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Tinubu admonishes Nigerians to keep faith with the country to move in the right path
***Agbakoba canvasses for constitutional role for traditional rulers to tackle insecurity
***Says the electoral act is a mockery of Democracy
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to have faith in the country as one indivissible nation in other to put it on the right track for growth and development
Tinubu spoke on Thursday at a Lecture/Colloquium held in honour of the 61st birthday of the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio in Abuja.
The event with the theme: “Legislative Agenda for National Development” dignitaries from across the country and the diplomatic corps including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and traditional rulers.
In his remarks, Tinubu described Akpabio as a man who is committed to the values of national development.
The president said: “The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will be definitely looked into a more deeper legislative activities and collaboration with all of us.
“We will work together. While we consider the affairs of this country, the nationhood and the belief in one country will put us on the right path.
“Having you as a partner, I think Abbas as a partner, as the Speaker, is good enough for me to succeed.
“Inshallah, we will succeed. I appreciate Godswill Akpabio, God will help you, God will guide you.
“I believe in the person of Godswill Akpabio; he is truly Godswill.
“I know him as as a governor, as a commissioner in Akwa-Ibom. We share a vision even though he was a commissioner, he is extremely inquisitive.
“He transformed Akwa-Ibom tremendously. He built one of the most effective drainage systems in Akwa-Ibom. Today, up till now, no matter how heavy the rain is, you will never find casualties.
“All the other beautiful things you did, the stadium, the hotel, that caring for the lives of the people of Akwa-Ibom, is exceptionally great.
“On this occasion of your birthday anniversary, I’m delighted to join your family, friends, colleagues and Nigerians from across the country wishing you long life, good health, peace, satisfaction and gratitude for abiding grace of God Almighty.”
Earlier, the Guest speaker, former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said that for the country to tackle insecurity, peace and security must be developed.
The event was well attended by dignitaries across the country and the diplomatic corps including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and traditional rulers.
“The first question is how can we find peace. Is it by armed forces. It will be by executive and legislative processes.
“We can’t win, in my opinion, the war by armed forces. So I will suggest to the national assembly to consider the possibility of inviting the ethnic nationalities, the owners of Nigeria.
“The traditional rulers that are being ignored, I believe they should have a hand in the constitutional process. If this is done we will achieve peace.
“Together with our traditional rulers who I think are being ignored in the process, we might be able to resolve these insurgencies Boko Haram, IPOB.”
He further recommended the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which he said “is doing far too much.
“INEC is doing far too much. In the Uwais report, we recommended creating the electoral offences commission.
“I urge the 10th National Assembly to simply enact the recommendations.
The Electoral Act makes a mockery of democracy, so we can correct that by passing all the recommendations of the Uwais Panel.”
He described the Supreme Court as the worst saying the country has suffered legal failure
The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau who was also the Host of the event said that the colloquium was the culmination of events to mark the 61st birthday of Akpabio.
He described Akpabio as a leader par excellence who was always willing to give his quota to the development of the country.
“Hence the decision to organise this colloquium in order to contribute to the effort of the Senate and the entire Nigeria towards giving Nigerians the best.
“Leading to the transformation of our dear country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The 10th Senate feels that as we work with the President of this country to lay the foundation for the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration…
“The time has come for us to draw attention to the critical mandate imposed on the Senate and the National Assembly by the Constitution.
“And to engender an inclusive process of executing the mandate by working with a broad section of our society to design a legislative agenda for national development.”
Barau further said that the National Assembly was in the process of reshaping the Constitution and legal frameworks that would make good governance a way of life and democratic consolidation the legitimate expectations of the people.
On his part, the celebrant Akpabio said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration “is real and this government is a correcting government.
“Our legislative agenda is going to be people-centred,” he said.
He also said that the national assembly would consider the recommendations spelt out by the guest speaker.
“We have taken note that we should unbundle INEC; we have taken note that we should involve our traditional rulers.
“We have taken note that most of the colonial laws are still in existence by virtue of the constitutional law given to us.
“We will work on these things,” he said.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen said that Akpabio, throughout his distinguished career, showed valuable assistance, strategic thinking and innovative leadership.
For the Chairman of the occasion and a former Senate President Anyim Pius, Akpabio has a date with destiny.
“You have emerged as President of the Senate at a time so much dexterity is required to redirect the course of our nation, reset our national agenda, and re- envision our future as a people.”
Anyim emphasised the need to align legislative agenda with the executive agenda.
He said that the agenda when properly aligned, would reset national priorities, bench mark national interest and redefine development.
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Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 18:29:34 +0100
Subject: Tinubu admonishes Nigerians to keep faith with the country to move in the right path ***Agbakoba canvasses for constitutional role for traditional rulers to tackle insecurity ***Says the electoral act is a mockery of Democracy ***Wants INEC to be unbundled
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Despite calls for suspension from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Police Force, the Osun State local government election proceeded as scheduled on Saturday.
Governor Ademola Adeleke voted in Ede North Local Government Area, describing the process as peaceful and urging residents to exercise their franchise.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, cited a Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating sacked local government chairmen, while the police warned of potential security threats.
However, the Osun State government insisted on holding the election, emphasizing its commitment to obeying a court directive. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.
Voting took place under tight security, with minimal commercial activity observed in Osogbo, the state capital.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has indicated that Firmer President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the public presentation of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, The Journey of Service, held in Abuja on Thursday was not surprising.
Speaking to journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s no-show was a result of unresolved bitterness over the 1985 coup, in which Babangida overthrew him and subsequently detained him.
According to Vatsa, Buhari may still harbor resentment, especially over being denied the chance to bid his late mother farewell while in detention.
“It Would Have Been the 9th Wonder of the World If Buhari Had Attended”
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s absence was expected, given the deep-seated history between the two former leaders.
“The memory of the ‘mother of all betrayals’ has not left him. It would have been the ninth wonder of the world if Buhari had attended that book launch,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked Buhari’s perceived neglect of Niger State during his eight-year presidency to his history with Babangida.
“The whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by Buhari because of IBB. For eight years, he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and not a single federal project was executed here. The Baro Port project was abandoned, and federal roads across the state were left in disrepair,” Vatsa alleged.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming votes Buhari received from Niger State in 2015 and 2019, the state was sidelined due to the personal history between the former presidents.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Niger State paid for the sin of one man,” he lamented.
When asked for his opinion on the contents of IBB’s autobiography, Vatsa said he would reserve his comments until he has read and digested the book fully.
“There are certain things I expected to see in the book. Once I am done reading, I will invite you all for my comments,” he stated.
The book launch attracted several high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Yakubu Gowon, as well as former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other dignitaries included former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, and ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, and Namadi Sambo, alongside traditional rulers and state governors.
Buhari’s absence, however, remained a major talking point, reinforcing speculations that the 1985 coup remains a sore point in Nigeria’s political history.
Over three decades after annulling the acclaimed freest and fairest June 12, 1993, presidential election, former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida has, publicly admitted that the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the poll.
Babangida’s newly launched 420-page memoir, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida, unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, made the disclosure.
The event was attended by prominent figures from across Nigeria and beyond.
In his book, Babangida, widely known as IBB, admitted that his earlier claims suggesting Abiola might not have won were incorrect.
“Upon further reflection and a closer examination of all available facts—particularly the detailed election results published as an appendix to this book—it is clear that MKO Abiola won the June 12 election,” he wrote.
He cited official figures from the 110 polling booths nationwide, showing that Abiola secured 8,128,720 votes against his main challenger Bashir Tofa’s 5,848,247 votes. Abiola also met the constitutional requirement of securing one-third of votes cast in at least 28 states, including Abuja.
In what appears to be contradiction after confirming Abiola’s victory, Babangida maintained that the annulment was done in “extreme national interest.”
“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch. Mistakes, oversights, and missteps happened in quick succession, but I affirm in my book that every decision, including June 12, was made to ensure Nigeria’s survival,” he stated.
The annulment, which remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial political decisions, triggered nationwide protests and unrest. Following the backlash, Babangida resigned in August 1993, handing power to an interim government led by businessman Ernest Shonekan. However, within three months, General Sani Abacha overthrew Shonekan in a palace coup.
Refusing to let his mandate be stolen, Abiola declared himself president in 1994, leading to his arrest by Abacha’s military regime. He remained imprisoned until his death under suspicious circumstances on July 7, 1998, a month after Abacha himself died. His wife, Kudirat Abiola, was also assassinated in 1996.
The return to democracy in 1999, which saw former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo elected as president, marked the beginning of the Fourth Republic. However, the controversy surrounding June 12 remained a major topic in Nigerian politics.
In 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari sought to address the injustice by declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day, replacing May 29. He also posthumously honored Abiola as a former president.
Reflecting on these events in his memoir, Babangida expressed regret over how the situation unfolded.
“Looking back, the June 12 saga was the most challenging moment of my life and, in some respects, one of the most painful. If I had to do it again, I would do it differently,” he wrote.
Babangida’s book launch was attended by an array of high-profile figures, including former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were also present, alongside billionaire business moguls Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Folorunsho Alakija.
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