Author Archives: News All Around

A civil society group, the Action Alliance of Virginia Pavilion, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to disqualify presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election over alleged involvement in narcotics and money laundering.

The group in the letter titled “Demand for You to Uphold The Oath of Your Office By Delisting The Name of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu As The Presidential Candidate of The All Progressives Congress in the 2023 General Election”, sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday December 13, stated that Tinubu by virtue of his forfeiture of the sum of $460, 000 to the United States government in 1993 is not fit to hold public office.

In the letter dated November 14 and signed by the group’s lawyer, Mr Kalu Kalu, the group argued that Section 137(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution forbids anyone under a fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud from vying for the office of president in Nigeria.

The group also drew the attention of the INEC boss to letters earlier served on the NDLEA and Attorney General of the Federation, over the issue.

“As evident in recent media reports you are already aware of the contents of the Court proceedings referenced in annexure “L1”. However, for ease of reference we hereto attach the said proceedings and is marked annexure “B”

“Arising from the proceedings in annexure “B” we demand that you uphold your oath of office which enjoins you to perform your duties in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. We, therefore, invite your esteemed attention to Section 137(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution which provides thus:

“A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he is… under a fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal.. . “

“Arising from the above provision we state clearly that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is disqualified from contesting the presidential election in 2023 in accordance with the above provision”.

In supporting their allegations, the group referenced part of the Court judgement which read thus:
“It is hereby ordered that the funds in the amount of $460, 000 in account 263226700 held by First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of and therefore these funds are forfeited to the United States…

“It is further ordered that First Heritage Bank shall issue a cheque in the amount of$460, 000 payable to Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and these funds shall be disposed of according to law”.

The group described as “improper” the unwillingness of the commission to investigate Tinubu, over the issue, just as it threatened legal action.

“Indeed, your Press Release revealed a clear intention to aid a drug baron and money launderer to escape the sanctions of the law.

“Accordingly, we are by this letter making a demand that you issue a proper statement on the matter to the effect that you will, in accordance with the Constitution, delist Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a Presidential Candidate in view of the express decision in annexure “B” which imposed a forfeiture on the account of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his involvement in Narcotics Trafficking and Money Laundering.

“TAKE NOTICE that unless you heed the demand herein made within seven (7) days from receipt of this letter, we shall without further notice to you take appropriate legal action to compel you to keep faith with the Constitution which is supreme to which you swore to uphold.

“We do hope wise Counsel will prevail..

The General Overseer of World Harvest Ministries and the National Coordinator of Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance (NIFA), Archbishop Prof Leonard Bature Kawas, has cautioned the Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara to desist from claiming to be speaking for the Christians of northern extraction over the forthcoming 2023 presidential election, “whereas it is obvious that he is only after his personal ambition”.

Archbishop Kawas said this in his office in Abuja when he spoke with newsmen. Stressing that “Dogara lacks the pedigree to speak on behalf of any group of Christians anywhere! Hence he should stop using northerners or religion to attempt to project his personal ambition, when it is so clear that he is grossly spreading falsehood against the acceptance of His Excellency Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, just to try to sell his new found presidential candidate”.

There is need to first establish that, “the acceptance of Obi and Datti in the north in particular and the entire nation in general, irrespective of religious line is unprecedented.” As far as 2023 is conscrned, and in the History of Nigeria as a whole, Peter Obi, is the only presidential candidate whose acceptability cuts across Nigerians of all Religions and Tribes nationwide.

“We all know that the present unbearable predicaments that passionate Nigerians want to rescue their country from, have affected all Nigerians irrespective of religion and ethnicity. So we will no longer fall victim of politicians that will play religion or ethnicity card among us just to perpetrate their nefarious ends.

“Having established that Obi is widely accepted among Nigerians both from the north and south; among Christians, Muslims and even traditional worshipers, we must then put the record straight about Obi’s acceptance particularly in the north, for the sake of the masses that Dogara is attempting to mislead.

“For instance, in Taraba State where I come from, we have had gatherings of huge number of citizens throwing their weight behind Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti. And this is also happening in different parts of the north” like Jos, Lafia, Benue etc the outspoken cleric boldly asserted.

Adding that, there is a group called Fulani for Obi-Datti and members of the group, mainly Fulani people, are massively mobilising their kinsmen in support of Obi and Datti. Also respected Islamic clerics like Sheikh Mohammad Musa and Mohammed yakub are doing great work canvassing more supports for Peter Obi in the north.

“Dogara that suddenly remembered that he is a Christian now that another election is at the corner, what did he do or say when the Christian community was grossly marginalised in terms of appointments by the same administration he helped to snatch power from the same PDP he is now claiming to love? As a Speaker under the rulling All Progressive Congress APC when the north was ravaged by insecurity, churches invaded by bandits, religious leaders kidnapped and brutally massacred, Catholic church under constant attack; to what extent did Dogara stand for the oppressed christians?”

The clergyman emphasised that ” we have lost respect for Dogara since it has become obvious that as Dogara lost out in his quest for the vice presidential slot of APC, he then claimed to want to lead northern Christians against Muslim-Muslim ticket, only to turn around again declaring support for “from Fulani Muslim to another Fulani Muslim” transition, as if Nigerians of other tribes and religions are mere slaves or have no functional brains… But be it known… Nigerians are wiser now and no politician will be allowed to throw religion and ethnic card among us again”.

Retirating that ahead of this 2023 general elections, Nigerians have come together as one, “irrespective of our religion and ethnicity to liberate our country from the shackles of the old generation that vowed never to let go!

” That is why Over three thousand (3,000) Christian and Muslim clerics from all the 36 states of Nigeria and FCT will gather from 10 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at World Harvest grounds, Jikwoyi, Abuja under the platform of Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance (NIFA), which I am the visioneer, to officially endorse Peter Obi and Datti, also to flag off religious communities massive mobilsation for Obi-Datti while with His Excellency Peter Obi and Dr. Ahmed Datti present.

In conclusion, he afirmed that “Yakubu Dogara ought to follow the examples of politicians like Babachir Lawal who on the grounds of Equty, Justice and Fairness is supporting a brilliant, stong and healthy Peter Obi. Babachir Lawal is a BREATH OF FRESH AIR to northern politics and posterity will judge him kindly for rejecting the old order.”

Archbishop kawas concluded as follows ” For Nigeria sake and for the future of my Children, i will never bow to the left and right presure, financial enducement or even Treath to my life. I am supporting a Nigerian who has Character and Conscience. That man is Peter Obi with his Brilliant deputy Ahmed yusuf Datti”.

The President and Convener of Asiwaju’s Redemption Movement, Chief Otumba Niyi Dada has disclosed that only God can determine the fitness of any Human being noting that the Presidential Candidate of APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best for the 2023 general elections.

He made the disclosure during a courtesy called to the President of Favoured Farmers Community Empowerment Trust (FFACET), Ambassador Joseph Tanimu Yakubu on Wednesday.

He said ” We are working together with FFACET as members of Asiwaju movement towards the actualization of his presidency. We are here to Strategizes in mobilizing farmers in their millions to vote for him.

” It is a project we have started two years ago by contacting the traditional rulers in South West where we have done alot of empowerment to farmers to engage in farming.

According to him the footprints of Tinubu in Transforming Lagos State into a modern is the reasons why Nigerians should vote for him as the president.

He said ” Tinubu has laid the lagos modern foundation since 1999 and he has the capacity to identify manpower by putting the peg in the round hole who are Technocrat to drive the economy.

On the status of Tinubu’s health, he said “it’s only God that can determine who has good health. I can assure you that the worst American player turns out to be the best but I can assure you that as a teamplayer when you have the right persons around you they will deliver full capacity.

” Tinubu is a unifier who have worked with Nigerians cutting across all geographical zones across the country. So he is the best candidate to where the presidency shoe in 2023.

Earlier, the President of FFACET and National Vice President of Asiwaju’s Redemption Movement, Ambassador Yakubu said ” Tinubu’s historical records as the former Governor of Lagos speaks volume as the best candidate of the Presidential Election.

He stressed that as farmers they have benefited in the APC’s administration through keying into their Programmes like the Anchor Borrowers Programme, NIRSAL loans empowerment for farmers among others therefore he is calling on all farmers to support Tinubu.

Mother of All Endorsements For Peter Obi By Nigeria Interfaith Alliance

Over 3,000 Christian and Muslim Clerics from all 36 States of Nigeria and FCT under the platform Of Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance (NIFA) will be holding a rally to endorse Mr Peter Obi and Dr Ahmed Datti on December 13, 2022 in Jikwoyi Abuja in what is believed to be the mother of all endorsements so far.

The Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance NIFA, that comprises both Christian and Islamic leaders all over Nigeria will receive the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi; his Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed with their entourage and some key leaders of Labour Party; live from 10am on Tuesday December 13, 2022 at World Harvest Pavilion by Ashaka Cement Bus Stop in Jikwoyi, Abuja for the endorsement rally, which will also serve to flag off religious communities massive mobilisation for Obi-Datti.

According to Archbishop Prof Leonard Bature Kawas who is the National Coordinator of the inter-faith group and the Visioneer as well as the Chief Host of the event, “even Nigerians from diaspora are going to grace the occasion in addition to highly respected Islamic Sheikhs across Nigeria like Sheikh Mahmoud Murtadam, Sheikh Alhassan Useni and Sheikh Mohammad Musa who are part of the co-hosts and are mobilising other Islamic clerics for the Inter-faith Alliance Rally”.

Also the Atlanta based Apostle David Solomon, who played host to Mr Peter Obi in Atlanta Georgia during his tour of United States of America, has arrived Nigeria leading other Nigerians in diaspora for the rally and he will be speaking during the endorsement rally. In an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, Apostle David said, “this endorsement rally will be the mother of all endorsements so far and it will shake the political landscape in Nigeria.

“In the past, politicians have been throwing seed of division between Christians and Muslims so as to have their way, But it’s no longer tenable as we have come together as brothers and sisters, citizens of the same country to face our common slave masters, in a battle to rescue our dear country from their hostage. And it will be this 2023 that we, Nigerians will take back our country through Mr Peter Obi as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The US based Apostle concluded.

The national umbrella body of inter-faith clergy, comprising both Christian leaders and Islamic clerics across the 36 states of Nigeria and FCT has adopted the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and plans to hold endorsement rally to flag off religious communities massive mobilisation for Obi-Datti.

This was disclosed yesterday December 4, 2022 by Archbishop Prof Leonard Kawas while addressing pressmen at the headquarters of his church in Abuja shortly after the celebration of his 21st year as a Bishop.

According to the Archbishop who played host to the National Chairman of Labour Party, Barr Julius Abure and other dignitaries at the celebration of his 21 years of his ordination as a Bishop, Mr Peter Obi will storm Jikwoyi to be part of the endorsement rally slated for 10am on Tuesday December 13, 2022 at World Harvest Pavilion by Ashaka Cement Bus Stop in Jikwoyi, Abuja.

The cleric who is one of the key leaders of the inter-faith group and a co-convener of the proposed rally as well as the Chief Host of the events, further asserted that out of their teeming members, not less than three thousand (3,000) Christian and Muslim Clerics across all the states in Nigeria have strongly indicated interest to be part of the history making event and are preparing for the journey to Abuja for the occasion and to receive His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, his entourage Obi and some key leaders of Labour Party in person.