Quit The Bench Now, PDP Tells Tanko , Says his swearing in of election tribunal a nullity

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday called on Justice
Mohammed Tanko, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the
acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday to quit the bench
as it noted that he cannot function in that capacity since there is
no vacancy in the office.

The party noted what it said is the illegal swearing in of
members of the election petitions tribunal judges by Justice Tanko
and surmised that his action was a complete nullity.

A statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity
Secretary and Director, Media & Publicity PDP Presidential Campaign
Organization, insisted that in the face of the nation’s law,
Justice Tanko cannot function as CJN, as there is no vacancy in
that office since the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has no
provision for two Chief Justices of Nigeria at any particular
time.

“Justice Walter Onnoghen is still in charge as the Chief Justice
of Nigeria,” it declared.

The PDP, therefore, charged Justice Tanko to note that he is
allowing himself to be used by despotic forces in their bid to
truncate our hard-earned democracy.

The statement added: “It is also imperative for Justice Tanko to
agree that having allowed himself to be used to desecrate the
hallowed temple of justice, his oath of office and oath of
allegiance, the only option left for him is to quit the bench.”

The PDP reminded Justice Tanko of his membership of the panel
set up by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which on March 14,
2018, forced Justice Obisike Orji to quit the bench and go on a
compulsory retirement, for allowing himself to be sworn in as the
Acting Chief Judge of Abia State without the statutory
recommendation of the NJC.

It further noted: “From Justice Tanko’s first illegal
assignment, which is the swearing-in of election tribunal Justices
for the forthcoming elections, Nigerians can now see the raison
d’etre for his illegal appointment.

“This action is in itself a nullity and we caution the said
justices to be reminded of the popular maxim that something cannot
be built on nothing.

“Nigerians can recall that the PDP had always alerted that
President Buhari is bent on removing Justice Onnoghen so as to
replace him with a pliable CJN that would help him uphold his
rigging plots and achieve his self-succession bid, having realized
that he cannot win in any free and fair electoral contest.”

The PDP invited the world to note that “when Nigerians were in
the trenches for this democracy, General Muhammadu Buhari, as he
was then known, was in cahoots with the last dictator against the
will the people.

“It is therefore not strange that today, President Buhari, once
again, wants to subdue our democracy and subvert the rule of
law.

“However, the PDP wants President Buhari to know that Nigerians,
irrespective of tribe, creed or political leaning, will never allow
anybody, no matter how highly placed, to push our nation to the
abyss of anarchy.”

KNSG partners NGO’s to provide limbs to 190
amputies

Kano state government has provided artificial limbs to 190
people with amputated limbs free.

The state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed this
while supervising the exercise, organized by Kano state government
in collaboration with Tolaram Foundation and JIBWIS, at Muhammadu
Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu in the state capital.

The Governor was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf
Gawuna.
“the gesture will restore hope of living with minimal physical
challenges”.
Dr. Ganduje commended Tolaram foundation for its commitment to
charity, assuring of the government’s support and cooperation for
the successful delivery of the programme.

The Governor also reiterated his administration’s resolve to
continue to attach more priority to the health sector through,
among others, equipping major hospitals with modern facilities,
with a view to ensuring effective health care delivery system.

He, therefore, called on the clients to utilize the limbs
provided to them well, as they would restore a significant part of
their ability to conduct their day-to-day activities smoothly.

Earlier in his remarks, the state commissioner of health, Dr
Kabir Ibrahim Getso said Kano state in collaboration with Talaram
Foundation and JIBWIS provided the intervention free to the clients
with the amputated limbs in the state.

On his part, the coordinator of the Foundation Dr Usman Idris
Funtua explained that Kano state is one of the states in 19
northern states that have been sponsoring the programme.

He added that the Foundation in its five years activities in the
country had donated three thousand, seven hundred and ninety one
prosthetic limbs to the amputies as Kano state benefited most in
the programme.

Some of the beneficiaries who had benefited from the programme
in the state expressed their profound appreciation to the state
government, Toleram foundation and JIBWIS for the gesture accorded
to them.

Deputy Governor’s office, Kano