The Court of Appeal on Tuesday upheld an order suspending Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress based on lack of merit.
Earlier in March, an Abuja high court had ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the APC.
Hours to his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political supremacy battle between incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki and predecessor and National Chairman of the APC had gotten hotter with recent happenings in Edo state, supporters of both actors are not relenting in pointing out which side of the divides is right for wrong on the disqualification over certificate saga.
In a debate monitored by Echotitbits on TVC News channel, party chieftains loyal to Governor Obaseki and Oshiomhole disagreed over the issue.
Dr. Pedro Obaseki, a cousin to the embattled Edo Governor, accused Adams Oshiomhole of an attempt to “emasculate” and “disenfranchise” the people of Edo State.
Obaseki condemned Oshiomhole for “summarily orchestrating the disqualification of a sitting governor whom he (Oshiomhole) just less than four years ago said was the shining star in his own armour”.
Dr. Obaseki, who contested against his cousin, Godwin Obaseki in the 2016 APC governorship primary election described the decision of the Jonathan Ayuba-led screening committee to disqualify Edo Governor from participating in the primary election as upsetting.
“It is clear that Mr Oshiomhole who is the most biased umpire in the history of any political party in Nigeria had orchestrated the summary dismissal or disqualification of Mr Godwin Obaseki in the most spurious, the most unethical manner.”
During the debate, when the House of Representatives member representing Akoko Edo, Honourable Peter Apaktason mentioned how Dr. Obaseki, as a governorship aspirant in the primary election of the APC in 2016 described as unqualified and not to be trusted, his own cousin, Governor Obaseki, whom he contested against; Dr. Obaseki said:
“It’s a pity that my most Honourable has decided to be a little less factual this bright morning by turning this issue about me. It is not about me, it’s about the Edo people and I don’t want to start talking about him and casting aspersions on his person. That will be most dishonourable.
Dr. Obaseki berated APC National Chairman Oshiomhole for cooking “tales by moonlight” rather than concentrating on guaranteeing the progress of the party.
“Before he became National Chairman, APC had 27 states. Now if Godwin leaves APC today we would have dwindled down to 19. The same certificate issue was in 2016 a major issue. The PDP went to three courts, and all the courts exonerated Mr. Godwin Obaseki.”
In his attempt to discredit his cousin’s disqualification, the University lecturer said: “He’s talking about discrepancies when our national law, the electoral law made it clear in the last judgement passed in the case between Atiku Abubakar and our President was clear that all he needed to show was attendance up to secondary school level.
“And the University of Ibadan where he’s seeing discrepancies in the certificate came out to publicly in an unprecedented move to say this man went to our school and graduated. It is not the position of any of the parties to begin to question the veracity of his entry qualification when that entry qualification has not been rejected by the issuing authority” he said.
Dr. Obaseki lamented that Edo people who once had a governor that had no primary school certificate are being shortchanged by the conspiracy. ,
“I’m talking about Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, we all know that he had to set ablaze the Ministry of Education” he added.
On the other hand, Oshiomhole’s loyalist, Representative Peter Akpatason affirmed the decision of the APC screening committee to disqualify Governor Obaseki so as to “protect the interest of the party against what has become obvious in recent times”.
“When there are discrepancies in documents presented by candidates, a party stand the chance of loosing. Even after winning election, this is exactly what has happened in Edo state. And I think it is important that we look at the merit of the issue rather than sentiment” Akpatason said.
The Akoko Edo representative in the House of Representatives noted that: “The fact is that what happened in Bayelsa is the same thing that is happening in terms of defect of documents. That’s what it is. You protect the interest of the people by not allowing them to file out to go and vote for nothing, but ensuring that when they vote they are actually voting for a candidate that can stand the test of litigation”.
The embattled Governor of Edo State has withdrawn his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party on whose back he won the governorship seat in 2016 that has now turned its back on him and even determined to stop him from returning to the number one office in the State.
Governor Obaseki, who announced his leave from the APC this Tuesday afternoon after visiting the State House for the second time in less than a month
“I have officially resigned my membership of the All Progressives Congress after meeting with the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We shall continue the battle to protect the interest of Edo people and sustain good governance in the state”, the Governor stated.
Unperturbed by his disqualification from contesting the June 22 All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has held a series of meetings at the Government House in Benin City to rally his supporters and determine his next political move.
There are strong indications that Obaseki may pitch his tent with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Rallying his supporters ahead of September 19 governorship election in Edo State, the governor appreciated the people of the state for their unflinching support and prayers.
“The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki sincerely appreciates Edo people, Nigerians and our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, for the outpouring of goodwill and solidarity since the announcement of his unjust disqualification by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee from the Edo governorship primary election. He thanks them for keeping the faith.
“We are consulting widely with party leaders and members in the state and other stakeholders and we shall soon brief the public on the next steps we are taking, going forward,” said Obaseki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie.
The statement explained that the governor’s insistence not to appeal his disqualification was informed by his stance not to kowtow to the wishes of a handful of politicians, who do not have the interest of the people at heart.
“The governor is unfazed, even as he would soon announce his next line of action. But at the moment, Edo people and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are solidly standing behind the governor. They have declared unflinching support for him and the ideals he stands for.
“The market women, labour unions, clerics, women groups, the elderly, artisan groups, youths, among others, are strongly in support of the governor’s ambition and his stance to keep the state’s treasury sealed from those who have now resorted to disqualifying him from running under the APC in the gubernatorial elections because of their selfish interests. But Governor Obaseki remains undaunted and unperturbed.
“For Obaseki, it is Edo people or nothing. This is why he has remained in this battle thus far. Among many other reasons, each of the groups that form the governor’s support base have benefitted from Governor Obaseki’s stance against thuggery and extortion. The governor has enthroned probity and accountability in governance. For labour unions, regular salaries, clearing of over 20 months pension arrears and providing a conducive work environment is what is gearing them to support the governor. The pensioners are fully in support of his policies. The governor has not only cleared pension arrears accrued since 1999, but would soon commence the payment of gratuities.
“The governor’s loyalty rests with Edo people. He would not trade them away to those who have decided to become godfathers and waging a war of impunity to subjugate the people,” the statement said.
Why disqualifying Obaseki on Friday, the Jonathan Ayuba APC Screening Committee adduced six why the incumbent governor could not seek second term in office.
The reasons include:
1. For claiming to have a Higher School Leaving Certificate which is unknown to the Nigerian educational system;
2. For allegedly being in possession of an affidavit disowned by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory;
3. For error in the National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate which bears Obasek as against Obaseki;
4. For loss of primary, secondary and the Higher School Leaving Certificates;
5. For alleged violation of Article 21 D (V) of the party’s constitution, which forbids members from taking the party to court; and
6. For legal precedents occasioned by the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on discrepancies in names.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has invited embattled Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) so as to actualize his reelection bid, which is being threatened by forces in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to TheCable, the former Vice President on Friday reached out after news of Obaseki’s disqualification from participating in the APC primary election broke.
Atiku Abubakar, who defected from the APC to the PDP in November 2017 in order to contest the 2019 presidential election is said to be negotiating a “soft landing” for Obaseki should he decide to switch lanes to the opposition party.
Atiku’s “soft landing” moves is believed to help Obaseki bypass the PDP constitution, which requires anyone who seeks an elective position under the party to have been a registered member for at least 18 months, and favour him with a waiver.
A source close to Atiku was reported to have said that the former Vice President discussed Obaseki’s likely defection with some PDP governors.
According to TheCable, the source said: “The Waziri (of Adamawa Emirate which Abubakar was turbaned in 2018) is wooing Obaseki on behalf of PDP. He spoke with him yesterday and encouraged him to join the PDP.
“He also spoke to some of the PDP governors and urged them to give him a soft landing and access to the party”, the source said.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who has been in a long drawn battle with his predecessor and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, was disqualified from participating in the primary election that would have been a vehicle to his second term reelection.
On Friday, Chairman of the APC screening committee Edo governorship poll, Jonathan Ayuba, announced that Obaseki was disqualified based on a “defective certificate”.
While political observers believe that Obaseki will likely join the PDP, his alleged traducer, who once supported him to be Governor in 2016, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole is believed to be backing Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a consensus candidate for one of the party’s faction in Edo State.
The political drama playing out in Edo State ahead of the September 19 Governorship election continues today as youths who are members of the Edo Concerned Citizens stormed the streets of Benin, the Edo State capital to stage a peaceful protest.
The youths on Saturday marched through major streets carrying signs that read “fairness in politics”, “Peace not war”, Edo must choose wisely”, amongst others.
The protest March, which is suggestive of the political tension that is brewing in the state due to the disagreement between the immediate past governor of the state, now National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the incumbent, who is seeking a reelection under the APC, Governor Godwin Obaseki, was clear in its purpose of reaching out to political gladiators in the state and demanding a peaceful governorship election.
The protesters, who explained that the demonstration became necessary as political events heightened in the state, also urged political leaders to sustain the relative peace in the state as they prepare for the September 19 governorship election.
They also noted that recent turn of events, likely referring to the power tussle within the APC, which on Friday led to the disqualification of Governor Obaseki by screening officials, have raised concerns about likely violence and other electoral malpractices during the upcoming governorship election.
As the protest held, rumour of the defection of Governor Obaseki to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was rife in town.
The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) board, decided to opt for a middle ground resolution of the impasse generated by the demand of the United States, a non-regional investor in the bank, for an independent probe of misconduct allegations leveled against the bank’s President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, whom the ethics committee of the organization has already cleared.
In a statement issued by the Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors, Ms. Niale Kaba on Thursday, the board stood its ground on the accuracy of the outcome of an internal investigation that had cleared Adesina of improper conduct, but confirmed it would authorise an independent review of the ethics committee report, as against the US’ “independent probe” in order to please all stakeholders.
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AfDB’s board of governors said it believed the bank’s ethics committee, which produced the report, had carried out its role correctly. But the board has nevertheless agreed to authorise a review.
“The independent review shall be conducted by a neutral high caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity,” it said.
The AfDB chief who never hid his desire to run the bank for a second term, gained the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) due to his sterling performance at the bank. In April, Dr. Adesina was confronted with the first resistance to his second term bid in the form of allegations of misconduct by a whistleblower and later a second resistance when the United States rejected an internal process that cleared him of wrongdoing.
The United States, AfDB’s second-largest shareholder, has demanded a new independent probe into the allegations, rejecting the bank’s investigation over reservations about the integrity of the bank’s process.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the leader of the nation with the largest single share, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has voiced his support and gave his backing to Adesina in his bid for a second term as AfDB president.
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The board however stressed that the review of the investigation would take no more than four weeks considering the organization’s electoral calendar.
Owing to the disquiet in Africa’s number one bank, the board of Governors resolved to review the bank’s whistle-blowing and complaints handling policy at a later date presumably to improve the confidence of all stakeholders in its Internal mechanism.
Idowu Sowunmi
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Thursday denied authorising a letter by his Chief of Staff, Sanusi Rikiji, in which the leadership of the House purportedly insisted on an amended National Assembly Condition of Service seeking service extension for top management staff.
A memo by Gbajabiamila’s Chief of Staff, dated June 3, 2020, with reference number: NASS/SPK/ADM/VOL.1/520, had surfaced online on Wednesday night.
In the letter, Rikiji said the leadership of the chamber was opposed to the position of the National Assembly Service Commission which removes the clause extending the services of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, and 150 other management and senior staff members.
In his letter titled: “Re: Forwarding of Memorandum on the Review of Conditions of Service for the National Assembly Service,” Gbajabiamila said the House could not rescind the 8th Assembly’s resolution on the retirement age of National Assembly staff just like that.
“I am directed by the entire leadership of the House of Representatives to acknowledge the receipt of your letter on the above dated 01 June 2020 vide NASC/CHO/IPS/II/Il/94 and have deliberated on it.
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“I am further directed to inform you that the entire leadership of the House of Representatives cannot rescind the 8th Assembly’s resolution on the retirement age of National Assembly staff.
“Therefore, the House of Representatives maintains the position of the 8th Assembly as contained in the conditions of service jointly passed by that Assembly.
“Please accept the assurances of our regards,” the letter read.
It would be recalled that the speaker, in a statement on Wednesday night, said he did not direct issuance of the letter.
The statement said: “The attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has been drawn to a letter purportedly emanating from his office allegedly stating his endorsement of the new Condition of Service for National Assembly Staff passed by the 8th Assembly.
“The Speaker wishes to inform the general public that there was no time he directed issuance of such purported letter from his office as there is a recognised and authorised channel for all correspondences and resolutions reached by the House or its leadership.
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“The Speaker also wishes to call on the general public to disregard the letter and always rely on official communication channels of the House for news on the position of the House on any matter.”