Connect with us

News

Avoid distractions, leave Ikpeazu alone, Obi supporters tell Otti

Published

on

“Efforts to probe and discredit former Governor Ikpeazu must not overshadow the current administration’s responsibility of governing effectively and with integrity,” were the words with which Pro-Obidient South East Leaders Forum (POSELF), added a cautionary voice to the ongoing brickbat between Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State and Okezie Ikpeazu.

The group, one of the groups under the banner of Obidient Movement, a powerful platform behind the desire of Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 election, in a statement on Monday, said it was concerned that the faceoff could rub off on the LP leader, especially if the allegations by Otti against Ikpeazu were found to be untrue.

Cautioning against what it described as media war and personal vendetta against the immediate, Ikpeazu the body in the statement signed by Chetachi Ikpe, the Coordinator and Marcus Obiakwa, Secretary, maintained that inasmuch as it supported the fight against all corrupt practices, it would also reject any disregard for due process and any form of media trials capable of reducing chances of proper judicial trials in the end.

In line with its distaste for unfounded accusations and preference for evidence-based discourse, the group particularly spoke about the claim by the governor that Ikpeazu spent N10billion on non-existence airport in the state, urging him to make public the forensic report from which he claimed he got the information.

Advertisement

“The accountability expected from the Abia State Government will not only uphold integrity but also pave the way for a more cohesive leadership that the Global Obidients Family can be proud of. Amidst mounting speculations concerning the purported mismanagement of funds and other weighty allegations against Ikpeazu, the call for the public release of the forensic audit reports has heightened. The absence of concrete evidence and transparency surrounding the investigation is a cause for concern, impacting the integrity of Mr Peter Obi and the esteemed Global Obidient Family,” the statement said.

Urging Otti to seek guidance from Abia elders, such as Eze Isaac Ikonne (Enyi 1 of Aba), Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Ihechukwu Madubuike and Ike Nwachukwu, to swiftly end whatever disputes before them, the statement, added: “Elections are over and it is now time for good governance devoid of partisanship and undue distractions. The purported explanation provided by former Governor Ikpeazu regarding the Abia Airport project sheds light on the decision-making processes during his administration.

“The importance of providing context and clarity in public discourse to dispel misinformation cannot be overstated and as such, it is crucial to approach governance matters with transparency, integrity, and a commitment to truth. We reiterate the calls from different quarters already for Governor Otti to release the Abia forensic reports to instill confidence in the public and prevent further discord, Failure to address these concerns may have repercussions for the Obidient family and Mr Peter Obi in the future.

“The Forum expresses concern over the detrimental impact of the anti-Ikpeazu media war on the reputation of respected leaders, including Mr. Peter Obi. The biased nature of the media campaigns and the lack of substantial evidence against corruption allegations tarnish the image of reputable figures and the Global Obidient Family. It is imperative for Governor Alex Otti to act judiciously and substantiate claims through credible evidence to safeguard integrity and prevent unwarranted discord.

“The Forum emphasises the need for Governor Otti to focus on delivering robust governance without succumbing to distractions or unfounded accusations. Unity and collaboration among all stakeholders are crucial for sustainable development and progress in Abia State. The Forum acknowledges the concerns raised by the Abia community regarding the media war. Misinformation and divisive narratives must not detract from the collective goal of advancing the state. As Chief Chikwe Udensi aptly warned, the path to progress must not be clouded with falsehoods but must be built on transparency, truth, and accountability.”

Advertisement

Share this story:

News

BREAKING: Death penalty for fake drugs! *NAFDAC to push new law at NASS

Published

on

Those peddling fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria should be ready for the hangman’s noose, if the thinking of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), becomes the new law.

Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the body, who said on Friday that no other form of punishment is fitting enough, gave instances of where the application of such dangerous substances in form of health drugs, had led to fatalities.

Advocating that only stiff penalties would deter peddlers especially when deaths of children became involved, the NAFDAC boss, who appeared as a guest on The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, said: “Somebody bought children’s medicine for N13,000 or something like that, another person was selling about N3,000 in the same mall. 

“That raised an alarm. Guess what? There was nothing inside that medicine when we tested it in our Kaduna lab. So, I want the death penalty. Because you don’t need to put a gun on the head of a child before you kill that child. Just give that child bad medicine.”

Advertisement

Advocating that the National Assembly and the judiciary to make the proposal a reality, adding that the agency was open to partnering with lawmakers and other stakeholders on the matter, she added: “You cannot fight substandard, falsified medicine in isolation. The agency can do as much as it can but if there is no deterrent, there’s going to be a problem.

“Somebody brought in 225mg of Tramadol that can kill anybody, fry the brain and you give a judgment of five years in prison or N250,000. Who doesn’t know that that person will go to the ATM and get N250,000? That is part of our problem.

“There are no strict measures to deter [people] from repeating the same thing. We can do as much as we can but if our law is not strong enough, or the judiciary is not strong enough to stand up, we’re going to have a problem.

“So, our judiciary system must be strong enough. But we are working with the National Assembly to make our penalties very stiff.  But if you kill a child by bad medicine, you deserve to die. We have a lot on our plate in stemming drug peddling.

“Withe about 2,000 staff members nationwide and limited funding, NAFDAC is constrained in carrying out its activities. So, when it comes to staffing, you’re right on the point. We are short-staffed and I am hoping things will be better.”

Advertisement

Share this story:
Continue Reading

News

Give us electoral offences tribunal to take care of heist – INEC  

Published

on

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, made a fresh push for the creation of an electoral offences tribunal, to curb the cases of attacks on the Nigerian democratic system.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, told reporters at the commission’s first regular quarterly consultative meeting with the media that the tribunal had become important owing to the backlog of electoral offence cases.

He said: “A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed,” the INEC chief told the gathering.

“No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases. It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that have a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases.”

Advertisement

Bemoaning the delay in the justice delivery system, citing the conviction of a returning officer in Akwa Ibom after six years in court, the INEC boss, said: “The recent successful prosecution of a Returning Officer in Akwa Ibom State is a case in point.

“The Commission has been diligently pursuing the case which arose from the 2019 General Election. In this particular case, it took nearly six years to achieve the successful prosecution at the trial court.

“Through our collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) cases involving 774 alleged offenders from the 2023 General Election are being prosecuted. So far, successful prosecutions have been recorded in Kebbi and Kogi States while our collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on vote-buying has yielded similar results in Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe States. Yet, many cases are still pending.”

Advertisement
Share this story:
Continue Reading

News

Again, terrorists attack Sokoto, kidnap 10 worshippers at a mosque

Published

on

A mosque in Bushe community, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, fell into the hands of bandits on Friday, after which 10 worshippers including the Imam were spirited away, adding to growing cases of terrorist attacks.

Channels Television reports that the gunmen invaded the mosque on Thursday while worshippers were performing their early morning Subhi prayer, quoting residents as saying that the gunmen had been molesting the people of the community for some time now, even with the presence of security agents.

Ahmed Rufai, spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, who confirmed the attack on Friday, said the police authorities were working with other security agencies to rescue the abducted victims.

A member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, representing the Sabon Birni B state Constituency who also confirmed the attack, commended the security agencies for their timely intervention.

Advertisement

Share this story:
Continue Reading

Trending