Ekiti election result mysterious — CACOL

A non-governmental organisation, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, has described the result of the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election as mysterious.

The Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Governor Ayodele Fayose, had defeated the then incumbent Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress by a landslide, winning all the 16 local government areas in the state.

The Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, told SUNDAY PUNCH that Fayose’s election was a mystery.

He said, “If it was not mysterious, one would agree that an incumbent, who had not witnessed ‘governor-must-go protests’ and who the citizenry of the state had tolerated for that length of time couldn’t have performed that woefully.

“Conversely, Fayose was impeached for violating the rights of the Ekiti citizens. He has not been able to extricate himself from this and other allegations before he was allowed to contest elections. That is the first aspect of mystery.

“All the anti-graft agencies should have kicked against it, knowing that should he contest and win, he would attain the status of governor and immunity would be conferred on him.”

Adeniran also described the massive deployment of security operatives during the election as a show of strength by the Federal Government.

“It was the Federal Government’s way of showing that no matter what, it would be there for Fayose because he is in the ruling party. The same backing was extended to him when mayhem was witnessed in Ado-Ekiti.

“The closure of the high court wouldn’t have happened, if the Federal Government had not allowed the mayhem to fester without any control or anyone being punished for it. The courts ought not to have been closed because they are the last hope of the common man.

“People whose lives were at risk and had cases in those courts would not have had the opportunity of seeking the intervention of the judiciary and that could have led to the termination of lives,” Adeniran added.

Last Sunday, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Woke Soyinka, had similarly described Fayemi’s loss in the election as a mystery which he said the APC needed to unravel.

Soyinka said Fayose should continue the programmes and legacy projects started by the ex-governor.

But the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State criticised him, accusing him of imposing himself as the ex-governor’s image maker.

Copyright PUNCH.

Continue reading “Ekiti election result mysterious — CACOL”

Life imprisonment should replace death sentence –Adeniran

Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper

Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, in this interview with Senior Correspondent, EKENE OKORO, says the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers accused of mutiny is barbaric and would cause more harm than good in the quest by the Nigeria Defence system to win the war against the Boko Haram. Excerpts:

Adeniran

Twelve Nigerian soldiers were recently sentenced to death for mutiny and other offences by a military court martial. Do you see capital punishment as justice well served in this regard? Continue reading “Life imprisonment should replace death sentence –Adeniran”

Serving governors do not deserve national merit award —Debo Adeniran

http://nationaldailyng.com/index.php

Comrade Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), expresses concern that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ICPC are the proper agencies to screen politicians on corruption for

clearance to contest elections. He says there is suspicion that the $9.3 million meant for arms but confiscated in South Africa had Presidential cover and may be for other purposes than Nigerians were being told.  SUNDAY ODIBASHI met him in Lagos. Continue reading “Serving governors do not deserve national merit award —Debo Adeniran”

X-raying Ikuforiji’s long walk to vindication

Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper

By Tunde Opeseitan –  Snr Correspondent, Lagos

 

It is no longer news that Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has been cleared of money laundering charges to the tune of about N600 million, levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It is also not news that the EFCC has appealed the verdict delivered on September 26 by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The legal travails of the Speaker began in December 2011, when the EFCC instituted a criminal charge against him and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi. Continue reading “X-raying Ikuforiji’s long walk to vindication”

Hand over Kashamu to U.S., Nigerians tells Jonathan

Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper

 By Tunde Opeseitan  /   Snr Correspondent, Lagos

Some eminent Nigerians on Friday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to swiftly hand over a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buruji Kashamu, to the United States Government for prosecution over alleged drug case.

Kashamu is wanted in the United States for allegedly importing drug illegally into the country. Continue reading “Hand over Kashamu to U.S., Nigerians tells Jonathan”

How lack of transparency in oil sector under-develops Nigeria

Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper

By Chukwudi Nweje Acting Features Editor

President Jonathan Diezani Alison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources

Transparency and accountability in the nation’s oil sector was the central focus recently in Lagos when the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre supported by FOSTER (Oxford Policy Management) held an interactive session with journalists on ‘how to build cross-border campaign against oil theft, strengthen citizens awareness on corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in the Nigerian oil sector’.

The session focused on the need for civil society organisations and the media to make use of the opportunities inherent in the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act as a tool for bringing about transparency and accountability in Nigeria oil sector.

The need for the session is better appreciated considering Nigeria is reliant on oil exports for more than 95 percent of its foreign exchange revenues. Thus, whatever happens in the oil sector has a direct consequence on the Nigerian economy. Continue reading “How lack of transparency in oil sector under-develops Nigeria”