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Reactions Follow Deyemi’s Letter To Attah After Banky W Poll Loss
Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon, has caused a reaction on social media by penning an open letter to Thaddeus Attah, the Labour Party’s (LP) Eti-Osa Honourable-Elect, congratulating him on his victory over musician and politician, Banky W.
In a lengthy letter shared on his Instagram account on Friday, Deyemi asserted that he voted for Banky W because he believed he was the most suitable candidate for the job.
He also congratulated Attah on his victory and urged him to share his plans for Eti-Osa, acknowledging that despite his extensive research on the official, he was unable to find any concrete information.
Additionally, the actor extended an invitation to the newly elected official to respond to his inquiries through an Instagram chat.
He wrote,”(Edited) OPEN LETTER TO HOR-ELECT THADDEUS ATTAH.
“Dear Sir,
“I’ll like to use this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr. Thaddeus Attah @jt.atta of the Labour Party(LP), as the winner of the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
”Before I go ahead with what I will like to say, I will like to fully disclose that I voted for Mr. Bankole Wellington of the Peoples
“Democratic Party (PDP) as I honestly thought he would have been the best candidate for the job. I do have immense faith in our
“discernment as a people to elect the right candidate, however I am also quite worried about the role tribal sentiments,
“cyberbullying and herd mentality on all sides has played in our electoral process. That being said, I am a firm believer in.
“democracy and I would want nothing more than for the people’s wish to prevail so once again I congratulate you Sir.
“Mr Attah, same as with a lot of Lagosians, I only first heard of you when you were announced the winner a few days ago. Since
“that time I have made a significant effort to find out as much as possible about our newly elected federal HOR candidate. To my
“surprise, my quest for answers left me even more puzzled as to who you really are as well as what your qualifications, past
“precedents and plans are for the people of Eti-Osa. With little or no online presence, and for someone that overthrew both an
“incumbent and a public figure, I am yet to find any indications of your campaign manifesto. It would therefore be a great pleasure
“if you Sir will do me the honour of accepting an invitation to join me online for a live Instagram conversation this weekend to address concerns and respond to questions many others like myself may have.
“Finally, without seeking to influence or enforce any candidate on anyone, I will like to use this medium to urge all well-meaning,
progressive Lagosians ahead of the March 11 elections to find their own individual voice such that when we head to the polls we
“ensure the person we are voting for reflects our collective want for great leadership and our desire for excellent governance. I look forward to a lively discourse.
“Your constituent.
“Deyemi Okanlawon.
The statement caused a debate on social media, some trolls, argued that there was no need to question him.
Vincentokonkwo said,”Ko necessary he won out to grace and am sure so many candidates across Nigeria were equally lucky Abi you wan set ring light for over 84 elected LP members of house and senate or it is because it’s someone I know that is involved.
Ifbnw said, “How many of the APC reps in the past years did you single out for public questioning?. This is a poor mix of performativeness, bullying and hypocrisy laced with faux concern for how competent Mr. Thaddeus is.
“If you really want to get to know him, you’ll send a DM, send an email, arrange to meet him in person, discuss his ideas and plans and then translate that to your online audience or organize events for him to gain more visibility online, if you must. Instead of publicly putting him on the spot to question his competence simply because you don’t know him.
“Your logic indirectly also implies that this seat is Banky’s birthright because he’s popular and if you don’t see how that’s the problem we are fighting against on a national level, then you’re part of the problem.”
its_tegadominic said, “So, this is nicely written, but I beg to differ, personally I have seen his works and he campaigned, he may not have been as loud as Banky but he did his bit, like I said to those who cared, Labour Party was literally a minority at a time so most people didn’t believe in them, in the case of Banky it was all clear why he didn’t win, when you are angry it affects everyone, that’s what happened.
”When I first saw his bill on my street I knew he was going to win, I asked around about him and reports I got was also
encouraging, I have seen his manifesto and he means well, what we need to do is let them know that politics is not as before, you won’t be a mediocre and hide under the party umbrella and think you will last, I wish him all the best as he behaves well. I wish Banky all the best as well. There is a lesson to learn from this election… March 11 for GRV.”
mrcantuc said,”Oga go rest, is he the only person that you need to question over elections stuff?. You have been quiet over the presidential election na here you wan show yourself abeg go rest.”
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.
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