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We’ll bring him to his knees! Anambra monarchs spoil for war with Soludo
Indications from Anambra State are suggesting that Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the state governor, might be engaging traditional rulers in the state, in a full-blast war, if he does not move quickly to contain the anger within the institution which appears to be boiling over, accentuated by opposition politicians, believed to be practically adding petrol into the fire.
WhirlwindNews, learnt that a major rebellion is currently in the offing as politicians have bought into the discontent from the frosty relationship between the traditional institution and the governor with grand plan to escalate it into a full-blown open war.
Buoyed by the strong position taken by Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), more royal fathers in the state, would soon begin to speak out more openly or act in ways suggesting open confrontation with the governor, a move that could threaten the second term bid of the governor, who posted a resounding victory in 2021.
It was further learnt that the Onitsha monarch, arguably the most prominent in the entire South East and one of the most revered in Nigeria, did not speak alone in his open letter, addressed to the state government, which went viral, on Wednesday, but captured the mood of his colleagues and that there would be more of such that might result to an open war on a large scale.
“What you saw in that letter reflects the mood of the royal fathers. It is a complex situation really. Many of them have been seized and are working as agents to politicians. But many, are genuinely angry with Soludo for many reasons, most of which were pointed out in that letter. They have not been in the best of terms with the governor since he came into office. I’m sure you read the details in that letter. Everything was not said there. You know Agbogidi is an experienced technocrat and he knows how to capture many things with elegant language.
“You see how that letter was addressed to the commissioner to make it appear that he was speaking to a lesser person. But everything you read there was actually directed at Soludo, including the allegation of double standards. The commissioner was just a smokescreen from where the Obi, unleashed his missiles at the governor.
“When Soludo collected his own title, did the law he was quoting apply? How many traditional rulers did Igwe of Ukpo consult to crown the Vice President (Kashim Shettima) “Enyi Ndigbo?” How many did he consult to offer (Abdullahi) Ganduje (National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress – APC) “Agunechemba Ndigbo?” Was Soludo not present there when these titles were conferred on those people in the same Anambra? What did he say?
“Meanwhile, these are titles that reflect the names of the Igbo people as if the entire traditional rulers in Igboland gathered and agreed to give them. This is part of the hypocrisy of Soludo the Obi spoke about, but I’m sure he didn’t want to name those instances so that it doesn’t appear he’s fighting the VP or the federal government. Which is a worse sin, a Soludo, who was there when these titles are being given to outsiders from Igboland and the sons of the soil?”
“I don’t know why Soludo fell into that trap. How can you describe Ifeanyi Uba, a Senator as “one” as if he is just an ordinary person? You saw how the Obi pointed that out too. If you read the language very well, you’ll know where he stands between a choice of Soludo and Ifeanyi. And I can assure you, that’s a reflection of the larger picture. I don’t want to name other people who are plotting this war. You can be sure that APC is also interested in Anambra. Just watch!”
With an angry riposte, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, waved away the sweltering criticisms from a groundswell of the public, lacerating Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, on his now viral video where he exhibited great difficulty in pronouncing the N650 billion figures, he presented to the Edo State House of Assembly as the state’s 2025 budget.
The social media have been awash with the video of the governor repeatedly trying to mention the figure correctly, and even at a point explaining that he was confused, a development, which has elicited different reactions from the public, with critics saying it was emblematic of the degeneration in the nation’s polity, where hugely incompetent people were being recruited into positions clearly beyond them for political purposes.
In the video, Okpebholo appeared to have gone smoothly until he got to the figure, and then began to flutter and stutter repeatedly, thus: “The Edo State 2025 Appropriation Bill of 6 billion… 650… 605 billion… 76 thou… 76 million…“Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me.”
But in a swift pushback to the barrage of criticisms from the public, who also wondered what manner of budget would stop at just a round figure without fractions Jarrett Tenebe, Chairman of the APC in the state, in apparent defence of the governor, dismissed the issues raised as unfounded, arguing that the “mistake” was common to humans, including world leaders, including Jacob Zuma, former President of South Africa.
In his apparent anger over the meaning being adduced to the supposed blunder, the party boss, inferred that nobody was unfazed in the state, particularly within the APC camp, insisting that the people had willingly chosen the governor to lead them for the next four years and those in opposition of the choice should “go to hell and burn to ashes.”
Hear him: “The Social media has been agog with our governor’s budget presentation about a mistake on 650 billion and the rest of it all. It’s a normal thing. (Jacob) Zuma made such a mistake, and a lot of people make such mistakes. I don’t know figures. You see, that is how to know original figures. Obaseki will not make such a mistake because he has stolen figures. Asue Ighodalo will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before.
“Monday is not a thief, so he’s not familiar with figures. So, anybody who wants to talk can continue to talk. It’s nonsense. “He’s the governor of the state, he’s performing, and he will continue to perform. And anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes, period, and thank you,”
The budget titled: The Appropriation Bill is titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo, the first by the governor, who emerged the winner in the election of Saturday, September 21, and was sworn in on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, which was presented was said to have reflected a 25 per cent increase from the 2024 budget.
Justice Maryanne Anenih of the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama on Tuesday ordered the remand of Yahaya Bello, immediate past Governor of Kogi State in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja pending his bail application.
By the court’s ruling, that the former governor’s bail application would now be given on January 29, 2025, it means that he would be spending the whole of Christmas and New Year period in prison, as the court adjourned further proceedings in the criminal case involving the alleged theft of N110billion against him instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Anenih, who had agreed with the submission that Bello’s bail application was filed prematurely, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, was incompetent, said: “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely is hereby refused.”
Rejecting his plea, of the former governor, who had earlier filed the application on November 22 before he was arrested on November 26 and arraigned on November 27, Anenih granted bail to Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, with whom he is standing trial on the ground of a N300million bond and that they must produce sureties who must have property worth the said amount within the court’s jurisdiction.
The former governor, is said to have since filed a fresh bail application with a plea to the court for an early hearing date, to prevent him from spending the yuletide period in Kuje correctional centre.
Abayomi Adeosun, the Presiding Magistrate, at the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday returned Dele Farotimi, lawyer and activist to prison till December 20, when his bail application will now be determined in the case of criminal defamation against Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) foremost lawyer and educationist.
Adeosun agreed with the prosecution that who had told the court that the bail application submitted by Farotime was incomplete and not properly filed, a development which came after a hot argument between police prosecuting lawyer and the legal team of Farotimi, over the propriety of Adeyinka Olumide-Fasuka, (SAN) in the matter, being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Samson Osobu, the police lawyer prosecuting the matter, had also objected to the appearance of Olumide-Fasuka to represent the activist, standing trial on a 16 count-charge of defaming the legal luminary in his book, titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which accused Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges, on the ground that members of the Inner Bar, were barred from appearing at magistrate courts.
Objecting to the senior lawyer taking over the matter, he cited the recent judgment of a court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State delivered on July 16, 2024, where the court ruled that SAN could not appear before the magistrate court.
But countering, Olumide-Fasuka, who explained that the Ekiti state magistrate court law enacted by the House of Assembly allowed lawyers irrespective of status and title to appear in the court especially in criminal matters as it related to the suit against the defendant, urged the court to reject the argument of the prosecuting lawyer, noting that the verdict he cited might not have put into consideration all magistrate court laws across the country.
After listening to the argument, the Magistrate who stepped down his ruling on the matter for him to read the judgement, asked Olumide-Fasuka to step down and allow the most senior lawyer in Farotimi’s team to continue the case, pending his ruling on the matter, enabling Taiwo Adedeji, another lawyer in the team to take over.
After further argument on the matter, the court, which had on Wednesday, last week when Farotimi first appeared, slated the determination of the bail application for Tuesday, shifted proceedings to the new date while ordering that the activist be returned to prison custody till the new date.
Budget blunder: Go to hell, burn to ashes, Okpebholo remains governor – APC
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