Connect with us

News

The gathering clouds in Rivers State may envelope the nation

Published

on

We watch with great awe the dark and heavy clouds that have begun to gather in Rivers State, which may turn into a raging storm that will sweep away the immediate and remote actors in our democratic experiment.

The current political imbroglio started with accusations and counter accusations between a godfather and godson which was described by the parties as family affair and which we foolishly thought had been amicably settled by the duo of father and son.

We are startled to wake up this morning to learn that twenty-seven out of the thirty-four members of the House of Assembly had moved on by way of defection from PDP to APC in a manner that depicts the voice of Jacob and hand of Esau situation.

We are not aversed to their movement, but we are aversed to the manner of their defection which runs against the provision of our Constitution and decided cases on the conditions a member of the House of Assembly or National Assembly.
For defection to inure to a state assembly member,
Section 68.(1).(g) of the 1999 Constitution must kick in. It permits defection on grounds of division or faction in the party and has been given the legal imprimatur by the Supreme Court in Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde vs Ondo State House of Assembly & 11 Others, where the Appellant was sacked by the Court for defecting to ACN from the party that produced him as House of Assembly member, (Labour Party).

We reckon that in the present case of the twenty-seven members of Rivers State House of Assembly who have defected without any case of division or faction in PDP amounts to violation of the 1999 Constitution as Amended, and the full wrath of such breach of the Constitution must be visited upon them following Abegunde’s case. All the seats of the those that have defected from the Party that elected them should be declared vacant immediately and a new election set in motion by INEC

We know and have it on good authority that their defection is a prelude to something untoward against the governor, a grand and sinister plan to forcefully impeach the governor without recourse to the Constitution because he has refused to abandon PDP, the platform on which he came to power to join APC.

We hereby encourage the governor to remain steadfast in his decision to stick with his party PDP as his defection will diminish the multi-party democracy which offers different and differing opinions, which its abandonment  brings us a few step closer to the enthronement of one party State which is tantamount dictatorship of the minority.

We also wish to encourage the Chief Judge of Rivers State not to be cowed into partaking in illegality of forcefully impeaching the governor  which will further tarnish the image of the judiciary which has become the fall guy and synonymous with everything baleful since the 2023 general elections.

And to the Rivers State, we urge them to rally round the governor to protect the mandate freely given to him by Rivers State people and ward off any external influence/s from plunging the state into chaos and anarchy which may ultimately envelop our dear nation.

Peter Ameh
National Secretary

News

CUPP lampoon Reps over move to investigate Ugochinyere, others for visit to Fubara

Published

on

By

**Calls for reversal of the ill-informed Move by the House of reps

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has Condemned the attempt by the House of Representatives to refer Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and other members to the Committee On Ethics for probe over their Solidarity Visit to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Fifty members of the House of Representatives hadq paid a solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to celebrate his one year in office.

The lawmakers, who consist of members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Labour Party ( LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) also include the spokesman of opposition coalition, in the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere..

Ugochinyere had explained on the sideline of the thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt that federal lawmakers were in Rivers to solidarilize with Fubara and celebrate with him on his one year of transformational leadership.

But the House had referred the Honourable members to the Committee on Ethics for disciplinary action over their visit

However, the chairman,

Media Committee of the

Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Chief Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika in a statement has tackled the leadership of the House for the action which he said clearly cast doubt on its integrity in the observance and or adherence to the laws which they enact/promulgate. 

“Relying on the point of order/ privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi of the All Progressives Congress, Plateau State to arrive at such decision is erroneous and grossly misleading.

“The House, by this very action, has impugned on the integrity and sacredness of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) especially Sections 39 and 40 which guarantee Freedom of Expression and the Press as well as that of Peaceful Assembly and Association respectively. 

“We, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP),  hereby call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to, without further delay retract its ongoing steps in the purported probe of these Honourable members by its Ethics Committee and not engage in any act that may violate the fundamental rights of its members or any member of the public. 

Continue Reading

News

Kano Police counter reports that Emir Bayero will lead Jumma’t prayer

Published

on

By

the Kano State Police Command has countered reports that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano, where Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano, leading prayer at the moment.
The reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have been laying claim to the throne, creating confusion in the city.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had dethroned Ado Bayero and asked him to hand over within 48 hours.
But the dethroned monarch in defiance returned to the town under military protection and has been operating from the mini palace since then.
In a statement by Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesman of Kano Police Command, said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
“The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.”
The emirate tussle has continued to linger since the reinstatement of Sanusi and dissolution of the five emirates.
There have been cnflicting court orders for and against
Based on the conflicting orders, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, had summoned the head of the Federal High high Court and Kano Chief Judge.
The Police statement reads,
KANO STATE POLICE COMMAND
31ST MAY, 2024

The Kano State Police Command is hereby advising all residents to disregard the false information circulating on social media that Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano.

2. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.

3. The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.

4. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.

SP ABDULLAHI HARUNA KIYAWA, ANIPR, MNISMA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KANO STATE COMMAND.

Continue Reading

News

Royal turbulence gets messier as emirs Sanusi II, Bayero move to hold prayer at Palace Mosque

Published

on

By

Dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II

As the royal turbulence continue to shake the foundation of the city of Kano, the ancient city is tension soaked as the two contending Emirs- the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have indicated their determination to hold Jumaat prayers at the Palace Central Mosque.
A press statement issued Thursday night, signed by Danburan Kano, Munir Sanusi Bayero, spelt out the itinerary of the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to the Mosque to lead the Jumaat Prayers.
The statement explained that Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, who resides in the Palace, and is closer to the contending Mosque, is expected to lead the two rakat Friday prayers.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has been leading the Jumaat Prayers at the Palace Central Mosque as the Amir of the City, a statement explained.
The statement by Danburan invited Kano residents to come and listen to the sermon to be delivered by the Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
However, another statement from an aide of the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero invited residents to join him at the Emir’s Palace Friday Mosque to observe the Juma’at prayer.
It stated that the movement to the Emir’s Palace Mosque starts at 12.30 pm.
However, the police are yet to comment on the development.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 National Update