The existential political rivalry between the 2023 presidential candidate of the main opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike took a twist with the latter saying that nobody can toy with the interest of Rivers state.

Wike declared that he has no regret in supporting and ensuring the emergence of  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as President of Nigeria against the permutation of his political party, the PDP, which he said was skewed against the overall interest of Rivers state and its people.

The FCT Minister made the declaration at a luncheon he organized in honour of the members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Saturday led by the factional speaker, Martins Amaewhule. 

Responding to a comment credited to Atiku in the aftermath of the October 5th local government elections in Rivers state, Wike said “Most of you do not understand the fight that is going on. Do you think it is these people here? (Fubara’s group) No.

“Let me tell you what is going on, I have no regret at all and we have no regret at all for supporting President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have no regret about it.

 “All these things you are seeing by Atiku’s group, Peter Obi’s group and some PDP governors that believe that I am a problem to them. And I will continue to be a problem to them. The Atiku’s group believes that my team and I stopped them from becoming president. And we stopped injustice. What we wanted was equity, fairness and justice”, he said. 

He argued that the former Vice President had been rejected by Nigerians, having contested the presidential elections and lost “many times”.

“We never contested the local government elections. Did we contest? Did we pick forms? I hear Atiku Abubakar say, ‘Oh, they have rejected me in Rivers State.’ Okay, assuming, though not conceding, that he has lost many times, Nigerians have also rejected him.

“If you say for an election we did not contest, never participated in, that it shows Nigerians have rejected us, fine. You that contested and failed woefully, Nigerians have rejected you, so pack up and go home,” he said.

Recall that Atiku had tweeted on his X handle sarcastically that “With the conclusion of the local government election in Rivers State, the shadows of political intimidation and judicial chicanery have dissipated, paving the way for the noble pursuit of governance to commence in the state.

“From the bustling heart of Port Harcourt to the tranquil shores of Onne, the populace has spoken in harmonious unison, affirming that nothing is greater than democracy.

“As prophesied, it has now been revealed that the citizens of Rivers are astute and resolute, unwavering in their rejection of any form of political oppression, harassment, or the machinations of self-serving godfathers,” Atiku had said in a statement.

Speaking on the allegation of corruption levelled against some judges by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 2024/2025 legal year and rededication service, Wike condemned the Governor for talking down on the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief OCJ Okocha and Judges. 

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, also expressed disappointment that Fubara insulted the former chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Sergeant Awuse and Chief Ferdinand Anabraba. 

Describing Awuse, Anabraba and Okocha as the “Three Wise Men”, the FCT minister stated that these three men sacrificed to ensure that Fubara was chosen and made governor of Rivers State.

The FCT minister noted that last Thursday, one of the “Wise Men”, Okocha, was

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned the public against the use of substandard and uncertified compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders.

In a statement on Saturday, the SON said the organisation has robust and effective regulatory measures in place.

The agency said the measures are to ensure that all CNG equipment and conversion kits conform to approved standards before being certified for public use.

“The conformity assessment schemes are designed to prevent the import, manufacturing, and use of substandard products,” SON said.

The SON said it was partnering with the presidential CNG initiative (P-CNGi) and other relevant government bodies, to finalise the Nigerian gas vehicle monitoring system (NGVMS).

According to the statement, the platform would provide centralised monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems, ensuring that only vehicles equipped with approved conversion kits could access petrol at retail outlets.

“The NGVMS will also offer a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers, which will go a long way in preventing substandard installations and further mitigate the associated risks,” SON said.

“This initiative reassures the public that CNG safety is top priority and reaffirms SON’s commitment to ensuring the safe use of CNG in Nigeria.

“It also urges all stakeholders to prioritise safety and recognise that LPG and other gas cylinders are not suitable for CNG containment.”

‘PRESSURE CAPACITY, CONSTRUCTION VITAL FOR SAFETY’

The SON said it was imperative to highlight the structural differences between the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the CNG cylinders — pressure capacity and construction.

According to SON, both are crucial to ensuring and maintaining safety under the high pressure associated with CNG vehicles.

“The LPG cylinders with a working pressure of seven bar to withstand a test pressure of up to 30 bar of gas,” the organisation said.

“While the CNG cylinders are designed for much higher pressures with working pressure of up to 200 bar to withstand a test pressure of 300 bar and above.

“The LPG cylinders can have welded joints/seams while the CNG cylinders are seamless and do not have welded joints.”

The organisation also urged CNG vehicle users to utilise only SON-certified cylinders in their vehicles, as the use of uncertified cylinders presents serious safety risks, which should not be overlooked.

SON charged all CNG refuelling stations to undertake on-the-spot inspections to ascertain vehicles were equipped with approved conversion kits with required labels identifying the conversion centre.

“The SON is unwavering in its commitment to the development of CNG products’ standards and their certification, to meet safety requirements thereby enhancing safety in the CNG conversion process and strengthening the regulatory framework,” the organisation said.

On Thursday, a car powered by CNG exploded at a NIPCO filling station on Benin-Auchi road in Edo state.

Reacting to the incident, SON commiserated with the affected persons.

SON said preliminary investigations showed that the cylinder used to convert the vehicle “does not comply with the CNG Standards approved by the organisation”.

On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced inflation rate rose in September, ending a two-month consecutive decline.

The decline started in July when inflation rate dropped to 33.40 percent — the first drop in 19 months.

The development followed 11 consecutive increases in the monetary policy rate (MPR) — which benchmarks interest rates — by the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to curb inflation.

It was increased from 11.5 percent to 26.25 percent between May 2022 and May 2024.

According to the NBS consumer price index (CPI), the decline extended into August, with inflation rate dropping to 32.15 percent.

However, data from the NBS showed that several factors, such as food prices and house rents, drove the inflation rate back to an upward trajectory in September, with inflation rate rising to 32.70 percent.

On a year-on-year basis, the September inflation rate is 5.98 percentage points higher than the 26.72 percent recorded in the same month in 2023.

Also, on a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in the review period stood at 2.52 percent, which is 0.30 percent higher than the 2.22 percent recorded in August.

Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the report:

URBAN VS RURAL INFLATION

There is a notable difference between inflation in urban and rural areas.

Urban inflation in September 2024 was 35.13 percent, which is 6.46 percentage points higher compared to the 28.68 percent recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 2.67% in September 2024, this was 0.28% points higher compared to August 2024 (2.39%),” NBS said.

“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 33.95% in September 2024. This was 9.84% points higher compared to the 24.10% reported in September 2023.”

In the rural area, inflation was 30.49 percent last month, against the 24.94 percent recorded in September 2023 — a difference of 5.55 percentage points.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Rural inflation rate in September 2024 was 2.39%, up by 0.33% points compared to August 2024 (2.06%),” the bureau said.

“The corresponding twelve-month average for the Rural inflation rate in September 2024 was 29.76%. This was 7.97% higher compared to the 21.79% recorded in September 2023.”

FOOD INFLATION REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN

Food inflation continues to be a critical driver of overall inflation, with the rate for September reaching 37.77 percent, up from 30.64 percent in the same month last year.

The increase in food prices is attributed to the rising cost of staples like rice, maize, beans, yam, and vegetable oil.

“The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items: Guinea Corn, Rice, Maize Grains, Beans, etc (Bread and Cereals Class),” NBS said.

“Yam, Water Yam, Cassava Tuber, etc (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Beer (Local and Foreign) (Tobacco Class), Lipton, Milo, Bournvita, etc (Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Class) and Vegetable Oil, Palm Oil, etc (Oil & Fats Class).”

On a month-on-month basis, food inflation also rose to 2.64 percent last month, higher than the 2.37 percent recorded in August.

RESIDENTS IN SOKOTO, GOMBE PAY MORE FOR FOOD

In September 2024, food inflation showed significant regional disparities.

On a year-on-year basis, the highest food inflation rates were recorded in Sokoto (50.47 percent), Gombe (44.09 percent), and Yobe (43.51 percent).

In contrast, Kwara (32.45 percent), Rivers (32.80 percent), and Kogi (32.83 percent) experienced the slowest year-on-year increases in food prices.

Month-on-month, Sokoto again led with the highest rise in food inflation (5.94 percent), followed by Taraba (5.76 percent) and Bayelsa (4.44 percent).

However, Kwara (0.88 percent), Cross River (1.29 percent), and Kogi (1.45 percent) saw the smallest month-on-month increases.

HOUSE RENTS, BUS FARES INCREASED

Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, stood at 27.43 percent in September, up from 21.84 percent in the corresponding period in 2023.

The NBS report showed that the cost of rents and transportation, amongst others. is the reason for the increase.

“The highest increases were recorded in prices of the following items: Rents (Actual and Imputed Rentals for Housing Class),” the bureau said.

“Bus Journey intercity, Taxi Journey per drop, etc (under Passenger Transport by Road Class), Meal at a local Restaurant (Accommodation Service Class), Laboratory service, Consultation Fee of a medical doctor, etc (under Medical Services Class.”

On a month-on-month basis, core inflation was 2.10 percent, slightly down from 2.27 percent in August 2024.

ALL ITEMS INFLATION BY STATE

The report also highlights significant variations in all items inflation by state.

Bauchi recorded the highest inflation rate (44.83 percent), followed by Sokoto (38.74 percent) and Jigawa (38.39 percent).

In contrast, Delta (26.35 percent), Benue (26.90 percent), and Katsina (27.71 percent) experienced the slowest rise in inflation.

Lagos council chairmen, under the banner of Conference 57, have called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to rethink its proposal to replace Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) with Area Administrative Councils as outlined in the proposed Local Government Administration Bill.

Mr. Rasaq Ajala, General-Secretary of Conference 57 and Executive Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, made the appeal during an interview on the sidelines of a public hearing organized by the Assembly in Ikeja on Friday.

The Assembly had, during a public hearing on October 17, considered replacing the state’s 37 LCDAs with Area Administrative Councils. Ajala, however, urged the Assembly to maintain the current structure, stressing the importance of ensuring that the 37 LCDAs are eventually listed in the constitution rather than being replaced.

He emphasized that Lagos State’s current grassroots development, enjoyed by the people, is largely due to the additional 37 LCDAs. He further referenced the historical legal backing for the creation of the LCDAs, noting that the Supreme Court had upheld their legitimacy when the matter was brought before the court during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor.

Ajala stated, "The position of Conference 57 is clear. The creation of the 37 LCDAs is a product of the Constitution, and we believe that the Assembly should allow it to stay." He also reiterated that the creation of the LCDAs was legal, constitutional, and instrumental in driving development at the grassroots level.

Conference 57 lauded the Assembly's efforts in keeping Lagos State at the forefront of development and urged them to maintain the current structure until the LCDAs are constitutionally recognized.

Nigerian Afrobeat icons Davido and Wizkid were spotted at the same nightclub in London, but the two stars avoided each other, reigniting speculations about their longstanding rivalry.

Host of the Afrobeat Podcast, Adesope Olajide shared videos of the encounter on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with the caption on the post, “Davido and Wizkid currently partying in the same club in London.”

The video showed Davido already seated inside the nightclub when Wizkid walked in with his entourage.

Despite being in close proximity, the two superstars did not exchange greetings, continuing the cold tension that has marked their relationship over the years.

This snub came just days after Wizkid reportedly threw subtle jabs at Davido following the announcement of Davido’s first single of 2024.

Davido had revealed that the song, set to be a hit, was released in celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day.

However, Wizkid appeared to take to social media shortly afterward to boast about his own success, fueling rumours of an ongoing dispute.

At nightclub, Wizkid reportedly walked past Davido’s table without acknowledging him while Davido was enjoying the night with his 30 Billion Gang crew.

Wizkid was at the club to support his official disc jockey, DJ Tunez, who was performing.

Following the encounter, Wizkid took to X to subtly boast about his influence, writing, “Everybody Dey find Big Wizzy,” a remark that many interpreted as directed at Davido.

This is not the first time the two artists have crossed paths in a club.

Last year, they were seen partying and even hugging at a Lagos nightclub, an encounter that briefly suggested their feud might be over.

However, in a recent social media rant, Wizkid claimed that Davido is the one who always initiated their reunions, alleging that the ‘OBO’ star “runs after him like a fanboy” whenever they meet.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Ayodele, on Friday, described Nigeria’s economic state as hypertensive.

Primate Ayodele said the President Bola Tinubu’s government has no solution to Nigeria’s economic problems.

In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, the prophet explained that Nigeria will continue to be difficult till there’s an economic reset which the current government may not be able to carry out.

He said: “This government will only work but they don’t have solution. Things will be getting difficult until they restart the economy again. I pity Nigerians because they will continue to face this till when God knows.

“Tinubu and other people in the economic team know that they don’t have solution, there is serious hardship, they need another formula to reset the economy.”

He added that Nigerians should expect more taxes on basic things in the coming days.

Ayodele further explained the stages that Nigeria’s economy will go through except there’s a reset.

“This government will continue to tax Nigerians on basic things yet they won’t be able to get the solution.

“The economy is harsh now, it will go to shrink stage then to process stage, then to burst and finally collapse, those are the stages our economy will go through.

“Don’t let it get to a state where people will be taking food from dustbin, we are in an economic embarrassment era. Nigeria’s economy will be hypertensive.”

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that he is qualified to contest for the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking with reporters during a visit to Fashola farm in Oyo town on Friday, Makinde stated that speculations about his political future were unnecessary and unsolicited.

The governor stated that he is old enough to speak for himself on any issue without fear or intimidation, adding that he would do so publicly if he had anything to say about his political future.

He said, “We didn’t host the PDP reporters’ retreat because somebody has a presidential ambition. No comment, nothing. But all I can say to you is, I’m old enough if I want to do something, I will come out and say, this is what I want to do.

“So, no speculation, nobody can push my agenda. I will push my agenda when the time comes.”

Makinde recalled that with the support of the people of Oyo State, he defied several odds, including two failed Senate attempts before his election as Governor.

He said, “Oyo State people took a decision in 2019. We did not have a godfather. Nobody sponsored me, and nobody gave me a dime for us to get in here, but the people of Oyo State decided we wanted to give this opportunity to an outsider.

“And before that, you will see videos saying that, Oh, Seyi, what has he done before? Has he been a councillor? No. Has he been to the House of Representatives? No. What about the Senate? I tried twice but was rejected.

“So, experience in politics – No experience in governance, but I’ve done well for myself in business, and they said we’ll give you the opportunity. Before that time, the whole of the South-West was APC, consisting of six states.

“But in Oyo State, we chose to be different. Because I had no experience, I wanted to convince the people.

“We produced a document, Road Map to accelerated development of Oyo State, 2019-2023, and I said to the people, this is it in black and white, hold me accountable, and they gave us the opportunity. Thank God it is being done. “

The governor also cautioned Nigerians against allowing the country to slide into a one-party state.

He said, “Nigeria must not slide into a one-party state so that others will have the opportunity to showcase their talents.”

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Saturday, called on President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to be wary of the recent advice of the World Bank, in which it prescribed the reduction in government’s support for social services in Nigeria.

World Bank Group’s Senior Vice President, Indermit Gill, had at a programme early this week in Abuja, referred to the withdrawal of support being provided by the government for social and economic programmes in Nigeria and the floating of the Naira.

Gill spoke at the three-day Summit of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) that started on Monday, October 14th.

The Bank’s boss said the results of the current efforts would be seen in 10 to 15 years.

Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, urged the federal government to be wary of the advice.

In a statement he signed, Ajayi said: “Firstly, the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would have run its terms before the 10 to 15 years the presumed dividends of the World Bank prescriptions will manifest.

“Meaning that this administration may then only be remembered for the sacrifices made by the people and the attendant sufferings while another administration would take the credit for the dividends – if at all.

“So, rather than continuing with the Bank’s policies, resort should be made to policies that boost local businesses and encourage local initiatives thus reducing dependence on imported goods.”

Ajayi said the call on the President to be wary of prescriptions by the Bretton Woods’ institutions was predicated on what happened to countries that followed various prescriptions made by either the World Bank or International Monetary Fund (IMF) or both of them.

He recalled that most of the countries that heeded the prescriptions of these two institutions ended up in worse situations than the ones that made them run to either or both institutions.

Countries cited included Mexico, Mozambique, Ghana, Argentina, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.

Ajayi added: “The conditions given by the Bank included budget cuts, removal of subsidies from some services being provided for the people and the devaluation of the country’s currency. But, instead of heeding the advice, the Malaysian PM did the exact opposite. Of course, it was tough initially. Today, however, Malaysia is growing economically and is one of the few countries that are shedding off the toga of third-worldism.

“What we are saying is that while it is important to lay a good foundation for economic recovery, the models being prescribed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be no-go areas because the havoc such models have wreaked in some of the countries that applied them.”

Powerful political figures from northern Nigeria have begun efforts to draft former PresidentGoodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race.

Their calculations hinge on the fact that Jonathan, having served as president from 2011 to 2015, is eligible for only one more four-year term.

This campaign is reportedly spearheaded by a governor from the North East and a retired general from the North West.

According to sources, the northern power brokers considered their options and concluded that Jonathan’s potential candidacy aligns with their collective interests.

They are basing their strategy on the 1999 Constitution, which allows a maximum of two terms for any individual holding the office of president.

The group’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to derail President Bola Tinubu’s plans for re-election.

However, a rival group comprising other northern politicians and influential figures is pushing for a different southern candidate, as both factions oppose Tinubu’s continued leadership.

The promoters of the Jonathan-for-2027 campaign have reportedly started engaging with key stakeholders, aiming to build support for the former Bayelsa governor, who has recently focused on international diplomacy and promoting democratic norms.

A source within the group revealed to Saturday Tribune that northern leaders backing Jonathan come from across the political spectrum and are united in their determination to counter what they perceive as Tinubu’s mismanagement of the country.

Additionally, the group is reaching out to like-minded individuals and organizations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including civil society and pro-democracy groups, in a bid to rally broader support.

Jonathan is seen as a strong candidate because of his prior experience as vice president (2007-2010) and president, following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Northern leaders believe he could gain widespread backing from southern states while also enjoying significant goodwill in the northern part of the country, even nine years after his presidency.

The push for Jonathan’s return gained momentum in August 2023 when reports emerged that key political figures were considering persuading him to run for the 2027 race.

This aligns with the stance of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, a former minister in Jonathan’s administration, who has publicly stated his willingness to step aside if Jonathan decides to run.

Mohammed, speaking at an event organized by the Save Africa Initiative, expressed his belief that Jonathan’s experience would make him an ideal candidate.

“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition… I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for the leadership of this country unless he decides not to run… He will do a better job because he has the experience,” Mohammed said.

The push for Jonathan’s candidacy isn’t new. Before the 2023 presidential election, rumors circulated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was considering fielding him as its candidate, backed by several northern governors.

However, both the APC and Jonathan distanced themselves from these claims, with Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, clarifying that the former president had no interest in running at the time:

“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it,” Eze said in a statement.

APC officials, including then-national committee chairman Mai Mala Buni, dismissed the speculations, with Buni emphasizing that their interactions with Jonathan were simply out of respect for his status as a former president.

Buni added: “Our visit to Jonathan was pronounced because of his status as a former president… That could be why some may think there was something beneath it.”

Despite these earlier denials, the 2027 initiative suggests that political interest in Jonathan’s potential return to the presidency remains strong among northern power players.

Workers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) say their strike will persist until their demands are met.

Adetoboye Ayodeji, chairman of the NAFDAC branch of the Medical and Health Union Workers of Nigeria, spoke with NAN on Saturday.

He called on the agency’s management to negotiate with the union to resolve the impasse.

The workers began an indefinite strike on October 7, demanding a review of the 2024 internal promotion examinations.

Ayodeji alleged that some staff who passed were denied promotion and that the management claimed there was a shortfall in vacant positions.

“Unfortunately, the management was recruiting at the same time into the positions that they claim there was no vacancy,” he added.

“While those that are rising through the ranks are not promoted, outsiders are brought to occupy the positions.

“Only 36 percent of participants in the examinations were promoted. We therefore said no, it is never possible.

“They cannot promote less than 80 percent of the participants.

“We rejected the entire promotion exercise and asked that more staff be promoted. There can never be motivation in an agency where 36 percent of staff are only promoted.

“It will have a devastating effect on the staff morale thereby affecting the health of the 200 million Nigerians.”

Ayodeji said there are also issues of unpaid statutory arrears and other benefits to some members of staff.

He said the union signed an agreement with the government and NAFDAC management in 2022 bordering on the workers’ conditions of service which remained unimplemented.

“The issues in the agreement were supposed to be settled in December 2022 but till date, none of the agreements has been complied with,” he said.

“Allowances that are supposed to be approved on or before December 2022 have not been approved, the condition of service could not be approved.”

Ayodeji said the union had written several letters to the NAFDAC management regarding the concerns without adequate response.

Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC, had, in a statement on Monday, denied all the claims.

She said the agency had followed the rules on payment of arrears and benefits.