You’re very disrespectful – Minister slams Dep Gov over utterances against President Tinubu
You’re very disrespectful – Minister slams Dep Gov over utterances against President Tinubu
Hon. Abdullahi Ata, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has slammed Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, for his aggressive and careless remarks against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ongoing Kano emirship dispute.
Significant indignation has been generated by Comrade Gwarzo’s recent demand that President Tinubu “remove the emir he enthroned and kept in a graveyard.”
The Kano State Deputy Governor was reprimanded by Honourable Ata, who also demanded that Gwarzo and the Kano State Government formally apologise to President Tinubu for their provocative comments within 72 hours.
Failure to comply, the Minister stated, would leave members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with no option but to pursue legal and political action.
In a strongly worded press release issued by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Ata labeled Gwarzo a “coward” for his disrespectful attack on the President, condemning his behavior as “unacceptable” and “disgraceful.” Ata further asserted that the Deputy Governor’s remarks were a direct affront to the dignity of the nation’s highest office.
“The Deputy Governor’s audacity to address the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in such a crude and disrespectful manner is both disgraceful and a direct challenge to the sanctity of the office,” said Ata. “This is yet another example of the Kano State Government’s disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law.”
The Minister highlighted that Gwarzo’s comments, demanding the removal of the emir, were not only undemocratic but also threatened the integrity of the Presidency. He accused the Kano State Government of continuing its “reckless and undemocratic conduct” at the national level, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
Ata also pointed out that the Emirship issue is currently under legal review and thus subjudice. Despite this, he criticized the Kano State Government for making incendiary statements that undermine the judiciary and seek to exert undue pressure on the legal process.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing that such reckless actions only serve to expose the Kano State Government’s failure to understand the fundamental principles of governance, federalism, and democratic engagement.
“This pattern of conduct amounts to sheer political rascality and a complete lack of respect for democratic norms and due process,” he declared.
“It is crucial to remind Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his administration that the Presidency is not an extension of their local political theater,” he said.
“The Office of the President must be accorded the highest level of respect, and no government, no matter how misguided or emboldened by lawlessness, has the right to dictate terms to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. If the Kano State Government believes it has a legitimate claim, it must channel its grievances through proper legal and constitutional processes rather than resorting to incendiary rhetoric and public grandstanding.”
The Honourable Minister emphasised his commitment to upholding the integrity of democratic institutions, ensuring that “no state government, no matter how desperate, is allowed to subvert the sanctity of the rule of law.”
“The people of Kano and Nigerians at large deserve leaders who understand governance, not politicians who thrive on reckless propaganda and political thuggery,” he stated.
Adaramodu while speaking to The Nation yesterday, explained that there is currently no official complaint before the Senate to trigger an inquiry into the allegations made by the Kogi Central senator.
The call for an investigation gained traction after the Pan-North socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), joined other commentators urging for a transparent probe into the matter.
Speaking on a national television program over the weekend, Senator Apoti-Uduaghan claimed that she had been subjected to victimisation by Senate President Akpabio after rejecting his sexual advances.
In response, Akpabio’s wife, Nnoma, vehemently denied the accusations and filed a N250 billion defamation lawsuit against Apoti-Uduaghan.
However, Adaramodu emphasized last night that, despite the allegations, neither Mrs. Apoti-Uduaghan nor anyone else has formally submitted a sexual harassment complaint to the Senate, leaving the matter outside the body’s jurisdiction for now.
He said: “There is no allegation before the Senate. There is none from anybody for that matter. So we don’t pick allegations on television screen or from social media.
“So, nobody has lodged any allegation with anybody or anyone in the Senate.
“So, the only issue that is on ground is the breach of the Standing Orders which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
“And I don’t think there’s any other petition or any other complaint before the head committee. So, you will not be… that means there is nothing to refer to the ethics committee again?
“Unless if anybody brings anything up. So it will be dealt with accordingly. So, for now there is none than the one that we have referred.
“So, we can be hearing so many things from outside, but within the Senate, no allegation against anybody, no complaints from anybody and no case has been presented to us.”
Also yesterday, Eseme Eyiboh, the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, supported the Senate spokesman’s statement, emphasizing that the Senate cannot investigate allegations that are not officially brought before it.
Eyiboh said: “For example, she went to court. There is nowhere in her statement of claims that the issue of sexual harassment is mentioned.
“There is no way from what is in public domain now and there has never been any time she has brought this to the attention of the Senate on points of privilege that she has been sexually harassed.
“It’s only a visitor or a first-timer or a stranger who visits his or her guests that is introduced, is taken around the house or taken around the compound.
“But somebody who is a familiar person in that household may have been taken around the first time he or she came.
“It’s very strange and sad that we are hearing that Senator Natasha and the husband, their family is very close to the family of the Senator, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president. They have been visiting each other. It’s not hidden.
“So, is it just in 2023 during Senator Akpabio’s birthday that they were conducted around; all along, the families were all bonding and getting on together, visiting each other. They didn’t know the house.
“That is one fact we must interrogate. Then, number two, the same way Senator Natasha is a very beautiful lady in creation.
“But I can also tell you that the substance in his allegations are not elegant and anybody who pays attention to it is embarking on the on a trip of fantasy.”
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CAN calls for unity among Churches to resist alleged efforts to islamise Nigeria
CAN calls for unity among Churches to resist alleged efforts to islamise Nigeria
In response to purported attempts to Islamise Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on churches nationwide to band together.
When a team from the College of Bishops, a branch of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the umbrella organization for Christians, Bishop Chris Nyong, Chairman of CAN in Akwa Ibom State, made the call.
During his speech, Nyong voiced alarm about what he called serious efforts to turn Nigeria into a country with a majority of Muslims. He raised concerns about the possible danger to Nigeria’s religious diversity by citing other nations where comparable initiatives have been successful.
“Country like Turkey, Morocco, etc, were originally Christian countries but today they have all been Islamised. It should not be so in Nigeria.
“It is very important for all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ to come together to resist moves by certain power groups to Islamise Nigeria, which is a secular state, and it must remain that way.
“His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star seems to have been standing alone. We all should come together to resist these moves.
“Everyone has the fundamental human rights to worship what he believes in.
“The body of Christians in Nigeria should join forces to promote love, peace and greater unity of Nigeria”, he stressed.
Nyong urged Christians to avoid acrimony, hatred, and division, stressing the importance of unity within the faith.
In response, the Dean of the BCS College of Bishops, The Patriarch Shepherd Bassey Imowo, praised CAN for its efforts in advancing Christianity.
Imowo also called on everyone to embrace love and forgiveness, highlighting that love has the power to overcome all challenges.
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Suspect apprehended for drugs, not for wearing dreadlocks – Police reveal
Suspect apprehended for drugs, not for wearing dreadlocks – Police reveal
The Police Command in Lagos State, has clarified that the man seen in a viral video being manhandled by police officers was arrested for alleged illegal possession of drugs, not for wearing dreadlocks.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this clarification in a post on his X handle, @BenHundeyin, on Monday.
In the video, which began trending on social media, a voice could be heard claiming that the man was apprehended and assaulted for having dreadlocks and looking like a fraudster.
Responding to the video, Hundeyin dismissed the claim as false.
“The narrative is false, misleading, and malicious,” he said.
“The suspect was arrested at Bassey Street in the Egbeda area of Lagos State based on complaints from residents about the activities of young men abusing and selling drugs openly.
“The police responded and the young man was indeed caught with hard drugs.
“Due to his resistance and struggle, minimal force was used to subdue him, ” the spokeperson said.
According to the image maker, the suspect alongside others arrested will be prosecuted accordingly.(NAN)