Politics
Tribunal Verdict: Kano Declares 24-Hour Curfew Amid Tension
The Kano State government, on Wednesday, declared a 24-hour curfew in the state to avoid a breakdown of law and order, following the ruling of the three-man election petition tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who confirmed the curfew order in a statement issued to newsmen in the state, said the curfew took takes effect from 6 pm on Wednesday, 20th September to 6 pm on Thursday, 21st September 2023.
CP Gumel, who vowed to ensure strict compliance with the order, however, warned residents that defaulters would be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
According to him, “A Twenty-Four-Hour (24hr) Curfew order has been communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September 2023 taking effect from 6pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023.
“In view of the Constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force alongside the relevant Internal Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, to preserve law and order in the State, the Kano State Police Command has mapped out strategies on that direction and calls on the good people of the State to give the necessary confidence and supports.
“Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined Security Forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies, including the entry and exits of the State, to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the curfew.
“Violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Finally, I wish to appreciate all the peace-loving people of the state and urge them to remain law abiding as it’s in the best interest of all that we come together to maintain law and order in the State,” CP Gumel stated.
Politics
LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction
Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.
“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”
The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.
“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.
“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.
“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”
Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.
He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”
He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.
“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”
Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.
“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.
