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Trump entourage accused of shoving staff at hallowed US military cemetery

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Arlington National Cemetery confirmed there had been an ‘incident’ at the location, after the presidential candidate’s visit on Monday

Donald Trump was embroiled in controversy on Wednesday after a report that his entourage shoved staff during a politicised visit to the United States’s most hallowed resting place for its war dead.

National Public Radio reported late on Tuesday that an Arlington National Cemetery official tried to prevent the Republican’s aides from filming and photographing in a section reserved for those killed in recent wars – and where filming is banned.

Trump employees responded by shoving and verbally abusing the official, the report said.

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Arlington National Cemetery confirmed on Wednesday there had been an “incident” at the location, after the 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate’s visit on Monday.

A military funeral for US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant. Darin Hoover at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia in 2021. Photo: US Army / Elizabeth Fraser / Handout via Reuters

 

Accompanied by top election aides, Trump was taking part in a wreath-laying with family members of some of the 13 service members killed three years ago in Kabul during the desperate last hours of the US pull-out from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war against the Taliban.

Trump was invited to the ceremony by the families. He has made criticism of President Joe Biden’shandling of the final US retreat from Afghanistan a keynote of his re-election campaign, arguing that he would have managed the withdrawal in the face of a sudden and complete Taliban victory better.

The withdrawal was made as part of a peace deal signed by the Trump administration with the Taliban in Doha in February 2020.

After the visit to Arlington cemetery, Trump’s campaign posted a photo of the former president standing with the relatives and giving a thumbs-up gesture.

Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington, said “federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign.”

The cemetery “reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants”, it said.

Trump’s campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita issued a very different interpretation of the dispute, saying a “despicable individual” had blocked the former president’s team.

It is “a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery”, he said.

Trump also posted a statement on social media attributed to relatives of victims of the 2021 bombing, which said they had approved having Trump’s media team present.

The Abbey Gate suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport killed scores of local people and 13 American troops – the last US troops to die in the war.

The uproar over the Arlington incident is the latest in a long line of controversies over Trump’s relationship with the military.

While often touting his support for the armed forces, he privately mocked the war dead while president and did not want to be seen near military amputees, according to his former chief of staff.

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Politics

APC expels Aregbesola for anti-party activities

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The leadership of All Progressives Congress(APC) has formally sacked erstwhile Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola from the party over anti-party activities.

Aregbesola, who served as Osun State governor for eight years, had created a faction, The Osun Progressives (TOP), now Omoluabi Caucus, to fly another interest within the party. The development caused the party to governorship seat in 2022.

On Sunday, Aregbesola presided over an Omoluabi Caucus meeting where he announced that the faction had quit APC because the party was no longer popular in Osun State.

Also, a letter sent to Aregbesola by the party’s leadership, titled: ‘Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You’ said the former minister was found guilty of anti-party activities.

Read Also: Aregbesola, allies set to quit APC

“At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee.

“Having carefully considered the findings and recommendations of the committee, SEC has resolved to accept the recommendation of your immediate expulsion from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The decision was predicated on the clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party in violation of the provisions of Article 21 of the APC Constitution guiding the conduct and discipline of members.

“As a result, with the approval of your expulsion, you cease to be a member of APC. Consequently, you are not to hold yourself out as a member or act in any capacity on behalf of the Party in any manner whatsoever.”

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BREAKING: Ogun Only Recognizes Constitutionally Established Courts. ….says no group can bring Sharia through the backdoor

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The Ogun State Government has warned against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state.

The state government, in a statement personally signed by the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, noted that Sharia Courts cannot be legally constituted by individuals or groups without legal backing.

The government was reacting to a notice announcing the launch of a Sharia Court in the state.

According to the statement, Ogun State only recognizes courts established through the legal framework of the Nigerian Constitution, adding that a Sharia Court does not form part of the legal framework operating in the state.

The statement reads: “The Ogun State Government has noted the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of a Shari’ah Court in Ogun State.

“No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State. The courts that are legally empowered to adjudicate disputes arising within Ogun State are those established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by State Laws, which are: Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.

“No law operating in Ogun State has established a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework by which the Ogun State Government administers and governs society.

“The Ogun State Government upholds and protects the rights of individuals to practice the religion of their choice, or to subscribe to no religion, and recognizes the freedom of individuals to apply their faith in their personal and private matters.

“However, this freedom does not extend to the formation of unauthorized assemblies or institutions. No individual or group is legally permitted to constitute a court or present themselves to the public as a court without legal backing. Those behind that notice have no legal backing. They cannot set up a court or administer justice by fiat or public notice.

“The Ogun State Government hereby directs that all persons involved in the creation or operation of this unauthorized court must immediately cease all related activities and disband the illegal entity and all its apparatus.

“The Ogun State Government also advises members of the public to disregard any summons, documents, or persons associated with the illegal Sharia Court. Such occurrences should be promptly reported to the State.

“The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the State, and prevent a breakdown of law and order.”

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IMHA TO SCREEN GOVERNOR UZODIMMA’S NOMINEES TO VARIOUS COMMISSIONS

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Imo State House of Assembly
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The Imo State House Of Assembly will tomorrow Thursday, 30th January 2025, screen nominees to the various Commissions.

The following persons who have been nominated by the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Dr Hope Uzodimma, into the underlisted Commissions are therefore required to be at the Imo State House Of Assembly at 10 am, for screening.

A. ISOPADEC BOARD:

1. Prof Eze Dele Odigbo ——– Chairman.

2. Chief Austin Onyedebelu ———- Managing Director.

3. Hon Cassidy Ohamara ———- Member (Oguta).

4. Hon Nkeiru Ihesie ———– Member (Oguta).

5. Dr Mrs Nma Nwulu ———– Member (Ohaji/Egbema).

6. Hon Mrs Ijeoma Joy Ikegwuruka ———– Member (Ohaji/Egbema).

7. Mrs Esther Enoch ———– Member (Oru East).

8. Hon Bernard Nwanana ———– Member (Oru East).

9. Chief Valentine Okere ———– Member (Owerri Zone).

10. Hon Mrs Ify Obi ———— Member (Orlu Zone).

11. Chief Kelechi Onuoha ———— Member (Okigwe Zone).

B. JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION (JSC) :

1. Barr. Louis M Alozie SAN ——– Member (Ezinnihitte Mbaise).

2. Eze Duruiheoma SAN ——– Member (Orlu).

3. Hon Barr Paul Obinatu ——— Member (Oru East).

4. Hon Lady M. M. Anyanwu ——— Member (Ehime Mbano).

C. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC) :

1. Hon Lady Dr Julie Onyeukwu ——— Chairman.

2. Dr Uche Edomobi ——— Member (Okigwe Zone).

3. Goddy O. Dike ——– Member (Owerri Zone).

4. Dr Romanus Ezeogu ——— Member (Orlu Zone).

D. LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE COMMISSION (LGSC) :

1. Dr Nick Obinatu ——— Chairman.

2. Chief Ethelbert Nwachukwu ——— Member (Owerri Zone).

3. Chief Chukwuemeka Anukam ——— Member (Okigwe Zone).

4. Hon Engr Stanley Chibueze Okwuosa ———- Member (Orlu Zone).

The above named persons are required to come along with 30 files, each containing copies of their Curriculum Vitae (CV), Credentials and Tax Clearance Certificate.

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