News
We Won’t End The Struggle Until We Get Justice For Osesua & Others’–PTD Takes Battle To Court
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Port Harcourt Zone, has taken a swipe at the parent union over failure to comply with the court’s decision which called for a fresh and all-inclusive national delegates conference, noting that the branch will not rest until it gets justice for disenfranchised candidates.
In a statement he made available to newsmen on Monday the Labour leader maintained that supporters loyal to Comrade Lucky Osesua, Dayyabu Garga, Obinna Humble Power, Olabisi Akinlolu etc were bullied, attacked, and disenfranchised during the preparation for the delegates conference so as to pave way for the preferred candidates under the instruction of the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.
He said every PTD eligible delegate has a right for their votes to count.
“Amidst what we went through; attacks, intimidation, but in the end we realized that God is a God of justice. God has heard the cry of impoverished PTD members and that is why the election held in Abuja on Thursday July 4, brought victory for Comrade Lucky Osesua, while the July 3, kangaroo delegates conference in Lagos is not recognized by the court of competent jurisdiction, and such shenanigan would surely be nullified through the instrument of the law,” Dagogo said.
The statement continues;
Osesua’s faction remains the liberation struggle, and his commitment and that of his legitimate team will give succour, sense of belonging and ease of running union activities to PTD members without extortion, intimidation or victimization to all our members in all the four zones of the branch in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna zones.
“I will continue to salute the courage of Hon. Justice O.Y Anuwe for protecting the sanctity of the temple of justice without fear or favour. Her court ordered NUPENG to forthwith put the process for the new election in motion by constituting an all-inclusive Electoral and Caretaker Committee, as ordered in the judgment in Suit No. NICN/YEN/14/2022, who shall conduct the election within 4 months from the date of this judgment’.
“But, NUPENG, on May 31, 2024, released another discriminatory and selective election guidelines to favour their preferred candidates. This is against the judgment of the court, not equitable, unfair, unjust, and against natural justice” he said
“PTD members are tired, they deserve change and that is why many of them are standing up for what they believe in, which is having a positive change for a better PTD where all drivers’ lives matter, and their welfare and wellbeing are properly taken care of.
“I am using this medium to further appeal to all PTD members to remain calm, law abiding and never to work against the seamless policies of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration in the downstream petroleum industry, while enjoining members to continue in their pivotal roles of distributing petroleum products across the country.
“Victory for Osesua, Garga, Humble and others remains intact. The judiciary has done it before, they will also repeat it once again and I have absolute confidence in them that they are truly the last hope of the common man, this time around they won’t fail us still. We won’t end this struggle until we get justice for Osesua and his team.” The statement concluded.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Legislators’ Forum has strongly condemned the latest move by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure Senate approval for an additional external loan of $516,333,070, ostensibly for the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the regional leaders of the Forum: Hon. Uko Ndukwe Nkole ,PhDChairmanADC -National Legislators’ Forum African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Hon Nnenna Ukeje-SEHon Sergius Ogun-SSHon Ajagbe H -SWHon Zakari Mohammed -NCHon Koko Shehu -NWHon Maigari Bello M-NE stating that:
“This request is not only alarming but emblematic of an administration that has made reckless borrowing its default economic policy, with little regard for sustainability, accountability, or the wellbeing of future generations.
“While no responsible opposition undermines the importance of infrastructure development, we must ask: at what cost, and under what conditions? This government has failed to convincingly demonstrate that its endless appetite for loans is guided by a coherent, transparent, and economically viable repayment strategy.
“Instead, Nigerians are witnessing a troubling pattern; one where debt accumulation is prioritized over prudent fiscal management, innovation, and domestic resource mobilization.
“Nigeria is already weighed down by a crushing debt burden, with debt servicing swallowing a staggering proportion of national revenue. Yet, rather than confronting this reality with discipline and reform, the Tinubu administration continues to plunge the country deeper into what can only be described as a looming debt catastrophe. Each new loan tightens the noose around the nation’s economic sovereignty, leaving future generations to pay for today’s lack of foresight.
“Even more disturbing is the timing of this request. As the nation inches closer to a major general election cycle, Nigerians are right to question the motives behind this borrowing spree.
” Is this truly about development, or is it another attempt to create avenues for political patronage and electoral advantage? History has taught us to be wary of last-minute, large-scale financial commitments made under the guise of national interest.
“The ADC Legislators’ Forum insists that the National Assembly must not act as a rubber stamp or Pro group of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this matter.
“The Senate, in particular, must rise to its constitutional responsibility by demanding full disclosure of the project’s financial details, procurement processes, cost-benefit analysis, and a credible repayment plan.
“Anything short of this would amount to a betrayal of public trust.
“Furthermore, we call on the administration to redirect its focus toward policies that can genuinely strengthen Nigeria’s economy; policies that promote productivity, industrial growth, job creation, and the plugging of revenue leakages.
“Borrowing should never be a substitute for leadership, creativity, and accountability.
“We must clearly state that governance is not a free ride without consequences. Those who make decisions today that endanger the economic future of millions of Nigerians must understand that a day of reckoning will inevitably come. The Nigerian people will demand answers, accountability, and justice for policies that have deepened hardship and mortgaged the nation’s destiny.
“Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. We can either choose the path of responsibility, discipline, and sustainable growth, or continue down this perilous road of debt dependency and economic vulnerability. The Tinubu administration must decide where it stands; but Nigerians are watching, and history will not be kind to those who fail this nation.
At least one ISWAP fighter has been captured alive while top commander identified as Abu Umar Bundi Munzir has been neutralised alongside 24 other insurgents in Borno.
The development followed a foiled coordinated attack on Kukareta community in Borno by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theartre Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Maiduguri on Thursday, while providing situational update on the failed attack by ISWAP terrorists.
NAN report that the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Thursday, shortly after midnight, in an attempt to overrun the location but were decisively engaged by troops of Sector 2 in a sustained counter-offensive that lasted till about 3;00 a.m.
Abubakar said that during the encounter, the terrorists’ commander, Abu Umar Bundi Munzir, was reportedly among those neutralised as troops repelled the assault and forced the remaining attackers into a disorganised withdrawal.
The theartre commander also confirmed that a total of 24 other terrorists were killed in the operation, bringing the overall neutralised figure to 25.
”Troops subsequently conducted exploitation of the battlefield, leading to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns, two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns and three RPG tubes.
”Others include two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition,” he said.
According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter and have since been stabilised, while an armoured reinforcement vehicle had its tyres damaged during the firefight.
He added that further exploitation operations were ongoing to recover fleeing terrorists bodies, and abandoned equipment along withdrawal routes reportedly marked by blood trails and medical items.
The commander described the operation as a significant success in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, noting that sustained pressure would be maintained to deny terrorist elements freedom of action in the North-East theatre.
(NAN)
The All Progressives Congress has officially rescheduled its presidential and governorship primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, announced the change in Abuja this Thursday, stating that the presidential primary earlier slated for May 15 and 16 will now hold on May 23, 2026, while the governorship primaries are set for May 21.
Meseko explained that the adjustment was made to align with the revised timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the 2026 Electoral Act.
The party also confirmed that nomination forms will be available to all interested aspirants starting this Saturday, April 25 to Saturday, May 2, with no exclusive reservations for any individuals.
APC shifts presidential primary to May 23, 2026, releases revised 2027 election timetable
$516m loan request: Tinubu’s borrowing bonanza mortgaging Nigeria’s future
Troops repel attack, rescue abductees in Sokoto
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