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Tag: Festus Keyamo

  • Alleged plot to scuttle democracy: Keyamo blows hot says enough is enough

    Alleged plot to scuttle democracy: Keyamo blows hot says enough is enough

    …says our silence should not be taken for cowardice

    …plans underway to inaugurate the president-elect

    …vows to work closely with operatives to clampdown suspects calling for cancellation of election

    Director, Public Affairs of the President-Elect, Festus Keyamo, SAN has said those plotting to scuttle democracy in Nigeria would be dealt with as the silence of Tinubu/Shetima silence should be taken as an act of cowardice.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement he personally signed on Saturday stating that:

    “Our concern is that everyday Nigerians who are unaware of the evil intentions of these persons should not be used as cannon fodders.

    “Enough is enough. Their continuous determination to dare us should cease forthwith. We are not lacking in capabilities and capacities.

    “Our silence should not be taken for cowardice. We should come together for the peace of our beloved country. It is better.

    Read full statement below:

    “We have watched with great concern the condemnable activities of some persons and groups who are desirous of truncating our democracy.

    “For reasons best known to them, these persons have remained embittered that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner of the 2023 General Elections.

    “Repeatedly, but unfortunately, these misguided individuals have called for either the cancellation of the results or that the President-elect should not be inaugurated on the 29th of May, 2023.

    “We wish to reiterate and emphasise that these positions are not in tandem with our constitutional provisions or our electoral laws. We would have taken these as mere wishful thinking, however because of their implications for national security and public order, we have therefore considered it necessary, if not expedient, to call them to order.

    “We are aware of the intentions of those engaged in these treasonable and subversive acts. We also know those involved in the many plots being contrived to undermine the transition in particular and democracy in general.

    “They are fixated with an Interim Government. They have done it in this country before and it threw the country into avoidable crises for many years and they want to do it again.

    “They are bent on delegitimizing the new government. Some have made treasonable insinuations and openly called for military take-over. It is for these reasons that they are desperate to incite the people against the incoming Government.

    “It is perplexing to see that those contesting the results want to be in the courts and on the streets at the same time. However, if their intention is to truncate the inauguration of the President-elect and Vice-President elect, they should immediately bury the thought. It is gratifying to note that the President has set in motion steps for the actualisation of the swearing-in ceremonies.

    ” In this regard, the Presidential Transition Council has remained focused and committed to its Terms of Reference in respect of organizing a hitch-free handover.

    “On many occasions after the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the election, his public speeches and utterances have centered on reconciliation, forgiveness and greater vision for Nigeria.

    “He has pledged fairness as the basis for his present and future engagements. He has unequivocally stated that he would not accord favour to those that supported him, neither would he mistreat those who did not vote for him. This is statesmanly and patrotic. We all watched the President-elect as Governor of Lagos for eight (8) years. He never undermined any person or tribe.

    “He championed people-oriented policies. It is common knowledge that he is a welfarist and a pacifist. This is even more so that millions of citizens have spoken through the ballot box in his favour.

    “By being declared winners, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima are legally entitled to be inaugurated into office AS PROVIDED for by law and AS WE HAVE PRACTICED SINCE 1999, whilst those that feel otherwise have the right to seek legal redress in court. Why should their situation be different from what we have practiced since 1999?

    “Those who are dissatisfied with the declaration MUST conduct themselves within the ambits of the law. Nigeria is not a lawless country and should not be portrayed as such no matter the frustrations as presently being exhibited by some bad losers.

    “Those who are stoking the embers of hate, division and falsehoods as well as peddling misleading narratives through some compromised media outlets should detract from such. It amounts to campaigning after elections.

    ” Hate speeches, fake news and propaganda at a time like this are needless because Nigerians have already made their choice. Those who are bent on scuttling the process will ignite the fire of destruction and run away. But they should not even start.

    “We simply wish that peace reigns in the country. It does not make sense that some persons who should know better are encouraging violence and are so determined to achieve that.

    “We know these persons and their sponsors from within and outside Nigeria and we shall be working closely with the security agencies to apprehend them and bring them to book.

    “Our concern is that everyday Nigerians who are unaware of the evil intentions of these persons should not be used as cannon fodders. Enough is enough. Their continuous determination to dare us should cease forthwith. We are not lacking in capabilities and capacities. Our silence should not be taken for cowardice. We should come together for the peace of our beloved country. It is better.

  • Why I petitioned DSS to arrest Obi/Datti – Keyamo

    Why I petitioned DSS to arrest Obi/Datti – Keyamo

    Senior lawyer and spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo has stated reasons why he petitioned DSS over inciting comments made by Obi/Datti in post elections.

    Keyamo accused the Labour Party (LP) of “riling up” Nigerians against the judiciary.

    The Legal luminary made this comments while featuring on a political programme on Channels TV on Thursday night.

    On Wednesday, the vice-presidential candidate of the LP, Datti Baba-Ahmed, insisted that the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, didn’t meet the constitutional requirements to win the February 25 election.

    Earlier on Thursday, Keyamo petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over Obi’s comments, which he described as inciting and capable of disrupting law and order in the country.

    “If I don’t say go to court, the next thing I will say is that come let’s fight. Why are they using such sentences in a derogatory manner?

    “It is what is provided by law and people have actually retrieved their mandate by going to court. It is only when it does not favour you.

    “That is what the LP is doing. That is why I have to petition them to the DSS,” Keyamo said.

  • “Arrest Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed for incendiary” -Keyamo petitions DSS (See Petition)

    “Arrest Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed for incendiary” -Keyamo petitions DSS (See Petition)

    Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo SAN, has petitioned the State Security Services SSS, demanding the arrest of the Labour Party LP Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed respectively, for comments he described as incendiary and capable of causing rebellion.

    Keyamo said that since the declaration of the Presidential election results, the duo have been hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the declaration of the President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

    Keyamo said, “These comments and claims are made, not just within the boundaries of exercising their rights to freedom of speech and the freedom to air their grievances publicly, but they have since crossed the line to call for the outright truncation of democracy by insisting on the adoption of other processes outside the contemplation of our Constitution.

    “In some cases, their privies have even called for the establishment of an Interim Government.

    “The latest of such are the comments made by Datti Baba-Ahmed on behalf of himself and Mr. Peter Obi on Channels TV on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, wherein he threatened that if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023, it would ‘signal the end of democracy’.

    “Posing as an accuser, a judge and a jury all by himself, he unilaterally declared the duly elected President-elect as ‘unconstitutional’ and, in a subliminal manner, threatened mayhem if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023. ” He continued

    “I also have it on good authority that Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have camped some youths in a popular hotel in Abuja with the sole aim of instructing them to push out inciting messages everyday on social media in order to cause panic and fear within the federation and to incite people to riot and social unrest.

    “I submit this petition in my personal capacity as a patriotic Nigerian to invite/arrest, interrogate and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals.” he added

    See the petition below:

    "Arrest Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed for incendiary" -Keyamo petitions DSS (See Petition)

  • Festus Keyamo Petitions Obi/Datti over making inciting comments

    Festus Keyamo Petitions Obi/Datti over making inciting comments

     Nigerian lawyer, columnist and human rights activist, Festus Keyamo,  has written a petition against Obi/Datti, accusing them of overheating the polity by making comments that can instigate the people of the country to employ violence.
    The spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council used the opportunity to advise the duo to embrace peace, sooth frayed nerves and start the healing process.
    Continuing, he noted that  Obi/Datti have camped some youths somewhere in Abuja to foment trouble and cause post election violence in the country.
    According to the senior lawyer, his petition is to advise the duo to sheathe their sword, embrace peace in the interest of the country.
    He added that if they do not stop, he could be forced to use every legal means to pursue the cause.
     Below is the excerpts of Keyamo’s petition
    I write this petition with the full realization that in a post-election period such as this, there is a need to sooth frayed nerves, lower the temperature and begin the healing process. The President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a statement to this effect a few days ago.
    However, it appears the President and Vice-Presidential Candidates of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed are not prepared to toe this conciliatory path for the sake of peace and national cohesion, whilst exercising their rights to pursue duly laid down constitutional means of addressing their grievances. In this regard, since the declaration of the Presidential election results, they have been hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the declaration of the President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These comments and claims are made, not just within the boundaries of exercising their rights to freedom of speech and the freedom to air their grievances publicly, but they have since crossed the line to call for the outright truncation of democracy by insisting on the adoption of other processes outside the contemplation of our Constitution. In some cases, their privies have even called for the establishment of an Interim Government.
    The latest of such are the comments made by Datti Baba-Ahmed on behalf of himself and Mr. Peter Obi on Channels TV on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, wherein he threatened that if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023, it would “signal the end of democracy”. Posing as an accuser, a judge and a jury all by himself, he unilaterally declared the duly elected President-elect as “unconstitutional” and, in a subliminal manner, threatened mayhem if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023.
    I also have it on good authority that Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have camped some youths in a popular hotel in Abuja with the sole aim of instructing them to push out inciting messages everyday on social media in order to cause panic and fear within the federation and to incite people to riot and social unrest.
    It is noteworthy that Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have submitted Elections Petitions to the courts for adjudication, but their conducts and utterances amount to subversion of the processes they have instituted in court and a subversion of our Constitution and the laid-down processes for addressing disputes and grievances. These conducts and utterances are a build-up to something more sinister and it is important you rein them in NOW!
    In the circumstance, I submit this petition in my personal capacity as a patriotic Nigerian to invite/arrest, interrogate and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals to court for their conducts which amount to incitement and treasonable felony.
    Yours most trusted,
    FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
  • Election petition: “Tinubu about to be cleared of all allegations” – Keyamo reacts

    Election petition: “Tinubu about to be cleared of all allegations” – Keyamo reacts

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, calling for the annulment of the February 25 Presidential Election won by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.

    Obi had previously challenged the outcome of the election and had also sought the court requesting to have access to all the sensitive materials Independent National Electoral Commission deployed for the election.

    On Tuesday, the LP candidate filed another suit at the election tribunal challenging the declaration of Tinubu by INEC who he said “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.”

    The former Anambra State governor claimed there was rigging in 11 states including Rivers, Lagos, Taraba, Benue, Adamawa, Imo, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau, adding that he would demonstrate this in the declaration of results based on the uploaded results.

    Reacting to his petition in a post via his verified handle on Wednesday, Keyamo said that all the deceit, lies and disinformation about simple and clear issues would be busted in the court.

    He wrote, “I am excited about the issues raised in those Election Petitions. All the deceit & lies & disinformation & misinformation about otherwise very simple and clear issues are about to be busted by our Law Lords. Whoever continues to argue after that should relocate to another planet.

    “Nigerians will finally see a huge difference between calm, dispassionate adjudication of issues and all the hoopla caused by garrulous spokespersons shaking and falling on stage, ignorant TV hosts turned debaters, misinformed documentaries, illiterate tweeps and some dancing Hijabi mamas.”

  • Polls: Peter Obi cannot win presidential election – Keyamo

    Polls: Peter Obi cannot win presidential election – Keyamo

    Mr Festus Keyamo, a spokesperson in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council has said the Labour Party of which Mr Peter Obi is the presidential candidate cannot win the forthcoming election.

    Mr Keyamo, also the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, stressed that the Labour Party cannot get the highest votes and the spread required by the Constitution for Peter Obi to win at the first ballot.

    Speaking when he featured at the NAN forum in Abuja on Sunday, Keyamo said the presidential candidate of his party, Sen. Bola Tinubu will record a clear victory in Saturday’s presidential election, without a need for a run-off election.

    Keyamo said he was confident that Tinubu would get the highest votes and the spread required by the Constitution for him to win at the first ballot.

    He said that with the way Nigeria’s Constitution and its demography were designed vise-a-vise the constitution’s provision for a runoff, it was almost impossible to have a run-off election.

    “To be honest with you, two parties can easily make the 25 per cent in 24 States and that is the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They have this spread.

    “So, let’s be honest about that. Yes, they have the spread, because they have been parties that have been long entrenched and they have structures everywhere.

    “APC is more likely to make that 25 per cent, PDP less likely, but possible. Labour Party (LP), it is almost impossible. It is not a comical matter, it is a very factual matter. Factual because it’s a party that has not spent enough time.

    “The whole praise for the LP and I praise them too is that they have done a lot of work within a short time,” he said.

    Keyamo commended the LP for its relatively large followership saying, however, it was not a party to beat in the 2023 general election.

    “Demographically, of course, the LP votes are concentrated only in a part of this country and that was seen during the rallies here and there, even in terms of the proper polls that have been conducted.

    “For me, I’ve said this before, it’s not a matter of arrogance, that I can bet anything that’s precious to me, LP cannot win.

    “We know the way Nigeria is configured, that is why I said it’s difficult to have a run-off,” he said.

    Keyamo said that APC doesn’t see the LP as a threat in the 2023 election, as it was not capable of taking over any of the States under its control, saying however, that the party was a bigger threat to the PDP, especially in the South-East.

    “LP is projected to take to six States away from the PDP. The whole of eastern states. Most likely they will come to the South South and take one or two away from PDP,” he said.

    Speaking on the PDP aggrieved governors known as Integrity Governors, aka G-5 Governors, Keyamo said it was unfortunate that the opposition party lacked the capacity to keep its house in order.

    He said that the development in PDP showed that the party lacked the capacity to unite people together and different interests.

    “I am sure you can see how swiftly Tinubu put his house together after the primaries.

    “Of course, if the APC had the same different camps and different voices after the primaries, but little by little Tinubu carefully blended everybody together, make sure the house was tight.

    “Even if they have dissent now, you can see they’re not speaking out, unlike our brothers on the other side.

    “Tinubu has been able to manage these issues but the other side, they just went haywire”.

    Keyamo wondered how PDP would be able to manage Nigeria if it cannot unite itself.

    “The G-5 governors to me is an indication that the PDP cannot manage its affairs and so they cannot manage the affairs of Nigeria”.

    Keyamo said that for APC, it was glad that the division was working for the ruling party.

    “For us, it is politics. We are glad, some of them are working for us. We are glad you saw what happened in Oyo State, what happened in Rivers.

    “Without saying anything, it was clear the direction the votes are going and that is a plus for us.

    “Don’t forget those were the States we lost. We lost Oyo in 2019. It was the only South West State we lost. They are the two critical states we lost.

    “Even look at between 2019 and now, the factors have changed in the polity, the factors are more in our favour.

    “Since 2019. PDP lost three governors to us. Zamfara, Ebonyi and Cross River. Who did we lose to them?’’

    He said that APC was happy about how things were working in favour of the party and its candidate, Tinubu.

    “Our billboards are now everywhere in Port Harcourt to the glory of God Almighty. So people should get use to seeing Tinubu taking the oath of office on May 29”.

  • Why APC will win presidential election – Keyamo

    Why APC will win presidential election – Keyamo

    Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the Feb. 25 presidential election, because it is the most popular party in Nigeria.

    Keyamo, also a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), stated this when he appeared at NAN Forum in Abuja.

    “Without trying to sound overconfident, I can tell you that the election is ours to lose.

    “If you take the baseline for projection for 2015 and 2019 elections, you will discover that interms of demographic setup of Nigeria and the voting pattern in the last two elections, the APC has an upper hand.

    “If you take the baseline from the recent elections, then you will know that the election is for APC and our candidate to lose.

    “Demographically, we are extremely strong, we are the most diverse with wide spread all over the country, the APC is the only party without concentration of support from one part of the country,” he said.

    Keyamo, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said it was clear that the APC would record a landslide victory at the poll, going by current developments in the country.

    “Again, in a country like ours or anywhere in Africa, you have an opposition that is not together facing the ruling party, that is you have an opposition split into three, how do you expect them to defeat the ruling party.

    “It is a very simple calculation, forget about all the noise going around. The split we see today in the opposition parties facing the APC, in form of PDP, LP and NNPP in an indication of weakness.

    “It is a simple calculation and even when they were together as PDP just three and half years ago, we defeated them with 4 million votes, so they have a task of bridging the 4 million votes.

    “Even if they were together, they still have a 4 million votes deficit to close up in the last election not to talk of now that they are split into three, where are the votes going to come from, that’s the question we are asking and we are waiting for the Nigerian electorate to answer that in a few days time,” he said.

  • 2023 Elections: Keyamo speaks on quitting his role at APC

    2023 Elections: Keyamo speaks on quitting his role at APC

    Senior Lawyer and spokesperson of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo has spoken on the only reason he could pull out of his role in the campaign of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

    The Legal Practitioner added that he would be quitting his role in APC if Tinubu asked him to withdraw his court case against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    Keyamo said Atiku should be arrested and prosecuted for alleged breach of the Code of Conduct Act, Money Laundering, Criminal Breach of Trust, and Conspiracy.

    Keyamo made his position known on a political programme on Channels Television on Tuesday.

    Keyamo was reacting to a viral video by a whistleblower, Michael Achimugu, who indicted Atiku.

    Achimugu claimed that the former Vice President used Special Purpose Vehicles to usurp funds while in office between 1999 and 2007.

    Keyamo said: “In the case when they challenged my principal (Bola Tinubu), when they brought up dead documents from the US, I said go to court. Come out with your full chest and go to court. Up until today, they ran away.

    “I’m proceeding to court. And if Asiwaju says, ‘Festus, you’re diverting from my campaign, just campaign for me.’ I will say take your campaign because this is in national interest. I have taken it personal.”

  • 2023: Peter Obi has upset the political terrain – Festus Keyamo

    2023: Peter Obi has upset the political terrain – Festus Keyamo

    Mr Festus Keyamo, Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council has said the entry of Peter Obi of the Labour Party into the 2023 presidential election race has upset the political terrain.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Keyamo, who is the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, was reacting on Tuesday to the endorsement of Peter Obi by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark when he said this.

    According to Keyamo, the endorsement has no effect on the ruling party but that it only made the path clearer to the victory of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the APC for the 2023 presidential election.

    While stressing that the endorsement of Peter Obi by Obasanjo and Clark means that the PDP campaign has collapsed, the APC PCC Spokesman boasted that not one major stakeholder that supported the APC in 2019 has pulled out of the party.

    “We can say confidently today that the PDP campaign has collapsed. The various components of the PDP in 2019 are the ones pulling out of that coalition. Nothing has affected the APC.

    “If you look at 2019, every single component of that coalition they formed, both inside and outside the party against the APC, has virtually collapsed.

    “The PANDEF endorsed Atiku in 2019. Edwin Clark is a member of the PANDEF. Ohanaeze endorsed Atiku in 2019. Obasanjo endorsed Atiku in 2019. Afenifere endorsed Atiku in 2019. Middle Forum endorsed Atiku in 2019.

    “I know all of these groups. I was the returning officer to Mr President and the APC in 2019 at the International Conference Centre. We were concerned of the results coming from different parts of the country and I can tell you the results off my heart.

    “So, I know clearly when we said that the jungle will mature for the PDP. What is going on now is that the PDP has virtually been torn to shreds both internally by the G5 and we heard that there is G1 now joining the G5 and also the sympathisers of the party in 2019.

    “The party has imploded both inside and imploded even within the supporters and all those who formed alliances with PDP.

    “Not one major stakeholder, party stalwart, governor of the party, sympathiser that supported the APC in 2019 that has pulled out and say they are not supporting us.

    “But PDP, the various factors we have now that have upset the political terrain, which is Peter Obi and Kwankwaso; they were the components of PDP in 2019. Those are the two major factors now that have upset the political terrain.

    “So, the recent endorsement of Edwin Clark for me, I am excited. I am excited by the endorsement of Obasanjo against Atiku and for Peter Obi because the endorsement of Obasanjo is not against APC but against Atiku.

    “In other words, the endorsement of Atiku in 2019 was because of Peter Obi. It was not because of Atiku. Right now, Obasanjo has followed Peter Obi away from the PDP to Labour Party. Edwin Clark who endorsed Atiku in 2019 has followed Peter Obi from PDP to Labour Party.

    “What is the effect on APC? It has just made the path to our victory clearer,” Keyamo said.

  • Tinubu is the Lionel Messi of Nigeria politics – Keyamo

    Tinubu is the Lionel Messi of Nigeria politics – Keyamo

    Senior lawyer and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has described the All Progressives Congress, (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, as the Lionel Messi of Nigeria politics.

    He added that Tinubu would emerge victorious in the 2023 presidential election because he has given his all to a cause just like Messi.

    He made this statement while reacting to a post on Social media  by the popular United Kingdom, UK,  soccer pundit, Piers Morgan.

    Morgan congratulated Messi following Argentina’s victory in the 2022 world cup in Qatar yesterday at the Lusial Stadium.

    He tweeted: “BREAKING: Argentina win the World Cup on penalties. What a game. Incredible drama. Congrats to Lionel Messi & his team. Commiserations to the French who gave it everything, especially the brilliant Mbappe. Football eh.. bloody hell!”

    Keyamo responded by saying the world cup final match had espoused the popular Emi lokan slogan of Tinubu.

    Keyamo tweeted: “The match b/w Argentina V. France has espoused the notion of EMILOKAN which, in its proper context, means when you’ve given your all to a cause, then you can rightly lay claim to the ultimate prize. France wanted to alter that notion, but the gods ruled in favour of Lionel Messi.”