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Trump conviction : I may apply for restoration of my U.S Green Card — Soyinka
1er juin, par Unknown
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka said following former United States President Donald Trump’s conviction he might choose to apply for restoration of his Permanent Residence, known as the Green Card.Soyinka made the remark while reacting to the verdict on Friday, in a personal statement made available to Vanguard.
The Nobel Laurette said for millions in anguished parts of the world, “certainly for us in vast swathes of the African continent, this is daybreak on a new democratic promise.”
The statement, titled “The Trump Verdict, reads: “For millions in anguished parts of the world, certainly for us in vast swathes of the African continent, this is daybreak on a new democratic promise.
“The warning is clear, sooner or later, the clamour of equity breaks down the stoutest gates on guard across the citadel of impunity.
“The Trump debacle is a challenge also, a call to preparedness and steadfastness. Installed and putative fascisms–secular, military or theocratic-will extract from this only the wrong lessons, batten down and ‘crack down’ in self-protection.
“It is “Not yet Uhuru”, not anywhere close for humanity in our global village. Nonetheless, a celebration, albeit in a minor key, is justified.
“P.s. Seeing that this trite, personal gesture attracted such inordinate attention at the time, let me answer the question before it is asked: Yes, I may choose to apply for restoration of my card of Permanent Residence, known as the Green Card. Possibly.”
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PDP understands governance, transparency than APC – Adebutu
31 mai, par Fashola MC POSCABAThe Ogun State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, Ladi Adebutu, has said only the PDP understands the act of governance and leadership.
Adebutu stated this on Friday during the revalidation of his PDP membership at Ward 4, Odo Alaro in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.
He noted that, unlike the APC, the PDP understands the plight of its people and is transparent.
“We are a very responsive and people-oriented party. We understand the act of governance matters, we imbibe that culture, and we have been able to succeed on it.”
The PDP chieftain accused the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, of “throwing parties” for the commissioning of a few kilometers of road compared to his Oyo counterpart, Seyi Makinde, who just inaugurated 77 km of road.
“Yesterday, we were in Ogbomoso. The extent of the infrastructure development by the PDP government of Gov. Seyi Makinde is an example to the whole nation.
“If all the federating states play their role actively, there will be less emphasis on the center, and that is the way it should be. PDP is PDP.
“I was in Oyo State, and the PDP governor commissioned a state’s road of about 77 km. It was not the surfacing of an existing road; he actually went and did urban and rural development at the same time.
“He constructed roads on virgin lands, but my own brother from my own town in Iperu now puts band sets on the road, claiming he is commissioning a resurfaced and expanded road of a few kilometers.
“Now, compare that person of the APC to what happened yesterday in Oyo State. That is the difference between the APC and the PDP.
“We understand governance, we are transparent, and we are able to do well despite the fact that the resources in Oyo State are relatively, comparatively small to what we have in Ogun State.
“I felt ashamed yesterday; I covered my eyes because Dapo is from the same place as I am, and he shows his diminished acumen,” he said.
Adebutu, however, disclosed that the PDP in Ogun State had registered over 100,000 new members.
He added, “I have seized the opportunity to transfer my membership from Ward 5 Ikenne Local Government to Odo-Alaro Ward 4 in Odogbolu Local Government.
“I am sure with time, reality will dawn on Nigerians that we all have to come under that great umbrella to rescue our nation because this is the opposition party,” he said.
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Killing of soldiers : Continued bloodshed must be met with decisive action, not empty promises – Peter Obi
31 mai, par Unknown
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the February 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, has reacted to the killing of five soldiers in Abia State.Obi who condemned the killing noted via his X Platform that: “continued brutality and bloodshed in our nation must be met with swift and decisive action, not empty words and hollow promises”.
He mourned the dead soldiers and demanded for through investigation to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
His words: “I am appalled and saddened by the attack on our brave soldiers in Abia State yesterday, resulting in the death of five soldiers.
“This dastardly act remains condemnable as it is a stark reminder of the escalating insecurity and violence that has continued to plague our nation under our collective watch. My heart goes out in solidarity and sincere condolences to my dear brother, Dr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, and the good people of the state.
“More directly, my condolences to the families of the fallen heroes, who have paid the ultimate price in service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we owe it to them to demand accountability and justice.
“Our failure as a nation to protect our citizens and security personnel is a clear dereliction of duty and sign of deficiency of the Nigerian state. The continued brutality and bloodshed in our nation must be met with swift and decisive action, not empty words and hollow promises.
“I condemn this atrocity in strong terms, and demand an immediate and thorough investigation into this crime in order to identify and punish the culprits. We must not stand idly by while our nation is torn apart by violence and fear.
We will continue to push for a better future, where our citizens and security forces are protected and valued”.
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Sit-at-home : Abia places N25m bounty on killers of soldiers
31 mai, par UnknownThe Abia government has placed a N25 million bounty on the killers of five soldiers in the state.
On May 30, five soldiers of the Nigerian Army were reportedly killed by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) while trying to enforce sit-at-home at Obikabia junction in Aba.
The IPOB earlier gave a directive for total compliance with the sit-at-home order to commemorate Biafra Day on May 30.
On Friday, the army said it would avenge the killing of the soldiers.
In a statement on Friday, Okey Kanu, the commissioner for information in Abia, condemned the attack on the soldiers by the suspected separatists.
“The Abia state government considers the event of Thursday, May 30, 2024, a serious affront to its resolve by criminal elements who are hell-bent on returning Abia to the dark days of insecurity and fear amongst citizens, especially in Aba, the economic heartbeat of the state,” the statement reads.
“This is more regrettable in the light of the fact that unprecedented investments have been made in the last one year to restore the city’s public infrastructure and reposition it as an attractive investment destination for local and foreign businesses.
“To underscore its resolve, the state government is offering a N25 million (twenty-five million naira) reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs.
“The security formations in the state have been directed to treat informants with all the confidentiality required to guarantee their full cooperation and assistance until the criminals are fully apprehended and brought to book.”
“Furthermore, the Abia state government will, in line with its commitment to the welfare of the security operatives working within its territory, take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers, including payment of regular stipends to their spouses and the education of their children to university level.”
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What does Trump’s conviction mean for his presidential bid ?
31 mai, par UnknownSince leaving the White House in January 2021, Donald Trump has been plotting a return to power — unfazed by the legal tangle his life has become.
With four criminal charges, the former president’s conviction on May 30 was the latest addition to his collection of firsts, making him the first former president in US history to be convicted of a felony.
The businessman is also the first former US president to have a mugshot, to face federal charges, and the first presumptive Republican nominee to become a convicted felon.
With his third presidential bid underway, the stakes are indeed high for Trump and country.
A QUICK GLANCE AT THE CASES
Hush money trial
The case against Trump was also a novel application of state and federal fraud and campaign finance laws, predicated on a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Daniels said she was paid $130,000 to remain quiet after having sex with Trump. The former president denies the encounter took place.
Hush money is not illegal. The technicality stems from how Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer who disbursed the money to Daniels, had his reimbursement recorded in the former president’s accounts.
Trump was accused of falsifying his business records by saying the payment was for legal fees and faced 34 counts of fraud under campaign finance laws.
Falsifying business records charges come with up to four years behind bars.
Prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek imprisonment, and it is unclear if the judge — who earlier in the trial warned of jail time for gag order violations — would impose that punishment even if pressed.
Trump’s sentencing on the guilty verdict is scheduled for July 11.
Classified documents
Trump was indicted in June 2023 by a federal grand jury in Miami for taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office.
According to prosecutors, Trump resisted the government’s attempts to retrieve the materials.
An indictment released by the US department of justice showed that the former president is facing 37 criminal counts over retaining national defence information, nuclear secrets, exposing information, and obstruction of justice.
The former president has denied the allegations.
Aileen Cannon, presiding judge, indefinitely postponed the trial on May 7, citing “significant issues” around classified evidence that would need to be worked out before the federal criminal case goes to a jury.
Election interference
Trump is being investigated for attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The indictment alleges that Trump and a co-conspirator “attempted to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol by calling lawmakers to convince them… to delay the certification” of the election.
It also alleges another co-conspirator pushed then-Vice President Mike Pence to “violate the law” to delay President Joe Biden’s victory. The Trump campaign issued a statement shortly after the indictment denying the allegations.
A date for the trial has not been fixed.
Election interference (again)
Last year, an Atlanta-based grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others on state charges, stemming from their alleged attempts to overturn the former president’s 2020 electoral defeat.
Fani Willis, Fulton county district attorney, charged the former president on accounts of false statements and filing false documents.
In March, Scott McAfee, superior court judge, dismissed six of the 41 counts from the indictment, including three that applied to Trump.
A date has not been fixed for the trial.
CAN TRUMP STILL RUN FOR PRESIDENCY?
According to the US constitution, a candidate is only required to be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the US for at least 14 years, to have their name on the ballot for the presidency.
Trump ticks all boxes.
In theory, he could be sworn in from jail if he were to unseat President Joe Biden from the ballot.
Whether being convicted is enough to dissuade voters and ‘Trumpists’ is subject matter for another day.
A recent poll of registered voters found 67 percent as saying that convicting Trump for hush money will not be a factor in how they vote.
While 15 percent said a guilty verdict could more likely make them vote for Trump, 17 percent said it would make them less likely to vote for him come November.