2019 Election: Middle Belt Want David Mark For President

As clock ticks for the 2019 presidential election, the campaign posters of former Senate President and the senator representing Benue South, David Mark have flooded the social media sphere.

The posters show Mark in a red and black traditional Idoma cap over a grey agbada.

The development came four days after the PDP zoned its presidency slot to north.

An inscription of ‘WANTED’ is boldly written over the top of the poster with PDP logo and another write up entitled ‘change the change.’

Below the poster, sponsored by Middle Belt Volunteers is another inscription which reads, “Senator Dr. David Mark Alechenu Bonaventure Mark (GCON) for President 2019.”

Aside social media, DAILY POST reports that the posters have been spotted in some places in Abuja, Igah Ikeje, Okpo in Kogi State as well as some parts of Kaduna State.

Speaking with our correspondent, an official of the group, Sunday Argah said Mark happens to be the strongest person to challenge the current government since the PDP had zoned presidency slot to the northern Nigeria.

“Yes, we are presenting him (Mark) as our candidate in 2019. He is the man to beat,” he told our correspondent.

James Oche, the coordinator of Mark campaign organisation, Door to Door, did not reply to text sent to him as at press time.

The Idoma people in Benue State had in 2015 asked Mark to join the presidential race.

His ambition reverberated during a reception in his honour by the Idoma League of Professors, ILP, led by Prof. Owoicho Akpa where they asked the former military general to run for president.

By Ameh Comrade Godwin

Nigerians Sue Buhari Over His Health, Want Court To Order NASS To Remove Him

A lawyer and medical practitioner, John Larry Ojukoko Esq. and Dr. Ejiro Imuere, have approached a Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, seeking an order of mandamus compelling the Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, to set up a medical panel to examine the medical fitness of ailing President Muhammadu Buhari and remove him if he can no longer continue.

Joined in the suit are the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Attorney General of the Federation.

Specifically, the plaintiffs want the court to determine the following:

“Whether or not by the combined effect of sections 144 (1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, impose a duty on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to verify the medical fitness of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where exist a clear evidence that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over a period of time is incapable of performing his constitutional duty due to ill health.

“Whether or not by the combined effect of the provisions of section 14 (2) (b), section 143 (1), (2) (11) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended vis a vis the incessant killings and wanton destruction of properties by group identified as herdsmen with no visible and decisive move to end same by the 1st defendant amount to “gross misconduct on the part of 1st defendant.

“Whether the May 2017 recruitment of 479 cadet officers by the Department of State Service (DSS) of which 331 (Three Hundred and Thirty One ) are from the 3 Northern Geographical Zone of North West, North East and North Central with Katsina State having 51 cadet officers, while the 3 South Geographical Zone of West, East and South admitted 143 cadet officers with Lagos having 7 cadet office, contravened section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended thereby amount to “gross misconduct” on the part of the 1st Defendant as defined in Section 143 (ii) of the 1999 constitution as amended.”

Upon the determination of the above three questions, the plaintiffs’ claim against the defendants jointly and/or severally are as follows:

“A Declaration that the combined effect of sections 144 (1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, impose a duty on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants to verify the medical state of the 1st Defendant to ascertain whether he is capable of performing his constitutional duty as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“A Declaration that by virtue of Section 14 (2) (b) of 1999 Constitution as amended, the 1st Defendant is duty bound to put an end to the incessant killing and wanton destruction of properties across Nigeria by the group known as herdsmen.

“A Declaration that lopsided recruitment of 479 cadet officers into the Department of State Service contravenes Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“A Declaration that, the non -adherence to Sections 14 (2) (b) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended the 1st Defendant, has failed in his constitutional duties and his oaths of allegiance.

“An Order of Mandamus compelling the 2nd and 3rd defendants to set up a medical panel to examine the medical fitness of 1st defendant to discharge the function of the office of President.

“An Order of Mandamus compelling the National Assembly to set in motion the provision of Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

By Wale Odunsi

Senate: Move To Make Saraki Acting President Fails

A mild drama occurred on the floor of the Senate, on Tuesday, when a point of order was raised, that the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki was the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Senate, upon resumption from its 3 weeks break, received a communication from Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Acting President of Nigeria, seeking the confirmation of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, as the Director General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

The lawmakers, however, subjected the letter to deliberations, owing to the fact that the Acting President, had earlier reportedly said the Senate had no power to confirm nominees.

Senator Eyinanya Abaribe (Abia South), had raised a motion that the country had no President or Acting President at the moment, adding that, President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo were neither in the country, as at the time.

This was greeted with a counter point, coming through order 53 rule 4 of the Senate standing rules, by Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central).

Marafa who cited relevant sections of the Nigerian constitution, said, “if the President is not around, the Vice President should act, and if the Vice President is not around, the Senate President, who is the number 3 citizen should become acting President.”

The Senate President, however, didn’t allow any seconder or more comments, even when Senators were agitating to support the motion. He quickly ruled Senator Marafa “out of order.”

By Yemi Itodo

CCT Verdict Appeal: An Attempt To Bring Me Down - Saraki

Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki yesterday said the federal government’s appeal against the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on his case was an attempt to pull him down. 

The CCT had last week upheld the plea of no case submission Saraki made on the 18-count charge of false assets declaration preferred against him. The government earlier this week appealed against the acquittal. 

Reacting, Saraki said that he remained unperturbed by the development.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he said he was confident that the verdict at the appellate court would not be different from that of the tribunal as the facts of the case remained the same and the grounds on which the decision of the CCT was based remained unassailable.

He said corruption was not just about giving or diverting money, adding, “When an official interferes with the judicial process with a view to achieving personal objectives, that is corruption.

“This Appeal against the CCT ruling is nothing but another attempt to grandstand and embark on another media trial without any substance. This is why the Senate President is sure it will be another exercise in futility. 

By Ismail Mudashir