Toronto lawyer, Annamie Paul, was Saturday named head of the Green Party, becoming the first Black woman to lead a national political party in Canada.
The 47-year-old mother of two, the daughter of immigrants from the Caribbean, described herself as a “descendant of slaves.”
Paul hailed her victory as a “historic moment” during her speech after the announcement of the results of the internal ballot in Ottawa.
“We have done something that has never been done before in Canadian politics,” said the Jewish lawyer, who has reported being the victim of anti-Semitic attacks on social media.
“Colonialism has robbed me of my original identity,” Paul added in her speech, saying she was ready to support indigenous peoples in particular in their fight against systemic racism within the police.
She succeeds Elizabeth May, who led the Greens for 13 years before stepping down at the end of 2019, following a federal legislative election where her party won only three seats in the House of Commons.
Paul said that under her leadership the party would have two priorities: building a social security net for all Canadians and tackling “the existential crisis of our time, which is the climate emergency.”
“This is the chance of a lifetime for us to move towards a more just, a more resilient society,” she said. “We believe it can be done.”
To repair the economic ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, Paul said the government needed to invest in a “green transition” for a path to the future.
“The choice is yours, if we want different outcomes then we need to make different choices,” said Paul, who previously worked at the International Criminal Court.
The new leader of the Greens said she will run in a legislative by-election in Toronto at the end of October, in the constituency vacated after the surprise resignation of former Liberal finance minister, Bill Morneau.
Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has banned operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from undertaking routine patrols as well as stop and search duties.
Frank Mba, Police spokesman, disclosed the directive of the IGP in a statement on Sunday.
The directive is coming in the wake of an outrage over alleged criminal and extra-judicial actions of FSARS officers against citizens in various parts of the country.
In the statement, Mba said the IGP also directed that no officer should embark on a patrol in mufti.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect,” he said.
“The IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.
“They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.”
Mba quoted Adamu as saying FSARS and other police tactical squads remain “a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country”.
“He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads,” the force public relations officer said.
“He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road.
“They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.
“The IGP has equally warned that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).”
The police spokesman said two FSARS officers and one civilian accomplice have been arrested in Lagos for professional misconduct.
“Two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens,” he said.
“The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos State Chapter has asked the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, to retract his comments against the former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Bode George.
Fayose had during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Committee for the Lagos-East senatorial by-election last Tuesday asked PDP in Lagos State to send Bode George on “political retirement”.
Failure to do this, Fayose said the party would neither make progress nor win elections in Lagos State.
But the spokesperson for PDP in Lagos, Taofik Gani, said Fayose would be held responsible for any future election loss in the state.
He said this in a statement titled, ‘Keep your divisive advice, face your frustration’, on Sunday.
Part of the statement read, “PDP, Lagos State chapter gives Fayose seven days ultimatum within which to retract and apologise for the deliberate unwarranted vituperation on all her elderly chieftains in the state chapter of the party.
“Fayose will be declared persona non grata in all our indoor and outdoor activities from Monday, 12th October 2020, unless he, Fayose, purges himself of the grave nuisance value arising from the unsolicited, rabid and divisive advice.
“We are nearing very important elections in the state to take us into winning Lagos State in 2023 general elections. We need togetherness and complimentary efforts possible of the old, young, male, female.
“It is thus shocking that a supposed leader would come to our state to ‘tear’ us apart rather than give positive and progressively uniting advice to us. We will hold Fayose responsible for any future election loss in Lagos State and indeed the South-West.”
The fatal police shooting footage of a Nigerian man has sparked outrage and reignited a public call for the shutdown of a controversial police unit in the country.
The outrage was triggered by a post from a Twitter user who said he recorded SARS officials shooting “a young boy dead at Ughelli, Delta state in front of Wetland hotels. They left him for dead on the roadside and drove away with the deceased Lexus jeep.”
It is yet unclear when the video was recorded.
Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Hafiz Inuwa, told Channels Television that his men did not shoot anyone.
But Nigeria’s youth and sports minister Sunday Dare has called for an “immediate investigation” into the alleged shooting.
“The minister of youth and sports development, who has also been monitoring the reports of alleged SARS harassment and attacks, has called for immediate investigations that will unravel the truth,” Dare said in a statement by his spokesperson John Joshua-Akanji.
However, the video has caused large numbers of Nigerians – including politicians and activists – to take to social media calling demand “justice”.
Hashtages such as #WarOnSars, #EndSars and #SarsAlert have reverberated among internet users in the country. Some Twitter users renamed SARS as “Special Armed Robbery Squad”.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar condemned SARS’ “cruel actions against our people” and called for a review of the unit’s operations.
“How many young Nigerians will have to be robbed/ kidnapped/killed by SARS before our Government takes it seriously? The “Special Anti-Robbery Squad” is doing the robbing?! Such a disgrace. What will it take for our “leaders” to do something about it? #EndSARS #EndSarsNow,” Actor and politician, Bankole Wellington, popular known as Banky W, tweeted on Sunday.
In August 2018, Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ordered an overhaul of the police squad. But no much difference had been achieved as reports of police brutality have not abated.
The Ondo State Government has directed civil servants to resume at their duty posts on Monday.
Those given the directive are from grade level 1 to 12, who had been working remotely for over five months due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Head of Service in the state, Oludare Aragbaye, gave the directive for the resumption of the workers in a memo on Sunday in Akure, the capital.
“It will be recalled that efforts by the state government at combating COVID-19 yielded encouraging results to the effect that the curve of the virus has been flattened to a very large extent in the state.
“It is in view of this that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu directed all public servants on grade level 01-12 and other workers who have hitherto worked from home to resume work on Monday, 5th October 2020.
“Therefore, all workers are hereby enjoined to rededicate and commit themselves to effective and efficient service delivery to reciprocate government’s good gesture.”
Sources confirm that the Head of Service was pressured by Governor Akeredolu to order the resumption of workers as part of a strategy to woo their support ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
“Don’t be surprised that the governor would start paying some allowances and bonus this week just to woo the votes of workers and their support for Saturday’s election,” a source told reporters.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed concern over the exploitation of youths in the country by SARS operatives.
The governor made his displeasure known in a tweet on Sunday.
The tweet came a few hours after condemnations greeted the alleged shooting of a young man in front of a hotel in the Ughelli area of Delta State by some SARS operatives.
It was reported that a video which went viral on Saturday showed how there was confusion around the Wetland Hotel in the Ughelli area where the policemen allegedly shot the victim, and escaped with his vehicle – a white Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle.
The police action sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the police action and calling for urgent reforms.
Reacting, Sanwo-Olu said, “The safety of our residents is my number one duty as the Chief Security Officer of Lagos. So, reading reports of seemingly unlawful exploitation by the people charged to protect is very worrying and needs to be addressed immediately. Be assured that appropriate actions will be taken, and speedily too.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said the Federal Government would look into the reports of harassment of Nigerians by SARS.
In a statement by John Joshua-Akanji, his special assistant, Dare said he had been monitoring reports of the attacks by SARS, adding that relevant government agencies will investigate the incidents.
He said, “The ministry of youth and sports is worried about the menace, increasing harassments and attacks by SARS, especially targeted at youths and other innocent members of the public, and brought it to the attention of the relevant security agencies in Abuja,” the statement read.
“The minister of youth and sports development, who has also been monitoring the reports of alleged SARS harassment and attacks, has called for immediate investigations that will unravel the truth.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), has called on government to return public schools to their original owners to allow stakeholders, including alumni associations, contribute fully towards the development of the institutions.
Ogunwusi made the call on Saturday, during the inauguration of projects worth N50 million at the St. John Grammar School, Ile-Ife, in Osun.
The projects were executed by members of the St. John Old Boy’s Association (SJOBA).
He decried the level of decay in the country’s school system and lamented that founders of the schools, which were mostly Churches and clergymen, left great structures which had deteriorated due to lack of proper maintenance.
“I call on our government to allow real owners, especially alumni of our schools, to take charge in order to restore the glory of our education sector.
“They know better because they have been through the system and are in the best position to effect the required changes towards prosperity.
“Look at the projects we’re inaugurating today; we’re talking of projects worth N50 million. It will take the government a longer period to do something like this.
“That is if they even find it necessary in the first place because of the large number of important demands competing for government’s limited resources,” Ooni added.
The monarch asked the old students if they could enroll their children in their Alma Mata, judging by the current standard, but got a negative response from the audience who agreed with him that it was better to let old students step in, to play active roles in the interest of the upcoming generation.
Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola, in his address, applauded members of the SJOBA for the projects which included a gate and a fence worth N18 million, and a full-size bronze statue of the founder, Rev. Father Fabian Cloutier, worth N5.1 million.
He also commended the quality of other projects like the modern toilets constructed at the cost of N12.5 million, library renovation which cost N5 million, and the renovation of two blocks of classroom which cost N15 million.
“The projects were well thought out to address the all-round needs of the school,” Oyetola, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Charles Akinola, noted.
He said that old school associations remained critical partners in revolutionising and transforming schools, adding that his government was working out reforms that involved proactive steps, to address lingering issues in all sectors.
“The education sector tops this initiative. Shortly after assuming office, we commenced the revitalisation of schools across the state with renovation of buildings, provision of books and educational materials/teaching aids and training and re-training of teachers.
“We also placed emphasis on vocational and technical education to check unemployment and make our youths job creators and entrepreneurs,” the governor noted.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyetola was inaugurated as the grand patron of the association, to join the Ooni of Ife, who was decorated as a grand patron of SJOBA on Friday.
On the motivation behind the projects, SJOBA President, Dr. Festus Oshoba, explained that they were motivated by the rare gesture of the school’s founder, Rev. Father Fabian Cloutier, a Canadian Catholic Priest, who took his share of his family inheritance to build the school in 1962.
“We would like to request for a partnership with the state government where the management of the school is substantially under the auspices of the Catholic Church and SJOBA.
“We also request that the state government should assist us in getting the school accredited for the COMPUTER BASED TEST (CBT) by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in view of the abundant facilities at the school,” the president said.
One of the old students, who spoke with NAN, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said that the association was taking various measures to standardise the learning system of the school.
The event was attended by top dignitaries that included the Osun Commissioner for Education, Mr Folorunso Oladoyin, among others.
The Ondo State governorship election is about seven days away and preparations are already in top gear. No fewer than 17 political parties would take part in the election.
They include the ruling All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Zenith Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and Young Progressives Party. Others are the African Democratic Party, Accord Party, African Action Alliance, the African Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Action Peoples Party, among others.
Meanwhile, political pundits believe that the contest would largely be between the candidate of the APC and incumbent governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) of the PDP and the current deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, of the ZLP.
This is because they are believed to have the requisite structure in place across the 18 local government areas of the state, coupled with the fact that they relatively are about the most popular among the candidates.
Jegede, who was also the PDP candidate in 2016, is contesting for the second time.
The three candidates, who are legal practitioners, are from each of the three senatorial districts of the state – Akeredolu is from Ondo North; Jegede is from Ondo Central while Ajayi is from Ondo South Senatorial District.
For many people, it would be a tight contest. However, each of them has their area of advantage.
First, Akeredolu has some edge over the other two candidates, being the incumbent governor. In Nigerian politics, the power of incumbency is a strong factor, coupled with the fact that his party is in charge at the national level. Support from the centre and from other states being ruled by the APC would definitely be of great advantage to him.
Even though it wasn’t reported if the funds would be released before the election, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), wrote to the National Assembly, seeking approval for the refund of N148bn to reimburse four states, Ondo State inclusive, for the money spent on road projects in their respective states.
Some members of the opposition are dissatisfied over the President’s reasons for trying to release the money to the state when the election is a few days away. They argued that it was an indirect way of empowering the party’s candidate.
Aside from this, the governor’s performance would also earn him votes, particularly in various communities he had carried out projects. Some people believe that Akeredolu had done well in the area of infrastructure, industrialisation and agriculture and many communities had benefited immensely in the projects in these sectors. Thus, in those areas where he carried out projects, he might get more votes.
However, according to some observers, a major factor that could be an obstacle to the governor’s re-election bid is the internal wrangling in the state APC which has not been completely resolved. Some APC members believe the governor did not coordinate the party properly since he assumed office in 2016.
The relationship became strained to the extent that the national body of the party set up a reconciliation committee to end the crisis. In spite of this, however, some members are still in court challenging the process of the party’s primary conducted in July 2020.
A top party chieftain of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, informed our correspondent that the party might lose the election because, according to him, there was no genuine reconciliation.
The party chief said, “If he loses this election, the greater cause would come from within the party. He has not done well to the party members. For almost four years, he ignored them; there was no party meeting at the wards, he was busy dealing with ‘Team Aketi’, he starved the party members.
“The disgruntled party members are waiting for him this time round. Secondly, the reconciliation they said they did was fake. Some of us party leaders are being bullied by the national leadership of the party to support his reelection, so that the party would not lose the state.”
In the same vein, Akeredolu may lose votes of some people who believe that governors don’t always perform in their second term since they do not have much at stake. Though the governor had said in many fora while allaying the fear of workers that if he won the election, he would perform.
The candidate of the PDP, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, would have an advantage in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, where he hails from as his major stronghold, coupled with the structure of the party across the 18 LGAs of the state. He also has supporters across the three senatorial districts, particularly in the southern senatorial district, which is sometimes regarded as the home of the PDP in Ondo State.
It was gathered that Jegede had been enjoying the support of the PDP governors across the country and some national leaders of the party are also in his support. So, money for the election may not be the headache for the party and its candidate.
Being a part of the immediate past administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, many beneficiaries of the administration are queuing behind Jegede to win the election with the hope that his administration would be the continuation of Mimiko’s government, especially in the area of free medical service for pregnant women and children, reduction in school fees, and community development, among others.
But the major challenge that could militate against the PDP candidate is the hullabaloo on the senatorial zoning sentiment. Jegede has been described as a gentleman, with high credibility and intellectual prowess to manage the affairs of the state but in the political quarters, the permutation and calculation do not favour him following the senatorial district he comes from. Some political analysts have argued that Mimiko, from the same central senatorial district with Jegede, spent eight years in power. They said it was no longer feasible for the same zone to retain power.
They further argued that it was either Akeredolu completed his eight years or power should shift to the southern senatorial district. Due to this sentiment, some members were defecting from the PDP to support the APC or ZLP candidate.
Another factor that could affect the chances of the PDP candidate is the unsettled rift between him and his former principal, Mimiko. The former governor, who is now the National Leader of the ZLP, is said to be solidly behind the candidate of the party, Mr Agboola Ajayi. At the moment, some of Mimiko’s supporters are said to be leaving the PDP for the ZLP.
In the same vein, the emergence of Agboola Ajayi as the candidate of the ZLP had apparently shot the party into the limelight. Some people even describe the party as a third force in the election. Many political analysts have warned against underrating the ZLP candidate.
Apart from the fact that he is a grass roots politician who rose through the ranks, he has a lot of supporters across the state. Though the party may not have the financial strength to match the APC and PDP, it is said to be increasing its supporters’ base courtesy of defections, especially from both the APC and the PDP.
The senatorial zoning sentiment could also be in his favour as many people from the Ondo South Senatorial District are already seeing his governorship ambition as their project and are planning to deliver block votes from the area.
Ajayi’s alliance with Mimiko is also believed to be a boost for his ambition. Mimiko has been seen leading the campaign of the ZLP candidate to the nooks and crannies of the state, telling the people that Ajayi would continue where he stopped if he is elected. A source disclosed that Mimiko’s loyalists in the PDP and APC were already working for Ajayi ahead of the election.
However, it is believed that Ajayi’s party may not be able to match the others if the election is unethically monetised as is sometimes the practice. Another concern of some of his supporters is how he would be able to gather the much-required votes from the two other senatorial districts. The structure of the ZLP is also not as strong as that of the APC and the PDP.
In the view of some analysts, the election would be a three horse race.
According to a university lecturer, Dr Gbenga Abimbola, the winner of the election would certainly be between the three major political parties and it would be difficult to predict the winner.
He said, “The election is a three horse race among the APC, PDP and the ZLP, because these are the parties that have structures and resources in the state. But it is early to predict where the pendulum would swing due to some factors that could play out.”
He added, “Each of the three senatorial districts is producing a candidate for the election. Each candidate would have to win enough votes in his district and get more in other districts. The sentiment of zoning is also there; though it is not a written agreement. The southern senatorial district is saying it is its turn but the north says it would have to complete its eight years.
“However, there will still be calculation and permutations because 24 hours is a long time in politics. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and see what will happen in the next few days.”
Similarly, a legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Mr Deji Ogunyimika, said the current political game in Ondo State reflected the beauty of democracy. He also admitted that the election victory was among the three major political parties.
He added, “Having three major candidates in a state election is good for our democracy; at least, it will afford the voters the opportunity to have more choices among them. But I will appeal to the stakeholders, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies, to allow a free, fair and credible election. In Edo State, with all the apprehension, the election was credible to a very large extent. I think that should be repeated in Ondo State. People’s votes must be allowed to count for the sake of our democracy.”
A six-man robbery gang yesterday raided a WEMA bank branch in Iyin-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, making away with an unspecified amount of money.
An eyewitness told The Guardian that the robbers arrived at the bank around 3:30 pm and blasted the security doors with explosives suspected to be dynamite before making away with several millions of Naira in an operation that lasted about 40 minutes.
According to the eyewitness, the robbers shot sporadically into the air to scare residents and traders at the nearby market before gaining entry into the banking hall.
Residents were said to have run in different directions due to the severity of the gunshots that sent jitters down the spines of those around.
It was gathered that vehicles traveling across Ado-Iyin-Aramoko-Efon road had to make a detour to prevent being caught in the web of gunshots.
“In fact, the police disappointed us. They disappointed the people of Iyin today. The robbers robbed for over 40 minutes without any challenge. Those at the nearby market left their commodities and ran for their lives,” he said.
Recall that the police had raised the alarm, alleging that bandits were planning an invasion of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, telling newsmen that officers were mobilised to the scene immediately the Command got a distress call.
The eyewitness said policemen only arrived at the bank after the robbers had left. But Abutu assured that “the robbers are being chased and the determination is to effect their arrest.”
“We are assuring the people that the hoodlums shall be arrested and brought to justice. Ekiti is not a safe haven for robbers and that we shall continue to sustain,” he added.
