Tag Archives: Sworn In

Dominican President, Medina, Sworn In For Second Term

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The Dominican Republic’s President, Danilo Medina, was sworn in Tuesday for his second term, after riding an economic boom to win re-election in a landslide despite deep and lingering poverty.

Dressed in a white suit with the red, white and blue presidential sash draped across his chest, Medina took the oath of office before the Caribbean tourist paradise’s National Assembly.

His audience included Presidents Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador, three of Latin America’s most outspoken leftists.

Medina, a 64-year-old economist and head of the centrist Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), won the country’s May 15 election with 62 percent of the vote after pushing through a constitutional amendment to allow him to stand for a second four-year term.

On the eve of his second inauguration, his government boasted of its accomplishments over the past four years: investment in education, loans and support for small farmers, and a sharp drop in poverty, from 42.2 percent of the population to 32.3 percent.

The economy grew seven percent last year and is on track to grow six percent this year, according to the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

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http://guardian.ng/news/dominican-president-medina-sworn-in-for-second-term/

Sampson Ogah Enroute To Umuahia To Be Sworn In As Abia State Governor

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Sampson Ogah, the man who was declared Abia governor by the Federal High Court and issued a certificate of return by INEC on Thursday, has insisted on being sworn in as governor of the state despite an injunction by the Abia State High Court forbidding the exercise.

He also said he was on his way to Umuahia, the Abia State capital, to be sworn in as governor.

Mr. Ogah said through his Media Adviser, Monday Ubani, that the injunction obtained by Mr. Ikpeazu could not invalidate the certificate of return as it came from a subordinate court to the Federal High Court that ordered his swearing in.

He maintained that the State High Court which granted the injunction lacked the locus to do so adding that only an Appeal Court could grant such injunction.

He also said the appeal filed by Mr. Ikpeazu at the Court of Appeal could not be considered a stay over the judgment of Justice Okon Abang.

Mr. Ogah urged the chief judge and all concerned to respect the ruling and allow him to immediately take over the reigns of leadership so as to move the state forward.

The statement reads: “The Federal high court of Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang ordered Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate his seat for Dr Uche Ogah OON as the rightful person for the seat. INEC was ordered to issue the said Ogah with a certificate of return which that body has complied with”.

“The next order that was issued by the federal high court was for the Chief Judge of Abia to swear in Dr Uche Ogah, the rightful person to occupy the governor’s seat. That order is yet to be complied with”.

“I understand that a high court in Osisioma Ngwa the axis where the governor hails from has issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge from swearing in Dr Uche Ogah as the governor of the State. The point must be made that this order cannot stand as it is invalid in law”.

“The order did not emanate from a higher court but from a court of coordinate jurisdiction and does not in any vitiate or invalidate the earlier judgement of the Federal High Court in which the Chief Judge of Abia State was ordered to swear in Dr Uche Sampson Ogah. Only a higher court, in this case Court of Appeal has the jurisdiction to reverse the judgement of the Federal High Court”.

“Note also that appeal of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu before the Court of Appeal does not operate as a stay over the judgement of Justice Okon Abang. In the absence of any express order of the high court or the court of appeal ordering stay of execution, the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on the 27th of June, 2016 should be obeyed by all the parties.”

Speaking through another aide, Peter Agba Kalu, Mr. Ogah said he was on his way to Umuahia, the Abia State capital for swearing in.

He said, “We are entroute to Umuahia for the swearing in from Imo Airpot.

“We don’t believe there is an injunction like that. The injunction is baseless and against the rules of the judiciary”.

“Is the injunction saying that the Certificate of return issued to Uche Ogah is not legal. Is it saying that Abia should not have a Governor because the Certificate of return nollifies that issued to Ikpeazu”.

“We also have a directive by the CJN that he should be sworn in immediately. So that injunction to the best of our knowledge does not exist and where it exist is null and void because it has already been overtaken by events.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Bayelsa: Dickson Sworn In For 2nd Term (Photos)

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Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa was on Sunday sworn-in for the second term in office, with the promise to move the state forward.

 
Speaking at the event in Yenagoa, the governor dedicated his victory at the poll to the people and assured that he would not play politics with the security of the state.

 

“My victory as governor is victory for the people; this administration will continue to sustain the existing security in the state.
“We must stand for good governance and light must always triumph over darkness in Bayelsa;”.

 

Dickson also promised to complete the ongoing airport project and empower youths in the state.

He disclosed that the airport project was 80 per cent adding that diversification of the state economy will also be his priority.

“In the past four years, the state has witnessed transformation and we are ready to do more.
“We will consolidate and expand security in the next four years; this victory is ours and I want us to build a strong synergy to accelerate development of Bayelsa.
“I must say that my government is ready to work with the federal government in ensuring that the issue of kidnap and oil pipeline vandalism is properly checkmated.
“My advice to our people is to steer clear of encouraging or covering-up criminal acts in the state and Niger-Delta region,’’ he said.

Mr Charles Sambo, a Youth Leader, commended Dickson, assuring that the youths will help to promote peace and security in the state.
Sambo called on youths in the state to support the federal government efforts in fighting crimes, especially oil pipeline vandalism.
According to him, development of the Niger-Delta will not be possible in an atmosphere of insecurity.
“Let us say no to criminality, especially to pipeline vandalism and kidnap,” Sambo said.
The ceremony was attended by Governors Ayodele Fasose of Ekiti, Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, among others.

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(NAN)

Governor Yahaya Bello Gets Sworn In Without A Deputy

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Kogi State on Wednesday made another unusual history as its fourth democratically elected governor, Yahaya Bello, was sworn in without a deputy.

The man nominated by the All Progressives Congress to be Mr. Bello’s deputy, James Faleke, made real his threat not to present himself for swearing in with the governor.

He was conspicuously absent at Wednesday’s ceremony, and no replacement was announced at the event.

The legal implication of that arrangement remained unclear Wednesday.

It is the first time in Nigeria’s political history that an elected governor would be inaugurated without a deputy.

The North-Central state had made another history late last year when a leading governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, died before its governorship election is concluded, throwing the state into what appeared a constitutional logjam.

On Wednesday, Mr. Bello was inaugurated amid pomp and ceremony by the Chief Judge of the state, Nasir Ajana, who administered the oath of office and that of allegiance on him.

Credit: PremiumTimes

LG Chairman Newly Sworn-In On Friday Dies In Road Accident

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Dr Hosea Azi, who was sworn in as Chairman, Jos-East Local Government in Plateau on Friday, is dead, the state government announced on Monday.

The Governor, Mr Simon Lalong, in a statement in Jos, described Azi’s death in a motor accident at Garaku, Nasarawa State, on Sunday, as “very shocking”.

“I received the news of the sudden demise of the newly sworn-in Management Committee Chairman of Jos East Local Government Council, Dr Hosea Azi, with great shock,” Lalong said in the statement signed by his Director of Press Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Nanle.

The statement explained that Azi died in an accident on his way to Abuja, when the vehicle he was travelling in, rammed into a stationary truck resulting in the death of the Chairman and two others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Azi was sworn in to replace Mr Sanda Daura, who was removed from office, “in response to the yearnings of the People of Jos East”.

Lalong described Azi as an astute politician and an academic of repute, who was appointed into government to provide the needed people-oriented leadership having garnered experience as a member of the Plateau House of Assembly.

The statement, however, debunked the initial speculation that Azi had the accident with kidnappers that were racing away with him toward an unknown destination.

“Family sources have dismissed such rumour; government has actually confirmed that the death occurred while he was on his way to a legitimate function in Abuja,” the statement said.

The governor expressed government’s condolences to the people of Jos- East, as well as the family of the deceased, and prayed God to grant everyone the fortitude to bear the loss.

Credit: NAN

Cracks In MASSOB As Uwazuruike Is Expelled, New Leader Sworn In

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Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday swore in a new leadership for the movement after the national officers, including the zonal and regional administrators of the group, formally announced the expulsion of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike as MASSOB’s national leader.

The new leadership was headed by the group’s former National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, while Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke emerged National Secretary.

The new leadership, at the well-attended ceremony in Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area, warned Uwazuruike to stop parading himself as MASSOB’s leader or using Ojukwu’s name to dupe Ndigbo or garner personal fame to pursue his political ambition.

Reading the resolution and communiqué signed by the national officers and administrators at Okwe, MASSOB’s headquarters, the new national secretary stated that, “The development is to redeem and revive the lost spirit and confidence of the Biafran revolution in our people and Biafra’s friends and sympathizers.”

Credit: NationalMirror

Femi Adesina, others sworn in

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Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, has been sworn in today, 31st August, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari, a few weeks after his appointment was announced.

 

Others sworn in at the event included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.).

 Top government officials including the nation’s service chiefs, permanent secretaries, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, among others were present at the swearing-in event held inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari Should Not Be Sworn In With The Quran- Etcetera

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A lot of Nigerians do not know that Nigeria is a secular state and they are also not aware that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not require that Buhari take his oath of office by swearing with the Quran. The drafters of the constitution made it crystal clear that any Nigerian of any faith or no faith can hold any office. It would have been very easy for the constitution drafters to include it in our constitution that the president should be sworn in with the Quran. But they didn’t. In other words, placing a hand on a Quran while reciting the presidential oath is simply a tradition that is not backed by the constitution. Meaning, it is absolutely unnecessary.

On Friday May 29, the Constitution requires that Buhari gives this oath of office: “I, Muhammadu Buhari, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.” So, why should Buhari swear with a Quran? Why shouldn’t he place his hand on the Nigerian Constitution- the very document he’s promising to “preserve, protect and defend?”

There’s is a gargantuan barrier between religion and state and Buhari should demonstrate that he recognises this fact by taking his oath of office with his hand on the constitution instead of the Quran. His loyalty should be to the nation’s laws above all else.

A lot of people will argue that Buhari swearing with the Quran ensures that he adheres to his oath. But let’s be truthful to ourselves: We have seen elected officials swear to uphold the laws of our country with their hands on the Quran and go on to steal billions of naira and break laws like crazy. It all comes down to the individual’s moral code, not a few seconds oath.

My objection is not only against the Quran. I would hold the same view if it were the Bible, the Book of Mormon or any other religious scripture. The drafters of the constitution made it clear that the Nigerian Constitution, “shall be the supreme law of the land.” It is the living legacy they bestowed upon us. It is the framework for our government. And as such, that’s the document our president should place his hand on. It should be clear to us on May 29 that the president views the Constitution as our nation’s alpha and omega. As a matter of fact, your religion doesn’t matter when you are taking a position in office because religion has nothing to do with running a country.

I personally think that being sworn in with any kind of religious testament is a waste of time and useless. A lot of people in the out-going government were sworn in with the Bible but did they deliver any of the things they promised the country?

To some people, it doesn’t matter whether the president-elect is sworn in with the Quran. They’re probably used to seeing it happen. We just take it for granted that it is the way things have always been done, but it doesn’t necessarily make it right. In my opinion, any elected leader in any secular country like ours is voted in to represent everyone in that country. So why not swear with a document that means something to everyone, such as the constitution? Wouldn’t that make more sense, instead of swearing with a religious document that only represents a chunk of the population? Imagine if a Juju priest was elected President, would it be okay for him to be sworn in with ‘sango, orunmila or amadioha’ or some other work written about atheism? Would it be okay for an ogboni president to be sworn in with the ogboni book of sacred covenant? I am a Catholic and I believe completely in not swearing with the Bible because there are multiple religions in the country and swearing with a Bible will not cause the sacred binding to the truth if the person swearing does not share a religion with the Bible. The Bible does not have the same meaning to every person. So it shouldn’t be counted as a true binding document.

Finally, we shouldn’t also forget that oath taking of any kind is absolutely forbidden by the Bible:

“But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:34-37

Credit: punchng