NEWS
Muslim-Muslim Ticket: I won’t vote for Tinubu – Onaiyekan
By Funmilayo Olusanya
The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declared that he would not support the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, due to the party’s choice to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023 general elections.
Onaiyekan disclosed this on Wednesday at the ongoing First Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo at St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, Osun State.
The synod themed “The Church as an Agent of Dialogue and Reconciliation In Our Community In Quest For a Just and Peaceful Social Order,” was graced by Sheik, Bishops and Traditionalist of Osun.
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He said that his decision to abstain from voting for the APC was a personal one and emphasized that every Nigerian, including Christians, would have to make their own choice on which political party to support, that the Catholic Church would not order members to vote for a particular political party.
He added that the APC’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket was the best way for it to win elections and that Nigerians also had a choice as to whether or not to support the party.
In his words: “The reason is that Muslim/Muslim ticket is a political decision taken by APC as a party on the calculation that is their best way to win the election or assure their victory in 2023 General Election.
“There is no point telling them not to take such decision, all you can say is that, they will have to accept responsibility for the decision they have taken. I only have one voter’s card and by God’s grace I will use it. I will definitely not vote for Muslim/Muslim ticket, that is my decision.
“But since is a political decision of a political party, what the church can do officially is bring out this fact and tell people that they should take their political decision accordingly. When the APC election leadership appointed Governor of Plateau state, Solomon Lalong as the Director of Campaign of APC who is a Catholic, he took the decision politically.
“The only time when we called him to order was when he dragged the name of Pope into the appointment and political discussion, he tendered his apologised which was accepted by use because he is a member of Papa knight.
“APC is still considered as a legitimate party in Nigeria. Many Catholic are in APC not only as members but hold vital positions. According to our church we not involved in partisan politics.”
Meanwhile, the grand Imam of Osogbo, Alhaji Sheik Musa Animashahun represented by Sheik Abdulsalam Akinwumi stressed the need to create a friendly atmosphere between Muslims and Christians so as to bring peace to the country.
In his words: “God sent religion to bring peace. Islam means peace and Jesus Christ is an apostle of peace, which means what our Lord requested from us is absolute peace. As I congratulate you, I hereby, enjoin everyone here today and other memners of the faithful as am enjoining my fellow Muslims in the state to trail the path of peace and be our brothers’ keepers at all times.
“True practice of Godly religion doesn’t bring negative sentiments of hatred, victimization of others. Unconditional love is central in Abrahamic religions. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” is a central command the Scriptures of both Christianity and Islam.
NEWS
Fubara’s Allies In Rivers Assembly Confirm Iboroma As Commissioner
In the midst of political tensions, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara has conducted the screening and confirmation of legal expert Dagogo Israel Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the Commissioner-designate.
Led by Speaker Victor Oko Jumbo, the faction endorsed Commissioner-nominee Dagogo Iboroma on Monday, within the Chambers of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Iboroma is poised to assume the role of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, succeeding Professor Zaccheus Adangor SAN, who resigned upon his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s office) two weeks ago.
According to report, Iboroma received an invitation on Sunday, signed by Dr. G.M. Gills-West, the Clerk of the House, summoning him for screening as the Commissioner nominee and potential member of the Rivers State Executive Council.
Recall that last week, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, a factional Speaker aligned with Governor Fubara, was elected after Governor Fubara asserted that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital, ceased to be Rivers State lawmakers in the eyes of the law following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observers speculate that Governor Fubara is pushing forward to instigate governance activities, with more Commissioner nominees expected to undergo screening by the Victor Oko Jumbo-led three-man Lawmakers.
However, our correspondent highlights that the invitation for screening is already stirring controversies.
In a Facebook post by lawyer Oraye St Franklyn, he raised various legal issues.
NEWS
I Was Offered Bribe To Remove Fubara, Says Ex-Rivers Speaker
Former Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Edison Ehie has revealed that he was offered money to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie, now serving as Chief of Staff to the governor, was previously the majority leader when the first attempt to impeach Fubara took place.
Along with a few others, he opposed the move, leading to a split from the lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ehie later became the speaker of the faction, which disbanded after President Bola Tinubu intervened and a peace accord was signed between the Wike and Fubara camps.
The peace efforts faltered shortly thereafter, and the two factions resumed their conflict.
Speaking at an event in Ahoada East area of Rivers State over the weekend, Ehie reiterated that he was offered money to oust the governor.
While he didn’t reveal the identities of those behind the offer, he affirmed that he declined it.
He said “They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested. They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted.”
Recall that in 2023, the police declared the Chief of Staff wanted in connection with the invasion of the State House of Assembly.
Also, in October 2023, an explosion rocked the state assembly building amidst reports of lawmakers attempting to impeach Fubara.
The lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule reportedly lodged criminal complaints against Ehie with the Rivers State Police Command over the invasion and arson of the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers by unidentified hoodlums.
NEWS
Tariff Hike: NLC President Leads Protest In Abuja [Video]
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led a raucous protest at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) headquarters in Abuja against the recent spike in electricity tariffs on Monday.
According to report, protesters, including workers from the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), forcefully entered the NERC complex on Monday.
Workers, supported by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, besieged various electricity distribution company offices in defiance of the Band A tariff increase.
This nationwide agitation, sparked by the Federal Government’s removal of subsidies and tariff adjustments, threatened to paralyze key power sector institutions including NERC’s Abuja headquarters, the Ministry of Power, and state distribution company offices.
Recall that NERC’s had April 3, announced the electricity tariffs hike for Band A customers from N68/kWh to N225 per kilowatt-hour.
See video below: