The Director of new media of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council (APC PCC), Mr Femi Fani-Kayode says he regrets raising the alarm over the fear of an impending coup d’ etat in the country.
Speaking to reporters yesterday in Abuja after he was grilled by the department of state security services (DSS) for five hours, he admitted that he should have been circumspect before going public on the issue.
He added: “Sometimes when in the war front because we are in a war presently on the political front. While experiencing such war there is the fog of war where we say either the right things or the wrong things. Nobody is infallible. But the truth is when it comes to the issue of national security, we have to be careful.”
Acknowledging that the coup alarm raised shock waves across the polity, he explained that his action was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies to be on top of the situation if there was any iota of truth on the matter.
Femi Fani-Kayode on Sunday predicted victory for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC.
A statement by the former presidential aide declared that Tinubu will not be “robbed” like the late Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola.
Fani-Kayode said the ruling party and its flagbearer were ready to go into the February 25th battle with strength and power.
He noted that no matter how thick the conspiracy is, they shall stand firm, hold the line, keep the flag flying and “prove that we are men.”
“60 years ago Awolowo was robbed and lost it, 30 years ago Abiola was robbed and lost it.
“30 years later and in two weeks’ time, despite the desperation, plots and plans of our enemies, history will not repeat itself, Tinubu will not be robbed.”
The former Minister of Aviation charged the Jagaban Army to stay strong, assuring that Nigeria will soon renew and regain its lost glory.
Advising Tinubu’s supporters never to waver, FFK maintains “Asiwaju shall be President” because it’s “his turn and our time.”
A pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) group on the agies of Progressive Minds Forum (PMF), on Friday, called for the resignation, suspension or sack of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, over alleged compromised judgements that recently emanated from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The group lamented that the award of Senatorial tickets to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Senator Godswill Akpabio by the apex court was a great embarrassment to Nigeria because they did not partake in the primary elections of the APC, won by the original holders of the tickets.
The Forum also insisted that the Supreme Court ruling to extend the use of old Naira notes was not done in the interest of Nigerians but to please and aid certain political forces from the South-West who have been clamouring for the extension because the CJN is from the South-west.
In a statement signed by the Forum’s national coordinator, Barrister Preye Johnson, he said that the comportment of the CJN since assumption of office does not befit a man who occupies such an exalted position and saddled with the responsibility of determining the destiny of litigants that come before the Supreme Court.
The statement said: “The Supreme Court is the last hope of the common man, but under Justice Ariwoola, justice is now for the highest bidder.
“The whole world would want to know how failed presidential aspirants like Akpabio and Lawan were awarded Senatorial tickets by the Supreme Court when they never participated in the primary election for those positions in their Senatorial Districts.
“This is a man who recently attended a state dinner in Port Harcourt and apparently after much champagne that are common in such high level political gatherings, made political statements that were unbecoming of his position as the number one jurist in the country.
“Besides only the CJN and Supreme Court Justices can tell if the recent ruling unbanning the use of old Naira notes was done in the overall interest of Nigerians or to enable the APC access enough cash to buy votes in the forthcoming elections.
“Even the Minister or Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has kicked against the judgement and filed an appeal against it.
“The position of the AGF shows that the ruling lacks merit as it was apparently motivated by partisan motives and tribal sentiments which may likely plunge Nigeria into crisis if not immediately curbed.
“Needless to say that such highly compromised and spurious judgements now emanating from the apex court, under Justice Ariwoola, represent a huge embarrassment to Nigeria both at home and abroad.
“They have also cast a pall of doubt over judgements on disputes that may emanate from the forthcoming general elections.
“Therefore, the need for Justice Ariwoola to either resign his position or be sacked in order to checkmate the gross danger the Supreme Court now poses to democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.
“It is clear that the Supreme Court under Justice Ariwoola’s watch lacks integrity therefore he has no basis to continue as CJN especially in view of the forthcoming general election.
“The CJN must be seen to be above board and also must be blind to all parties in the dispensation of justice in order to display extreme neutrality for justice and fairness. However, this is not what we are seeing presently.
“Since the Apex Court has proved its unwillingness to save democracy, Buhari must rise up to the task of saving democracy by ordering the suspension and investigation of the CJN and the other Supreme Court Justices involved in the above referenced cases.”
The APC members also called on the international community to place visa ban on the CJN and the Justices involved in the controversial cases for working to undermine democracy in Nigeria.
They insisted that the judgements have set bad precedent and gravely breached the provisions of Section 115(D) of the Electoral Act 2022, especially in the case of Lawan and Akpabio.
“The whole world is still waiting to know how the Supreme Court came about its ruling making Ahmad Lawan and Godwill Akpabio candidates when it is clear they were both presidential aspirants under the APC.
“The Electoral Act 2022 is very clear that an aspirant cannot contest for two different positions in one election cycle.
“Section 115 (D) of the Act stipulates that ‘a person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years.’
“We appeal to international community to help save democracy in Nigeria by ensuring that the CJN and all justices involved in the recent ruling on Lawan and Akpabio are placed on visa ban,” he stated.
Attorney general of Nigeria Abubakar Malami is a public enemy in the footsteps of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, the Bola Tinubu presidential campaign says.
In a tweet, the campaign’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Mr Malami is also a “public enemy like Emefiele.”
Mr Onanuga was reacting to the preliminary objection filed by the justice minister through his lawyers Mahmud Magaji and Tijanni Gazali, asking the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dismiss the suit filed by three northern governors to stop the implementation of the CBN’s naira redesign policy.
Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara had dragged the federal government and the CBN before the apex court seeking to stall the implementation of the naira redesign policy on the grounds that the notice timeline was short and did not fulfil the reasonable notice obligation imposed by law.
The governors also accused the presidency of not doing enough to facilitate the transition of the notes.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has argued that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
The AGF also contended that the “plaintiffs have equally not shown the reasonable cause of action against the defendant.”
All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the Governors of the 36 states for standing on the side of the Nigerian people over the Central Bank new Naira and cashless policies that have subjected the masses to pains.
According to Asiwaju Tinubu, the Governors especially the APC Governors who instituted the suit against the CBN and Federal Government at the Supreme Court acted well on behalf of the hapless Nigerians who have been made to bear the brunt of Naira redesign policy that has been poorly implemented.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday morning in a law suit brought before it by the governments of Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna States gave an interim injunction against the CBN and Federal Government, allowing the old N200, N500 and N1000 to remain legal tender beyond February 10 deadline until the case is fully disposed.
Following the apex court ruling, Asiwaju Tinubu noted that the governors have saved the country from a needless political and economic crises and miseries which have clearly become the unintended consequences of the monetary policy of the apex bank.
Asiwaju Tinubu noted that the Supreme Court ruling coincided with the advisory of the International Monetary Fund urging for the extension of the deadline for the swap of the old naira notes, going by the problems being experienced across the country in getting the new notes.
“I want to salute the courage of our Governors and most especially the Progressives Governors in APC who acted to save our country from avoidable and dangerous political crises and social unrest which the Central Bank policy on new Naira notes has brought on our country.
“Our country was dangerously careering toward anarchy and political and economic shutdown. But with the Supreme Court interim ruling our country has been pulled back from the precipice. We thank our Supreme Court Justices for ruling wisely on the side of the people who have been subjected to undue agony and pains since this policy was announced.
“The Federal Government and relevant stakeholders can now sit down and work out better framework on how to proceed with the new policy without causing any social and economic disruption and inconvenience to our people. We have examples of other countries that have successfully and seamlessly changed their currencies to learn from.
“Those countries give a long time, at least 12 months to effect the currency change. They do not engage in CBN-like Fire Brigade approach.
“We have seen how a good policy can be poorly implemented to cause unintended problems for the people who should be the beneficiaries. While lessons have been learnt, we must now move on as a country and people with a Renewed Hope for a better tomorrow.
“The sole aim of my running to be the president of our country is to make life better and more abundant for our people and this is an ideal for which I will remain eternally committed to.”
Asiwaju Tinubu called on the CBN to ensure that the Supreme Court ruling is effectively executed by taking all necessary steps to (i) ensure sufficient availability of Naira notes (whether old or new) and (ii) properly sensitising the public on the ruling and the consequent validity of old Naira.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the postponement of the Presidential Rally earlier scheduled to hold at Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Tuesday saying the decision was taken by the Governor Simon Lalong-led Presidential Campaign Council in view of the mood of the nation.
The Oyo state turn of the Tinubu/Shettima state-wide campaign rally had earlier been moved from January 9 to February 7, 2023 and reports have it that arrangement had reached its crescendo when news filtered in from Abuja that the orchestrated event would not hold again as scheduled for this Tuesday.
Confirming the development to our correspondent through a telephone conversation on Monday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, regretted the postponement it which he claimed became inevitable “since the crisis occasioned by the fuel scarcity and federal government’s cashless policy implementation as well as local currency redesigning.
His words; “we regret to announce the indefinite postponement of our presidential rally earlier slated for tomorrow (Tuesday). The decision was taken, apparently, in consideration to the prevailing challenges facing the people and the need to allow President Muhammadu Buhari work around the situation and ensure that normalcy return particularly as it concerns fuel and currency notes crisis.
“At Oyo APC, we were convinced that it was necessary to go ahead with event in order not to play into the hands of some anti-democratic forces who do not want the nation’s general election to go on as scheduled because they feel the outcome of the poll, this time, would produce a new order capable of returning Nigeria to Nigerians.
“Although, a new date is yet to be announced, I can assure the general public that Oyo state will host Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in no time and it is going to be a huge success. However, we appeal for calm among the citizenry as we must not lose focus on doing all that is necessary to ensure the fruition of the dream to have Tinubu as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Sadare stated.
Youths in Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government have expressed appreciation to the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin for completing the Secretariat of Eruwa Youth Movement, EYM in Eruwa.
The Eruwa Youth Movement, EYM established in 1961 is the apex youth organization in Eruwa.
The project was commissioned recently by the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde during his campaign tour of Eruwa and Lanlate towns
The leadership of EYM approached the Speaker for intervention when the project inaugurated in 2015 could not be completed.
Hon Adebo Ogundoyin who acceded to their request took over the Secretariat from window level and completed it to taste.
The President of EYM, Comrade Kunle Adebola said God had used Hon Adebo Ogundoyin to bring the vision and dream of the Association to fruition.
According to him, the Speaker has written his name in gold for making it possible for Eruwa Youth Movement, EYM to have a befitting Secretariat.
Comrade Kunle Adebola expressed happiness that the Speaker made good his promise of not only completing the project but also completing it to taste.
” We are happy for the completion of our Secretariat here in Eruwa. Our dreams have come true. EYM as the apex umbrella body for youth organizations in Eruwa now has a Secretariat of its own. Special thanks to the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin for this laudable feat. “
” As we say thank you and God bless you to Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, we also pray to the Lord to continue to elevate his status, grant his heart desires and increase his sustenance to enable him embark on more projects for the benefit of our people. We know he is identifying with us because he is a youth like us. May his shadow never grow less.” EYM President prayed.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the House would have no option but to reconvene before the February 25 elections if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) failed to address the hardships Nigerians face due to the currency swap policy.
The speaker said the House would continue to monitor the CBN’s implementation of the policy closely following the Green Chamber’s meeting with the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the issue.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with some ethnic groups in Surulere, Lagos, on Sunday, Gbajabiamila said he was on the verge of signing an arrest warrant against Emefiele following his initial failure to appear before an ad hoc panel of the House.
“The House of Representatives intervened on several occasions. We summoned the CBN governor the first time and again, but he refused to answer, because we had many hard questions for him.
“It was until I issued the threat of warrant of arrest before he came, and I would’ve signed that warrant; it would’ve been the first time in the history of National Assembly that a CBN governor would be arrested. I would’ve done it.
“Many have argued on the independence of CBN, the autonomy of CBN. That does not make CBN above the law. The constitution gives the House the power to issue an arrest warrant against anyone, we can summon anybody, and that was exactly what the House was going to do until the CBN governor came.
“So, we are watching, and we are monitoring very closely. If need be, we will reconvene the House, even though we’ve all been away for our elections. I will call the House back, if need be.”
Gbajabiamila also said that amidst the ongoing hardship, the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified with Nigerians and faulted the implementation of the policy at this time, which necessitated the extension of the deadline for the collection of the old currency.
“On the currency swap, let me explain something to you. We are all very intelligent people. Many are suffering, we have paid your salary, and you cannot withdraw it; people cannot eat, what kind of thing is that?
“But I have news for you. There’s one man who is running for president of this country, and that man has courage and audacity. This man came out boldly and identified the problem, that the fifth columnists, in cooperation with the PDP are the ones trying to sabotage this election.
“Many have said he’s talking about Buhari, but he told them ‘no, I’m not talking about Buhari; I’m talking about fifth columnists.’ If you don’t know the meaning of fifth columnists, go and check your dictionary. Fifth columnists infiltrate people, they even infiltrate families, otherwise how do you explain this type of policy?
“The president, being a compassionate person that he is, has asked for a few more days to look at everything that is going on and see if anything could change. We pray that things will change. If nothing changes, we will intervene again, but be sure of one thing: that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands with you and stands with Nigerians in their suffering.
“He was the first to shout that what is going on? He has cried, he has begged, he has screamed that people are suffering, what did the PDP candidate say? He said, ‘no, CBN don’t listen to them; you must not extend this thing; let people continue to suffer.’ That is what the PDP candidate said. He said it publicly.
“So, you have the tale of two presidential candidates: one who stands with the people and says this currency swap must stop; the second one says,’ no, it cannot stop, it’s a good policy. CBN, don’t listen to him. Let the people continue to suffer.’ I leave the rest to you to determine who is with you and who is against you.”
The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has condemned half salary payment made by the previous administration in the State.
The PDP in a press statement made available by its spokesman, Olabamji Oladele as read in part:
“At a time Osun people are pouring encomium on Governor Ademola Adeleke, the State All Progressives Congress (APC) is swimming in its ocean of shame and refusing to show remorse for its wickedness and inhumane treatment meted out to Osun workers and pensioners.
Instead of apologizing to the public servants for imposing poverty and agonizing pain on them for several years, the APC still has the shamelessness to criticise a ‘talk and do’ Governor who is already clearing backlogs of half salaries and arrears left by the APC government.
We find it even appalling that the APC tried to distract attentions from it ugly past of pains and anguishes suffered by those who render services to the state. The evil of yesterday which APC represents shall never resurface in Osun State.
The disjointed narratives canvassed in a recent statement issued by the Osun APC showed its patent hatred for the people, particularly workers and pensioners who had been made to suffer unnecessarily. Osun people have taken judicious notice of the unrepentant anti-people insistence of the APC and they will use their votes to punish all APC candidates this month.
It is ludicrous for the APC to import unreasonable basis as the reason for Governor Adeleke’s decision to clear the wage related debt incurred by the previous government. Instead of throwing meaningless jabs, the APC should be explaining to the people why it owed that much and made no attempt to offset it, even if it is just one month.
The attempt to shift blame of the owed wages to the Rauf Aregbesola government is a bad way to make excuse for failure because, aside the fact that he was a Governor under APC, his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, campaigned for office on the strength of continuity. Yet, Oyetola ignored the plights of workers and pensioners for the four years his administration lasted, as no kobo out of the money was paid.
To now imagine that the APC will have the effrontery to attempt to play down the efforts of Governor Adeleke to clear the backlog of salary and pensions by the past administration, is the height of irresponsibility. It is a further demonstration of the APC’s disastrous attitude to responsibility and a more reason why it led the state to the abyss of ruin.
Osun people are well aware of the atrocious record of the APC, especially in term of welfare, and will find it grossly absurd that it is still bitter that Governor Adeleke is doing what Gboyega Oyetola failed to do in four years.
The reality of the APC lamentation is that it detests the hardworking civil servants and senior citizens in the state. The APC is not comfortable with the fact that Governor Adeleke is not towing its path of wickedness and deliberate negligence of the welfare of the people, which caused untold hardship for workers and pensioners.
In any case, it is imperative to stress to the APC that Osun people are now wiser and will not be swayed by the empty rhetorics of a party that did nothing but impoverish them. Let the APC know that Governor Adeleke will not watch people who laboured hard for the state to go without their entitlements as it was the pattern of the erstwhile ruling party.
We want to reiterate the PDP-led government commitment to clear the mess inherited from the APC government. The PDP will not only ensure that salary and pensions owed are cleared but abandoned projects littering the state will be completed.
This is evident in the latest move by Governor Adeleke to mobilize contractors back to resume construction of roads abandoned by the past administration. Governor Adeleke is committed to fulfilling his electoral promises to the people, and will not be distracted by the little talk of a terrible opposition, whose only idea of governance, is spreading hopelessness and poverty”.
“The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimj Akeredolu has accused the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele and other powerful people at the Villa of plot to demarket All Progressives Congress APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Akeredolu was quoted in a statement made available to news men as read in part:
The people of this country have been compelled to live under excruciating pains occasioned, mainly, by the contrived crisis in the petroleum sector. Nigerians have been at the mercy of the unscrupulous elements in the distribution chain who have sustained the artificial scarcity of the product since late last year. The unsavoury sight of the past has not only resurfaced in all the major cities of the country. It is also eroding the goodwill enjoyed by the Federal Government for the stability achieved in the past seven years.
“Nigerians have been living with scarcity of petroleum products for some time now. Fuel scarcity, a phenomenon which this current Administration had once confined to the dustbin in the chronicle of happenings in an inglorious past, has suddenly assumed a permanent feature of our daily existence and there appears to be no solution to the perennial crisis.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria, through his Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who purports to act under the powers conferred on the institution by the CBN Act, has chosen this period, when the country prepares for general elections, to redesign the currency notes for sundry reasons, chief among which is the need for the bank to be in control of the currency notes in circulation and checkmate the unwholesome activities of terrorists and their enablers and election riggers.
“The struggles and actual fights recorded in banking halls, ATM and POS points, and markets across the country are disquieting. The choice of this period for the implementation of a policy, which bears an instant negative impact with no discernible mitigation in sight, raises serious suspicion of partisanship on the part of the CBN. The ordinary people are the victims. Depositors can no longer access their monies even to feed their families. Hunger is not the anticipated result of a monetary policy.
“While no reasonable person will contend with the decision of the CBN to discharge its statutory functions, the plight of the downtrodden must, however, be considered. Majority of Nigerians groan, at present, under the crushing weight of these crises. There is pervasive discontent in the land and unless some urgent redemptive steps are taken to ameliorate the debilitating effects of seeming desultory and nonchalant disruptions of their normal simple lives, a series of events with unpleasant consequences is inevitable.
“There is palpable anger engendered by frustration in the land. The wave of discontent increases with unbelievable rapidity across the country. The current hardship being experienced by the ordinary people forebodes unpleasant consequences. These crises may set in motion a chain of events the end of which is better imagined.
“The Federal Government must make a categorical pronouncement on the availability of petrol and its price since it is the general belief that the country still pays humongous amounts as subsidy. A situation which permits a few individuals to inflict pains on the populace, seemingly without check, is deplorable. The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, must come clean on the new monetary policy. Nigerians are practically buying the country’s currency to feed when we are not in a state of war.
“The fact that the ruling party hopes to present candidates for election in the general elections in the coming weeks accentuates the level of suspicion as regards the possibility of having certain elements whose interests stand at variance with the general aspirations of the party and its committed members.
“There is no better way to de-market a brand than this ruthless execution of a pernicious motive.
The Federal Government, through the President, must act now”.
