A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, told former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the right to suspend or expel him if the action is done in accordance with the law.
Justice James Omotosho stated this in a judgement he delivered on a suit filed by Wike, prior to the 2023 general elections, to seek for a court order to stop PDP from taking action against him without fair hearing.
The former governor had sued the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 3rd respondents.
Wike, in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023 dated and field Feb. 2 by his lawyer, Joshua Musa, SAN, also joined the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu; National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.
He had prayed for an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo and stay all actions in the matter relating to the threat to suspend or expel him by the 1st to 5th respondents pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
He asked the court to enforce his fundamental right to freedom of association which was allegedly about to be breached by the respondents.
But the PDP, through its lawyer, Johnson Usman, SAN, disagreed with Wike’s submission.
He argued that the case was only based on speculation as Wike had failed to provide any evidence to substantiate that the respondents intended to suspend or expel him from the party.
He said the party had not contemplated suspending or expelling members of the G5 Governors or the Integrity Group, despite engaging in anti-party activities.
He said Wike and four other governors engaged in anti-party activities by forming the Integrity Group and campaigning for another presidential candidate in the Feb. 25 election.
The senior lawyer argued that a member, who voluntarily joined an association, must abide by its rules.
Usman, who argued that the ex-governor must have exhausted the internal mechanism of the party first, said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, which, he said, was only within the realm of conjuncture.
He further argued that it was not enough for Wike to institute the suit on fundamental rights enforcement grounds.
Justice Omotosho had, on Feb. 2, given an interim order against the party and others listed in the face of Wike’s ex-parte motion.
The judge, who extended the restraining order on Feb. 14, held that all parties should maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit
Delivering judgement on Wednesday, Justice Omotosho said the court had considered the processes filed by parties and arguments of counsel.
He held that suspending or expelling the applicant without affording him the right to defend himself would breach his fundamental rights as enshrined in the party’s and Nigeria’s constitutions.
He said though the party had the right to suspend or expel its members, this must be done in compliance with its own law.
The judge said that though Section 46(1) of the law vested jurisdiction on the court if one’s rights had been breached, he said the court would not dabble into the internal affairs of any political party, except where the right of a member had been violated by the party without recourse to its own laws.
According to him, fundamental human rights are rights enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria and are sacrosanct.
“Where this right ought to be enforced, the court will do everything within its reach to ensure this.
“However, as fundamental and sacrosanct these rights are, they are not absolute,” he said.
Justice Omotosho, therefore, agreed that any member of a political party who appeared before a disciplinary committee, should be given the opportunity to defend himself.
“And if not, any decision taken shall be null and void,” he said.
He said, “This court is convinced that the applicant is entitled to a fair hearing and that the respondent also has the rights to disciplnie its members in accordance with the law.”
The judge further said that Wike had the right to associate and that the threat to dismiss him without inviting him to defend himself contravened Article 57 (1)(2) of the party.
He said that the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and his agents, were bound to promote constitutional democracy.
Fuel Subsidy: FG, Labour Leaders’ Meeting Ends In Deadlock
The meeting between the organised labour and the federal government representatives at the State House, Abuja, on the removal of subsidy on fuel ended in a stalemate as no agreement was reached.
The meeting at the Conference Hall of the Chief of Staff to the President came after the announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that subsidy on fuel had gone and new prices of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) introduced by NNPCL.
The organised labour was led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero and his counterpart for the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo.
The former President of NLC and immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Group Chief Executive Officer, of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and a Director in the defunct Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organization, Dele Alake, among others attended the meeting.
Speaking after the stalemated meeting, Ajaero and Osifo stressed that status quo be maintained on the prices of PMS while negotiations continued.
Both labour leaders said another meeting would hold after discussions with members of their executives on the outcomes of Wednesday’s interaction with federal government team.
Ajaero said there was no consensus after the meeting, adding that “As far as labour is concerned, we didn’t have a consensus in this meeting.”
He picked holes in the decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to review the petrol pump price in its filling stations nationwide before the meeting, stating that the price increase put the labour unions in a difficult position during negotiations.
“That’s the principle of negotiation. You don’t put the partner; ask them to negotiate under gunpoint.
“The prayers of the NLC are that we go back to statusquo, negotiate, think of alternatives and all the effects and how to manage the effects this action is going to have on the people. If it is an action that must take off.
“The subsidy provision has been made up to the end of June. And before then, conscious people, labour management, government should be able to think of what will happen at the end of June. You don’t start it before the time,” Ajaero said.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting from the side of government, Alake said talks on solutions to all issues at hand would continue.
He said: “We have been deliberating on finding very amicable solutions to the issue at hand, to the queue and all of that and the increase in pump price.
“We had a very robust engagement. We cross-fertilized ideas, ideas flew from all sides and there is one thing that is remarkable even from the Labour side, and that is Nigeria. We are all looking at the peace, progress and stability of Nigeria. That is what is paramount.
“Of course, the NNPCL CEO is here, Mr Kyari, we cannot go into details now because the talks are still ongoing. We cannot finish everything at one setting, so, we have adjourned now, we are continuing the talks at a later date very shortly.
“But the point is that the talks are ongoing and it always better for all sides to keep talking with a view to arriving at a very amicable resolution that will be in the longer term interest for all Nigerians. That is as much as we can say now.”
One of Africa’s most-celebrated authors and playwrights, Ghanaian Ama Ata Aidoo dies at 81
One of Africa’s most-celebrated authors and playwrights, Ghanaian Ama Ata Aidoo, has died aged 81.
A renowned feminist, she depicted and celebrated the condition of African women in works such as The Dilemma of a Ghost, Our Sister Killjoy and Changes.
She opposed what she described as a “Western perception that the African female is a downtrodden wretch”.
She also served as education minister in the early 1980s but resigned when she could not make education free.
In a statement, her family said “our beloved relative and writer” passed away after a short illness, requesting privacy to allow them to grieve.
A university professor, Ata Aidoo won many literary awards for her novels, plays and poems, including the 1992 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Changes, a love story about a statistician who divorces her first husband and enters into a polygamous marriage.
Her work, including plays like Anowa, has been read in schools across West Africa, along with works of other greats like Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.
“In retrospect, I suppose I could describe myself as a writer with a mission. But I never was aware that I had a mission when I started to write.
“People sometimes question me, for instance, why are your women so strong? And I say, that is the only woman I know.”
She was a major influence on the younger generation of writers, including Nigeria’s awarding-winning Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Ama Ata Aidoo was born in a small village in Ghana’s central Fanti-speaking region in 1942.
Her father had opened the first school in the village and was a strong influence on her.
At the age of 15 she decided that she wanted to be a writer and within just four years, had achieved that ambition after she was encouraged to enter a competition.
“I won a short story competition but learned about it only when I opened the newspaper that had organised it, and saw the story had been published on its centre pages and realised the name of the author of that story in print was mine,”
“I believe these moments were crucial for me because … I had articulated a dream… it was a major affirmation for me as a writer, to see my name in print.”
She went on to study literature at the University of Ghana and became a lecturer, publishing her first play in 1964.
After her 18 month-foray into politics she went into self-imposed exile in Zimbabwe for a time and became a full-time writer.
Gbajabiamila sad over Dopkesi’s death
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed sadness over the death of the chairman and founder of the AIT/Raypower FM, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Anthony Dopkesi.
Gbajabiamila described Chief Dopkesi as a patriotic Nigerian who would be sorely missed.
He said he received the news of the media entrepreneur with rude shock, noting that he has left a vacuum in the Nigerian media industry as the pioneer of private radio station in Nigeria.
The Speaker recalled how Chief Dopkesi combined his media entrepreneurship with politics, which he said provided the late owner of AIT/Raypower FM the opportunity to appreciate leadership in the country.
Gbajabiamila sent his heartfelt condolences to the AIT/Raypower family, people and government of Edo State, especially the people of Weppa-Wanno Kingdom, where Chief Dopkesi held the traditional title of Ezomo.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the late media mogul, Gbajabiamila prayed to God to give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Oborevwori appoints Kingsley Emu, Erijo, Aguariavwodo, Lyna Aliya-Ochulor
Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the appointment of Dr. Kingsley Emu as the Secretary to the State Government.
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Festus Ahon in Asaba said the governor also approved the appointment of Hon. Johnson Erijo as Chief of Staff to the Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo as Senior Political Adviser and Mrs Lyna Aliya-Ochulor as Principal Secretary to the Governor.
Ahon said the approval for the appointments was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration, Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the appointments take immediate effect
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU ADDRESSES GITEX ONE AFRICA DIGITAL SUMMIT IN MOROCCO
- I am committed to supporting growth of tech industry in Africa – Governor
- Says African continent is on accelerated path to becoming next Silicon Valley
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday said he is committed to the growth of the tech industry in Africa as an ardent believer in the vast and untapped potential that Africa holds in the realms of technology and digital innovation.
He said the acceleration of the African continent towards becoming the next Silicon Valley is a collective effort that requires the continued collaboration of governments, the private sector, academia, and the civil society.
Speaking at the GITEX One Africa Digital Summit in Marrakech, Morocco on Wednesday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration’s focus on fostering an enabling environment for startups and tech companies to flourish is yielding unprecedented results, creating jobs, driving economic growth, and providing solutions to societal problems.
The Governor said the story of Lagos is a testament to the collaborative efforts of both the public and private sectors in fostering development, noting that “The remarkable rise of Yaba, a bustling metropolitan area in Lagos and home to the highest concentration of start-ups in Nigeria, owes its success to a well-coordinated public-private partnership.”
He said: “I stand before you today not just as the Governor of Lagos State, a sub-sovereign state within Nigeria with a population of over 20 million people, but as an ardent believer in the vast and untapped potential that Africa holds within the realms of technology and digital innovation.
“As the Governor of Lagos State, a city that is at the forefront of this transformation, I am committed to supporting the growth of the tech industry in Africa.
“Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling mega-city, is emerging as a thriving epicenter of tech entrepreneurship and innovation. Lagos is home to some of the most innovative and successful startups in Africa, including Andela, Paystack, Flutterwave, Kobo360, Kuda Bank and many others. These companies have not only transformed industries like fintech and e-commerce but have also inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors across the continent.
“These success stories have been made possible, in part, by the fund raised from companies, unicorns, and venture capital firms that have flooded the Lagos tech ecosystem in recent years. More importantly, these investments have been attracted to the market size and the enabling environment that Lagos is becoming on the African continent.
“The acceleration of Africa towards becoming the next Silicon Valley is not a mere aspiration; it is a reality unfolding before our eyes. It is a collective effort that requires the continued collaboration of governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society. It is a journey of transformation that sees Africa not just as a consumer of technology but as a creator, an innovator, and a leader in the digital age,”
Speaking on bold steps taken by his administration in the area of technology, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that “In deepening internet penetration, a key ingredient for start-up, we have deployed over 2,900km of fibre optic infrastructure that aims to connect public schools, government buildings, hospitals, and other points of interest.
“Along the same channels, we have deployed, in partnership with the private sector 3,000km of optical duct infrastructure. This will serve to de-risk infrastructure development in Lagos which will in turn increase connectivity.
“In the past one year, Lagos has attracted over one billion dollars in Data center investment. This will enable the local domicile of digital platforms as well as facilitate the proliferation of digital technology opportunities. The proliferation of these investments also presents 10 opportunities for talent development within this ecosystem.
“Our Smart City implementation has seen us deploy over 600 Smart Intelligent Video Surveillance Cameras as well as Intelligent Transportation Cameras for Traffic monitoring and management. Over the past year, through our initial ITS pilot deployment leveraging our Automatic number plate recognition cameras, monitoring of violation infractions has reduced traffic warden in-person enforcement by 30 percent.
“We have also begun a significant identity management programme through our Lagos State Residents Registration Agency that will seek to identify all our inhabitants. Current projections state that Lagos will have 30 million inhabitants by 2035. It is imperative to drive the identity management ecosystem for a smarter city. This will lend to more efficient resource allocation and planning for the state.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu added that “The Lagos Digital Identity Project has undergone a fundamental restructuring of its operational model. With a new digital identification card that is capable of enabling access to benefits, electronic ticketing and so on, it further drives the digital inclusion benchmark for Lagos. Currently, about five million residents have been captured. We are targeting another 10 million within the next year.
“Through our Lagos State Employment Trust fund, we have funded digital skills training interventions for more than 4,000 beneficiaries. Courses include digital marketing, coding, and other innovation courses. These digital skills training are needed capacity interventions that lend positively to the development of the ecosystem.
“Undeniably, this infrastructure has significantly contributed to the flourishing startup economy within Lagos State. However, the momentum is not confined to Lagos or Nigeria alone. From Nairobi’s Silicon Savannah to Cape Town’s Silicon Cape, and from Rwanda’s growing tech scene to Morocco’s digital development strides, the story is the same. Africa is rising, and technology is the wind beneath our wings.
“According to a report by McKinsey, Africa’s consumer spending is projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2025, and its workforce is expected to be the largest in the world by 2035. The potential for growth and development in Africa is immense, and the technology industry is playing a crucial role in unlocking this potential.”
Gboyega Akosile
Media Adviser to the Governor
31st May, 2023.
