In a bid to combat the dreadful pandemic, coronavirus as codenamed Covid-19.
Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holding PLC, earlier today donated over 1,000 reagent and test kits to the Cross River State Government.
Receiving the items, Hon. Asuquo Ekpenyong who double as Cross River State Commissioner For Finance and Secretary of Covid-19 response taskforce, profound encomium to Stanbic IBTC for their magnificent gesture.
David Peter Content_
He urged other corporate organizations, philanthropists and donor agencies to support the government to combat the ravaging spread of coronovirus in the State.
Today, Cross River still firm the only state in Nigeria with Covid-19 Zero status.
The High Court Of Cross River State sitting at Moore road before Justice Elias Abua this morning Struck off a suit filed by aggrieved PDP members loyal to what is popularly known as “Governor’s list” however made no order as to cost.
In the circumstance suit no: HC/115/2020 accordingly struck off from the cause list.
Accordingly, Justice Elias Abua, in his judgement this morning 30th June 2020, held that the application filed by aggrieved PDP members over wards and Chapters exco had already been determined and lack jurisdiction.
On the motion challenging the authenticity of the list, Justice Abua ruled that the attempt to proceed on the matter would amount to nothing and which he descried as mere academic exercise.
Although, the “The Governor’s loyalists” in their originating summons, sought the court to determine whether the “authentic list is actually authentic”. Meanwhile, they did not participate in the process and conduct of the Ward exco elections but they should be declared winner of the election, against Section 285(13) of the constitution.
Similarly, in their separate arguments, outside the court, law practitioners described the plaintiff’s application as mere academic exercise that would end in futility.
In the end, the court order which they have all been waiting for is out and . Victory For The Authentic Exco become cert
In line with His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade’s directives on illegal taxes and levies in Cross River State.
The Executive Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Barr. Fabian Ogbeche has constituted a Taskforce on Illegal Revenue checkpoints in Yala.
The well constituted team was charged to leave no stone unturned in implementing Governor Ben Ayade’s tax exemption policy for low and no income earners.
Barr. Ogbeche pledged to work assiduously to ensure that the unnecessary and illegal taxation and levies are stopped with immediate effect in Yala Local Government Area.
He emphasized that all offenders will be prosecuted for any form of impunity Committed. The taskforce members were also warned to carry out their assigned duties without fear or favour, devoid of fraudulent practices in collaboration with the security agencies in the area.
The Chairman also used the medium to appreciate the Governor and his formidable team for their role in the just concluded Local Government Elections. He further reiterated commitment to work harmoniously with the State Government for the greater good of Yala Nation.
Cross River State acting Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Odey Eneji has endorsed the prosecution of illicit tax operator’s in the State.
Consequent upon his approval of a Mobile Court, the acting CJ, Justice Maurice Eneji find it worthy of the agency’s appeal to prosecute illicit tax collector’s who are stunting the growth of small scale businesses in the state.
The Anti-Taxi Agency urged alleged defaulters to restrain from such illegal act and be law abiding to His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade’s Anti Tax policy, adding that, the law enforcement and respectable member’s of the agency will stick-to-it-iveness to prosecute defaulter’s legally.
“The era of chasing the unlawful perpetrators are over. The acting Chief Judge, His Lordship, Maurice Eneji, has given the anti tax agency prompt approval for the Magistrate to prosecute defaulters.”
“The agency have barked with series of sensitization and awareness, now we can bite anyone who contradict or operates against the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade Anti-tax policy, such person will be arrested, prosecuted and jailed.”
“We impulse to the general public, Petty trader’s, Keke Napep, Taxi Drivers, Restaurant, Hawker’s, Salons, Mini Hotels, Etc. to update the CRS Anti Tax Agency Hotline: 07026105177 on any illegal operator’s”, He said.
In furtherance of entrepreneurial development in the state and inter agency and departmental collaborative meeting held by the Director General Migration Control Services Agency, Prince Michael Nku Abuo, JP, the Special Adviser Enterprise Development Funding, Rt Hon Mrs Majorie Asuquo and Special Adviser Community Enterprise Development, Mrs Ajibike Agba on Monday, 29th June, 2020 to deepen the reach of governance of the Sen Prof Ben Ayade led administration.
The meeting is to fine tune ends and strengthen collaboration ahead of the agency’s event slated for 24th to 29th of August, 2020. The initiative is geared at addressing irregular migration via entrepreneurial development.
The program which is organized in partnership with the Nigerian Youth Chambers of Commerce , a CBN accredited Enterprise Development Institute will train 200 Cross Riverians from across the state in a week long enterprise certification course and facilitate their access to 3-10 Million Naira each from the Central Bank of Nigeria intervention fund to start and or expand their business.
Approximately about 600 Million Naira will be added to the state economy via this initiative and over 500 direct jobs created.The training and opportunity is open to graduates and undergraduates and the facility will be accessed without collateral.
Speaking to pressmen after the meeting the Director General Migration Control Services, Prince Michael Nku Abuo, said, migration is a global phenomenon with local impact. He said the agency is tasked with the summarized mandate of addressing irregular migration and positively exploiting the gains of regular migration and a state legislation is in the offing to give the agency legal backing.
The Special Adviser Enterprise Development Funding, Mrs Majorie Asuquo in her response said “The Sen Prof Ben Ayade led administration believes so much in human capital development hence his special interest industrialization and entrepreneurial development. Therefore this initiative is a push in that direction”.
“Enterprise Development is a key and vital component in job creation as it has been proven that government alone can’t create jobs. It’s therefore imperative upon her to ensure that businesses are supported to thrive and even expand. In order to boost the economy and create jobs.This initiative is a move in that direction to further the spirit of Enterprise in Cross River State.” Mrs Kate Ajibike-Agba added
Other partners for the said events are in no order the Nigerian Youth Chambers of Commerce, Zenith Bank, NIRSAL, CBN etc.
Comr. Lekan Macaulay. PA Media to the Director General Migration Control Services Agency
The Cross River State Government on Monday disclosed that His Excellency Sen Prof Ben Ayade has invited the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to accredit the Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Infectious Disease Hospital in Calabar to consolidate the State effort in management of the Corona virus pandemic and also facilitate rapid testing to reduce the inconveniences experienced by the State when sending samples for testing which takes about 4-5 days for result to return amidst other expenses and delays.
This was made known by the Honorable Commissioner for Health and Chairman Cross River State Covid-19 Response and Taskforce, Dr Betta Edu accessing the Lab with the 1,056 PCR Extraction test kits donated to the State by Stanbic IBTC Bank. She said all necessary arrangements has been finalized and the State Government is expecting the arrival of FMOH/NCDC official before the week runs out.
Dr Edu noted that with the State having such number of PCR test kits with more to come from NCDC which is expected to boast the efforts put forth by the Government in terms of testing, we can now run over a hundred tests within the shortest possible time and the stress of sending samples to Irua and other accredited laboratories will become a thing of the past.
Cross River State is blessed with one of the best reference laboratory in Nigeria, the PCR and GeneXpert Machines in our laboratory that was used for TB and HIV are all very functional and with the latest configuration can conduct over 100 tests at the same time.
The Commissioner for Health on behalf of the Governor thanked the management of Stanbic IBTC for the support stating noting that it came at a time where the State is in dire need of PCR test kits.
She went further to applaud Cross Riverians for remaining strong and supportive irrespective of the many challenges. She reiterated that Cross Riverians should not panic but rather continue to observe all the laid down precautionary measures while supporting the efforts of Sen Prof Ben Ayade to keeping them safe.
The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (OMPAN), Cross River State chapter noted with profound reservations the unconscionable barbarity of the Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River on Forestry Security, Thomas Obi Tawo, popularly called “General Iron” who reportedly burnt Nigerians in Boki LGA recently (with some allegedly dead) for suspectedly being witches and wizards whom he said he saw in his dream fighting with him. OMPAN called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the so-called General. “We note with reservations the barbarity of the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Forestry Security, Thomas Obi Tawo, who recently burnt some Nigerians indigenous to Boki for suspectedly seeing them in his dream fighting with him. “It beggars the mind that this type of elements are still living with us in society and more still, he is still an appointee of a state governor who had claimed to be a politician with ethics. “OMPAN is therefore calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of SA Tawo. Such entities, if convicted should be kept faraway from society”, the statement.
The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN, Cross River State chapter also called on the Cross River State Government to reinvigorate the fight against COVID-19 lockout in the state. The association made the call in a communiqué after its monthly meeting held in Calabar on Thursday. The Communiqué signed by its state Chairman, Comrade Efio-Ita Nyok stated that the call has become imperative following the complete noncompliance with basic safety rules like wearing of face masks, use of hand sanitizers and physical distance by majority of the population in the state. “Ninety percent of residents in the state no longer use personal protective equipment and go about their businesses with an air of nonchalance which speaks volumes of what might befall the state in the event of an outbreak of the pandemic in the state”.
OMPAN observed that the state sits on a time bomb as the borders and points of entry into the state which used to be closely monitored have now become open for free entry and exit into the state. “Reports from across the state shows that movement into and out of the state no longer witness scrutiny or restriction as was the case when the government announced the lockout against the pandemic”.
The association said figures globally indicate that the rate of infection is on the increase and even in Nigeria there is a spike in the level of infection and the state having not witnessed any case should be sustained through continued and stringent lockout effort. “Initiating a policy without close and continued monitoring is like kicking a ball down the road and letting it rolls without being guided to a logical direction and that is not going to stop the infection from entering the state and causing havoc”. OMPAN noted. The association also called on the state government to call on the contracting firm handling the construction of the Tinapa-Odukpani junction roundabout road to expedite action to put pay to the frequent motor accidents that are being recorded along that road. “There have been records of frequent motor accidents particularly trucks crashing on that road and obstructing free movement and causing avoidable hardship on road users.”
The association stated that though rainfall is on the increase but measures should be taken by the contractor to avoid frequent crashes on the road. concluded.
Representative of Taiwan in Nigeria, H. E. Vincent Yang, on Sunday presented a consignment of medical supplies donated to the government of Cross River State to assist in the current efforts by the Governor Ben Ayade administration to ward-off the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
The donation was received by the State’s Commissioner for Finance Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr. on behalf of the government of Cross River State in a brief ceremony held at the grounds of Taipei Trade Office in Ikoyi-Lagos.
Representative Yang while handing over the consignment, emphasized that the donation was coming from Taiwan-Africa Business Association (TABA) that had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cross River State government last November during the visit to the State by a 13 member TABA delegation from Taiwan.
Representative Yang stated that in keeping with the spirit and letters of the MOU, members of TABA decided to reach out to Cross River State by donating the medical supplies and PPE for the use of frontline workers in their efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The Diplomat said that this first consignment will be followed soon by another set of donations of vital medical equipments from Taiwan.
Aside the current assistance to Cross River State, Taiwan has also donated medical PPE to the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
It will be recalled that Governor Ben Ayade, while addressing the visiting TABA delegation that visited Cross River in November last year, urged them to take advantage of the Nigerian market, its new tax regime and available land to invest in the Industrial Park. Ayade while lauding TABA, said Nigeria’s population of over 200 million provides a viable platform for investors. Ayade had further said “You are a major exporter and we have the market. You need our market; we need your technology.”
The chairman of TABA, Mr. Jeff Sun had assured Governor Ayade that TABA were open to partnership that would be of mutual benefit to the group and African collaborators. TABA has over one hundred members that remain ready to partner with Cross River State.
In his reaction, Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr while appreciating the donation and the prospects of receiving more medical equipment in the future, reiterated the need for Taiwan to share its successful strategies in containing the pandemic.
It would be noted that Taiwan has only reported 447 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the number of confirmed cases per million people in Taiwan is 18.8, placing the nation at No.168 out of a total of 187 countries. There have been no new domestic cases in eight weeks & Taiwan has decided to ease domestic restrictions.
Taiwan’s success in fighting COVID-19 was due to its strict border controls, a similar strategy deployed by Cross River State. The nation did not issue stay-at-home orders or order general business shutdowns. Having recorded enviable success in containment of COVID-19 the Island nation has been reaching out to friendly countries to share its success and ideas in fighting the pandemic.
Furtherance to his his Excellency, Prof Sen. Ayade Benedict ‘s intervention to end the lingering crises between the Kutia and Ukworutung communities, his excellency have now informed the two communities of take-over of disputed land and his desire to site the Mopol 75 Squadron barracks in the affected area
In a meeting yesterday with the Executive Chairman of Obudu LGA, Hon. Eraye Ewhe and Chiefs of the two clans, the Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff Hon. Martin Orim, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Prof. Emile Inyang and the Director General Border Commission, Mr. Noel Ugbong officially notified the the two hostile communities of government’s plans to create a buffer zone between the two communities
Speaking in the meeting, the Hon. Commissioner for Lands, Prof. Inyang while reading the land use act of 1978 reminded the two communities that government owns all lands and at any given time have the right to take over any land without compensation especially in cases of disputed lands.
“Government have every right to start bulldozing that land you are fighting for without informing you but because the governor is magnanimous and wants the best always for his people, we will be compensating the host communities on economic plants and structures in the affected land” the commissioner said
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff urged the two communities to see the citing of Mopol 75 barracts in their land an achievement rather than a punishment as the two communities are set to benefit tremendously from the initiative.
“Schools, hospitals and markets will be built in this barrack, your children together with the officers children will attend the schools, receive medical care from the hospital and sell in the markets” the Chief of Staff said
Hon. Eraye further sued for peace between the two communities and assured them of a level playing ground for all two communities
In their response, the Clan heads of the two communities welcomed his Excellency’s initiative and thanked him for bringing development closer to them and ending their long lasting rivalry with the citing of a federal government project in their land
The Chairman of Etung Local Government Council Comrade John Etuk Nkom has called on Etung council staff to take their jobs seriously and desist from truancy, laziness and absconding from duty as there are detrimental to growth. The chairman who made the call in a meeting with council staff at the council hall Effraya emphasized that the council requires all hands on deck to bring back local government administration to its enviable state.
He said civil servants play a major role in ensuring the entire system wakes up and fast while admonishing staff to take their work seriously and be at their duty post , as truancy , laziness , absconding from duty etc will no longer be tolerated .
The council boss however encouraged heads of Units to sanction erring staff in line with civil service rules or be prepared to face disciplinary measures from his office for none performance of their duties . He hinted that the council staff shuttle which had been grounded for years was going to be put back so as to assist staff movement, particularly those coming to work from Ikom, Ajassor, Etomi, Bendeghe communities.
Following the unspeakable horror witnessed by Ntamante community of Ekpashi Ward in Boki LGA in the morning of 25th day of June, 2020, where a 23 year old Michael Oyong popularly known as Bobos was found slaughtered and dumped dead in a bush around the community by unknown killers.
In a prompt reaction and intervention as to bringing the Perpetrators of such inhuman and beastly act to justice and to prevent/stop such dismay from future occurrences in the area, the Councilor and Leader of Ekpashi who is also Chief Security Officer Ekpashi and Deputy Leader of Boki Legislature, Hon. Omang Theresa Jabe has employ the Nigerian Police carry out investigation on the brutal murder of Mr. Michael Ditiem Oyong a.k.a Bobos. Hon. Theresa further engaged the entire Ntamante community to assist the police With useful homeland security information to fast tracking investigation and bring the killers of Bobos to face the law. Recalling how insecurity has been disturbed the area in recent times, Hon. Theresa charge both Vigilante and the people of Ekpashi to join hands in assisting all security agencies in the area to bringing peace, security and calmness in Ekpashi ward.
However, in a security meeting with the DPO of Okundi divisional police, Hon Theresa in company of Boki LGA legislative council affirms that, she would do whatever it takes to assist the police in bringing the killers of Bobos to justice and restore lasting peace and security in her ward. Meanwhile, the DPO, Mr. William Okon, promised the leader and people Ntamante to bring the killers of Mr. Michael Oyong (Bobos) to book. He told the people that his officers are already on with investigations hence, the community will soon hear the out come of their investigations.
Boki Legislative Council and Security Agencies
Meanwhile, addressing the youths and women of the Ntamante community who until now, can’t stop morning their young and promising fellow and son, Hon. Theresa promise justice for Bobos as well as peace and security in the community and the political ward at large. In reaction to the incident, the women vowed to use any means (forensic or diabolic) to making sure, Bobos’ killers are exposed and brought to face the law. The youth on the other hand, thank the Hon. for her prompt intervention in making sure, justice for Bobos prevails. Speaking, one of the community youth leaders, Mr. Stanley Bisong (Alasa), further applauded the Hon for really having the peace, security and wellbeing of the community as her priority. Stating that, indeed their votes where counted for a leader that holds their concern at heart as her priority. On behalf of the youth, Stanley Bisong promise the Hon and reassured their readiness of assisting all security outfits to making sure the killers of Bobos, whom he described as one of their most jovial, brave, friendly and very industrious fellow while alive, are brought to face the law.
The visible fear, anxiety and controversy that has continued to trail the ceding of Bakassi to the Republic of Camaroun by the Nigerian Government seems not to settle down. As years goes by, the issue like a sore finger sticks out for attention.
During the civil war, General Gowon then Head of Nigerian Government in a desperate attempt to block off Biafra traded off the Penisular. Don’t blame him, He was quite young then and probably was influenced by the poor narrative of Sir Claude MacDonald, the then Commissioner/ Consul General of Niger Coast Protectorate who described Bakassi and its people this way ” the ground known as Bakassi is a strip of swamp ….peopled by a few mise able folks” Bakassi Penisular was then unsung and completly inconsequential to the political permutation and socio political development of the country.
Years later, Sir MacDonald was proved wrong as the swampy area traded of is today an oil rich territory, sublect of decades of political bickering, manouverings and legal tussles on both sides of the countries.General Gowon then, though the Head of State was an untested and unskilled administrator drafted in by circumstances with minimal knowledge of the relevance of some parts of the areas he administered.
This assertion further played itself out in April 1971, when he sealed the illegitimate deal with President Ahidjo of Camaroun. He refused to rely on the vast experiences of some tested and trusted technocrats in his administration who ought to have advice him better. This may have accounted for why in 1975, when Gowon brought the treaty to the Supreme Military Council for ratification, it suffered sudden death and was ignominiously thrown out. Till today, I stand to be challenged and perhaps corrected, if any Nigerian Parliament has ratified the so called treaty till date. Impunity.
According to Shehu Shagari, former Head of State and then, Federal Commissioner under Gowon who was kept out of the meeting where the treaty was sealed lamented thus ” the two Heads of States decided to discuss the matter withing themselves behind closed doors. Only the Chief Surveryor General was invited into the secret meeting. At the end of the negotiation, the two leaders at a ceremony which I and other officials attended signed a communique and initialed a map which showed the boundary lines of agreed by both of them.” You can imagine this level of impunity.
The poor judgement of not taking into consideration the abject deprivations and displacement suffered by scores of the indegenous people of Bakassi who were rendered homeless underscores that. Let me not talk about the huge security implications it has currently thrown up in the midst of the continued agitation of the people of the area demanding self determination as embedded in the Green Tree Agreement.
It was obvious that the handing over featured clearly, the collapse of institutions and structures, suffocated political space, an intimidated civil society and awesome credibility issues for the Federal Government. It is sad that the ocassion marked a historical mile stone and fundermental strategic turning point in the history of Nigeria and Africa’s foreign relationship. By that token Nigeria back then gave up her leadership roles which hitherto had become grossly and manifestly ineffective due to the alienation of it’s citizenry coupled with an incurable bad leadership in Continental affairs till date.
Gowon’s poor judgement exhibited then, has continued to run cancerously through succeeding administration’s as manifested during President Olusegun Obasnjo’s tenure who without recourse to due process and rule of law signed what today can be refered to as Green Tree Agreement an indication that Nigeria was ready to commence the implementation of the Judgement of the International Court of Justice ( ICJ). Section 12 (1) of the 1999 Constitution States: No treaty between the Federal Government and any other country shall have the force of the law except to the extent to which such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly. What the National Assembly did to the best of my knowledge in 208 was a ridiculous endorsement which can not come within the Constitutional specualation of section 12 (1) Supra. Displaying failed courage President Olusegun Obasanjo in an emotionally filled occasion at Government Lodge Calabar handed over the rich oil Bakassi Penisular to Cameroun. ratified the so called treaty till date.
BARR. UGOJI NWABUEZE Senior Special Assistant to Cross River State Government on Non Indigenes affairs and President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Cross River State.
In a bid to unveil business potentials in Cross River State, the Distinguished Commissioner for Commerce, Pst. Mrs. RoseMary Archibong, took a trip to Isomac Global Ltd at Ekorinim, Calabar where palm kernel shells are collected for export.
The Commissioner received commitment from the CEO, Ejimadu Onyema to equipped Cross Riverians who’re keen interested to be trained.
According to the CEO, the next cargo is departing from the Calabar Sea Port for Portugal and Japan on the 29th of June 2020.
The Commissioner was accompanied by the Consultant Export and Maritime, Mrs. Annie Iton on the visit.
Governor Ben Ayade’s bid to industrialize the state, and create job opportunities for Cross Riverians, has received a massive boost as the state government takes delivery of Multi-million naira worth of Pharmaceutical Equiptment.
The newly acquired Pharmaceutical Equipment at the Calabar Pharmactical Factory, will see Cross River state, commence manufacturing of Drugs, tablets, creams, ointments, eye drops, ear drops, capsules, liquid syrups and dry powder syrups amongst Others.
Commissioner for industry, Hon Peter Egba, stated this while receiving the equipment, that this move by His Excellency will Change the face of Cross River state and create alot job opportunities for Cross Riverians.
“This equipments came in from India, so far we have offloaded 5 containers and by next tomorrow we will be taking delivery of another 4 containers and one other container to make it 12 so far, in all we are expecting 23 containers”.Egba revealed
To this end, he further disclosed that by next month the manufacturers will come around to couple and install them for full production..
His words:”Cross Riverians will be engaged, this is a specialized Factory, we will need Pharmacists, we will need micro biologists, Accountants and even Managers and also people who studied Chemistry that will come around, we will engage them and they will work here. This will create huge employment here and also generate revenue for the state at the end of the day”
The Honorable commissioner also added that by September, everything should have been fully installed and production should have started.
Also speaking on the arrival of the equipment, Mr Esung Uwanse, the Senior Special Assistant on Calabar Pharmaceutical company limited, praised Governor Ben Ayade, for doing quite a number of great things for the state.
According to him governor Ayade has done everything to ensure that we move from the perspective of a civil service state to becoming an industrial hub, where many countries will come and learn from what His Excellency has done for the state.
“The World Health Organization came here sometime ago to verify the structure of the place and I must say they were thrilled, NAFDAC has Okayed the building and very soon from now Cross River state will become one of the top state in the country, and the entire Africa in the production of drugs.”
“This would be massive for the country and continent” he also observed
Tributes poured in thursday for former Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who passed on earlier in the day at the age of 70. Until his death, he was the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and picked as the party’s acting national chairman in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s ratification of the suspension of the incumbent, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.
Ajimobi passed away the same day the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC), which he headed, albeit through the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-south), Chief Hilliard Eta, while he was receiving treatment in a Lagos hospital for COVID-19. President Muhammadu Buhari, the governors of the 36 states and a top chieftain of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, expressed shock over the death of Ajimobi, whom they described as a man of integrity. Among the governors who sent condolence messages over Ajimobi’s death were his successor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Mr. Gboyega Oyetola (Osun). More
President Muhammadu Buhari’s master stroke, by agreeing to the convocation of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he rallied other party leaders to attend, yesterday arrested the drift of the ruling party into an abyss. The meeting, which held at the State House, Abuja, despite opposition from the National Working Committee (NWC), pulled the break on the spiralling leadership crisis rocking the party with the dissolution of the NWC.
In its place, the NEC, which ratified the president’s proposal to dissolve the NWC, also accepted his suggestion to raise a 13-member caretaker committee, which is now headed by Yobe State Governor, Mr. Mai Mala Buni, a former national secretary of the party. However, the dissolution did not go down well with the NWC, headed by Adams Oshiomhole, who is now on suspension, as it said it would consult its lawyers, possibly to file a lawsuit to challenge the action. At the virtual NEC meeting, attended by Buhari, the 13-member committee, which has Senator Akpan Udoedehe as its secretary, was also dubbed as the Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and saddled with the task of organising a convention to elect a new leadership for the party. Other members of the party include the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, and his Osun State counterpart, Gboyega Oyetola. The committee has a six-month duration to run the party affairs and organise a national convention through which members of the next NWC of the party will be elected. The NEC meeting was called by a former Deputy National Secretary of APC, Chief Victor Giadom, in his capacity as the acting national chairman of the party following a range of crises, which followed the decision of the Court of Appeal on June 16 that upheld the ruling of an Abuja High Court that had earlier upheld the suspension of Oshiomhole by his ward in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The governorship contest in Edo State in September will be a battle of two familiar combatants: the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the man he defeated in 2016, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
However, this time, the duo will be swapping platforms as Obaseki thursday picked the ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a few days after Ize-Iyamu emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In 2016 when they vied against each other, Obaseki was the APC’s candidate and Ize-Iyamu, PDP. Obaseki was affirmed as the candidate of the PDP, having polled 1,952 votes after three other aspirants of the party stepped down for him before the commencement of voting. A total number of 2,024 delegates were accredited as voters while 72 votes were voided.
Declaring Obaseki as winner of the party’s primary and candidate of the party in the September 19 governorship election, Chairman of the Election Committee and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, said: “By the powers conferred on me as chairman of the party’s primary election, I hereby return Governor Godwin Obaseki as the declared winner and candidate of PDP in the Edo State governorship election slated for September 19 this year.” Yesterday’s primary was an anti-climax following intrigues by the other aspirants to ensure that Obaseki, who defected to the PDP last Friday, after he was disqualified from vying for the APC’s ticket, did not participate in the primary.
The government of Ghana has assured Nigeria that it will ensure that the demolished Nigerian High Commission building in Accra, is restored to its original state, as soon as possible. Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Botchwey (MP), in a statement yesterday following the incident, which has sparked off a diplomatic row between the two countries, said a committee had been raised to investigate the demolition. The minister added that the committee, comprising officials of the ministry, Ghana’s Lands Commission, National Security Secretariat and the Ghana Police Service, will make appropriate recommendations to the government on how to amicably resolve the issue. Botchwey said preliminary findings by the committee revealed that the High Commission of Nigeria presented letter referenced SCR/LCS 74/VOL.2/95 dated August 7, 2000, granting allocation and right of entry to the High Commission, for a four-acre parcel of land in the Accra Osu Mantse Layout.
The findings also revealed that the High Commission of Nigeria presented receipts of payments on the land, made by banker’s draft, payable to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, but added that the Land Title Certificate had not been issued to the high commission. The minister noted that findings also showed that the Lands Commission stated that the four-acre parcel of land was part of vested land, which is owned by the Osu Stool and managed by the Lands Commission. Botchwey stated that findings of the committee showed that in June 2019, the Osu Stool requested the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission to grant a lease in respect of a part of the land to a third party. The minister said: “Lands Commission stated that per its processes of granting leases, its records did not reveal any previous transaction in respect of the land in question.
SamaquaGist.com 