AAC declares #OccupyINEC Campaign

African Action Congress

African Action Congress, (AAC) has declared another round of #OccupyINEC campaign. This is coming after INEC has turned deaf ears to the series of agitations of the party, following its attempt to hijack the party, and the commission’s interference in the party’s activities.

Recall that suspended Mr. Leonard Ezenwa , for a while, has been in bed with INEC officials with the aim of meddling with the affairs of the party.
In a Statement released by Mr. Femi Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, the party also states its stand on the deregistration of political parties and President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Act.

Read below:

PRESS STATEMENT

THE AFRICAN ACTION CONGRESS (AAC) DECLARES YET ANOTHER ROUND OF #OccupyINEC CAMPAIGN.

FOR EXPANSION OF THE ELECTORAL SPACE.

AGAINST DEREGISTRATION AND UNWHOLESOME MEDDLESOMENESS IN INTERNAL PARTY AFFAIRS BY INEC.

DECLARES TOTAL SUPPORT FOR ELECTORAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL PROTESTS HOLDING IN ABUJA and LAGOS ON FEBRUARY 22, 2022

The African Action Congress (AAC) seizes this medium to announce its total support for the various citizen actions, put together by sections of civil society and political groups; activities geared towards expanding the electoral space, in which the party itself will be playing a crucial leadership role.

It is a fact that the electoral space has suffered a number of attacks since the Buhari regime came to being. From the deregistration of 74 political parties, some of whom would be at the Supreme Court on February 22, 2022, to the unjust, illegal, and immoral meddlesomeness in the internal democracy of political parties, as seen in the case of the AAC, the regime has shown total disregard to the rights of Nigerians to freely participate in the process that would determine who and what system leads them into the future they desire.

It is not difficult to understand that the extreme apathy recorded at both the Lagos local government elections and FCT area council elections are not unconnected to the unjust shrinking of choices of the people. It worries us that only one vote was counted in a particular polling unit in a highbrow area of the FCT such as Maitama. Even Nigerians living in the rural areas who have been dubbed “faithful voters” didn’t come out to exercise their franchise. It is worrisome that the people of Nigeria have lost trust in the system. We are deeply concerned as a political party.

However, it is unscientific to think people would participate in a process where their will and aspirations are not represented.
This is why we continue to protest vehemently the deregistration of political parties on the grounds stated by INEC. Same as the undue interference of INEC in our party.

We wish to also state that the legal actions taken to flush the state-sponsored usurpers from our party has entered full throttle, and we shall again be at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on the same 22nd February, 2022. We are hopeful that justice, in the interest of democracy would be served on the matter.

As it concerns the signing or otherwise of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021, we as a party are not under any illusion that the “Oh Yes” men and women of the loan-approving and budget-padding centre called National Assembly would do what is right, however little, for the people. We have always maintained that the APC and PDP are incapable of doing what is right. If that’s not the case, overriding the veto of the sleepy President who has withheld assent to the bill seven (7) different times, should not take a galactic year to happen.

It is so unfortunate that the Buhari regime would have to be forced to do a token, even at the twilight of its inglorious exit. What exactly is the regime afraid of?

This is why we are calling on Nigerians to mount serious pressure beyond the pressure to sign the electoral act amendment bill 2021. We must all bond at this time to make sure our electoral space is expanded, the Independent Electoral Commission as the umpire is devoid of officials with bias and partisanship, and that the amendment bill is signed into law, so that Nigerians can make electoral choices freely, fairly and faith in the system may then be incrementally built.

We call on Nigerians to troop out in their numbers at all protest venues on Tuesday, 22nd February 2022 and demand a free, fair and credible electoral system, moving forward.

Solidarity.

Signed:
Femi Adeyeye
National Publicity Secretary,
African Action Congress
21/02/2022.

“Asefon must stop embarrassing Nigerian Students”- TIB Campus Wing.

ASUU Strike: TIB Campus Wing takes position.

TakeitBack Movement Logo

The Campus Wing of the Take It Back Movement, Nigeria, has accused the President, National Association of Nigeria Students NANS, Sunday Asefon, of embarrassing Nigerian students, following his Press Release, in reaction to the ongoing strike.

Mr. Sunday Asefon in his release, had threatened to mobilize students against the progressive actions of the members of ASUU. It should be recalled that, on Monday, 14th of February,  members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, commenced a strike action, in reaction to the failure of the Nigerian government to keep to the agreements between both parties.

In a Press Statement which was made available on the 15th of February, 2022, Mr. Damilare Adenola, the National Coordinator of Take It Back Movement, Campus Wing has however, made it known that the organization stands in agreement with ASUU on the decision made the Union made.

Read below, the Press Statement;

“ASUU Strike: Asefon Must Stop Embarrassing Nigerian Students; We Stand With The ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreements!

A Take-It-Back Movement (Student Wing) Press Statement

It was with sadness, although not surprising, that we received the news of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) effecting a 1 month warning strike in order to force the Federal government to honor their previous agreements.

We have also read the statement of the acclaimed NANS president, Sunday Asefon in response to the 1 month industrial action, threatening to to mobilize students against the lecturer’s union for taking a progressive stance in the interest of public education. As a pro-student organization, we wish to describe the statement as anti-student, anti-workers and a total embarrassment to Nigerian students, and our right to a well funded public education.

Take It Back Movement student wing stands strongly with 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, the essence of which was: (i) To reverse the decay in the University System, in order to reposition it for greater responsibilities in national development; (ii) To reverse the brain drain, not only by enhancing the remuneration of academic staff, but also by disengaging them from the encumbrances of a unified civil service wage structure; (iii) To restore Nigerian Universities, through immediate, massive and sustained financial intervention; and, (iv) To ensure genuine university autonomy and academic freedom.

Although, as apt as the 1 month warning strike action may be, it is our opinion that ASUU must follow it up with direct actions such as protests and picketing in order to further intensify the current pressure on the Federal government. Whereas the lecturer’s union must not look away from the strength of solidarity waiting to be harnessed from the students’ populace.

It is in line with the foregoing that we urge the entirety of Nigerian students to look beyond government propaganda against the strike action and pitch their tent with the ASUU’s public education revitalization struggle for which they are its greatest beneficiary”.

Damilare Adenola
National Coordinator.

 

Abba Kyari’s Arrest: Sowore reacts.

Abba Kyari’s Arrest: Sowore reacts.

“Super Cop” Abba Kyari has been arrested, following an allegation of drug trafficking.
Recall that DCP Abba Kyari was indicted in the money laundering trial of Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi, last year, 2021.
He was thereafter suspended and a committee was set up by the federal government to look into the case. In the early hours of 14th of February, 2022, he was declared wanted by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency. A video evidence was immediately made available to the public, to corroborate the allegation.
Few hours after he was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA over his involvement in a 25 kilograms Cocaine deal, the Nigerian Police Force has handed over the suspended DCP Abba Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force, to the anti-narcotic agency,” Babafemi said.

Five of the wanted suspects namely: DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agrigba and Inspector John Nuhu were alongside arrested.
In reaction, Omoyele Sowore took to his Facebook page and wrote:Omoyele Sowore

 

“DCP Abba Kyari is a product of a totally corrupt Nigeria Police Force, he’s got enablers at the very top of the Police hierarchy, APC party and the Muhammadu Buhari regime. He’s their ideal cop! #WeCantContinueLikeThis #RevolutionNow”

#JusticeForTimothy: Sowore Reacts To The Photo Of Ramon Adedoyin On Neck Brace

#JusticeForTimothy: Sowore Reacts To The Photo Of Ramon Adedoyin On Neck Brace

On November 5, 2021, Timothy Adegoke, a 37-year-old man travelled from Abuja to take an examination at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) distance learning centre in Moro, Osun state.

He was said to have lodged at Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Ile Ife. He was, however, declared missing two days later — only to be found dead. Subsequently, the police arrested and charged Ramon Adedoyin, chairman of the hotel, and six suspects to an Abuja high court for alleged involvement in the murder of Timothy.

The family of the deceased, in a letter dated February 3, 2022, had sought the legal services of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), to get justice for the family over the gruesome death of their son; and the lawyer had accepted the family’s request.

To ensure that that the killers of Timothy are brought to book, Falana in a letter dated February 4, 2022, and addressed to the police chief, requested that the suspects in the murder of Timothy be transferred to Osun state for prosecution. According to him, since the crime was committed in Ile-Ife, the suspects should have been charged before a court of competent jurisdiction in Osun State.

On February 7, 2022, the Federal High Court, Abuja issued a notice on the discontinuance of the case.

Reacting to the development, Omoyele Sowore wrote on his Facebook page,

“#justicefortimothy: Justice must be done whether they like it or not. The arraignment of Timothy’s killers will take place soon in Osun state. Abuja was meant to be the escape hatch but that has closed down!”

In another development, barely five hours after making the post above, Sowore shared a photo of the suspect, Ramon Adedoyin on a neck brace with the caption:

“#JusticeforTimothy: Suddenly Chief Adedoyin has been supplied with a neck brace, wonders shall never cease. These acts will not delay their day of judgement!”

Buhari Is The Most Divisive Figure Nigeria Has Ever Known – Sowore

Buhari Is The Most Divisive Figure Nigeria Has Ever Known – Sowore

The Financial Times, on January 31, 2022, published an article titled “What is Nigeria’s Government For?”, where the writer, David Piling stated that, “The presidential elections of February 2023 will draw the curtain on eight years of the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, on whose somnolent watch Nigeria has sleepwalked closer to disaster.”

Piling continued, “Buhari has overseen two terms of economic slump, rising debt and a calamitous increase in kidnapping and banditry—the one thing you might have thought a former general could control.”

Reacting to the report, Omoyele Sowore has taken to social media to remind Financial Times of other incompetencies of the Buhari’s administration which were overlooked in the recent report.

In a Facebook post, Sowore wrote, “Financial Times forgot to include that Muhammadu Buhari engaged in unprecedented violation of human rights which included but not limited to extra-judicial killings, mass murders, enforced disappearances as well as religious bigotry/extremism, thuggery, election rigging, massive corruption and theft of state resources amongst others. Above all, Muhammadu Buhari is the most divisive figure the country of Nigeria has ever known.”

TakeitBack Movement Blames FG For Impending ASUU Strike, Calls On Students To Support The Union’s Demands

TakeitBack Movement Blames FG For Impending ASUU Strike, Calls On Students To Support The Union’s Demands

A year after suspending a nine-month-old industrial action, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it would soon embark on an indefinite strike to reinforce its demands as it accuses the government of going back on their agreement.

To press home their demands, the Union had announced Monday, 7th of February, 2022, as a lecture-free day in universities across the country to inform the university communities and the public on the government’s failure to fulfill the agreement the parties entered into in December 2020, which led to the suspension of the then 9-month prolonged strike.

Given this development, the student wing of the TakeitBack Movement has issued a press statement decrying the proposed strike action by the union and the deadlock engagements between the federal government and ASUU.

Lamenting that students were the ones bearing the brunt, the Movement blamed the government for the pathetic state of education in the country and appealed to Nigerian students to support ASUU in its bid to salvage the education system from total collapse.

The press statement, dated February 7, 2022 with the headline “Proposed ASUU Strike: As Public Education Dies, We Must Rise”, signed by the National Coordinator of the student’s wing of the TakeitBack Movement, Damilare Adenola reads:

“Since 1999, Nigerian Universities have been on strike for a cumulative period of four years. If there is anything that has been constant about the Nigerian student’s academic calendar, it is the Academic Staff of University Union (ASUU) and the Federal government gripping each other’s throats over the funding of Nigerian Universities, better working conditions amidst other demands.

“Unsurprisingly, the student wing of the Take It Back Movement has again received the news of ASUU beginning mobilisation in a plan to embark on an indefinite strike, while kick-starting with a lecture-free day declaration for today 7th of February 2022. Whereas there are also indications that by February 14th the Union in the upper echelon will take the bold step in order to compel.

“Again, students of public institutions will be forced out of classes, deprived of their right to education as lecturers plan to put classrooms under locks and keys for the 16th time since 1999. However cruel and painful the proposed industrial action feels, it is important to pinpoint the real fountainhead of this unending menace facing public education in Nigeria today.

“Equipping public institutions with 21st-century facilities, employing enough lecturers to match the ratio of students and adequate payment of staff, Revitalization of the dying public education is ASUU’s chief demand and for which they have for decades been uncompromisingly pressing home.

“Providing free and quality education; instead of the Federal Government fulfilling the basic constitutional duty owed to Nigerian students, has further quickened the death of public education by underfunding the most crucial sector of any Nation desirous of peace and development. This year for instance, out of 16.39 trillion general budgetary allocations, N1.29 trillion, amounting to a paltry 7.9 per cent was allocated to education against the United Nations benchmark of 15-20 per cent.

“It is in thought with the above facts that we direct Nigerian students to own the struggle for the revitalization of education, spearheaded by ASUU. And in the spirit of solidarity rise up in protest against the deliberate act of the government to deprive children of the masses from accessing education.”

“Fund Education Effectively,” Take It Back Tells Oyo State Government, Declares Support For Ongoing Strike

“Fund Education Effectively,” Take It Back Tells Oyo State Government, Declares Support For Ongoing Strike

Take It Back Movement, Oyo State Chapter, has accused the Oyo state government of using the Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate to play politics, while calling for a genuine revamping of the college, stating that it was not enough for the state government to claim ownership of the institution if appropriate funding would not be provided.

The group declared its support for the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics in the state which include Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo; Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate; and Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa.

In a statement, dated February 4, 2022 and titled “Take It Back Movement (Oyo State)”, the group decried the infrastructural challenges and the state’s government negligent of staff and students of the institution, and disclosed that the TakeitBack Movement is ready to do everything possible in order to save the institution from its infrastructure challenges and imminent collapse.

The statement, signed by the Assistant Secretary, Gbenga Oloniniran and the Coordinator, Solomon Emiola, reads:

“The Take It Back Movement Oyo state uses this medium to react to the deteriorating state of the Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate. We commiserate with the staff and students of the institution who have been subjected to such untold hardship for long but have found the courage to make their demands public.

“In a letter to the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Joint Action Committee of the three trade unions highlighted a very pitiable state of the college. From nonpayment of backlog of arrears to the workers, to lack of take-off funds for the college, lack of toilet facilities and poor roads leading to the institution, we cannot but sympathize with the college community on the hardship being suffered by the staff and students of the institution.

“For us in the TIB, we cannot disconnect the issues faced by the college from other issues faced by many public schools in the state and in Nigeria. The commercialisation of public education has rendered many public tertiary, secondary and basic schools unworthy. We condemn this negligence of government on public education where future leaders are made.

“We must put it clear that it is not enough pronounce an institution autonomous, change its name or claim state ownership, without the adequate funding of the schools.

“We can see this trend also in the Seyi Makinde regime where institutions like the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso have been claimed fully by the Oyo State government.

“Meanwhile, the institution is still neither independent of underfunding nor of exorbitant fees being paid by the students. We recall that in the latter months of 2021, students of Lautech embarked on protest against the idea of “No tuition no exam” policy of the university management.

“This, regardless of the acclaimed paltry 25 percent reduction in their fees by the Seyi Makinde government, shows how insignificant such cosmetic reduction is to the economic realities confronting the people.

“We, therefore, condemn the attempts of the Oyo state government to continually use public education to play politics. We call for a genuine revamping of the Oyo State college of education, Lanlate and its environs.

“We call for an effective funding of LAUTECH to relieve the labouring parents and students. We believe that an emergency disbursement is due for the school and for many other public institutions suffering from deterioration in the state.

“The Take It Back Movement is ready to support the struggles of the Oyo state college, Lanlate, as well as of every worker and student centered agitation to save public education in the state.”

Since the college became an autonomous institution in 2016, it has been battling with series of challenges, as well as the non-accreditation of courses which have necessitated the statement.

Motorcyclist Dies, Student In Coma During Police Chase In Ogbomosho On Wednesday, TakeitBack Movement Reacts

Motorcyclist Dies, Student In Coma During Police Chase In Ogbomosho On Wednesday, TakeitBack Movement Reacts

Despite the nationwide protest of October 2020 against police brutality, officers of the Nigerian Police Force have continued to unlawfully detain, torture, and harass members of the public.

Following a recent case of harassment, high-handedness and unprofessional conduct by policemen in the city, the Oyo State Chapter of TakeitBack Movement has raised concerns over the safety and security of poor and helpless Nigerians, particularly young people.

In a video of one of such incidents that took place at 11:00pm, on Wednesday at NNPC petrol station along Illorin road, a popular section of the city, some policemen in an unbranded police vehicle were in pursuit of a black Lexus car.

During the wild police chase, one of the tyres of the Lexus car got burst and a motorcyclist, with his passenger, a female student, were unfortunate victims of the accident, and were rushed to Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. As at the time of writing this report, the motorcyclist has kicked the bucket and the student is in coma.

TakeitBack Movement had earlier reported how three young men were harassed, and subsequently arrested illegally by police officers in Lagos. It took media outcry from the Movement to have them released.

Speaking on the issue of police brutality generally, and the police chase and accident particularly, a student activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “It’s been over a year since the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Nigerian Police authorities promised reforms and more respect for the rights of citizens, yet nothing has changed as ordinary Nigerians, especially young people are still at the mercy of rogue policemen.”

TakeitBack: Nigerians Must Unite Beyond The Borders Of Ethnicity And Religion

TakeitBack: Nigerians Must Unite Beyond The Borders Of Ethnicity And Religion

The Nassarawa state chapter of the TakeitBack Movement, in a meeting held on Sunday, January 30, 2022, has stressed on the need for Nigerians to do away with ethno-religious sentiments and vote credible and radical alternatives in the forthcoming general elections.

According to the spokesperson during the meeting, Nigeria can only enjoy the dividends of good governance when young people are deeply involved in the decision-making process.

He further urged the youths to get their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) ahead of the 2023 general elections. This, he said, is the only way the full political participation of the youths can be facilitated, as well as ensure that they decide who pilots the affairs of the country.

The chapter also emphasized on the need for the Movement to keep organizing across the nook and crannies of the state towards the task of pulling down the system of greed and power.

TakeitBack Movement Secures Release Of Three Entertainers, Insist On End To Police Brutality

TakeitBack Movement Secures Release Of Three Entertainers, Insist On End To Police Brutality

Three entertainers, Ibrahim Bakare, Idris Oseni and Oyeniyi Abeeb were arrested by policemen, attached to the Oke Odo Police station, in Lagos State on the night of Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

A report, obtained by the TakeitBack Movement revealed that the three young entertainers were thoroughly beaten and secretly detained in one of the police officers’ private office, and a ransom of N100,000 demanded by the policemen.

Following the illegal arrest, the Lagos chapter of the TakeitBack Movement campaigned vigorously for the immediate release of the young men, and demanded an end to police brutality – a carryover from the #EndSARS protest of October, 2020.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the young men regained their freedom.