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Human rights group caution Fayose on Ojudu’s Campaign bills and boards

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7 years ago

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The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) has accused the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, of plotting to disrupt the declaration rally of a member of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), Senator Babafemi Ojudu, which has been scheduled for Friday 9 March 2018.
The group alleged that Mr Fayose’s agents plan to remove hundreds of posters and billboards already installed for this purpose.

In a statement on Thursday, the NHRC, a coalition of 135 civil society groups said there were complaints that Mr Fayose was planning to use his thugs to disrupt the rally, starting with the defacing of the billboards carrying the campaign pictures and messages of Senator Ojudu.

We should be glad to see Mr Fayose prove these allegations wrong,” the group stated.
“Ahead of these reports that smack of intolerance, Mr Fayose, we were informed, has already deployed his thugs to either deface or totally remove Senator Ojudu’s billboards and burn them to ashes.

We caution Mr Fayose to exercise restraints and tolerance, since nobody has tampered with any of the campaign materials he has either pasted or erected on the streets of Ado or its environs campaigning for his deputy, Prof. Eleka to succeed him.
The rules guiding campaigns recognises plurality of opinions. We have been informed that Mr Fayose is already intimidated by the campaign strategy of Senator Ojudu. We think the solution is not to deploy violence. This will be like opening another ugly chapter in the history of Ekiti, a state that has seen so much political violence and state motivated killings in the past” the statement signed by Samuel Adenuga, the group’s Assistant General Secretary stated.

According to the NHRC, the July election is not only of interest to Ekiti people, it is of greater interests to the international community. “The July election will signal what pattern the 2019 elections may follow. Mr Fayose, the Chief Security Officer of Ekiti state is in a position to determine what Ekiti people should expect in July, either a civil conduct or a state of violence and blood-letting.

The group added: “Tolerance is important to political transition. The signals from Ekiti are not impressive. Our office has been inundated with trusted information that Mr Fayose is plotting to foment discourse by forcefully removing the posters of his opponents and also planning to disrupt their rallies. We have been informed that he has concluded plans to remove Senator Ojudu’s billboards and also invade his rally with thugs. This is completely in bad taste. The entire human rights community in Nigeria will hold Mr Fayose personally responsible for any incidence that may undermine basic democratic rules in Ekiti State.”

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Just In: Tinubu Set To Embark on  Two-weeks Annual Leave.

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20 hours ago

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October 2, 2024

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a two-week annual leave

 

According to Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja today for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation, part of his yearly leave.

 

He will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.

 

He will return to the country after the leave expires.

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Alleged Corruption : El-Rufai denies allegations, vow to swear on Quran….

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1 day ago

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October 2, 2024

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A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has asserted that his entry into politics was driven solely by a desire to serve the people, not to amass wealth or siphon public funds.

 

El-Rufai made this declaration on Tuesday during a Hausa program aired on Freedom Radio, Kaduna.

 

Speaking candidly, the former governor dismissed allegations of financial misconduct during his administration, maintaining that he was already financially content before assuming office.

 

The Kaduna State House of Assembly had earlier indicted El-Rufai’s administration for the misappropriation of over N423 billion during his eight-year tenure.

 

 

However, El-Rufai and his associates have categorically denied the accusations, labeling them as politically motivated.

 

“I did not join politics to steal money or enrich myself. I was satisfied with what I had before becoming governor,” El-Rufai stated, adding that he is ready to swear on the Quran to prove his innocence if other former governors and current leaders do the same.

 

 

“I have always prayed for guidance in all I do, and I strive not to betray the trust of the people. Whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders are ready to swear with the Quran that they never misappropriated public funds, I will join them. I have no fear because I know I never took money that belonged to the people,” he said.

 

 

The former governor expressed dismay over the allegations, saying his administration has been accused without any clear evidence of where the money went missing or who took it.

 

He further claimed that his allies were being targeted and invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as part of a smear campaign against him.

 

“I have left everything to God’s judgment. I have prayed and will remain silent on the issue. I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against those tarnishing my name, but for now, I’m focused on my activities like reading and writing,” he said.

 

 

El-Rufai emphasised that service to the people continues even after leaving office, stating, “You don’t need to hold a position in government to serve. We are still working with like-minded individuals who genuinely want to serve the people, not those seeking to enrich themselves.”

 

Looking ahead, El-Rufai revealed that he intends to return to politics in 2027 after completing his studies, remarking, “There is no retirement in politics. God willing, we will return and continue serving the people.”

 

 

 

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Alleged N27bn fraud: Ex-Taraba Gov., Ishaku, Spends 5th Night in EFCC Cell

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2 days ago

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October 1, 2024

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A FCT  High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday remanded former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

 

The duo was arrested on September 27 for allegedly diverting N27bn belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

 

In the suit, marked CR/792/24, filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the EFCC accused the defendants of diverting N1,010,000,000 to their personal use between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, in Abuja.

 

The anti-graft agency stated that this amount formed part of the 2.5 percent contingency funds belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

 

 

The EFCC further alleged that the duo committed an offense contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007, which is punishable under the same section.

Other sums allegedly diverted by the defendants as part of the contingency fund include N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021; N193,030,000 between January 2019 and April 29, 2021; and N170,549,842.00 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021, among others.

 

Upon their arraignment, the defendants, according to a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, pleaded not guilty. Oyewale stated that the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), asked the court for a trial date and an accelerated hearing of the matter.

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