Headline

SDP Youths Give Party 24 Hours to Present Jerry Gana as Presidential Candidate

Published

6 years ago

January 22, 2019

Eric

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) youth have given the leadership of the party 24 hours to send the name of Jerry Gana to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate.

The national youth leader, Nwanka Stanley, made this known at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

This is coming a day after the Director-General of the Jerry Gana campaign organisation, Ike Neliaku, accused the party of conspiracy against the candidature of Mr Gana.

Mr Gana, a former Minister of Information, is in dispute with a former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, for the presidential ticket of the party. Mr Duke won the primary but a court ruled that he should not have contested, citing the stipulation of a zoning arrangement in the constitution of the party.
The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja December 14 declared Mr Gana as the rightful candidate.

The national chairman of the party, Olu Falae, despite the acceptance of Mr Gana by party members and some party officials, has, however, refused to officially recognise Mr Gana pending the determination of an appeal against the judgment.

Noting SDP prides itself as a civil and democratic party, Mr Falae said it would not flout court orders.

But the youth wing of the party said it is not impressed with Mr Falae’s position.

“The National Chairman should as a matter of urgency submit the name of Prof. Jerry Gana to INEC, pending an alternative judgment by a higher court,” Mr Stanley said at the press conference.

“This we expect to be done within the next 24 hours, considering the fact that this has lingered since December.

“As youth leaders in the party, we have quietly observed the turnout of events, particularly as it concerns the presidential candidacy of our party, and general.”

He said the ultimatum was necessary because as youth, it is their duty to rise to the occasion and protect the house they have long labored for.

“It has become necessary that we would rise to rescue our party from the edge of the precipice, where it now stands or keep quiet and watch it fade away ingloriously,” the youth leader said.

Other demands of the youth are that the party’s National Secretary, Shehu Gabam, who was the running mate of Mr Duke, should within the next 24 hours, vacate his office as the scribe of the party.

In line with Article 24; Section 3, Subsection i and ii of the party’s constitution which states that: ‘Any party official, who wishes to contest election into public office, shall notify the Party in writing of his intention and be granted leave of absence by the Party.

“This leave is supposed to commence not later than thirty (30) days before the Party Primary for the said election but in this case, Gabam replaced Mohammed Junaid who stepped down.”

The youth also demanded that the Delta State chairman of the party step down.

“The Delta State Chairman, who parades himself as the Chairman of Chairmen, with his cohort Dogara, having lost the followership of his co-chairmen and should henceforth desist from fomenting further troubles for the party. They should go and man their various states and ensure they deliver the Party in the fought coming general elections,” he said.

The youth leader said SDP remains the credible alternative for Nigerians and should be seen doing the right thing.
He called on the members to rise up and join hands with the youth to rescue the party.

Asked if the youth had made efforts to resolve this within the party before this and what would happen when the ultimatum expires, Mr Stanley said several letters had been written to the party.

He said if nothing was done before the ultimatum expires they would take an “alternative” which he refused to disclose.

After the briefing, the youth leaders marched to the national secretariat of the party to protest.

Premium Times

Headline

Resume Before Trump’s Inauguration, American Schools Advise International Students

Published

4 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Eric

Universities in the United States have urged international students to resume before president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Trump is set to be sworn in on January 20, 2025.

The universities advised international students to return early from winter break amid promises of another travel ban by the incoming president.

Many international students were stranded abroad when Trump imposed a travel ban at the start of his first administration.
The president-elect has been vocal about his hardline immigration stance.

Some of the actions Trump has promised to take include a travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries and the revocation of student visas of “radical anti-American and anti-semitic foreigners”.

Headline

Prerogative of Mercy: Osun Gov Pardons 53 Convicts

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Eric

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has exercise his powers of prerogative of mercy, pardoning 53 convicted inmates, including a young man sentenced to death for ‘stealing fowl’.

The governor made this known via a tweet on his official X handle with the title, PREROGATIVE OF MERCY EXTENDED TO 53 CONVICTS.

The governor noted as follows:

In line with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

In the case of inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences of the following 30 (thirty ) inmates in whole.

1. OLUBO SUNDAY
2. ISAH UMAR BIODUN
3. FAWAS KAREEM
4. OMIRIN TEMITAYO
5. OLARENWAJU AYOMIDE
6. DARE SUNDAY
7. OLADAPO TUNDE
8. GANIYU SAHEED
9. ADEWUMI SODIQ
10. ADEBAYO ADEOYE
KEHINDE
11. LASIS KAZEEM
12. DAUDA OJO (59 YEARS)
13. ISMAILA RAJI
14. OSENI MICHEAL
15. AJAYI KOREDE
16. ABIONA NURUDEEN
17. OSHI SAMUEL
18. SHEU YUSUF OLATUNJI
19. OJO AANU
20. MUSTAPHA KEHINDE
21. LASIS ABEEB
22. ALEXANDRA IORLAHA
23. OJO TAIWO
24. AZEEZ MUJEEB
25. AKINYEMI DAVID
26. ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE
27. OLAOBAJU SAMUEL
28. ADURA ADEFEMI
29. PAUL BASIL
30. KUNLE DAVID

I have also decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to the following 12 (Twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.

1. OLABOMIJI NURUDEEN
2. MUSTAPHA ISAH
3. OLALEKAN ABDULLAHI
4. AYOMIDE OLOJEDE
5. AKEEM RAPHAEL
6. ADEYEMI ABIODUN
7. OLADIPUPO SEGUN
8. OMISAKIN SUNDAY
9. ADEMOLA ADIO
10. TUNDE OLAPADE
11. LATE CHIEF WOLE OLA
RUFUS OJO
12. OMOLOYE OLAJIDE
OLAYEMI

In the case of the following 6 (Six) Convicts sentenced to death, I have approved the commutation of their sentence from death to outright release while OJEKUNLE TIMOTHY has his sentence commuted from death sentence to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment having spent at least 10 (ten) years in custody.

1 OLUWAFEMI FAGBEMI
2 BEWAJI SUNDAY
3. AMEHIN GEORGE
4. AYOMIDE ARULOGUN
5. TAIWO OLUWATOBI STEPHEN
6. ABUBAKAR ABDULAZEEZ

The following 4 (Four) Convicts also have their sentences commuted from death sentence to outright pardon.

1. SUNDAY MORAKINYO
2. SEGUN OLOWOOKERE
3. TUNDE OLAPADE
4. DEMOLA ODEYEMI

Headline

Amnesty Demands Probe of Military Airstrike in Sokoto Communities

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Eric

Amnesty International (AI) has urged the Federal government to conduct a comprehensive, independent, and impartial investigation into a military airstrike that killed at least 10 people in two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The human rights organization called on President Bola Tinubu to promptly set up an independent inquiry into the tragic incident.

Amnesty emphasized that if investigations point to criminal responsibility, the authorities must ensure that those indicted are prosecuted in fair and transparent trials, adhering to international human rights standards.

Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian military for what it described as a consistent pattern of neglect in investigating airstrikes and other violent incidents that have repeatedly endangered civilian populations.

The organization noted that this lack of accountability has fostered a climate of fear among villagers, who live under the constant threat of recurring attacks.

“These incidents have created a vicious cycle of violence and insecurity for communities, and this must not be allowed to continue,” the statement said.

Amnesty also highlighted the need for justice and effective remedies for the victims and their families, including compensation and psychological support.

They stressed that the government’s response must go beyond investigations to address the systemic failures that enable such incidents.

The call comes amid growing concerns about civilian casualties resulting from military operations in Nigeria, raising questions about the rules of engagement and the transparency of the country’s security forces.

Observers note that accountability for military actions is critical to restoring public trust and ensuring the protection of human rights.

Amnesty’s statement underscores the urgency of addressing these systemic issues to prevent further tragedies and uphold the fundamental rights of affected communities.

The Federal government has yet to respond to Amnesty International’s demands.