A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Pedro Obaseki, has accused the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, of plotting to weaken the structures of the party to make it easier for him to run on its platform for the 2027 presidency.

Obaseki who worked as Director of Planning and Strategy for the PDP 2023 Presidential Campaign Council also described Wike as a ‘nobody’ who rode on the structures of the party and the goodwill of some of its chieftains to power only to betray them when he got to the top.

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He stated this on Monday in an interactive session with a handful of journalists in Abuja against the backdrop of a call by the FCT minister to suspend Atiku from the PDP.

Speaking as a guest on the Channels Television programme, Politics Today on Thursday, Wike was quoted as saying, “Look at the areas that the PDP did not win because of high-handedness, because of greed, because of impunity.

“If the PDP had done what they were supposed to do, then you could have talked about that. There should be equity, there should be justice, there should be fairness and that is why I am calling on the National Working Committee to suspend the presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) and people like Aminu Tambuwal so that they can rebuild the party.”

Reacting to Wike’s television outing, however, Obaseki said, “It is not hidden that the only thing Wike is interested in is becoming the President of our country, and anything that seems to stand wittingly or otherwise in his achieving that quest will be flushed away and that is what he has been doing.

“What we are seeing now is that he is fighting to decimate the PDP, so that he can also decimate the All Progressives Congress to create a vehicle for himself to run in 2027, but we are not stupid.

“It is important that we caution Wike. There is a limit to the continued brigandage of a man who should be grateful to God. Chinua Achebe in his book, Things Fall Apart, warned us that ‘Those whose palm kernels were cracked for them by benevolent spirits should not forget to be humble.’ But someone like Wike… has continued to overstretch his luck.

“Who is Wike? He is a nobody. He rode on the back of the electorate of Rivers State to national prominence and betrayed everybody along the way. From being a Local Government chairman, a Minister of State, became Governor of Rivers State and now minister of the FCT.”

He noted that the former Rivers State governor had been in the business of championing a personal cause for long noting that he fought for the removal of his friend and political ally, Uche Secondus, as the PDP chairman because he considered him an obstacle to his presidential aspiration in 2023.

Obaseki continued, “Wike plotted a graph from the time he supported Prince Uche Secondus to arrest the structures of the PDP. He then forced the removal of Secondus because he knew that as chairman of the party, his own local government and senatorial district, it’s goodbye to his running for the presidency.

“But he ran for that same presidency and lost. He swore to support whoever won and reneged on every point along the way.

“Time has come for the PDP and those who want to strengthen democracy in Nigeria to see Wike for what he really is. He is brave enough to come to the public space to say that he is the sole financier of the PDP, a party founded in 1998.

“This is a party where he became governor in a state where (Peter) Odili was already a governor for eight years on the platform of the party; where Rotimi Amaechi had been governor for seven years before defecting to the APC.”

While noting that it is Wike who ought to be suspended from the PDP, Obaseki narrated what he called a number of misdeeds by the former Rivers State governor, which prompted other leaders of the PDP to defect to other parties.

“Wike should tell us why Atiku should be suspended from the party. The person who deserves to be suspended from the party is the man who is calling for the expulsion of others from the party. Wike is the one who created a cult within the party and called it the G-5.

Against the will, constitution and structures of the party, he campaigned against the party. If anybody had done anything anti-party, it is Wike.

He has fought every known person within the party. If you remember, Bello Matawalle, former Governor of Zamfara State, cited him as the reason for leaving the party. David Umahi cited him as the reason for leaving the party.

Prof Ben Ayade cited him as the reason for leaving the party. He has become the proverbial tortoise featuring in every bad story.”

The British High Commission in Nigeria has announced the opening of a new temporary submission centre for United Kingdom visas in Enugu State.

The announcement was made via a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday.

According to the commission, the centre would be opened from September 13, 2023, in addition to current locations in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

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The facility will operate out of the Omedel Luxury Hotel, 4/6 Link Road off Pascal and Jerk Bus Stop, Independence Layout, Enugu and will shortly offer a twice-a-week service.

The statement read, “The appointment system allows an applicant to select Enugu as their application location when applying for a UK Visa.

“The temporary submission centre in Enugu opens as a Premium Location, meaning it will cost NGN246,250.00, which includes a Premium Lounge appointment, courier return, SMS notifications, general customer support and guidance.”

“Demand for visa services will be carefully monitored and service reviewed/expanded should there be sufficient volumes. TLS will trial this location for at least 3 months to assess uptake of the service and enable decisions on continuation.”

Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, Victor Umeh has praised Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi over his decision to appeal his case at the Supreme Court.

He described Obi as a dogged politician without violent and desperate disposition, urging Nigerians to keep faith with him.

Umeh who was reacting to Presidential Election Petition Tribunal judgement, expressed confidence in the judiciary, despite unfavourable outcome at the tribunal.

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He acknowledged impossibility of importing justices from heaven for Supreme Court to adjudicate over appeals that would arise from PEPT judgement, but insisted it was necessary the process was followed to the later.

He said: “The election has a process, including campaigns, actual election, declaration of the results, and the judicial adjudication. Anyone who feels unsatisfied will go to the court to challenge the outcome.

“This week witnessed several judgements across Nigeria. The PEPT delivered its own judgement on Wednesday. The petitioners are assessing the judgements. Anyone who finds any hole has the right to go to supreme Court.

“The truth is that you can’t abridge anybody’s right to go and ventilate his grievances in court. The petitioners will decide on the next line of action.

“Our own candidate, Mr. Peter Obi has decided to go to the Supreme Court. We won’t go to heaven to bring justices at the Supreme Court to come adjudicate over the appeals that will arise from judgements of the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“But we must keep faith with the process we have. Nobody can prejudge what the Supreme Court will do. I must commend my own brother for his tenacity and the spirit of non-violence; he won’t do anything to diminish the integrity of democracy. Even with the judgement delivered dismissing his petition, he’s not desperate.

“He’s someone I’ve worked with; he’s not a new person in this process. I’ve gone through this route with him since 2001. We went through all kinds of formidable challenges to get him become Anambra State Governor after three years in the tribunal, eventually he prevailed.

“He told me he will go and test the process at the Supreme Court. It’s his constitutional rights. We’ll continue to pray and wish him well.”

Umeh however noted it was high time politicians placed credible electoral process above election victory, which he stressed was critical to democratic growth and development.

“What’s important for Nigeria is no matter who wins, let’s think about this country and processes of creating our leadership. It’s far more fundamental than victory anybody can take away.

“Let’s establish a standard where election will be transparent and credible, and after announcement of results, whoever loses will go home and congratulate the winner.

“Let the process not be subverted, with people taking advantage of another yet expect democracy to grow. We want a democracy our people will have confidence in, not even waiting on the courts over election disputes.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.

Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.

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As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.

In conclusion, the President wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 11, 2023

A Royal Navy warship, HMS Trent, arrived in Lagos on Sunday to aid the fight against illegal activities including piracy and illicit trafficking in the sub-region.

This is Trent’s second visit to Nigeria, the British High Commission said in a statement.

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“The visit will help deliver capacity training and support maritime security in the region,” the statement partly read.

HMS Trent departed Gibraltar carrying an expert boarding team of UK Royal Marines and a Puma surveillance drone. HMS Trent’s mission is to support West African allies helping countries to develop capability to fight illegal crimes at sea and ensure they can play an effective role in bringing stability to wider West Africa.

With around £6 billion of UK trade passing through the region, part of Trent’s tasking is to support stability across the Gulf of Guinea through training to help partner navies take the fight to criminal actors, fostering ties and sharing knowledge, whilst conducting patrols to increase security.

HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said, “It is an honour for HMS TRENT to return to Nigeria, an important visit on the Ship’s three-month deployment to West Africa. We are excited to work with our partner nations as we strive for a long-term solution to maritime insecurity across the region”.

“The Royal Navy has a long history of engagement within the region and an enduring partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria. My team is really looking forward to the opportunity to work with their Nigerian counterparts and build on the relationships established when we visited Lagos in 2021.”

UK Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter said, “This deployment demonstrates how a truly Global Britain is stepping up on the world stage to tackle shared international security challenges.

“Nigeria is an important and valued defence partner for the UK in West Africa. Our two countries face many shared threats and we are keen to work with Nigeria to defeat these and to help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”

The Police Command in Lagos, says it has arrested an impersonator who has been parading himself before the public as a Police Commissioner.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest on Monday while briefing newsmen on the recent achievements recorded by the command.

According to him, the feat included the arrest of 12 others for various offences committed in the last two weeks.

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He said that within the period, the command recovered four firearms, two live cartridges, one expended cartridge, 11 live ammunition and one vehicle from the culprits.

He added that other items recovered were two wristwatches, six phones, some quantities of weed, suspected to be a variant of drugs, a walkie-talkie, Police warrant cards and a police camouflage cap and singlet.

The image maker said the suspected “fake CP”, simply identified as Emmanuel, was arrested on Sept. 2, at about 4.40 p.m. when he visited a police formation in the Ikorodu area and introduced himself as a Commissioner of Police.

“He was fully regarded as such but upon questioning, he was discovered to be an impersonator.

“During a search in his residence, we recovered a Deputy Commissioner of Police warrant card, an Assistant Commissioner of Police warrant card, Kenwood walkie-talkie, police camouflage singlet and face cap,” he said.

Similarly, the spokesperson said that another impersonator was arrested on Sept. 4 following a complaint from the Nigeria Bar Association, Epe Area of Lagos.

Hundeyin said that the suspect, Ibrahim Bello, has allegedly been conducting and presenting himself as a Lawyer at the Epe Magistrate Courts for several years.

According to him, operatives of the Command arrested the suspect fully dressed in a lawyer’s regalia in the court where he went to depend on a client.

“He was brought in for questioning, where he was discovered to be an impersonator,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items found with him, which were also paraded, include his portrait with the inscription: “Bello Law Firm Office, Obas & Chiefs of Lagos State Law, Tenancy Law 2015, Due Process of Law and Law of Trespass of Land and Nuisance.

When the suspect was interviewed, he claimed to be an estate agent and not a lawyer.

Hundeyin said other suspects arrested included a woman, arrested on Sunday at about 1.00 p.m., in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu for allegedly being in possession of a large quantity of weed, suspected to be hard drugs.

He said the woman was found with 97 wraps of colours, 22 wraps of loud, some mixtures of loud and Arizona and a sum of N271,600, her proceeds as at the time of the arrest.

He added that other suspects were arrested for alleged rape, armed robbery, cultism and defilement, adding that after discreet investigation, the suspects would be prosecuted before a competent court of law.

So far, about eight persons who won elections to various elective offices during the 2023 general elections have been sacked by the Election Petitions Tribunals across the states over non qualification to contest election to such offices.

We have 2 in Katsina, 1 in Kano, 1 in Benue, 1 in Taraba, 1 in Imo State, 1 in Abia and still counting.

Speaking with Daily Gazette on Monday, an Enugu public affairs analyst, Simon Edeh said he is hopeful that the tribunal in the state will be courageous enough to dispense Justice and not Judgment.

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“As we count down to the judgement of Enugu Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Ndi Enugu are expectant that Peter Mbah who was alleged to have forged his certificate of national service, NYSC, will be sacked and the mandate freely given to Barr. Chijioke Edeoga by Enugu electorates will be restored.” he said.

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed the petition filed by Hon. Ejiofor Vincent Chukwu challenging the election of the Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial district and Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi of the All Progressives Congress, for lacking in merit and awarded a fine of 250,000 naira against the Petitioner for wasting the time of the Tribunal.

After extensive hearing of the petition in merit, the honourable Justices unanimously agreed that the petition is incompetent, vague, and lacking in merit.

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Part of the judgement reads:

“The evidence of the Petitioner’s witnesses were contradictory, hearsay, and lacking in probative value. There was really nothing for the Respondents to respond to in the petition as the petitioner never really made any effort to prove the petition. Besides, the petitioner had no locus standi to present the petition because he was not a candidate in the questioned election.”

Reactiing shortly after the judgment, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi described the verdict as a triumph for the rule of law and democracy. He hailed the judges for their superlative jurisprudence and courage to do the right thing.

“The Judiciary has continued to superintend the country’s nascent democracy through arbitration of electoral disputes and other matters. I salute the courage of the learned Justices of the panel who stood their ground without minding whose ox is gored. I dedicate this victory to the Almighty God and the good people of Ebonyi North Senatorial district who overwhelmingly gave me their votes. I will never let you down, my people.”

Chief Nwebonyi further extended an olive branch to his opponent noting that it is now time to close rank and work towards the progress of their Constituency.

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, on Monday sacked the lawmaker representing Abia North/South federal constituency in the house of representatives, Hon. Emeka Nnamani of the Labour Party.

The three man tribunal declared Alex Ikwechegh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA winner of the house of reps election for Abia North/South federal constituency held on 25 February 2023.

Details soon….

Despite the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu’s statement withdrawing the suit he instituted against his boss and others in Abuja over a purported plan to impeach, the deputy governor and staff in his office have been sent out of the Edo State government house and relocated to a new building that was formerly housing the Edo State Procurement Agency.

The facility is situated at No 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue close to the emergency gate of the government house.

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It was gathered that a memo directing the relocation to the new location was issued last week by the Permanent Secretary, Head of Office to the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office and a reminder was issued over the weekend.

An aide to Shaibu while confirming the development said “We have been told to move and we have started movement today. The memo was sent directly to the Permanent Secretary, it was a tow paragraph memo from the HoS but the civil servants are the ones moving right now, the letter was sent to the PS so we are waiting for directives. The civil servants are moving today but we may move before the end of the week” the aide said.

It would be recalled that a statement issued by Shaibu last week withdrawing the suit said his decision was to respect the intervention of several individuals including religious, prominent Edo people and the traditional institution and also appreciated the governor for agreeing on the peace initiatives.

The statement read: “Re: SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023 Between: – Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu and Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, The Governor of Edo State and The Chief Judge of Edo State.

“Arising from the series of meetings held with me and also with Mr. Governor by well-meaning Edolites and indeed Nigerians including Party Leaders, Traditional Rulers, and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev’d Dr. Augustine Akubeze, the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese on the issues that led to my going to Court on the above-named suit and with due respect to these eminent personalities and leaders whose persuasions and persons | cannot ignore, |, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has authorized and instructed my Solicitors to withdraw the Suit forthwith.

“I wish to sincerely thank and appreciate these well-meaning Nigerians, Party Leaders, Traditional Rulers, and my Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze for their kind words, advice, and encouragement thus far in ensuring peace and unity in our dear State Edo. I also wish to place on record my special thanks to Mr. Governor, my boss, and my senior brother for this path of peace. “Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu.