Politics
Court Bars APC From Sacking Benue Chairman, Agada, Others
A Benue High Court has ordered the ruling All Progressives Congress not to remove the state APC Chairman, Augustine Agada, and the current executives of the party.
A copy of the exparte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion No MH /1585m/2024 was made available to newsmen at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja last Wednesday.
The court particularly stopped the Dr Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee of the party from sacking the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee until the expiration of their four-year tenure.
The Benue chapter of the APC has been at loggerheads with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the leadership of the party in the state.
While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is in support of the Agada-led state working committee, Alia, on the other hand, has thrown its weight behind the Benjamin Omakolo-led faction.
Sensing that the growing tension may not end in his favour, Agada approached the court and secured a restraining order against any attempt to sack his executives.
The judge, while granting the exparte application by Agada and eight others, restrained the APC from removing, replacing, or terminating their tenure until the expiration of the four-year term in office pending the determination of the motion on the notice.
“I have looked at the processes filed along with the application, particularly Exhibit MT “1” attached to the affidavit in support, and I am satisfied that the application has merit,” the judge declared while granting the prayers of Agada.
“In the circumstances, I hereby grant the application as prayed.”
The court thereby ordered that the order be served on the APC forthwith, along with the motion on notice fixed for hearing on August 28.
Addressing journalists after serving the restraining order on the NWC at the party secretariat on Wednesday, Agada called on the leadership of APC to respect the court order and not cause confusion in the state.
He said, “We were elected for four years and we are not pre-empting them. But, of course, in every iota of rumour, there is an element of truth. For some time now, there have been some movements by the governor and his agents to dissolve the State Working Committee, which I think is not fair by all standards.
“Recall that the crisis as to my purported removal started as far back as February. But the NWC immediately set aside the move, saying I, Austine Agada, remain the bonafide chairman of APC as of January 31, 2024.
“Thereafter they got a court injunction to restrain me even when the NWC squashed it using the internal mechanism of the party. The court, in its wisdom, led by the Chief Justice of Benue State set aside that suspension. It is still valid in court. They were angry and approached the Appeal Court. The case is still in the appellate court. So I was surprised when the State Working Committee heard that Benue State deliberated as to the dissolution.
“This is the first time I am talking to the press about this. Is this how to reward the people who sacrificed a lot to bring in the governor of Benue today? You can ask Alia himself, he has never given us a Kobo since he came in as governor. “
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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