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PDP Tells High Court To Declare Dogara’s Seat Vacant

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the seat of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara vacant.

The party is calling for the sack of the former Speaker for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still bearing the mandate of the party.

At the resumed hearing of the suit on Monday, the lawyer to the plaintiffs, Mr Jibril Jibril urged the court to abridge the time for the hearing of the suit owing to the fact that Mr. Dogara is already enjoying legislative privileges as a member of the House of Representatives.

Justice Okon Abang, after listening to the lawyers to the defendants who did not oppose the application to abridge time fixed February 14, 2021, for hearing.

Mr. Dogara, who is representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa, and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, defected from the APC to the PDP before the last general election and won re-election to the house on the platform of the PDP.A file photo of Mr. Yakubu Dogara

The PDP and its Bauchi state chairman Hamza Koshe Akuyam, listed as plaintiffs in the suit, are contending, among others, that by virtue of section 68(1)(g) of the constitution, Mr. Dogara ought to vacate the seat for defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth national assembly before the expiration of his tenure.

The plaintiffs claim that the former speaker was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the House of Representatives while still using his former party’s ticket.

Listed as defendants in the suit are Mr. Yakubu Dogara, the House of Representatives Speaker, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the APC.

Mr. Akuyam stated, in a supporting affidavit stated that there was no crisis or division in the first plaintiff, being the political platform by which the election of the first defendant (Dogara) as a serving member of the national assembly was sponsored and from which he has defected to the fifth defendant (APC) before the expiration of the period for which he was elected.

He also stated that there were no mergers involving the PDP, from which Dogara defected.

Mr Akuyam averred that having defected from the PDP before the expiration of his tenure, Dogara “has lost his seat/office as a member of the house of representatives and is no longer entitled to participate in the legislative proceedings and other businesses of the national assembly and/or entitled to salaries and allowances as a member of the national assembly”.

He added that given the facts and circumstances of the case, the speaker of the house of representatives “is under legal obligation” to declare Dogara’s seat vacant and allow INEC to conduct an election for his replacement.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to, among others, declare that Dogara has ceased to be a member of the national assembly from the date he defected to the APC.

They prayed the court to direct Dogara to vacate his seat in the national assembly and to refund all the salaries, allowances, and emoluments he collected from the date of his defection from the PDP.

They also prayed the court to direct the house of representatives speaker to give effect to section 68(1) of the constitution to forthwith declare Dogara’s seat vacant and for INEC to conduct a by-election for his replacement.

The court had initially rescheduled its hearing from December 17 2020 to March 5, 2021.

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“Fuel Subsidy Removal Was A Necessary Action To Prevent Nigeria From Going Bankrupt” – President Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that fuel subsidy was removed to save Nigeria from going bankrupt.
In as much as the hardship in the country has taken a toll on both the rich and the poor, Especially the poor, President Tinubu has justification for the decision he took on fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking as one of the panelists at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, April 28, Tinubu said he was convinced it was in the best interest of the people.

He said;

“For Nigeria, we are immensely consistent with belief that the economic collaboration and inclusiveness are necessary to engender stability in the rest of the world.

“Concerning the question of the subsidy removal, there is no doubt that it was a necessary action for my country not to go bankrupt, to reset the economy and pathway to growth.

“It is going to be difficult, but the hallmark of leadership is taking difficult decisions at the time it ought to be taken decisively. That was necessary for the country.

“Yes, there will be blowback, there is expectation that the difficulty in it will be felt by greater number of the people, but once I believe it is their interest that is the focus of the government, it is easier to manage and explain the difficulties.

“Along the line, there is a parallel arrangement to really cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on the vulnerable population of the country. We share the pain across board, we cannot but include those who are vulnerable.

“Luckily, we have a very vibrant youthful population interested in discoveries by themselves and they are highly ready for technology, good education committed to growth.

“We are able to manage that and partition the economic drawback and the fallout of subsidy removal.”

As a Nigerian citizen, what do you think about the Government’s decision to avert bankruptcy by removing fuel subsidy?

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Enugu State Government Flag Off Palliative Distribution In The State

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The Governor Of Enugu State, Peter Mbah has pioneered the distribution of food to the people of the state who are in dire need. He said this is in collaboration with the Federal Government to reduce the economic hardship in the country.

Via his social media platform, He wrote;

“Earlier today, we flagged off another round of palliative distribution in our state.

This is a collaborative effort between our administration and the federal government to cushion the effects of the economic hardship in the country.

I have directed the committee in charge of the palliative distribution to ensure that the items get to those in dire need of them.”

Here are pictures from the palliative distribution flag off.

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Governor Of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori Visits Fled Community Of Okuama, Calls Indigenes To Return Home

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Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has visited Okuama with an assurance for the safe return of the indigenes who fled the community in the wake of the crisis that ensued in the month of March.

The Governor who was accompanied by some government officials, reiterated that innocent citizens would not be made to suffer for what they know nothing about.

Recall that seventeen officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed in Okuama community on the 14th of March, 2024, a development which made the people of the community to flee for fear of being attacked.

Recall we once reported how the stranded people of Okuama have been hiding and dwelling in the forest after the attack carried out the Nigerian soldiers who came for a peace call.
The Governor has now assured Indigenes to return as the community is safe for them.

The visit of the governor is coming one month after the killing of the military personnel.

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