March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

Labour Party chairman Julius Abure kicked out by ward

A ward in the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has suspended the national chairman Julius Abure, over alleged anti-party activities.

The suspension comes one week after Senator Iyorchia Ayu, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended by his ward in Benue State.

That action led to the eventual removal of Ayu as chairman of the PDP as a court ordered his removal based on the suspension.

At a press conference, Martins Osigbemhe, the Ward Chairman, said Abure was suspended by the executive, pending the determination of the numerous petitions and cases against him in courts.

But the National Secretary of the party, Malam Farouk Umar, dismissed the suspension as illegal.

“They also made some spurious allegations against him which is untrue and concocted by the sponsors of the Press Conference. We however deemed it fit to make some responses.

“The Young men we saw on that visuals are apparently not anybody from Labour Party in Edo State as claimed. The executives of the party in the state, Local Government and my ward are well known to the party.

“None of them were at the press conference. We make bold to say that they are people assembled and rented from some Abuja slums and paid to read a prepared speech given to them,” Umar said.

He said that the LP’s Constitution is clear on who can suspend and who cannot suspend the National Chairman.

“They should go and read the party constitution. It is only the National Convention that can suspend the National chairman of the Labour Party. It also must be through such a convention called for the purpose of the suspension of the National Chairman.”

He also said that the sudden suspension was an after-thought of some opposition parties purely to distract the leadership of the Labour Party at this time.

APC-USA set for pro-democracy march in Washington

APC USA, Lafayette Park

APC USA is set to stage a pro-democracy march in Washington D.C. in support of the 25 February presidential election in Nigeria, won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The solidarity march at the Lafayette Park – Southwest Quadrant, opposite the White House, will take place on Monday 3 April, as a counter move to anti-democratic elements of the Labour Party, who staged a demonstration on Thursday.

According to Adeleke Lamori, one of the organisers of the Monday rally, the purpose was to let the world know Ahmed Tinubu is the president elect.

“President Joe Biden should help Nigeria for easy transition,” he said.

On Thursday 30 March, a group of Nigerians loyal to Peter Obi, the defeated candidate of Labour Party staged a demonstration at the same venue.

Prof. Tai Balofin Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC United States said the US government was not involved or in support of the protest, as anybody can get approval for a peaceful protest.

“We also wish to state that this protest was sponsored by Peter Obi, who lost the election in Nigeria.

“It is our belief that the Nigerian Presidential election was free and fair, and Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu won the election. The majority of Nigerian voters gave him their mandate, and no propaganda, manipulation or tissue of lies can stop his inauguration.

Balofin assured Nigerians not to be perturbed by the actions of the protesters.

“We have mobilized true Nigerians to come out in support of their mandate, and we believe that the protesters will not succeed in their mission to disrupt the peace and stability of Nigeria”.

Datti Baba-Ahmed on Channels TV programme

March 31, 2023

Datti Interview: Channels TV slammed with N5m fine by NBC

Channels TV, Datti Baba-Ahmed, NBC

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has slammed a fine of N5 million on Channels TV for breaking the broadcasting code in an interview programme with Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate.

The fine was revealed in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27.

The letter was exclusively obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

The letter, with the title: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

It read in part:” The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okinbaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.

“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” Ilelah said in the letter.

He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

This, according to him, includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.

Ilelah added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.

He recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television several times to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast.

This, he said, was to ensure that the country was not plunged into anarchy.

“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

He added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.

“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General said.

On Thursday the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council petitioned the NBC over the same programme, drawing attention to several violations of the Broadcasting Code.

Read the petition: http://localhost/bat-ksm/channels-tv-dragged-to-nbc-over-treasonable-datti-baba-ahmed-interview/?fbclid=IwAR3wOa4OGboQTqJqi22lGQWlwlO9b7efmOwq-7tO0iavPzRiy_qYmC9SmW8

March 31, 2023

ICYMI: Father Mbaka begs God on behalf of partisan Nigerian pastors

2023 elections, Father Ejike Mbaka

The spiritual Director of the Adoration Chaplaincy, Enugu, Father Ejike Mbaka, has sought God’s forgiveness for church leaders over their partisanship during the 2023 presidential elections, won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The outspoken Catholic priest told the congregation on Wednesday at his Adoration Ground, that the positions the church leaders took messed up the altar of God.

“God, forgive us, forgive the Church, we have gotten it wrong this time”, Mbaka said in a viral video.

“I apologise on behalf of the whole men of God, the whole pastors, the whole priests and the whole bishops. I’m not worthy to apologise for Bishops, but I’m apologising.

“Let the mercy of God descend because what we did within the political moment….a lot of indescribable political brouhaha and political jingoisms and atrocities (were committed).

“We manifested and buried the power of sacrament beneath political forces, political hawks and vultures; they want to vulturise the Church.

“We turned the churches into campaign centres, turned the churches into places of politicking.

“How can you prophesy that God told you who will win and it did not come to pass? And you want to blame it on rigging.

“When we know that God’s Word supersedes every rigging!

“We messed up the altar, we defiled the Altar. How do we want power to move from altar that has been defiled? We cannot continue with such iniquities.

“I pray that God will forgive us. Forgive us Oh Lord, forgive Your Church, forgive Christianity in Nigeria.”

Mbaka, who spoke in both English and Igbo, said: “We have gotten it wrong this time. Amen.

“Just let it be like this. If you want to misunderstand me, that is your business.”

Watch the video:

*Adapted from Sahara Reporters

March 31, 2023

No Interim Govt, advocates daydreamers says Gov. Lalong

Governor Simon Lalong

Hours after the Department of State Services revealed the plot by some political actors to install an Interim Government post 29 May, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State said those advocating the contraption are daydreamers.

He made the comment after a meeting with President Buhari on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.

According to Lalong, the Interim Government idea negates the principle of democracy, which the President has vowed to uphold.

Lalong, who was the Director-general of the Tinubu-Shettima campaign expressed confidence that the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu would meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Tinubu will hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration on May 29, 2023, he said.

Citing Tinubu’s service in Lagos State, Lalong said the President-Elect would surpass expectations as the party works towards realising its campaign promises.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday raised an alarm over a plot to install an interim government by “misguided” political actors.

In a statement by its spokesman, Dr Peter Afunnaya, DSS said it has identified some key players in the plot.

“The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis. The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.

“The planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.

“The DSS supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction. It also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the States. It will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023.

“Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations.

“Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation. While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions”.

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Day: March 31, 2023

Labour Party chairman Julius Abure kicked out by ward

APC-USA set for pro-democracy march in Washington

Datti Interview: Channels TV slammed with N5m fine by NBC

ICYMI: Father Mbaka begs God on behalf of partisan Nigerian pastors

No Interim Govt, advocates daydreamers says Gov. Lalong