News
Arthur Nzeribe Who Set The Pace For Annulment Of June 12 Dies At 83
Na’Allah Muhammad Zagga
Controversial Nigerian politician Chief Arthur Nzeribe has died at the age of 83. He thrived on controversy and this record will haunt his memory. Speaking of a man’s record doesn’t mean speaking ill of the dead. It’s impossible to reflect on a man’s memory without talking about his record, even if it’s unflattering.
Nzeribe will be remembered as the politician who set the stage for the annulment of the June 12 presidential election of 1993, which was widely believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Abiola.
He went to court to seek the annulment of the election on frivolous grounds and Justice Bassey Ikpeme(now late) granted the request, setting the stage for scuttling the will of the people. The then chief Judge of Abuja Dahiru Saleh was also retired by the Obasanjo administration for his role in the June 12 annulment scandal.
June 12 had almost resulted in the disintegration of Nigeria. Haunted by the fear of imminent war, the country witnessed an exodus of its own citizens returning to their states of origin.
Democracy Day: Initial plan for hand over was June 12 ,1999 not May 29- EL RUFAI.
In fact, the June 12 unleashed a Pandora’s box that forced former self-styled military President General Ibrahim Babangida to unceremoniously quit office and hastily putting together an Interim National Government, headed by the late UAC chairman chief Ernest Shonekan.
Shonekan’s government collapsed within 82 days because of its weak legal foundation. It was declared illegal by a court judge. Confusion and uncertainty set in. General Sani Abacha, the then Defence Secretary under the Interim Government, advised Shonekan to resign. It was a coup d’etat in disguise.
Abacha initially pretended that he took over to restore order and stability to the country, and restore democratic order. But it ultimately became obvious that he didn’t take over to restore Abiola’s mandate.
He declared war on the press and political opposition groups such as NADECO. He took advantage of regional sentiments to divide public opinion on June 12 annulment. June was supposed to be a national cause, but they turned it into a Yoruba problem. That was the damage our opportunistic politicians had done to our democracy.
The biggest blow to the June 12 struggle for the restoration of Abiola’s mandate was the opportunism of the country’s politicians. Members of Abiola’s own party SDP took up appointments as ministers under Abacha’s military regime. In fact, Abacha recruited these political snollygosters for the realisation of his own self-succession agenda.
Abacha’s self-succession agenda created a Political crisis and uncertainty of its own. Divine intervention on June 8, 1998, following the sudden death of General Sani Abacha, appeared to have reversed Nigeria’s journey into madness and uncertainty. General Abdulsalami Abubakar who succeeded Abacha released political prisoners and created a 9-month transition programme and faithfully kept to it, resulting in the election of General Olusegun Obasanjo as President in 1999.
News
Arewa APC Merger Group Hails President Tinubu for Release of Detained minors
The Arewa APC Merger Group has thanked President Bola Tinubu for his swift and compassionate response in ordering the release of detained minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
In a statement signed by National Coordinator Hon. Musa Mujahid Zaitawa in Abuja, the group expressed gratitude for the President’s decisive action, which has brought renewed hope to many Nigerians.
The group commended President Tinubu for showing strong leadership on the issue, noting that his actions demonstrate a commitment to justice and the well-being of Nigeria’s youth.
They emphasized that this move reassures citizens of the President’s dedication to fairness and the protection of human rights under his administration.
The release order from President Tinubu came after the Arewa APC Merger Group took substantial steps to advocate for the detained children.
In response to reports of mistreatment, including allegations of malnutrition and poor conditions, the group provided essential food and support to the minors both at the Federal High Court in Abuja and while in custody.
This effort underscored the group’s commitment to the welfare of young Nigerians and their resolve to seek justice.
Hon. Musa Mujahid Zaitawa stated that the group is encouraged by the President’s response and considers it a positive signal of his administration’s commitment to addressing national issues with compassion and responsibility.
The Arewa APC Merger Group remains hopeful that this action will set a precedent for prioritizing the rights and well-being of Nigeria’s youth across the country.
President Tinubu’s decision to release the children reflects his administration’s acknowledgment of the calls from various stakeholders to uphold justice and safeguard the future of young Nigerians.
The Arewa APC Merger Group expressed their appreciation for this significant step, which they believe will strengthen public confidence in the government’s dedication to the rights of all citizens.
News
Breaking: Court Drops Charges Against Minors
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out the charges brought against a total of 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters.
All 119 protesters were arraigned on Friday, November 1 on charges bordering on Treason felony, inciting to mutiny, among others.
The defendants were arraigned in two batches at the previous proceeding.
The first batch comprised a total of 76 protesters which included 32 minors and the second batch a total of 43 protesters.
The trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the suit following an application by the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, M. D Abubakar, to take over and discontinue the matter.
Punch
News
NNPP Crisis: Assembly Members Deny Factional Differences
By Salisu Baso
As the crisis erupted within Kano’s ruling party NNPP, with some members calling for the governor to stand independently, the Kano State House of Assembly has denied knowledge of any of its members being involved in the rifts.
The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Lawan Hussain, representing Dala Constituency, revealed this to newsmen in an interview with journalists over the publication of an online newspaper, Daily Nigeria, stating that some members of the NNPP in the House have joined the factional crisis.
He described the news as a fabricated and mischievous story from unpatriotic elements planning to destroy the peace reigning within the party. He said that as far as the members of the House are concerned, there are no conflicts between the governor and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The Majority Leader therefore assured the party parliament members of their solid support for the leader of the Kwankwasiyya and state governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, adding that the governor considers Senator Kwankwaso his mentor.
On the issue of some party members calling for the governor to be independent (Tsaya da Kafar Ka), Hon. Dala said the governor is operating independently without interference from any person. He therefore accused some opposition politicians from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, of sponsoring unpatriotic people to ignite a crisis in the state with a view to disrupting the government’s development initiatives.
Arewa APC Merger Group Hails President Tinubu for Release of Detained minors
Gov. Yusuf, Falana SAN, Secure the Release of 71 Kano Minors Arrested During August Protest
Breaking: Court Drops Charges Against Minors
NNPP Crisis: Assembly Members Deny Factional Differences
Kano Commissioner Sponsors 500 Students for NCE Program
Exclusive: How Kano Govt. Withdraws Accreditation of 14 Journalists Covering Government House
Northern Power Outage: Kano Manufacturers Lose Over 100 Billion Naira, May Lay Off Workers
APC Crisis : Chieftain gives Ganduje 7 days ultimatum to resign
Civil Society Situation Room Applauds KANSIEC for Peaceful Conduct of Elections
Kano Assembly Describes Power Outage to North as Economic Sabotage
Arewa APC Merger Group Hails President Tinubu for Release of Detained minors
Gov. Yusuf, Falana SAN, Secure the Release of 71 Kano Minors Arrested During August Protest
Breaking: Court Drops Charges Against Minors
NNPP Crisis: Assembly Members Deny Factional Differences
Kano Commissioner Sponsors 500 Students for NCE Program
Exclusive: How Kano Govt. Withdraws Accreditation of 14 Journalists Covering Government House
Northern Power Outage: Kano Manufacturers Lose Over 100 Billion Naira, May Lay Off Workers
APC Crisis : Chieftain gives Ganduje 7 days ultimatum to resign
Civil Society Situation Room Applauds KANSIEC for Peaceful Conduct of Elections
Kano Assembly Describes Power Outage to North as Economic Sabotage
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