“I will remove you the way I brought you to power as Governor”
The immediate former Wazirin Bauchi, Muhammadu Bello Kirfi, has said that he will remove the state Governor, Bala Mohammed, from office the same way he brought him to power.
Kirfi, an elder statesman, stated this for the first time after he was sacked by the state government as Wazirin Bauchi.
The the State emirate council said it sacked the former Waziri because of what it described as “disloyalty and disrespect toward the state governor”.
A letter signed by the Council Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Mudi Muhammad and dated 3rd January 2023 disclosed his removal.
But speaking during a media chat with journalists at his residence in Bauchi on Sunday, he boasted that, “The way I brought him into office will also be the way to get himself out of power.”
He said, “I regard what happens to me as a simple incident because something has been worrying in my mind. I am one those who stood for him to become the governor and I was little bit disappointed.
“This is the worse he can do to me, but it doesn’t matter because I am not gaining anything from the office (Waziri) I am holding in the emir’s palace.
“I was instrumental in bringing him to power in 2019. At the time when Bala needed the critical support to actualise his political ambition, I was there for him all through. I did all I could to see that he emerged victorious against a government that enjoyed federal might at that time.”
Kirfi noted that the governor betrayed the trust of all the political gladiators that made huge sacrifices to bring him to power, adding that nearly four years into the administration, salient issues crucial to the people of the state remained unattended to despite repeated promises.
The octogenarian claim that governor had fought every single political bigwig in Bauchi that worked for his victory in the 2019 general election.
“I leave everything to Almighty Allah. He will judge between what is between me and him,” he added.
When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity 2023 PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, who is also Publicity Secretary of the party, Yayanuwa Zainabari, said that the campaign council was not bothered by the elder statesman’s threat.
He said, “Governor Mohammed is seeking re-election from the Bauchi electorate, not a single individual because it is God that gives power to whom he wills.
“No individual can claim to be responsible for bringing Governor Bala Mohammed to power because it was the people of Bauchi State across different political parties that voted him into office.
“We believe God has destined him to be governor of Bauchi state through the people of the state and we are confident the people will give him another mandate.”
The prosecutor, PC Olapeju Durodola, told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed the offences on Nov. 30, 2024, at Mufu Lanihun, at Yidi Agugu in Ibadan.
She said that the defendant allegedly
added a substance to her boyfriend’s drink, one Waris Olamilekan, to make him lose consciousness.
According to her, the defendant stole the money after adding the substance in the complainant’s drink.
Durodola said the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a property owner within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety must be a blood relation to the defendant.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 26 for hearing.(NAN)
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Supreme Court nullifies Rivers Local Govt elections conducted by Gov Fubara
Supreme Court nullifies Rivers Local Govt elections conducted by Gov Fubara
The Supreme Court on Friday, nullified the Local Government election in Rivers, which was conducted on Oct. 5, 2024.
A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of relevant laws.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.
Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence that the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.(NAN)
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Akpabio harassing me because I refused his s3xual advances – Senator Natasha alleges
Akpabio harassing me because I refused his s3xual advances – Senator Natasha alleges
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, reigniting a heated public dispute.
Speaking on ARISE TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed her allegations, which follow a previous confrontation with Akpabio over the unauthorized change of her Senate seat.
The controversial seat change sparked a tense argument between the two, leading to Akpoti-Uduaghan being referred to the Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
Chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), the committee was given two weeks to present its findings after lawmakers revisited the matter. They emphasised the importance of adhering to parliamentary rules and maintaining decorum.
Adding fuel to the fire, Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio. During her interview, she claimed to have evidence supporting her allegations, including screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between her and Akpabio.
She also stated that her husband is a witness to the events, and she challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to examine the conversations for further details, as Akpabio frequently contacted her via the messaging platform.
She said: “My issue with Akpabio started on 8th of December, 2023 when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday. Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said, he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house. My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone.
“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in a Ajaokuta steel company. I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.
“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, Senate President,’ you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion’. As a matter of fact, a number of senators told me to see him and plead with him so that he would take it. I was like, ‘sir, please, why can’t you take this motion? It’s very important’ Then, it was listed the third time and stepped down.
“He then said, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy’. At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this’. He said, ‘well, the ball is in your court’. I left his office
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
Akpabio has not yet responded to the allegation, which is currently trending online.