The fallout from the 2023 general elections are now being felt by Ndigbo living in other parts of Nigeria. Lagos in particular has become a sore point

Many South-Easterners were happy to see the five South-East Governors together last week. It has been a long time since we last saw them in such ‘united front’ posturing. Perhaps it was the occasion of the newly constituted National Economic Council by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that brought them together. In their first ever meeting since the new Governors of Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia states were sworn -in, the governors elected Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma as Chairman of the South -East Governors Forum (SEGF).

This seeming unity is a departure from the cold war that existed among the Governors in the last dispensation, when meetings of South-East Governors became a huge joke and assault on the feelings and aspirations of people of the South-East. The Governors during that time towed different political lines and didn’t seem to agree. They prioritized the interests of their various political parties and so not much was achieved. Even the SEGF secretariat was poorly funded, secretariat staff were owed and they cried out severally in the media.

Their meetings then were attended mainly by their Deputy Governors, showing how less important the Governors considered the forum. There were just too many egos to massage, to the detriment of the interests of the people of the region. While South-West governors were discussing regional development, integration and cooperation through their Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), none of such discussions took place in the South-East.

Even in the heat of major crises such as the the economic meltdown, insecurity issues in the region, the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB situation, COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, there was no synergy or attempt to come up with a collaborative agenda for the South-East region.

All that appears to be in the past now, hopefully. We have new Sheriffs in town in the newly elected Governors and the not-so-new ones. There is much expectation from people of the South-East. The Governors should play less politics and show more leadership for their people. The Ala Igbo Development Foundation (ADF), a regional non-governmental organisation, during a prayer rally in Abia state urged Governors of the South-East region of Nigeria to initiate programmes and policies that will impact positively on the lives of the citizens. The South- East Governors roll call; Alex Otti, Abia State (Labour Party); Peter Mbah, Enugu State (PDP),Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi State (APC), Charles Soludo, Anambra state (APGA), and Hope Uzodinma, Imo state (APC).

There is so much to do and there is less time to do them. Reducing insecurity in the region should be top on their agenda. Kidnap – for – ransom has become a thriving business in the region. Gangs now engage in the criminal enterprise in the name of freedom fighting. They inhabit ungoverned spaces, camps and forests across the region. Cross boundary crime has become the norm. The people of the region are scared and scarred permanently. The Monday-Sit-At-Home orders have further decimated the economy of the region. Businesses and people are leaving the region in droves for safer environments. The Governors must come up with urgent solutions to fight insecurity. In doing that, technology, intelligence gathering, providing adequate security gadgets and commensurate compensation for security officials should be prioritized.

There is so much youth unemployment in the region. How to economically and gainfully keep the teeming youths engaged should be another agenda for the Governors. An idle man is the devil’s workshop goes a popular saying. Many of these unemployed youths have now become willing tools in the hands of manipulators who have enrolled them into kidnapping business in the name of  freedom fighting. Others have resorted to rituals and patronizing ‘digital dibias’ and other get-rich-quick schemes to make it. The South-East region is now awash with pastors and native medicine men promising young men and women fame and fortune. They advertise on social media and lure gullible young men and women. ‘Ibute Ike’ and  ‘Oke Ite’ are now popular phrases amongst our teeming youths, replacing expressions such as  ‘Igba Mbo’, ‘Olu Aka’ and ‘Oge Nke Chukwu Ka Nma’. The South-East Governors must come up with measures to control the activities of these dibias confusing our young men. During the administration of Governor Willie Obiano in Anambra, a Special Adviser was appointed to manage the activities of traditional medicine practitioners. That template could be strengthened and replicated across the South-East states.

The fallout from the 2023 general elections are now being felt by Ndigbo living in other parts of Nigeria. Lagos in particular has become a sore point. The Lagos state legislature plans to enact anti – settler laws, even though such laws go against the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which guarantees every Nigerian freedom and rights to live anywhere in Nigeria and acquire properties legally. This is not time to open the constitution. Desperate times call for desperate measures. This is time for shuttle diplomacy. The South-East Governors must engage with their Brother Governor in Lagos state with a view to convincing him to intervene and avert the looming economic disaster that will hit Ndigbo hard if the laws are passed. Their properties and businesses in Lagos are under threat.

Already, anti-Igbo policies in Lagos state are rearing their heads. Viral videos last week showed Igbo traders moving their goods away from Alaba International Market. The traders  were given just 24 hours to move out their goods by Lagos state government officials who planned to demolish some of the plazas. Many are speculating that the planned demolitions are part of vengeance against Igbo traders for voting Labour Party during the 2023 presidential, gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

Gbolahan Oki, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, General Manager however denies this. He was quoted in the media as saying that, “LASBCA identified at least 17 buildings in Alaba International Market, Ojo Local Government Area, as being in an advanced condition of distress and in need of immediate removal”.

Some of the shopping plazas marked for demolition by LASBCA include; G80 Alaba Rago Road, Good Season Shopping Complex, the building on 840 Ojo Igbede and the structure behind Oba Oseni Plaza, among others.

The Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should urgently lead the other South-East governors to Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos state to resolve this and other pending issues affecting Ndigbo living in Lagos. High level public diplomacy is required at this time to prevent the escalation of the crises. This will be a litmus test of the seriousness of the newly inaugurated South-East Governors Forum. It should not be business as usual.

The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to provide the documents they asked for.

Obi and the LP are petitioners in the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The LP and Obi told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that due to INEC’s failure to provide the documents demanded they would be unable to go on with their case.

Counsel to LP, Jubrin Okutepa, told the court that all the documents his client asked for from INEC were not provided.

“We are bringing this to your notice for your intervention because we have done everything humanly possible.

“This afternoon, INEC released a few IreV reports from Lagos and Gombe.

“These documents were certified since May 29. We have severally written letters detailing the documents we needed in the proof of our petition.

“We have paid for most of these documents,” he said

Okutepa also informed the court that it appears that INEC was deliberately delaying proceedings.

Council for INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud told the court that he received a letter dated May 15 from the petitioners and has not received any other letter after that.

“All the documents that the subpoenaed witnesses are tendering were provided by INEC. We never denied the petitioners any document.

I am a senior counsel and know the importance of this matter. They should stop this lamentation,” he said.

Counsel to Tinubu and Shettima, Wole Olanipakun, also promised to ensure that a meeting between senior counsels holds to address the issues raised.

The court urged them to come to a better understanding so that the proceeding could go on smoothly.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has disclosed that the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking has yielded significant results in the last 29 months with the arrest of 31,675 drug offenders, 5,147 of them prosecuted and convicted while over 6.3million kilograms of assorted drugs were seized within the same period.

Marwa stated this in Abuja on Monday 19th June at a joint press briefing with the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, Mr. Oliver Stolpe, to flag off weeklong activities marking the 2023 World Drug Day, which is an annual event “to mobilise resources, align policies, and inspire organisations, communities, and nations to work in a particular direction to effectively tackle the challenges of illicit substances in society.”

According to the NDLEA boss, “This year’s theme, “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention,” is in furtherance of the whole-of-society approach to taming the drug scourge.

This theme is especially pertinent to the Nigerian situation at the moment. In the past two and half years, we have strengthened our law enforcement efforts to cut down on the supply of drugs in society.

In 29 months, we have arrested 31, 675 drug offenders, including 35 barons; successfully prosecuted and got convicted 5,147 of them, and over 11,000 other cases still pending in court, while 23,725 drug users had been counselled and rehabilitated, majority of them through brief interventions.

At least 6.3 million kilograms of various illicit substances have been recovered in response to our efforts to sweep up drugs and shut down the distribution channels. We have destroyed 852.142 hectares of cannabis farms and dismantled three clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. I can assure you that even as we speak, NDLEA agents are busy with interdiction activities somewhere.”

He said drug supply reduction is however only one of the components of the equation. “Another crucial component is drug demand reduction, which operationally means prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

It should go without saying that we must strike a balance between these two crucial components if we are to achieve our desired utopia of a drug-free society.
“NDLEA has made significant investments in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation over the last two years.

“The doors of our rehabilitation facilities are open at all times. In the last 29 months, we have acquired a few more rehab centres, given to us as donations, while we have also obtained the federal government’s approval for the construction of regional model rehabs. More private treatment facilities are also cooperating with NDLEA. To cap it all, NDLEA went above and beyond to invest in a toll-free, round-the-clock call centre that provides teletherapy.

“In summary, we have prioritised treatment, while our WADA advocacy initiative has taken a life of its own with our Commands, Formations and partnering civil society organisations taking sensitisation lectures and campaigns to schools, communities, worship places and many more across the country everyday.

“In addition, we have also produced TV Commercials and Radio Jingles in different languages being broadcast on various platforms. This is simply aimed at prevention, by sensitising the people and equipping them with facts about drugs to enable them take the right decisions against substance abuse”, Marwa who was represented at the event by the Agency Secretary, Shadrach Haruna added.

He charged the society to drop the stigmatization that discourages drug users from seeking treatment, a development that has serious socio-economic repercussions for individuals and their families.

“Stigmatisation and discrimination make recovery and reintegration difficult for drug-dependent users who submit themselves to treatment. And the prevalence of such an attitude is counterproductive to the effort, time, and resources invested by governments, institutions, and corporate bodies working to contain the drug problem.

“This is what the year’s theme is about. We must rid ourselves of any bias against those who are drug-dependent to be able to support, expedite, and make permanent their recovery. The theme will serve as an impetus for us to make a collective effort to break down these invincible but formidable social barriers that undermine the attainment of the goal of a drug-free society.”

He expressed appreciation of the partnership between NDLEA, NGOs, development partners, and the various groups, institutions, and relevant professionals in society, including media professionals, who have been very supportive of the renewed war on drugs.

“I want to thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), especially for its unquantified support that has contributed to the rapid evolution of NDLEA. In the same vein, we are thankful to the European Union (EU) and the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France, India and Germany, who have all boosted our capacity to cope with the demands of our mandate.”

“To celebrate this year’s World Drug Day, we have a line-up of activities for the week, some of which will be conducted in partnership with our stakeholders like the UNODC and MTN Foundation. Some of the events are educational, like the essay and the quiz competitions. We have days set aside for events like the Walk Against Drugs, NGO activities, and a campaign to raise awareness among young people who are not in school. The grand finale will be the ceremony at the State House on Monday, June 26”, he added.

In his remarks at the media briefing, UNODC Country Rep, Oliver Stolpe emphasized the “benefits of international cooperation in criminal justice matters with a specific target of dismantling trafficking networks involved in this terrible trade”, adding that “long overdue is the need to make sure that the public and primary health care providers are better prepared to take basic drug counseling needs, knowing how to deal with people suffering from drug use disorders.”

He commended NDLEA for the successes recorded so far recorded in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

The Federal Government, on Monday, said six new companies have received approval to import petroleum products into Nigeria.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), Farouk Ahmed made this disclosure to state correspondents at the Presidential Villa.

Farouk stated that apart from the approved six, several companies applied for permit to import petroleum in due course.

Ahmed also debunked insinuation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had given approval to Dangote Group to import petroleum, saying that the company has no powers to give such approval.

The managing director further noted that there are several companies that applied for fuel importation permit and anyone can apply for importation to get access to the port as the authority is open to all those interested in importing.

Ahmed said, “There are six companies who said they want to import fuel in July. Of course, all the others may import in December in November, or anytime but those who expressed interest to bring in fuel in July there were six of them as of this morning.

“The beauty of it is that there are interests which means that they have been able to have access to foreign exchange in order to import.

“Now, as we go along, of course, we’ll be briefing you on the progress or the achievements so far, but the important thing is that NNPC has 30 days fuel sufficiency, so we do not anticipate any gap in supply or in distribution.”

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has taken steps to stop ship owners from withdrawing their vessels over what they see as excessive back charges.

The Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacchaeus Adedeji, who led government officials in an interactive session with shipping stakeholders at the State House, warned that Nigeria cannot afford not to have vessels move in and out of the country.

Reports had suggested that at least two ship owners said they were keeping their vessels away from Nigeria after a series of multimillion dollar tax bills were sent out, seeking to recover back unpaid duties from 2010 to 2019.

Briefing State House correspondents after a meeting today with stakeholders, Adedeji allayed fears within the oil and gas sector, spelling out the agreement reached to avert vessel withdrawal so as not to disrupt the flow of products.

The presidential aide assured that a technical committee has been set up to resolve the issues in contention.

Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has reacted after President Bola Tinubu approved the immediate retirement of all service chiefs and the inspector-general of police.

Naija News earlier reported that the president also approved the replacement of the comptroller-general of customs.

According to a statement signed by George Akume, secretary-general of the federation, their retirement is with immediate effect.

Reacting to the latest development, Reno Omokri in a post via his social media page, said Tinbu has exhibited the type of courage that has been missing in Aso Rock.

According to him, such action will prompt the military and security services to sit up in their responsibilities.

While applauding the former governor of Lagos State, Reno said he has consigned the 8 years of the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, to the dustbin.

He, however, urged Tinubu to include the southeast in his appointment, irrespective of not getting their votes during the election.

He wrote: “Hurricane Tinubu strikes again. In one fell swoop, he has demonstrated that he is the Commander-in-Chief. This is the type of courage that has been missing in Aso Rock. Now our military and security services will sit up. What a man! Talk about hitting the ground running. No ambiguity about who is in charge.

“In three weeks, he has consigned Buhari’s eight years into the dustbin of history. Well done! Bravo. No matter your shortcomings (and you do have them), no objective observer can deny that you have exceeded everybody’s expectations.

“The only thing I will appeal to the President to do is to find a way to reflect the Southeast commensurately to their population, and not according to the votes they gave him, in his security architecture and government. Inclusion will reduce agitation. That aside, let me add that this is the leadership that Awolowo would have given if Nigeria had given him the chance. I doff my heart to the President.

“Funny enough, President Tinubu is acting the way we expected a former General to act. Unfortunately, the former General we had acted even below what we expected from an inexperienced civilian.”

Former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing new security chiefs.

Naija News reports that Tinubu, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, announced new Service Chiefs and Inspector-General of Police.

Reacting in a post on Twitter, Fani-Kayode described the security chiefs appointment as the greatest and boldest move by Tinubu.

He noted that with the appointments Nigeria now has security heads that will fight terror and restore sanity.

He wrote: “Greatest & boldest move so far! We now have Service Chiefs, military commanders and an NSA that will fight terror and restore sanity to our land.

“Congrats to all those appointed including the new IGP. Kudos to our President for putting together a formidable security team.”

The newly appointed Officers are: Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser.

Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff.

Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff.

Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff.

AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff.

DIG Kayode Egbetokun Acting Inspector-General of Police.

Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence.

Tinubu also approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.

It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Kayode Egbetokun as the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The appointment followed the sacking of former IGP Usman Baba on Monday evening, alongside other Service Chiefs.

Egbetokun was Tinubu’s ADC when he was the governor of Lagos State.

We earlier report on the likely successor to Usman Baba, predicted that Egbetokun’s history with the president may give him the edge above other seven DIGs who were potential contenders.

The report published on May 8, predicted the emergence of Egbetokun as the next IGP, even though he is due for retirement in September 2024.

The acting IGP who hails from Egbado South in Ogun State, was born on September 4, 1964.

He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police on March 3, 1990.

The graduate of Mathematics until his appointment as Acting IGP, headed the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Abuja.

Ibadan Magistrate court has remanded seven Yoruba agitators who invaded Amuludun station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Moniya in Akinyele local government area at Abolongo Correction Centre, Oyo.

The suspects who are arraigned on a 4 count charge of Conspiracy, treason and two count charge of armed robbery are, Noah Atoyebi, Adeleke Gbenga AbdulGaniyu Mustaoha and Ifagbola Elijah.

Others are; Oladapo Ajala and Rasheed Jimoh.

The suspects were arraigned on a 4-count at Ibadan Magistrate court on Monday but there plea was not taken

Magistrate P.O. Adetuyi ordered them to be remanded to be remanded at Abolongo Correction Centre, Oyo while the case is adjourned to 13th September 2023.

Magistrate Adetuyi stated that the case file would be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice

It would be recalled that the suspects had on Sunday, May 28, 2023 hijacked the airwaves of the Amuludun station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN).

They allegedly collected all the valuables including the mobile handsets of the broadcast staff on duty thereby making it impossible for them to communicate with the outside world.

The alleged agitators took over the station and broadcasted live.

The leader of the team, as reliably gathered, headed straight to the broadcast studio and was on air for almost one hour.

The broadcast; “We are being sent to inform the people that Yoruba people have been freed. Henceforth, no more to Police and Army harassment. We are hereby calling for the release of our brothers and sisters that are serving jail term.

“We are neither here to harass nor injure anybody. We are here for peace.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Thursday, June 22, join world leaders in Paris, France, to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on priority list for support and investment.

The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, announced this in a statement released on Monday on the first official trip.

The President will be accompanied by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials to the summit, following devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summit, which will be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France, will be held at Palais Brongniart.
President Tinubu will participate in the two-day Summit, June 22 and 23, that looks at opportunities to restore fiscal space to countries that face difficult short-term financial challenges, especially the most indebted; mobilize innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change; foster development in low-income countries, and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for the energy transition in emerging and developing economies.

The President and the other global leaders, multilateral institutions, financial experts and economists will take a more holistic look at the recovery of economies from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and rising cases of poverty, with a view to providing access to finance and investment that will leverage inclusive growth.

Tinubu will return to Abuja on Saturday.

The Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and organized Labour reconvened at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

Naija News reports that they met to look into ways of cushioning the effects of the removal of subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake said that steering and technical committees have been set up to help achieve the planned interventions for Nigerians.

He said: “As we promised the last time we met; when labour called off their planned strike, we held a meeting today. We went through all the demands that labour had tabled, that is government and the labour unions last time.

“They said they were going to go back to their executives and make consultations so that we reconvene today. That is exactly what we did.

“At today’s meeting, both parties went through the list and we ticked off the viable ones which are now broken into three categories; those can be given immediate attention, and those that can be achieved in the medium term and long term.”

According to Tinubu’s aide, the newly set up committees would help actualize the dream of providing the interventions to cushion the effects of removal of subsidy.

Alake said: “Work groups have been constituted at today’s meeting. There is a steering committee that will serve as a clearing house and there are other committees comprising both parties; government and labour.

“They will work together very harmoniously and efficiently to arrive at the final resolution of all the demands of labour and what we (government) call interventions.”

The setting up of the steering and technical committees was confirmed by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo.

They disclosed that the committees would commence work immediately and complete the assessments within eight weeks.