Politics

LAGOS APC FLAG OFF RALLY VIOLENCE: BAD OMEN FOR 2019 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Published

6 years ago

January 14, 2019

Another APC Chieftain Dumps APC, Rejects Tinubu’s Appointment

“When Crocodiles Eat their Own Eggs, What would they Not Do to the Flesh of a Lizard”— Ola Rotimi

Tuesday 8th January, 2019 shall remain a bloody “Red Tuesday” in the annals of history of Lagos State as the All Progressive Congress, APC, flagged off its gubernatorial campaign in Ikeja with virulent, armed violent clashes between rival groups within the party leaving several dead, many fatally injured including journalists covering the event.

Report available to Lagos Liberation Movement, LLM showed that the rally which was scheduled to kick off at 10am did not start until 12pm, a delay which our sources disclosed was as a result of the party leadership trying to pacify aggrieved members.

As soon as the rally commenced while Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was addressing the gathering, a gun totting gang, wielding other destructive weapons stormed the venue shooting sporadically into a section of the crowd and air, as unwary party faithfuls who have come to witness the flag off scampered off to their respective homes. Investigations revealed that the gun duel with sophisticated weapons was essentially between two rival gangs in the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, led by Musiliu Akinsanya M. C. Oluomo of Oshodi and Kunle Poly of Lagos Island . Oluomo was reportedly mortally injured.

However, LLM is shocked to receive the news that even when the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the State wrote the Assembly last year for a date when the Governor would address the lawmakers and submit the 2019 Budget, the Speaker responded that it would be impossible to reconvene the House at any determinable date because members of the House are currently busy with their various political campaigns for offices in this year’s general elections!

At this juncture, it is highly imperative to set some records straight.

First, both armed groups are covert hatchet jobs storm troopers of the Lagos APC, funded and equipped through the party machinery. The gangs have been severally and notoriously used in the past to unleash violence on hapless Lagosians, terrorise voters and intimidate opposition.

Thus, we are bold to state that just like Malcom X said after the killing of President Kennedy of the USA “The chicken has come to roost”.

The violence that the APC has been deploying to keep Lagos, its people and treasury at ransom and in bondage has finally been used against itself! The other twist of fate to this tragic event is that the same M. C. Oluomo was used by the leader of APC in the State, to terrorise some party members during the last party primaries before adopting a palace coup to willy-nilly accept with fait-accompli that the incumbent governor shall not be running for second term but rather support a co-contestant, anointed candidate of the Godfather party, Babajide Olushola Sanwo Olu. Ironically, it was while Governor Ambode was addressing the rally that the gun shooting which disrupted the campaign started. Critical, heuristic questions begging for answers include wondering whether this was a mere coincidence, or a veil attempted assassination.

A philosopher once guided humanity that “event happen twice in history, first as a farce, the other as a tragedy”. Nigerian is replete with instances of the Lagos type of political class instigated, fascist thugs armed belligerences. We are apt to recall the escapades of Adebayo Success in Lagos in the Second Republic and that of Akinsola Tokyo or Sunday Igboho in our contemporary period. Late Saka Saula of NURTW was earlier used by this same ruling party in the state. The big question is when would these carnages stop? More importantly, if the magnitude of violence unleashed at the APC rally can be deployed against each other in the same party, what would happen to opposition parties as the election draws nearer? This is a manifest and potent danger to our yet to be fully entrenched democracy. It is the historic and patriotic duty of all well-meaning Nigerians and Lagosians to rise up and condemn this violent, armed clashes which is symptomanic of subtle rape of democracy, if we desire peace and development in our land.

No doubt with the rates of implosion in the ruling party across board, we are clear that the sceptre of social revolution looms over the country and Lagos is usually the base hot template.

Majority of our people are not only alienated or disenchanted with the ruling class rudderless waste of human and material potentials of the nation particularly Lagos.There is abject poverty, neglect, wants and diseases in the midst of opulence for a few.

LLM strongly calls on all Lagosians never to lose hope but to get better organised. Global history validates that when hapless people clash with armed vagabonds in power, the later laugh first while the former laugh last. We warn that in the struggle to liberate Lagos, there is no innocent bystanders because cross fire of bullets has no respect for unwary innocent bystanders. We must be vigilant, organised to embrace the looming revolution to free Lagos.

A word is enough for the wise! wise

A Word Is Enough For The Wise !
SIGNED BY

Comrade Mark Adebayo (Convener)

Politics

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.

Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.

Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.

“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”

Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”

Politics

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Published

2 days ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.

In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.

“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.

He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.

He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.

Politics

Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic

ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.

Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.

“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.

The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.

“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”

The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.

“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.

“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.

“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”

The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.

“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”

Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.

On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.

He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.

Source: Daily Independent