October 18, 2021

[GIST] 'Ex-Ogun Governor Amosun Fuelling Crisis In All Progressives Congress Party In Oyo'—Group Seeks Buhari's Intervention

[GIST] 'Ex-Ogun Governor Amosun Fuelling Crisis In All Progressives Congress Party In Oyo'—Group Seeks Buhari's Intervention

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The United Front (TUF), a group within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday alleged that a former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is fuelling crisis in the Oyo State chapter of the party.

The group alleged that Amosun is working hard to hijack the party's structure in Oyo.

TUF, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party to intervene and stop Amosun from causing more crises in the party. 

The group stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday. 

It accused Amosun of sponsoring members of the Unity Forum in the state, which include Prof. Adeolu Akande, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Bayo Shittu, Dr. Ismail Adewusi to divide the party. 

"Amosun takes absolute delight in the fragmentation of Oyo APC for the purpose of extending the web of schism he established in Ogun APC to other parts of the South-West. His divisive ego-trip in Oyo State can be traced to the build-up to the 2019 elections when he extensively bankrolled Unity Forum to tear the fabrics of the party's wholeness apart - a move that triggered the inevitable lacklustre performance of the party in the gubernatorial polls. 

"When Oyo APC restricted his petulant kicks aimed at opening cracks in the party's leadership, Amosun later established a strong foothold in the ADC along with his bedfellows in the Unity Forum to scuttle the chances of his own party. It is on record that he channelled a large junk of Ogun State resources to finance the mobilisation and campaigns of ADC candidate, Senator Femi Lanlehin. However, his dream to glide ADC to power was built on illusionary hopes, as the party fell flat in the senatorial election which made Amosun's camp to become completely rattled. With no other options up his sleeves, he lent formidable support to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde," the statement reads in part.

The group also alleged that Amosun had given out a huge amount of money to Unity Forum to allow them to take over the party. 

It said, "Recently Amosun's political hatchet men have returned to the drawing board with a view to sowing seeds of discord among the age-long party faithful. It has been revealed that the former governor has released up to 200

Million Naira to the likes of Prof. Adeolu Akande, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Barr. Shittu, Senator Ayo Adeseun, and Dr. Ismail Adewusi with a mandate to either take over the party structure in the state or cause endless crises that will mar the chances of the party in the 2023 elections."

The group while recalling the role played by the former governor during the 2019 general elections in Ogun State said, "Amosun has consistently shown, with his divisive inclination and high-handedness that he lacks the requisites expected of managing a party even at the ward level. We can't forget in a hurry how he almost succeeded in running Ogun APC into a state of inoperable rigidity, as he openly backed Adekunle Akinlade of APM in the 2019 gubernatorial polls. His eyes are kept on devising the same template in Oyo State.

"We hereby appeal to our revered leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and all esteemed leaders of APC in the South-West to look critically into all contentious issues in Oyo APC and prioritise oneness of all party members. Oyo APC might start swinging in a downward spiral unless the likes of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Prof. Adeolu Akande, Barr. Bayo Shittu, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Dr. Adewusi, Sen. Adeseun, Senator Akanbi and other divisive elements are made to sit out of the party's affairs."

The group also urged the APC CECPC to investigate the alleged forgery of sensitive documents by some party chieftains in Oyo State, which led to the postponement of the October 16 state congress in the state.

"APC CECPC must investigate the matter with a view to bringing the erring members of the party to book. Punishment of the fraudulent members will serve as a deterrent," the statement concluded.

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[GIST] Lagos Police Make U-turn, Approve #EndSARS Protests, Frown On Road Closures

[GIST] Lagos Police Make U-turn, Approve #EndSARS Protests, Frown On Road Closures

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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has made a U-turn on its earlier warning against any gathering or organisation of protest in commemoration of the first anniversary of last year's #EndSARS protest in the state. 

Addressing journalists on Saturday while monitoring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state congress election in Lagos, Odumosu described protests as a right citizens are entitled to. 

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu.

He added that the state police command would be ready to protect protesters. 

Meanwhile, an earlier statement by the Lagos Police Command had said, “The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.

“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest...”

But Odumosu has made a U-turn, saying the police only want the organisers of such protests to work together and have a meeting point, NAN reports.

He said: “If you want to protest, it is your right under the law but you don’t have to block the road because, in the process of obstructing the road, you are no longer protesting for a better life for people.

“However, what happens to pregnant women in an emergency, what happens to collapsed buildings, fire incidents when the roads are blocked?

“Don’t forget that this is Lagos, it is the economy of the country and it is equally a working day and you can imagine those lives that earn their living on a daily basis.

“There are some people that cannot feed their families when protesters block the road definitely."

The commissioner appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to give the police adequate information to ensure their protection and free flow of traffic.

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[GIST] Breaking: Candidates Loyal To Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari Win APC Party Congress In Adamawa

[GIST] Breaking: Candidates Loyal To Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari Win APC Party Congress In Adamawa

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A unity list of candidates, purportedly endorsed by Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari for the State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, is what has decided the winners in the state congress polls.

SaharaReporters gathered that all contestants whose names are on the unity list would shortly be declared winners in the keenly contested state congress in the party.

As things stand and going by the mode of election adopted, ballots so far cast indicate that contestants supported by by the First Lady were those elected at the congress.

For instance, Ibrahim Bilal, state chairman, supported by Aisha Buhari, has scored 1,640 to defeat his keenly contesting rival, Vrati Nzonzo, who garnered 224 votes.

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[GIST] Groups To Hold Lecture On #EndSARS, Memorial Of Celebrated Murdered Journalist, Dele Giwa

[GIST] Groups To Hold Lecture On #EndSARS, Memorial Of Celebrated Murdered Journalist, Dele Giwa

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The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in partnership with some other bodies will hold a lecture and public presentation in commemoration of the first anniversary of #EndSARS protest on Tuesday. 

The lecture and public presentation, in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, National Consultative Front (NCF), PLAYYA and MILID Foundation, will also be about

Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices – a book of sixty essays by sixty young Nigerians which salutes sixty years of Nigeria’s independence and points the way towards a better country. 

Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, made available to SaharaReporters. 

According to the statement, the event, which will start at 10am at NECA House, Hakeem Balogun Way, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed: “One Year After #EndSARS, 35 Years After Dele Giwa and the Quest to Remake Nigeria." 

The #EndSARS advocacy made global headlines last October when young Nigerians across the country and in major cities around the world embarked on protests against persistent brutality and rights violations by the Nigeria Police Force.  

“One year after the protests and the reprehensible violent response by the Nigerian Army which led to the death of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, it is important to cast a critical eye on that incident and see what lessons have been learnt and what needs to be done going forward,” Onumah said in the statement on behalf of the group.  

Significantly, the first-year remembrance of these protests coincides with the 35th anniversary of the murder via letter bomb of the celebrated journalist, Dele Giwa, editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine. 

“It is a measure of the acute dysfunction of the Nigerian state that till date, no one has been arrested let alone brought to trial for this heinous crime," Onumah noted. 

The statement further read, "All of this and more including the rise of separatist agitations which has fuelled the search for a new direction for the country will be dissected at this event which will be chaired by renowned public intellectual, Prof. Pat Utomi. 

"The keynote speaker is the irrepressible human rights lawyer and social crusader, Femi Falana. Other speakers include Richard Akinnola, journalist and executive director, Centre for Free Speech (CFS); Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, founding director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre; and Lanre Arogundade, journalist and executive director, International Press Centre (IPC). 

"On hand also is a panel of discussants featuring Motunrayo Alaka, Olanrewaju Ogunmefun (Vector), Inibehe Effiong, Rasheedat Adeshina and Femi Adeyeye. Moderator is Anike-Ade Funke Treasure."

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[GIST] Move By Buhari Government To Stop #EndSARS Memorial Protest Is Illogical, Provocative— Lawyer, Ubani Says

[GIST] Move By Buhari Government To Stop #EndSARS Memorial Protest Is Illogical, Provocative— Lawyer, Ubani Says

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A former Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani has described as illogical, efforts by the Nigeria Police and some state governments to stop gatherings in commemoration of the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest. 

In a statement sent to SaharaReporters, Ubani argued that the plan by the youth to organise the protest is in accordance with the provision of the 1999 constitution. 

He further advised the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to ensure the protection of protesters. 

Ubani's statement comes amid warnings by the Lagos and Oyo states police commands against protests, saying such gatherings would be repelled.

He wrote, “My attention has been drawn to the threat both by the state government and the Nigerian Police to stop Nigerians from commemorating the EndSARS protest which allegedly claimed several lives last year. 

“We emphasize these facts for the umpteenth time that such act of aggression against the citizens' rights that are guaranteed by the constitution is illegal, illogical and provocative. 

“The rights to peaceful assembly and movement including expression are products of the 1999 constitution as amended which remains the grundnorm. 

“If there is any law that is meant to derogate from those rights, it has to be a reasonable law made in a democratic society. For now, no such law exists that outlaws the peaceful gathering and free expression of the citizens of Nigeria. 

“The Nigerian Police represented by the current Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu is advised to ensure that those who really want to commemorate the great event in a peaceful manner are given adequate security protection to carry out that basic civic duty. 

“May I remind the present government, in case they have forgotten, that governance is not a monologue but a dialogue between the led and their leaders.

“Effective participation and feedback mechanism are powerful instruments that precipitate good governance in a democratic society. Autocracy and unimaginative exclusion of the people in governance have terrible and negative consequences in the country. 

“It is my belief that those who intend to commemorate the EndSARS anniversary are knowledgeable enough to know that there are legal consequences for riotous and destructive behaviour under our criminal code.

“Let the people be allowed to freely express themselves, especially now that nobody is sure of those promises the government made over a year ago to carry out reforms on the policing system in Nigeria. 

“They need to hear the verdict of the people and it will enable the government to properly assess itself on whether they have kept to their promises. 
#PeacefulProtestIsMyRight.”

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