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Arthur Nzeribe Who Set The Pace For Annulment Of June 12 Dies At 83

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Late Arthur Nzeribe

 

 

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.

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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.

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Gov. Yusuf accuses opposition parties of fueling political crisis in Kano metropolis

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

 

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has accused actors in the opposition parties of fueling civic unrest and political instability in Kano.

Governor Yusuf pointed the accusing fingers while briefing journalists during the State Executive Council Meeting Wednesday, vowed to deploy drastic measures necessary to nip the resurgence of thuggery in the bud.

The Governor’s reaction follows the recent bloody crisis between some suspected political thugs who unleashed terror on another gang of politicians.

In a statement by Spokesperson of the Governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Governor Yusuf revealed that intelligence brief abreast with after the state security council held Tuesday clearly exposed the atrocities of those sponsoring unrest in Kano.

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According to the statement, the Governor posited the elements in the opposition, who are not comfortable with the steady development, peace and stability in the state, embedded to provoke needless crisis.

Gov. Yusuf however reassured determination of his administration to confront the challenges with equal force, insisted government would not henceforth, tolerate attempt by any elements to frustrate the enduring peace and tranquility in the state.

In the release, Governor Yusuf assured the resolution of the government to work with all the security agencies in the state to checkmate the excesses of the criminal minded elements being sponsored to cause problem.

Governor Yusuf will soon reopen the state own Reformatory Centre, at Kiru local government area as part of measures to rehabilitate and control drug abuse in the state.

During the Wednesday council meeting, the Governor also brief plans to inaugurate the newly constituted 46 of Shura Consultative Council compose of renowned Islamic Scholars, members of the academia, and other stakeholders.

To check unemployment, the Governor is determined to roll massive youth empowerment initiatives in the coming year to ensure that a significant per cent of the youth become self’relient.

 

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President Tinubu Arrives In Lagos Ahead Of Christmas Holiday

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President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos from Abuja ahead of the Christmas celebrations.

The President was received at the airport by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with other state officials.

He is expected to proceed to his private residence in the state.

His arrival follows the presentation of the 2025 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

He described it as the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.” The proposal, he explained, is aimed at stabilizing the economy, fostering an equitable business environment, and promoting inclusive growth.

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Kano Approves 1st Term Vacation Date

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Kano State Government has approved Friday 20th and Saturday 21st Dec. 2024 as the date for the commencement of 1st term vacation to all Day and Boarding Public/Private Primary and Post Primary Schools in the state.

Therefore, Parents/ Guardians of Pupils and Students in the Boarding schools are to convey their wards home by the early hours of Saturday 21st Dec. 2024.

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A statement by the Director Public Enlightenment of the State Ministry of Education Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru explained that Boarding Schools Pupils and Students are to resume back to their respective Schools on Sunday 5th January 2025 while the Day Students are to resume on Monday 6th January 2025.

The statement however quoted the Commissioner of the Ministry Dr. Ali Haruna Makoda urging Parents/Guardians of Pupils and Students of the schools to ensure total compliance with resumption dates.

The statement further warned that appropriate Disciplinary Action would be taken against defaulting Students

It appreciated the cooperation and support given to the ministry and wished the Students and Pupils successful and hitch free holiday.

 

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