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Rivers APC Ex-governorship Aspirant Resigns From Party Over Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket

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Rivers APC Governorship Aspirant Resigns From Party Over Tinubu's Muslim-Muslim Ticket

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are still protesting against the decision of the presidential candidate of the party Bola Tinubu to make a Muslim his running mate.

A former governorship aspirant of the party, Tonye Princewill, has resigned in protest against the choice of a Muslim running mate, describing the move as “immoral and insensitive”.

Princewill accused his now erstwhile party of immoral conduct and acting against religious sensitivity in a pluralistic democracy like Nigeria in the selection of its vice presidential candidate.

He stated this in a letter he personally signed informing the party of his exit from the party for fielding a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

APC presidential flagbearer, Tinubu, a Muslim, announced Shettima, a former Governor of Borno State, as his running mate, on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Katsina, Katsina State.

A part of the letter, which was made available to reporters reads:

“I can’t argue for equity in my state and defend inequity in my country….I cannot defend the decision of my party, in fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket, especially, at a time like this, against all protestations from well-meaning Nigerians, across religious and political divides.”

“It sets a very wrong precedent, it is totally insensitive and even if you win, will prove bad for good governance.”

READ ALSO: Crisis In Kaduna APC Over Muslim-Muslim Governorship Ticket

“Under these dire circumstances, I find no justification to still remain, in good conscience, a member of a political party that subordinates electoral victory, OVER the safety of lives and the peace of mind of its citizens.”

He condemned Tinubu and APC’s decision to disregard the clamour for a Northern Christian as a vice presidential candidate, stressing that his continued stay in the party will connote his alignment with such insensitivity and disregard for equitable engagement with the Nigerian people.

“An APC party that totally disregards the basics of the same equity we preach, is alien to me. Buhari resisted the same temptation and chose a little known Osinbajo and won. By doing this, Tinubu is saying that a Northern Christian has no electoral value. My staying means I agree.”

The exit of the Kalabari prince followed a pattern of unprecedented resignation of members of the embattled party in the state with the likes of former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari, former federal lawmakers, Dr. Dawari George, as well as, members of the Senator Magnus Abe’s faction of the party resigning from the party.

On his part, a former chieftain of the PDP in Rivers State, Opunabo Nko-Tariah, in a television programme monitored from Port Harcourt on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, also thumbed down the APC and Bola Tinubu’s decision to fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

READ ALSO: Why I Won’t Lose Sleep Over Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket – Kukah

Opunabo Nko-Tariah
“It is not about competence as espoused by Tinubu but about winning the election. He thinks Kassim Shetima will deliver the Northern votes that will help his party win.”

“He does not care about Nigerians and their feelings otherwise he will not make such choice. Is he saying that he couldn’t find a competent Christian anywhere in the North?”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has, however, dismissed concerns raised about its decision to fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket, maintaining that it was waxing stronger and will retain power come 2023.

This position was advanced by the Publicity Secretary of the APC In Rivers State, Chris Finebone, who was reacting to the resignation of Semenitari, George and Princewill, insisting that the party is still very formidable without these individuals.

With the wave of resignations going on in the party, it is becoming clearer that the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, may not have received wide acceptance among the party’s stalwarts even among the famous 19 elders of the party who sat and declared him as the preferred candidate of the party.

 

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Security Operatives Crack Down On Sagamu Cultists, House of Assembly Member, Six Others In DSS Net

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Acting IGP Kayode Egbetokun

Security operatives in Ogun State on Wednesday tracked six suspected cultists, allegedly involved in the violence that erupted in Sagamu at the weekend to the official residence of a member of the state House of Assembly.

The member, representing Sagamu State Constituency (1), Hon. Damilare Bello Mohammed, was alleged to have provided shelter to the fleeing cultists.

A team of security operatives, in a sting operation after a tip-off, arrested the suspects on the premises of the lawmaker.

Those arrested, according to sources, include Damilare Bello Mohammed aka DRE, Debbo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya and Tobi Owoade.

They are currently undergoing interrogation at the Department of State Service (DSS).

Sources revealed that many dangerous weapons, including guns, were recovered from the suspects.

It would be recalled that Hon. Bello was arrested by the DSS for masterminding the violent protest that took place in February this year in Sagamu over the naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

During the protest, irate youths vandalised about 10 banks and other public infrastructures.

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Ogun Considers Special Court To Try Cultists

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Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

A Special Court is to be established by the Ogun State Government to try cult-related cases.

Also to be set up is a Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force comprising all major security outfits, with the mandate to rid the state of the menace of cultism.

The state is also proposing an amnesty programme for would-be cultists who may wish to surrender their weapons.

These decisions were arrived at after a joint security meeting, held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday hinted that his administration would enact a law that would pronounce the death penalty on anyone caught engaging in cult activities in the state.

The governor spoke during a visit to the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, following days of cult-related clashes in Sagamu, which left many dead and others injured.

The meeting, according to Governor Abiodun, focused on providing adequate measures to eradicate cultism in the Gateway State.

Prince Abiodun said: “During the Joint Security meeting that took place today (Wednesday), we engaged in fruitful discussions regarding the implementation of measures aimed at combating cultism in Ogun State.

“Our primary focus was on establishing a special court, forming a joint operational force comprising various security agencies, and implementing a death penalty for cultism offences.

“In addition to these measures, we also deliberated on the possibility of introducing a period of amnesty. This would allow individuals who wish to surrender their weapons and renounce their affiliation with any cult-related groups and activities the opportunity to do so without fear of prosecution.

“As an administration deeply committed to fostering a peaceful and violence-free society, we are dedicated to providing the Special Court and Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force with the necessary logistics and tools to support their operations effectively.

“The overall objective of our conversation is to address the issue of cultism through a multifaceted approach. This will include legal and enforcement measures, rehabilitation efforts, and community engagement through our respected traditional leaders.

“In conclusion, we are determined to tackle the menace of cultism in our state head-on. By employing a combination of legal frameworks, law enforcement strategies, rehabilitation initiatives, and community involvement, we believe we can bring about lasting change.”

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Why We Sacked NNPP’s Abba Kabir As Kano Governor – Tribunal

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Kano State GovernorAbba Kabir

The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The tribunal declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March 18 election.

Yusuf was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the poll in March.

But on Wednesday, the three-man panel, after hearing the petitions, ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return which INEC presented to Yusuf and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.

The court deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the affected ballot papers were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

The ruling comes about six months after the APC candidate conceded defeat to Yusuf in the wake of INEC’s presentation of the certificate of return to the NNPP candidate.

In a two-minute audio statement on March 29, Gawuna stated that “as a good Muslim”, he was compelled to accept the outcome of the election, whether in his favour or not.

He added that although his campaign team had requested a review of the election results by INEC, upon review, the commission had found Yusuf to be the winner of the election.

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