Democracy in danger as Nigeria comes under creeping fascism by John Odigie-Oyegun

Being the text of a World Press Conference addressed by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, in Lagos on Friday, June 20th 2014

Good morning gentlemen of the press.

I have called this World Press Conference today to alert Nigerians and our international friends of the grave threat posed to our democracy and indeed the very survival of our nation by an increasingly-tyrannical federal government.

Less than 48 hours after I released an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, warning him to halt the impunity in Ekiti and not to plunge Nigeria into a political crisis, the federal government has now overreached itself and turned Ekiti into a war zone, where constitutional guaranteed rights have been suspended.

The final electioneering campaign of our candidate in the Ekiti election, Gov. Kayode Fayemi, provided the perfect setting for the Jonathan-led administration to bare its fangs with a series of arbitrariness and unconstitutional acts that threaten the very fabric of our democracy.

Ekiti Poll: APC Lies To Nigerians Regarding Kano Governor’s Air Travel - PREMIUM TIMES

The claim by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that federal officials prevented the plane carrying the Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from landing in Akure is false, PREMIUM TIMES can reveal.

At the time the APC was claiming that the Kano governor was being barred from getting to Ekiti, the spokesperson of the governor told PREMIUM TIMES his boss was in Kano and had no plans to travel to Ekiti.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, claimed Mr. Kwankwaso and two other APC governors, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, were barred from getting to Ekiti to support Governor Kayode Fayemi’s re-election bid.

Lai Mohammed: APC Governors barred from travelling to Ado for party's final campaign ahead of Saturday poll

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that its Governors are being prevented by security agencies apparently acting on ''orders from above'' from travelling to Ado-Ekiti for the party's final campaign on Friday for the Ekiti State Governorship election on Friday.

In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said at least three Governors - Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and
Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano - have so far been prevented from making the trip

It said the helicopter that was to ferry Gov. Oshiomhole from Benin to Ado-Ekiti was refused permission to take off from the Benin Airport, while the plane that was flying Gov. Kwankwanso to Akure was denied permission to land.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole orders demolition of kidnappers’ den in Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Wednesday ordered the demolition of a block of four flats identified as a hideout of kidnappers in the state, which he would supervise by himself.

Oshiomhole, who gave the directive when four suspected kidnappers were paraded before him by officers of the State Security service, SSS, in Benin, said that the den of kidnappers located along Sapele Road in Benin City would be destroyed according to the dictates of the law. “I am obliged to obey the directive of the law, which is that any property used for kidnapping has to be brought down.

Adams Oshiomhole’s aide, Idubor, others move to PDP

An aide to Edo state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole,  Mr Agharese Idubor, on Wednesday led at least, 150 members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the state to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He is Oshiomhole's Executive Director on Protocol Matters. Reports has it that the defecting members of APC are from Ward 7 in the Egor Local Government Area in the south Senatorial district of Edo State.

Speaking on behalf of the defecting members, Mr Agharese Idubor said their decision to return to the PDP was borne out of the alleged political betrayal of the leadership of All Progressive Congress in the state at the ward congress in the state on Tuesday, saying that leadership positions should be attained through party's democratic election and not by imposition "as was witnessed by APC members on Tuesday.''

Adams Oshiomhole to Edo Traffic Mgt Agency: Arrest me if… ,no one is too big to obey laws

BENIN — Edo State Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has charged operatives of the state Traffic Management Agency, ESTMA, to arrest him or the state deputy governor, if their vehicles beat the red lights, saying that “no one is too big to obey laws in the state.” Speaking at a meeting with officers and men of the agency at Government House, weekend, Oshiomhole charged operatives of the agency to be firm, but civil in carrying out their duties, noting that they must not treat ‘big  men’ with levity because of their status in the society.

Oshiomhole said: “You must not extort, you must not criminalise innocent people, you must not let offenders go after extortion. If anybody beats the red light, you must arrest the person, no matter his status. If it’s the governor or deputy governor, you must arrest and interrogate him.