“Buhari’s Suspension of CJN, a Brazen Dictatorial Act”- Atiku

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, describing it as a “brazen dictatorial act”. Atiku also described it as the “latest action in the ongoing rape of our nation’s hard-earned democracy”. 

The President had announced Justice Onnoghen’s suspension, pending the outcome of the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s case against him. Onnoghen faces charges bordering on his failure to declare some of his assets.

The former Vice President went on to describe the suspension as “an anti-democratic act geared towards affecting the outcome of the 2019 presidential elections”.

The decision is “symptomatic of the increasing desperation that President Buhari and the cabal pulling the strings have as February 16, 2019 draws near”, he said.

Onnoghen on Thursday secured a Court of Appeal injunction ordering the lower Code of Conduct Tribunal to halt the case, pending a ruling on his application to dismiss the charges.

Below is a full text of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s reaction to the suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen:

“The Purported Suspension of CJN Onnoghen is an Act of Dictatorship Taken too Far

The purported suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari, is an anti-democratic act which I reject in its entirety and call on Justice Onnoghen and the judiciary to resist with every legal and constitutional means that they can muster.

This brazen dictatorial act is the latest action in the ongoing rape of our nation’s hard-earned democracy by those who dined with anti-democratic forces, and is symptomatic of the increasing desperation that President Buhari and the cabal pulling the strings have as February 16, 2019 draws near.

“The fact that the unlawful suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen was announced just as it became public knowledge that the CJN was constituting the election petition tribunals is not lost on discerning Nigerians and the international community. This act of desperation is geared towards affecting the outcome of the 2019 Presidential elections.Indeed, it is not just the CJN that has been “suspended”, it is the Nigerian Constitution that has been infracted and, in effect, suspended, under the guise of the suspension of the CJN.

“The case involving the legality or otherwise of the charges against Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen is in court, as it should be. So far, the judiciary has ruled in Justice Onnoghen’s favour. So, why not allow the court to adjudicate on the matter? What is the pressing urgency?

“I want to seize this opportunity to call for unity amongst the judiciary. Do not let the Muhammadu Buhari administration divide you. Do not let this government turn you against yourselves. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the defender of our democracy.

“I also urge the international community to follow the commendable example of the United States and the United Kingdom by intervening to make those involved in this undemocratic act know that their actions will have consequences. Strong consequences.

“And to the Nigerian electorate, I call on you to save your beloved country from dictatorship by voting against President Muhammadu Buhari’s desperate war against the judiciary. Our country is falling apart under the leadership of President Buhari and it is time to stand up for democracy.

Signed:

Atiku Abubakar

Waziri Adamawa

Presidential Candidate of PDP & Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007”

Akwa Ibom APC Guber Candidate, Isima Ekere Bows Out Of NDDC To Focus On Campaigns

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Isima Emerge has quit his position as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ekere, we exclusively gathered, resigned today 25th January, 2019, from the commission in order to focus his energies on the governorship campaigns.

This decision is coming twenty-six months after he assumed office as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In September 2018, he was nominated the Governorship Candidate and flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.

The Presidency has already announced Professor Nelson Briambriafa as the Acting Managing Director. Until his appointment, Professor Briambriafa was the Bayelsa State Representative on the NDDC Board which has been dissolved with the resignation of Mr. Ekere.

The President also appointed Mr. Chris Amadi as the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration and Engr. Dr. Sam Adjogbe as the Acting Executive Director, Projects, the position he held in the now dissolved Board.

Mr. Ekere held a valedictory management meeting earlier today where he thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve the region and thanked the management and staff of the Commission for the support and cooperation extended to him during his tenure.

“There is a time for everything and today is the time for my departure. I urge you to continue with the single-minded commitment to transforming the Niger Delta Region and bringing development to the people and communities across the nine states.”

“I am moving on the serve my state and if elected, I will continue to push ahead with the change and transformation agenda of President Muhammed Buhari’s administration.”

Mr. Ekere’s tenure began with the launch of his strategic roadmap, the 4R Strategy for the Commission. Under the programme, his administration focused 70 percent of its budget on completing ongoing projects and initiated several strategic interventions in infrastructure and human development initiatives.

He leaves the Commission to fly the flag of the APC in the March 2, 2019 Governorship election. His resignation comes more than 30 days to that election as stipulated by law.

INEC Plotting Chaos In Akwa Ibom State-Group

A group, Credible Elections Watch, has expressed concerns over what it called the unprofessional activities of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini.

The group through its leader, Moses Etim, in a statement, said that for the forthcoming elections to be credible in the state, the umpire, which is the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) must be neutral.

In a statement issued in Uyo yesterday, Etim maintained that people of the state, including the opposition parties do not have confidence in Mr Igini and do not think that with his activities, he could preside over free and fair polls.

He alleged that Mr Igini’s recent activities are indicative that he may be supporting a particular party to the detriment of others in the state.

“Only recently, Mr Igini made some changes which were not only unnecessary but capable of derailing the process in the state. We want the changes overturned and the matter investigated.  Aside that Mr Igini has consistently made things difficult for the opposition in the state. As stakeholders in the electoral process, we are worried of this development and of the view that the matter be addressed immediately.

The government at the center has promised free and fair elections, but with what is happening in the state, we doubt if that will be possible if things are not changed. The credibility of the forthcoming elections is very important and nothing must be left to chance.  We also want INEC to sound a note of warning to all its personnel to ensure that they remain neutral all through the electoral process,” he said.

The group emphasised the need for a level playing field for all parties in the election, saying that is the only way the forthcoming exercise can be termed credible.

“We want a situation where the votes of Akwa ibomites will count.  It will be really sad if the people of the state come out en masse, cast their votes and yet are denied their wishes. We therefore call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to beam its search light on Akwa Ibom State, to ensure that its personnel are not violating the code of conduct and when it observes any infractions, we urge the commission to take urgent action”, he said.

Etim alleged that feelers in the state suggest that the main opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to use the INEC to rig the elections.

“Some persons in the state have been boasting that they have nothing to worry about and that once it is time for the elections, they would use INEC officials to rig it in their favour. Now, whether this is true or not, we cannot take chances. We are raising the alarm now so that desperate persons do not engage in actions that would cause havoc in the state. We implore INEC to take complaints such as this seriously and it is a good thing it is coming now so that necessary actions/ changes can be made before the elections.  Akwa Ibom State is a peaceful place and we would like it to remain that way,"he added.