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Category: Politics

  • NANS slams Akpabio, senators over ‘chaotic’ senate sessions

    NANS slams Akpabio, senators over ‘chaotic’ senate sessions

    ABUJA – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern over Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators for the chaos and personal attacks in the 10th National Assembly.

    The student body expressed concern over lawmakers’ conduct, warning that such behaviour undermines good governance and Nigeria’s international reputation. This condemnation occurred during the NANS Solidarity March to the National Assembly in Abuja, aimed at addressing tensions in the Senate. Comrade Oladoja Olushola, NANS President-Elect, delivered an address emphasising the need for decorum and accountability among senators.

    NANS highlighted the troubling trend of personal vendettas and political rhetoric overshadowing critical issues like economic reforms, inflation control, and social harmony. The association stressed that senators must prioritise legislation benefiting Nigerians over divisive conflicts.

    NANS warned that ongoing infighting could worsen political divisions and hinder collaboration between the National Assembly and the Presidency. Furthermore, NANS urged Senate President Akpabio to strengthen the relationship between the legislative and executive branches, emphasising the importance of delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.

    Comrade Olushola stated, “The recent exchanges in the Nigerian Senate, marked by attacks and counterattacks, are deeply concerning. As Nigerian students, we feel compelled to address these developments. The trend of personal attacks and political rhetoric is troubling, especially as the Federal Government strives to reshape the country’s economic trajectory.

    “Elected representatives must focus on national issues impacting citizens’ well-being rather than pursuing personal vendettas that could undermine the integrity of individuals, the Senate, and Nigeria. The world is watching, and it would be disheartening to see our legislative institution reduced to an object of ridicule.

    “Given the seriousness of the alleged misconduct, which is already in court, I urge all parties to act appropriately and avoid comments that could incite unrest. NANS recommends that the Senate take disciplinary action against any senator found guilty after the court’s verdict.

    “If these tensions persist, they risk further inflaming the political landscape, leading to negative consequences for both the Senate and the country, and deepening divisions among Nigerians. We encourage Senate President Akpabio to remain committed to strengthening the synergy between the National Assembly and the Presidency, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “As Nigerian students, we will not stand idly by while our political institutions are eroded. We make this statement not to take sides, but to emphasise the need for accountability and order in the Senate. We call for calm, restraint, and a renewed commitment to peace-building in the interest of national progress and the well-being of all Nigerians.”

  • Reps committee to probe estate developers over 500,000 housing units

    Reps committee to probe estate developers over 500,000 housing units

    The House of Representatives has taken preliminary steps to probe renowned estate developers, Family Homes Funds Limited, over the 500,000 units housing scheme funded by the Federal Government.

    This followed the consideration of a motion on Thursday sponsored by Edo lawmaker, Esosa Iyawe.

    Iyawe noted with concern that some of the housing schemes initiated by the Federal Government have been mired in controversy, “the consequence of which is the rapid growth of informal settlements and slums on the edge of Nigeria’s major cities, with obvious drawbacks for economic development, health, safety and security.”

    He said, “In a bid to address the housing deficit in 2018, the Federal Government established the Family Homes Fund Limited with a mandate to utilise the sum of N1.5tn for the construction of at least 500,000 houses for low-income earners across the country,

    “To date, not only has Family Homes Fund Limited failed to live up to expectations, but the few houses built are in obscure locations and unaffordable to the target audience for the scheme.

    “The undelivered project has tied up government funds, potentially leading to deterioration of the houses and further economic loss if not addressed promptly.”

    Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Public Assets to investigate Family Homes Funds Limited over the 500,000 Units Housing Scheme funded by the Federal Government, ascertain the status of the project, and report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

  • Natasha Akpoti: Senate should be treated with respect – Remi Tinubu

    Natasha Akpoti: Senate should be treated with respect – Remi Tinubu

    First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding the Senate, emphasising that the chamber should be a place of honour rather than conflict.

    Her remarks came in response to the sexual harassment allegations leveled by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    In a statement shared by her spokesperson, Bukola Kukoyi, on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the First Lady stressed the importance of upholding the Senate’s dignity.

    “I know with what is going on in the Senate, you may say, why am I not taking a position? I believe that the Senate is doing what is needful because that’s what it is,” she said.

    “We shouldn’t be hearing things like that. It’s a mature chamber, and it should be treated with respect. It’s an honour for you to be in that place alone.

    “I was there for 12 years, even in my younger days, and I’m still trying to look young, but people compliment you all the time.”

    Ahead of International Women’s Day, Tinubu encouraged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership roles and not allow themselves to be sidelined.

    “Women, raise yourself, don’t be in a position that men will be talking to you anyhow. You can always shut them down before they start,” she advised.

    Tinubu acknowledged the progress women have made over the years, citing figures like Zuriel Oduwole, an advocate for peace, as an inspiration. She also commended Nigerian youth for their potential and urged women to continue striving for excellence.

  • Senator Natasha’s suspension: Orji Kalu advocates for salaries of aides

    Senator Natasha’s suspension: Orji Kalu advocates for salaries of aides

    Amid the Senate’s deliberations on the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called for empathy towards her aides, urging that their salaries and wages should not be withheld.

    During the plenary session, Kalu proposed an amendment to the committee’s recommendations, which initially included a provision to suspend the salaries of Akpoti’s staff. He argued that the aides, who are employees of the National Assembly (NASS), should not suffer the consequences of their principal’s suspension.

    Senator Kalu emphasized the financial hardship that such a decision would impose on the affected staff and their families.

    “We cannot punish the aides of Senator Natasha for an offence they did not commit. They are staff of the National Assembly and have no other means of livelihood apart from their salaries. It would be unjust for us, as a Senate, to deny them and their families their earnings.”

    “I move that we amend that section and allow them to receive their salaries.”

    The appeal, signed by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, highlights his stance on ensuring fairness in the Senate’s disciplinary actions.

    As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the Senate will heed Kalu’s plea and revise its decision regarding the aides’ salaries.

  • Ex-minister Olanrewaju: Obasa’s return as Lagos speaker killing democracy

    Ex-minister Olanrewaju: Obasa’s return as Lagos speaker killing democracy

    A former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd.), has strongly condemned the re-election of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as a threat to democracy.

    Olanrewaju argued that the events following Obasa’s impeachment suggest that lawmakers in Lagos lack the freedom to choose their leaders independently.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, the former minister warned that indigenous Lagosians must prepare for 2027, or risk continued political domination by non-indigenes.

    Olanrewaju criticized the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, for what he described as an assault on democracy.

    “Democracy died on Monday, March 3, when the Lagos State House of Assembly re-elected a constitutionally impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, following the resignation of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who had lawfully secured the position with an overall majority.”

    The former minister questioned the legitimacy of the political maneuvering that led to Obasa’s return and cast doubt on the integrity of the decision.

    “Are we not witnessing the gradual collapse of democracy before our eyes? A legitimate election outcome was reversed through political agreements, making the loser the winner. Was there an ulterior motive behind this? You can bet on it.”

    Olanrewaju further suggested that the decision to reinstate Obasa may have been influenced by powerful political forces in Abuja, rather than being a reflection of the House members’ democratic choice.

    “The turn of events suggests that House members have been deprived of their democratic right to elect their own leader. A conspiracy theory is pointing to Abuja as the power center that decided the final outcome of the crisis in the Lagos Assembly.”

    He also referenced comments by APC spokesperson Oladejo, who reportedly denied that an agreement for Obasa to resign was ever in place.

    “A dummy was sold to the public that Obasa would step down on March 5, 2025, for a neutral candidate from Lagos West. Now, we see that was never the plan.”

    With the unfolding political crisis, Olanrewaju emphasized the need for a new political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

    “Lagos State politics will need a new roadmap in 2027. Indigenous Lagosians and their allies must throw everything into the arena to reclaim political leadership. The ruling elites have sidelined the state’s indigenes, and the removal of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as Speaker has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many.”

    The former minister’s remarks reflect growing discontent over the political dynamics in Lagos, particularly regarding the role of external influence in state politics and the representation of indigenous citizens in governance.

  • Senate chamber a place of honour, not controversy – Remi Tinubu

    Senate chamber a place of honour, not controversy – Remi Tinubu

    First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has stated that the Senate chamber is a place of honour and not for controversy.

    According to a report cited on TheCable on Thursday, the First Lady was reacting to the ongoing sexual harassment allegations by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, lawmaker representing Kogi central, against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

    Speaking to journalists ahead of the International Women’s Day, the first lady urged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership and not be sidelined.

    “I know with what is going on in the Senate, you may say, why am I not taking a position? I believe that the Senate is doing what is needful, because that’s what it is,” she said.

    “We shouldn’t be hearing things like that. It’s a matured chamber, and it should be treated with respect. It’s an honour for you to be in that place alone.

    “I was there for 12 years, even in my younger days, and I’m still trying to look young, but people compliment you all the time. Women, raise yourself, don’t be in a position that men will be talking to you anyhow. You can always shut them down before they start,” she added.

    She acknowledged the significant progress women have made over the decades, from the matriarchs of old to contemporary figures like Zuriel Oduwole, who champions peace.

    The first lady added that Nigerian youths are equipped with what it takes to excel, urging women to continue lifting their heads high and doing their best.

    On February 20, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate on the floor of the upper legislative chamber over a change in seating arrangements.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan later alleged that her trouble in the senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.

    She tendered a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

    But the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges rejected the petition, citing breaches of due process and legal limitations.

  • Reps advocate independent agency to register, fund political parties

    Reps advocate independent agency to register, fund political parties

    A bill seeking the establishment of an independent authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

    The bill, co-sponsored by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and Edo lawmaker Marcus Onobun, enjoyed overwhelming support from lawmakers present at Thursday’s plenary.

    Giving a brief synopsis of the bill, Onobun, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, said there was the need to take away the powers of regulation of political parties from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “We need an independent authority to regulate and fund political parties,” he said, stressing that when passed into law, INEC would focus solely on the conduct of elections in the country.

    Details later…

  • Ezekwesili slams Senate for rejecting Akpoti’s harassment petition

    Ezekwesili slams Senate for rejecting Akpoti’s harassment petition

    A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has berated the Senate for dismissing the petition filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    TodayPriceNG Online reports that on February 20, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate on the floor of the upper legislative chamber over a change in seating arrangements.

    Days later, during an interview on Arise News, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.

    She submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

    However, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions rejected the petition, citing breaches of due process and Senate rules.

    In a post on her X page on Thursday, Ezekwesili said the Senate would be doing itself a disservice if it treated the allegation lightly.

    She added that the petition must be openly discussed in a public hearing that the accused does not preside over.

    “Our National Assembly, which comprises the Senate and House of Representatives, belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe or status,” Ezekwesili said.

    “This is why the National Assembly is called a public institution. No individual or group can capture a public institution and use it for personal benefit or advantage.

    “Whenever a situation like the one involving Senators Natasha Akpoti and Akpabio arises, lawmakers must understand that the Nigerian public wants transparency and full disclosure.

    “Dismissing a serious accusation against the Senate President, as the senators irresponsibly did yesterday, is a democratic aberration. It cannot stand. Never.

    “What happened yesterday in the Senate chamber, where a Senate President presided over a grave matter involving him, was farcical and a blot on our democracy.

    “It is in the public interest that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition be urgently given the seriousness it deserves to uphold the institutional integrity of our Senate.”

    During the plenary on Thursday, the Kogi lawmaker resubmitted her petition against the Senate President.

    However, the Senate’s Ethics Committee recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension for six months for engaging the Senate President in a heated debate over seating arrangements.

  • BREAKING: Senator Natasha suspended for six months

    BREAKING: Senator Natasha suspended for six months

    The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months amid the sexual harassment allegation she levied against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

    The decision, made on Thursday, March 6, 2024, came after a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

    As part of the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salary and security details will be withdrawn, and she will be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises.

    Her office will also be locked, and her legislative aides will not receive their salaries during this period. The Senate further ruled out reconsidering her suspension until the six-month term ends or she submits a formal apology.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension follows a heated confrontation in the Senate, where she protested the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. She arrived at a plenary session to find her nameplate removed and her seat reassigned, which she argued was an attempt to silence her.

    Her suspension was put to a vote after she was denied the opportunity to speak, with the majority siding with the Ethics Committee’s report.

    Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro supported the committee’s recommendation, stating that her actions warranted disciplinary action. He likened the move to “correcting a child,” referencing Nigerian cultural norms.

    To appeal the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan must submit a written apology to the Senate for allegedly violating its rules.

  • I slept in Dangote cement factory on Natasha’s wedding day – Akpabio

    I slept in Dangote cement factory on Natasha’s wedding day – Akpabio

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has claimed that he slept inside the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana Kogi State on the wedding day of the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

    Akpabio, a former Minister of the Niger Delta, stated this on Thursday during plenary at the National Assembly.

    Akpabio described Natasha’s husband as his good friend, stressing that his attendance at their wedding signifies his closeness to the family.

    He said, “ I slept in the Dangote cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State on the night of Senator Natasha’s wedding because the Kogi airport lights were in a poor state.

    TodayPriceNG Online reports that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions had recommended the suspension of the Kogi lawmaker for six months.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has claimed that he slept inside the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana Kogi State on the wedding day of the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

    Akpabio, a former Minister of the Niger Delta, stated this on Thursday during plenary at the National Assembly.

    Akpabio described Natasha’s husband as his good friend, stressing that his attendance at their wedding signifies his closeness to the family.

    He said, “ I slept in the Dangote cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State on the night of Senator Natasha’s wedding because the Kogi airport lights were in a poor state.

    PUNCH Online reports that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions had recommended the suspension of the Kogi lawmaker for six months.