President Muhammadu Buhari with the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, at the State House in Abuja on June 18, 2020. Photo Credit, Channels TV
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with the nation’s service chiefs.
The meeting took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Earlier, the service chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, arrived at the seat of power at about 8:50am and proceeded straight to the Council Chambers.
President Buhari joined the service chiefs about 10 minutes later and the meeting immediately went into a closed session.
The meeting had in attendance the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; and the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman.
Others included the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General Nigeria Intelligence Agency Ahmed Abubakar.
President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and some other members of the President’s cabinet were also at the meeting.
They include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi; the National Security Adviser, Retired Major General Babagana Monguno.
Hilliard Etta appointed by another section of the crisis rocked All Progressives Congress (APC)
The last is yet to be heard of the crisis rocking the All progressives Congress (APC) as 15 members of the national working committee (NWC) of the party have appointed Hilliard Eta as acting national chairman of the party.
Eta, who is the APC’s National Vice-Chairman South-South, at a press conference at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, explained that his appointment was in tandem with the constitution of the party.
The Cross Rivers state born chieftain of the party acknowledged that Senator Abiola Ajimobi who ought to have taken the place of the suspended chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was unavoidably absent for now to oversee the affairs of the party.
Eta was flanked by 10 NWC members and declared that the seat of the Deputy national secretary of the party occupied by Victor Giadom as vacant on the basis that he had since resigned his membership of the NWC prior to the 2019 general elections to contest elections in Rivers state.
He thereby asked the chieftains of the party from the South-South geopolitical zone to close ranks and nominate whoever will replace Giadom in the NWC.
He declared that Giadom claim to the position of the acting national chairman of the party remains a nullity because he had resigned his membership of the NWC before now.
Eta thereby maintained that the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting the Edo state governorship primaries remains irreversible since it has been sealed and ratified by the NWC of the party.
“Giadom must be in a fantasy land to create this kind of scenario. If he was still a very young man, I would have advised him to enroll into the military where he could go-ahead to do a coup and become a sole administrator. But we are in a democracy and in a progressive party like the APC where the rule of law is held in high esteem,” Eta said.
Eta thereby appointed a seven-member headed by Governor Hope Uzordinma of Imo state with Senator Abimbola Bashir as secretary of the Edo State governorship primaries billed to hold on the 22nd of this month.
Among the 15 NWC members in attendance was the national publicity secretary of the party, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the national treasurer, Adamu Fanda, the National women leader, Hajia Salamatu Baiwa, and national organising secretary, Emmanuel Ibediro.
File Photo: Security agents at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja
The political crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is now intense as the erstwhile Acting National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom has declared himself Acting National Chairman on the premise of a subsisting court order issued on March 16, 2020.
Giadom, who arrived the national secretariat of the party in Abuja as early as 9.00 am and headed into the office to take over in acting capacity, in a media address declared the appointment of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as Acting national Chairman illegal and unconstitutional.
Erstwhile Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Giadom
While declaring that Ex-Governor Ajimobi’s appointment cannot stand, Giadom referred to the order by Justice S.U Bature in suit no FCT /HC/M/6447/2020 as the basis for taking over as Acting Chairman of the APC.
“That order could not be immediately effected at that time because of the temporary reprieve Adams Oshiomhole got from the court of appeal on the same day.
“However, having removed the temporary reprieve yesterday (Tuesday) by the court of appeal and considering the fact that we cannot allow for a vacuum, I most humbly inform you that I have assumed office as Acting national chairman of our great party in compliance with the order of the court”, Giadom argued.
In a move that is rather swift, Giadom shocked political observers when he announced the reversal of Edo governorship election screening masterminded by the sacked Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
Giadom, declared as null and void, the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting in the Edo state governorship primaries.
Furthermore, Giadom, who disclosed that he has the support of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) directed governorship aspirants of the party in Edo state to report to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja between today and tomorrow to come for a fresh screening exercise in line with the party constitution.
Similarly, Giadom declared that Emmanuel Ibediro ceases to be the national organising secretary of the party in line with an Abuja court order FHC/ABJ/CS/733//2018, and ordered the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Muhammed Sani Ibrahim to assume his position.
Meanwhile, since the sack of Adams Oshiomhole yesterday (Tuesday), it was anticipated that the APC National Secretariat had potentially become a battleground. In order to forestall the breakdown of law and order, security operatives in the early hours of Wednesday proactively took over and were strategically positioned inside and outside the APC secretariat.
The security agents, who arrived the party headquarters on two Hilux Patrol vehicles, stopped the journalists covering the party from gaining entrance into the complex.
Interestingly, the suspended chairman, Oshiomhole, who has been in a long-drawn battle with his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, seems to have respected the court ruling as he stayed out the secretariat.
However, there was mild celebration among secretariat staff who gathered in groups discussing the removal of former national Chairman, Oshiomhole.
In a related development, the party’s National Vice-Chairman (North), Salihu Mustapha, also ordered security agents not to entertain any media briefing from the opposition camp.
APC's Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, squares up with the party's Deputy National Chairman (South), Ex Governor Abiola Ajimobi in a battle for the party's leadership
The political drama that took centre stage in Edo State in the past weeks appears to have shifted base to the All Progressives Congress (APC) national Secretariat as two top party stalwarts fight for the leadership of the party after Appeal Court upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole.
The battle for Oshiomhole’s temporary replacement is heightened by claims from immediate past governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the current Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party and Chief Victor Giadom, the party’s incumbent Deputy National Secretary and member of the National Working Committee, as the rightful Acting National Chairman.
The plot twist begun moments the APC announced Ajimobi as its Acting National Chairman, when Giadom, in a statement by his counsel, Chief Wole Afolabi, sighted by Echotitbits, insisted that the order of the FCT High Court issued on March 16, 2020 by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 to the effect that Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman of the party due to the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman remains valid. Consequently, the Giadom camp was swift in rendering Ajimobi’s appointment null and void and of no effect through that earlier judgment.
Read the statement by Victor Giadom’s counsel below
“Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the Publicity Secretary of the APC to the effect that Senator Abiola Ajimobi is to act as the National Chairman of APC following the suspension from office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by the Court of Appeal.
“We wish to state that the statement must have been issued in complete ignorance of the order of the FCT High Court issued on 16th of March, 2020 by Hon. Justice S.U Bature in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 to the effect that Chief Victor Giadom is to act as the National Chairman of the party due to the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman.
“The order was given the same day that the Court of Appeal earlier gave Oshiomhole a temporary respite by staying the execution of the said order suspending Oshiomhole. Now that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the order of suspension, it is only proper that the Order recognising Chief Victor Giadom is implemented.
“Consequently, we have written to all law enforcement agencies to implement the said order and any one who attempts to parade himself/herself other than Chief Victor Giadom as the Acting Chairman of the APC would be facing contempt of court proceedings.”
APC, National Deputy Chairman (South)) and Former Governor of Oyo state, Chief Abiola Ajimobi
Idowu Sowunmi
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally reacted to the news in which the Court of Appeal has upheld the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as APC national chairman.
Reacting to the Appellate Court ruling on Tuesday, APC NWC, in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said: “Guided by advice from the party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Abiola Ajimobi, will serve as the party’s Acting National Chairman.
“According to Section 14.2. (iii) of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South “Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”
Read the full text of the statement below:
Senator Abiola Ajimobi to Serve as APC Acting National Chairman
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received the news indicating the Appeal Court has upheld the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, by an FCT High Court pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Guided by advice from the party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Abiola Ajimobi, will serve as the party’s Acting National Chairman.
According to Section 14.2. (iii) of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South “Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday sent condolences to the family of foremost Nigerian Professor of Medicine, Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, who, through diligence and humility, has left a lasting legacy on Nigeria’s health sector and academia.
Also, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, has described the death of renowned medical practitioner as not only a loss to his family, but the entire academic world.
Akinkugbe died in Ibadan on Monday at the age of 87.
The President believed the late Professor Emeritus contributed immensely to the study of medicine in the country, serving variously as Pro-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt; former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin; and former Dean of Faculty of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined the Nigerian Medical Association, government and people of Oyo State, and staff of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in mourning the renowned scholar who studied and taught at some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including University of London, Balliol College, University of Oxford, England, and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
The President affirmed that the late Akinkugbe would always be remembered for his pioneering roles and contributions to the medical sector, especially the distinguished leadership he provided as Chairman of the Board of Management of University College Hospital, Ibadan, and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Buhari prayed God to accept the soul of the departed, and comfort his family.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, while reacting to the death of Akinkugbe, said the academic world would miss the deceased just like the way his family would miss him.
Olayinka, in a statement, described Akinkugbe as a great Nigerian with passion for his country.
“The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, mourns the death of the distinguished administrator, international physician, widely respected medical scientist and a man of many preferment, Late Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe, who died at 86 on Monday, 15 June, 2020.
“It is with deep sense of loss but with gratitude to God for a life well spent in selfless service to humanity, that we, at University of Ibadan received the news of the death of late Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe today, 15 June, 2020.
“May I, therefore on behalf of Council, Senate, Congregation, Management, Staff and Students of University commiserate with the Akinkugbe family on the death of their illustrious son, uncle, father and elder statesman.
“The exit to eternity of our most beloved Prof, will most certainly create gaps stressing that only recently, he bequeathed his entire library to the University of Ibadan.
“Really, the death of Baba Akinkugbe is not only a loss to his family but the entire academic world who will miss his rich academic and administrative inspiration. It is therefore our prayer that the Good Lord will grant his soul perfect rest,” the statement said.
National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole
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.
Erstwhile Governor of Edo State and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress party and his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki squares up in a quest for the political soul of Edo State
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.
Late Prof. Akin Ogunpola. He was a Commissioner for Education during the Olabisi Onabanjo 1979-1983 administration in Ogun State
The Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON, FCA, has received the news of the death of elder statesmen, Prof. George Akinola Ogunpola, with heartfelt sympathy.
Senator Amosun described the Professor’s demise as the loss of an eminent citizen, an erudite scholar, a seasoned administrator, and a committed community leader who made invaluable contributions to the educational development of Ogun State.
“I recall his sagacity in the management of free Primary Education Programme when he served as Commissioner for Education during the administration of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo in Ogun State from 1979 – 1983
“He was a highly committed community and political leader in Owu kingdom, Egbaland and Ogun State. Prof. Akin Ogunpola remained a model. He was a cerebral leader who devoted his life to serving the people in all ramifications”, Amosun said.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun visits the residence of the Ogunpolas in Abeokuta
According to the Senator, Prof. Ogunpola was reputed for always lending his voice on national and international issues, particularly in the area of educational development, adding that his wise counsel on the socio-political development of Ogun State would be greatly missed.
“We are delighted to acknowledge and immortalise his socio-economic contributions through the naming of Akin Ogunpola Model School in Ewekoro Local Government after his person in 2016 (during his lifetime)”, the former Governor added.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun however, prayed that Almighty God will grant Prof. Akin Ogunpola eternal rest, and give his entire family, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
