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Tag: Keyamo

  • TNG Exclusive: Why Buhari removed Keyamo from Niger Delta Ministry

    TNG Exclusive: Why Buhari removed Keyamo from Niger Delta Ministry

    Investigations by TNG have revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening ordered the immediate redeployment of the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Festus Keyamo (SAN) to Ministry of Labour and Employment also as a Minister of State.

    Findings by TNG showed that there has been complaints and disquiet from Ondo State, one of the Niger Delta states over the state’s alleged poor representation in the region and board.

    TNG discovered that the anger was particular fueled after the ministerial announcements did not favour the state either as substantive or minister of state in the Niger Delta ministry.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had initially announced Sen. God’swill Akpabio as substantive Minister of Niger Delta and Festus Keyamo as Minister of State.

    They argued that aside holding ‘befitting’ ministerial positions, Delta State also has the position of MD NDDC in the person of Bernard Okumagba.

    TNG reports that while Senator Akpabio hails from Akwa Ibom State, Keyamo hails from Delta State.

    However, after wide consultation with relevant stakeholders and to avoid what could gradually lead to a crisis, the president decided to assuage the cry of the Ondo oil bearing communities by reposting their son, Tayo Alasoadura from Labour to Niger Delta Ministry.

  • Photos: Keyamo confirms redeployment to Labour Ministry, meets Ngige

    Photos: Keyamo confirms redeployment to Labour Ministry, meets Ngige

    Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, on Tuesday confirmed his redeployment to the Ministry of Labour and Employment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), confirmed the development on his verified twitter handle on Tuesday evening with a copy of the redeployment letter.

    The minister also posted pictures of him exchanging pleasantries with Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment.

    He said he was ready to serve in any position as minister, and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his redeployment.

    He said, “On The Move Again: Two Portfolios In Two Months! Just been redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment to work with my long-time big brother, H.E, Chris Ngige.

    “Thank you, Mr. President for finding me versatile enough to move around. Always ready to serve in any capacity.”

    Meanwhile, the presidency had earlier announced Keyamo’s redeployment in a letter signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

    A statement from the Director of Information at the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, also confirmed the mini reshuffling.

    According to the statement Keyamo would replace Tayo Alasoadura as the Minister of State at the labour ministry, while Alasoadura replaced him at the Niger Delta Affairs ministry.

  • I'll unbundle Supreme Court if Buhari appoints me Justice Minister – Keyamo

    Human Rights lawyer and activist, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who served as spokesperson of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, said he would unbundle the Supreme Court if he was made the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
    He said he would ensure the creation of a branch of the apex court in each of the six geo-political zones.
    He said that the regional Supreme Courts would handle criminal cases while the Supreme Court in Abuja would concentrate on political cases.
    Keyamo said: “If I am AGF, I have the idea I call the three Ds that will be at the heart of judicial reforms: decongestion of the Supreme Court, decongestion of prisons and decongestion of case lists in courts.
    “Nigerian Supreme Court is the busiest in the world. My first task will be to unbundle the Supreme Court. It is the busiest in the world and that is not acceptable.
    “Some of the cases that go there are frivolous. This country is big enough to have six regional Supreme Courts.
    “Every police station should open itself to the nearest magistrate courts for inspection. Same with the DPOs. They are not complying with those provisions of the administration of criminal justice Act.
    “Magistrates should be given the powers to grant bail even in matters involving murder when there is no evidence at the early stage.
    “We should amend the law to make the powers of the attorney general and DPP subject to judicial review. It is subject to abuse when people accused are abuse and freed.”
    Keyamo insisted that the 1999 Constitution is replete with mistakes that must be corrected.
    He said that the country has too many frivolous political parties.
    He noted that before a political party should be allowed to participate in a major election such, party should be made to show capacity.
    He said: “I think we can strike a balance that for new parties to be registered, you must show capacity at the local level. And until the party wins a seat at a particular level, you cannot run for an office in the next level up to the presidential election.”
    On how he would combine activism with pubic administration, Keyamo said that activism is the same as governance.
    He said: “We have great activists even as senators. The greatest activists are those in government and people in the legislature.
    “Activism is not marching on the road and burning cars of innocent citizens; it is stupidity (apologies). Do those cars belong to the President you are quarreling with?
     

  • Niboro congratulates Amaechi, Keyamo, Says Keyamo can be bonding cement of Delta APC

    Delta All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain, Olorogun Ima Niboro, has said that the Delta State ministerial nominee, Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, could be the much desired elixir to bond the different factions of the APC in the state.
    While congratulating Keyamo as well as Chief Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, on their appointments as ministers, Niboro noted that Delta APC may well have been provided a common rallying point in Keyamo, who he described as “a friend to all, and enemy of none “.
    His words: “Given the far sighted decision of the APC Mainstream faction led by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor to terminate all pending litigations, Keyamo is in a pole position to truly unite the party and be the impartial arbiter we have always sought .
    “With a hopefully direct access at the presidency, we believe that through Keyamo there might be a direct ventilation of things Delta before the president himself, in order to bring home more and more dividends of democracy to our people.”
    Niboro also congratulated the leaders of APC in Delta, particularly the Deputy Senate President, Obarisi Ovie Omo Agege, and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, noting that Keyamo’s appointment is as much a victory for them as it is for all Deltans.
    Niboro praised President Muhammadu Buhari for reappointing Amaechi, noting that Amaechi’s dogged faithfulness to the ideals that Buhari stands for make him a natural ally of the president.
    “When it appeared that he stood little or no chance, Amaechi braved all odds to stand by him, and help redefine the Buhari persona into a national movement. Buhari is a general, and understands such things deeper than the average politician. Add Amaechi’s robust interventions in the rail sector where he has worked to budget, and without a whiff of scandal, we fully expected his return to cabinet only as a matter of course “, Niboro explained.

  • PDP replies Keyamo over ‘no need for WAEC certificate’ to rule Nigeria statement

    PDP replies Keyamo over ‘no need for WAEC certificate’ to rule Nigeria statement

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called out President Muhammadu Buhari to tender his West African School Certificate(WASC) to the presidential election petitions tribunal.

    This is coming after, Festus Keyamo who served as the official spokesman for the re-election bid of the President said Buhari doesn’t need a WAEC certificate to be eligible to contest in the February 2019 presidential election.

    According to the PDP, President Buhari should tender the WAEC certificate he claimed he has to the presidential election petition tribunal instead of allowing his campaign spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, to insult the sensibility of Nigerians with lame attempt at diversionary tactics.

    The party also called on Nigerians to note that by claiming that an aspirant does not need WAEC certificate, but the ability to speak English to contest for the office of the President indicates that Buhari Presidency, through Festus Keyamo, has finally admitted that President Buhari does not have a WAEC certificate as he claimed in his INEC resume.

    A statement released and signed by PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan read: ”The PDP says it is incompletely unacceptable for President Buhari to swear to an affidavit to claim the educational qualification he does not possess.

    ”An attempt to deceive the public using a defective reading and skewed interpretation of a section of the constitution cannot exonerate President Buhari.

    “Moreover, Section 295 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is very clear on issues of interpretations and reference to questions of law.

    “The PDP, therefore, maintains that the onus is on President Buhari, as ‘Mr. Integrity’ to tender the certificate he claims to possess before the tribunal instead of this lame diversion from Presidential aide.”

  • You don’t need WAEC certificate to become president, governor —Keyamo

    You don’t need WAEC certificate to become president, governor —Keyamo

    Director, Strategic Communications of President Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has said that, based on the provisions of the Constitution, an aspirant does not need a WAEC certificate to become a president or governor in the country.

    Taking to his verified Twitter handle @fkeyamo on Monday, Keyamo had stated, “There are other levels of qualifications to run for the office of president. In fact, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the Constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become president of Nigeria.”

    Keyamo had tweeted his responses at a television interview earlier held on Sunday.

    While Keyamo appears to be answering back at the Peoples Democratic Party who had argued that Muhammadu Buhari didn’t deserve to run for presidency on account of the controversies surrounding his WAEC certificate, the Buhari campaign spokesperson alluded to the 2018 Osun governorship election scenario.

    In the Osun case, PDP’s candidate in the election, Ademola Adeleke, was sued in separate instances by the opposition and also by members of his party concerning the status of his WAEC certificate.

    Keyamo argues, “Yes. Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines ‘School Certificate or its equivalent’ to mean Primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. No WAEC certificate is needed.

    “By the definition of ‘School Certificate or its equivalent’ in Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution, you don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office you will be disqualified. #OsunStateScenario.”

    He added that forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity.

    Zeroing in on his principal’s certificate imbroglio, Keyamo tweets, “WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed.

    “In Osun case scenario, WAEC has denied the authenticity. See the difference?

    Taking a swipe at those who had criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s WAEC status, the SAN warned that it was “extremely foolish” for anybody who is not statutorily empowered to issue WAEC certificates to challenge the body that has the statutory power to issue certificates.

    “Let me end my free lecture series by saying that the crux of the matter is that if you don’t have a WAEC certificate, there’s no need to go ahead and forge one in a bid to be governor or president.

    You can still be qualified, regardless. That’s the mistake made in Osun case scenario,”

  • Keyamo, Melaye clash over Buhari’s ballot snatching statement

    The Director, Strategic Communication of President Muhammadu Buhari, Festus Keyamo and Senator Dino Melaya of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday clashed over the President’s statement on punishment meant for those who snatch ballot boxes.

    At a political discussion on Channels Television, Keyamo said the President merely justified the position of the law, which outlines punishment for those who used forceful means to dispossess of their right to free electoral participation.

    He said the position of the President was to warn the violent minority who tried to make life unbearable for the peaceful majority.

    Keyamo said the President would not seat aloof, while some thugs tried to derail the free will of the people to decide how they wanted to be governed.

    He said: “What the President said is 100 per cent correct. The law is that when you are caught at the scene of an attack, for fomenting violent, like ballot snatching, that is you have threatened peoples live and the punishment for that is death.

    “Again, when the President said those who snatch ballot boxes, will be punished, he did not mention APC or PDP. He simply said those who snatch boxes, so why is the PDP making issues out of it.”

    Responding, Melaye said the President statement was too harsh, noting that people could only by punished after going through due process and found guilty of the offences they are accused of committing.

    He said government position amount to curing illegality with illegality, noting that it leaves the electoral process in a precarious situation.

    “We are supposed to be in a civilized country, where there should be decorum. It is so appalling that such a statement emanated from the President. And instead of apologizing, the APC is trying to justify the statement of the President.”

  • Buhari salutes Keyamo at 49

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commended crusading lawyer, Festus Keyamo, for having earned the “highest place and esteem” in the legal profession through his defence of the rights of ordinary Nigerians.

    In a message of congratulations to mark Keyamo’s 49th birthday Monday, signed personally by him, the President thanked the Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for bringing these qualities to bear on the ongoing campaign for elections.

    In a letter headlined “Happy Birthday, Festus,” President Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “I write to heartily congratulate you on your 49th birthday, today. The story of your life has always been to speak up for the masses of our country and at critical times in the life of our nation.

    “You have also used law as an instrument to achieve these goals. This has rightly earned you the highest place and esteem in your profession as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

    “As you apply these qualities in helping to CHANGE this nation through our campaigns, I pray that God Almighty will continue to bless you and grant you long life and good health.” he said

     

  • 2019: Why Atiku, PDP must ‘throw-in towel’, endorse Buhari for second term – Keyamo

    The spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday challenged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to “throw-in the towel” and endorse President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.

    He said this while accusing Abubakar of resorting to “desperation and deceit” in his campaign.

    Keyamo called on Abubakar and the PDP to apologise to Nigerians for spreading false tales.

    He was reacting to PDP’s allegations that Buhari was diverting funds meant for the procurement of military equipment to finance his 2019 re-election campaign.

    In a statement, Keyamo said: ”The widely published refutal by investors in Etisalat and Keystone Bank that the family members of President Buhari have nothing to do with both companies is another indication of the fast-collapsing campaign of the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and that of the PDP.

    “The result of the fact-check, which was published in some news outlets, clearly shows the depth of desperation, deceit and debauchery to which the Atiku campaign has sunk.

    “They have no moral compass, no scruples, no direction in their present attempt to smear just everyone in sight in order to run a campaign of ‘we-are-all-corrupt.’

    ”Rather than respect the feelings of Nigerians by offering clear-cut responses to straight-forward allegations of tax-evasion, grand corruption in and out of office, impending sealed indictment waiting for him in the US, Atiku Abubakar has decided to drag the world down with him as he goes down in a blaze of infamy. He has decided to go wild with wild, unsubstantiated allegations against the President and Vice President.

    ” This is the classic hallmark of a sinking campaign boat, clutching at straws, as Nigerians have woken up to the realisation that these are deceitful people who have nothing to offer…

    “We call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP to apologize to Nigerians and especially the family of the President for adopting this unwholesome tactics and telling tales by moonlight that have clearly backfired.

    “Instead of making a mockery of a serious campaign with such infantile lies, Atiku Abubakar should admit it is all over for him and the PDP, throw in the towel and endorse the candidacy of President Buhari.”

  • I didn’t receive any money from NNPC for Buhari’s campaign – Keyamo

    The spokesperson for the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), has denied collecting money from the NNPC to run the publicity department of the organisation.
    Keyamo, who is also the campaign organisation’s Director of Strategic Communications, said on Thursday in Lagos that the organisation would not depend on public purse to run its activities.
    In a statement copied to the News Agency of Nigeria, Keyamo said: “Our attention has been drawn to fake news to the effect that I have received a large sum of money from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and submitted another budget to the same corporation to run the media and publicity department of the campaign.
    “The story is a classic example of the many rots in the system that President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to address.
    “Experience has taught that sharing of money does not win elections. We do not intend to go that route.
    “We shall continue to showcase the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari to convince Nigerians that he deserves a second term in office,” Keyamo said.
    He added that his participation in the Buhari 2019 presidential campaign was part of his larger crusade for enthronement of an accountable government and true democracy.
    “To me, this is not just a campaign but a crusade; hence, I came out of my shell to make a full-blown participation in the process.
    “I am determined to make my little contribution to prevent those who looted our treasury in the past to establish ‘big businesses’ from staging a comeback to power.
    “In the process, my hard-earned integrity will be guarded jealously.
    “I have not, and will not go near the public purse; the campaign organisation will not do so either. This is a pledge before the Nigerian people by which we shall stand,” he said.