Political Briefs
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THE youths and women of Isiala Mbano in Okigwe Zone of Imo State have expressed their anger and disappointment in Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Ararume over his activities and roles in both the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the area.
During a mass protest recently in the area, the spokesperson of the group, Chima Njoku, said the youths and people of the area are not happy with the activities of Senator Ararume who they allege is distabilising the political growth of the area and also mortgaging the future of the Isiala Mbano Youths. He said they are surprised that senator Ararume, a leader of the PDP in both the state and the area, could work against his party and the general wish of the people of Isiala Mbano because Governor Rochas Okorocha promised to hand over to him in 2019.
Njoku said they are angry because Senator Ararume has given the world the impression that he is the sole leader of the Okigwe Zone when he never did anything for the Okigwe zone even after representing the zone at the senate for eight years, emphasing that the zone has other notable leaders like Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State, Chinedu Chukwuonye and others whom he said contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Okigwe Zone.
He asked INEC to conduct a credible election in the affected areas for the re-run election, insisting that the choice of the Isiala Mbano people is Joy Mbawuike for the state constituency based on her contributions to the growth of Isiala Mbano over the years and Emeka Ihedioha for governorship of Imo state.
Njoku asked the people of the area to disregard the antics of Senator Ararume, whom he said, did not mean well for the people of Isiala Mbano as it had been established that he was only concerned about his personal interests.
Also, Ahaka Obinna, president of Ohaneze Youth wing, Imo State chapter, who is also from the area, said that senator Ararume is a spent force, who should have retired from active politics as he has lost the goodwill of the people of the area.
Ahaka reaffirmed the support of the people of the area for Mbawiuke who he said empowered a lot of people from the area including the youth and women who have benefitted so immensely from her self sponsored empowerment schemes.
Ahaka said that the youths of the area are poised to resist Senator Ararume who he alleged has brought in over 300 thugs from Aguleri in Anambra state with who he intends to rig the election insisting that the people of the area have condoned enough of his treachery and sabotage.
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Arase Vows To Prosecute Electoral Offenders
SOLOMON Arase, acting inspector general of Police, IGP, has vowed to prosecute all electoral offenders, to serve as deterrent and curb the spate of violence during elections in the country. Arase made the statement when he formally took over the mantle leadership of the force on Wednesday, April 22, from Suleiman Abba, who was sacked as IGP, on Tuesday April 21, by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, the new police boss vowed that it would not be business as usual as all senior officers would be held accountable for their actions. The acting IGP announced that a strategic police vision document and policing protocol would be developed to aid intelligence, community partnership and address high level crimes.
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Maku Drags Al-Makura Before Election Tribunal
LABARAN Maku, a former minister of Information and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in gubernatorial election of April 11, in Nasarawa State, is challenging the victory of Governor Umaru Al-Makura as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Maku alleged that series of irregularities marred the electoral exercise in the state. He also accused the INEC and security agencies of conspiracy in securing victory for Governor Al-Makura, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Similarly, Suleiman Adokwe, senator representing Nasarawa South senatorial district, also disclosed that he would challenge the results of the election which gave victory to Husseini Eggeyola of the APC. Adokwe revealed his position in a press release in Lafia on Wednesday, April 22, accusing the INEC and the police of colluding to rob him of victory.
Reacting to the development, Phillip Shekwo, chairman, Nasarawa State APC, said his party was confident of the victory handed to them by the electorate in the state and described the aggrieved parties’ bid as “futile.”
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I am not on the Run – Alison-Madueke
Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday, April 22, denied media reports that she was on the run and seeking asylum in some foreign countries. Addressing state House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting, on Wednesday, Alison-Madueke said she was not leaving the country and that there was no reason to do so.
She blamed the media reports on cabals who were not happy with the reforms she introduced in the oil and gas sector in the country. The minister said: “Let me state it clearly for the records that Nigeria is my country and am not going anywhere, I love my country and I do think that I have done the best for my country and I would also like to point out that these malicious, malevolence, vindictive libels coming out of places like Osun Defender and other faceless online and other entities need to stop.”
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Senate Asks for Withdrawal of Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa
THE Senate wants President Goodluck Jonathan to recall S. S. Yusuf, Nigeria’s high commissioner to South Africa, to protest the current wave of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians by some indigenes of the Southern African country. The Senate made the statement in a motion passed on Wednesday, April 22, also asking federal government to drag Goodwill Zwelithini, Zulu King, who allegedly made the inflammatory statement which led to the crisis, before the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in the unfortunate development.
The federal lawmakers condemned the actions of the South Africans and asked its committee on foreign affairs, to summon Aminu Wali, minister of Foreign Affairs, to brief them on the situation and measures being taken to safeguard the lives of Nigerians in South African.
They urged the federal government to pressurise the South African government to bring the perpetrators of the evil act to justice and ensure adequate protection of Nigerians and their investments in South Africa. They also demanded full compensation for the families who had lost members and those who lost property as a result of these attacks.
Victor Ndoma-Egba, deputy senate president, while presenting the motion, noted with anxiety the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in parts of Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa by locals on African Immigrants which led to the death of no fewer than seven persons. He said the South Africans engaged in massive looting and destruction of foreigners’ properties, a situation, he lamented, had forced hundreds of migrants to relocate to police stations across the country.
On his part, David Mark, senate president, described the situation in South Africa as totally unacceptable, and unexpected. He said: “My humble suggestion will be that South Africa should not stretch us beyond our elastic limit on this matter. There is a limit beyond which the nation will not accept what is happening in South Africa.”
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House Directs Ondo State CJ to Begin Impeachment of Deputy Governor
THE Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday, April 22, directed Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, chief judge of the state, to set up a seven-man committee to probe the impeachable offences levelled against Ali Olanusi, deputy governor.
Jumoke Akindele, speaker of the House, who moved the motion, asked the chief judge to follow the constitution in carrying out the assignment. She promised that the House would work on the recommendations of the committee.
The House, on Tuesday, April 21, served Olanusi an impeachment notice for alleged misconduct and inefficiency in office, among other offences. The impeachment notice was signed by 20 of its 25 members; 23 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and two All Progressives Congress, APC, members.
The impeachment plot has created tension in the state, with PDP supporters pitched against the APC members. The APC, in a statement by Abayomi Adesanya, its publicity secretary, said it would prevent Olanusi’s impeachment, saying the process would be an exercise in futility. The party has also threatened to use all legal means to prevent the House of Assembly from impeaching the deputy governor.
Akoko indigenes in the Northern District where Olanusi hails from, through its social political organisation, Akoko Elite Forum, AEF, has also vowed to resist attempts to impeach Olanusi. Olanusi, in an intermittent radio jingle, urged the citizenry to remain calm, stressing that God would rescue the people from what he called political bondage. Olanusi, two days to presidential election of March 28, dumped the PDP for the APC, thereby spitting Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the face.
— May 4, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT
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Tags: Abayomi Adesanya AEF African Immigrants Ahaka Obinna Akoko Elite Forum Ali Olanusi All Progressives Congress All Progressives Grand Alliance Aminu Wali APC APGA Chima Njoku Chinedu Chukwuonye David Mark Diezani Alison-Madueke Election Tribunal Electoral Offenders Emeka Ihedioha Federal Executive Council Godwin Ifeanyi Ararume Goodluck Jonathan Goodwill Zwelithini Husseini Eggeyola Ikedi Ohakim impeachment Independent National Electoral Commission INEC International Criminal Court Isiala Mbano Joy Mbawuike Jumoke Akindele Labaran Maku Northern District Olaseinde Kumuyi Olusegun Mimiko Ondo State House of Assembly PDP Peoples Democratic Party Phillip Shekwo Protest Rochas Okorocha S. S. Yusuf Solomon Arase South African Suleiman Abba Suleiman Adokwe Umaru Al-Makura Victor Ndoma-Egba xenophobic attacks
