A former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke has said that a lot of quacks are involved in politics in Nigeria.

He lamented that Nigeria is suffering because of the calibre of politicians in the country.

Duke stated this in Abuja, on Saturday, on the sidelines of the 2024 teens career conference titled ‘The power of music’

The conference was organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Everlasting Arm Parish, Garki.

The former governor urged the political class to make concerted efforts to restore the hope and pride of youths in the country.

He stated that majority of Nigerian youths are not looking within the country for a better future as they have turned their attention to other climes.

Duke stressed the need to eliminate quacks who saw politics as a means of livelihood rather than a means of service.

According to him, “Hope is an eternal, effervescent power to create hope in the young ones that their tomorrow will be better than today, just as their today ought to have been better than yesterday.

“Politics could be the most elevating vocation, but a lot of quacks are involved in it right now, so they have brought it down to the lowest level.

“When politics is right, it elevates everything; it elevates medicine; it elevates your livelihood; when we complain about the country not being good, it is the politician.

“So, if you have the right politicians, we will have the right country; so, it is the most noble of vocations, but unfortunately full of quacks.”

He said the high inflation rate in the country is due to the cost of energy and tasked the political class with addressing the energy crisis by converting gas flaring to support the economy.

Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has revealed why she fell in love with her husband, singer Adekunle Gold.

The mother of one revealed that she fell in love with her husband because of his graphic designing and photoshopping skills.

She disclosed this while hailing Gold after he successfully edited a water bottle out of Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya’s photo on X on Saturday after the chess master asked for the favour.

Reposting Gold’s edited version of the chess master’s photo, Simi wrote, “This was why I fell for you. I don’t know who sent you to start singing.”

DAILY POST recalls that Adekunle Gold was a sensational photoshopper before he got signed to Olamide’s record label, YBNL Nation, after designing the label’s logo.

Gold got married to fellow singer Simi on January 9, 2019, in Lagos. The couple welcomed their first child, Adejare, in 2020.

Shola Ogudu, the first babymama of award-winning singer, Ayodeji Balogun aka Wizkid, has opened up on getting pregnant and having her first child and son, boluwatife.

The single mother of one, in an interview with Maria Chike on the Mums Next Door podcast, revealed that she didn’t know she was pregnant until she was five months gone.

According to her, she didn’t have any symptoms until she got to 5 months, and then her tummy began protruding.

Shola stated that she had an stress-free pregnancy because it was one devoid of any symptoms, expect  that she had to do away with her body spray and perfume during that period.

She revealed that she was still energetic enough to go to her school in Benin Republic until she was eight months and two weeks gone. In Shola Ogudu’s words:

“My pregnancy, I was pregnant for four months, to be honest, because I didn’t…. I was pregnant till I was four months gone. I didn’t have any symptoms. I don’t know the myth behind it; the moment I found out, my tummy just went big.

The rest of the pregnancy was good because I was going to University. I schooled in Benin Republic. I was going every week and coming home weekend till I finished my final exams. I stopped going to school at eight months, two weeks. The only difference was my tummy was big, but I had no symptoms or anything. It was my body spray and perfume I had to do away with”.

 

Watch her speak below:

Jude Okoye, the long-time manager of the defunct P-Square group, has revealed the sharing formula of the group proceeds following fraud allegations against him and Paul by Peter.

He explained that P-Square’s proceeds were shared between him, Peter and Paul.

He stated that he took 40 per cent while the duo took 30 per cent each.

Speaking in an Instagram live session on Saturday night, Jude Okoye denied the allegations leveled against him by Peter that he diverted P-Square’s royalties worth millions of dollars into a private account. Jude explained:

“I went to the EFCC office with just Paul. I didn’t go with my lawyer. I gave them all the documents, an officer looked at it and asked if Peter signed. I pointed at his signature for him. I showed him the CAC certificates used in opening both Square Records and Northside Entertainment.

“They were like, you’re even more than P-Square. I said I don’t understand what you mean. They said, look, you’re entitled to 40 per cent shares while the duo are entitled to 30 per cent each. I said, well, I’m not supposed to say it with my mouth, you can see for yourself.”

He said he also presented a memorandum of understanding, MOU, to the anti-graft agency to prove that they all agreed on a sharing formula.

“They [EFCC officers] started asking me some irritable questions like where I got the money to build my house in Ikoyi,” Jude recalled, noting that the building was partly financed by selling his house in America and borrowing money from colleagues.

“I have not been with P-Square for the past eight years, since 2016,” Jude stated, revealing that the rift between the twins began in 2013 and continued until the group officially split in 2016.

According to Jude Okoye, the situation worsened in 2021 when the brothers attempted a reunion, which ultimately failed due to unresolved differences.

He added that several prominent Nigerians had attempted to reconcile P-Square in the past but failed. He said:

“Emeka Offor, the late Ifeanyi Uba, Dantata, Atiku, Peter Obi, governors, ministers, our village king, etc have all tried to reconcile Psquare to no avail,”

Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, says Nigeria’s woes stem from its leaders, and not the country’s constitution.

Lamido said this in reaction to a call by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen who visited President Bola Tinubu and canvassed for a new constitution.

Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, who led the group, had urged the president to convene a constituent assembly to draft a people-centred constitution for the country.

In an interview with THISDAY on Sunday, Lamido said the flaws in the 1999 Constitution’s implementation are a result of human error, not inherent weaknesses in the constitution.

“If you see smoke from the chimney and it is polluting the entire environment, and it is very black and you are choking from the smoke, what you have to do is to find out where the smoke is coming out from,” the former governor said.

“Don’t blame the chimney; calm down and find out the source of the smoke. Find out the problem and deal with it. The symptoms are only a manifestation of something that has gone wrong. Why do you blame the constitution?

“The constitution does not reason like human beings. It cannot contain every solution to your problems. It is supposed to guide you and not solve your problems.

“The people who are supposed to operate and implement the constitution are Nigerians. Now tell me who is doing the right thing in Nigeria: From the motor parks to the schools to the banks.

“So why are we running away from our own shadow? How many constitutions do we need to have before we get it right? After any problem, we shout ‘amend the constitution.’ How many new constitutions do we need to have?

“So no matter what you write as a constitution, so long as the operation is subverted, it can’t work. Look at the country, people are fighting each other: in the south-east, south-west, south-south, north-east, north-west. Clans are fighting each other; anywhere you go, people are fighting each other. Is it the constitution or because of the operators?

“It is not the constitution; it is the operation of the constitution. There is no perfect human being or perfect constitution anywhere in the world but we the operators.

“In other climes, constitutions become good through the way they are managed. So we cannot run away from our shadows. No matter how fast you run, your shadow will follow you.”

Lamido added that the country’s challenges “lie in the attitude and character of those who operate the constitution”.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the national assembly to disclose the total amount paid to lawmakers as “running costs”.

Recently, there has been public discourse on salaries and allowances of the 469 members of the house of representatives and senate.

Last Wednesday, Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano south, told BBC Hausa that he receives N21 million monthly as “running costs”.

Sumaila said the salary of a senator is about N1 million.

The senator’s comment came days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused federal lawmakers of fixing their salaries and allowances — a claim the senate has denied.

In a statement on Saturday, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, asked the leadership of the national assembly to “promptly disclose the exact amount of the monthly running costs of millions of naira currently being paid to and received by members of the national assembly and the spending details of any such running costs”.

He said the alleged practice of paying money meant for “running costs” to the personal accounts of lawmakers amounts to corruption, which should be investigated.

“The allegations that members of the national assembly are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN convention against corruption to which Nigeria is a state party,” the statement reads.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and other members of the national assembly to comply with our request in the public interest.

“Accounting for and returning any misused or mismanaged running costs collected by members of the national assembly would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.

“Accounting for and returning any misused or mismanaged running costs collected would also enhance the ability of the lawmakers to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”

… Absolves NNPCL, NMDPRA Of Alleged Favouritism

Matrix Energy has refuted claims that it is behind the importation of substandard petroleum products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel and Jet A-1 fuel, from Malta and Russia.

A recent publication by a newspaper (Not This platform) alleged that Matrix Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, who is a member of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), was linked to the surge in imports from the countries.

This has sparked thousands of comments on microblogging sites X, with ‘Malta’ and ‘Dangote’ trending on the platform on Saturday.

The report said in 2023, Nigeria’s petroleum importation from Malta surged significantly to $2.8bn as against zero between 2017 and 2022, and a mere $13.32m in 2016.

The report alleged, “Matrix — which has three old ships (Matrix Pride, Matrix Triumph, and Matrix S.ILU) — reportedly loads diesel products exported from Russia in Lome, Togo.

“It is understood that the diesel from Russia is typically off-spec and is often corrected in places like Lome and Malta through blending with other components.”

This allegation was first brought up by Dangote Group when their Founder and Chairman, Aliko Dangote, claimed that oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta.

The Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, further accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of indiscriminately licensing traders to import “dirty” diesel and jet fuel into the country.

This was after he failed to secure feedstock arrangement for his refinery — Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals —, resulting in alleged blackmail against the government to bend rules in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, according to experts.

In response to the claims made against its CEO, 20-year-old Matrix described the allegations as “lies” aimed at destroying the firm’s reputation as well as that of its CEO and founder.

Matrix Energy also absolved the NMDPRA and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) of any wrongdoing.

Matrix Energy clarified that the NMDPRA is the sole regulatory body empowered by the PIA 2021 to issue import licenses and enforce the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) product specifications adding that the company has never compromised quality or sabotaged the country.

Matrix said, “Matrix Energy has consistently imported products that meet the approved specifications, and we have never been found wanting in this regard. Our commitment to quality is reflected in the fact that none of our customers have ever rejected our products; indeed, demand for Matrix products often exceeds our capacity to supply, a testament to our reputation for reliability. This success is equally reflected in our fertilizer businesses.

“Our depots boast a storage capacity of 150 million liters of liquid products, including LPG and bitumen. However, contrary to the claims made in the aforementioned publication, we did not discharge 200,000 metric tons of PMS into our facility in July 2024.

“While we have the capacity and customer base to handle such volumes, Matrix Energy has never imported or distributed any substandard cargo in our two decades of operation. Our quality test has never been doubted by the regulators and Nigerians who have found a partner in us.”

The NNPCL on August 5, 2024 introduced its Utapate crude oil blend from OML 13 and the state-owned company has exported its first shipment.

Matrix said, “NNPC traditionally tenders its free crude cargoes, and any company that wins the tender is operating within the law. Matrix Energy like other companies also won the tenders. As a people-oriented company that operates above board and in line with international best practices, we welcome constructive criticisms.

“Our Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu is a talented and dedicated Nigerian with the right to associate freely as well as trade freely in any part of the world. Like he stated in his presentation before the Nigerian Senate, we are not aware that Nigerian companies have been banned from bringing in legitimate and standard products from outside the country and until such is done, we will continue to serve the public with best quality products.”

The firm said its CEO is deeply committed to making a positive impact adding “his selection by Mr. President to serve as a member of the Economic Coordination Council is a recognition of his dedication to shared values and his commitment to the betterment of Nigeria.”

The company said it will not relent in its commitment to supporting Nigeria by ensuring the availability of petroleum products at competitive prices.

President Bola Tinubu has directed that only authorised officials with justifiable reasons should attend the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

The 79th session of the UN General Assembly, set to commence on September 10, 2024, will cover a wide range of global issues, including sustainable development, economic growth, and international cooperation.

The meeting’s provisional agenda seen by THE WHISTLER comprises 178 items, including climate change, human rights, peacekeeping operations, and international security, among others.

The directive, aimed at reducing unnecessary expenditures, was announced by the president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during a retreat at the State House on Saturday.

During the one-day retreat organised for heads of government agencies under the supervision of the State House management, Gbajabiamila said the directive was in line with the president’s commitment to prudent resource management and reduction of overall cost of governance.

According to him, the upcoming 79th session of the UN General Assembly will be a test of President Tinubu’s policy directive on reduction in cost of governance.

”I just discussed with the President this afternoon. In the next few weeks, we are going to see a test of this policy during UNGA in New York,” he said.

Gbajabiamila recalled the recent protests against economic hardship and high cost of governance, noting that “Everyone is waiting to see if Nigeria, as in the past, will send the ‘largest delegation’ to UNGA.

”From experience, we know that some individuals use the opportunity of such international meetings to go about their personal businesses.

”I have received a directive from Mr. President that this time, we will be strict. If you have no business at the UN General Assembly, do not step foot in America, and this is a directive from Mr. President,” Gbajabiamila said.

The Chief of Staff stressed that all heads of agencies must comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would not be tolerated.

The retreat, themed “Strengthening Institutional Mechanism for Effective Delivery,” was an avenue to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, particularly those under the State House.

Gbajabiamiala urged the State House management and chief executives of agencies to lead by example by ensuring compliance with statutes, laws, regulations, and various policies designed to enhance governance.

”We must demonstrate excellence in our compliance with the Public Procurement Act, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, the Finance Act, and various appropriation acts in operation.

”Compliance with the civil service rules and the scheme of service guidelines, especially regarding recruitment, promotion and presidential approvals is also non-negotiable,” he added.

The controversy surrounding seized presidential jets in Paris, France, linked to Ogun State government, has taken a new turn as two former governors, Ibikunle Amosun and Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, opened up about their involvement.

Amosun, who governed Ogun State from 2011 to 2019, revealed that the issue is a “Chinese against Chinese” dispute, stressing he was ready to work with the agencies of government in any capacity to ensure that Nigeria is not scammed by Zhongfu International Investment Co. Ltd or any other entity.
Gbenga Daniel, who governed the state from 2003 to 2011, has also weighed in on the matter, stating that he has documents to assist in the investigation.

News broke Thursday that three Nigerian presidential jets, including a newly purchased Airbus, have been seized under the authority of a French court following a protracted legal battle between a sub-national and Zhongshan Fucheng.

The seizure includes a newly acquired Airbus A330 valued at over $100 million. The aircraft in question—a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330—had either been part of the Nigerian presidential fleet or were recently purchased by government.

Seizure Order
According to the report by Premium Times, the seizure of the presidential jets was a result of an application by the Chinese company whose export processing zone management contract was allegedly revoked by the Ogun State government in 2016.
The report added that despite an arbitral tribunal, chaired by a former President of the UK Supreme Court, ruling in favour of Zhongshan and awarding them €74,459,221 in compensation, the decision has yet to be honoured.
As a result, Zhongshan sought enforcement of the arbitral award through the French legal system. The enforcement judge at the Paris Judicial Court granted the company authority to seize the aircraft, stating in the court order, “this protective seizure will take place to secure and preserve the claim arising from the arbitration award dated 26 March 2021, made by an ad hoc arbitral tribunal.”
The court further ordered that the aircraft be secured in such a way as to prevent their movement, saying, “The aircraft… will be positioned so that the cockpit faces a wall or building or in any other way that prevents it from taking off again autonomously.”

My Story – Daniel
Daniel, in a statement titled, “Seized National Assets/Ogun/Guangdong FTZ: Our Story”, made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, reads: “We need to establish clearly that Otunba Gbenga Daniel or his administration is not in discussion on the matter before the courts and arbitration, neither were the terms or proprietary of the Agreement for the establishment of the FTZ, rather it is the termination of a Management Contract. The judgements in all the courts are very clear on this.
“Rather than engaging in media comments, the most reasonable course of action that Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel would rather engage in is helping Nigeria, through the President, Bola Tinubu, to find a diplomatic solution to the issue at hand with available records that could assist the Federal Government in pursuing its course at the arbitration and before the courts. He cannot do this on the pages of the newspapers and on other media which may also compromise the strength of Nigeria’s arguments in the courts. We need to also appreciate that this matter is before various courts in several countries and it is subjudice for anyone to speak on them.
“However, let us emphasize once again that the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone project still exists and several Nigerians are working there as we write, just as there are several companies still doing their legitimate businesses. It is from this perspective of development that the efforts of Otunba Gbenga Daniel should be well appreciated.

Incorrect Reports
“At the time of his handover in 2011, about 56 companies were at various stages of operations, construction and showing interests in the Free Trade Zone and through which various life-impacting developments have taken place in the Igbesa area, which was an otherwise rural community before the establishment of the Free Trade Zone.
“There are so many incorrect reports and misrepresentation of facts on timelines of activities relating to the establishment and Operations of the Free Trade Zone in circulation especially on social media, and we plead that the media should partner with the Nigerian government in finding a very productive solution to this matter in Nigeria’s interest.
“It is not time to play politics with the assets and integrity of our dear country. We sincerely appreciate all efforts at reaching out for Otunba Daniel’s side of the story as we also seek the understanding of all those who called to appreciate his sturdy silence to be able to assist the President on the way out of this testy time and situation”

Impostor
On his part, Amosun, in a statement titled, “Presidential jets seizure: Zhongfu firm is an impostor, it’s Chinese against Chinese dispute”, said: “The agreement that was entered into at inception in 2007 with our predecessor is what is still in operation and there was no need for any negotiation or re-negotiation of any contract when we came in and throughout our eight (8) years tenure.
“We have read various media accounts of the above in both the print and social media. We have also read and aligned with the very appropriate responses from Ogun State and the Federal Government. At different levels, government is a continuum and the various segments of events leading to this unfortunate situation occurred before, during and after our administration.

Business Dispute
“Our administration assumed office on 29 May, 2011. Very shortly after we took office, two different sets of Chinese companies, Messrs China Africa Investment FXE and Zhongfu International Investment FXE laid claims to management rights over the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ). The business dispute and rivalry between the Chinese concerns soon became fierce, grounded seamless business activities and threatened public peace and safety within the Zone and neighbouring communities.
“There were claims and counterclaims as to who between the two was the lawful representative of the original joint venturer, Guangdong Province, China and consequentially who had the right to manage the Zone.

Damaging information

“Zhongfu International Investment FXE, pretending to be a concerned and genuine tenant and Zone stakeholder, volunteered very damaging and destructive information about the official representatives of Guangdong Province, the Joint Venturer and lawful Zone Managers, China Africa Investment FXE and subsequently requested to be appointed as Interim Zone Managers.
“Based on the information at the disposal of the government at the time, Zhongfu International Investment FXE was on 15/03/2012 appointed as Interim Zone Manager pending further evaluation. The whole idea was to ensure that someone was in charge and thereby prevent unwholesome and untoward development in the Zone pending the completion of our fact-finding exercise.
“It was later discovered that the information and claims volunteered by Zhongfu International Investment FXE against China Africa Investment FXE were tissues of lies.

Diplomatic Note
“Unknown to Ogun government at the time, Zhongfu International Investment FXE merely sought to de-market China Africa Investment FXE and to surreptitiously covert the State-owned assets of Guangdong Province in China together with the Zone ownership and management rights of their business rival.
“It was further discovered – much later – through the intervention of the Chinese Government via Diplomatic Note 1601, dated March 11, 2016.
“The Government of the Peoples Republic of China, via its Diplomatic Note 1601 dated March 11, 2016, clarified to the Ogun State Government, that China Africa Investment FXE was the rightful investor. After due consultation with the relevant organs of government, we gave effect to the request of the Chinese government.

Four court cases
“We do recall, that Zhongfu International Investment FXE approached Nigerian courts in different jurisdictions to ventilate its legal and business rights. They lost all their four cases in court.
“We also consulted with and took advice from the State Security Services and the supervising Agency, NEPZA, on the best way to proceed. Accordingly, we served Zhongfu International Investment FXE with a formal Termination Notice dated 27 May, 2016.
“For completeness of records, we must mention that Zhongfu International Investment FXE proceeded to Court.
“Among others, the proceedings in Suit No HCT/417/2016: Zhongfu International Investment FXE Vs OGFTZ and, FCT/ABJ/CS/601/2016: Zhongfu International Investment FXE Vs NEPZA & Ors will help to throw light on this business dispute between two Chinese entities- Zhongfu and China Africa.

Special circumstances
“The final judgement in one other case, Suit No AB/04/2017: Zenith Global Merchant International Investment Ltd Vs Zhongfu International Investment FXE delivered on 29/3/2017 specifically restrained a reference to arbitration in the special circumstances of the matter being a trade dispute between two Chinese entities- Zhongfu and China Africa, with little or no connection with either Ogun State or the Federal Government.
“Not satisfied with the decisions of the various courts, Zhongfu International Investment FXE took its case, and wrote petitions at various times, to higher authorities in Abuja; the Presidency, Hon Minister of Trade & Investment; Attorney General & Minister of Justice, Inspector General of Police, EFCC and the National Assembly (both the House of Representatives and the Senate) among others.

“We successfully defended our actions at all levels before these organs of government, and they all agreed with our position. Shortly after, our administration left office in May, 2019.
“In conclusion, without prejudice to the ongoing efforts of the Ogun State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria, and with all sense of responsibility, I wish to categorically state that the Agreement that was entered into at inception of the Zone in 2007 with our predecessor is what is still in operation and there was no need for any negotiation or re-negotiation of any contract when we came in and throughout our eight (8) years tenure.

Common patrimony
“It is also not true that our administration sent police or any security agent to harass, intimidate, or beat anyone. If there was any such situation, it must have been from among the disputing rivals in the bid to outdo one another. Security agencies can further investigate the allegation and uphold the truth.
“Nigeria should not give Zhongfu International Investment FXE any listening ear as doing so would amount to indulging and, encouraging an unlawful entity without locus standi to appropriate our common patrimony.

“Stemming from the above, this matter of Zhongfu International Investment FXE should be treated the way Nigeria treated the P&ID case. There is no basis for negotiation.

“I am ready to work with the agencies of government in any capacity to ensure that Nigeria is not scammed by Zhongfu International Investment FXE, or any other entity.
“Like every Nigerian, we are concerned that a purely business dispute between two Chinese nationals and corporations has now degenerated into an unlawful attempt to appropriate Nigeria’s sovereign assets.
“This is unacceptable to all people of goodwill and must not be allowed to stand”.

Controversial actress, Esther Nwachukwu, has claimed that lazy married men don’t last on bed.Nwachukwu made this disclosure during a recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, where she said she doesn’t have sex with single guys.

“I don’t have sex with single guys.I go for married men. Married men are more mature.They understand you.Some lazy married men don’t last in bed because they want to save their strength so that their wives won’t know they have had sex outside”.

Nwachukwu also added that she doesn’t care if a man cheats on her, as long as he is rich and gives her money.

“I don’t care if a man cheats on me as long as he gives me money.Money is love.I don’t mind if a man beats me as long as he gives me money. ’E go better’ is not love.In this generation, women love money more than love.I need to elevate myself.I wasn’t born with poverty”.

The outspoken role interpreter also revealed that she is available to marry a man that has six wives.

“I am available to marry a man that has six wives, I just want to be comfortable.I am coming from a poor background so I cannot end up in a poor home.I can only marry an average man if he knows how to make love”.