PRESS STATEMENT: DON'T TRY IT! LABOUR PARTY WARNING TO RMAFC ON PROPOSED SALARY INCREASE FOR POLITICIANS

Prince Tony

By Prince Tony Akeni, National Publicity Secretary (Interim), Labour Party, Thursday August 21, 2025

This press briefing is to serve the sternest warning to the chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Mohammed Shehu. 

Every Tinubu minister and head of agency wants to leave government in 2027 richer than Dangote, but not necessarily through hard work and industry. The chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Mohammed Shehu, for his personal benefits, appears to have joined the list as the latest addition to Nigeria's unfortunate story of the insensitivity of government and its agencies to the hydra-headed plights of Nigeria's citizens. 

On Monday August 18, 2025 Mohammed Shehu woke up on the wrong side of his bed and decided to take his own pound of flesh from the long suffering but pliant Nigerian people by adding his own dimension of nightmares to the treasury bunkering of the ruling APC government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

You will recall that in a press conference he held in Abuja on the aforementioned date, the fiscal allocation commission's chairman served Nigerians a menu of fallacies to insult the intelligence of Nigerians by claiming that all Mr. President receives for his office in an entire year is a paltry #18million at a salary of #1.5million per month, while his ministers receive #1million per month or #12million per annum. This mischievous and obnoxious lie of figure juggling was corroborated by the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso, who, according to unrefuted information in the public domain, enjoys unheard-of Eldorado luxury living which, beside his monumental monthly salary, includes a #1b (one billion naira) annual housing allowance and $15million or #24billion global flight tickets and single-handedly appointed a bevy of lady consultants who receive #35million and #50million per month, (not per year). For avoidance of doubts, two of the bevy who receive these Olympian and outrageous salaries in the office of the Nigerian CBN Governor, according to the unchallenged reports, are Ms. Daphne Dafinone and Ms. Nkiru Balonwu who is facing EFCC investigations for alleged egregious financial conduct. 

The above infantile Disneyland story of the RMAFC's chairman, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, is further starkly contradicted by the fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's wife has suddenly, after 2023 swearing-in of Tinubu, found fortune which enables her to donate to events as much as #1billion in a single occasion when her husband receives a miserable paltry sum of #18million per annum as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

When we say every actor of fortune under the Tinubu-APC maladministration is out to out-Dangote Dangote by the time the Labour Party and the good people of Nigeria boot them out of office in 2027, it is both a moral and institutional duty that we supply background to prove our assertion. I urge all Nigerians to join our party follow the trail of this locust swarm called APC by reading this to the end and rising to act.

We shall forerun our engagement of the chairman of the revenue allocation commission and his campaign for salary increase for politicians with the facts and figures of epic public finance abuses we present below to help Nigerians reflect, evaluate afresh and to stand up against the dangers posed to their lives by the current APC administration. The chronicle of government promoted corruption among heads of agencies which the Labour Party delivers below are for just 2025, and the year is still running.

1. In the 2025 Federal Government budget figure of #54.99trillion signed into law on February 8, 2025, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, needed to buy a nuclear station that produces electricity for the common good of Nigerians. So, he inserted an amount that will cost Nigerians #266million per street light; an unseen type of streetlight that would probably come with a Maikano power plant and a piece of the sun each. The APC rubber-stamp Senate of Mr. Godswill Akpabio approved it. When yam falls into a palm oil bowl, what do you expect? The above budget for mere streetlights was in addition to Minister Bagudu tucking into the 2025 budget what BudgIT, the public finance tracking agency, called "ghost projects" amounting to #6.93 trillion.

2. On June 10, 2025, the APC's FCT sheriff, Minister Nyesom Wike re-commissioned the now re-named Abuja International Conference Centre after a solo renovation cost submission of #39billion. The renovation went through contract award without competitive biddings required by Nigeria's Due Process laws. This is an amount of money that would have built for Nigerians a minimum of nine modern equiped health centres in each state of the federation or approximately three health centres in every senatorial district of Nigeria, including Abuja FCT. To comfort Nigerians for their pains and complaints, Nyesom Wike has been singing the lullaby to the public against critics' umbrage that the conference centre, which is actually a ghosts' haven 90% of the year, is now churning mountainous revenues into the coffers of the government after its renovation, and that it is fully booked up to 2027. Of course, it is fully booked by ghosts for ghost activities. 

Meanwhile, in contrast to Minister Wike's #39billion windfall for a conference hall renovation, only #10billion was budgeted for Nigeria's entire land border security covering 4,047 kilometers, a whopping #150billion was set on fire to purchase a used presidential jet for President Tinubu and another #5billion for an idle presidential yacht. 

3. On June 11, 2025, the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, approved a portion of the ministry's 2025 budget of #636billion for a fasting and prayer programme for all its staff to boost agriculture and vanquish hunger in Nigeria. The circular to all staff on this epic event summoned staff to come to work fasting for "a solemn session for God's guidance and success in supporting the (Tinubu) government's efforts to achieve food security." Nigerians, where on earth except APC's Nigeria is modern mechanized farming and food security attained through budget financed prayers and fasting? Is this also the model for governance of nations which China, Japan, Singapore, The Netherlands, Israel, even war-torn Ukraine and other successful Agric pillared economies used to achieve food security?

4. On August 5, 2025, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, dutifully molested Nigerians' ear drums with the news of renovating Lagos Airport at a cost of #712billion or $447million. Again, this airport could be renovated fit and proper to world standard with a much smaller fraction of that cost with ample room to build a maternity annex in the peri-urban communities of every of Nigeria's 774 local government council areas.   

5. On August 14, 2025, the APC Works Minister, Engr. David Umahi, ruthlessly shocked Nigerians by announcing that his ministry needed #3.6trillion to demolish and build, brand new from scratch, the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos or, ironically, a higher amount of #3.8trillion to repair the existing one. What Minister David Umahi is audaciously asking to renovate the Lagos 3rd Mainland Bridge is 1.97% or nearly 2% of Nigeria's entire 2025 federal government budget. Let us take stock.

i. The Lagos 3rd Mainland Bridge is 11.8km long, and has insignificant physical obstacles by marine engineering standards, which involve mere water depths ranging from two to ten meters, the deepest point, it is said, being at the entrance of the Commodore Channel. 

ii. The longest bridge in the world, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge (DKG Bridge) is 168.8km. Considerable engineering obstacles to its construction involved about 150 river channels. Additionally, it had to be designed with ferro-concrete bastions to support the famous Beijing-Shanghai high speed railway which intercepts it.

iii. The cost of constructing the DKG Bridge of 168.8km was $8.5b or #13trillion. This brought the average cost of one kilometer to #79billion. Nigeria's Minister David Umahi's cost of $2.35b for mere 11.8km brings the average cost of one kilometer of his 3rd Mainland Bridge to $198.8m or #305b. This is 3.8 times or nearly 400% higher than China's DKG Bridge. It is ok to aspire to be as rich or to out-rich Dangote, but Labour Party insists that it should not be at the death of Nigerians through phantom budgets and corruption facilitated mass burials.

6. Before the above, Nigeria's PDP and APC governments from 1999 to 2023 had burnt $18b in refurbishing and rehabilitation claims of the country's three refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna. In less than 15 months of being sworn into office, Tinubu and his APC cabinet set another $2.8 on fire on a failed wild goose rehabilitation scheme which was sold to the Nigerian public in barefaced deceit and ended in a catastrophic flop. Shockingly, without formal admission of failure and expenditure audit, the Tinubu Administration is quietly out to put the decorated skeletons of the refineries for sale to cronies. In a recent fatalistic undertaker's verdict by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the private owner of Nigeria's only working and largest refinery in Africa, the Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna refinery ghosts of Nigeria can never work again. 

7. Also before now, rewind to May 26, 2023, three days to late President Muhammadu Buhari's hand-over of power to the Tinubu Administration. Nigerians will recall that Buhari and his then Aviation Minister, Mr. Hadi Sirika, chartered an Ethiopian Boeing 737 commercial jet in Addis Ababa, painted it into a sham Nigeria Air courier colours and logo and flew it into Nigeria. On the said May 26, 2025, the static plane was decorated in ribbons at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Abuja and displayed to the press as a ceremony commissioning the new Nigeria Air courier, with other jets to follow soon after. After the unveiling it was flown back to Ethiopia, the Nigerian colours and logo washed away and its Ethiopian colours restored. It immediately resumed operations with the Ethiopian fleet after its one-day scam ceremony by the APC government in Nigeria. In Buhari's eight years of annual budgets for the aviation sector and the phantom "Nigeria Air" swindle, his APC administration swindled from the Nigeria treasury #85.42billion. No trial to conviction has been recorded till date on this massive, flagrant, in-your-face public fraud.

8. In the light of the above, the Labour Party hereby emphatically declares that the unsolicited, self appointed campaign by the chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Mohammed Shehu, for salary increase for politicians, who are already clearly over-indulged in the eyes of civilize democracies of the world, is suspect. We are compelled to agree with millions of Nigerians that Mr. Mohammed Shehu has hidden unpatriotic motives in flying this audacious, unconscionable and insensitive scheme, especially at this time when countless Nigerians are passing through untold economic hardship and its accompanying privations, vagaries and indignities. 

9. Our party's advice to the chairman of the RMAFC and his unseen collaborators, in and outside the commission, who are behind this misadventure is that they should immediately retrace their steps in their best interest. This is so that the commission will not confirm the suspicion and incur the wrath of outraged Nigerians across the country and beyond who believe that given the unscrupulous, unprosecuted and regime pampered corruption of APC administrations in general, officials of the are aiming their hands for the jar of the Tinubu Administration's unchecked APC corruption orgy at the expense of suffering Nigerians, expected to come through picking kudos commission from thousands of grateful Nigeria politicians nationwide who he may be in conspiracy with them to pay commission's chairman and his team financial homage for a job well-done, as well as other goodwill exchange within the corridors of power.

Furthermore, it will be callous remiss for the revenue allocation commission not to realize that rewarding politicians with more public funds from Nigeria's public treasury, which is already bleeding profusely from corruption, will keep Tinubu in his present mode of marathon borrowings and future short-changing foreign debts.

If anything, the campaign RMAFC should consider urgent, pressing and patriotic to join is to increase Nigeria's workers minimum wage from its present miserable paltry sum of #70,000 per month. In case the RMAFC's chairman is not aware, the United States of America just empathically issued a statement from across the Atlantic to appraise and advocate for improvement of Nigeria's pathetic miniuwage. If a foreign nation could should demonstrate such empathy towards our suffering citizens, the RMAFC's chairman and his administrative directors have no valid excuse not to do more.

Given the above corrosive corruption, grinding penury and retarded development potentials of Nigeria, it is painfully curious, an excruciating irony, that in her recent visit to Nigeria and the Presidency, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Nweala, the Nigerian born Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), should compliment the non-accounting administration of Bola Tinubu as doing well. Labour Party joins Nigeria in asking: will the WTO Director-General find the same benchmarks of corruption, pandemic official fraud, non-compliance with due process laws, flagrant inflation of infrastructure funds and sweeping insecurity plaguing Nigeria under the APC administration of Tinubu in any European, American, Asian countries or other regions of the world and honestly acclaim that they were doing well? Certainly not.

*Conclusion*

Fellow Nigerians, those who burn down a country and those who watch them do so in silence, complacency from privileged insulation and inaction are equal culprits.

The fight to dismantle the structure, superstructure and architecture of corruption is not Peter Obi's fight alone. It is not Labour Party's fight alone. It is the fight of all of us 200million Nigerians. It is a fight for our children, their own children and generations unborn.

APC is burning down our country with never before seen monstrosity of corruption in virtually every sector of our economy, national life and the daily petrifying insecurity of lives and properties that now hold our country's citizens hostage, wether in the cities or rural countrysides and farms where majority of our food and sustenance come from.

It takes a village to tie down a mad relative to give him medicine or put him in stocks for the safety of others. In 2027, let us rise together in communal unison as one people, irrespective of tribe, religion and region to see out of our land the wolf packs ravaging our flock, values and destiny as a great country.

SIGNED:

Prince Tony Akeni

National Publicity Secretary, Labour Party (Interim)

GENOCIDE IS NOT COMMUNAL CONFLICT: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S RESPONSE TO BENUE KILLINGS FALLS DANGEROUSLY SHORT

Issued by: Apostle (Dr.) Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Convener, The Apostolic Round Table

The Apostolic Round Table (ART) expresses deep dismay and utter disappointment at the recent statement released by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu via his official X handle, @OfficialABAT, regarding the continued and escalating massacres in Benue State.

While we acknowledge the President’s eventual public attention to what he described as "senseless bloodletting," we reject in the strongest terms the false framing of the crisis as a communal conflict. What is happening in Benue is not a conflict between communities — it is genocide, perpetrated by well-armed terrorists against indigenous peoples, with the complicity of silence and inaction at the highest levels of power.

The President's directive to security agencies to “arrest perpetrators on all sides” is an unfortunate mischaracterization that equates invaders with victims, terrorists with communities defending themselves, and criminals with casualties. Such ambiguity is not only irresponsible but also emboldens those who thrive on impunity and bloodshed.

The continued reference to “dialogue and reconciliation” is tone-deaf and ill-timed. You cannot negotiate with killers while they are still holding the machetes. You cannot ask people to reconcile with those who have turned their homes into graveyards.

Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief, your duty is not to mediate between life and death. It is to defend life. Your response has not only fallen short of your mandate; it reeks of either deep ignorance of the “underlying issues” or a troubling political mischief that sides with neutrality in the face of evil.

We therefore make the following demands:

1. Immediate military intervention in all affected Benue communities with clear rules of engagement to protect civilians.

2. Public identification and prosecution of known perpetrators and their sponsors.

3. A national security address from the President with a detailed and time-bound roadmap to end the genocidal attacks across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

4. A halt to further gaslighting and false equivalence in government statements concerning acts of terror.

Benue does not need sympathy. Benue does not need another committee. Benue needs protection — now.

Should this government continue to treat mass murder with press releases instead of action, the Apostolic Round Table will mobilize a nationwide prophetic and civic movement to demand accountability. We will not fold our arms while our people are buried in silence.

History will judge every leader not by the speeches they gave, but by the blood they refused to let spill. Mr. President, it is time to act like the Commander-in-Chief you were elected to be.

Signed,

Apostle (Dr.) Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Convener, The Apostolic Round Table

Date: Monday, 16th June 2025.

Supreme Court Rulling: this is not a time for triumphalism—No victor, No vanquished, Says LP Caretaker Chairman Nenadi Usman

Following the Supreme Court judgement that upheld the appeal filled by the Senator Nenadi Esther Usman led Labour Party (LP) caretaker Committee,  declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction. 

Senator Nenadi Usman has therefore declared the victory at the Apex Court as no victor, no vanquished, adding that this is not a time for triumphalism.

Full press statement: 

 PRESS RELEASE: 

The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman—declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.

It is important to emphasize that this is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people. We must now come together, united in purpose and vision, to move the party forward.

The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centered governance.

We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us.

A New Nigeria is POssible!

-Senator Nenadi E. Usman, PhD

Chairman, Labour Party Caretaker Committee

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY CONCERNED LEADERS AND POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN NIGERIA ON THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU

 

Fellow Nigerians,

We are a cross-section of leaders and political stakeholders from across the country. We have come together to address the dangerous and unconstitutional actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on March 18, 2025—to wit, the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and the illegal suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly. 

This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government. We strongly condemn this development and call on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on the constitution of our country and the institutions of our democracy. 

Mr President’s illegal and unconstitutional proclamation was presumably driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, which culminated in the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. Naturally, we expected all parties to the dispute to follow laid-down procedures, and in good faith, to promptly implement the judgment of the highest court of the land. We note that despite provocative statements and belligerent attitude of his opponents, Governor Fubara had demonstrated goodwill and appeared disposed to the implementation of the ruling of the Supreme Court. 

However, rather than rise above the fray, the president yielded to petty favouritism and betrayed the oath that he solemnly swore to before God and man, which was to “do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.” If president Tinubu had conveniently disguised his true intentions in the past, his broadcast to the nation on 18th March 2025 betrayed his bias and fell far below the standard of comportment expected from his exalted office. 

The Constitutional Violations

1. Illegal Removal of a Governor and State Assembly

Without any doubts, the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the President to remove an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly under any circumstances. The procedure for removing a Governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly—not by presidential proclamation or arbitrary pronouncement.

2. Misuse of Section 305 on State of Emergency

Section 305 of the Constitution allows the President to declare a State of Emergency only in extreme cases where public safety, national security, or Nigeria’s sovereignty is at serious risk. However, it does not grant him the power to suspend elected officials or to demolish democratic structures as he has brazenly done.

Furthermore, Section 305(1) states that any proclamation of emergency is subject to the provisions of the Constitution—meaning it cannot override the tenure and removal procedures of a Governor.

3. Failure to Meet Constitutional Requirements for Emergency Rule

The conditions under Section 305(3) for declaring a state of emergency include:

 War or external aggression

 Breakdown of public order and safety

 Natural disasters or any other grave emergency threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence

None of these conditions exist in current circumstances in Rivers State. There is no war, no widespread violence, and no breakdown of law and order warranting emergency declaration.

4. Failure to Follow Due Process

Even if an emergency declaration were valid (which it is not), it would still require a two-thirds majority approval of ALL members of the National Assembly—that is, at least, 72 Senators and 240 members of the House of Representatives. If this approval is not secured, the proclamation must automatically cease to have effect.

5. Alternative Legal Avenues Were Ignored

If the issue was the dysfunction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the President could have encouraged the National Assembly to intervene under Section 11 of the Constitution. However, even under such an intervention, the Governor and Deputy Governor cannot be removed by any arm of government except through constitutional means, as the proviso to S. 11(4) clearly provides.

A Manufactured Crisis for Political Control

This State of Emergency declaration is not about security—it is about power grabbing and control. The disagreements within Rivers State stem from the defection of 27 Assembly members from the PDP to the APC, their loss of seats under constitutional provisions, and the subsequent political manoeuvring to undermine the Governor’s mandate.

Rather than allowing the law to take its course, the federal government has engineered a crisis to justify this obviously premeditated and brazenly cynical unconstitutional action. We find the federal government’s excuse of pipeline vandalism quite untenable and even laughable. The security of national infrastructure falls squarely under the responsibilities of federal security agencies and privately contracted security firms. If this issue has to do with breach of security in whatever form, the question that should naturally be asked are: Who controls the police, the military, and the DSS? The Governor or the President?

Our Demand and Call to Action

1. Immediate Reversal: We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State.

2. National Assembly's Rejection: We call on patriotic Senators and Representatives to vote against this illegal action when it comes before them for approval. The National Assembly must stand on the right side of history and not allow itself to be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab.

3. Judicial Intervention: We urge the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down this proclamation, as it sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any Governor in the future.

4. Nigerians Must Defend Democracy: We call on all civil society organisations, political groups, and Nigerians of good conscience to stand firm in the defence of this democracy that we have all toiled to build. Rivers State is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship requiring the replacement of an ELECTED GOVERNOR with a MILITARY ADMINISTRATOR. We recall that even when a previous administration had declared a state of emergency in parts of the country bedevilled by insurgency and acts of terrorism, the governors of the concerned states were not removed from office as this administration has done. This action, by President Tinubu therefore represents a new low for our country. 

Conclusion

The historical unrest in the Niger Delta should not be forgotten so soon. Past administrations had made great efforts and sacrifices to restore peace and stability to the Niger Delta, which is critical to the economic health and stability of Nigeria itself. This federal government should not manufacture political crises that could disrupt the fragile stability and return the country to the past that we have all prayed to leave behind for good.

We must never allow personal political interests and the desire to hold on to power at all costs to throw the country into unavoidable chaos through brazen subversion of the principles of federalism, democracy, and constitutional governance. This is not just about Rivers State—it is about the future of Nigeria’s democracy.

We thank you all.

Thursday, 20th March, 2025

INVITATION OF JOE AJAERO BY YHE NIGERIA POLICE : COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)

 NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS

MOTTO:LABOUR CREATES WEALTH

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS:                                LAGOS OFFICE:

Paschal Bafyau Labour House                                     29,Olajuwon Street,

Plot 820/821 Central Business District                                Off Ojuelegba Road,

Federal Capital Territory,                                         P.O.Box 620,Yaba,

P.O.Box 1071 PMB 566 Garki,Abuja.                                 Lagos-Nigeria.

Tel:08117077418,0811 707 7419

E-mail:gsec@nlcng.org Website:www.nlcng.org

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

 MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD ON

 TUESDAY,THE 20TH OF AUGUST,2024*

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)convened an emergency meeting to deliberate on the recent developments surrounding the invitation of the President of the Congress,Comrade Joe Ajaero,by the Nigeria Police Force.This invitation is premised on a clearly unfounded and politically motivated investigation into alleged terrorism financing,cybercrime,subversio, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

The NEC notes with grave concern that rather than extending the apology demanded by the Congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunting. This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization (ILO)Conventions 87 and 98.

In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows:

We Shall Honour the Invitation: As a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process,the NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimize the baseless allegations levelled against him.

Condemnation of the State's Actions: The NEC strongly condemns the continued harassment of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other Labour leaders. We view this as a calculated attempt to weaken and destabilize the labour movement, which has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses.

Call for the State to Desist: The NEC warns the state to desist from its evil intentions and stop the ongoing witch-hunt against the leaders of the Congress forthwith. The Congress will not sit idy by while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders are trampled upon with impunity by the State.

 

The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilizing their members across the nation. The Congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement.If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State; NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 Midnight today.

The NEC calls on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in this critical moment. The fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, and we urge all Nigerians to rise in defense of our shared democratic values.

The Nigeria Labour Congress remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the Nigerian people. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved country.

Comrade Ado Sani Minjibir

Deputy President

PRESS STATEMENT: KUNLE AJAYI, ONDO AAC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, COMMENDS THE SUPREME COURT ON THE AFFIRMATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

KUNLE AJAYI 

The Gubernatorial Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the November 16th Ondo State Elections, Kunle 'Wizeman' Ajayi commends the Supreme Court for it's affirmation of Local Government Autonomy. 

 In it's lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court observed that the refusal of state government on financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades.

The Supreme Court also said Local governments has since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the state governors who act in their stead. The supreme court therefore ordered that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.

This is also a great victory for the National Association of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and workers generally in Nigeria as their long fights has now come to success.

The AAC candidate believes that Local Government is the closest to the people and should be the centre point of development. Sadly, governors have been usurping this for primitive accumulation of wealth and power. So, the position of the Supreme Court will engender democracy and help more Nigerians to hold their Leaders accountable. 

This judgement is also a great loss to Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other governors who had gone to court to battle against Local Government Autonomy. We warned them that the truth will prevail. These governors hate democracy and believe that Nigerians must be exploited more in order to satisfy their greed. Now, they have lost woefully!

We call on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to dissolve Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) immediately. The agency is more or less a section of the ruling party and it's quite anti-democratic!

We remember with nostalgia how our party, the African Action Congress (AAC) was robbed in the last Ondo State Local Government Elections in 2020. And we are happy that we protested this in a long and well detailed petition, but sadly, the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu never constituted the Elections Tribunal to look into our grievances. Such is the tyrannical methods governors use in hoodwinking democracy from below. 

Finally, the African Action Congress (AAC) urge INEC to immediately meet with all Local Government stakeholders and draw a timetable for a uniform Local Government Elections nationwide. We will continue to push for real democracy even when rogue forces are so reluctant to give up!

Signed,

Abiodun Lijofi,

Spokesperson,

Ajayi/Dada IrapadaOndo Gubernatorial Campaign Committee.

11th July, 2024.

KUNLE AJAYI — ON THE DISTRESSING YEARS OF OCEAN SURGE AT AYETORO, OUR LEGENDARY ILAJE LONDON, TIME TO RESCUE A NATIONAL MONUMENT!

(Press statement of the Kunle Ajayi, African Action Congress (AAC) Gubernatorial Candidate in Ondo2024)

Just about two days after I tweeted on X about the issues of ocean surge and the systemic destruction of Ayetoro in Ilaje due to Oil Explorations and Climate Change, the whole Ayetoro community, in Ilaje local government Area of Ondo state have staged a protest and called on the federal and the state government to save their souls and rescue the community. This protest was yesterday, May 29th. 

 Ayetoro Community protested over the long neglect by both the Federal and State government for the past two decades. This is despite the “6.5billion shoreline project award by NDDC" which is yet executed after 16 years!

Over 700 houses destroyed. Students can no longer go to school, while the enviable Community-owned factories are washed off. There is no shoreline protection neither is there a Marine plan by former Governments.

Many do no understand the significance of Ayetoro as a Communalist Town self-built by the people. It is a special experimented town of how best to build on the ocean. Ayetoro used to be proudly called the London of Ilaje, with it's spectacular Egalitarian self-government. But sadly today, Ayetoro is getting extinct.

What is happening to Ayetoro is a parable to the whole of the Riverine Areas of Ondo state. This is why our party has adapted the great Amsterdam Plans to build a great chain of cities and towns all across Ilaje to Apoi to Arogbo with a well-mapped out rail/road Marine Transport way that will help to pave way for specially built Smart towns and cities that would be climate-fortified. 

Our party's approach to rebuilding Ayetoro and indeed the whole of Ondo Riverside will be proactive and explorative of great foresights over astonishments. Amsterdam is a city on water, yet, is one of the smartest and most artfully built globally with special use of Green Economy. 

To our Ayetoro people, I commend us for taking mass actions, and we must be consistent with this. These rulers will only come out to make fake promises like they have always been doing, just for the press and votes. Sadly, two former Deputy Governors under the Late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu did nothing to help the plights of Ayetoro and the whole Ondo South. Even in electricity, they have been grossly irresponsible. In fact, Agboola Ajayi's hometown, our beloved Kiribo, has never experienced electricity before. And Lucky Aiyedatiwa is a part and parcel of the old Akeredolu/NDDC fruitless promises to save Ayetoro. It's sad that nothing good can come from the Jerusalem of these anti-developmental elements anymore.

But Ayetoro, succour is coming. #IrapadaOndo has promised a concise and emergent action once we win the race to Alagbaka. Before this, we will keep standing in solidarity with not only Ayetoro, but all of the Ondo State people in pains and penuries.

I therefore use this opportunity on the Ondo State government and the Federal Ministry of Environment, Marine Economy and other agencies like NDDC and OSOPADEC to rise to their duties and declare a state of emergency on Ayetoro and other Niger Delta towns and villages currently ravaged by climate change as a result of the indiscriminate oil explorations. We will mobilize our party members, and supporters to join in active solidarity the Protests by the great Ayetoro community, as we urge the whole of the people of Ilaje, Ikale, Arogbo, and Apoi to unite and defend the rights of the Ayetoro people to good and comfortable living. While we are doing this, we are also helping our own collective future!

Signed,

Kunle Ajayi (Wizeman,)

Governorship Candidate,

The African Action Congress (AAC.)

30th, May, 2024.

STATEMENT: NIGERIAN ARMY DID NOT CONFISCATE PROPERTY OF ENUGU RESIDENT, IT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO THE NA

The Nigerian Army (NA) has been notified of a viral petition written by the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) alleging that 82 Division of the NA is threatening to forcefully and unlawfully take over a property situated at Plot 30, Abakaliki Road, Enugu, which includes No. 7 Abakaliki Lane in the Government Residential Area (GRA) of Enugu State. 

The NA wishes to state that the  petition, which  also posits that 82 Division, in defiance to a letter from the office of the Chief of Army Staff decided to take the law into its hand and supplant the rule of law, is completely unfounded and intended to tarnish the ongoing efforts of the NA to restore peace and tranquility in the South East Region. 

It is therefore necessary to set the record straight  in order not to mislead the public. It must be first  acknowledged that  the historical ownership and legal documentation of the controversial property predates the current dispute. 

Available official records indicate that immediately after the end of the Nigerian civil war, the Military Governors/Administrators of Enugu State allocated 36 properties to the Nigerian Army (NA) to address the accommodation needs of officers in the 82 Division. These properties were acknowledged by  Enugu State Government as belonging to the Federal Government and by extension the NA on 14 April 2008. Accordingly the State Government initiated a proposal for an ownership  exchange of the properties. In the terms of agreement of the proposal, the NA was to release 26 of the said properties to the State Government  and in return, the State Government  would construct alternative accommodations within the Abakpa Military Cantonment for the NA.

The property in question, Plot 30, Abakaliki Road, was among the 36 properties allocated to the NA, but was not part of the 26 properties involved in the proposed exchange with the State Government. The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the State Government to Barrister Ogbodo Nana on 22 November, 2022, is defective as  the C of O was granted without a proper revocation of the original title held by the Nigerian Army, which would be a necessary legal step to change ownership.

Furthermore,  in April 2023, Colonel Ugwuoke (retired) was ejected from House No 7 Abakaliki Lane, after it was discovered that he had attempted to acquire the property through the State Government without proper authorization. The subsequent sale of a portion of the land to the current claimant, Barrister Ogbodo Nana, was done without the consent or approval of the NA, which would have been required for a lawful transaction.

The NA is a disciplined institution that respects human rights and the rule of law. We urge the public to disregard the narrative that suggests the NA is acting unlawfully or without respect for due process. The NA's position is that the property remains under its ownership, until proven otherwise through appropriate legal channels, and any claims to the contrary are based on misinformation.

Consequently the NA calls for a thorough investigation and due process to resolve the matter, and it stands ready to present its evidence of ownership to the competent authorities. We also wish to  reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and the proper resolution of this dispute in accordance with Nigerian legal standards and provisions.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

8 May 2024

NIGERIAN ARMY: ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT OF SOLDIERS IN THEFT AT DANGOTE REFINERY

The Nigerian Army (NA) is deeply concerned about the alleged involvement of two of its personnel in a reported case of theft at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.

This act of criminality, which was prevented by the proactive intervention of vigilant troops and private security operatives on duty at the refinery, is totally unacceptable and highly regrettable. It does not, therefore, represent the ethics and values of the NA.

The two suspects have been identified and are currently under custody.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the two suspects were hired by a civilian contractor simply identified as Mr Smart, who claimed he wanted to recover some Armoured cables he had left behind on the refinery's premises. Unknown to the soldiers, the said contractor, sensing trouble as they approached the security post, excused himself from the vehicle and bolted, leaving them behind. 

Further investigations are ongoing to fully ascertain the depth of culpability of the apprehended soldiers.

Additionally, the stolen cables have been recovered and are in safe custody.

The NA is working closely with the management of the Dangote Refinery to ensure a thorough investigation into this unfortunate incident.

The NA wishes to reassure the general public that appropriate disciplinary measures would be meted out to the culprits, as no act of criminality will be condoned amongst its personnel.

The NA remains steadfast in ensuring that the key values of discipline and integrity are adequately entrenched amongst its personnel. We shall also continue to cultivate and promote dedication and a culture of accountability and ethical behaviours within our ranks.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

17 April 2024

NEWS RELEASE: Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Commentary on Osun Unfair, Biased

Our attention has been drawn to the persistent attacks on Governor Ademola Adeleke by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Esq over the state of the judiciary in Osun state. His recent outbursts are consistent with his unjustifiable political attacks of last year which were clothed in judicial advocacy. 

His piece of last year contained factually incorrect narrations on which he then built an equally jaundiced conclusion. Those errors in the first piece called to question if truly the piece originates from the Comrade Senior Advocate of Nigeria. We know his pedigree but we are worried about his turn of focus and attention. Even at that, we resolved to remain silent, assuming it was probably one of those mistakes in activism.

We are however constrained to respond now that he has released another misdirected attack. It has become obvious that the first write up of last year was not an error; it was a deliberate hatchet job full of uninformed guesses and conclusions. The benefit of doubt granted last year cannot continue in the face of open evidence that our comrade was indeed contracted to mount attacks on a performing Governor, well loved by his people.

In the new piece, the barrister actually admitted he goofed in previous write up, owning up that he was later informed that judicial workers actually wrote petitions against the State Chief Judge and that indeed there are complaints from the workers against the Chief Judge. Yet, he failed to apologize to Governor Adeleke whom he used unprinted labels on in his infamous write up. It would have been more honourable for the comrade to own up, apologize and abandon the brief to denigrate a Governor who is simply, happily and diligently serving his people.

In his new piece, he disingenuously built on the error he had admitted, heaping the blame for the judiciary strike in Osun state on the state Governor. This is the same man who owned up to the fact that the judicial union had welfare and operational disputes with the head of the state judiciary. Is Governor Adeleke the head of Osun state judiciary? 

In his commissioned write up, the comrade deliberately remained fully silent on the head of the state judiciary. If the courts are in crisis, a well meaning writer will question what action the Chief Judge has taken to resolve the matter. Why is Adegboruwa unwilling to call into question the role of the Chief Judge on welfare and operational issues affecting the judicial staff union under her? Is Governor Adeleke in charge of disputed issues the union is complaining of?

Additionally, the Comrade opted to be blind to several efforts of Governor Adeleke to resolve the matter despite the fact that he is not the head of the state judiciary. If Adegboruwa is happy to be silent on the role of the head of the judiciary, he should have been magnanimous enough to acknowledge the positive interventions of Mr Governor. He pretended to be unaware because admitting such would expose the head of the judiciary that he was commissioned to protect.

For records, the judicial staff union levelled several operational and welfare allegations against the Chief Judge which include among others the withholding of salaries of some judicial workers, non payment of ward robe allowances among other allowances, alleged abuse of power, police brutality and issues over fund mismanagement. These among others are issues included in the union’s petition before the National Judicial Council.

Mr Governor actually went out of his way to ensure the payment of withheld salaries of the judicial union as a way of putting an end to the strike. He proceeded to inquire about the allowances until it was discovered that the funds had actually been released to the Judiciary. Just a few days ago, the  Governor hosted a delegation of the national leadership of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, appealing for interventions to resolve the industrial disputes. What else is Adegboruwa expecting the Governor to do especially when he is not the head of the judiciary?

While avoiding the crux of the matter because of his fear of the NJC, the Comrade proceeded to propound a jaundiced theory of necessity of a state of emergency. Because the head of an arm of government has failed to manage workers under her, then the whole state government should be brought down? Isn’t that a warped logic from a troubled mind? What an imbecile way of constitutional interpretation? 

If an arm of government is not functioning, the question should be why. In this case, the non-functioning is because the workers have complaints against the head of their sector, in this case, the Chief Judge, a matter that is before the NJC. Third parties such as the national leadership of the union and even the State Governor are intervening for an amicable resolution. Adegboruwa should ask what the head of the judiciary is doing instead of making baseless advocacy out of hatred for the Governor and out of his protection of the Chief Judge.

How a SAN woke up to hold a Governor rather than the Chief Judge responsible for strike action by judicial workers over welfare issues is still a mystery. 

We notify the comrade that his unholy intervention in Osun politics is fast eroding whatever is left of his goodwill garnered as a fearless comrade. If he continues on this path, we will henceforth resort to treating him as a hack writer on a mission against the government and people of Osun state.

Signed:

Mallam Olawale Rasheed,

Spokesperson to the State Governor

PRESS RELEASE: NNPCL To Supply 46.2% of Dangote Refinery Crude: Too Many Questions Unanswered

 21st May 2023

The Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari has announced that Nigeria's national oil company

will begin to supply Dangote refinery 300,000 barrel of crude oil daily this week.

The 300,000 barrels

 is 46.2% of Dangote's daily crude oil needs.

This is another phase and beginning of corporate capture of our Commonwealth by frontiers of the ruling class.

Mr. Kyari was quoted to have said that"we want to address the energy challenges so that industrialization can come to the country."

Has any monopoly arrangements ever enthrone industrialization in any climes?

The Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Nigeria wonders why the nation's four (4) refineries that several billions of dollars have been wasted on cannot work while the managers of our economy are happy to cheaply give away the people's natural resources while host communities lives in degraded, environmentally polluted and disease invested underserved communities: and the citizenry lives in

abject poverty.

Industrialization, growth and development can only come when we deploy our resources for a productive economy away from casino economy.

When our refineries are functional, we derive several dozens of petroleum by-products like petrol, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, paraffin, heavy fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), petrochemical, feedstock and bitumen. Including: fertilizer, flooring (floor covering), perfume, insecticide, petroleum jelly, soap, vitamins and some essential amino acids etc.

All these petroleum wastes will reposition thousands of our ailing and collapsed industries for value chain activities, employment and revenue generation; for the government, the informal economy and the mass of our people.

We have said it for the umpteenth time that oil swaps will continue in a weak, leaking, corrupt, and compromised system like we have suffered and continue to suffer in Nigeria.

PWYP would like NNPC to publicly provide response or publish the followings:

A) the contract between Dangote and Nigerian Government to enable citizens understand that content and commitments, and ways of monitoring the contract implementation.

B) How long will this swap continue?

C) How would this development address industrialization of the country?

D). What happens to the nation's four (4) refineries that we have wasted several billions of dollars in turn-around- maintaince (TAM), staff remunerations and other expenses?

E). Would our refineries go the way of the Discos, Gencos and other government enterprises that were grossly under valued and sold under the guise of privatization?

F). If oil swaps continue to be the focus of the oil regime in Nigeria, then the gradual transition to just clean Energy Transition (J-CET) becomes a goose chase.

G). The NNPCL said it was going to visit Saudi Arabia to learn from the operations of ARAMCO, government owned company; we wonder what lessons the management of the NNPCL brought back to the country for the purpose of doing things different to move our oil and gas sector forward.

We will readily advocate, monitor and speak against any arrangement that is akin to economic sabotage and looting of our commonwealth.

To us, productivity is the road to industrialization and national development.

COMRADE Otitolaye Taiwo 

National Coordinator

PWYP, Nigeria

Press Release: Oyo LP Chairman consistent attacks; a show of shame

Akinwale

Our attention has been called to yet another vituperation by the Oyo State Labour Party Chairman, Sodiq Atayese on a Splash FM programme tagged “Gbagede Oselu” on Thursday.

It is becoming rather embarrassing that Mr. Sodiq Atayese has turned bitterness into a hobby and has neglected his primary duty as the chairman of a party in the state facing numerous self-inflicted issues.

Before the election, Mr. Sodiq Atayese consistently attacked the personality of Hon. Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale the Gubernatorial Candidate of his party, in a bid to soil his reputation. He anchored all sorts of organized and informal propaganda and varieties of blackmail against the person of Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale and to cap it, he resolved to the dubious and anti-party collapse of the Labour Party structure in the state for the incumbent with whom he seeks favor.

One would expect that after the election, Mr. Sodiq will have a sober reflection and bury his head in shame for the woeful performance of the party in the election at all levels. Unfortunately,   this has not been the case probably because he hasn’t been considered for his seek favour by his “paymaster” only God knows.

His remarks about the person of Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale are not new, Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale's competency is one of the reasons why Mr. Sodiq Atayese became so embittered because he couldn’t find the “Yes sir” attributes in him despite Akinwale’s humility and respect for everyone in the party.

We are using this medium to advise Mr. Sodiq Atayese to face his business of fixing the mess he has dragged the party into instead of his continuous embarrassing media tour to shamelessly nag and present excuses for his shameless anti-party actions in the last elections. The same man nagging about incompetency was blown away by Akinwale’s submissions at the BBC gubernatorial debate where he uttered the remark “I am proud of you.”

Mr. Atayese claimed that Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale is not competent enough, should we say that all candidates in the party are not competent enough for their respective positions and that was why the Chairman sold the party out?

In 2019, Mr. Atayese was the Labour Party Guber and he refused to step down for the incumbent Governor despite being the accountant to Seyi Makinde’s company. Mr Atayese should remember that there are consequences for each action, and whatever a man sows he shall reap.

Hon. Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale has moved on and has continued to make his impact felt on matters that concern the state just recently his intervention in the proposed Chieftaincy amendment bill has generated serious actions and scrutiny of the process.

The Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate in the last election is a man with focus and does not get swayed away by petty talks. However, it is necessary to call the chameleon Chairman to order which necessitated this response.

Hon. Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale remains committed to the growth and betterment of Oyo State and every citizen therein and he is focused on making meaningful contributions and impacts to take the State to an enviable height.

*E-signed:*

*Samuel Abodunrin*

*_Press Secretary to Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale, Oyo State LP Guber 2023_*

May 12, 2023.

STATEMENT : Sadiq Atayese led Oyo Labour Party defrauds 3000 PDP back up polling agents

*FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES OF OYO LABOUR PARTY CHIEFTAINS* 

We wish to bring to the notice of activities of the so- called chieftains of Labour party in Oyo state who have identified themselves as new bride of Omituntun 2.0 project despite making a zero input.

 

It is exactly a month today, when on 18th March we tropped out to partake in the elections of Gov. Seyi Makinde and the Honourables.

A week to these elections , a call was made state wide by these _hungry_ Labour party chieftains that Seyi will be needing 3000 backup polling agents in addition to those provided by his party, the PDP. Consequently, a training programme was scheduled at University of Ibadan in three batches. 

At the end of the training, we were told that transport fares have been provided in respect of the training but unfortunately no cash was readily available so we should all drop our bank account details for payment of these transport and stipends for acting as agents of the Saturday elections.

Till date no kobo has been received by any of us, we mean none was paid ostensibly the total amount scammed was pocketed.

That was a fraud and cheat too many. Seyi Makinde and all of all have been scammed!

Oyo state ICPC over to you. 

Some scapegoats have been identified here for timely action .

These are the people who are already jostling for positions in the next cabinet of 2.0 despite defrauding him. The governor should be careful of these hungry wolves as no part of any MDA is worth being entrusted to these opportunists.

The governor should beware of these unknown strangers and opportunists. 

There is no credibility or honour in them, if they can't be entrusted with this little.

It's all illgotten wealth amassed so much that by His grace, it will be used on ill health by those people and their posterity.

These are the leaders of today. *Shame* !

We used our time and money in attendance at the seminar on one hand, and acting as adhoc PDP party agents, on the other.

Thank you.

Opoola Ridwan 

 *Coordinator* 07056978915

1

Rafiu Mutiu

08140298750

 _Signatory_ 

2

Olalekan Shakirat

08058613441

 _Signatory_ 

 *CC* :

Governor Seyi Makinde

Senator Hosea Agboola, Chairman Advisory council 

Hon Bayo Lawal campaign DG

Prof Nureni Adeniran

Chief Dotun Oyelade

Chairman publicly committe of campaign 

 Honourable Babs Oduyoye 

Special Adviser political 

Chief Seye Famojuro

Alhaji Akeem Azeez, PA to the governor 

 Mr Taiwo Adisa Press secretary to the governor

Atayese

Before publishing the above statement, LP chairman in Oyo State honourable Sadiq Atayese was contacted on WhatsApp on his Verified numbers 07088956726 / 08033001036.

Other members of the state working committee who responded said the statement should be ignored or be be brought to the exco at the state.

However, the statement can not be far from the truth as it was too obvious and glaring that the Oyo State working committee of the Labour Party worked against the interest of the party under Atayese leadership. A total show of antiparty outing in the last elections.

#EDOSTATE: The Violence Is Spreading And Must Be Stopped Now!

PRESS RELEASE:

*DEMOCRACY IS UNDER THREAT IN EDO STATE- LP.  *

The attention of the Edo State Labour Party has been drawn to the series of  attacks on Labour Party candidates, party faithfuls and  the Obidient movement in the state. Our candidates campaign billboards, posters  and banners are been destroyed by people who claimed it is directives given them from above. 

For example, our candidate for Oredo Federal  Constituency, Engr. Esosa  Iyawe billboards along Airport road, Akenzuwa road,  Ekenwan road and environs duly paid for were pulled down by the Oredo Local Government Council and warned the billboard agent not to hang any Labour party content on them. The billboard agent who said his business is been threatened if he does otherwise only agreed to make a refund to our candidate. In Esan Central, our House of Assembly Candidate, Hon. Oses   Emmanuel Eromosele billboards he constructed by himself in strategic locations were all removed and taken away by the Head of  service of the Council. When he was contacted he said,  it was directive from above. Another giant size billboard of our presidential and other candidates sponsored by Edo Diaspora women for Peter Obi erected around Ibiwe, ring road, Oredo LGA was also pulled down by the council.

 In ward 7 Ugbekun, Ikpoba Okah LGA, Labour party office  was invaded by thugs suspected to be hired by PDP removed all Labour party items, including sign  post, party flags,  banners of our presidential candidate  and posters of Labour part candidates. They forcefully  hoisted PDP  flag and pest posters and banners of PDP candidates in the place.

 Our members who were chased out of the premises said, the hoodlums openly boasted that they are going to make sure they drive Labour  party  out of the state as directed. 

Most worrisome is the fact that we were earlier denied the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium  for rally to host our presidential candidate  Mr Peter Obi and his running mate Datti Yusuf.

It is Worthy of note that these are happening after HE, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has some time ago openly declared during the inauguration of his factional state PDP presidential campaign council. "That those who call themselves obedient in the state will soon run out of steam" 

We are worried as a party if this abrasiveness and hostile nature towards our candidates and members is what they have planned by saying we will soon go of steam?

As a party we have

 observed that the unfolding events in the State is a direct attack on democracy to deny the people from making free choices. 

 Labour Party is a party widely accepted by the people as the only credible alternative platform to take them out of the present hardship inflicted on them by both the APC at the Federal and  PDP at state level. 

We are social democrats who believes that it is still possible to conduct the affairs of party politics on identifiable ideology of progressive issues based  campaign. We are therefore calling on all well meaning Nigerians, Edolites and the security agents to please call the PDP led government in the state to order not to  truncate democracy but a peaceful atmosphere to allow the people freely make their informed decisions to elect who leads them. 

Comr. Sam Oroupa

Publicity Secretary

Labour Party, 

Edo State.

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RE: ALHAJI TAWFIQ AKINWALE'S LATEST PRESS RELEASE ON THE MATTER OF RECENT VISIT OF LABOUR PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PETER OBI TO OYO STATE

I have refrained for a time from commenting and even posting on this and other LPcentric platforms. And also on the matter of the recent visit of our Presidential candidate, HE Peter Obi to Oyo state. The reasons are already coming out even without mentioning them...

On the latest press release issued by our Gubernatorial candidate, I want to posit and say the following:

1. It is sad, how the visit of our Presidential candidate; rather than to galvanize us has further magnified the schism amongst us as candidates and members of the party.

Very unfortunately.

2. However, I do not think we should go as far as taking our little matter of N300, 000.00 to EFCC to adjudicate! Haba, I think that is like killing a fly with the sledgehammer. If indeed this is not a threat, then the crisis of confidence in the party is just about to begin. Our image as a party may not survive the 'impending Holocaust'. The bad press will finally demystify the LP as a better alternative to the kind of leadership Nigeria is currently suffering.

Going to EFCC is lose, lose for everybody.

3. I appeal therefore to our dear gubernatorial flagbearer, Hon. Akinwale Tawfik to kindly sheath his sword. To be wrongfully accused is not an easy cross to bear. But it could just be treated as another sacrifice of leadership and part of his costs in leadership.

4. I appeal also to our party chairman to open a new channel of rapprochement with all  concerned; across board, to most naturedly and transparently manage all the fallouts of our Presidential candidate's visit.

We are all matured enough to manage a country, talk less of a party at state level.

The leaders of the party in the state should also not fold their hands and be looking. Duty calls!

Pele, pele d'owo gbogbo wa.

Thank you all.

*Kayode Adejumo-Bello,*

LP candidate, Oyo state House of Assembly, Ibadan North constituency II

 

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