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June 12 : Declare Abiola ex-President, activists tell Tinubu

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Some rights activists and followers of late Chief MKO Abiola on Wednesday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to declare the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election as ex-President.

They spoke at the “2024 Memorial Programme for the Commemoration of June 12, 1993 Election” in Lagos

The event was organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in collaboration with the Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) and Moshood Abiola Mandate Movement.

Speaking, the National President, CDHR, Mr Debo Adeniran, said that Tinubu, being an insider in the struggle for democracy for which  Abiola sacrificed his life, must complete the process of honouring  MKO by declaring him  winner.

”Asiwaju must declare him (Abiola) as a former President and June 12 as Bashorun MKO Abiola Day,” Adeniran said.

He said that recognising Abiola as former President would heal the wounds inflicted by all that happened at the time.

Describing Abiola as a pillar of trust in Africa and democracy in Nigeria, the activist said that the late business mogul was passionate about true democracy and putting  an end to poverty and hunger .

Noting that Abiola was betrayed, Adediran said that the people believed strongly in him.

“His farewell to poverty made us to believe him. He had been doing this before throwing his hat into the ring.

“MKO was an indiscriminate philanthropist all over the world, giving was his second name,” he said.

He said the programme was organised to  draw attention of government and other stakeholders to the need to respect and defend the human and political rights of the citizenry, and uphold the tenets of free and fair elections.

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Also speaking , Mr Babatunde Ogun, a  former President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said that late Abiola and other leaders- dead and alive-paid dearly for democracy.

“Some of us paid dearly for what we believe in. Abiola had passion for Nigeria, believing that African nations can do better.

“Those who are governing us must go back to his philosophies. In the last 25 years, we have not really had such philosophies  in display .We want to see Nigeria progressing,” Ogun said.

He said that there was no way workers could be productive if they were not well paid by government.

Alhaja Aminat Irawo, President/Founder, the June 12 Renewed Hope and one of the organisers of the event, said that President Tinubu needed to pacify all democracy activists by formally declaring Abiola as ex-President.

Irawo said: “Democracy Day is a special day, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu must please, announce MKO Abiola as the winner of the Hope 1993 Presidential Election that was annulled.

“Gen. Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida (IBB), who supretended over the election is alive and he has confirmed it that MKO Abiola won the election.

“To heal all the wounds, President Bola Tinubu must declare Abiola as the winner and former President posthumously.”

She appreciated former President Muhammadu Buhari for conferring the  honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola and declaring June 12 as Democracy Day, replacing May 29.

Also, Dr Stephen Fasakin, Personal Assistant (Media) to late Abiola,  said that MKO Abiola went through hell for democracy.

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“One day, we went through the back door here and climbed the fence to carry Chief MKO Abiola as big as he was, when police were looking for him.

“We are happy with what the government is doing, but the only thing we are asking President Tinubu is to call Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, to come and declare the results of the election.

“Let us give Abiola postmortem presidency and all the recognitions accorded to a President be given to him, even after death. We are looking onto him

Earlier, Mrs Lola Abiola-Edewor, the first daughter of late Abiola, described June 12 as a special day and 31st anniversary as more special, because Nigeria was celebrating 25 years of interrupted democracy.

Abiola-Edewor commended all the activists and patriots for keeping faith with the ideals of her late father, and remembering him with love and passion.

She said that his late father’s life was all about giving hope to the masses, and using political power to end their sufferings and hardship.

“We thank God that President Tinubu also believes in him (Abiola) and chose his mantra “Renewed Hope Agenda” from Abiola’s Hope 1993.

“I believe that this mantra reflects those promises that my father stood for. I want to enjoin President Tinubu that we are looking forward to seeing the renewed hope,” Abiola-Edewor said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that activists later laid a wreath at  the tomb of Abiola at his Ikeja residence  (NAN

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Sterling Bank Eliminates Transfer Fees, Challenges Industry Standards

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Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?

On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.

Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”

With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.

“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”

Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.

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“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”

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Breaking News: Edo Tribunal Rejects Action Alliance’s Challenge Against Governor Okpebholo

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On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.

The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.

The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.

Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.

In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.

As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.

The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.

They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

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It is noteworthy that AA’s candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, withdrew from the race in favor of Governor Okpebholo just days before the election.

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All set for Niger Delta Sports Festival in Akwa Ibom – Umo

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Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has commended the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for investing in sports for the discovery of talents for the region and the country at large.

The governor gave the commendation at the Monthly State Covenant Service held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, as arrangements have been concluded for official opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Eno, therefore, implored citizens and residents in the state to be fully involved in the festival.

He stressed the need for adequate maintenance of facilities recently revamped by the interventionist agency and assured successful hosting of the sports festival.

He promised to provide necessary support to ensure safe stay of all participants and tasked the organisers to leverage the peaceful ambiance of the state and make the competition a memorable one.

According to the organisers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected in Uyo today (Wednesday) to declare the festival open, with no fewer than 3,000 athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta to compete for laurels in 17 sporting events.

The competition will be hosted at six venues, including the Godswill Akpabio international stadium and West Itam Sports Centre, while the closing ceremony is billed for April 9.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contingents from the nine Niger Delta Development states had arrived Uyo for the festival. (NAN)

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