Politics
Frank Knocks Buhari, APC Over Onnoghen
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has stated that the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is meant to anoint another CJN who would help legitimize President Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure at the Supreme Court.
Frank, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, condemned the haste and the illegality apparent in the move by Buhari and APC to get Onnoghen replaced at all costs before the February presidential elections which he said they have concluded plans to rig in favour of Buhari and the APC.
He called on the international community to note the desperation of Buhari and the APC, especially their plan to rig and use the judiciary to legitimize their illegal return to office.
According to him, the plot to illegally remove Onnoghen to pave way for a favourable judicial verdict for Buhari and APC after rigging the 2019 elections would definitely be resisted by the generality of Nigerians who would not fold their hands and watch such open electoral robbery being planned by Buhari and his evil band.
Frank said: “Nigerians are not surprised at the desperation and haste by Buhari and the APC to illegally get Justice Onnoghen out of the Supreme Court and install a pliant CJN before the presidential elections in February.
“Knowing that Nigerians have rejected them and their inept, clueless, lifeless and incompetent administration, they are now in a panic mode.
“But what they don’t know is that Nigerians are ready for them as they have resolved not to be fooled anymore. They will definitely be voted out but they are preparing ground for a spontaneous and massive crisis that will engulf the entire country should they rig the elections.
“They want to bring in a new CJN that will not only be of Northern Origin but that would do their evil bidding after rigging the elections but I want to warn them not to take Nigerians for granted.”
He further stated that the move to illegally remove Onnoghen is a further demonstration of the tribalistic and nepotistic nature of the President who has ensured that 99.9 per cent of his appointments into public offices since 2015 are people who are either closely related to him and of Northwest or Northern origin.
He said: “We saw him when he relegated South-South candidate and former acting Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Matthew Seiyefa and appointed a retired kinsman to head the organization.
“He did this despite the fact that Seiyefa was not only the most senior officer at the DSS after the former DG of DSS, Lawal Daura was sacked, but the most experienced and capable person for the job.
“They know that the laws of the land do not permit the trial of a serving judge or justice without first subjecting any allegations against such a judicial officer for review by the National Judicial Council (NJC), yet they are in a hurry to illegally kick Onnoghen out because they are afraid that he would not lend the authority of the Supreme Court to validate their stay in office having planned to rig the elections.
“They are not also comfortable having a southerner occupying the position of CJN which is critical to validate their rigging plans. All they want is Buhari’s brother or a CJN from the Northwest that would do their bidding.
“Recall that it took a national outcry before Buhari agreed to confirm Onnoghen’s appointment. They did not want him then. They don’t want him now, simply because he is from the South-South.”
The political activist informed Nigerians that having emasculated and subjugated the legislature under Senate President Bukola Saraki, Buhari and APC’s present game plan was to take over the judiciary.
“This is why all reasonable and well meaning Nigerians and the nation’s allies in the international community must speak out to avert this plot to throw the country in confusion and crisis by Buhari and the APC,” he stated.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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