society

Stand Down Or Face Impeachment, Tinubu’s Camp Threatens Ambode

Published

8 years ago

September 30, 2018

As high-wired intrigues continue to play out in Lagos State over the incumbent governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s re-election bid, competent sources saturday revealed that a key segment of the party led by the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has asked the governor to stand down his second term bid or face impeachment. The threat to impeach the governor is an escalation of pressure being piled on him to drop his quest for second term.
A competent party source sympathetic to the governor, who demanded annonimity since he was not authorised to speak on the intrigues and power play currently playing out informed THISDAY yesterday, “they are threatening to impeach him should he refused to bow to their demand to withdraw. The incumbent governor, who is traditionally entitled to another term is being harassed and intimidated by Tinubu’s political machine to withdraw for their new man, even though the governor had agreed to subject himself to primary. They are boasting that they will direct the State House of Assembly to immediatly begin impeachment proceedings against him.”

The APC had initially insisted on conducting direct primary election to select its governorship candidate in the spirit of democracy. But it suddenly reversed itself, directing Ambode to withdraw from the contest to enable the party present Sanwo-Olu as the consensus candidate.

It also emerged yesterday via a statement from the Vice President’s office denying endorsing Sanwo-Olu. “It was while he was coming out of the GAC meeting that Mr. Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Hamzat took advantage of the VP’S presence to take the photos which are now being falsely paraded as proof of endorsement.

“The VP did not go there to endorse Sanwo-Olu., they only took advantage of his presence,” a source at the meeting confirmed last night.”

Rather, sources at the GAC meetings hinted that Prof Osinbajo, who is believed to be supportive of a second term bid for Ambode, conveyed the view of the Buhari presidency that there should be a level playing field in the overall conduct of the primaries.

Party chieftains spoke with THISDAY yesterday in confidence on the drama that took place at the meeting of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) held Friday night. They disclosed that the APC leader threatened to impeach Ambode if the governor refused “to step down for Sanwo-Olu.” Ambode was said to have looked him squarely in the face and refused.

But Ambode Mandate Support Group condemned the call for the governor’s withdrawal as undemocratic. The group also reacted to the postponement of the APC governorship primary in the state, which has now been scheduled for October 1, saying they were confident that Ambode would fly the party’s flag in 2019 election as it has received overwhelming support from several quarters for him.

There has been uncertainty about governor’s re-election after Sanwo-Olu, currently the managing director of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), and former commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, declared their intention to challenge the governor in a primary contest.

As a result, the Mandate Movement, a powerful political machine of Tinubu, endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the governorship contest, heating up the state’s political climate ahead of the primary election.

Ambode’s travails had attracted the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF); and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). They all tried to persuade Tinubu to make up with Ambode.

With the presidential intervention, Tinubu decided to consult the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the state’s highest advisory political organ, comprising 22 APC chieftains across the three senatorial districts. But in its resolution, the GAC directed Ambode and two other aspirants to face the direct primary election.

At the GAC meeting held at Tinubu’s residence, Bourdillion, Ikoyi, Friday night, one of the party chieftains explained how Ambode addressed the leaders of the GAC, justifying point by point the reasons he decided to seek re-election in 2019.

Specifically, according to the chieftain, Ambode hinged his re-election bid on the need to complete various infrastructure projects and urban renewal programmes that his administration initiated in the last three years.

Despite his justifying his re-election bid, the party chieftain stated that Lagos Central APC leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, asked the governor “to step down for Sanwo-Olu. He claimed that the GAC had already endorsed Sanwo-Olu as the party’s consensus candidate.”

Another party chieftain revealed that a member of the GAC, Prof. Tunde Samuel, interrupted Olusi while he was telling Ambode to withdraw from the race, observing that Olusi’s statement did not reflect a common position of all GAC members that all aspirants should face primary contest.

In response to Olusi, however, the party chieftain claimed that Ambode simply told the meeting that he “will not step down for any governorship aspirants on the ground that it is undemocratic. He also said he stood by the earlier position of the GAC that all aspirants should face direct primary contest to foster democracy in the country.

The source stated, at this point, Tinubu, who chaired the GAC meeting, became angry and quickly interjected, threatening Ambode with impeachment, if he failed to stand down for Sanwo-Olu before the primary election earlier scheduled to hold today which was later postponed till tomorrow by the APC national secretariat.

THISDAY learnt that it was resolved at the meeting that a stakeholders’ meeting should be held on Saturday at the party secretariat, Acme road, Ogba. It was expected that Tinubu would come to the meeting to endorse Sanwo-Olu. To their surprise however, thousands of Ambode’s supporters thronged the venue chanting Ambode solidarity songs and raining curses on national leader: Tinubu ole Tinubu ole.

Eventually, Tinubu was forced to stay away.

When THISDAY contacted Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Tunde Rahman, for his reaction to the threat to impeach the governor by Tinubu’s camp, he responded, saying he did not “have any comment to make.”

Rather than attending as originally planned, Tinubu delegated a GAC leader, Senator Anthony Adefuye, to represent him.

At the stakeholders’ meeting, Adefuye acknowledged that there was another GAC meeting, which held by 10 am on Saturday,

society

International Runway Star Joy Ubeku Redefines Luxury with Launch of Jevi Couture

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Sahara Weekly

International Runway Star Joy Ubeku Redefines Luxury with Launch of Jevi Couture

…From Catwalk to Couture: Joy Ubeku Honoured as Emerging Designer of the Year

After more than a decade commanding global runways, international model and actress Joy Ubeku is stepping into a new era—this time, not as the muse, but as the creator.

Ubeku has officially launched Jevi Couture, a haute couture fashion house built on an uncompromising philosophy that challenges the dominance of mass production in today’s fashion industry.

The announcement marks a bold pivot for the award-winning model, who has graced fashion capitals including Milan, Dubai, and Seychelles. Now serving as Founder and CEO, she is bringing her industry experience to bear with a disruptive vision she calls “One Piece at a Time.”

“Jevi Couture is not merely a fashion label,” Ubeku said. “It is a sanctuary for cultural legacy, personal storytelling, and artisanal independence.”

Rising Designer, Recognised Excellence

Her transition into design is already earning industry recognition. Ubeku was recently honoured with the Special Recognition Award as Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year at the Nigerian Women Achievers Awards 2026, held at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

This latest honour adds to her growing list of accolades, including:

Best Star Model of the Year West Africa (2023)

Best Zikomo Fashion Model of the Year (2023)

The Jevi Philosophy: Rarity Over Replication

At the heart of Jevi Couture is a firm rejection of fast fashion. Instead, the brand is anchored on three defining principles:

One-of-One Creations: Each piece is uniquely crafted and never reproduced, ensuring total exclusivity.

Bespoke Craftsmanship: From concept to completion, every garment is meticulously handmade using premium materials.

Cultural Storytelling: Designs fuse ancestral heritage with contemporary aesthetics, transforming fashion into a narrative medium.

By personally overseeing every creation, Ubeku positions Jevi Couture as a destination for clients who value identity, rarity, and artistic depth over trend-driven consumption.

Redefining the Luxury Conversation

In an industry driven by speed and scale, Jevi Couture introduces a slower, more intentional approach—one that reframes fashion as an intimate dialogue between the wearer and their story.

With a growing digital presence across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook under @Jevicouture, the brand is already attracting attention from a new generation of luxury consumers seeking authenticity over uniformity.

Jevi Couture: One Piece. One Story. Yours Alone.

society

Workers are the true drivers of Lagos’ economic success,” Obasa

Published

16 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Sahara Weekly

“Workers are the true drivers of Lagos’ economic success,” Obasa

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated workers in Lagos State and across Nigeria on the occasion of May 1st, the International Workers’ Day, describing them as the true drivers of the state’s economic success.

In a message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dave Agboola, Rt. Hon. Obasa commended the resilience, dedication, and sacrifices of workers who continue to sustain the economy and uphold the values of hard work and productivity. He noted that the progress Lagos has recorded over the years would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment of its workforce.

The Speaker also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent efforts to give Nigerian workers a new lease of life through salary increases and other welfare-driven policies. He described these measures as timely interventions that reflect the President’s commitment to improving the living standards of the nation’s workforce.

“As we mark Workers’ Day, I salute the men and women whose labour remains the backbone of our society. Your contributions are invaluable, and your sacrifices inspire us to continue building a Lagos that thrives on fairness, innovation, and opportunity for all,” the Speaker said.

Dr. Obasa further assured workers that the Lagos State House of Assembly remains committed to enacting laws and policies that protect their rights, enhance their welfare, and create an environment that fosters sustainable growth. He urged them to remain steadfast and hopeful, emphasizing that their efforts would continue to shape a brighter future for Lagos State and Nigeria at large.

On behalf of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Speaker wished all workers a Happy Workers’ Day.

society

Grace Nation PHDS: “Groaning in the Spirit Breaks Perpetual Bondage” — Dr Chris Okafor

Published

17 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Grace Nation PHDS: “Groaning in the Spirit Breaks Perpetual Bondage”

— Dr Chris Okafor

…No demonic force can withstand spiritual groaning

…The spiritual realm overrides the physical

Praying in the Spirit—particularly through groaning and speaking in tongues—has the capacity to break longstanding bondage and provoke immediate divine intervention.

This was the central message delivered by the Generational Prophet and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr Chris Okafor, during the Midweek Prophetic Healing, Deliverance and Solutions (PHDS) service at the church’s international headquarters in Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

Speaking during prophetic declarations, Dr Okafor emphasized that when believers engage in deep, Spirit-led prayer, especially in unknown tongues, they activate a higher dimension of divine response.

According to him, such prayers attract immediate attention from God and can alter difficult situations.

He noted that strategic and intense prayer against forces of bondage can shift negative circumstances. “When you engage the Spirit at that level, God steps in and rewrites the narrative in your favour,” he stated.

Addressing the sub-theme of spiritual slavery and bondage, the cleric explained that groaning in the Spirit disrupts negative spiritual influences. He added that speaking in tongues creates confusion within what he described as opposing spiritual forces, leading to a breakdown of their operations.

Prophetic Moments and Outreach

The service reportedly took on a heightened prophetic dimension, with sessions focused on deliverance and restoration.

According to the church, individuals experienced breakthroughs as prayers were offered over various personal challenges.

In a notable outreach gesture, the ministry distributed over 70 wedding gowns to single women, while also making prophetic declarations concerning families seeking children, with 27 “miracle baby” blessings pronounced during the service.

Prayer for the Nation

The PHDS gathering concluded with prayers for Nigeria, as Dr Okafor called for divine guidance for national leaders ahead of the country’s upcoming political activities.

The service combined teaching, prophetic engagement, and humanitarian gestures, reflecting the ministry’s emphasis on spiritual intervention and social support.