President Bola Tinubu is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today (Tuesday) as part of his ongoing diplomatic mission to China.

Tinubu, who departed Abuja last Thursday, is on a significant visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

Sources within the Presidency who spoke with Punch revealed that the meeting is expected to be a high-profile event, marked by formalities such as a gun salute and an inspection of the guard of honor.

The event is expected to conclude with the signing of several bilateral agreements between the two nations.

Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, and Huawei Technologies Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the Smart City Project in Kaduna State.

The governor, on his verified X account, stated, “Today, I had the honour and privilege of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kaduna State Government and Huawei Technologies Company, Nigeria Limited at the Huawei Technologies office in Beijing, China.

“Chris Lu, CEO, Huawei Technologies, Nigeria Limited, signed on behalf of the company. The ceremony was witnessed by our dear President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, my colleague governors, ministers and other senior government officials.

“The MOU is for the actualisation of the Smart City Project in Kaduna State. It is geared towards enhancing security, efficiency and transparency in public service, competitiveness, city management, and attracting talents and investments. The ultimate goal is the establishment of a safer and smarter Kaduna State.

“As the strategic partner of the Kaduna State Government, Huawei will provide comprehensive leading solutions and professional technical support for Kaduna State in the following areas: (i) State-Level Unified Command Centre (ii) Enhanced Security (iii) Intelligent Traffic System (iv) E-Government and Office Automation (v) Smart Education (vi) Smart Healthcare (vii) ICT Talent (viii) Renewable Energy, and (ix) Public Transportation.

“The Kaduna State Government and Huawei will establish a joint committee to flesh out details of the Implementation Plan, Funding Arrangement, and the Technology to be Deployed. We want to ensure that the project is deliverable, sustainable, and valuable.”

[NaijaNews]

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that key opposition leaders are exploring a merger to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this Monday on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

Abdullahi confirmed that Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are discussing a potential alliance.

On whether the party is working to bring Obi, Kwankwaso, and other leaders that had left back into the PDP, Abdullahi said, “Sure. Discussion is ongoing. You’ve seen Peter Obi discussing with Atiku. You’ve seen Peter Obi meeting with El-Rufai.”

He added that when the party gets the bigwigs back together, “One of them will concede for the others, and then we will have a direction. Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to salvage Nigerians from these despair and despondency—the two maladies of hunger and poverty and frightening insecurity in the land. You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of those managing the country. And to these people (Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso), salvaging Nigeria out of it is more important than their individual ambitions.

“If Atiku says he will contest as long as he is healthy, it is a possibility. If he says so, we will then see how we will manage the situation like we’ve always managed it, and the lessons we have learned will help us manage it better this time.

“But one thing I will tell you is that the same Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigerians out of this hopelessness, he will do so. That is a statement. Atiku is saying he must not be in the race (to achieve this). Atiku is saying it is an entitlement to him as a democrat because the constitution provides that he could contest at any time. So, what he is trying to tell you is that there is no ceiling prohibiting him from contesting. That is his fundamental democratic right. But he is not saying he will force it on the throat of either the party or the country.

“I am telling you clearly Peter Obi is suitably qualified; he can aspire, and we will support him if he gets the ticket. Atiku is equally qualified, and if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him to give him the desired support to save Nigerians.”

Reflecting on the last election, Abdullahi lamented that the party lost by over one million votes, adding that if Kwankwaso or Obi had remained with the party, “We could have closed that gap and avoided the current political and economic hardships.”

We’ll thrash them — APC

But reacting, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it is not perturbed over the development, insisting the top opposition politicians are parallel lines that will never meet.

The APC’s Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, in a telephone interview with Daily Trust said, “They are not a threat to APC at all. In fact, it will be to the comfort of the APC to have these people again in the race, and the party is going to thrash them.

“When you look at the trio of Atiku, Kwankwaso, and Obi, these are permanent contestants, with Atiku being a serial loser of elections. Whatever happens, Atiku is not going to give in.

“So, we are aware of these shenanigans; we are aware of the circumstances. So we will wait for them. 2027 is a long way from now, but the APC is not going to lose sleep over this issue because these are parallel lines that will never meet.

“Politics is all about give and take; it’s all about compromise. But when you have people coming to politics with a one-way mindset of being contestants only, they are not politicians.

“So long as you are not willing to accept another party or person, you see yourself as the only person that is capable, and if you don’t get that position, no one should, then there is no way you will play any prominent role in a democracy because democracy is all about the views of the majority.”

Wike to face disciplinary committee over anti-party activities

Also commenting on the disciplinary issues within the party, especially in response to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s recent remarks to unleash fire in any state with governors undermining his political structure in Rivers, Abdullahi said, “We’re not happy about it, but the maturity of the party is what has informed the silence from the governor. He was not expected to be on the street as well, joining issues with one of ours. We believe Wike is ours.”

He added that “That was a very disappointing remark from Wike, and we were not expecting him to say that. We are not with him on that, to be honest with you.”

Abdullahi also revealed that the FCT Minister would soon face the Tom Ikimi-led disciplinary committee over allegations of anti-party activities.

“Wike is one of the persons expected to face that committee. It’s a committee that is going to look into the issues we’ve been receiving petitions about regarding anti-party activities, sabotaging the party throughout the primaries, and leading up to where we are now. Those petitions have been aggregated against Wike throughout the country. Party members felt Wike shouldn’t have even gotten to this level still; as a member of the PDP, they have been writing to the party,” he said.

He said the committee has already written an invitation letter to Wike, adding that the committee has started sitting by reviewing the petitions.

Similarly, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party’s “Governors Forum’s contribution is crucial, and they will respond to any issues affecting the party. We recognise their stabilising influence and their efforts to ensure the party’s progress.”

[DailyTrust]

Fresh crisis is brewing in Ogbomoso, the second largest city in Oyo State, over the appointment of Habib Ayilara as the palace Imam by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.

DAILY POST gathered that Habib Ayilara was appointed by Olaoye on Friday.

He would be the first person to occupy such a position in the ancient city.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there was nothing like a palace Imam in the ancient city until Olaoye appointed Habib Ayilara on Friday.

The appointment of the palace Imam is not unconnected with the feud between the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara and the traditional ruler.

Our correspondent reports that the Chief Imam and the monarch have been at loggerheads since the traditional ruler was crowned.

Ayilara was turbaned as the Chief Imam in November 2022 during the reign of the immediate past Soun, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi.

DAILY POST reported that Olaoye had in June this year issued a query letter to the Chief Imam for embarking on holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Ayilara in his reaction said that Olaoye lacked power to issue a query to him.

DAILY POST, however, gathered that Olaoye has created the office of palace Imam and has appointed Habib Ayilara as the pioneer palace Imam.

Investigation by DAILY POST revealed that the appointment of palace Imam did not go down well with the majority of the Muslims in the town.

Stakeholders express concern, express mixed reactions.

Some stakeholders among whom are the Ogbomoso Muslim community and the Muslim Rights Concern have expressed divergent views over the matter.

We are not aware of any appointment – Ogbomoso Muslim community

The Muslim community of Ogbomoso said that it was not aware of any appointment.

Chairman, Muslim Community of Ogbomoso, Alhaji Akintoye Abdusalam Olla said that the Muslim community was not informed about the appointment of palace Imam by the Soun.

Olla, who spoke with DAILY POST on Sunday, said that he and other Muslims saw the information on social media.

He described the appointment of a palace Imam as an attempt by the Soun to create division among the Muslims in the ancient city.

“We were not informed about it, we only saw it on social media. It is the Soun that is creating all these problems for us, not the Chief Imam.

“The person he appointed as palace Imam is from the same family with the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, they contested together before the Chief Imam emerged.

“They are just finding ways to disturb the peace of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso.

“They are looking for ways to destabilize the Muslim community of Ogbomoso. They have an agenda. They just picked that one to cause a problem. We were not informed, we just saw it on social media,” he said.

It is an attempt to divide Muslims in Ogbomoso – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the appointment of Habib Ayilara as palace Imam as a subterfuge to weaken Islam.

MURIC in a statement made available to DAILY POST also described the appointment as a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

The group advised Muslims in the ancient city not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics.

MURIC made these assertions in a statement issued on Saturday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

Akintola in the statement made available to DAILY POST said that there was no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and the post has been filled by Chief Imam, Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.

“This is a democracy, nobody can gag us except a competent court of law. Soun has had his way, Nigerian Muslims must have their say.

“Soun’s most recent action is a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

“Besides, the Soun has committed titularic inexactitude and monarchical hara-kiri by giving the title ‘Chief Imam’ to a man appointed only as palace Imam.

“There is no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and that post has been filled by Chief Imam Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.

“Therefore, the correct title of the new Imam is ‘Palace Imam’ Habib Ayilara.

“He is the king’s special Imam, not the Chief Imam. Afterall, many individual Muslims are known to have separate mosque buildings in their compounds and they appoint Islamic scholars as their personal Imams.

“We warn the new Palace Imam to be wary of the king’s tactics. He must not allow the palace pastor to mislead him. It is sheer divide et impera.

“However, out of meanness and pettiness, the king has made his private Imam the official Imam to be recognized by the Oyo State Government.

“While we know that Governor Seyi Makinde is more than a willing accomplice in this scheme to diminish the status of Islam in Ogbomoso, we patiently await the court’s judgement.

“Of course it is strange for a pastor king to have an Imam but since there is a mosque inside the palace, it is in order to have a Ratibi Imam (Imam of a branch mosque, not that of a Central Mosque). This is where the Soun has exhibited his zero knowledge of Islamic matters.

“Unfortunately, those who know better and who should have counselled him, elected to dance to the gallery.

“We urge the Muslims of Ogbomoso not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics. Soun’s subterfuge is designed to weaken Islam and to enslave and exploit the Muslim population.

“We know where Pastor Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, is going. The body language is very clear. His aim is to make his palace Imam the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso.

“He has appointed a palace Imam but where is his palace bishop? Nigerians must ponder over this scandalous manipulation. His stratagem is to put his feet on the Chief Imam’s neck. He is mocking Islam, playing Muslims against one another. It is divide et impera.

“The destiny of the Muslims of Ogbomoso in particular and that of Yoruba Muslims is in their hands. They can only be free when they resist attempts being made to divide and debilitate them. But their method of resistance must be civilized, peaceful, lawful and constitutional.

“For us in MURIC, we will rather be free and totally committed Muslims in our graves than live as palace puppets, court jesters, sycophants, minions and slaves.

“We will not sell our full Islamic identity and religious freedom for a pot of porridge and crumbs from the palace table”.

Appointment of palace Imam by a Christian King is hypocrisy – Islamic cleric, Alagunfon

An Islamic scholar, Dr. Sulaimon Adewale Alagunfon described the action of the Soun as an act of hypocrisy.

He said that it amounted to hypocrisy for a King who is not a Muslim to appoint a palace Imam whom he said will be leading him in prayers.

Alagunfon, who spoke with DAILY POST noted that the appointment of palace Imam to tackle the Chief Imam is an indication that the king does not have authority in the city.

“The statement made by the king has also shown that the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso is still the overall head of the Muslims in the town.

“It shows that the King cannot exercise authority in the town.

“The king said that the palace Imam will be leading him in prayer, that is hypocrisy to me because you are not a Muslim, so which prayer do you want the Imam to lead you? That is hypocrisy.

“That means, it sounds political; you are not a Muslim, you want to divide the Muslims, you want some Muslims to come to the palace, some will be working with you and work against the Chief Imam,” he told DAILY POST.

Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) — not a great one for introspection –rolls out the big guns again, in a battle he is not in any way sure to win.

This is clear from the latest drama out of a simple Police invitation which Ajaero and gang just flipped into some slur against NLC as a body, letting off insane threats of a Labour meltdown, should the police arrest Ajaero.

Pray, does the NLC President, as His Excellency, the Workers’ President, now enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution under the 1999 Constitution?

Still, like Ajaero’s other past skirmishes since the dawn of the Tinubu administration — all of them needless — he is avid at fluffing whatever goodwill he has left.  Some blokes are just quick — too quick — to push their luck!

At the end, choices are free.  So, Ajaero can hang himself on own whims. But he has no right to hang organized Labour with him.  There, lies the rebuke in this latest gambit.

But again, organized Labour must decide — why cry more than the bereaved?  If Ajaero spurs Labour to gallop with Joe, in his joy ride of doom, it’s their choice too! 

If workers are short-changed — and they will, you can be sure — let them blame no one but selves.  Ajaero has shown to be more than enough distraction, in self-driven gambits that use Labour as opportunistic cover, for his electors to have thrown him off. 

But if they still indulge his rabid journey to perdition, maybe collective suicide of organized Labour would make logical sense.  Again, their democratic choice!

How did this latest excitement start? 

It was an August 7 raid-and-search of a rented shop, on the second floor, at the NLC Abuja Headquarters complex.  But you could clearly see the bad faith, as Labour  — wilfully? — conflated that as raid on its office proper, on the 10th floor.  By the way, the two facilities are eight floors apart!

Incidentally, Benson Upah, who released that initial press statement (per The Punch August 8) just doubled down on his original fib, in his emotive bluster against a second Police invitation to Ajaero, this time with Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC general secretary, fixed for September 5.

Why, when asked by The Guardian (September 2 ) that reported his bluster, if the duo would honour the invite, he waffled: “some programmes have already been fixed”!  Meaning: entertaining Police invites is now at the discretion of NLC! 

Femi Falana, SAN, had better correctly advise his clients!  Yeah, government impunity is bad.  But even worse is Labour — and sundry — impunity.  That’s knocking on the door of anarchy.

But it all issued from the first invite, by which the Police asked Ajaero to report at Force Headquarters, Abuja, on August 20.  But Ajaero, with his lawyers, picked August 29 to appear — and triumphantly marched on Force Headquarters, with lawyers and sundry activists in tow. 

So, you can pardon Upah for hallucinating over “some programmes have already been fixed”.  It’s one hubris NLC may yet sorely regret should, after a long waiting game, the Police decide to hang Ajaero and co with own long ropes.  Hubris!

Still, this route of bad faith is a lose-lose.  What does it take to play the civil citizen, go to the Police as invited, then use the same democratic institutions to establish your innocence?  Aren’t there enough systemic checks and balances to do that?

Shortly after that first visit, Ajaero bragged: the Police had nothing on him — which may well be.  But a second invite might just show the man had bragged too soon. 

Either way, it really doesn’t matter — the relay of interviews.  What matters is a clean process to firmly establish allegations for a fair trial — or non-evidence to close the case.  Both parties should be committed to such.  Nevertheless, bad faith makes it unnecessarily complicated.

In fairness to Ajaero and co, though, Labour isn’t the only organized body that takes advantage of its set-up to impose citizen impunity.

Anytime a journalist runs into a storm, the media are all too eager to jump into the fray to defend “free speech” and “human rights”.  It’s an instinctive jump, powered by preening dogma, with little objective analysis of the facts of the case.

The other day too, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was in the dock for alleged failure to declare correct assets — a routine call that comes with his high office. 

Many a petal in the flower of Nigerian Bar all but told the embattled ex-CJN to resist trial; and spit at the same law that created his office to sit in judgment over fellow citizens — co-citizens that are the CJN’s equal, in the eye of the law. 

Might the CJN then be above that very law that exalted him above others? Arch-folly!

Thank God, though: good sense prevailed.  The ex-CJN got convicted at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). But the jurist stays alive to fight his appeal, before the courts right now. 

That’s due process: submit, even if you have a doubt. Then, prove your innocence.  If Ajaero had followed this process, this distraction wouldn’t have arisen. 

He — with NLC — would have found quality time to fight the cause of workers whose check-off dues gift them their huge salaries and generous allowances.  But no!  A play to the gallery is irresistible! But how does that advance workers’ cause and welfare?

In truth, Ajaero’s self-distractions have caused workers dear — and not the least on the N70, 000 new minimum wage.  After making much row about an outrageous N615, 000, and filibustering over N250, 000, NLC eventually accepted N70, 000, pretty much as a face-saving measure.

Had Ajaero not picked too many needless battles before then, perhaps he could at least have secured N100, 000 for the lowest earner?   By the time the NLC agreed to N70, 000, the threat of strike, NLC’s most potent weapon, had all but lost its sting.

Before then, Ajaero had attempted three failed strikes: one after he was battered black and blue at Owerri, for using NLC to strong-arm voters, to favour the Labour Party (LP) candidate, in the Imo State gubernatorial election.

That ended as double — or even treble? — jeopardy: the LP candidate didn’t only take an electoral hiding, Ajaero himself has since become a near-personal non grata in smart Alec, Julius Abure’s LP.  Add Ajaero’s Owerri drubbing, and it’s a clear treble.

During another strike, some desperadoes switched off the national grid — a clear security and economic sabotage that the government just let slide. 

But it might just be as the Yoruba say: the child abused the Iroko and flushes with early victory.  Does the poor lad think the Iroko crushes traducers in the immediate?

No one — but deluded Labour itself — frets over insane threats to go on strike at the drop of a hat.  It won’t stop anything if plausible evidence exists against Ajaero.

But the government too must be fair to Ajaero.  No government worth its democratic name would frame any citizen — even the most unreasonable of all gadflies.

But a parting advice for Ajaero and co: untrammeled rights lead to blatant wrongs, which coast to anarchy.  Anarchy itself swallows democracy and its flower of rights.

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]