‘Gbajabiamila Not Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, President-elect To Return Soon’

The Director of Media and Publicity for the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed reports that the president-elect has appointed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his chief of staff. According to Onanuga, such reports remain speculation until Tinubu confirms it on his return from France.

Onanuga, a former boss of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), revealed that Tinubu would be returning to the country soon. He told The PUNCH: “I don’t know about that. The president-elect will soon be back in the country. It is nothing new. We know it has been trending in the last couple of days. Of course, it is still in the realm of speculation until the president-elect says otherwise.”

Reports from inside the Tinubu’s camp claim that the president-elect will announce Gbajabiamila as his chief of staff after the May 29 inauguration. These reports were heightened following the speaker’s absence during the presentation of certificates of return to elected members of the 10th House of Representatives at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Speaking to the news platform, a reliable source within the president-elect’s camp disclosed that people close to Tinubu had read his body language and his recent trip to France with the Speaker as enough reason for the speculation. He said, “It is no secret that Gbaja has remained one of Asiwaju’s trusted lieutenants and political protégés. We know he (Tinubu) is comfortable with exchanging ideas and sharing certain secrets with him more than other members of his camp.

“You saw him with Asiwaju at Chatham House, political rallies, and some nocturnal meetings with him. He always seems relaxed in Gbaja’s presence. Therefore, it is no surprise to us that he has always been by the president-elect even as he is having his vacation in France. “In fact, as far as we are concerned, the speaker has resumed his duty as chief of staff to Tinubu already.”

 

Source: Naija News

 

 

Peter Obi: Igbo Lawyers Knock FG Over Treason Allegation, Set To Hold Urgent Meeting

Igbo lawyers under the aegis of the Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA) have knocked the Federal Government over its claim that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, had committed a treasonable offence. According to the group of legal practitioners led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) identified as Chief Chuks Muoma, the group is set to hold an urgent meeting over the matter.

Muoma, as gathered from The Sun, said the hypocrisy against the Igbo of South-East in Nigeria was so glaring for the world to see, while noting that until Ndigbo, who led the independence struggles, were recognised and given their rightful positions in Nigeria, the country will not know peace. Naija News recalls that earlier in the week, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had accused Obi and his running mate, Datti Ahmed of plotting a violent change of government in Nigeria by not accepting the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll.

However, reacting to the allegation, the leader of the Igbo lawyers said the group was not happy about the fact Obi was being harassed, hounded and threatened to abandon the cause he had taken. The Labour Party flag bearer was therefore urged not to abandon the case at the elections tribunal or go into exile. Muoma said “Why are they harassing him, because they cheated him out of his victory? Now, they are claiming he has committed treason offences. You cannot beat a child and deny him his tears, deny him crying.

“Independence struggles for the country were spearheaded by the Igbo man; Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mbonu Ojike, Ozuomba Mbadiwe. Nigeria has to accept and give Igbo their rightful positions for it to move forward. As long as Nigeria hates Igbo, the country will remain as it is.”

While commenting on if Obi should go on self-exile as suggested by some quarters, he queried that “Why would Obi go on exile? For what? If they said he committed treason, let them go ahead but the fact remains that, they haven’t got any evidence against him. There is no evidence. “The law is a matter of evidence and evidence is a matter of fact. All that they are doing is because Obi is an Igbo man. That’s exactly what the problem is.”

 

Source: Naija News