Politics
Kogi APC Guber Primary: Adeyemi Loses Final Appeal
The Supreme Court, Monday, dismissed a suit filed by Senator Smart Adeyemi challenging the outcome of the primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 14, 2023, which produced Ahmed Usman Ododo as its governorship flagbearer.
Senator Adeyemi had dragged the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the apex court after the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The former federal lawmaker in the suit marked “FHC/CS/556/20233 , argued that the APC primary election results were forged in favour of Ododo and did not hold in all the wards in the State.
Senator Adeyemi maintained that no primary election was conducted in Kogi State.
But INEC had countered Adeyemi’s submission while submitting police reports confirming they observed the polls in line with relevant electoral laws.
Adeyemi contested against Ododo for the APC governorship ticket but lost.
Justice James Omotosho of the High Court had dismissed the suit which the Senator filed to challenge the primary election that produced Ododo, ahead of the State’s governorship election.
Both the trial court and the Court of Appeal affirmed that primary elections were held across the wards in Kogi State contrary to the submissions by Adeyemi’s legal team.
On Monday, Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court said the complaint by Adeyemi sought to reopen issues of facts that had been addressed by concurrent decisions of the lower courts, and as such, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to entertain his case.
Agim added that there were no grounds for the appeal filed by Senator Adeyemi that alleges or suggests that the findings of the lower courts were perverse.
“This appeal fails and is dismissed. The appellant shall pay N 1 million to the first and third respondents,” Agim held, saying that Senator Adeyemi’s case was “vexatious and frivolous”.
The judge lamented that after a politician loses an election case at the trial court or Court of Appeal, “you go to television telling the whole world how you are supposed to win.”
“The Supreme Court is a court of justice. This is the level we have reduced our courts to. This court is manned by reasonable people,” Agim said, adding that it is not fair for politicians to comment on matters that are already in court.
Politics
NGO Passes Confidence Vote On Fubara Over Dev Strides
A grassroots organisation known as Sir Siminalayi Fubara Peace Initiative, Friends For Good Governance, has passed a confidence vote on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over his development strides in the state within a short time in office.
Apart from the numerous development projects embarked upon by the governor in the state, the body expressed delight over the recent payment of N85,000.00 minimum wage to civil servants in the State to reduce the economic burden of workers and their dependants.
Spokesperson of the organisation, Chief Felix Ologara, who addressed newsmen in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area described Governor Fubara’s administration as the most compassionate, peace-loving and labour-friendly in Nigeria.
Coordinator of the NGO, Comrade Felix Nnaa, also lauded the governor of Rivers State for staying focused on the development of the state despite the challenges by detractors of his administration.
The NGO also commended the newly elected local government chairmen in the state, particularly the chairman of Khana LGA, Hon Martin Nwigbo and his Tai counterpart, Hon Mathew Dike for modelling their leadership style after Governor Fubara’s in providing essential services to the people.
On his part, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Martins Nwigbo, who also spoke with the press assured that his administration will give priority attention to the development of Khana, particularly in providing security, economic empowerment, human capital development and restoration of power in the area.
Politics
Ex-Inc President Harps On People-Centred Governance
Former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Atuboyedia Obianime, has called for a people centred governance in Nigeria.
Prof. Obianime said this at the Rivers Liberation Summit and Awards organised by the Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide in Port Harcourt.
He said projects execution are good but government must come up with policies that will create employment opportunities for the people.
The former INC president particularly urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to revive all moribund industries with the view to creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and stressed the need for the revamping of the agricultural sector in the state.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Sam Sam Jaja, said the Ijaws will never surrender their rights for any reason.
“We know where we come from and we know where we are now; we know the battle we fought and we know the battle we are still fighting and one thing is very important among us, we will never surrender our rights for any reason”, he said.
Dr Jaja said the Ijaws have been known to fight against oppression and marginalisation and commended the Ijaw Wari Initiative for complementing the INC.
“What we are doing today is to honour Ijaw sons and daughters who deserve to be honoured and of course we have one of our elderly sons to tell us what we have done in terms of pursuing leadership”, he added.
He also described the Ijaws as symbols of leadership, adding: “it starts from us and it will continue to remain with us for a long time”
Dr Jaja also declared that with an Ijaw man at the saddle of leadership in the State, the people will see a new phase of governance, adding that areas neglected will be touched, while expressing optimism that the event would equip the participants to face the challenges ahead.
In his welcome address, the president of Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide, Somina Wokoma, said the event was to “commemorate the October 30th, 2023, failed attempt to impeach our dear Governor which marked a turning point in our democratic journey”.
“As we converge on this epoch making occasion, we celebrate the triumph of democracy, people oriented leadership and the resilience of Rivers people”, he said.
John Bibor
Politics
Group Tasks Rivers LG Chairmen On Aggressive Rural Dev
A non- governmental organisation in Rivers State, the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force ( (NDPVF), Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, has tasked Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to urgently focus on aggressive infrastructural and human capital development projects.
This is contained in a statement released by the group in Port Harcourt shortly after her Chapter Executive Council ( CEC) meeting in Opobo Town, and signed by its Coordinator, Commander Idawari Brown; Secretary, Comrade Success Dinne Ebranga and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Lucky Ubani.
The group urged the chairmen and councillors to be proactive in the discharge of their assignment of dispensing quality service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction and admonished them to follow the leadership example of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“There is need for the Chairmen of various Councils in the state to ensure that they emulate the leadership style of the governor by building bridges of transformation, human capital development and youth inclusiveness in governance of their LGAs”, the statement said.
The group further admonished the chairmen of the various councils and their Councillors to put in their best in the leadership of their local areas for the well-being of the people.
“The people are in dire need of your contributions for better development bridges in terms of even distribution of development projects and programmes that will have direct- bearings on the people’s welfare and lives.
“They should include those who have what it takes to develop the areas through their contributions to move the area forward developmentally.
“We urge the chairmen of various councils and their councillors not to appoint anybody on political patronage in order to siphon the treasury of the councils.
“We would not tolerate this lackluster attitude from any council chairmen Councillors. The real thing should be done through those with leadership expertise and are ever ready to join forces with them to build a pleasant and virile Local Government Areas administration for posterity.
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