Connect with us

Politics

Tension as suspected political thugs  disrupt Abeokuta North LG legislative  proceedings

Published

on

Tension as suspected political thugs  disrupt Abeokuta North LG legislative  proceedings

Tension as suspected political thugs  disrupt Abeokuta North LG legislative  proceedings

 

Grassroots democracy suffered a significant setback on Thursday as suspected political thugs disrupted the inaugural session of the legislative arm of the Abeokuta North Local Government.

Tension as suspected political thugs  disrupt Abeokuta North LG legislative  proceedings

It was gathered that temper flared among some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in  the local government over the election of principal officers for the local government’s legislative house.

Some councillors, it was gathered, were being primed by certain party leaders to occupy the four principal leadership positions in the local government’s legislative house, and when the plan failed, a fiasco broke out leading to the disruption of legislative business.

The maze – the symbol of authority of the house – was reportedly taken away by unknown person.

Sources said the ambitious councillors and their supporters were responsible for the breakdown of law and order at the chamber of the legislature.

A councilor in the local government, who volunteered information on the likely cause of the problem, said on condition of anonymity that the issues of conflicts among various stakeholders had been ironed out prior to the day of the inauguration of the house.

While not forthcoming on what the issues were, the councillor said, “It is quite unfortunate that despite the fact that a number of issues had been agreed on before the inauguration, the political actors decided to act differently.”

Another councillor expressed sadness that what happened on Thursday ought not to have happened if the appeals by concerned party leaders and stakeholders were not ignored.

“The incident that we saw was because appeals by the leaders of the party in the local government, Engr. Seni Ayorinde, Alhaja Faida Sarumi-Akintunde, Princess Ronke Ogunremi, Mr Adebayo (Alaga Mesan) and other party executives were defied. It was obvious that they are hellbent on pushing 2027 election agenda. This is premature; it is just few days after the swearing-In of the new chairman and councillors in the local government,” he lamented.

A party leader in the local government, who witnessed the drama at the legislative house, decried the incident as very unfortunate. “We had it on good authority that some party leaders came to the legislative house of our local government this morning to ensure their loyalists occupy the four principal offices in the legislative house. But when they realised that their loyalists will not emerge, they chose to disrupt the sitting process,”

The source alleged that the suspected supporters in their desperate bid to actualise their agenda, imported political thugs to unleash mayhem on staff of the local government and party faithful that came to witness the appointment of principal officers of the local government legislative arm.

“The party leaders came to witness the process of electing the principal officers of the house but no one knew that they had given order to their political thugs to unleash mayhem on staff and other party faithfuls at the local government secretariat once their favourite candidates did not emerge. This is quite unfortunate,” the source added.

Multiple sources said most of the councillors that were at the centre of the crisis had been  identified, while the APC leadership would take the appropriate action in due course.

=End=

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Politics

Zamfara Youths Commend Tinubu Over Yazid Danfulani Appointment*

Published

on

*Zamfara Youths Commend Tinubu Over Yazid Danfulani Appointment*

 

Youths in Zamfara State have commended President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative.

The Zamfara Good Governance Forum (ZGF), led by Comrade Abdulsamad Yakubu, described Danfulani’s appointment as a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the region’s development.

Yakubu said Danfulani played a pivotal role in President Tinubu’s campaign, mobilising massive youth support and ensuring a resounding victory for the All Progressives Congress.

He noted that his expertise in the solid minerals sector, particularly in gold mining, is expected to drive the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative forward.

The Zamfara Good Governance Forum expressed confidence that Danfulani’s appointment will have a positive impact on the solid minerals sector in Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State, which is richly endowed with mineral resources, including gold.

“We wish to express our heartfelt commendation to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the appointment of Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative,” Yakubu said.

“Yazid Danfulani’s appointment is a testament to his exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to the development of Northern Nigeria. As a great mobilizer, he played a pivotal role in President Tinubu’s campaign, galvanising massive youth support and ensuring a resounding victory for the party’s presidential candidate.

“The Zamfara Good Governance Forum believes that this appointment is a well-deserved recognition of Danfulani’s contributions to the region’s development. His expertise in the solid minerals sector, particularly in gold mining, will undoubtedly be an asset in driving the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative forward.

“As the Executive Secretary, Danfulani will oversee the implementation of the initiative, which aims to formalize and regulate the artisanal gold mining sector in Nigeria. This initiative has the potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce illegal mining activities in the region.

“The Zamfara Good Governance Forum is confident that Danfulani’s appointment will have a positive impact on the solid minerals sector in Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State, which is richly endowed with mineral resources, including gold ².”

Continue Reading

Politics

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Published

on

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

 

Namibian Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) party has been elected the first female president of the Southern African country.

 

Namibia’s electoral commission on Tuesday announced Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah as the winner of the election that was held on November 27.

The announcement of the result was delayed until Tuesday as voting was extended in some places due to technical glitches and ballot paper shortages.

According to the result by the electoral commission, Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, polled 57 per cent of the votes, surpassing the 50 per cent requirement to win. Her challenger, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, came second with roughly 26 per cent of votes.

In the National Assembly election, Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah-led SWAPO won a majority of seats, 51 of the 96, while the IPC won 20 seats.

“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah said after being declared president-elect on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the IPC has vowed to challenge the election’s outcome in court, describing the process as “deeply flawed.”

Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory now extends SWAPO’s 34-year rule in Namibia since it led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

 

Continue Reading

Politics

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

Published

on

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

 

The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo; Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo; airline operators and other relevant stakeholders over the incessant flight delays and cancellations by airlines.

Adopting a motion to that effect, sponsored by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari (APC Oyo North) during plenary, the Red Chamber particularly charged its Committee on Aviation to unravel the circumstances behind the incessant flight delays and cancellations to find lasting solutions to the problem.

The PUNCH exclusively reported on Wednesday that about 2,000 air passengers lost 19,274 pieces of luggage between January and June this year, according to data from the Federal.

The report stated that data obtained from the half-year report of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, an agency of the Federal Government that regulates civil aviation, further indicated that 19,250 passengers were delayed for long hours during the review period.

 

Senator Buhari, while presenting the motion, said the problem which he noted had been on the increase in recent times, is all over the media.

“This development is worrisome as air travel is one of the most reliable, dependable, and quicker means of transportation, often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep other scheduled appointments, which are usually time-bo,” he said

 

Therefore, he cautioned that “unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to the socio-economic growth and development of this country.”

 

The lawmaker noted that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the àviation sector, the NCAA is statutory empowered through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight and guidelines aimed at ensuring that airlines operate within the contemplation of international standards in Nigeria and to ensure that airline customers get value for the services paid for.

Buhari pointed out that “the quest for economic diversification and foreign direct investment, which are parts of the current administration’s policy thrust, will remain an illusion if the country’s aviation industry falls short of the acceptable best practices across the globe.”

“Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023, makes provisions for consumer protection in the civil aviation industry in Nigeria.”

He added, “However, enforcement has been an issue as most Nigerians are not even aware that they are entitled to compensation for time lost due to unnecessary delay, hence the need for the NCAA to activate this aspect of its regulation so that airline operators will sit up and be alive to their responsibilities.”

 

 

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending