News
Labour Party: Group Canvass For Barr. Ken Imasuangbon as Edo Gubernatorial Candidate With Akpata as Deputy
Labour Party Forum for Justice, Equity and fairness has asked the Leadership of the Party to give the Edo state Gubernatorial ticket To Barr. Ken Imasuangbon And Let Olumide Akpata Run As His Deputy.
Dr. Ben Osage in a press statement for the group said this is in Furthermore to the News Report of the Vanguard of the 19th of May, 2024 with the caption, Edo 2024: Labour moves to reconcile Akpata, Imansuangbon.
He said The Labour Party Stakeholders under the aegis of the Labour Party Forum For Justice, Equity and Fairness hereby elect to put the records straight.
Part of the statement reads;
“It is certain that the Labour Party and the Teaming Obidients across Edo State know that the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship Election is ours to win. It is without an ounce of equivocation clear that our Dear Party the Labour Party believes in Equity, Justice and Fairness. And it is important to put before the world the position of the Labour Party Stakeholders on the event superintended by select members of the Party on the 23rd of February, 2024 that was called the Edo State Labour Party Governorship Primaries.”
“Whilst commending the Political Commissions of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Congress TUC for efforts targeted at reconciling all interests, and reorganizing cum reshaping the Labour Party for effective participation in the democratic space, we must hasten to State that no reconciliation will be sustainable and far-reaching if the pillars on which the Party sustains is ignored or breached. Can there be genuine reconciliation where Justice, Equity and Fairness is thrown overboard?”
“The singular threat to the success of our Dear Party the Labour Party in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election is the fact that the largely mercantile erstwhile Labour Party leadership under Julius Abure torpedoed the values of Equity, Justice and Fairness by allowing a candidate from Edo South to emerge as the Labour Party candidate whereas the incumbent Governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki is from Edo South. Also curious is the fact that in 24 years of the present democracy Edo South when Obaseki’s tenure expires in a few months would have been in power for 16 years, and Edo North for 8 years, it is therefore only Just, Fair and Equitable to have someone from Edo Central as the Governorship Candidate of our Dear Party.”
“The Two major Political Parties that we often vilify chose equity, justice and fairness over political correctness by ceding Power to Edo Central knowing that Inclusiveness ditto power rotation, power sharing and consensus building is necessary for development and progress. The PDP elected a Candidate from Edo Central because Equity, Justice and Fairness must count. For the APC, the very sagacious and popular Pastor Ize-Iyamu withdrew from the race so someone from Edo Central could be the APC candidate, and when Comrade Oshiomole and his Team thought otherwise by choosing a Candidate from Edo South, it took the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who upon his return from a foreign trip instructed a rerun because of the call for Justice, Equity and Fairness noting that Edo Central as it were must be given a chance to produce the next Governor of the State. Indeed both the PDP and the APC have candidates from Edo Central, why should our Dear Labour Party that prides in Justice, Equity and Fairness be different?”
“As though karma were lurking in the corners of our hypocrisy, the candidate so chosen through Abure’s subterfuge has huge legitimacy issues and the validity of the ticket is suspect. The choice of Deputy and the issues surrounding the replacement of the placeholder, as well as the fact that Barrister Olumide Akpata can no longer present a valid Deputy Governorship Candidate as stipulated by INEC Rules and Regulations having run out of time, even as he runs from pillar to post to validate a mortally defective ticket, we must state that the way out of the present logjam is for the Labour Party to ask Barrister Olumide Akpata to resign and serve as Deputy Governorship Candidate to Barrister Kenneth Imasuangbon who is from Edo Central.”
“Conversely the only window open to our Dear Party the Labour Party so we do not lose out completely and not have a valid Governorship Candidate in Edo State is the providential action ditto the case in Court instituted by Barr. Ken Imasuangbon challenging the validity of the Olumide Akpata Ticket on grounds of Law, and also raising serious issues regarding the propriety of the ticket knowing that it works against Justice, Equity and Fairness. Indeed had Barrister Ken Imasuangbon not gone to Court the fate of the Labour Party in the Edo Governorship Election would have been sealed as the Party will have no valid candidate knowing that Olumide Akpata does not have a valid Deputy Governorship Candidate.”
“As concerned Stakeholders of the Party we plead with organized Labour and the Obidients to prevail on Barrister Olumide Akpata to stepdown/resign and run as the Deputy Governorship Candidate of our Dear Party, with Barrister Ken Imasuangbon as the Governorship Candidate, this is the way to prevent our Dear Labour Party from losing out completely because Barr. Olumide Akpata is not a valid candidate known to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. Anything other than this clear pathway to victory will amount to the Labour Party surreptitiously working for the PDP or the APC because without a valid ticket our struggle will pan for nothing.”
“We are committed to seeing that everything humanly and legitimately possible is done to ensure that the Labour Party wins Edo State come September 21, 2024, and the very bright path to tread is to support a Ken Imasuangbon/Olumide Akpata Ticket. We pray this happens.” He said.
News
“No Injustice Was Done Against Ex-Minister Turaki By the Police Regarding DNA Test Result, Woman Tells Court
A woman, Hadiza Baffa, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that tno Injustice was done against Kabiru Turaki, former minister, special duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, in obtaining a DNA Test result to determine the paternity of her child.
She said by her knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was with every sense of humility against the parties involved.
Hadiza told Justice Inyang Ekwo in her affidavit to show cause filed by her lawyer, Sani Idris, on why the reliefs sought in Turaki’s motion ex-parte should not be granted.
Turaki, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2025, dated Feb 11, but filed on Feb 13, had sued the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police; DCP Rita Oki Oyintare, who is Deputy Commissioner of Police for Gender and Hadiza Musa Baffa as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
He sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from presenting, using, or relying on the purported DNA paternity test result procured from the DNA Labs Limited or any other DNA laboratory on Nov. 5, 2024, or any other date thereafter.
Hadiza, in her counter-affidavit alleged that the ex-minister “maliciously filed the suit when it came to his knowledge that the DNA Test forms part of the evidence at the Magistrate Court and knowing the result shows that 99.9% the applicant is the biological father of the baby.”
“ That contrary to the denial of the Applicant having illicit sexual intercourse with me and also denying being a biological father of our daughter, the Applicant volunteered his swab in the daylight not night, and the Applicant the next day equally took the swab of our daughter by his medical doctor in the presence of his lawyers at Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and some days after reached out to me that he had confirmed the DNA and asked me for settlement;
“ That his lawyers on the 9th Day of January, 2025 asked me to come to Police Force Intelligence Department (FID) to collect their proposed terms of settlement;
“That after collecting the proposed terms of settlement it was stated therein that the Applicant will take custody of the daughter in order to grow up and bond with his children which he refers to as her siblings, and also offered to give me access to our daughter, and I refused the Applicant’s proposed terms,” Hadiza said.
She said the purported restraining order Turaki mentioned in his originating summon was obtained ex-parte by fraud and misrepresentation to restrain the 1st to 3rd respondents from accepting any complaint, and same was vacated by the presiding Upper Area Court Judge.
According to her, contrary to the allegation of the applicant the order was made after I had made my complaint and my statement was already obtained by the Nigerian Police.
“The applicant knows full well that it is only the DNA Test that will exonerate me or him if at all what I am saying about the pregnancy is not that of the applicant and the paternity issue.
“That by my knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was done with all sense of humility against the parties involved,” Hadiza said.
She said Turaki had been arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse at Zone 2 in Abuja.
“That it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the applicant’s application,” she prayed
Giving a 13-ground argument why his application should be granted, Turaki said he instituted an action against Hadiza (4th respondent) vide suit No CV/35/2024 on June 24, 2024.
The ex-minister alleged that on Nov. 5, 2024, he was invited by DCP Oyintare and he honoured the invitation.
He further alleged that upon honouring the invitation, Oyintare insisted that she must take a swab from him to conduct a DNA to prove the paternity of Hadiza’s daughter.
He said though he protested, he was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department’s cell at Area 10, Garki, Abuja for about 6 hours from 12 noon till 6pm, and at about 9pm, his “swab sample was collected by a purported scientist at the behest of the 3rd respondent,” before he was allowed to go home at about 10pm on that day..
He further said unless the court promptly intervened, the respondents would rely on the said purported DNA test paternity result, the validity or otherwise being the subject matter of the instant suit.
Justice Ekwo had, on Feb. 18, ordered the former minister to put all the respondents on notice when the motion was moved by his lawyer, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN.
The judge directed the respondents to show cause in the next adjourned date why the prayers sought by the ex-minister should not be granted.
Meanwhile, Hadiza, in her affidavit to show cause, told the court that granting Turaki’s application would prejudice her and would cause her and her child an irreparable damages.
The police, in their counter affidavit, also urged the court to dismiss the ex-minister’s request.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 24 for hearing.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III on Friday confirmed
the sighting of new moon and urged all Muslim ummah in Nigerian to commence fasting from Saturday 1st March, 2025.
Speaking in his palace in Sokoto, Sultan noted that, the new Moon of Ramadan, 1446AH was sighted in various places as confirmed by both the state and national Moon Sighting Committee.
According to him, they have accepted the position of the committees hence admonishing Muslims to commence fasting accordingly from Saturday 1st March, 2025 being the first day of Ramadan 1446AH.
The Sultan who appealed for understanding, tolerance and love among Nigerians also admonished the Muslim ummah to seek the face of Almighty Allah in the fasting period.
He therefore use the opportunity to implore Muslim Ummah to devote themselves fully to Ibadat throughout the Holy Month, and also implore them to show love and understanding to all irrespective of religion, tribe or political affiliations.
Sultan further urged Muslims to pray fervently for the blessings of Allah for leaders in Nigeria to succeed in steering the affairs of the country, as well as sustenance of peace and and peaceful coexistence.
And to Nigerians, Sultan said, “I want to implore all of you to continue to pray for peace and stability of the country”.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Worried by the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Sokoto State University chapter, the state government has concluded that it was a politically motivated action.
Addressing newsmen at the Government House, Sokoto, the state commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isa Muhammad Maishanu expressed concerns that the management of Sokoto State University (SSU) should rather show some degree of appreciation to the governor Ahmed Aliyu led who have intervened in most of their challanges.
According to Prof. Maishanu, SSU had suffered neglect from previous administration thus leaving the state Ivory tower in a deplorable condition without electricity, dilapidated lecture rooms, and offices which rendered the institution unpalatable.
Continuing, Prof Maishanu said, despite not giving any document regarding assets and liabilities of SSU by the immediate past governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led government, the present administration of Ahmed Aliyu has restored cash allocation to the institution, payment of the stopped visiting lecturers salaries all in his pursuit of better education for he people of the state.
While stressing that the reasons giving for embarking on the strike by SSU ASUU which include, “Non- implementation of the 25% and 35% salary increase for both non academic and academic staff,
non payment of the check off dues, implementation of 25%-35% increase and the EAA, are issues that could be easily addressed as the governor has constituted committee to look into the complaint after it was presented, Prof. Maishanu appealed to the striking SSU ASUU to give peace a chance.
He added that the committee set up by governor Ahmed Aliyu had “obtained templates and relevant circulars and making frantic consultations with relevant agencies including the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment on the said matter’.