Year: 2021

The Coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government (LG ) Chairmen in Enugu State has backed the impeachment of the former Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Mr Ben Nwoye.

The Leader of the group and Coordinating Chairman of APC LG Chairmen in the state, Mr Jude Anyadire, said this on Thursday when he led 12 other chairmen on a solidarity visit to the current Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Chikwado Chukwunta, in Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chukwunta was, until his elevation, the Acting Vice Chairman of the party in the state.

Anyadire described the emergence of Chukwunta as the tonic that would usher in peace and stability in the state chapter of the party.

He expressed the hope that all the in-house bickering, which factionalised APC, would become a thing of the past.

“What led us to where we are today should not have happened but we are happy that you have come to unify the party.

“We want to mobilise members of the party to usher in a virile opposition that will speak for residents of the state and hold government to account,” Anyadire said.

Also, the APC chairman in Isi-Uzo LGA, Mr Titus Nnamani, said it was sad that the party lost its voice in the past years.

“Our party as the main opposition party in the state over the years lost the credibility and mandate to hold the government to account due to internal wrangling and personal interests.

“We are in support of the removal of the former acting chairman and it is now a new dawn.

“We have come to congratulate you because the party has taken a new direction,” Nnamani said.

“We have people like former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, former Gov. Sullivan Chime, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, and former House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Eugene Odoh, in the party.

“These are some of the best the state has ever produced. Yet, we have not won elections due to self-inflicted crisis,” Nnamani said.

Responding, Chukwunta said he was on a rescue mission, having understood the challenges the party had passed through.

He said that he would do everything possible to unite the members and run an administration that would lead the party to greater height.

“We have seen the problems of the party and will do everything possible to put it in good stead. “We are going to work to bring everyone on board,” Chukwunta said.

NAN recalls that 46 of 57 members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party had on Aug. 10 removed Nwoye.

He was accused of insubordination and violation of the party’s constitution.

The SWC also alleged that the ousted chairman was stoking crisis in the party, which factionalised it, making it to under achieve in the state.

When contacted, Nwoye described his impeachment as a ruse.

He said that he was still in charge, describing those who impeached him as “imposters”.

The Osun Progressive (TOP), a faction within the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that some people within the party and government are planing  to attack leaders of the faction.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Osogbo, the TOP Chairman, Rev. Adelowo Adebiyi, said the planned attack was as a result of the group’s struggle to restructure and re-energise the party.

Adebiyi, however, said that the alleged plan has been reported to the security agencies for investigation and for other necessary steps.

“This urgent press conference is aimed at putting on record, information on attempt by some elements, allegedly within government and our party (APC), to attack and murder some of the leaders of TOP.

“It is important that we bring to public knowledge this evil intention.

“We have informed relevant security agencies, who have assured us of taking steps to investigate the information and ensure protection of the lives of the leadership and members of our caucus.

“We plead with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, Director General of Department of State Service, Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief Bisi Akande, to quickly intervene and stop desperate elements in Osun APC from spilling the blood of the innocent for their selfish interests,” Adebiyi said.

Also speaking, the Caretaker Secretary of the APC in the state, Mr Rasaq Salinsile, said the leadership of TOP decided to make the “plan” known to the public to avoid casualties.

Salinsile said that violence is alien to the progressives’ family, until some ‘elements’ joined the party recently.

“TOP leadership knows who to hold responsible, should any attack be carried out on any member of the group or those of the party, who are loyal to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”

But in a swift reaction, the APC Caretaker Chairman in the State, Mr Gboyega Famodun, said the allegation is baseless.

Famodun, who spoke through his Media Consultant, Mr Kola Olabisi, said the allegation should be disregarded.

“The allegation is unfounded. It cannot be substantiated. It should be disregarded. Anybody can come up with any allegation. 

“TOP should show the proof of their allegation. 

“We are members of the same family. Nobody is thinking evil against anybody,” Famodun said.

The Republic of Indonesia, has expressed regret over the arrest of a Nigerian diplomat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This was even as it said the arrest was an isolated incident and did not, in any way, affect the commitment of the Indonesian Government to carry out its obligations as host country in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, in a statement made available to our source in Abuja through the Embassy of Indonesia in Nigeria, said the South Jakarta Immigration Office, has given a full account of the incident involving the diplomat that took place on 7 August 2021.

The Indonesian Government also said that following the incident, it continued to maintain communication through diplomatic channels with the Government of Nigeria.

The government recalled that the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Usra Hendra Harahap, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on 10 August, 2021.

The Indonesian Government further said the Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa and the Director General for Protocol and Consular of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, also met with Ambassador-designate of Nigeria in Jakarta on 11 August, 2021.

“During the meeting of 11 August 2021, we discussed the good and strong bilateral relations between Indonesia and Nigeria.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the incident that took place on 7 August, 2021.

“It was an isolated incident and does not, in any way, affect our commitment to carry out our obligations as host country in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“The Ministry of Law and Human Rights has also conducted an internal investigation in response to the incident,” the government of Indonesia said.