AljaziralPress

Barely 48 hours after his appointment as Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Festus Adedayo, was yesterday fired by Senator Ahmed Lawan after excessive pressure from the Presidency and APC Chieftains in the South-West.

Meanwhile, a Northern pressure group, Arewa Journalists Forum, has demanded his replacement with a professional from the North, similar to the appointment made by the Deputy Senate President, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege who chose his principal officers from the South.

In announcing the removal of the spokesperson to the Senate President, the Special Assistant Media to Lawan, Isa Mohammed wrote: “The office of the President of the Senate has reviewed the appointment of Mr. Festus Adedayo as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate and decided to rescind its decision on the appointment, and wishes Mr. Adedayo the best in his future endeavours.”

This came after prominent loyalists of President Muhammadu Buhari and especially Office of Vice President Osinbajo and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned Adedayo’s selection by the Senate President.

The agitation for Adedayo’s removal was spearheaded by a horde of pro-APC loyalists on various social media platforms.

They cited the columnist’s history of anti-government rhetoric, pointing out that it was inconsistent with the ideals of the ruling party.

Recalled that a group known as APC stakeholders, on Thursday morning, had accused the Senate President of rewarding President Buhari’s enemies, after Lawan retained some aides of the immediate-past Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

At a protest march, Abu Andrew, spokesperson of the group, noted that the appointments were “glaring” reward to people who have insulted Buhari.

He said: “No doubt, the appointments are glaring reward for people who have not only insulted the person of President Muhammadu Buhari, but also severally maligned the integrity of the office he occupies.”

However, PRNigeria authoritatively gathered that the massive pressure mounted by some influential APC South West politicians, and powerful individuals in the Presidency, compelled Sen. Lawan to immediately reverse the appointment of Mr. Adedayo.

A credible source in the Presidency, who observed how the high-wire intrigue played out, told PRNigeria that even some elected legislators of Yoruba extraction vehemently kicked against the appointment.

The source said the pressure mounted on the Senate President since Tuesday afternoon when the news of Adedayo’s appointment broke, till yesterday afternoon, was quite immense.

He added that Senator Lawan was summoned to Presidential Villa to explain why he should offer such a delicate job to someone who is known to be an irrepressible critic of Buhari and APC.

“Several forces conspired to oust Mr. Adedayo, due to his style and writing antecedent. They were not just pleased that someone who ‘mercilessly’ vilify Mr. President will be invited to come and work for a distinguished politician in the APC central government,” he said.

The source, however, said the ‘Number Three’ citizen did not consider trivial factors such as ethnicity, religion or even party affiliation before picking Adedayo.

“He (Senator Lawan) had first conducted an interview among celebrated Nigerian journalists. He did not just woke up and appointed Mr. Adedayo. One thing those who kicked against Adedayo’s nomination failed to understand is that the Senate President finally settled for Adedayo because of his track record of performance as a one-time media aide to three former governors under PDP and APC in South-East and South-West respecrtively. The Senate President took into cognizance the much-espoused criteria of competence, merit and diligence to work, before picking Adedayo, an erudite journalist,” the source added.

Lawan should now appoint one of our own—Northern Communicators

In the wake of Mr. Adedayo’s sack, a group of communication specialists and notable journalists under the platform of Arewa Journalists Forum, have strongly demanded that the Senate President should now appoint a Northerner as a replacement for Festus Adedayo, who is from South, saying that he should emulate his deputy Senate President who appointed his aides from the South.

Hassan Galadima, a spokesperson for the group, said there abound several media practitioners, acclaimed writers and exceptional journalists of Northern extraction, who have paid their dues in the country’s media and PR industry that deserve such appointments.

Galadima said: “The only way young journalists from the North can be motivated and Northern journalists seen to be giving a sense of belonging, is for Senator Lawan to now appoint a veteran journalist who is a Northerner, to fill the vacancy created by the sudden termination of Mr. Adedayo’s appointment. He should not create an impression that the North doesn’t have capable hands. He just need to emulate his deputy.

I enjoyed the ‘drama’ my appointment, sacking elicited, Adedayo says
Meanwhile, the man who was in the eye of the storm, Mr. Festus Adedayo, said he had hitherto enjoyed every of the diatribes provoked by his appointment.

“As at the time of writing this, the issue (of my appointment) was said to be the most-discussed in Nigeria on the social media. Said to be the brainchild of some hired Rottweiler dogs loyal to some lords in the APC, a campaign dubbed #SackFestusAdedayo was mounted immediately and within hours, had given birth to thousands of recruits. Many of the commentators who took liberty to harangue me have no idea of who I am and went on a railroaded binge to dress me in an alien robe.

“Since 1998 when I began column-writing, I have a graveyard of public personalities whom my cudgel has whiplashed for perceived infractions in power. Give me 10 pieces I wrote in uncomplimentary review of President Buhari, I will give you 20 I did in utter vilification of Jonathan, his ministers and those close to him. Jonathan never raised a voice against me. One thing my traducers don’t know is that I have no attachment to those criticisms. I am like a prophet; once I deliver my message, I move on.

“What those who are vilifying me for always writing against government should have done was to rise from their laziness and conduct an x-ray of my writing. In my close to 20 years of public sphere intervention, I am a rabid anti-establishment person. I believe that in establishment lies the plague of the Nigerian state and my writing reflect this much. Even though, I am everything but a saint, I believe that government should reflect the highest moral echelon of society and those who run it should make covenant of chastity and fidelity with themselves

“The truth is, my writings are political party and tribe-blind. I detest injustice, politics and run away from politicians as much as I can. One thing you cannot accuse me of being complicit of is the vermin that has eaten into fabrics of my journalism profession. While I am not saint, I have never blackmailed anyone in my life and I have very scant veneration for the god of Mammon,” he said in an online article.
Called from PRNigeria

Three notorious kidnappers were among 122 suspected criminals paraded at the Bompai Police headquarters for various crimes ranging from armed robbery, car theft, burglary, scamming, drug peddling, theft, conspiracy and banditry.

Addressing Reporters on Friday, Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu said the suspected kidnappers were arrested at Falgore Forest.

He explained that the kidnappers waylaid newly married couple on the road and kidnapped bride, and vanished into Falgore Forest.

Upon receiving information, a team of policemen were deployed into the Falgore Forest where 20 teenage suspects were apprehended and the woman rescued.

When they were paraded, the victim was able to identify three of them, while 17 others were released.

He said police will soon charge them to court for prosecution.

According to him, “on June 20, 2019, the police in Kano with the help of technical intelligence at their disposal, arrested seven suspects in possession of various types of dangerous weapons and house breaking implements.

“They specialized in armed robbery, extortion, house breaking and theft. They have been terrorizing Sabon Gari area of the state. Suspects confessed to the offence and they will be charged to court after investigation.”

Iliyasu said that during a raid carried out on criminal hideouts within the period, 80 hoodlums popularly known as Y’andaba were arrested, adding that seven suspects were equally arrested in possession of 53 different belts used by police, army and the Immigration service.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that two bags filled with uniform of police, army, and Customs officers were found in their possession.

He said items recovered from them include 14 black berets cap, six jack-knives, eight pistol holders, adding that one suspect was arrested in possession of a pump action rifle and 15 rounds of live cartridges.

Other items recovered from the suspected criminals include 115 live ammunition of 7.62x39mm of AK47 rifle, 53 bags of powder suspected to be cocaine, nine cartons of expired Bio-Vein injection used for insemination and hallucination.

Other items include 43 knives, 10 handsets, one laptop computer, three stolen vehicles, 58 clubs, 20 dangerous weapons and breaking implements and large quantity of laptops.

Iliyasu said in line with the Inspector-General of police mission on Puff Adder operation, the Kano Police Command will continue the raid throughout the state until all criminal-minded persons will either repent, relocate and leave the state completely or are arrested and brought before the law.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in totality, the invasion of the Abuja residence of Taraba state Governor, Arc. Darius Ishaku, by police operatives alleged to have been detailed by Presidential authorities.

This invasion is unlawful, provocative and cannot be justified under any guise whatsoever.

The PDP insisted that such assault on a governor’s residence was a direct attack on the nation’s democratic order and must not be swept under the carpet like previous invasions of residents of some PDP elected officials under the domineering All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

Our party holds that the invasion of Governor Ishaku’s residence is criminal and in total violation of the spirit of the immunity clause under the 1999 Constitution (as amended); a desecration of the sanctity of the government house and a rude assault on the sensibility of the people of Taraba state and Nigerians in general.

The PDP invites Nigerians to note that such invasion of the resident of an elected state governor is a direct pointer that our democracy is under attack by anti-democratic forces that seek to subvert the rule of law, foist a siege mentality on the citizenry and ultimately destabilize our nation for their selfish political gains.

The PDP therefore calls on the Inspector General of police to immediately fish out those behind the invasion and unravel their intensions.

The party also urges the police to beef up security around Governor Ishaku and his family members as well as take steps to forestall a repeat of such unwarranted attack.

The PDP however charges Governor Ishaku and all other officials elected on the platform of the party to remain undeterred in their commitment in serving the people despite the intimidations, harassments and distractions by the APC-led administration.

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ordered a fresh congress to elect new officers for its Kogi State Chapter.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday.

Ologbondiyan said that the decision to hold the congress was due to the fact that the tenure of the present state officers will come to an end on July 22.

He, however, said that the congress will not hold at local government and ward levels of the party.

The PDP spokesman said that a date and guidelines for the Governorship primaries of the congress will be announced in due course.

He also confirmed that the fee of the Governorship nomination form of the party had been increased from N5 million to N10 million.

Ologbondiyan urged all aspirants to guide against misconduct and utterances that are capable of negatively affecting the chances of the party in the Nov. 16 Governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. (NAN)

An 18-year old girl identified as Favour Ogheneyenrowho has been reportedly strangled to death by suspected ritualists in Abraka, Ethiope-East council area of Delta state.
The incident has thrown the community into serious tension.
The Nation gathered that the victim’s pubic hairs were shaved off before she was murdered and her remains kept in a “Ghana-must-Go” bag which was disposed at a dump site behind Ozoro park in the town.
Witnesses said there were violent marks around her neck area, indicating that she was violently strangulated.

Ogheneyenrowho hailed from Ughere in Abraka Community.
Recounting the incident leading to the teenager’s demise, Maureen Sunday, her elder sister, told the police that Favour, had received a call from a male at about 10 a.m, requesting that she met him at the Abraka park.
She, however, replied the caller that she was going to the market with her elder sister.
Miss Sunday added that on their way out of their residence located along Winners Road, a young man, whom she had never seen before (whom she believed was the same person that called her sister earlier), boarded a motorcycle that stopped at the junction and approached them.
A short conversation ensued between them and her late sister, Favour, joined him on the bike and they rode off, even as she called after her to return early.
Unfortunately, it was the shocking news of her sister, dead and tied with ropes in a sack, that reached her the following day.
When reached for confirmation, the Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, explained that what had been discovered so far revealed that the killing of the victim was more of a murder case and not ritual killing.
The police boss also revealed that the suspected killer, who is believed to be Favour’s boyfriend, has since been on the run, adding that the state police command was already on his trial.

Explaining the circumstances around the killing of Favour, CP Adeleke said “the lady in question was with the sister and she had a call. When she wanted to leave, she told her sister that it’s her boyfriend that she wanted to go and see.
“After some time she disappeared, they did not see her. the next day they saw her body tied in a sack in a plantain/ banana plantation and her boyfriend runaway.
“So it is not a ritual, but a murder case. The physical sign in her body shows in the neck that she was strangulated. Maybe somebody tempered with her neck and throw her body into the bush and now the boyfriend disappeared till now. He is on the run.
“If he had nothing to do with what happened, why did he disappear? Why is he on the run? That is exactly what happened; not ritual killing, but a case of murder. Her body has been taken to the mortuary”, he explained.

High Court sitting in Kano State on Thursday again ordered Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi ll to maintain status quo in respect of the interim order issued against the governor on May 10.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that on May 10, the court through the ex-parte application by the applicant, Rabiu Gwarzo restrained Ganduje and all other respondents in the case from appointing or recognising any purported emir under the Kano state Emirs Appointment And Disposition Amendment Law 2019, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
In his ruling, Justice Nasiru Saminu ordered that all the parties in the suit should still maintain status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Saminu adjourned the matter until July 15 for hearing.

Earlier, the Counsel to Ganduje, the former Attorney-General of Kano State, Mr Ibrahim Mukhtar, urged the court to vacate the order since it was issued over 20-days-ago and has expired.

An ex-parte order has seven days life spam under, Section 39 subsection III and Section IV grants the court power to extend the life seven days life spam of the ex-parte.

The Counsel to the applicant, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, objected to the oral application to vacate the order, by informing the court that the application should be accompanied with a written address.

“On preliminary urge the court to allow the motion to keep it cause, it is not ripe for hearing”

Members of the ninth Bauchi Assembly after the first election which saw the emergence of Abubakar Suleiman as Speaker

Bauchi State House of Assembly is currently in disarray as members have elected two Speakers in separate elections.

Eleven out of the 31 elected members of the Assembly sat as early as 7:00 am and elected Abubakar Suleiman as the Speaker of the House.

Suleiman is a member representing Ningi Central Constituency and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Danlami Kawule a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Zungur/Galambi was also elected as the Deputy Speaker by the same group of lawmakers.

Editor : aljaziralreporters (Otiti)

ASABA – Delta State Online Media Practitioners Association, OMPAN, have urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to address all outstanding issues affecting the unity of the State.

The group in a message titled ” the role of the average Nigeria youths in today governance  ” after various deliberation from different youths leader in different strata of life shows that the today Nigeria youths has nothing in these present administration of Okowa where the same Old men are been recycle in building the nation.

The group also urged Gov.Okowa to listen more to the fears and concerns being expressed by people from various parts of the state, especially the women that, they needs 45% slots in these second term of Okowa administration.

It added that Gov.Okowa could easily rank as one of the greatest leaders in Nigerian history in which and manner he used to orchestrate the pdp convention in Portharcourt some years ago .

The leadership of the group, said government should appreciate the fact that not all groups were out to achieve political ends.

They urged Gov. Okowa to, among other things, tackle flood in the state Food, insecurity and unemployment amongst youths adding that the Uvwie/Warri development Commission for the first time since 1999, The Commission’s effort to re-balance the development spread in these regions should be allowed to continue in the interest of all.

Police operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder have arrested a nursing mother and 32 others involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, car theft, and murder.

The nursing mother, Esther Senior, who was in possession of one AK47 rifle and 18 rounds of live ammunition, was arrested with the weapon concealed in a travelling bag while reportedly taking it her gang members for a high profile kidnapping in Ogun state.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists, Wednesday, at the Special Tactical Squad (STS) Headquarters in Abuja.

Mba, who said the arrests were made between June 5, and June 19, 2019; disclosed that the suspects also included four involved in the kidnap of UBEC Chairman, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar and his daughter.

The spokesperson said the suspects, who killed the UBEC boss driver during the operation, were arrested following massive manhunt launched to apprehend the fleeing members of the kidnap gang.

He said some members of the gang members had fled following the death of their gang leader and kidnap kingpin, Sumaila Sule aka Shaho, on May 18, as a result of bullet injuries sustained during a shoot-out with police operatives.

He said the operatives also recovered 11 AK47 rifles; two pump action guns; three locally made pistols; 12 dane guns; two revolver pistols; 10 live cartridges; 77 live ammunition; and two Volkswagen vehicles.

Similarly, the FPRO said 28 ‘notorious’ kidnappers and armed robbers, including one Abubakar Umar aka Buba Dogo, were arrested within the period following raids of criminal hideouts in Kainji, New Bussa, Mariga Bangi, and Charagi in Niger and Kwara states respectively and Birnin Yero Forest along Birnin Gwari, Garu Rahama, Gaidan Gaya in Kaduna state.

Mba said the operatives also intercepted trucks conveying 1972 bags of grains and 208 bags of beans to bandits’ hideout in the North-west thereby cutting-off food supply to their stronghold.

Fielding questions from journalists, Esther, who said she was promised N5000 by her husband who asked her to deliver the bag to someone in the state.

According to her, “On Wednesday, my husband, Bright Gbade, called me and asked me to go and deliver the bag to somebody in Ogun state.

“He did not even tell me the name of the person; he only told me that the person will call me. I did not know the content of the bag and they did not even allow me to carry the bag. They carried the bag themselves to the motor park. It was while we were on our way that the policemen searched the bag and found the gun in it.

“We have been married for two years and I did not know that my husband is a criminal. My husband said he is a fisherman when he was asking me out and before I accepted his proposal, he said he was one of the militants who surrendered their weapons during the amnesty programme.”

Similarly, Abubakar Umar aka Buba Dogo, who confessed to specialising in the kidnap of foreign nationals, claimed he made over N200 million from ransom in the last six months.

A Kaduna state High Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in a suit challenging the state on the Religious Regulatory Bill.

The court considered the Bill as a gross violation of the fundamental human rights, which guarantees freedom of association and freedom of religion.

The presiding judge, Justice D. Gwadah said the law is inconsistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and therefore it is declared illegal.

Justice Gwadah noted that the actions of the Kaduna State House of Assembly in proceeding to pass the bill into law despite pending court proceedings and the subsisting court injunction restraining the action, “is an affront and abuse to this honourable court.”

The PFN, Kaduna chapter instituted the case since 2016 against Kaduna State Governor (Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai), Kaduna State House of Assembly and the Attorney General of Kaduna State over the Kaduna State Religious Regulatory Bill.