This is Zikoko’s Game of Votes Weekly Dispatch. We share the most important things that happen in Nigeria every week. 5pm Thursdays. Stay woke.
Be Careful What You Say.
Did you say freedom of speech? SHH, the Nigerian government might have no idea what that means and might not want to hear what you have to say about it. How do I know? Well, the Senate has proposed a bill to kill anybody who speaks hatefully. Damn son, I’ve got bars. But seriously.
What time is it?
Time to check yourself before you say ANYTHING that will be frowned upon because it’s still not clear what hate speech means under the bill; don’t like the border closure? SHH. Curious about the salaries of your senators? SHH. Our government doesn’t like noise; it grinds their gears and they’ll be grinding yours if you are convicted of a hate speech crime.
Whose brilliant idea was this anyway?
Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, representing Niger North Senatorial district. Apparently, he woke up to this bright idea one morning in 2018 when he was in the 8th assembly, and thought it would be awesome to introduce the bill to the floor because he was uncomfortable with how freely Nigerians in a democratic society spoke. Although it didn’t get the immediate results he wanted, the bill recently reared its ugly head again, had its first reading and many Nigerians are not liking this new development at all.
GUESS WHO GOT SACKED.
I’m someone, I’m the chairman of a local party but my members just suspended me. Who am I? Let me give you a clue. My wife’s name is Eve and I’m the first man. Alright, you can stop guessing, it was none other than Adams Oshiomole. News reaching us is that the Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended him.
Now Why Would They Do Something Like That?
Oshiomole was suspended for his alleged role in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party. This comes as APC governors give him an ultimatum to resign — As chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he has been asked to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to address the party’s challenges or resign from his position.
Trouble in Oshiomhole Paradise or Trouble in APC paradise?
Both. Members of the APC have allegedly been protesting against the following: Poor reward system in the party; Abandonment of founding fathers; Neglect of the entire party structure; Failure to convene a quarterly meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) – the decision making organ of the party amongst other things.
Particularly in Edo State, the battle between Obaseki and Oshiomole may have escalated to a fist fight. Ahead of the 2020 governorship election in the state, it is alleged that Oshiomole was shopping to replace Obaseki who is the current governor.
As if that was not enough, the Edo chapter of the APC also suspended this same Governor Obaseki for allegedly perfecting plans to defect to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of next year’s election.
Is This A Suspension Party?
Here’s the fun part. It just might be a party you and I were not invited to. The man who led the suspension of Oshiomhole — Anslem Ojezua — has also been suspended in a controversial manner.
DSS DOES NOT GIVE AF ABOUT COURT ORDERS.
Despite countless court rulings to let Sowore go, the DSS is pig-headed about doing that and are simply pissing on the bail conditions that Sowore has met. Their excuse? Nobody came to receive him on the D-day, not even his lawyers who fought so hard to. And what happened to the people who dared to protest against this injustice? They got shot at by the DSS.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post is weighing in on this issue of national embarrassment while the State Security Service continues to give reasons why Sowore is still in jail.
DID YOU MISS THIS?
- This is for everyone who loves Keke Napeps and maybe lives in Abuja: well, they’ve been banned in your city.
- The Nigerian children will be so glad that DJ Cuppy threw an exclusive party for her 27th birthday since they’ll soon get a share of the N5.1 billion that was raised on their behalf. Right? Right?
- Nigerians came for Babatunde Raji Fashola when he dared to claim that the roads in Nigeria were not bad and citizens were just being delusional. We hear you, Mr Minister, we hear you.
NOT.THE.NEWS.
Did you know you need a ferry to get to Senegal from The Gambia? No? Neither did I until I read this. The Jollof Road team is presently in Senegal and they have all the info. Follow them on their trip around West Africa here.
Ministry is moving
The dispatch is growing. If you enjoyed reading this, share this with someone, you hear? Z!KOKO
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We tell you the most important things that happened in Nigeria, during the week, in a way that won’t bore you to death.
