Battle line drawn in Edo as Obaseki formally joins PDP [Sun]
The battle line for the soul of Edo state was eventually drawn yesterday when Governor Godwin Obaseki, finally joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), preparatory to flying the party’s flag in the September governorship election, a move that will likely pitch him against Pastor Oasgie Ize-Iyamu who is primed to get the ticket of the APC, now an opposition party in the state.
The governor arrived the state secretariat of the PDP exactly 2.15 pm and was greeted by a waiting ecstatic crowd amidst vuvuzela sounds that rented the air.
Rape allegation against D’banj gets messy [Sun]
- Singer, accuser maintain claims at the police station •CCTV footage will unravel the truth –Police • 15,000 persons petition UN to drop artist as peace ambassador
With the accuser and the accused maintaining their claim over the rape allegation involving popular Afro-pop singer, Dapo Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj and a young woman, Seyitan Babatayo, the police detectives investigating the trending scandal have resolved to retrieve the CCTV video recording at the hotel where the incident allegedly happened to establish the truth.
Seyitan had accused D’banj of raping her at Glee Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos on December 30, 2018 after attending a party at Eko Hotels. The police is presently investigating two petitions on the matter; one by the artist and another by the lady.
Saturday Sun reliably learnt that D’banj in an attempt to clear his name petitioned the IGP who requested a team of detectives in Lagos to investigate and unravel what actually happened. A source close to the musician said he took the step because he was at the verge of signing a multimillion Naira deal with a new generation bank in Nigeria and so needed to clear his name in order not to lose the brand contract.
South East govs to Igbo Union: We’ll protect Ndigbo against herdsmen, bandits [Sun]
South East Governors, yesterday, said they are committed to the security and welfare of Ndigbo and would stop at nothing to ensure that the geopolitical zone is secured against banditry and invasion of killer herdsmen.
The governors gave the assurance in response to the Igbo Union, an organization of citizens and residents of Igbo extraction registered in the State of California, United States of America, which accused them of “insensitivity to the threat and terrorisation of the Igbo by suspected Fulani herdsmen roaming Igbo villages with their cattle and Ak-47 rifles.”
Edo guber: I’m ready for Obaseki – Ize-Iyamu [Sun]
Barring any last minute development, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is expected to emerge the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo State September 19 gubernatorial election. The odds seem to favour him as he had earlier been chosen as a consensus aspirant by six other contestants after he came tops at the in-house screening exercise carried out by a faction of the Edo State chapter of the APC loyal to the suspended national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.
In this interview with TONY OSAUZO in Benin, Pastor Ize-Iyamu is upbeat and confident about winning both his party’s governorship primaries and the governorship election in the state. He also spoke about the state of affairs in Edo and his agenda for the state.
What is on your mind as the APC primary approaches on Monday?
I am relaxed and confident. My Campaign Organization has worked hard to engage and convince party members across the entire state to support my bid to represent the party in the governorship election in September and we have made tremendous progress.
Fortunately, for us, we have a lot of party leaders and members across the 192 wards, who have not only endorsed my candidacy but have also contributed to our effort through various means because they believe in me and know I can deliver on what I say. That has instilled a good level of confidence as we approach the election. I am in high spirits and hopeful of a victorious outcome.
Having emerged as the consensus candidate of the party before now, do you foresee any opposition on the day of the exercise?
The Screening Committee gave the nod to three aspirants – Dr. Pius Odubu, Mr. Osaro Obazee, and myself – to contest in the primary election. Naturally, because only one candidate can emerge at the end of the day, we are all making our case to members of the party, though we share the same goal of ensuring that our party, the APC, wins in September.
Luckily, Mr. Osaro Obazee has stepped down and declared support for me ahead of the primary election. I am grateful to him because his endorsement, added to the many others we have received recently, are great boosts and will definitely make a difference.
Ultimately, challenge or not, right now in the APC, we are united and focused, and I am hopeful that this will not change irrespective of the outcome on June 22. We will continue collaborations and collective actions premised on mutual respect and complete devotion to the will of the people through party supremacy.
The journey to this point for Edo APC was not without contentious issues. How are you going to manage all the tendencies after emerging as the official candidate?
These contentions are not unusual during election campaigns and processes. Nevertheless, there is a feeling of peculiarity with that of Edo State at this time due largely to desperation of the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was determined to impose himself on the party in ways that were undemocratic before his exit.
You saw how he attempted all kinds of tactics, including restricting membership of the party only to those who shared his view, making his personal wishes the law, and devoting resources into brewing confusion and chaos across all levels of the party’s leadership just to have his way.
However, as you know, he has now left the party, following his rightful disqualification. Many party members heaved a sigh of relief when he left and currently, we are closing ranks and unifying the party for the election. Should my party elect me at the primaries on June 22, all the issues you speak of will be resolved in no time because really, they are all political. As aforementioned, we are already reaching out to everyone involved now that the bad apple has voluntarily taken itself out of the bag.
Breakthrough As Nigerian Scientists Unveil COVID-19 Vaccine [Leadership]
Scientists in Nigerian universities under the aegis of COVID-19 Research Group yesterday announced the discovery of a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.
Addressing a news conference at Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, Dr Oladipo Kolawole, leader of the team, said the vaccine was being developed locally in Africa for Africans.
Kolawole, a specialist in Medical Virology, Immunology and Bioinformatics at Adeleke University however said the vaccine would also work for other continent when unveiled.
APC Crisis: Ajimobi Regains Control As Another Court Sacks Giadom [Leadership]
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a new twist yesterday as a High Court in Rivers State ordered the party’s erstwhile deputy national secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, to stop parading himself as acting national chairman.
The court headed by Justice Florence Fiberesima also granted an exparte order restraining Giadom from parading himself as a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.
This is coming just as the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led NWC of the party yesterday declared that there was no vacuum in the party leadership.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had on Thursday renewed the order empowering Giadom, a deputy national secretary of the party, to act as APC national chairman for two weeks.
Hours after the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s suspension from the party last Tuesday, Giadom declared himself as acting APC national chairman.
But less than 24 hours after the Abuja court empowered Giadom to serve as chair of the party, two APC stalwarts in Rivers State, Dele Moses and Azunda Awori, through their counsel, FC Nwafor, filed an application seeking an order restraining Giadom from parading himself as either acting national chairman or deputy national secretary of the party.
They insisted that Giadom had resigned his position as a member of the NWC of the APC to contest the 2019 election as deputy governor on the platform of the party.
Insecurity: Northern Govs Recruit Hunters For Intelligence Gathering [Leadership]
Moved by the resurgence of killings and growing spate of insecurity in their domain, governors of the 19 Northern states have engaged the services of local vigilantes, hunters and community watch groups on intelligence gathering, rapid response and sustained surveillance in the region.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau States said already, the forum has set up a committee to commence the recruitment of hunters and community watch groups.
He noted that the engagement was part of the resolutions of the Northern governors on teleconference meeting held, on Thursday, over the security challenges in the region.
The committee headed by Lalong himself would also consult with traditional, religious and community leaders in the North, to strengthen their involvement in tackling security challenges.
He said a standing committee on security, headed by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, was also set up to foster synergy between security agencies in the enforcement of security measures in the region.
In a statement issued by his director of press and public affairs, Dr Makut Macham, Lalong urged the Federal Government to closely look into the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of persons, facilitating cross-border movement of herders from other countries into Nigeria, particularly in the North.
Giadom can’t act as APC chair — Court [Nation]
- Restrains him from NWC membership, interacting with INEC
- No leadership vacuum in party, says Issa-Onilu
- Ex-deputy national secretary writes INEC, insists he is rightful chairman
The legal battle for the control of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continued on Friday with a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt declaring that Mr. Victor Giadom cannot serve as acting national chairman of the party.
Justice Florence Fiberesima granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining Giadom, a former deputy national secretary of the APC, from parading himself as a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and Azunda Wori.
Respondents in the suit are the suspended National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Giadom; the Acting Chairman of APC, Rivers State, Igo Aguma and the National Legal Adviser of APC, Babatunde Ogala.
Edo primary: APC writes IGP, PTF to seek clearance for Uzodinma, others [Nation]
- Zulum meets IGP
- APC okays National Democratic Institute to monitor primary
- Giadom stranded in Abuja, chickens out of plan to become APC chair
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has written to Police Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for clearance to conduct its governorship primary in Edo State.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State met with the IGP yesterday in connection with preparation for the primary which is scheduled for Monday in Benin.
Leaders of the party who had been locked in a faceoff prior to the resignation of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the APC are said to be closing ranks to enable the party retain control of Edo State in the September election.
The development has left the Deputy National Secretary, Victor Giadom, who declared himself as acting National Chairman, stranded because no member of the National Working Committee (NWC) was with him at press time.
More trouble for D’banj over rape claim [Nation]
- Over 16,000 sign petition asking UN to strip singer of ambassador role
- IGP orders probe of allegations
Pressure is mounting on the United Nations (UN) and United Nations Women Africa organisations to strip multiple award winning Nigerian artiste, Dapo Oyebanjo popularly called D’banj, as a youth ambassador on account of the allegation of rape and sexual assault against him.
As at 6.30pm on Friday over 16,000 people had signed a petition to the UN to sanction D’Banj.
The petition was initiated only on Thursday by one E. Popoola.
Popoola is seeking 25000 signatories on change.org for “Petition for United Nations to remove Nigerian Artiste D’banj as a Youth Ambassador”.
The petitioner wants the UN and UN Women Africa organisations to “remove Nigerian artiste Mr Dapo Oyebanjo as a youth ambassador and distance themselves from his actions following the sponsored kidnap of Seyitan (Babatayo) who accused D’banj of rape and sexual assault which happened in 2018.
APC crisis: Party chieftain asks court to nullify Oshiomhole’s actions as party chair [Punch]
…Court stops Giadom from acting as national chair
A lawyer and member of the All Progressives Congress, Charles Ude, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare as null and void all the decisions taken by Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the party from November 2, 2019, till June 16, 2020, when the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed his (Oshiomhole’s) suspension from office.
The plaintiff through his lawyer, Francis Ubalim, also asked the court to declare the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Chief Victor Giadom, as the only one that could act as national chairman of the party.
In a suit filed on Friday, Ude maintained that all the decisions taken by Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the party from November 2, 2019, when the party at his Ward 10, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State suspended him as a member, till when the suspension was affirmed by the Court of Appeal on June 16, 2020, were liable to be set aside.
Nigeria runs expensive govt, there’s need for national debate — Osinbajo [Punch]
The Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said Nigeria needs a national debate to examine the issues around the size and cost of governance, which has often been described as expensive and unsustainable.
He explained that it could be difficult for the government to do something about its cost by itself but that it is something that must be done.
Osinbajo said these while fielding questions by a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and immediate past Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, during a webinar organised by the Emmanuel Chapel, themed, ‘Economic stability beyond COVID-19’, on Friday.
How PDP govs, chieftains endorsed Obaseki, Shaibu ticket [Punch]
- Jubilation as Edo gov, deputy get waiver to contest primary
- I won’t step down, PDP aspirant vows as Obaseki picks nomination form
- Saraki mocks Oshiomhole as Atiku, Wike, others back Edo gov
- APC dismisses Obaseki’s defection, says we won’t miss him
Olusola Fabiyi, Sunday Aborisade, Leke Baiyewu, Olaleye Aluko, Tobi Aworinde, Alexander Okere and Peter David
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, will be allowed to run with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party if he (Obaseki) emerges winner at the PDP primary slated for Tuesday, June 23, in Benin, Edo State, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
It was gathered that this was one of the issues discussed at the meeting the governor had with leaders of the party and some of its governors in Abuja on Wednesday.
Sources at the meeting, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said Obaseki pleaded that he be allowed to run with Shaibu if he eventually won the party primary.
The governor was said to have described his deputy as a loyal friend and that he remained a pillar in what he described as the battle to rid the state of godfatherism.
The party leaders were said to have expressed support for the Obaseki/Shaibu joint ticket as the best for the coming governorship in the state.
The source said, “The meeting was held to iron out grey areas like waivers, who will become his (Obaseki’s) running mate if he wins, who will handle the campaign, funding and all that. But the governor pleaded that he should be allowed to run with his deputy if he wins the primary. And it was agreed.
“This is because we do not need to cause disaffection within the ranks of the two men. They have been together fighting the cause they believe in. Asking the governor to pick someone who has been a member of the PDP for long if he wins the primary could trigger a crisis in our party and in the ranks of the supporters of both men. So, if he wins the primary, he is free to run with his deputy.
“Apart from that, he is the one to govern with his deputy after winning the election. We do not need to impose a running mate on him if we do not want to witness a fight in Government House.”
The source added that Shaibu is also believed to be a “strong pillar behind the Obaseki government and there is no way you can remove him from the ticket they have been enjoying for four years now,” adding that “we will not progress if we say he should look for another running mate if he wins the primary.”
It was also gathered that the governor was asked if he would return to the All Progressives Congress should he win the election on the platform of the PDP.
Obaseki was said to have laughed at the suggestion, saying there was no way he would return to a house where he had been rejected.
“The governor asked us how we thought he would return to a house where he was kicked out without any reason, to which we all laughed,” the source added.
On funding, it was gathered that the governor promised that he had the capacity to mobilise his friends to raise funds for his re-election without bothering the party. This action, it was gathered, was discussed at length as the PDP was said not to be rich at the moment.
Obaseki was also said to have told the gathering that he still had friends among the governors elected on the platform of the APC who could also raise funds for him.
The source said, “We do not expect the governor to dip his hands into the government coffers to fund the election. That is not what we want. However, he told us how he raised funds for the re-election of a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.
“We trust him and we know that as the governor now, he should be able to do the same, if not more. But we did not promise him a ticket because only the people of the state can elect him.”
Speaking on whether the governor would be given an automatic ticket, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, told one of our correspondents that the party would not impose anyone on its members and the people of the state as its candidate.
“For us as a party, we will never impose anyone on the people and the electorate. It is for them to decide who they want as their governor. So, Obaseki is also going to compete with other aspirants,” he said.
Obaseki picks nomination form
Meanwhile, Obaseki has picked his nomination and expression of interest forms to enable him to take part in the PDP primary in the state.
The PDP National Organising Secretary, Col Austin Akobundu (retd), gave him the forms in Abuja on Friday.
Obaseki promised to abide by the party’s rules and regulations.
The PDP Chairman, Secondus, who earlier received Obaseki at the National Working Committee meeting at the party’s Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja, said the NWC members deliberated and approved his application for a waiver. He added that the governor’s deputy was also granted a waiver.
Secondus said that as a party that was guided by rules, the application came from the governor’s ward in Edo State and was recommended and endorsed by the other various organs of the party in the state.
A statement from the Secondus’ media office quoted him as saying the national chairman told the governor that by the waiver he and his deputy could vote and be voted for in the party.
Also, Secondus said the PDP had shifted the governorship primary.
He said, “The NWC has further shifted the Edo State governorship primary from an earlier slated date of Tuesday, June 23 to a new date of Thursday June 25, 2020.
“The shift is again predicated on exigencies of party activities.”
Obaseki, Shaibu defect to PDP amid jubilation, pick party registration cards
After days of speculations, Obaseki and Shaibu on Friday defected to the PDP in Benin City, Edo State capital.
Amid songs and dancing, his supporters said they were happy to return with him to the PDP.
The governor, accompanied by a large entourage, including some commissioners and local government chairmen, arrived at the state headquarters of the PDP along First East Circular Road at about 2.15pm.
He and his deputy then proceeded to the state PDP chairman’s office to receive their party registration cards.
Their action put to rest several days of speculations following Obaseki’s meetings with PDP governors across the country, as a result of his disqualification by the All Progressives Congress screening committee from contesting the party’s primary on June 22.
The governor had on June 16 announced his resignation from the APC after visiting the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), in Abuja, while his deputy also followed suit in Benin on the same day.
During their defection to the PDP on Friday, there was a massive crowd at the state office of the PDP, with some of their supporters defying the COVID-19 guideline on social distancing and use of face masks.
The governor and his deputy were received by members of the state executive of the PDP, including the state chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi; and the PDP Vice-Chairman (South-South), Chief Emmanuel Ogidi.
Shortly after his registration, Obaseki said, “I am here this afternoon to inform you that following my resignation from the APC, I have now decided, having consulted widely within the state and across the country, to become a member of the PDP.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, in my view, has demonstrated and shown that it is a party that is rooted in democratic practices, the party that believes in justice and fairness.
Following his speech, the state party chairman, Aziegbemi, immediately declared Obaseki the PDP leader in Edo State.
Speaking with journalists later, Obaseki noted, “I have mixed feelings with this action. First, one struggled to form a party and after forming that party, those that benefitted from the party took over the party and became tyrants.
“It is not always easy that after one helped to form and nurture a party, one individual would say he is an Adolf Hitler in the system and becomes undemocratic. That was what happened in the APC.”
Shaibu, however, expressed his loyalty to the Edo people, noting that their calls for the governor and his team to join the PDP had been heard.
PDP screens Obaseki today
The PDP has approved the continuation of the screening of aspirants for the election.
With this, Obaseki is to face the screening committeeat the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
Earlier, three aspirants, Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide Ihama and Kenneth Imansuangbon, had been screened by the committee.
I won’t step down for Obaseki, even in my dreams – Imasuagbon, PDP aspirant
Meanwhile, a PDP governorship aspirant, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, has vowed that he will not succumb to internal or external pressure to step down for Obaseki to secure the party ticket.
Imasuagbon said it would be absurd for him to abandon his political struggle for the past 16 years to become a governor by stepping aside for Obaseki who joined the party a few days to the primary.
He said, “The contemplation of me stepping down is preposterous. You can’t ask me to step down after my (political) struggle for the past 16 years. Why? How do I explain that to the people who laboured for me in the past 16 years? Even in the dream, I can’t have such a thought.
“Nobody should reach out to me. That is of no value to me. There is no advantage to him (Obaseki). Let there not be intimidation or any form of manipulation of the process by the leadership of the party at the national level,” he said during an interview with one of our correspondents on Friday.
Imasuagbon, who lost to Obaseki in the 2016 governorship primary of the APC, said the PDP would be making the biggest mistake by handing the governorship ticket to the governor because his administration left much to be desired.
He also described the crisis between Obaseki and Oshiomhole as the consequence for allegedly imposing the former on the APC in 2016.
He said, “It (Obaseki’s government) is a failed administration because he has not delivered on his promises. He promised 200,000 jobs but he has not been able to deliver them. Schools and hospitals are dilapidated. There are security concerns everywhere. The roads are still bad and some members of the House of Assembly have not been inaugurated.
“Nobody has the kind of appeal that I have. You can sample the opinions of Edo people about the ‘Rice Man.’ Ninety per cent of Edo people want me to become governor. But a few elite who are not up to 0.5 per cent are standing in my way. But God will remove them for me to pass. If they manipulate the results, they will face the consequence. I told Oshiomhole when he brought Obaseki in 2016 that God would fight for me.
Where are the godson and the godfather today? The crisis within the APC between the governor and Oshiomhole is as a result of the injustice they did to me. Nemesis has caught up with them. If the PDP does the same, there will be consequences.”
However, there were indications that one of the PDP aspirants, Mr Gideon Ikhine, may step down for Obaseki.
Atiku, Saraki, Wike, Okowa, Reps pledge support for Obaseki
Following his defection to the PDP on Friday, top members of the party have expressed support for Obaseki.
Those who welcomed the governor to the party include a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; ex-Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Atiku, who was the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, said he was happy that the governor had “finally exited the oppressive ruling party and joined the truly democratic party in Nigeria.”
Also, Saraki, in a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the bigger commendation and appreciation should go to the leaders of the Edo State chapter of the PDP at the various levels for their “sense of sacrifice, patriotism and devotion to the progress of the party” in accepting Obaseki.
The ex-Senate President also mocked the suspended APC national chairman (Oshiomhole).
He said, “The truth is always constant and no matter how far falsehood travels, the truth will catch up with it one day. Oshiomhole can fool people for a long time but he cannot fool the people all the time. What is happening to him now is a moment of truth.”
Wike also expressed happiness with the defection of his Edo State counterpart.
Shortly after Obaseki joined the party, Wike tweeted a picture of the embattled governor flashing a copy of the PDP’s constitution, with the caption, “Welcome to the @OfficialPDPNig.”
In the same vein, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, pledged to work for Obaseki’s re-election.
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, also welcomed Obaseki to the PDP.
Edo APC faction rejects Uzodinma-led committee
In a related manner, a factional chairman of the APC in Edo State, Anslem Ojezua, on Friday rejected the Hope Uzodinma-led committee constituted by the National Working Committee of the party to conduct direct primary in the state.
We won’t miss Obaseki –APC
Meanwhile, the APC has dismissed claims that the defection of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, would affect its electoral fortunes in the forthcoming governorship election.
In an interview on Friday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the governor’s departure from the party was of no consequence to the APC.
He said, “It has not come to us as a surprise. We knew he had defected long ago because he resigned his membership of the party which we have accepted. So, you can’t defect twice. So if he is defecting again, we don’t know whether what he has just done now is news any longer.”
He said, “The truth is always constant and no matter how far falsehood travels, the truth will catch up with it one day. Oshiomhole can fool people for a long time but he cannot fool the people all the time. What is happening to him now is a moment of truth.”
Wike also expressed happiness with the defection of his Edo State counterpart.
Shortly after Obaseki joined the party, Wike tweeted a picture of the embattled governor flashing a copy of the PDP’s constitution, with the caption, “Welcome to the @OfficialPDPNig.”
In the same vein, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, pledged to work for Obaseki’s re-election.
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, also welcomed Obaseki to the PDP.
Edo APC faction rejects Uzodinma-led committee
In a related manner, a factional chairman of the APC in Edo State, Anslem Ojezua, on Friday rejected the Hope Uzodinma-led committee constituted by the National Working Committee of the party to conduct direct primary in the state.
We won’t miss Obaseki –APC
Meanwhile, the APC has dismissed claims that the defection of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, would affect its electoral fortunes in the forthcoming governorship election.
In an interview on Friday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the governor’s departure from the party was of no consequence to the APC.
He said, “It has not come to us as a surprise. We knew he had defected long ago because he resigned his membership of the party which we have accepted. So, you can’t defect twice. So if he is defecting again, we don’t know whether what he has just done now is news any longer.”