News
APC elders press for Meranda’s resignation! *Obasa-led clerk, chased out of complex
The mild drama, which reportedly ensued at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday when Olalekan Onafeko, suspended Clerk attempted to resume duty but was denied access to his office, has opened another page in the crisis rocking that arm of government.
Onafeko, who was removed on January 13, in the heat of the impeachment proceedings of Mudashiru Obasa, was said to have arrived at the Assembly Complex around 9 a.m., accompanied by his lawyer, security personnel, and individuals said to be DSS operatives.
The move was seen as a precursor to the return of the “impeached” former Speaker to his seat, following underground moves by some elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including, Bisi Akande, and Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, to broker a truce in the protracted crisis, in the Assembly, currently on indefinite recess.
It was gathered that intervention could lead to the resignation of Mojisola Meranda, elected Speaker last month in place of Obasa, to pave the way for the lawmaker representing Agege constituency as the head of the legislature, a position he has held for the past 10 years.
The meeting held at the Lagos State House, Marina, where the APC elders were said to have applied pressure, was reportedly attended by Sanwo-Olu, Governor of the state Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy.
An eyewitness, who observed the drama at the Assembly, spoke of how the embattled Clerk was reportedly turned back, saying: “The suspended clerk was advised by the Assembly’s lawyer to leave the premises peacefully, as the matter is already before the court.”
A viral video captured Assembly staff jeering and booing as Onafeko was escorted out, chanting slogans expressing discontent over his presence.
Kushoro Idowu, Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Assembly in a statement, titled: Unauthorized Entry into the Lagos State House of Assembly Premises by Suspended Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko,” berated the officer for the action.
The statement, read: “The Lagos State House of Assembly condemns the unauthorised and forceful entry of suspended Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, into the premises following his suspension by a two-thirds majority of House members.
“It was on record that he arrived with unknown individuals, blocked the Assembly staff gate with his car at approximately 9 a.m., and attempted to break into the Clerk’s office.
“This act of defiance disregards legislative protocols and security regulations. The House leadership views this as an affront to the integrity of the institution and will take necessary steps to uphold discipline and order.
“Since Olalekan Onafeko has already filed a lawsuit against the Assembly, the Acting Clerk, and the Lagos State Government, he should focus on the legal process instead of disrupting activities in the Assembly.
“The appropriate authorities have been informed, and necessary measures are being taken to prevent further security breaches.”
Justice M. N. Esowe of the National Industrial Court in Lagos had earlier ruled in Onafeko’s favor, ordering the removal of Ottun Babatunde as Acting Clerk while reinstating Onafeko.
Specifically Esowe, while granting an ex parte application filed by Onafeko through Yusuf Nurudeen, his lawyer directed the order against the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, Speaker of the Assembly, Attorney-General of Lagos State, Acting Clerk, Ottun Babatunde.
The court had restrained the aforementiond from appointing or recognising any individual—including Babatunde—as Clerk, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
Esowe, who scheduled the matter for hearing on March 3, 2024, had in the order of February 20, declared: “That both parties shall maintain peace and the status quo ante bellum until the motion on notice is heard and determined.”
The door is now shut permanently in the face of the Federal Government towards taking up the 12.5 – being the remainder of its proposed 20 per cent stake in the Dangote Refineries, Africa’s first privately owned concern.
That means the government would now be stuck with the 7.5 per cent only it was able to pick up and which it currently holds in the $20 billion, 650 barrels per day capacity refinery, which came into operation in 2023 as the concern is insisting it is no longer interested in the remaining 12.5 per cent stake.
Instead of the government, the organisation, currently responsible for the supply of the major chunk of petroleum products in Nigeria and many parts of Africa, is now planning to bring in ordinary Nigerians into the mix to lap up the stake in the near future.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who made the revelation, Nicolai Tangen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), that the group had since rejected requests by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to increase its 7.25 per cent stake in the firm.
The PUNCH, quoted the African Richest Man (ARM), as saying in the interview that the NNPC’s offer to increase its 7.25 per cent stake in the refinery was rejected because the company Dangote was planning to go public and give other Nigerians the opportunity to own shares in the plant.
Dangote had revealed that after acquiring the original 7.5 per cent in 2021, for $1bn, with an option to acquire the remaining 12.75 per cent stake by June 2024, NNPC Limited began to stall, and ended up reneging on its decision.
However, the national oil company had made attempts to acquire more stakes in the refinery, since that, but this was turned down, adding that the biggest risks the business could face were either civil war and government policy inconsistencies.
Hear him: “Actually, if there are civil wars, which is not in the offing at all. The other biggest risk is government inconsistencies in policies, and we are addressing that one because if you look at our refinery, the national oil company already owns 7.25 per cent, and they are trying to buy more. We are the ones that said no; we want to now spread it and have everybody be part of it.”
Dangote, had in 2014, informed Nigerians on how, Mele Kyari, former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD-CEO), had reduced NNPC’s stake in the refinery from 20 per cent to 7.25 per cent.
He had said then: “The agreement was actually 20 per cent, which we had with NNPC, and they did not pay the balance of the money up until last year; then we gave them another extension up until June (2024), and they said that they would remain where they had already paid, which is 7.2 per cent. So NNPC owns only 7.2 per cent, not 20 per cent.
The business mogul, who painted a seducing picture of what is at stake in the new opportunities, including the provision of getting dividends in foreign currencies, told his Norwegian host: “What we are announcing is that when you invest in any of our businesses going forward, in cement or in the refinery, in petrochemicals, in fertiliser, we guarantee to pay you a dividend in dollars because we are very well into exports. 80 per cent of our revenue will be in dollars.”
Explaining how he sourced funds for building the refinery, from various financial institutions, including Nigerian banks, he said the initial plan was to fund most of the construction work from our internally generated funds, but because of naira devaluation, the group had to rely on Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, UBA and a couple of the local banks.
“But of course we also have a very good relationship with the Standard Bank of South Africa and, at the beginning, Standard Chartered Bank of the UK. We were lucky and what happened when the plant was completed turned out to be much more than our own expectations.”
The coast has brightened for Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, having been given the opportunity of obtaining the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for next year’s governorship election, contrary to reports in some quarters that he has been denied.
Vanguard reports that he was one of the 30 governors cleared by the party’s screening committee, including Hope Uzodimma of Imo, a two-term governor, who is currently eyeing a seat at the Senate.
Others cleared, included Sarafadeen Alli, former Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), for the 2027, the report said, quoting sources, who revealed that the screening report was yet to be released due to a deluge of petitions flooding the party.
To beat the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the submission of the list of the names of successful candidates, the party said it now would publish the names of cleared aspirants on May 13.
Regarding the dithering on the release of the 2,980, comprising of one aspirants for one presidential slot, 28 governorship, 109 Senate, 360 House of Representatives, and 991 state assembly positions, a source was quoted as saying: “We are still working on the screening report to make sure everything goes well. The day is not over yet.
“We received many petitions from the eight panels that conducted the primaries. For instance, one of the panels received 10 petitions and the petitions have to be treated on their merit.”
Regarding the fate of Fubara, the source was quoted as saying the governor, whose tenure has been dogged by much of internal and external battles even after joining the APC last year, the source confirmed that he was not disqualified as speculated.
His words: “Nooo! No governor has been booted out. The party has always supported its governors. Some of them like Uzodimma got automatic clearance. To ensure we have a united front in 2027, we are working towards consensus but where that fails, direct primaries will be held in accordance with the Electoral Act. We know some of the high-profile aspirants don’t want to consent, and are ready to go to court. We don’t want that.”
After years of public outcries by individuals, groups and civil society organisations, the Imo State Police Command finally took steps against the controversial Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base.
The agency, described by many as notorious for rights abuses, was scrapped, by the Command, along with other tactical squads with similar identities, which have now been replaced with a newly created Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) aimed at tackling rising violent crimes across the state.
The development was announced at the Police Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, marking one of the most significant policing reforms in the state in recent years following growing public concerns over the activities of Tiger Base.
Other tactical formations affected by the disbandment include the Scorpion Unit and the Lion Squad, whose operations were closely linked to the now-defunct outfit.
Speaking during the inauguration of the new unit, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, said the reform was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reposition tactical operations nationwide and strengthen professionalism within the Force.
Bosso said the newly established VCRU would focus on intelligence-driven operations against armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and other violent crimes.
According to him, officers drafted into the unit were carefully selected based on competence, discipline, integrity, and operational experience.
He disclosed that the operatives had undergone intensive training in tactical response, intelligence gathering, crisis management, and human rights compliance to ensure lawful and professional conduct.
“The inauguration of the VCRU reflects our commitment to professional policing, public safety, and improved service delivery to the people of Imo State,” the police commissioner stated.
In a move seen as an attempt to rebuild public trust, the command also inaugurated a Civilian Oversight Board comprising representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The board is expected to monitor the activities of the unit, receive complaints from members of the public, and provide independent feedback to the Commissioner of Police.
The event attracted top government officials, heads of security agencies, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, youth organisations, and human rights groups.
Governor Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Chief Principal Security Officer, ACP Gboyako Shaba Adamu, commended the initiative and pledged continued support for security agencies in combating insecurity across the state.
Observers believe the scrapping of Tiger Base and the creation of the VCRU may signal a new chapter in tactical policing in Imo State, especially amid increasing calls for accountability and respect for human rights by security operatives.
The ceremony featured the unveiling of the VCRU logo, presentation of its operational dress code, and goodwill messages from stakeholders.
Residents were urged to support the new unit with credible information to aid crime-fighting efforts across the state.
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