Barring last-minute changes, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, may be heading for a showdown as the party’s National Working Committee meets on Wednesday.

Governance in Rivers State has been partially affected for months due to the ongoing political conflict between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, both of whom are PDP members.

The feud has caused a split within the state House of Assembly, with a faction led by Martin Amaewhule supporting Wike, while the other faction, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, is loyal to Fubara.

Despite efforts by President Bola Tinubu and other prominent figures in Rivers State and across the country to mediate, the conflict persists, with the factions engaging in multiple legal disputes in Port Harcourt and Abuja courts.

The PUNCH reported that despite a court injunction stopping the PDP from holding congresses in Rivers State, the Amb Umar Damagum-led NWC conducted the congress which handed control of the Rivers State party structure to Wike.

In an open letter addressed to the party leadership, former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, accused Wike of using his close relationship with Tinubu to mount undue pressure on Fubara and the PDP.

The PDP governors also expressed support for Fubara, urging the party’s NWC to grant him his “rightful” position as the leader of the party in the state.

In response, Wike, at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, said he would take decisive action in PDP-controlled states.

“Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody.

“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”

When contacted, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, stated that a meeting to address Wike’s threat was imminent.

“He addressed the governors specifically. The governors will meet and they will take a position. The Secretariat is to convey their (Governors) positions. Until that is done, I don’t have any take on it,” he said.

When questioned about when the governors would convene, Agbo responded: “Once I get a confirmation, I will let the press know.”

Similarly, the NWC meeting is set to take place on Wednesday (tomorrow) at Wadata Plaza, the PDP national headquarters in Abuja.

A senior NWC member who wished to remain anonymous, as he is not authorised to speak on the matter, indicated that the party leaders were expected to review and discuss the PDP recently-held ward and state congresses, and governors’ position on Rivers in the upcoming meeting.

“We anticipate that the PDP Governors will contact the NWC to convey their stance on Rivers State and their preferred approach.

“If they do, this will be addressed at the NWC meeting. The meeting will also discuss the ongoing litigation involving the defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the source volunteered.

Recall that the last PDP NWC meeting revealed a clear division among the members.

Damagum and several others approved the conduct of the Rivers congress in favour of Wike despite the court injunction, while the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyegikuro, insisted that the correct procedure should be followed in the interest of Fubara.

On July 8, 2024, the Rivers State High Court issued an ex parte order barring key state officials from engaging with the defected lawmakers.

Unexpectedly, Wike’s lawyers appealed the order without the party’s consent, including that of the National Legal Adviser.

Although Ajibade attempted to withdraw the appeal on July 24, a letter dated August 15 from Damagum and PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, sent to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt clarified that the PDP was not involved in the withdrawal.

“All these issues will be discussed,” the source said.

A member of the National Executive Committee and former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that the letter from Damagum and Anyanwu contradicting the National Legal Adviser provides sufficient grounds for the other NWC members to issue a vote of no confidence in the acting national chairman.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, Ologbondiyan stated that it was up to the NWC to save the PDP, adding that Nigerians were looking to the party to rescue them from the maladministration of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.

He stated, “Yes, a vote of no confidence should be passed in Damagum. The NWC has more than enough capacity; what warranted that decision was the fact that Damagum, acting as national chairman, and national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, wrote to the court and contradicted the National Legal Adviser.

“Look, it is up to the National Working Committee to make the decision, and the ball is in their court to handle it as they deem fit. But what we are saying is that you cannot use the authority of your office to go against the National Legal Adviser in court.

“It was an aberration of norms. The constitution is clear on the role of the National Legal Adviser. What the national chairman and the national secretary did was a violation of the constitution. I do not foresee a situation in which nothing will be done, and I do not want to contemplate it.”

Another member of the National Executive Committee and the party’s National Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, urged the NWC to treat Fubara like other governors regarding party structure.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, Osuoha stated, “What is applicable is that the governor of the state is the leader of the party in the state.

“The structure of the party is anchored on the state governor. Therefore, the NWC should apply what happened in other states to Rivers.

“In other states where the PDP has a governor, the structure of the party revolves around the governor. So whatever has been done in other states should be reciprocated in Rivers. After all, all states in Nigeria are equal, and they must consider the important role Rivers State plays in Nigeria. We cannot afford to lose control of the state.”

Also commenting, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said there should be no pretence or delay among Rivers State party stakeholders and the NWC in implementing the PDP governors’ position.

Osadolor, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stated, “And what is more important is that an amicable resolution to the Rivers imbroglio is achieved for the party’s interest.

“What I know is that there is no dispute as to who the leader of the party in Rivers is and that is Governor Sim Fubara.”

On Wike’s response to the PDP governors, Osadolor said, “I think the speech by ex-Governor Wike was very unnecessary and unsavoury.

“Wike’s statement is unfortunate. A man who should be busy apologising to the party or trying to seek reconciliation should not be grandstanding, throwing tantrums, and issuing threats to governors who are keeping the party’s flag flying.

“So I think it’s high time the Governors’ Forum and the NWC sit down and take a position on leaders like Wike, no matter how highly placed or how much interest the person has. They need to address such leaders squarely and draw the line firmly and clearly.”

Osadolor, who called on the party’s organs to respond appropriately to Wike, stated that his ongoing attacks on the party would no longer be tolerated.

“This is important so that in the future, we won’t have these types of people playing larger than life. The party is supreme and must act as a supreme entity. I believe that an adequate response should be given to the threat he was making.

“As an officer of the party, I would think that he has made one statement too many. It’s time to tell him that, look, you’re either in or you’re out.

“What that means is that if he wants to be in the party, he must play by and live by the rules. If he wants to be outside the party, let him be outside the party umbrella and throw his tantrums. But his move to remain in the party while undermining it will not be tolerated,” he said.

On Monday, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, suggested that Wike had been called to appear before the PDP disciplinary committee, led by Tom Ikimi, due to his involvement in anti-party activities during the 2023 elections.

Abdullahi, while appearing on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, said “Three weeks ago, we put up two committees in place, that of reconciliation and disciplinary, and Nyesom Wike is one of the persons to face the disciplinary committee, which is headed by elder statesman, Chief Tom Ikimi.

“The disciplinary committee will look into issues of anti-party activities. We’ve been receiving petitions regarding anti-party activities or sabotaging the party throughout the primary, leading to where we are now.

“These petitions against Wike and other party members have been aggregated and sent to the committee.

“Some party members even felt that Wike shouldn’t have gotten to this level still as a member of the PDP and they have been writing to the leadership.”

When contacted, Ologunagba, who played down any showdown in the forthcoming NWC meeting over Rivers matter, confirmed that other NEC members had been expressing their views in support of the Governors’ Forum.

On the possible showdown, Ologunagba stated, “I don’t work on speculations. It would be premature to assume that will happen.

“People have been expressing their views, which align with what the PDP Governors said in Taraba. That will be formally presented before the NWC meeting, and the NWC will discuss and take appropriate actions in line with those advisories and in accordance with the party’s constitution, which recognises the governor as the leader of the party.

“So we will wait for the matter to come before the NWC,” he added.

Ologunagba, while addressing a world press conference in Abuja, on Monday, confronted Wike, asserting that no one was above the party.

He said the Governors’ forum would resolve the Rivers crisis according to the party’s guidelines.

“We believe, and I will say this, that the Governors’ Forum remains one of the most potent organs of this party. We recognise and salute their courage and their contributions to the development of the party. We acknowledge their stabilising role and their reconciliatory efforts for the party.

“There is a connection between Nigerians and the PDP because it is called the Peoples Democratic Party. It is not a party of joiners, people who just came together for business or special purposes. It was founded on values, principles, and vision, which are well stated.

“The Governors’ Forum is a body with its regulations, and they address issues like this as they arise, particularly when they concern them. I respect the Governors’ Forum and believe they will address the matter.

“What we know is that nobody is above this party, and we must take that to heart. It’s like justice: the wheel of justice grinds slowly but ultimately grinds well.

“We urge our governors to do what is necessary to ensure stability in their states. The only way they can achieve stability is through performance. If you compare PDP governors with governors from other parties, you will find that PDP governors are oases of development,” he said.

[Punch]

 Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry may have gone into a frenzy, following clear indications that the Federal Government may no longer sustain the cost of under-recovery, otherwise known as subsidy, due to a the steady rise in petrol import bills.

Industry operators told Vanguard yesterday that it is now clear that pump price may be officially raised soon to enable the government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to generate enough funds to settle its outstanding bills on products received on credit supply by several international dealers.

Consequently, they speculated that a compromise pump price of N1,000 per litre or more may be underway, though some of them quoted the landing cost of the product at about N1,200 per litre, excluding the cost of delivery to petrol stations.

Presently, NNPCL, according to the dealers, is no longer getting adequate supply to meet the nation’s needs, a situation which has worsened the product scarcity in the past one week while imposing excruciating pains on the transportation sector and the entire citizenry.

The shortage in supply, they further explained, was because some of the suppliers are no longer willing to deliver the product on credit. They also said that more of the products are now being smuggled out of the country.

The current transactional analysis obtained by Vanguard, yesterday, put the landing cost, including product cost, finance cost, freight, port charges, insurance, storage and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA at N1,205.52 per litre.

However, when the transportation cost, marketers’ margins and dues were added, the estimated official pump cost of the product rose to N1,405 per litre.

This indicates that at the proposed N1,000/ltr, under-recovery (subsidy) would still be significantly high, a situation which they said has put the government in a dilemma of choosing between full cost recovery (total elimination of subsidy) or a compromise position of splitting the cost between government and final consumers in a N1,000/ltr pump price.

NNPCL overwhelmed by subsidy

The NNPC Ltd has already indicated that it cannot continue to sustain fuel importation at rising cost while passing the cost to final consumers is proving a difficult decision.

The nation’s oil company was permitted by President Bola Tinubu to utilise the 2023 final dividends due the federation, amounting to N2.1 trillion, to pay for the petrol subsidy.

The president also approved the suspension of the payment of 2024 interim dividends to the federation to augment NNPC’s cash flow, according to a presidency source.

In addition, the national oil company told the president it will be unable to remit taxes and royalties to the federation account for now because of subsidy payments, which it termed “subsidy shortfall/FX differential”.

NNPC’s cumulative petrol subsidy bill from August 2023 has been estimated at N6.884 trillion by December 2024, making it impossible for the company to remit N3.987 trillion in taxes and royalties to the federation account.

In June 2024, NNPC cried out to Tinubu that the subsidy payments were negatively impacting its cash flow and it was struggling to remain a “going concern”, adding that it might not be able to sustain petrol imports because of the ballooning subsidy bill, which it blamed on “forex pressure”.

Also, Mele Kyari, Group CEO of NNPC, informed the president that when the subsidy was removed in June 2023, it led to monthly savings of N400 billion to the federation, which enabled the company to remit its taxes and royalties totalling N2.032 trillion into a sequestered account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as at January 2024.

However, in August 2023, the fuel importation costs began to rise, incurring a subsidy bill of N52.73 billion that further rose to N57.59 billion in September and N212.28 billion in October before rising further to N665.60 billion in November, following depreciation of the Naira.

New pump price expected this month

Considering the situation petroleum marketers expect the government to emerge with a new fuel pump price to give direction to the market this month.

A source who opted to remain anonymous said: “We expect that the market would be driven by the forces of demand and supply in the domestic market.

“However, the government would still be guiding the market, mainly through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA that has the responsibility to regulate as well as enforce compliance”.

NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed did not take calls nor respond to text message, yesterday.

Marketers give conditions for importation

Oil marketers said they are not considering importation immediately because of issues and challenges, including foreign exchange, high cost of funds and uncertainty in the sector
Managing Director, 11 Plc, Adetunji Oyebanji, said: “Well, marketers were unable to import earlier when the subsidy was called off due to FOREX instability and that of the naira that was floated as at the time. These developments have hindered marketers from importing petrol.

“However, the situation with Forex is now steady (away from the jumps) and yes, marketers will import if they are given the chance to. There is no challenge if they are called upon to serve.

“As long as everyone is selling in a competitive price range, we will import. “If prices are set at an economic level, other suppliers might enter the market, improving supply and reducing financial strain.”

We can import if given support — IPMAN

In an interview with Vanguard, yesterday, the former national president of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, and currently the Board of Trustees Treasurer of IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okoronko, said that marketers are willing to import provided they are given similar opportunities as NNPCL.

He said: “Government should create a benchmark for marketers importing petroleum products to recover their investment on petroleum products, there should be a threshold for government to get marketers involved in the procedure.

“Dangote should be encouraged to come on stream. This will help reduce our exposure to excessive costs and problems. Whatever it will take for our crude to be refined here will help get us out of this mess. Also, the CNG degradation will reduce our exposure and boost our economy.”

Scarcity hindering our operations — Transporters

The Managing Director of a leading transport company with several offices across the country who wouldn’t like his name on print told Vanguard that fuel scarcity has been one of the major problems of transporters in the country.

He wondered: “Has there been any time that fuel is available in the country? We have resolved that whatever price we buy, we shall review the fares to break even. We won’t be working without making a profit,”

He lamented that the local governments, too, are not helping matters with all manners of levies on Transport Company.

He said: “In Enugu, Abia, Rivers, Cross River, and many others collect not less N5,000 each from every boss daily which they tag daily ticket. Also, security agencies extort drivers on the highways, making the business very difficult for transporters.

He also noted that drivers are forced to cough out huge amounts for failure to provide the already suspended proof of ownership receipt by the government.

All these, he said have contributed to the fare hike across the country. A journey from Lagos to the Eastern part of the country costs as much as N30,000 as against N15,000 a few years ago.

Motorists lament as the situation worsens

Checks by Vanguard indicated that the fuel situation within Lagos metropolis and environs has worsened, due to limited supply.

The checks indicated that many filling stations on Ikorodu Road, Agege, Iyana-Ipaja, Ikeja, Somolu, Bariga, Ogba and Surulere were closed.

Meanwhile, some motorists who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, expressed frustration at the persistent scarcity of petrol.

They also decried the long queues at filling stations as well as increased black market sale of the product at various locations, including Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, and Ibeju-Lekki, where a litre of petrol sold for N940 and above.

Dangote Refinery Concludes Fuel Refining Plans

Meanwhile, Dangote Group said it has commenced petrol refining, raising hope for increased domestic fuel supply.

Chief Branding and Communications officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina said the refinery on the outskirts of Lagos, built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, can meet demand.

With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, Africa’s largest refinery promises to ease oil producer Nigeria’s costly reliance on imported oil products.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery said it was undergoing test runs for petrol production by mid-September 2024.

Experts harp on cooperation

Meanwhile, some experts in the oil and gas business have urged the Federal Government to collaborate with local refineries to process the daily allocation of 445,000 barrels of crude oil for domestic use, based on a tolling arrangement.

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director at Seplat Energy Plc., Mr Rabiu Bello, said that collaborating with local refineries would help the government to secure petroleum products needed for domestic consumption and allow the export of excess products.

Bello said that such collaboration would enable the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other local refineries to operate profitably and achieve over 65 per cent capacity utilisation without requiring substantial additional investments in crude oil supplies.

He said that the Federal Government should conduct a forensic audit of NNPC/NNPCL’s financial records to assess the actual cost of importing and delivering petroleum products to Nigeria from 2012 to 2024.

Similarly, Mr Henry Adigun, an oil and gas consultant, also called for full implementation of the PIA to streamline operations in Nigeria’s downstream sector of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

Adigun said that the current fuel scarcity could be mitigated if the government could pay outstanding debts to importers and allow fuel prices to return to market levels.

Vanguard News Nigeria

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that the board is not involved in the admission process for higher national diploma (HND) students.

Earlier, there were claims by some HND students accusing the board of being responsible for their inability to go for their National Youth Service scheme (NYSC).

The students were said to have claimed they were not mobilised for service because they did a part-time programme for their national diploma (ND).

Fabian Benjamin, the JAMB spokesperson, said the board has no involvement, authority, or control over the admissions process for HND candidates.

He said JAMB is also not responsible for other higher institutions’ programmes besides their regular admissions.

The board added that candidates’ HND admissions are “unknown and irrelevant” to the mandate of JAMB.

“The law that established JAMB states, ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the board shall be responsible for determining matriculation requirements and conducting examinations leading to undergraduate admissions, as well as for admissions to National Diploma and Nigerian Certificate in Education courses. However, the Board shall not be responsible for examinations or any other selective processes for postgraduate courses or any other courses offered by tertiary institutions,” Benjamin said.

JAMB earlier gave a 30-day ultimatum to institutions in August to declare all admissions conducted outside its processing system.

[TheCable]

UEFA has revealed that there will be a reduction in the maximum amount clubs can charge for away tickets in Europe’s three men’s club competitions this season.

The new price caps for away tickets are as follows: Champions League games will be capped at 60 euros, the Europa League at 40 euros, and the Conference League at 20 euros. It’s important to note that these caps apply only to visiting fans and not to home supporters.

From next season, the maximum price for Champions League away tickets will be further reduced to 50 euros, and the Europa League to 35 euros. These changes come as part of UEFA’s efforts to enhance the matchday experience for all fans and to keep football an inclusive sport, valuing and recognizing the contributions of travelling supporters who follow their teams across Europe.

Note that this is not the first time price caps have been introduced. In the 2019-2020 season, the maximum prices were set at 70 euros for the Champions League and 45 euros for the Europa League. These adjustments are a response to incidents in previous seasons where fans protested against high away ticket prices.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized that these changes mark another important step in enhancing the fan experience, reaffirming UEFA’s commitment to making football more fan-friendly.

He said: “This marks another key step in reaffirming Uefa’s commitment to enhancing the matchday experience for all fans.

“By introducing more fan-friendly policies, we continue our mission to keep football as an inclusive sport, where supporters who travel across Europe to follow their teams are valued and recognised.”

[NaijaNews]

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Debt Management Office (DMO), has opened offers for subscription to Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) savings bonds for September 2024.  

According to a statement by the DMO, the subscription period will last for five days, starting from September 2nd. 

The statement indicates that the two-year savings bonds, maturing on September 11, 2026, are offered at an interest rate of 17.202%, while the three-year savings bonds are available at 18.202%. 

Each unit of the bond is priced at N1,000, with a minimum subscription requirement of N5,000 and subsequent multiples of N1,000. The maximum allowable subscription is N50,000,000.  Interest payments on FGN bonds are made quarterly (four times a year).  

The subscription period for these bonds commenced on September 2, 2024, and will remain open until September 6, 2024, according to an announcement by the DMO.  

Settlement is planned for September 11, 2024, with quarterly coupon payments scheduled for December 11, March 11, June 11, and September 11. 

Increased interest rate 

The interest rate of 18.202% on FGN savings bonds stands as one of the highest in recent times and reflects the prevalent high-interest rate environment in the country. In the same month of last year, the interest rate on FGN savings bonds for September 2023 was offered at an interest rate of 12.031% representing an increase of 6.17 percentage points in one year. 

The increase in interest rate for FGN bonds is due to the actions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since February when it began its rising interest rate to stem inflation and stabilize the forex market by attracting Foreign Capital Investments (FPIs). 

The apex bank over four Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings has raised interest rates by 800 basis points to control inflation. This has resulted in significant interest in the FGN savings bonds offer.  

Result of FGN bond auction for August 

• In August, the Federal Government of Nigeria raised N374.751 billion through its FGN bond auction, demonstrating continued strong investor interest in longer-term securities. 
• The auction featured three distinct bonds with tenors of 5 years, 7 years, and 9 years, marking a crucial step in Nigeria’s efforts to secure funding for ongoing national projects. 
• The 9-year bond stood out as the favourite among investors, with an impressive subscription of N375.083 billion, far exceeding the offered amount of N50 billion. The bond was allotted N314.213 billion at a marginal rate of 21.50%, indicating a substantial oversubscription of 650.17%.  

[Nairametrics]

The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suleiman Abubakar, has expressed deep concern over statements credited to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, threatening to incite political crisis in states where their governors were allegedly interfering in Rivers State political crisis.

Rt. Hon. Abubakar, who’s the immediate-past chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Speakers Forum, in a statement made available to journalists, described Wike’s remarks as ‘reckless’ and ‘unbecoming’ of a leader, emphasising that such rhetoric endanger not only the unity of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but also the stability of the entire nation.

He also called on the PDP leadership and the national security agencies to take immediate action to address ‘Wike’s excesses’ .

“The PDP was founded on the principles of democracy, mutual respect, and the rule of law. It is not the personal fiefdom of any individual, regardless of their past accomplishments or current position.

“Mr. Wike’s attempt to use his influence as a tool of intimidation against other states within the federation is a gross misuse of power and a direct violation of the values upon which our party stands.

“As the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, I cannot remain silent in the face of such threats. Mr. Wike’s audacious warning that Bauchi State could face political turmoil simply because we stand for what is right is unacceptable.

“More over, Mr Wike’s continues public outburst do a disservice to the PDP and betray the trust that the people of Rivers state and the broadens Nigerian populace have placed on him . It is the responsibility of the National Security Adviser and the media to ensure that individuals who make such inflammatory statements are held accountable. We cannot allow a situation where one man’s ego and thirst for power jeopardize the peace and unity of our nation,” he stated.

He added that Bauchi State like any other state will not be intimidated with Wike’s threats of political turmoil while reaffirming the state’s commitment to upholding justice, peace and rule of law even as he insisted that any attempt to disrupt the peace of Bauchi State will be met with the full force of the law.

[Leadership]

Nigerians are willing to manipulate their identity to gain access, employment, hospital, power, and access to those who are incharge of resources and authority in the country.

Executive Director of the Kukah Centre (TKC), Fr. Atta Barkindo, said this in Abuja at the public presentation of the 26-page project impact report on ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion in Lagos’, and policy brief on the project with support from MacArthur Foundation.

“Number one, it means people are willing to manipulate any identity, as long as it gives them employment, access to hospital, access to power, access to those who are in charge of the resources and the authority in this country.

“And it also shows that we really have a lot of work to do to convince people about why we need to build social cohesion, national identity, common citizenship, and to see Nigeria as a country that belongs to all of us and where we prioritize meritocracy competence, over and above where you come from, or where you belong to or what your political affiliation is.

“And I think that is why the Kukah center went to Lagos. We all knew what happened in Lagos during the 2023 general elections, and maybe that of Lagos has been amplified because Lagos with lots of infrastructure, the media is there, so we can easily hear what happened in Lagos, and probably, in other places, things may have happened that has been worse than what has happened in Lagos,” Barkindo said.

He said in Europe, it is about where someone live.

He said, “That is why you belong. It is about where you are born that matters, not your own state of origin. So somebody was born in Kano, lives in Kano for 40 years, and when it is time to vote, they ask you to go back to your state of origin, not the state that you were born.”

He said that Lagos was a pilot phase, adding that their intention is to go to almost every state across the country and to try and bring people together to have the conversations.

The ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion in Lagos Project’ is a 12-month project conceived in response to the social unrest and electoral violence that erupted during the 2023 general elections.

The report said that over the years, ethnic and regional divides, including issues of indigenes and settlers have combined to reinforce a sense of mutual distrust and suspicion, to a point that identity politics have become a meal ticket for politicians to garner votes.

“During the 2023 general elections, the impact of these divisions played out and led to massive electoral violence, particularly in Lagos state. This necessitated the intervention, particularly as, the aftermath of the elections seemed to have reinforced religious and ethnic disharmony, asNigerians became angrier, more fearful, and less trusting of one another,” the report said.

On what can drive sustainability to strengthen social cohesion, the report recommended continuous community engagement, youth-centred initiatives, fair and just systems, inclusive governance, quality education; and cultural awareness and sensitization among others.

[DailyTrust]

The Nigeria Police have placed a N20 million bounty on a British national, Andrew Wynne, and a Nigerian, Lucky Ehims, who were declared wanted on Monday for allegedly attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, the police said a reward sum of N10,000,000 awaits any person(s) with information leading to the arrest of each of them.

DAILY POST recalls how the Police had launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of foreign national and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyuwa Adejobi, following extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, nine suspects have been arrested, who received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilize the country.

He said that preliminary findings revealed they orchestrated and funded violent protests by disseminating false information and engaging in other unlawful activities to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot to overthrow the democratically elected government.

“Investigations have identified a foreign mercenary, Andrew Wynne (also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey), a British national, who built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.

“He rented a space at Labour House, Abuja, for an ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and established ‘STARS of Nations Schools’ as a cover for his subversive activities,” he said.

The Police, therefore, called on the public to assist in any useful information that would help their investigations, saying if Andrew Wynne and Lucky Ehims are seen, they should be arrested and handed over to the nearest Police Station.

[DailyPost]

Several demonstrators hit the streets of Abuja to demand the immediate dismissal of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Limited, Mele Kyari, over the lingering fuel scarcity.

The protest came out on the heels of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s confession that its substantial debt to suppliers was endangering the sustainable fuel supply.

Among other things, the corporation highlighted the financial strain was placing significant pressure on its operations and threatening the stability of fuel supplies.

Chanting solidarity songs, they displayed several banners such as: ‘We are tired of fuel scarcity and stories on why refineries are not working, ‘No direction under Kyari’ and ‘We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL’. 

Addressing reporters on Monday at Unity Fountain after the rally in Abuja, Convener of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations, Aminu Abbas wondered why a nation blessed with oil like Nigeria should continue to suffer acute petrol scarcity.

He said: “To President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and all those in positions of power, we say the time to act is now. Show us that you stand with the people, not those who profit from our misery. Mr Kyari must be shown the way out, and the NNPCL must be reformed to serve the interests of all Nigerians. We will not be silenced.

 “The fuel scarcity we endure today is not just a mere inconvenience; it is a calculated perpetuation of suffering. Under Mr Kyari’s leadership, the situation has gone from bad to worse, with no end in sight. What has he done to alleviate this crisis? It is clear he seems intent on maintaining a status quo that benefits only a select few while the masses suffer.

“Why do we, the people, have to endure endless queues, inflated prices, and the daily uncertainty of whether we can fuel our vehicles or power our homes? The answer lies in the gross incompetence and mismanagement that have become the hallmarks of Mr. Kyari’s leadership.”

A British national wanted by the police, Andrew Wynne, also known as Drew Povey, has said the government was unsettled by the EndBadgovernance protest held across the country.

Wynne expressed regret that the government has been suppressing the protesters instead of responding to the citizens’ demands.

This is as he called on the Nigeria Labour Congress to protect the general public as it did to its President, Joe Ajaero when the police invited him.

Wynne stated this in a statement on Monday titled “Protests, not treason.”

It read, “The mass protests over #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger frightened the government. However, the government turned to repression rather than addressing the people’s demands. Perhaps 40 people were murdered by the police and other security forces, thousands were arrested, and many remain in captivity.

“In Abuja, the authorities have attacked the so-called leaders and organisers of the protests. Ten people face ridiculous charges including treason, mutiny and levying war against the state.”

Wynne noted that the first person arrested by the police, Eleojo Opaluwa, was a former colleague of the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero and the Vice Chairman of the Union in Kogi State.

He said, “The first person to be arrested in this case was Eleojo Opaluwa. He is a former colleague of Joe Ajaero, who works for NUEE, the electricians’ union, as an organiser in Abuja.

“He is also the Vice Chair of the NLC in Kogi State. He has now been detained for over four weeks with no tangible evidence. His family was told that he had received a WhatsApp message from one of the other alleged leaders. This was after Eleojo had been detained.”

Wynne stated that the ten individuals arraigned for organising the protests hardly knew one another.

He said, “The ten detainees have been accused of conspiracy to commit a range of serious crimes. However, they barely know each other. Five of them may have been members of a WhatsApp group set up to organise the protests in Abuja.

“But the other five are unknown to these comrades. They may be a few of the flag-waving protesters from Kano who were added to extend the range of the organizers to cover the main protests from Sokoto to Maiduguri. “

Wynne said the police investigating the suspects and the government are not on the same page on the matter.

He said, “There appears to be a conflict between the government and the police investigating this case. The head of the Intelligence Response Team told the detainees’ lawyers that he would have released them but that he had orders from above not to set them free. So the police have developed what appears to be a ridiculous case involving the owner of Iva Valley Books.”

Wynne noted that the claim that he had left the country was not true.

“They are claiming that I travelled under the name of Andrew Povich, a Russian-sounding name and that I have now left Nigeria for Russia. Neither of these claims are true. Yomi, who works for Iva Valley Books, has, like the other detainees, been treated in a terribly
inhumane manner.

“He was arrested in front of his wife and three-year-old daughter. The police confiscated all their phones. This was despite appeals from his wife that they needed a phone to get money for food. He was then imprisoned illegally and held in chains, beaten and
tortured for three days. His only involvement was to design flyers for the protests.”

He, however, called on the NLC to protect the general public as it has done to its president.

Wynne said, “The NLC has shown that it has the power to protect its President. It now needs to extend this action to protect its other officers, its members and the general public.”

The NLC had promised a general strike to protect Ajaero from arrest and detention in relation to similar charges.

Despite the flimsy nature of the evidence against the detainees, they face long years in prison unless the trade union movement is prepared to protect them.

On August 7, the NLC said it “condemns in the strongest terms the human rights violations perpetrated by security forces against peaceful protesters.”

[Punch]