News

Lagos Guber Ruling: Sanwo-Olu, Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour Sing Different Tunes

Published

1 year ago

September 26, 2023

The three main combatants in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the first runners-up, Mr. Gbolabo Rhodes-Vivour and the second runners-up, Dr. Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, have all expressed divergent opinions of the decision of the State’s Election Petitions Tribunal, which affirmed the election of Governor.

While the victorious Governor Sanwo-Olu sees both the outcome of the election and the legal pronoucements of the Tribunal as “a victory for all”, both Rhodes-Vivour and Adediran disagreed vehemently. They all vowed to push their cases to the appellate court for upturning of the judgement of the Tribunal.

Dr. Adediran, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Lagos State was aghast that the “position of the Tribunal does not reflect the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2022”

He said while, reacting to the ruling, that it was unfortunate the position that the Tribunal took after what he described as the “credible convincing evidences” presented by his party and Labour Party against Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “It is quite unfortunate that the tribunal, in its wisdom, refused to accept the credible and convincing evidence presented by my legal team on the non-qualifications of the APC and the Labour Party, LP, candidates in the election.”
He said the position of the Tribunal does not reflect the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2022 on issues bothering on qualification of a candidate in an election.

He added: “This is not the end of the electoral process.
“It is just another stage.
“We will study the judgment and take decisions in the best interest of Lagosians.”
Towing the line of his PDP’s counterpart, Rhodes-Vivour Reacting, said the road is not closed yet.
His senior counsel, Olagbade Benson, said the Tribunal in his wisdom had delivered the judgment to the best of their knowledge.
Benson advised all members of the party to stay calm and respect the rule of law.
He said: “The Tribunal has done their part and we cannot ask for more.
“Therefore, we encourage every member of the Labour Party and all OBIdients to stay calm and obey the rule of law.”

But in his reaction, the victorious Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the judgement of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal as a victory for all.
Sanwo-Olu said this while addressing newsmen at the State House in Ikeja after he was confirmed as the winner of the poll. This was after an 11-hour judgment by the three-man panel led by Justice Arum Ashom at the Roseline Omotosho Court, Ikeja, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Justice Arum Ashom-led three-man panel in its unanimous decision dismissed the two petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran (aka Jandor), and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate.
He said: “It was a long, tough process, but we are grateful that the voice of the people of Lagos was heard and upheld.
“The Deputy Governor and I are very privileged and thankful to residents for standing for and by us.
“It is a victory for all, no winner, no loser.
“It is, however, an opportunity for more work and service.
“Therefore, we will continue to work harder to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.”
The Governor called on other candidates to join hands together to build a Lagos of their dreams.
According to him: “l extend, again, an olive branch to fellow contestants to join us in building the Lagos of our dreams.

“If they have the passion to serve, we can work together because there is room for everyone to contribute meaningfully to the Lagos we all desire to see.”
www-focusmagazineonline.com recalled that Justice Ashom in his lead judgment had dismissed the petition filed by Rhodes-Vivour on the grounds that it lacked merit.
On the oath of allegiance to the United States of America by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Tribunal held that being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, his oath of allegiance to the US does not prevent him from contesting the election.

The Tribunal, therefore, affirmed the declaration of the Independent National Electoral Commission of the election of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as the governor and deputy governor duly elected.
On his part, reacting to the judgment, Austin Akpomreta, defence counsel to the PDP governorship candidate, explained that the next line of action would be taken after reviewing the judgment with his client.

The election petition tribunal also declared as dead on arrival a petition of Adediran against Sanwo-Olu’s election.
The Tribunal held that the evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit.

Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by the All Progressives Congress and, therefore, was not qualified for the election.
Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the Tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

The Tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC, which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter that did not fall under its jurisdiction.

The Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu recorded therefore recorded a double victory over the candidates of the LP, Rhodes-Vivour and his PDP’s counterpart, Dr. Adediran with the ruling of the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal Monday (September 25)
Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by his party, the All Progressives Party (APC) and, therefore, was not qualified for the election.
However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the Tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a Governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
The Tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.

“Only an aspirant or member of a political party can complain about the outcome of the party’s primary election, not a busybody like the petitioner,” Abdullahi held.
Abdullahi said: “The second respondent has the highest number of votes, this petition is dead on arrival.
“In view of the evidence adduced before this tribunal, the grounds on which the petitioner is seeking the disqualification of the second and third respondents (Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat) lacks merit.

“Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat are eminently eligible to contest under Section 177 of the Constitution as they are members of a political party and educated up to school certificate level.
“In view of the evidence before the Tribunal, I have found Governor Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Hamzat, duly elected, and I therefore declare them winner of the March 18 governorship poll.”
The Tribunal is also expected to deliver judgement in a petition filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate for the State.

Featured

Ilobu Community Mourns late COAS, Lagbaja, suspends celebrations

Published

2 weeks ago

November 7, 2024

FocusMag

The passing of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoheed Abiodun Lagbaja has thrown the ancient community of Ilobu, in Irepodun local Government area of Osun State into deep mourning.

“We are downcast and in sorrow. He is not just the son of the soil, but one of the shinning stars of the entire Yoruba race. If you go round the community, you will see a community that is in deep sorrow”, Oba Olaniyan muttered.
The community was in the thick of hosting the 2024 Ilobu Day celebration slated for November 9, when the sad news filtered in that their most prominent son, General Lagbaja has passed in in a private hospital in Lagos, Lagos State.

“Ilobu is a very happy town, but this morning, the sun suddenly snatched away from our sky.”
But in a twist, Oba Olaniyan told newsmen that the Ilobu Development Union executives had an emergency meeting, where they decided that Ilobu Day 2024 celebration be suspended indefinitely.
www.focusmagazineonline.com gathered authoritatively that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spared nothing to save the live of the gallant infant Officer. He was said to have instructed that all necessary medical facilities should extended to him while on sick bed.

The traditional ruler of Ilobuland, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, the hometown of late Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, was short of words when a correspondent of the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) visited his palace Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the confirmation of his passing by the Federal Government.

The traditional, who was seen in a deep mourning mood when the NAN correspondent visited his palace in Ilobu, directed the National President of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union, Oluremi Salako, to speak on his behalf.
He said that the town was planning its annual “Ilobu 2024 Day” slated for this coming Saturday (November 9) before the sad news of Lagabaja’s death filtered in.

www.focusmagazineonline.com © November 2024

Featured

Tinubu Appoints Gen. Oluyede as Acting COAS

Published

3 weeks ago

October 31, 2024

FocusMag

….Lt Gen. Lagbaja still Indisposed.
With a huge cloudy of uncertainties currently surrounding the state of health of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as hold forth for him pending his arrival.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 56-year-old Major General Oluyede, however, will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Lagbaja.
Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.
Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.
Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
He is married and has three children.

News

A Great Nigeria is Possible, Bola Tinubu Assures Nigerians

Published

1 year ago

November 1, 2023

FocusMag

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU AT THE 2023 CABINET RETREAT FOR MINISTERS, PRESIDENTIAL AIDES, PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND TOP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES AT THE STATE HOUSE CONFERENCE CENTRE, ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

It is a great morning in Nigeria and I am humbled and happy to stand before you on this retreat, with forward-looking determination to embark on a very strong, bold endeavour to rebuild our country’s economy and our people’s hope renewed.
2. Thank you very much for your attendance. With strong determination, we are brought together the best brains, the best hands to navigate the future of this country.

3. We are not looking backwards; we can’t compare and give excuses. This is our country we have to build it; we have to renew the foundation. We have to give hope to the populace, to Nigerians in doubt whether democracy and economic growth will be the pathway to their prosperity.

4. I’m here to assure you and walk with you the best brains we can put together in civil service, the brain that we can put together in our democratic parliament and have been chosen for us by the public.

5. It is a good thing that the chairman of our party is here but the President is the president of all, whether affiliated with some political parties, regardless of religious, ethnic or otherwise, we are one.

6. A great Nigeria is possible, and a greater Nigeria will come under your commitment, guidance, and resolute determination to give the country a direction.

7. I’m with you. And please be assured that this great country is one family in one house, geographically located, partitioned, and living in different rooms. But we are all one family.

8. And we are here to make allegiance and give direction to that one family, making sure that relationships can only be stronger if we give hope to our people. We can only achieve our mission with boldness and strong determination with collaboration.

9. As I’ve stated before, no one succeeds alone. You the civil service, you must not see a minister as he or she will come and go and you will be there. You must make a positive team for the good of this country.

10. Yes! I admit and accept the asset and liability of my predecessor. It’s part of the definition in my professional background.

11. But you are in this ship. You will make good of it but not wreck it. You are a member of a great family; don’t see that minister as opportunistic. See, he or she as a partner that we must take the ship forward. Navigate it through turbulence and clear weather.

12. We are lucky we have a nation; the challenges are all over the world. You can see the chaos all around you. But be focused, like a man driving in the tunnel, don’t see the sky, don’t look up, face your direction. Be committed to the value and principle of results that will affect you, your neighbour, and the entire nation.

13. We’ve spent the last six months reviewing and evaluating ourselves, we’ve come a long way, but we set the agenda. Healthcare is a priority. Education of our people is a must. There is no other weapon against poverty than education. You have the opportunity to change things.

14. Recently, three days ago, we received the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany and his delegation of investors. One of their key complaints and the question is whether they can bring their capital, repatriate their dividend, or, if not satisfied, take their capital away. The Minister of Trade and Investment was called upon by me to explain further, that those obstacles are gone, never to come back again. We are open for business.

15. That is why we established the Result Delivery Unit. At the end of this retreat, you’re going to sign a bond of understanding between you, the ministers, the permanent secretaries, and myself.

16. If you are performing, nothing to fear; if you miss the objective, we’ll review; if there is no performance, you leave us. No one is an island, and the buck stops on my desk.

17. I assure you, you have a free hand. You must be intellectually inquisitive to ask how, why, when, and why it must be immediate. You have the responsibility to serve the people.

18. I’ve taken a young lady very dynamic, Hadiza Balla Usman, to head that delivery unit. If you have any complaints about her, see me. If you’re ready to work with her, stay there. Delivery, yes! we must achieve it for the sake of millions of people.

19. Yes, we are talking about the population of this country. What do you do with it? Make it an asset or a liability? Focus on its progress and come up with bold endeavours. We are great talents around the world, the biggest intellectually sound country in Horn of Africa.

20. Yes, we have challenges in the Sahel, we have challenges of climate change, south and north of Nigeria is battered, with ocean surge, we have desert encroachment in the north, but we are still blessed with arable lands. We can do it; we can build our country.

21. It’s not about theorizing. It’s about practical determination and focused evaluation. Yes, it is our country. We have no other one. Let’s be proud that we are Nigerians. We can do it, we can show leadership, we can fight to make democracy a lasting reference for the rest of Africa.

22. Don’t be afraid to make decisions, but don’t be antagonistic of your supervisor. If they are wrong, debate it. I stand before you and I’ve claimed on several occasions and I’m saying today again as the president, I can make mistakes, point it to me I would resolve that conflict, that error, perfection is only that of God Almighty. But you are there to help me succeed. Success I must achieve by all means necessary.

23. We have great minds, great intellectuals, great intellects, and all that we need.

24. When we were discussing this retreat, I said other than members of diplomatic corps to give us goodwill and inspiration, don’t invite any foreigner to give me a lecture about governance. I’ve been through it, and I believe in Nigeria.

25. It started from the day I was sworn in, and that bold endeavour is only achieved through courage, determination, and focused leadership.

26. We are going through the reform, painfully, and we still have other challenges. Don’t be a clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress.

27. Let us look forward. Let us be determined that corruption will go, progress will be achieved, better wages for our workers, and living wages.

28. We will transform the economy to work for millions of our citizens. We must take 50 million people out of poverty. We must build healthcare that works for all. Look around. Don’t be wicked. Look at the standard of education, look at the classrooms, and look at the roads. We can only spend the money, we will find it, we can not spend the people.

29. No crime in borrowing. Thank you, World Bank, for being a lending friend. But let your achievement be homegrown. The determination that Nigeria can do it is here.

30. If it had not started six months ago, we are here to switch off the light, make you included, and make all Nigerians included. Our path for tomorrow is charted for our children and grandchildren. Don’t be selfish about it.

31. Poverty is not a shameful thing. It’s only unacceptable. And we have to banish it because it’s unacceptable. Let’s work on other identifiable areas.

32. Because a memo is submitted to you doesn’t mean that is the end of that matter. Think through it. Be inquisitive. Ask how, when, why.

33. I’m ready to enjoy the retreat going forward. We are not retreating from progress. We are just to talk to one another and chart a path for progress and prosperity of this nation. I’m honoured to declare this brainstorming session open. Thank you.