Flowerbud News

Category: Politics and Governance

  • We practice democracy at grassroots in Oyo State, Makinde says

    We practice democracy at grassroots in Oyo State, Makinde says

    We practice democracy at grassroots in Oyo State, Makinde says

     

    By Adewale Owoade

     

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says the state is committed to practicing democracy at the grassroots.

     

    The governor said these after casting his vote at Unit 1, Ward 011, Abayomi Open Space, Iwo Road, Ibadan North East LGA of the State.

     

    Oyo state held election for chairmen and counselors across its 33 local government areas, to choose who would lead them at the grassroots levels.

    Addressing journalists after exercising his franchise, Gov. Makinde said that the security report about the election had been excellent, saying those who witnessed any untoward development should report same to the security agencies.

     

     

    “For us in Oyo State, it is almost like a given that democracy at the grassroots is what we practice. This is almost our 5th year in office and we are holding local government election for the second time.

     

    “Before we came in, it had always been caretaker administration at the grassroots without the people having a say in who should govern them.

     

    “You can see around also that the people are going about, performing the exercise peacefully and the traffic restriction is being obeyed by the people.

    “For the people, accept the outcome, and if you see anything untoward as far as this exercise is concern, please bring it up to the authority and they will deal with it,” Makinde said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, Mr Isiaka Olagunju, with heads of security agencies in the state, were on ground to monitor the election.

     

    NAN also reports that the election was generally peaceful at the time of filling this report. (NAN)

  • BREAKING: Agboola Wins Ondo PDP Guber Primary

    BREAKING: Agboola Wins Ondo PDP Guber Primary

    The former deputy governor in Ondo state, Hon Agboola Ajayi has won the State’ s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary Elections.

    He won with 264 Votes to clinch the party ticket.

     

    Agboola will faceoff with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa (APC) in Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 16, 2024.

     

    see the results below;

     

    Agboola Ajayi – 264

    Akingboye Bamidele – 24

    Kolade Akinjo – 157

    Akinwunmi Adeolu – 64

    Bosun Arebuwa – 02

    Olusola Ebiseni – 99

    John Mafo – 09

     

     

     

     

  • Kogi Assembly Lambasts EFCC, demands removal of ‘Wanted’ from Yahaya Bello’s name

    Kogi Assembly Lambasts EFCC, demands removal of ‘Wanted’ from Yahaya Bello’s name

     

    Yahaya Bello
    Th

    Kogi House of Assembly has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the ‘wanted’ tag it placed on the name and picture of the immediate past

    Fmr. Governor Yahaya Bello,.

    This forms part of the resolutions during the House plenary on Tuesday and follows a matter of urgent public importance presented on the floor of the House by the member representing Ajaokuta Constituency, Hon Jibrin Abu.

    In their resolutions, the lawmakers stated: “The EFCC, IGP, Immigration, NSA and other agencies conscripted into this melodrama be so informed and involved to act accordingly. The Commission should not allow itself to become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail, or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution, and campaign of calumny to tarnish the image of personalities from Kogi State, especially Alh Yahaya Bello or any perceived political enemy of the characters hiding behind their executive powers to unleash allegations through media for public consumption and sympathy.

     

     

    “The House condemns in its entirety a statement by legal practitioner suggesting a request that the military be involved in the case that does not constitute a threat to internal security or treasonable felony.”

    Earlier in his motion, titled,: “A call to end all false, frivolous, fictitious, and far from the truth smear campaign against the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello,” Abu lamented the anti-graft agency had been allegedly witch-hunting the former Governor for a long time.

     

     

    Read Also: Tinubu approves routing of 20% palliatives through religious, traditional leaders

    “The recent reports on the print, electronic and social media had featured various debasing forms of address against the former Governor of Kogi State. Recall that the whole narrative was principally sparked off by the blithe actions, without respect to due legal process by Nigeria’s anti- graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A

    “The consequence of this has deeply affected the minds, emotions, and impressions of Kogi citizens, and by extension, Nigerians. Kogi State, over the years, has witnessed a worrisome trend and torrent of witch-hunt by the anti-graft agency, unrepentantly striving to force corruption claims on the State Government and officials.

    “This is not forgetting the plight of late Prince Abubakar Audu in the hands of the same agency, albeit, giving his dog a bad name for the kill.

     

     

    “The Commission started with claims that it discovered a non-existent fund in an alleged Fixed Deposit Account. By its statutory responsibility and while appreciating EFCC’s efforts in the fight against corruption, every right thinking individual would hold it a duty to support it in no small measure to succeed in its primary responsibilities. It is also possible as touted all around for those very wary of certain actions outside legal process by the EFCC to caution against allowing the Commission to become a tool for political vendetta.

    “It is pertinent for House to further note that the new objectives assured by the leadership of EFCC upon assumption of duty and in his fight against crimes and corruption under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu are to fight financial crimes with due diligence and legal process. These objectives are being eroded by certain selfish group of political individuals with access to media and investigations in the commission.

    “The 7th Legislative Assembly of Kogi State in August and September 2021 berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission upon the completion of its investigation over the allegation of N20b Bailout diversion against the former Governor of Kogi State, Alh. Yahaya Bello through a fixed deposit account at Sterling Bank, Lokoja.

    “The EFCC has continued the trajectory of persecuting the former Governor against all known legal decencies and now likened, by most, to personal vendetta. But the question is why?

     

     

    “A point of reference for the House to take cognizance of is the submission, that having wasted taxpayers’ money, the time of the honourable court and Nigerians, one Kemi Pinheiro SAN, acting on behalf of EFCC and other Legal luminaries, discovered that the case of N20b against the State Government lacked substance and that it was aimed at disrespecting the rule of law. The case was accordingly withdrawn citing 6 reasons. These reasons were in line with findings of 7 Legislative Assembly and for berating the EFCC.

     

     

    “The Rt. Hon. Speaker, distinguished honourable members, this was not without a fight by the then Governor, revealing to Nigerians the impotent drive
    by the Commission and its sudden acceptance of duties not enshrined in the law establishing the same.

    “Kogi State, by allocation standard, is not rich so much so that N80.4b will be missing that the State will not be shaken to its foundation. This claim by the EFCC should be sanctioned and taken as laughable. Innocent Nigerians and Kogi State citizens that bought into the lies should by their personal volition withdraw their support,” he stated.

    In his submissions, the member representing Kabba-Bunu State Constituency Hon. Oluwaseyi Bello berated EFCC for allegedly disobeying a subsisting court order in the State.

     

     

    Former Deputy Speaker Hon. Enema Paul told the anti graft agency to respect the rule of law.

    He said: “Why is EFCC in a haste? Nigeria is not a banana republic. I was surprised to hear a senior lawyer to EFCC inviting the military in a Civil case. Has the Police, DSS failed?

    “I think EFCC should look at their lawyer and see if he is really qualified. The Man they declared wanted is in Appeal Court with them. Declaring him wanted, I think EFCC has al ot of questions to answer. We don’t want military to rule this Country and some body is dragging us back to the olden days.”

     

     

    Speaker Aliyu Umar Yusuf admonished the anti-graft agency not to act contrary to the law of the country.

    “This House is not against the EFCC doing their job but they should do it within the ambit of the law and not in a gestapo way.

    “The country belongs to all of us, so we must respect the law and work with it. The EFCC engaging in media trial and working in a gestapo way is unacceptable. If Yahaya Bello has a case to answer, it should be done within the rule of law,” he stated.

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  • Stop harassing me, respect rule of law, Yahaya Bello tells EFCC

    Stop harassing me, respect rule of law, Yahaya Bello tells EFCC

     

     

    Flowerbudnews

    Abuja: Former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday, told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop harassing him and respect the rule of law

    Bello gave the advice in a statement made available in Abuja by his media office signed by an officer, Michael Ohiare, in reaction to EFCC’s rebuttal on alleged disobedience to court order in the case filed against him.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the anti-graft agency had, in a statement titled: “Re: Yahaya Bello: EFCC Never Disobeyed Court Order,” reacted to the allegation.

    But reacting, Ohiare said that contrary to the commission’s claims, “official records and court documents relating to their hounding of Alhaji Yahaya Bello establish a clear timeline of events.”

    He added that these documents were endorsed with dates and times of filing and payments, “which are endorsed on court processes – all of which testify to the true sequence of events.”

    He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication/press statement with the above title, issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 22nd April, 2024, and signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its Acting Director of Public Affairs.

    “In the said statement, which the commission carefully circulated widely as usual, Mr. Uwujaren, who we have to believe is not a lawyer, continues the EFCC’s ongoing unconscionable lies against the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, CON, by labelling him as a fugitive from justice in order to disingenuously justify their established and willful patter of defying lawful court orders.”

    Giving details of how the statement of the anti-corruption commission was allegedly untrue, Ohiare said in the first instance, EFCC had never invited the ex-governor formally.

    “The EFCC claims to have invited Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after his tenure ended on January 27th, 2024.

    “We challenge the EFCC to produce a copy of this invitation, including the delivery date and the recipient’s name/endorsement. We are confident they cannot provide this simple evidence,” he said.

    On alleged preemptive charge:, he said prior to any alleged invitation, the EFCC amended Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 on Feb. 5, 2023, to accuse Bello of conspiring to convert over N80 billion of Kogi’s funds in September 2015.

    According to him, this amendment listed Yahaya Bello as “still at large,” demonstrating a clear intention to arrest him.

    On alleged impossible accusations, he said “the alleged timelines provided by the EFCC for its phantasmagorical allegations of crime against Yahaya Bello predates his Inauguration as Governor of Kogi State on January 27th, 2016.”

    Besides, he said the second charge even attempted to correct the initial blunder and said the crime was committed in February 2016, less than a month after Bello became governor.

    But Ohiare said the total Kogi budget in 2016 was significantly less than the sum alleged in the charges.

    He said to protect his reputation and fundamental rights, the former governor filed fundamental rights enforcement action in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 with the High Court of Justice, Kogi on Feb. 8.

    He said court records, even from the EFCC, all substantiated this.

    “The High Court granted an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting, or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

    “This order was served on the EFCC on February 12th, 2024.

    “Despite the order, the EFCC, represented by Senior Advocates Rotimi Oyedepo and J.S Okutepa, filed Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 against Yahaya Bello on March 6th, 2024, in violation of the order.

    “The EFCC’s ex-parte warrant is another false narrative,” he alleged.

    Ohiare said the commission falsely implied that the EFCC sought a warrant of arrest only after the Kogi High Court’s ruling on April 17.

    “This ruling was at about 2pm. Records will show that the motion was filed at 8:24 am on April 17th, prior to the ruling.

    “And Nigerians would testify to the fact that, at that time, EFCC agents had already laid siege on his residence, attempting his arrest. These are clear occurrences that cannot be denied.

    “The EFCC failed to present the warrant at Yahaya Bello’s residence.

    “The warrant itself is invalid, being obtained in defiance of a court order and based on misleading statements, as Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a defendant and not a fleeing suspect or a suspect, having been charged.

    “The judgment of the High Court of Justice, Kogi State, on April 17th, 2024, highlights the EFCC’s abuse of its statutory duties.

    ” We urge the public to denounce these unlawful transgressions until the EFCC undertakes a comprehensive reform of its practices

    “In conclusion, it is clear that the EFCC is engaged in a campaign of intimidation and harassment.

    “Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not afraid of the EFCC. His demand is that the rule of law be respected,” he said.(NAN)(www.mamnews.ng)

  • South-South APC Zonal executives meet in Cross River

    South-South APC Zonal executives meet in Cross River

     

    *South-South APC Zonal executives meet in Cross River*

    _… Laud Gov. Otu_

    _…Confident of victory in upcoming governorship polls in Edo State_

     

    Flowerbudnews

    The Executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South region of Nigeria, Saturday, convened in Calabar to discuss crucial political issues bothering the zone, with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State presiding over the meeting, having been recently conferred leader of the party at the Zonal level.

    Otu, until date, is the only Governor from the APC stock in the region and the party executives have openly lauded the leadership he is offering Cross River State, with calls to replicate same at the South-south zone of the party.

    (Picture – L-R:Edo State APC Chairman,HON. JARRETT TENEBE,

    ALPHONSUS OGAR EBA ESQ, CROSS RIVER STATE CHAIRMAN, APC; Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State,

    CHIEF STEPHEN NTUK EKPO APC CHAIRMAN, AKWA IBOM STATE. And
    CHIEF TONY OKOCHA APC CHAIRMAN, RIVERS STATE. After the Zonal meeting of APC party executive held in Calabar.)

    Speaking after the meeting, the Zonal Vice Chairman of the Party, Hon. Chief Victor Gaidom, said the meeting which was also attended by Chairmen of the party from various states within the zone resulted in a unanimous decision to work in synergy to strengthen the party in the zone. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Kogi poll: Confusion at tribunal sitting as witnesses disown depositions

    Kogi poll: Confusion at tribunal sitting as witnesses disown depositions

     

    Flowerbudnews
    Mild drama continued at the Kogi Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday as some witnesses disowned their depositions before the panel.

    Four witnesses from Adavi Local Government Area of the state gave their evidence for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu.

    The witnesses, when called, gave virtually the same narration regarding what transpired where they voted even though they were in different polling units during the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll.

    The four witnesses, like the previous ones, adopted their witness depositions on oath.

    However, during cross-examination by the defence counsel, they made claims different from what was in the witness depositions.

    When shown their deposition, they disowned it, saying it was not written by them while also confirming that they were not polling agents but random voters.

    One of the witnesses, Rufai Muhammed, who said he was from Adavi Local Government, stated in his deposition that there was no validly accredited voter for the said election.

    Upon cross examination, however, he said he was validly accredited to vote and he voted.

    When his attention was drawn to his witness deposition on oath, which said there was no validly accredited voter for the election that he witnessed, he denied the deposition, saying he did not write it.

    Another witness, Yakubu AbdulAzeez, said he stood at a particular point throughout the voting period on election day observing the proceedings, and that it was from that point he saw that there was over-voting.

    AbdulAzeez, who said he stood watching the voting process, however, could not stand during the tribunal hearing.

    He told the panel that he had been suffering from a leg problem since 2008 and the panel directed that he should be given a seat.

    Claiming that he stood for hours in a spot to monitor an election that took place in November 2023 thus became an issue of concern.

    On his part, Hamza Abdul Azeez said he wrote a letter of complaint to the tribunal that there was over-voting.

    But when asked how many votes each political party actually scored in his polling unit, he said he did not know.

    The witnesses said their lawyers wrote their depositions for them, but added that they couldn’t remember the names of the lawyers.

    The tribunal adjourned the matter until April 2 after Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, sought an adjournment.

    While Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ibrahim Sani Muhammed, SAN, appeared for Gov. Usman Ododo, and AbdulWahab Muhammed ,SAN, represented the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the sitting.

    The witnesses who testified on Monday were Hamza Abdul Azeez, Said Muhammed, Yakubu Abdul Azeez and Rufai Muhammed, all from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.

    It would be recalled that the SDP is challenging the victory of Gov. Ododo of the APC in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • Stop dabbling into politics, NNPP Chieftain cautions Primate Ayodele on Edo guber poll

    Stop dabbling into politics, NNPP Chieftain cautions Primate Ayodele on Edo guber poll

    A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Amb. Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has taken a swipe at the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele over his comment on NNPP’s gubernatorial candidate in Edo State, Azembe Arena. (more…)

  • Sanwo-Olu, Anyaoku, Adebanjo, others reiterate call for new constitution  

    Sanwo-Olu, Anyaoku, Adebanjo, others reiterate call for new constitution  

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday joined former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Afenifere chieftain, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, members of the National Assembly, former governors and eminent national leaders to demand for a new Nigerian Constitution that would reflect true federalism and address the problem of the country.  (more…)

  • Osun APC, PDP trade words over Adeleke’s security alarm

    Osun APC, PDP trade words over Adeleke’s security alarm

    The Osun State chapters of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, on Wednesday, traded accusations over the security alarm raised by the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, on the alleged plans of hoodlums to attack schools and farm settlements in the state.

     

    Adeleke had earlier said intelligence reports indicated plans by hoodlums to attack schools and carry out abductions, as well as attack farm settlements.

     

    The governor also noted that he had summoned a security council meeting to address the situation.

     

    Reacting to Adeleke’s alarm, the APC in a statement by its chairman in Osun, Tajudeen Lawal, accused the governor of raising a false panic regarding security in the state.

     

    Lawal stated that it was disheartening that a governor would descend into pettiness by planting hoaxes in the media in order to divert the attention of the public.

     

    Lawal said, “Governor Adeleke should sit up for once and give the people of the state the quality governance he promised the people during his campaign instead of engaging in the creation of another phony agenda meant to have a diversionary motive.

     

    “We are not politically inexperienced not to have an understanding that the Adeleke-invented security threat against the state is a ploy to shift their attention from discussing his ill-thought out N100 billion white elephant projects when hunger is working on four legs in all the streets in the nooks and crannies of the state.

     

    is nothing wrong in a government being proactive on security issues, but it is criminal and an express admission of failure for any government to use same as a weapon of deceit to confuse the governed.”

     

    Reacting, Osun PDP chairman, Mr Sunday Bisi, described Osun APC as inhumane, unpatriotic and delusional for denying reports of threats to peace and security in the state.

     

    The statement reads, “We find it reprehensible and condemnable for the state APC to deny reports that have been confirmed by virtually all the security agencies in the state. Must the APC play politics with everything?

     

    “A patriotic governor raised the alarm on security threats and he summoned the state security council meeting. The council meeting attended by top security and service commanders reviewed the situation in the light of their field reports and mapped out preemptive measures.

     

    “The resolution of the state security meeting was made public including a list of steps the state is to take to stop the threats from materialising. Instead of commending the Governor for his foresight, the opposition has chosen to play bad, sore loser again, leveling unfounded allegations and playing games with the lives and properties of our people.

     

    “As a party, the PDP government is too well focussed on delivering on its infra and social programmes designed to restore the state from the depth of under-development the state was plunged into for 12 years.