the sit-at-home order already suspended by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group had on October 1, 2021 declared every Monday as sit-at-home, restricting movement across the Southeast region of the country in honour of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently in the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS), as he faces trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for treasonable felony.
Although IPOB later announced that it had cancelled the order, residents across the five states of the Southeast have continued to observe the order, partly as a result of frequent attacks and killings by gunmen who usually claim to be enforcing the cancelled order.
While some filling stations and street shops were open for businesses, students were at home as schools sent text messages to parents reminding them of non-academic activities.
Interestingly, while the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, has repeatedly maintained that the Command in the state is determined to rid the state of crimes and criminals, it was observed on Monday that operatives of the command were not found in many of their usual checkpoints in Awka.
SaharaReporters’ visit to the popular Aroma Roundabout in the heart of the city showed that none of the traffic controllers who usually operate at the area was on duty. Also, no police officer was found at a checkpoint along Ifite Road, before Ukwu Aki Junction.
SaharaReporters observed that while Star Sunny Motor park at Aroma Roundabout was not active as no passenger vehicles belonging to the transport company were found, there was still partial movement by a few tricycle operators and minibus shuttle drivers.
Meanwhile, there were more restricted movements in most of the eight local government areas in the state where Governor Charles Soludo had on Wednesday in his state broadcast announced a ban on Keke Napep and Motorcycle movement on Mondays till further notice.
Soludo had during the state broadcast announced that, “With effect from tomorrow, Friday, 26th May, 2022, a 6pm to 6am curfew is hereby placed on motorcycles (okada), tricycles (keke), and shuttle buses in Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Governments until further notice.
“Until further notice also, motorcycles, keke and shuttle buses are banned from operating in these local governments on Mondays until the Sit-at-Home completely stops. The youths of every community in the zone are hereby enjoined to assist the security agencies in the implementation of this policy and are mandated to seize any such motorcycle or tricycle on the spot.
“Local Vigilantes should report such motorcycles or tricycles (keke) immediately, and they will be confiscated by the government and the owner prosecuted. The Okada, Keke, and shuttle bus union leaders must take responsibility to report their members who are involved in criminal activities.
“We shall review this after two weeks, and if members of these unions continue to be involved in criminal activities, the government will have no choice but to either disband the Unions and/or ban them out rightly in the state.”
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Methodist Prelate, Kanu-Uche, Two Others Regain Freedom From Abductors
The abductors of the Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche, and two other priests from the church have freed him from their captivity, Nigerian Tribune reports.
The abductors had earlier said they wanted a sum of N100million as ransom for their release.
It was not clear yet if the church paid all or part of the ransom to the abductors before the release of Kanu-Uche.
Recall that the Prelate, the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s Chaplain, were kidnapped on Sunday in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
They were abducted while they were on their way from a programme in the council area.
The Secretary of the Conference, the Rt. Revd. (Dr.) Michael Akinwale, had confirmed the demand of ransom in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday and appealed to all parishioners to contribute their quota to raise the N100million ransom.
According to the statement, “The devastating news of the abduction of our Prelate, the Bishop of Owerri, and the Prelate’s Chaplain has left everybody in shock.
“This is a period of trial in which the Church must cry out that ‘The Lord that answereth by Fire’ must be our God to destroy all the manipulations of the adversary.
“Let us all arise and cry out to the Lord. As we engage in Prayer Warfare, this serves to notify you that the abductors have demanded a ransom of N100million.”
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E2%80%93-peter-obi-lambasts Nigerian Leaders Spend Dollars To ‘Buy’ Delegates But Owe Workers, Pensioners – Peter Obi Lambasts Political Aspirants
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has decried the retrogression of the country, saying that those elected to manage her resources have abandoned the national currency and are living in opulence and like kings.
Obi, who stated this in his acceptance speech after emerging the winner of the LP presidential primary election, held on Monday in Asaba, Delta State, said he would return Nigeria to Nigerians from the forces of bad leadership and retrogression.
In the acceptance speech tagged “Let Us Return Nigeria to Their Rightful Owners”, Obi said that the tasks ahead were great and seemingly insurmountable, but noted that “Our battle cry shall remain: get your PVC and become part of this great liberation.”
Obi, while thanking Nigerians; especially members of the Labour Party for believing in him to fly Labour flag in the forthcoming National election to choose the President of Nigeria, said “What you are doing today is a patriotic duty towards seeking the desired political emancipation of our dear country, which stands wounded by many years of cumulative leadership failure.”
“Painfully, our current dysfunctional system rewards unearned income and conspicuous consumption; allows university lecturers to remain on strike for months; keep our youths at home; and owe pensioners, who gave their patriotic sweat and their youthful energy to serve this country.
“The despicable contrast is that those responsible for the mess – those elected to take care of them – have abandoned the national currency and are living in opulence and like kings, spend dollars to buy delegates as well as houses all over the world. Meanwhile, they owe most workers, lecturers and retirees.
“Yes, our country stands hijacked by forces of retrogression. We are almost zero in all indices of development. As a result, our future, especially those of the youth and generations unborn is in ruins. We have become a laughing stock among other nations, including African countries where we were once revered.
“As a party that represents the workers and masses of this great nation, we are people organised and working for our economic rebirth. As I am nominated today, I humbly proclaim that the journey towards the emancipation of the country has begun.
“I note with humility that the journey is going to be a collective one that will certainly require the cooperation of critical stakeholders in our country, especially the youth, whose future has been thoroughly degraded.
“I therefore thank all of you and call for your sustained support towards returning Nigeria to Nigerians from forces of bad leadership and retrogression. Such a noble tasks brooks no conscientious objectors,” he said.
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BREAKING: APC Member Petitions Presidential Screening Committee, Seeks Disqualification Of Tinubu Over Alleged Age Falsification, Chicago University Certificate Scandal
A member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sagir Mai Iyali has asked the party’s presidential screening committee to disqualify one of the aspirants, Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged certificate forgery.
The petition dated May 17, 2022, was submitted on Monday, May 30, and its receipt was acknowledged by one Emmanuel Akpan.
Tinubu’s academic qualifications have been a subject of controversy for over a decade.
He had indicated he graduated from the University of Chicago in his INEC form 001 filled when he contested the Lagos State governorship poll in 1999.
The former governor also claimed in the affidavit he attached to the INEC form that he lost his university degree certificate while he was in exile between 1994 and 1998.
Human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), had also questioned Tinubu’s credentials and sued the Nigeria Police Force for failing to investigate him.
The Supreme Court in its judgment on May 10, 2002, ruled that Tinubu could not be prosecuted by the police for alleged certificate forgery.
The apex court also ruled that the Inspector-General of Police could not be compelled by Gani to investigate Tinubu for alleged certificate forgery as he enjoyed immunity at the time.
In a petition sent to John Odigie Oyegun, chairman of the presidential screening committee of the APC, Iyali said Tinubu never graduated from the University of Chicago.He added that the former governor lied about his age and state of origin.
The APC member further asked that the former Lagos governor shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the June 7 primary of the party.
“We understand that Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has since procured his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms and has submitted same to the party has certain issues that clearly amount to a similar disqualification scenario.
“From the information contained in prior submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly in 1999, Mr Tinubu Presented a false claim, on oath, of his attendance at University of Chicago from 1972-1976. It is clear now that these claims are false. Not only was this filed in the INEC form with a declaration on oath on December 20th, 1999, but it was also contained in an affidavit of loss sworn to before the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja Registry, December 29th 1998.
“The latter claim that seeks to transpose history is untenable. Mr Tinubu has to show proof he attended University of Chicago or he must stand disqualified as the opposition is in possession of these same documents.
“Over the years, the identity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been shrouded in secrecy. In fact, no one can claim to know the identity of the man.
“Similarly, the age of Tinubu is not known to anyone. Though, it’s not contention that he is above the statutory age of 35-years, it’s equally important that his exact age is known,” the petition read.
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Ondo State Residents Protest Over Five-month Power Outage, Insecurity, Block Roads
Angry residents of Irese in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday took to the streets of the town to protest against the power outage that has persisted in the area for the past five months.
The residents, particularly the youths of the town, trooped out in their large numbers to barricade the main roads with woods, benches, and tables for several hours.
The protesters marched through the major streets of Irese town, chanting various solidarity songs to express their displeasure over the development.
While disallowing movement of vehicles and motorcycles from coming and entering the town, the aggrieved residents lamented that the community had been in total darkness for five months.
They berated the authorities of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, for being insensitive to their plight.
A resident of the community, Ms. Ifeoluwa Olomofe, said power outage had increased the level of insecurity thereby necessitating the protest.
She explained that their businesses had been adversely affected.
“For close to five months now, the residents of Irese community have been in total darkness – a situation that has paralysed local businesses while some were even shut down and heightened insecurity.
“Many of us cannot work as there is no electricity to run our business again as artisans. How do we now feed our family as those who are supposed to give us jobs or contracts cannot do that again since we have no electricity to work?
“So, we have to barricade the roads with benches and tables and make this bonfire to draw the attention of the BEDC and government authorities to plight.
“As it is now, we would not open the road until our plight is addressed because we are suffering and there is no development here. They should listen to us”, she added.
Reacting, the spokesman for the BEDC, Akure Branch, Mr. Micheal Barnabas, said the transformers in the community were damaged by vandals, noting that the issue would soon be resolved.
Barnabas, “The truth of the matter is that the transformers in the community were vandalised and we have provided five drums of oil for a replacement for you to know how committed we are to restoring electricity to the town.
“It is not that we are not aware of the challenges they are facing and very soon we will replace the transformer but we will just appeal to them to be patient with us, we didn’t abandon them. We are taking steps to address the issues.”
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