PDP: Military Worried over Inauguration Because 2023 Elections were Rigged
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday claimed that the military authorities expressed worries over an alleged threat to the May 29 inauguration of a new administration because they knew that the February 25 presidential election was flawed and compromised.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja.
The party stated that under normal circumstances, the military would not be concerned because democracy and change of government should be seen as a thing of joy and a cause for celebration.
“Typically, with the coming of a new government, there should be a new enthusiasm. Democracy should be about the people and therefore a celebration that a new government is about to come.
“I read in the newspapers that the military is expressing concern that some people will disrupt the swearing-in and inauguration of a new government on May 29. Again, it goes to say the election was not proper, and due processes were not followed.
“After all, what are the worries for? Democracy should be a celebration.
“When a new government is about to come or a democratic change in expectation of a new government, typically the environment will be bobbling with people looking forward to a new horizon and hope.
“In this election or do I say selection, you notice that there are palpable ominous signs in the country otherwise if the election has been okay in line with the laws and what democratic tendencies are all about in terms of change of government, what you will see is that people will be preparing to celebrate on that day.
“But what do you find? You find that the military expresses concern over those against the inauguration because they know that the processes that produced the incoming government, particularly the INEC are flawed, compromised, and corrupted as well as corrupted by the APC and its candidate. There is despondency all over the country.
“It is worrisome for the military to get concerned because a change of government should be a celebration, but it is becoming a mourning period for the country.
“That should capture the attention of Nigerians. Where do we go from here if an election has been so badly skewed by INEC, then that should worry all of us and the question is where do we go from here?” Ologunagba queried.
Source – ThisDay
Tinubu Congratulates King Charles
President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to King Charles III of Great Britain congratulating him on his coronation held yesterday in England at Westminster Abbey.
In the letter, Tinubu described the splendour of British monarchy and the rich tradition coming to the fore on Saturday as the world literally came to a standstill in watching Charles being crowned the new British King.
He wrote, “By way of this letter, therefore, I convey to you my warmest congratulations on your coronation.”
The incoming Nigerian president said, “It is heartwarming that your accession to the throne is coming after the 70-year-reign of your iconic mother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose death last September left the entire world in grief, given her eventful reign.
“Bearing your unique place in history as the first King to be inaugurated in Britain since 1937, I trust that you will follow in the glorious footsteps of your late mother and even surpass her achievements in United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.”
He said, particularly remarkable about King Charles is his love for the environment and his lifelong crusade for sustainability and biodiversity.
He said, “I hope that you will continue to push for these initiatives with kind eyes on the situation and plight of the under-privileged people in Africa and around the world.
“As the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I also hope that during your reign, the excellent bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Britain will continue and even become stronger in the interests of our two countries.
“I look forward to further engagements with you and the opportunity of a meeting in the nearest future as both of us had earlier indicated in discussions with mutual friends and associates.”
Once again, he said, “ I rejoice with you on your coronation and pray that God Almighty grant you strength and wisdom and make your reign successful for the benefit of not only the people of the Great Britain, but for the entire world. “
Source – Leadership
37 Lawmaker-Elects Work Against Tinubu’s Alleged Choice Of Akpabio, Barau
A tough conflict is brewing in the 10th National Assembly as about 37 senators-elect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) reject the proposed selection of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jubrin Barau for Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
This decision to select Akapbio and Jibrin was conveyed to the senators-elect by president-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during an APC leadership meeting in Abuja on Friday night.
The president-elect also disclosed that his pick for House of Representatives Speaker is Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who represents the Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State.
Many of the 37 dissenting senators-elect cited national unity and cohesion as the basis for their opposition to Akpabio. Instead, they suggested Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, for the roles of Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
These APC senators demanded the president-elect remain neutral during the elections of the 10th National Assembly’s presiding and principal officers.
One source that spoke with Vanguard on the conflict between lawmakers said, “About 37 APC senators-elect have rejected the choice of Akpabio as the Senate President. He was introduced alongside Senator Barau as Deputy Senate President.
“But the senators-elect cited national unity and said they would rather vote for Orji Kalu and Yari as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
“They also appealed to the president-elect who also chose Tajudeen Abbas for Speaker not to interfere in the elections of the presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly. This is the situation now.”
Concerns were also raised about the acceptance of Tajudeen Abbas as the House of Representatives Speaker.
Some members of the House favoured the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, for the position.
Source – Naija News