Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, says the protest against the removal of petrol subsidy during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was mere politics.

Fayemi spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday of Udenta Udenta, the founding national secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD).

On January 1, 2012, Jonathan announced the removal of the petrol subsidy, leading to the increment in the pump price of the product from N65 per litre to N141.

The announcement sparked a mass protest tagged “Occupy Nigeria” across the country. Nigerians abroad also joined in the mass action.

After days of protest and negotiations between organised labour and the government, the Jonathan administration reinstated the subsidy with the petrol pump price reduced to N97 per litre.

In a recent interview with TheCable, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Nigeria needs to rethink its democracy.

The former president said the liberal type of democracy practised in the West would not work for the country.

Aligning with Obasanjo’s view, Fayemi noted that what Nigeria needs is alternative politics where proportional representation is employed.

“Today, I read former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview in The Cable saying our liberal democracy is not working and we need to revisit it, and I agree with him,” Fayemi said.

“We must move from the political alternatives. I think we are almost on a dead end of that.

“What we need is alternative politics and my own notion of alternative politics is that you can’t have 35 percent of the vote and take 100 percent. It won’t work.

“We must look at proportional representation so that the party that is said to have won 21 percent of the votes will have 21 percent of the government. Adversary politics bring division and enmity.

“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed.

“We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth sir, but it is all politics.

“That is why we must ensure that everybody is a crucial stakeholder by stopping all these.

“Let the manifesto of PDP, APC and Labour Party be put on the table and select all those who will pilot the programme from all parties.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.

Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.

The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.

The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.

Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.

The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.

During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.
Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:

“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.
“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 100 days in office has seen steady progress and national rejuvenation.

In a statement on Tuesday to mark Tinubu’s administration 100 days in office, Idris said the present administration met the country in a difficult situation.

According to the Information Minister, President Tinubu met a battered economy when he took over from Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.

He said Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions.

Idris, however, noted that the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms.

His statement read: “Exactly 100 days ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office following the popular mandate graciously bestowed by the good people of Nigeria, who elected him as the 16th leader of our country.

“Since May 29, President Tinubu has been at his duty post, working assiduously to deliver on his campaign promises as enunciated in his Renewed Hope Agenda for a better and greater Nigeria.

“The President began the journey to rebuild our battered economy, realising that our country was in a difficult situation with our public debts – both local and foreign – coupled with an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime that created, for several decades, a galling hole in our public finance, rendering the three tiers of governments insolvent and incapable of meeting the needs of the citizens.

“President Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions. Fuel subsidy was a Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades. It stunted growth and set the country a-borrowing.

“In addition to subsidy removal, President Tinubu took further steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets.

‘While these two vital steps to save the country from hitting the rocks brought momentary discomfort to Nigerians, President Tinubu has never failed in his appeal to Nigerians to see the current inconveniences as a price we must all pay to save our country from disappearing.

“Considering the people’s pains, the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms. These interventions include working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments to enable them to cater for the most vulnerable among us, providing fertilisers to farmers, grains to households, cash transfers to people with low incomes. In addition to these, there are plans to roll out over 11,000 CNG buses for affordable public transportation among others.

“While striving to reduce the impact of the high cost of living on the citizens, President Tinubu has focused on redirecting our economy and removing the impediments to productivity and competitiveness so that the real sector can grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long term economic growth.

“In the last 100 days, the government set up a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee that is fully at work to deepen the ongoing reforms and reposition the national economy for long-term sustainability. A renowned Tax and Fiscal Policy expert is leading this committee. Part of the committee’s mandate, working with the state governments, is to simplify our complicated tax system, eliminate multiple taxes, streamline regulations that negate the ease of doing business, and close the over 20 trillion annual tax gap.

“To ensure that Nigerians and businesses are not burdened with new taxes, the administration will promote efficiency in revenue collection. It will expand the tax net by ensuring that those not paying are made to pay while those not paying the correct amount are made to pay their fair share.

“Within the last 100 days, President Tinubu has worked to promote political stability in Nigeria because he understands that there cannot be any meaningful progress and development without peace.

“The administration has stabilised the polity and reduced tensions associated with ethnic and religious agitations by better managing our diversity. President Tinubu believes Nigeria’s heterogeneity is a strength to harness for national development. To strengthen the bond of national unity and social harmony, President Tinubu ensured balance in all the appointments into key government positions including that of service chiefs from diverse parts of the country.

“While promoting peace and political stability within the country by carrying along every segment of our country, the President also prioritises adequate information about government activities and policy direction. President Tinubu emerged as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government within his 100 days in office. In this role, he has commendably raised the profile of Nigeria globally and within the West Africa sub-region, promoting the rule of law, defending constitutional order, and standing as a bulwark against military incursion into governance, especially in the Republic of Niger, where a democratic government was toppled recently.

“It is not by accident that Nigeria continues to enjoy the respect of the rest of the world. It is so because of the firm and principled stand of President Tinubu for the ideals of democracy, rule of law and good governance.

“In continuation of his drive to rejuvenate and revitalise the national economy, President Tinubu embarked on a journey to India accompanied by a select delegation of cabinet ministers and over 30 entrepreneurs across various sectors of the economy for the G20 summit. This initiative showcases Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate meaningfully for sustainable economic development.

“In the last 100 days, President Tinubu has offered purposeful leadership and set the administration’s tone, texture, and character. The appointment of Ministers and allocation of portfolios bolstered the growing global confidence in the direction the President is taking in Nigeria. This action has renewed the trust of both the local and international communities in the ability of President Tinubu to revamp and retool the political economy for collective and shared prosperity. The spiralling confidence of the business community is the primary reason Equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange recently beat a 15-year record.

“This period may be challenging, but the President has planted the seeds of national transformation, growth, and all-round development. Our appeal to Nigerians and the labour unions is to continue to support the government and show more understanding. We must continue to work hard and confidently press forward to the glory of a greater Nigeria.”

Hours after the delivery of the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the Labour Party, LP, has raised the alarm over remarks made by a retired Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, concerning the verdict of the tribunal.

The LP, in a statement released by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, on Tuesday evening, also expressed concern over what it described as boastful comments being made by some ministers and other persons connected to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The party, whose candidate, Peter Obi, is challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential poll, said the statements made by Odili and the ministers amounted to a pre-emptive announcement of the judgement in favour of Tinubu.

According to the LP, the development portends danger for the country’s democracy.

“The unguarded statement from the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, last week at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of the elevation of a renowned jurist, JK Gadzama to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

“And the boasting of some persons, serving ministers and notable legislators about the outcome has left our party in shock.

“When those who should know the importance of the sanctity of the judiciary descend to the arena of abusing it with their pre-emptive utterances just to show loyalty and support to their interests, we as a party see this as unfortunate and dangerous to our democratic journey as a nation.

“We note also the needless lavish showering of praises on the legal counsels of both APC and candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the retired Justice when the gathering was not theirs.

“We find this extremely undignified of a renowned jurist who rose to the peak of her career in the country’s Apex court and who as the Chairperson of the body of benchers, should be at the forefront of defending the virtuousness of the courts.”

The LP, in the statement, equally expressed concern at the sudden decision of the tribunal to televise its judgement, after earlier rejecting live coverage of proceedings.

Noting that the action of the tribunal was suspicious, the statement said, “Also curious to every discerning mind watching the unfolding events in Nigeria since the February 25th Presidential election is the fact that the PEPC refused to live coverage of the hearings of the petition, and is now anxious to have the conclusion beamed live.

“What is it that has happened between the hearing period and the delivery of the judgment that the live coverage, which they claimed was a policy issue changed suddenly at the delivery point?”

Seemingly referring to the statement released by the Department of State Services, DSS, to warn of plans by unnamed politicians to sponsor riots, the Labour Party said the agents of the government intend to orchestrate problems and blame such on the opposition.

But the party insisted that citizens have the right to demonstrate in a democratic society.

“We are aware of the efforts of the agents of the States to orchestrate problems and blame them on the political opposition.

“We wish to emphasise that it is the right of the people in a democracy to demonstrate and the obligation of state security agents to protect the demonstrators and those not demonstrating.

“We implore Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful, abide by the rule of law, and understand that this matter has not reached its logical and final conclusion.

“Our concern as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s project, especially the democratic evolution is that what is being destroyed with all these clever by half playing on people’s intelligence is Nigeria as a nation, not necessarily an individual.

“Anybody who loves this country should appreciate the importance of due process and the rule of law because, without it, this country is going nowhere.”

The National/ State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, of the APC, challenging the victory of Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe of NNPP for Rimin Gado/Dawakin Tofa/ Tofa/ Federal House of Representatives Election held on March. 25, 2023.

Recall that the son of the former Kano State Governor, Abba Umar Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed a petition, challenging the emergence of Abdulkadir-Jobe of the NNPP, as a member representing Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa and Tofa Constituency election, held on February 25, 2023.

Counsel to the Petitioner, Mr. Abdulgafar Murtala, urged the court to declare Umar, as the winner and set aside the INEC declaration that earlier announced Jobe as the winner.

He alleged that the Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency election was marred with irregularities, over-voting, and non-compliance, with the Electoral Act.

However, Counsel to NNPP, Ibrahim Wangida and Counsel to Jobe, Mr Auwal Sani, during the hearing urged the court to dismiss the petition, adding that the election was conducted, in accordance with the 2022 electoral act

Delivering judgment, the three-man Panel of Judges dismissed the petition for lack of merit. The panel also averred that the petitioner failed to present sufficient evidence to support the allegation raised.

To this extent, the tribunal awarded the sum of N200,000 to the respondents, jointly and severally.

A popular security expert, Bulama Bukarti, has said the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) may not deliver the much-anticipated judgement on the 2023 presidential election today.

Recall that the Court of Appeal, in a statement on Monday, had fixed Wednesday, September 6, as the date it would deliver judgment on the petitions challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.

But in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Bukarti stated that the tribunal may not give the ruling as expected today due to the ongoing warning strike by the National Labour Congress (NLC).

In the post titled: ‘PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION JUDGEMENT MAY NOT BE DELIVERED TOMORROW’, Bukarti asserted that the NLC strike might ground activities at the court premises.

The security expert said, while the judges may not participate in the strike, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which is affiliated with the NLC, has issued orders to close all courts in the country for two days.

Burkari stated that while the strike would result in the closure of the court premises and judges’ offices, making it impossible to deliver the judgment, the tribunal could delay judgment until after the strike.

He said: “Is it possible for the NLC’s strike tomorrow to prevent the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal from delivering its judgment? I believe it’s a possibility.

“While the judges themselves may not participate in the strike, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which is affiliated with the NLC, has issued orders to close all courts in the country today and tomorrow.

“If this occurs, it would result in the closure of the tribunal premises and judges’ offices, making it impossible to deliver the judgment. If such a scenario unfolds, it could have a significant impact, garnering headlines.

“However, the Tribunal could delay judgment until after the strike, potentially towards the late evening or the early night hours.

“But this may not work, as JUSUN may refuse to open the court after working hours, or NLC officials may put it under lock and key until Thursday morning. I am keen to see what will happen tomorrow.”

The Parish Priest, SS Peter & Paul Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife; Rev Fr Dr. Peter Oluseyi Adeyemi has on Sunday 3 September 2023, in his address, expanded on how digital age has impacted religion and religious activities.

In his opinion, there is a tendency to presume that saintliness was possible in the past but impossible in this current time, because of the technological advancements in all aspects of human existence. His other reasons for this assertion is that; the world of today which relishes the digital age has  positively and negatively impacted on the way things are done - not only as it pertains to human existence but also in religious observances.

He then asserted that; though it is difficult to become saints in the presence of digital advancement, however, not impossible. According to Fr Adeyemi, digital technology is fundamentally changing what it means to be human; most especially - to be a religious or spiritual human being.

He worried of the digital world full of virtual deception vis-à-vis religious practices. Though the priest agreed that the digital phenomena, such as the interconnected networks, coupled with its socially interactive applications, like - Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and others, have come to stay since it has been so-much integrated into the fabrics of the society; the implications for human spirituality according to him,  are staggering.

Some of technological invention that further triggered his worries is the current reality of robots, leading prayers in some religious gathering. Another is the ongoing attempt to manufacture spirituality-enhancement- technologies that can provide shortcut to meditation using cognitive augmentation via brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

The priest noted that, though there is possibility that such inventions may enhance stronger, calmer, quick and sharp reasoning - or even intense and transformative spiritual experiences; which may contribute to virtuousness - through the help of biomedical moral enhancement (BME).

What bothers him the most is its negative implications on human freedom and freewill in relating to God; this, according to him, is because; human efforts to worship God may then' become a cosmetic and impersonal affair.

Former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, says democracy in the country is not working despite the end of the military administration in 1999.

This is as Fayemi said the protest that trailed the fuel subsidy removal during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 was due to political interests.

He spoke Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday of Prof Udenta Udenta, founding national secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD).

In January 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the removal of fuel subsidy, causing a significant increase in the pump price of petrol, from N65 per litre to N141.

This decision ignited widespread protests across major cities in Nigeria, known as ‘Occupy Nigeria.’

After more than a week of protests, the government adjusted the petrol price to N97 and later reduced it to N87.

While speaking at the event, the ex-governor criticised the “winner-takes-all” nature of Nigeria’s democracy stating that the nation’s current challenges could not be effectively addressed without adopting proportional representation, where election rewards are distributed among contestants based on their share of the vote.

“Today, I read former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview in TheCable saying our liberal democracy is not working and we need to revisit it, and I agree with him. We must move from the political alternatives. I think we are almost on a dead end of that.”

“What we need is alternative politics, and my own notion of alternative politics is that you can’t have 35 per cent of the vote and take 100 per cent. It won’t work! We must look at proportional representation so that the party that is said to have won 21 per cent of the votes will have 21 per cent of the government. Adversary politics bring division and enmity,” he said.

He also acknowledged that all major political parties in Nigeria, including the PDP, APC, and Labour Party, had previously included the removal of subsidy in their manifestos.

However, he emphasized that the actual implementation of the policy in 2012 was driven by political considerations rather than a genuine commitment to the policy itself.

“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed. We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth sir, but it is all politics.

“That is why we must ensure that everybody is a crucial stakeholder by stopping all these. Let the manifesto of PDP, APC and Labour Party be put on the table and select all those who will pilot the programme from all parties.”

Among those at the event were Jonathan, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka.

Abia State Government said it will invest the N2bn palliative so far released by the Federal Government into transportation.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing the press alongside some of his colleagues after this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioner said that details of how to deploy the fund would be made available soon, adding that the State Government would roll out its own palliatives after it is through with that of the Federal Government which is going on smoothly.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Father Christian Anokwuru revealed that a total of 16,800 bags of rice was received from the Federal Government, disclosing that each ward would get 90 bags.

He added that 55 bags have been shared to each of the 184 wards while the remaining 35 bags would get to the wards tomorrow.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, nabbed some officials of State Emergency Management Agency diverting palliatives meant for the citizens to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Some of the suspects arrested at a popular market in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital where the items were being resold included officials of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) and their accomplices

Spokesman of the secret police, Peter Afunanya, who disclosed the development to journalists in Abuja, explained that some of the diverted items were recovered from the suspects

Afunanya called on members of the public who may have information relating to the emerging trend to report same to the relevant security agencies for necessary action, saying the culprits would be punished according to laws.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has received reports from some State Governments relating to diversion or sale of palliatives meant for their citizens.

“Consequently, the Service undertook investigations in that regard and has recovered some of the items as well as apprehended the suspects,” the DSS spokesman noted.

He noted that while their operation was ongoing in other states, the service has already intercepted a suspected criminal syndicate in Nasarawa State responsible for the diversion and sale of the palliatives meant for the vulnerable in the place.

Daily Trust reports that the federal government had a few weeks ago shared thousands of bags of rice, a staple food, across 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory in order to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, particularly on the vulnerable citizens.