Connect with us

NEWS

Tinubu Endorses Direct Elections Into ECOWAS Parliament

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has announced his endorsement of a proposal for the direct election of members into the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Emphasizing the importance of citizen participation, Tinubu stated that such a move would allow citizens of member states to have a voice in selecting their representatives.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of 97 members into the 6th ECOWAS parliament at the Abuja International Conference Centre, on Thursday, Tinubu, drawing from his experience as a former legislator, expressed his anticipation in reviewing the proposal.

He said “As a one-time legislator myself, I look forward to reviewing the proposal regarding this matter. We stand to support the direct elections into ECOWAS parliament,”

His support for direct elections signals a potential shift from the current practice of appointing lawmakers from the 15 member states to the ECOWAS parliament.

The President said, “The practice of directly electing public officers aligns with democratic principles, principles that Nigeria upholds

“This principle is also in line with the spirit of the ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance.

“We believe this will ensure that citizens will have a direct say in their representation and the legitimacy and credibility it will provide.”

President Bola Tinubu pledged unwavering support to the sixth ECOWAS Parliament during its inauguration ceremony.

As the host nation, Nigeria commits to bolstering the parliament’s efforts in achieving its objectives.

Established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993, the ECOWAS parliament, also referred to as the Community parliament, stands as a cornerstone of regional integration, fostering cooperation among member states.

The genesis of the ECOWAS Parliament dates back to August 6, 1994, with the signing of the initial protocol in Abuja. This historic agreement outlined crucial aspects such as the parliament’s structure, composition, competencies, and related matters.

Comprising a total of 115 seats, the parliament ensures equitable representation among member states. Each member state is guaranteed a minimum of five seats, while the remaining 40 seats are allocated proportionally based on population.

However, despite the provision for a full complement, only 97 members, representing various member states, were sworn in during Thursday’s ceremony.

The sixth ECOWAS Parliament boasts a diverse composition, with representatives hailing from various member states.

Notably, Nigeria leads with 35 members, followed by Benin Republic, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, each contributing five members.

Additionally, Ghana is represented by eight members, while Cote d’Ivoire has seven, and Senegal and Guinea each have six representatives.

However, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are notable absences in the sixth parliament, as these states have expressed intentions to withdraw from the bloc.

In response, President Tinubu echoed earlier remarks by ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray, urging the trio to reconsider their decision.

Tinubu highlighted the potential ramifications of their exit, emphasizing the importance of their continued participation for the well-being of their citizens and the broader regional stability.

Click to comment

NEWS

VIDEO: Nigerian Man Spends 23 Hours Buried Alive In Coffin

Published

on

Young C, a Nigerian man, has been buried alive in a coffin for twenty-three hours.

On Thursday, he posted an update on his Instagram account saying, “Guys, I am still alive, I am still fine, I am okay. A lot of you might think something has happened, but nothing has happened, I am fine.

Breathing heavily he said, “My problem is just that I have run out of water, I might be forced to drink this (my urine). Guys, I am fine.”

Young C had embarked on this daring challenge on Wednesday, announcing his intention to be buried alive for 24 hours.

He shared a video on his Instagram account, emphasizing that the stunt was genuine and not a hoax. He also announced his plan to broadcast live footage from the coffin at night.

In an earlier update, Young C revealed that he had been buried for over 8 hours and was experiencing physical discomfort, including excessive sweating.

He shared a video from the coffin, showing his camera and light still functioning, and expressed his determination to complete the challenge.

This accomplishment brings to mind another challenge that American YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) undertook two years ago to raise awareness about deforestation. In that challenge, he buried himself alive for fifty hours.

He overcame both physical and mental obstacles to finish the task and was ultimately exhumed, warning onlookers not to attempt such exploits since they could be dangerous.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Court Grants N100m Bail To Sirika, Daughter In N2.7bn Fraud Case

Published

on

Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, along with his daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, secured bail from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

This follows their indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their alleged involvement in a N2.7bn fraud tied to the Nigerian Air project.

The defendants, including Sirika and his family members, vehemently denied the charges during their appearance before Justice Sylvanus Orji, who granted them bail pending further legal proceedings.

Recall that Sirika faces a 6-count amended criminal charge before Justice Oriji, where the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, presented an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7 and filed on May 8.

This amendment was unopposed by the defendants’ counsel. Lead counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), representing Sirika, submitted his client’s bail application dated May 6 during the proceedings.

The remaining defendants also filed their bail applications, urging the court for leniency in setting the bail terms.

Prosecutor Jacobs highlighted that all defendants were on administrative bail and requested bail conditions ensuring their presence for trial.

Following arguments from both sides, Justice Orji granted bail to each defendant in the amount of ₦100 million, requiring two sureties for each.

Furthermore, the judge stipulated that one surety must possess a landed property with valid land titles within the Federal Capital Territory.

Additionally, the sureties must provide an affidavit of means..

The defendants were restricted from leaving the country without the court’s permission, with the consequence of non-compliance being detention in a correctional facility.

He said, “I admit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 sureties of like sum.

“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The defendants must not travel outside the country.

“Any of them who is unable to fulfil the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.” he added

The trial dates were set for June 10th, 11th, and 20th, marking the next steps in the legal proceedings.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Fubara Bans All LGA Heads From Rivers Assembly

Published

on

In a decisive move, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has enacted a prohibition preventing all heads and officials from the 23 local government areas in the state from participating in Rivers Assembly sessions, specifically targeting lawmakers aligned with the Pro-Wike faction.

The governor cautioned that any individual who attends sessions convened by lawmakers supportive of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule, will face dismissal.

Recall that Governor Fubara reiterated that the state currently lacks recognized lawmakers in the eyes of the law, citing the defection of 27 legislators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the governor’s statement, this move has invalidated their mandate as outlined in the constitution.

It was however gathered that the governor’s directive was communicated via an online circular signed by Ebirieneuket Nteile C, Director of Information and Communications for Chairman Local Government Service Commission, dated Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

The circular reads “I am directed to inform you/ all officers of the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State, not to honour/appear before the Members of Assembly or any purported invitation by anybody or group of persons in any guise without the permission of the Acting Chairman- Local Government Service Commission.

“Any staff who disobeys or violates this instruction will be dismissed accordingly from service. Treat as very important, please.”

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.