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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the extension of its Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) across the country.
Ahead of the 2023 poll, the commission had fixed the exercise to end on June 30. However, given the renewed interest of Nigerians, most especially the youth, vis-à-vis pressure from other quarters, the commission considered extending the exercise.
Without giving a specific date for the new deadline, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at the Youth Vote Count concert in Abuja on Saturday, said the exercise continues.
“The youth want to know when the registration will end. I want to assure you on behalf of the commission that the registration won’t end on June 30. For as long as we have you people trying to register, we will continue to register you,” Yakubu declared at the main bowl of Old Parade Ground.
He said not less than 14,000 persons have also been registered at the concert venue since it became opened to registrants on June 20.
Similar figures, largely made up of the youth, were also recorded at the first leg of the concert in Lagos a couple of weeks back.
“In the last five days, we have registered over 14,000 Nigerians in this place alone. We have about 50 voter registration machines. For as long as you people have been trying to register to obtain your PVC, we will continue to register you and we will continue to make sure that you get your PVC,” the INEC chairman reassured the fun-loving youths at the awareness campaign/concert the commission organised in partnership with European Union (EU) and YIAGA Africa.
Before Yakubu’s latest disclosure, there was an interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday which restrained the electoral body from going ahead with its plan to end the exercise on June 30.
The judge, Mobolaji Olajuwon, ruled on the case based on the application filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 185 other concerned Nigerians.
SERAP and the other applicants in the case had argued that if the electoral body planned to end the exercise at the end of the month, it would illegally disenfranchise many Nigerians from getting their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
On its part, the House of Representatives, last week, also urged INEC to extend the voter registration by 60 days. This was against the backdrop of various challenges recorded at various centres during the exercise.
There is a new twist in the alleged child organ harvesting case involving Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president.
On Thursday the London Metropolitan Police charged Ekweremadu and Beatrice, his wife, to court over the allegation of bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting.
The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
The UK authorities said the “child” had “been safeguarded”, while the police added that its operatives “are working closely with partners on continued support”.
As widely reported, Ekweremadu had written to the UK High Commission to support a visa application of a “donor” listed as Ukpo Nwamini David.
In the letter, Ekweremadu said Ukpo was undergoing “medical investigations for a kidney donation to Ms Sonia Ekweremadu”.
Although the police had said the donor was 15, data from his international passport indicate that he is 21 years old.
According to information on the passport data page of Ukpo, he was born on October 12, 2000.
The date of issuance of the passport was listed as November 4, 2021, which is a few weeks before Ekweremadu wrote to the UK high commission in respect of the medical visa application.
A check on the Bank Verification Number (BVN) portal also showed Ukpo’s date of birth as October 12, 2000.
The case against the former senator and his wife has been adjourned till July 7.
After appearing before Uxbridge magistrates’ court on Thursday, they were denied bail and remanded in custody.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed Bashir Machina as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe north senatorial district.
Machina, at a primary organised by the party in May, had won unopposed.
However, there were speculations that he was being asked to step down for Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who currently represents the district.
But Machina had insisted that he would not withdraw for Lawan — the senate president had contested the APC presidential ticket but lost.
Amid the controversy, the APC submitted Lawan’s name to INEC as its senatorial candidate for Yobe north, and Abdullahi Adamu, APC national chairman, had said the senate president contested a senatorial primary organised by the party.
Adamu had also warned Machina over his comments on the party’s senatorial ticket for the district.
However, on Friday, an INEC report surfaced online, in which Machina was confirmed as having won the APC senatorial primary for Yobe north after he polled 289 votes unopposed.
The document was signed and stamped with the date, June 23, 2022.
Confirming the genuineness of the document, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, said the document is from the commission.
“It’s our document,” he said.
According to the document, the primary, which held on May 28, was monitored by INEC officials and security agents and was done via open-secret ballot.
The result of the exercise was also said to have been “generally acccepted”.
At least five persons, including two policemen, were feared killed by armed bandits in two communities of Guma and Ukum Local Government Areas of Benue State on Thursday night.
It was gathered from local sources that some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked Yelwata community of Guma LGA, killed two policemen and took away their guns on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, on the same night, three other persons, including a lecturer with the Federal University, Wukari were said to have been gunned down by armed bandits at Jootar, Mbaterem, in Mbayenge Council Ward, the Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
The three deceased victims, all friends, were said to have sat at a drinking joint close to a Federal Quarantine Check Point in the community at about 7pm when the unknown gunmen stormed the border town and shot them point blank, killing them on the spot.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, two young men and a lady, rode on a Bajaj Motorcycle to the area. One of them allegedly pointed the gun at their targets, shot and killed them after which he jumped back on the motorcycle and they rode away unchallenged.
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Catherine Anene, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the killing of the policemen in Yelwata community of Guma but said she was yet to receive information about the Ukum killing.
Gunmen early Friday bombed a Police Area Command office at Eika-Ohizenyi in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing one Inspector Jibril on duty.
A resident of the area, Momoh Abubakar, disclosed that the attackers invaded the station around 12:15am with explosives and other weapons.
He stated that the first bomb they threw into the station made a heavy sound that woke up many residents, adding the explosives brought down part of the police station.
Abubakar added that the attackers had a field day as they operated for more than two hours without any interference from security agents or the people of the community.
The resident revealed further that the only police officer on duty, Jibril popularly known as Yellow, was killed during the attack while the only operational vehicle in the police station was destroyed.
He added that the gunmen shattered windows of Eika Community Central Mosque and a Catholic church near the police station.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, said he has “ordered the deployment of additional operational assets, consisting of operatives of the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Quick Response Unit, State Intelligence Bureau in synergy with other security agencies to restore normalcy in the area.”
According to the state Command Police Public Relations Officer , William Aya, part of the Area Command Office was razed by dynamite used by the attackers.
“A police inspector died in the exchange of fire with the hoodlums, before the Area Commander and a detachment of military in the area reinforced to the scene of incident, and the attackers fled,” he said.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of police assured that the Command is committed to working in synergy with other security agencies to make the state safe.
Bandits have abducted 22 farmers and burnt tractors during a coordinated attack on farmers at Rafin-Daji community, Gurdi ward of Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Rafin-Daji shares boundary with Zago community in Niger State through River Gurara.
A farmer who narrowly escaped the attack, Saidu Yakubu, said the incident happened around 2pm on Thursday when the bandits in their large numbers, wielding AK-47 rifles, attacked farmers that were cultivating in the community.
He said the bandits, who went on rampage shooting sporadically into the air before whisking away the farmers, burnt down two tractors that were being used to cultivate a large farmland in the community before the attack.
He also said 13 members of the same family were among the 22 abducted victims.
He gave the names of the abducted 13 family members as Ismaila Barde, Mustapha Barde, Nasiru Barde, Abdulkarim Barde, Sanusi Barde, Usman, Barde.
Others are Nura Barde, Abdullahi Barde, Babawo Barde, Farida Ayuba, Hauwa Ayuba and Hussaini Abdullahi.
He said the 13 family members, including two females, were working in their separate farmlands when the bandits swooped on them.
“It was only God that saved me as I managed to escape when the bandits came in their large number, shooting into the air. Some of them set fire on two tractors working on the farm,” he said.
The district head of Gurdi chiefdom, Bala Mohammed, confirmed the abduction of farmers and burning of tractors by bandits while speaking with our reporter through telephone on Friday.
He said he was yet to ascertain the exact number of the abducted farmers, adding that his people were under siege.
“It was even the district head of Gulida, Abubakar Sadauna, that alerted me that bandits had abducted some farmers who were working on their farms and also burnt down two tractors. But I am yet to get the actual number of those involved,” he said.
Bala said he had reported the kidnap incident at the Yaba police division and the authorities of Abaji Area Council.
Spokesperson of FCT police command, Oduniyi Omotayo, confirmed the kidnap incident, saying the farmers were working when gunmen kidnapped them.
“And upon receipt of the information, a combined team of police officers from various tactical and intelligence units of the command, vigilantes and local hunters stormed the forest, combing the place aggressively,” he said.
He said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims and bring perpetrators to book while monitoring and surveillance of the community continue.
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, charged with alleged conspiracy to harvest the organs of a child in the United Kingdom, face life imprisonment if found guilty and convicted to maximum sentence under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA 2015).
The couple, who were arrested following an investigation by the London Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team, were arraigned before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.
The court denied them bail, but ordered that they be remanded till July 7.
The police had said the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
“[A] Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“[B] Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” the police said in a statement.
The police added that the child had been safeguarded.
Meanwhile, there was a letter in circulation purporting that Ekweremadu had, in December 2021, written a letter to the British High Commission about a kidney donation for his daughter.
He was said to have stated in the letter that he was writing in support of a visa applicant scheduled for “medical investigations for a kidney donation to his daughter.
Couple arrested en route Turkey– Prosecutors
Prosecutors said the couple were arrested at Heathrow Airport on their way to Istanbul, Turkey, ARISE TV reported.
The prosecutors at the court said the Ekweremadu and his wife were being charged for bringing a 15-year-old boy from Nigeria to the UK with the claim that he was to be given a better life, but they were actually meant to harvest his organ.
The prosecutors told the court that Ekweremadu procured a passport for the boy and claimed he was 21 years old, but discovered that he was 15.
The prosecutors were also said to have told the court that the couple had a daughter with a kidney-related disease and had been on dialysis for quite some time.
They told the court that it was believed that the plan was to use an organ from the boy on their daughter who appeared to need a kidney transplant.
According to the prosecutors, it is believed that the couple were on their way to procure another organ as they were unable to harvest the organ of the boy.
Ekweremadu and his wife had separate legal representations and prayed the court to release them on bail, but the prayer was dismissed by the Magistrate.
Punishment for organ harvesting under UK law
The United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 frowns at human trafficking under which organ harvesting falls and is punishable with maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.
The Act partly reads: “Under S. 2, an individual commits an offence if they arrange or facilitate the travel of another with a view to that person being exploited. It is irrelevant whether that person consents to the travel, or whether they are a child or an adult.
“Under S. 3 of MSA 2015, exploitation includes: slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour; sexual exploitation (which involves the commission of an offence under s 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Children’s Act 1978 (indecent photographs of children), or Pt 1 of SOA 2003 (eg, rape or sexual assault); removal of organs where a person is encouraged required or expected to do anything which involves the commission of an offence under ss 32 or 33 of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (prohibition of commercial dealings in organs and restrictions on use of live donors); securing services etc by force, threats or deception; securing services etc from children and vulnerable persons (eg, physically or mentally ill or disabled).”
It further stated that anyone found guilty of “human trafficking is liable on summary conviction to 12 months’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine,” adding that “on conviction on indictment, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.”
Ekweremadu and his wife have surrendered their passports to the British Government.
Ekweremadu’s spokesman, Uche Anichukwu, was not available for comment yesterday.
Ekweremadu, a politician and lawyer, who was recently made a visiting professor at the University of Lincoln, had served three terms as deputy president of the Senate between 2007 and 2019.
The BBC reports that the magistrates were told that Ekweremadu and his wife live in Nigeria, but have family in London.
The BBC quoted the spokesman of the University of Lincoln, to have said: “Visiting professors are often, as is in this case, non-resident at the university, unpaid and advisory.
“We are deeply concerned about the nature of these allegations but as this is an active police investigation, we cannot comment further at this stage.”
The World Bank says inflation is likely to push an additional one million Nigerians into poverty by the end of 2022.
The international financial organisation made the projection in its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU), released on Tuesday.
The report, titled ‘The continuing urgency of business unusual’, said inflation in Nigeria, already one of the highest in the world before the war in Ukraine, is expected to increase further as a result of the rise in global fuel and food prices caused by the war.
“And that, the World Bank estimates, is likely to push an additional one million Nigerians into poverty by the end of 2022, on top of the 6 million Nigerians that were already predicted to fall into poverty this year because of the rise in prices, particularly food prices,” the report reads.
According to the bank, Nigeria is in a paradoxical situation where growth prospects have improved but inflationary and fiscal pressures have also increased considerably, leaving the economy much more vulnerable.
The situation, it said, is because of the ballooning cost of gasoline subsidies at a time when oil production continues to decline.
“Hence, Nigeria, for the first time since its return to democracy, and alone amongst major oil exporters, is unlikely to benefit fiscally from the windfall opportunity created by higher global oil prices,” the World Bank warned.
Speaking on the report, Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank country director for Nigeria, said:
“When we launched our previous Nigeria Development Update in November 2021, we estimated that Nigeria could stand to lose more than three trillion naira in revenues in 2022 because the proceeds from crude oil sales, instead of going to the federation account, would be used to cover the rising cost of gasoline subsidies that mostly benefit the rich. Sadly, that projection turned out to be optimistic.
“With oil prices going up significantly, and with it, the price of imported gasoline, we now estimate that the foregone revenues as a result of gasoline subsidies will be closer to five trillion naira in 2022.
“And that five trillion is urgently needed to cushion ordinary Nigerians from the crushing effect of double-digit increases in the cost of basic commodities, to invest in Nigeria’s children and youth, and in the infrastructure needed for private businesses small and large to flourish, grow and create jobs.”
The World Bank said Nigeria’s growing macroeconomic challenges in 2022 has shown the need for the continuing urgency of a departure from business as usual, and the need for consensus around a package of robust reforms.
To reduce inflation, lessen fiscal pressures, and attract investment for jobs, the bank recommended three policy priorities for the Nigerian government.
“Reducing inflation through a sequenced and coordinated mix of exchange rate, trade, monetary, and fiscal policies including the adoption of a single, market-responsive exchange rate,” the bank said.
“Addressing mounting fiscal pressures at the federal and sub-national levels by phasing out the petrol subsidy (estimated to cost up to five trillion naira in 2022) and redirecting fiscal resources to investments in infrastructure, education, and health services; increasing ‘pro-health taxes’ and improving tax compliance.
“Catalyzing private investment to boost job creation by improving the transparency of key government-to-business services and eliminating trade restrictions.”
Some gunmen have invaded the Celestial Church of Christ, SBJ Oshofa at Wasimi in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, and abducted two worshippers.
The victims are, an Assistant Shepherd of the parish, Oluwaseun Ajose and a Sunday school teacher, Dagunro Ayobami.
It was gathered that the hoodlums numbering four, stormed the church around 11pm on Monday, and took away the two worshippers.
A source said the church is located at an isolated area, which allowed the hoodlums operated unhindered.
It was gathered that a joint security team of the police and local vigilantes have been combing the forest in area in search of the abductees.
Shepherd of the parish, Oluwatomisin Ehuwaojomo on Tuesday confirmed the incident.
He also confirmed the kidnappers have reached out to the church and demanded N50 million ransom.
Ehuwaojomo said, “When my assistant called me almost two hours after they left, the kidnappers initially refused to speak with me but on his third attempt, they spoke with me and requested for N50 million ransom.
“I told them that, I am a servant of God and I don’t receive salary. I have spoken to the commissioner of police and they are on it.”
The State Police Spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he had not been briefed on the incident.
He, however, promised to get back
There was palpable tension in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Tuesday, following an alleged attack by hoodlums on innocent drivers, passengers and residents around the Area one in Garki.
The hoodlums were said to have gone berserk and attacking vehicles using dangerous weapons around Area 1 and Area 3 axis in the nations capital.
The action of the hoodlums which was contained in a WhatsApp message circulated to individuals and groups, sent fears to residents especially those who have their businesses and children schooling in the area.
A media crew from the African Independent Television(AIT), deployed to cover the protest escaped death by the whiskers as the protesters upon sighing the crew pounced on them forcing them to abandon their vehicle and run for their lives. One of the journalists is said to be missing at the time of filing this report as efforts to reach him on his mobile phone has proved abortive.
The WhatsApp message which began to circulate at about four o’clock reads; “Avoid Area 1. Now classes damaging cars slashing through skins”.
But in a swift response, FCT police command, described what happened at area one as “brief unrest”, at the Internally Displaced Persons(IDP), camp in Durumi, and warned rumors mongers to stop peddling fake news.
Acting public relations officer for the command Oduniyi Omotayo, who made this known while responding to the journalists question over the unrest on the command media platform, said the police has since restored law and order to the area.
Oduniyi who promised to issue a statement in the matter said “Brief unrest erupted at the IDP camp at Durumi, the police responded swiftly to restore normalcy. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause and effect of the unrest.
“While members of the public are urged to go about their lawful duties without fear and molestation from any quarters, we strongly advise rumor mongers to stop exaggerating the incident to a degree putting the territory in apprehension. Monitoring and surveillance continue on the scene”.
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Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has revealed that Nigeria lost at least $2.5 billion (about N1.25 trillion) in the maintenance of its aircraft to foreign Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in 2021.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the inaugural National Aviation Conferences (FNAC) organised by FAAN with the theme: ‘Advancing the Frontiers of Possibilities for Safe, Secure and Profitable Air Transport,’ Managing Director of FAAN, Rabiu Yadudu, said that such capital flight would have been saved if the country had MRO facilities that could adequately cater for all types of aircraft.
To typically carry out C-check on Boeing 737 aircraft or its category, airlines spend at least $1.8 million and C-check is carried out on aircraft every 18 months.
Yadudu said that Nigeria’s potential in the global air transport industry is underutilised as Nigeria has the largest fleet of aircraft within the subregion.
”It was reported that Nigeria lost $2.5 billion (about N1.25 trillion) in MRO investments to neighbouring countries. Having such investments here would have created more employment opportunities for Nigerians, revenue generation and training of technical personnel for maintenance of aircraft,” he said.
”The interlink and value chain between the air transport, tourism and hospitality industry for economic growth cannot be over-emphasised. Today, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, London bridge, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, the British Museum in the United Kingdom, etc, have all been consciously developed into major tourist attractions that drive passenger traffic to those destinations and by implication attract businesses and generate employments for the locals and foreigners alike,” he said.
Earlier, Sirika in his goodwill message, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari would at any moment from now sign into law the passed Civil Aviation Bill by the National Assembly.
He assured that with the president’s assent to the bill, the Nigerian aviation industry would grow rapidly, while more opportunities would also be created for all stakeholders and investors.
He pointed out that the Aviation Industry Roadmap as approved by the Federal Government was intentionally fashioned after the Public-Private Participation (PPP) model with the plan to grow the entire sector.
He challenged investors to tap into the myriads of opportunities in the sector, especially with the recently approved 12,000 hectares of land for implementation of the aviation roadmap by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Some of the aviation roadmaps include MRO, Aviation Leasing Company, National Carrier, Aerospace University, Airport Concession and Aerorropolis amongst others.
“We are ready to pursue all the components of the roadmap. Every part of the roadmap has reached advanced stages and all would be delivered before the end of this administration. The aviation industry in Nigeria is a goldmine, but it is still a virgin.
”Globally, the core variables that sustain the aviation industry are safety and security. We must continue to sustain these in the country,” he stated.
The Kaduna State Government has described as untrue, several reports suggesting that the bandits attack in Kajuru was carried out by terrorists who used a helicopter to shoot at their victims, Channels Television has reported.
While the government mourned the gruesome killing and burning of houses in the attacked locations, the Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, said it was an Air Force helicopter (under Operation Whirl Punch) that was dispatched to the area.
According to him, the soldiers scanned the first two locations of the attack which are Dogon Noma and Ungwan Sarki, it was at these villages that the operatives sighted burnt houses and properties on fire.
Deaths recorded from the two locations were about 31, and while the gunmen moved to wreak the same havoc on Ungwan Maikori, they were intercepted by the NAF helicopter.
The formidable fight put up by the security operatives deterred the bandits from further attacks on the citizens in the village, after the gunmen had already killed one local and burnt several houses.
“The story that a helicopter provided air support to the bandits against the locals, is therefore an untrue account,” Mr Aruwan stressed.
He said the Kaduna State government having gone through all the facts, finds it regrettable that a section of media would circulate an unverified report, insensitive to its implications on national security, law and order.
The commissioner invited eyewitnesses to the peddled report of a helicopter aiding bandits in the killing of innocent citizens to present their accounts to the government backed by incontrovertible facts.
He further stated that the military, police and other agencies working in the general area deserve commendation and motivation, rather than demoralizing allegations.
“In the last 72 hours, security forces have conducted vigorous operations in the same general area, and are on the trail of a wounded notable terrorist.
“Similarly, several kidnapped victims, including an expatriate kidnapped at a mining site, were rescued after a fierce engagement with bandits,” the Home Affairs Commissioner explained.
Aruwan said since the attack on Sunday, security agencies and traditional leaders in the locations have been updating the government on the development.
He further stated that as of today, 32 persons have been confirmed dead following the attack.
The deceased are listed as follows:
DOGON NOMA
– Ahmadu Musa
– Audu Dandaura
– Akilu Laya
– David Wasika
– Hajatu Buhari
– Nashon Buhari
– Iliya Yaki
– Javan Mairabo
– Jackson Adamu
– Nasco Victor
– Dutse Gwamna
– Joshua Amadi
– Gona Isah
– Douglas Yakubu
– Phineas Joel
– Tanimu Umaru
– Abody Iliya
– Wanzami Halidu
– Dogo Aweh
– Sunday Shittu
– Rejoice Audu
– Jedidiah Ayawa
– Jinkai Pius
– Rebecca Ayafa
– Ishaya John
– Audu Danladi
– Jibo Sule
– Yakubu Garba
– Williams Danbaba
UNGWAN SARKI
– Maikasa Kufana
– Augustine Bahago
UNGWAN MAIKORI
– Mamiya Maikori
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, on receiving reports of the attack, expressed deep sadness and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
The governor also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
After months of intense horse-trading among various power blocs within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, was Wednesday declared winner of the presidential primary of the party, Premium Times reports.
At the presidential primary concluded in Abuja Wednesday, Tinubu, who polled 1,271 votes, defeated 13 others in the race. His closest opponent was the former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who scored 316 votes.
Tinubu, while declaring his intention to run for the presidency of Nigeria in January, said it has always been his lifetime ambition.
He disclosed this at the State House shortly after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari. He was also the first of the aspirants to officially make public his intention to run.
Tinubu, whom seven of the aspirants stepped down for at the convention ground, was almost muscled out of the race by stiff opposition to his aspiration by other power blocs in the party.
An intra-party war between some politicians and businessmen close to Buhari, the so-called ‘Aso Rock cabal,’ and some northern governors over the control of Nigeria’s political lever had almost cost the party’s national leader his aspiration.
The faces behind the ‘cabal’ mask, represented by Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, according to multiple sources, are men who exert a great influence on the president.
Tinubu’s ambition also received opposition from some of his erstwhile associates including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who polled 235 votes.
His recent outburst in Abeokuta, Ogun State, home state of Osinbajo, was also rumoured to have further widened the existing gap between him and the president.
Tinubu had publicly claimed to have helped to secure victory for the president, even as he boasted to have helped many political leaders in the country. He specifically mentioned Osinbajo and the governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, insisting that he stood by the latter when he was rejected by the then outgoing governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun.
Many criticised Tinubu for the outburst, and the president on Tuesday criticised the stance via a statement signed by his media aide, Garba Shehu.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s aspiration received a boost with the support of some governors, particularly those from the northern part of the country, who insisted power must shift to the southern part of the country.
The northern governors’ position countered the position of the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, who announced to other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) that President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, had been chosen by Buhari as the “consensus aspirant.”
Adamu said the decision was a product of wide consultation with relevant stakeholders including Buhari.
While majority of the northern governors wanted the presidency zoned to the south, the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, rejected the stance and insisted he would remain in the race.
But the withdrawal from the race by Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru, and the declaration of his support for Tinubu, further confirmed the northern governors’ commitment to the pledge.
Tinubu will now challenge candidates of other parties in next year’s presidential election. His opponents will include Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Survivors of an attack by unknown assailants on a Catholic church in Nigeria lay weeping and writhing in pain at a local hospital on Monday after suffering what a doctor described as lacerations, bullet wounds and blast injuries.
At least 50 people including children were killed, according to media reports, during the attack on St Francis Catholic Church in the town of Owo, which took place during Sunday mass as worshippers were celebrating the Christian holiday of Pentecost.
Police, who have yet to release a death toll, said they had recovered unexploded improvised explosive devices and shells from AK-47 ammunition.
"Some of the gunmen disguised as congregants, while other armed men who had positioned themselves around the church premises from different directions, fired into the church," national police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement.
He said a vehicle used by the assailants to escape had been recovered. Its owner was helping with investigations.
According to the statement, "the assailants fled the scene using a Nissan Sunny car with Reg No. AKR 895 AG which was snatched from the owner, and escaped through Owo/Ute road. The vehicle has been recovered while the owner of the vehicle is currently assisting the Police in its investigations".
Inside the church, streaks of blood on the floors and walls, a broken lectern and pew, plaster debris and abandoned items including shoes and a well-thumbed Bible covered in shards of glass bore witness to the intensity of the violence.
"Immediately they entered and started firing everywhere, so many people," said Alex Michael, who was shot in the leg while protecting his children by hiding them under chairs. He appeared dazed as he sat on his hospital bed.
Other survivors had limbs wrapped in bloodstained bandages. One man writhed and moaned on his bed while a woman wept as she embraced her brother. A 15-year-old victim lay silently with a drip in his hand.
Samuel Aluko, a registrar at the hospital, said 27 adult victims were receiving treatment for a wide range of injuries, some life-threatening. One woman lost both legs.
Medical director Ahmed Lasu said 13 children had been rushed to the hospital. Two were dead on arrival.
Owo is located in Ondo State in Southwest Nigeria, a part of the country not prone to violent conflict over religion. Authorities have said nothing about the identity or motive of the attackers.
RISING VIOLENCE
Pope Francis and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari were among those who expressed horror at the attack.
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Monday directed that flags in the state should be flown at half-mast for seven days.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu, the frontrunners in the ruling party's primaries to select its presidential candidate for next year, both visited the church.
Many shops in the town stayed closed. Security forces were on the streets and helicopters passed overhead.
Southwest Nigeria is home to the Yoruba ethnic group, who are divided roughly equally between Muslims and Christians. The two communities live side by side peacefully.
An Owo resident said some local people were blaming the church massacre on members of the Hausa-Fulani ethnic group, who are predominantly Muslim and live mostly in northern Nigeria, with communities in other regions.
Neither the police nor state authorities have blamed any group.
There have been an increasing number of outbreaks of violence in recent years between Fulani herdsmen seeking land for their cattle to graze on and farmers from other ethnic groups seeking to shield their lands.
In a separate incident, Catholic priest Father Christopher Itopa Onotu was abducted during the weekend from his rectory in the town of Obangende in Kogi State, which neighbours Ondo to the north, the Catholic diocese of Lokoja said.