Political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Friday, expressed concern over the state’s anxiety regarding the planned protest scheduled to start on August 1.

He labelled the panic by state officials as troubling, emphasizing that such protests are a normal part of democratic engagement.

Utomi, speaking at the launch of ‘The New Tribe,’ pointed out that during military regimes, protests were a regular occurrence.

He said: “For us to now get all wound up that some unknown people are planning a protest shows that something has gone fundamentally wrong with the nature of the connection between the state and society.”

Utomi highlighted the current state of the nation as dire, citing that the fear of an impending protest has led to unnecessary panic, threats, and misinformation.

He criticized the state’s reaction as a sign of deeper issues within the nation’s governance and societal values.

In his speech, he said: “The state of the motherland is certainly worrisome, so worrisome that notice by some not known people about impending protests have set off panic, threats, bullying and scapegoating resulting in prefabricated falsehoods by agents of the state.

“MAN and the chambers of Commerce are up in arms with the direction of interest rates as monetary authorities struggle to contain inflation with high interest rates and insecurity continues.

“In this season of the unmasking of yesterday’s pretenders and the shrinking of the club of truthsayers and those who truly believe in a just society it is not difficult to tell that the state of the motherland is of grave ill health.

“Surely values shape human progress and values seem to have taken flight from our current landscape and citizens have an obligation to seek restoration.”

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Friday, wrote to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to notify him of planned public meetings, rallies, and processions being organised by a non-governmental body, the Take It Back Movement, all its members, and some other patriotic Nigerians and groups.

The human rights activist in a letter dated Friday, July 26, 2024, stated that the planned rallies will commence from Aug. 1 to 10, 2024, or any time thereafter at the Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of all the 36 states and the headquarters of the 774 local government councils.

Adegboruwa while reiterating the role of the police during such rallies and protests, urged the IGP to make available the details of any police officer or police team that will be assigned to cover the said meetings/rallies/processions to harmonise plans and strategies for the same.

The request comes against the background of warnings from security agencies and groups over the planned protest.

On Thursday, the Department of State Services (DSS) cautioned against the demonstrations, saying it had identified the sponsors.

While the DSS agreed on the citizens’ right to protest, it claimed that some elements plan to hijack it.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has said that the recent judgement of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to Local Governments is not wasted.

Speaking on claims that the verdict may not have any meaningful impact unless the task of conducting local government elections is transferred to another body, Fagbemi said that such issues would be addressed when they arise.

The AGF urged the various anti-corruption agencies to be up and doing because they are required to oversight the deployment of funds at the Local Government level.

He stated this in Abuja on Friday during an opening session of the validation meeting of the National Anti-corruption Strategy (NACS) Action Plan 2022 – 2026.

Fagbemi warned LG Chairmen that while state governors enjoy autonomy, reverse is the case for them, adding that they would end up going to jail alone if a governor ask them to commit a crime and they accept.

According to him, “I told them that when we get to that bridge, we will cross it. But, one thing that I keep saying is that the governors have immunity, but local government chairmen do not. The councilors don’t have.

“So, it will be very easy to put them where they belong. In any event, we need activities at the Local Government level.

“They are not to be over-sighted by anybody, except by the critical anti-corruption agencies – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the police and others, when the need arises.

“And, as often as the need arises, we will deal with that aspect.

“So, if a governor asks you to go and commit a crime and you accept, he will not follow you to Kuje or Kirikiri. No, you are on your own.

“So, this is a challenge to the anti-corruption agencies and I know that they are up to the task.”

He argued that it was unnecessary to preach to those who will be at the helm of affairs at the local government level because they are expected to be able to read and write and differentiate right from wrong.

“You don’t have to preach to anybody. Those who would become Chairmen and Counsellors, at least should be able to read and write. They will know that it is a crime to steal and that if you steal, the penalty is there,” he added.

The Cross River State government has identified 2,000 ghost pensioners on its payroll, as announced in a recent statement from the Government House.

Naija News learnt that these fraudulent entries have been linked to delays in settling unpaid gratuities from 2014 to 2024.

Governor Bassey Otu had previously established a committee tasked with reviewing the payroll of retired civil and public servants to eliminate pension fraud.

On Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu informed the press about the committee’s discovery of these ghost pensioners.

Although the identities of those involved in the pension fraud have not been disclosed, Nsa Gill, a government representative, stated, “The audit and verification exercise has so far uncovered over 2,000 ghost pensioners, who have consequently been removed from both the State and Local Government Pensions Payrolls.”

Nsa Gill further mentioned that with the verification process nearing completion, the payment of gratuities is scheduled to begin in August 2024.

The committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), is expected to submit its report to the government within a week of its first meeting.

The spokesperson also announced that Governor Bassey Edet Otu has approved ₦10 billion to address the outstanding gratuity payments for retired civil and public servants in the state.

Additionally, the Governor has approved the formation of a committee comprising executives from the State and Local Government Pension Unions, headed by the SSG

A former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has lamented the newfound love between judges and politicians, saying it is destroying democratic legitimacy in Nigeria.

The law professor said politicians and governors, having realised that the votes of the masses don’t count, have decided to court judges by frequently donating Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to the judicial officers to win electoral cases.

Odinkalu was a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday.

According to him, politicians tell their contenders to approach the courts after a contentious electoral process, and “the courts rule that they have won, democracy has won. So, judges are being used to destroy the system”.

He said, “In this economy, you buy a V6 or a V8? It’s beyond idiotic and it is aggravating. They (governors) have bought four-wheel drive for senators and members of the House of Representatives. State governors have bought four-wheel drive for their state legislators. They are donating four-wheel drive to the judiciary all over the country.

“We have this outbreak of acquisitive-ness, an epidemic of crass acquisitiveness that is ridiculous. Why do they do all of these? It’s procurement. When they do that, they take more money into their pockets than they actually give away. It’s an excuse to acquire.”

The human rights activist lamented that governors continue to donate expensive vehicles to their cronies when there are no equipped hospitals and standard schools in their domains.

“There are no hospitals, there are no schools, there are no roads. And so we have to buy private healthcare overseas. We have to send our children to private schools overseas. We have private helipads and now we have private jets and private airstrips. We have private security also. That is the problem,” he said.

‘True Reforms Must Start With INEC, Judiciary’

Odinkalu said true democratic reforms must start with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“This is why I have settled for INEC and the judiciary. That is where it begins,” he said.

“They have sworn in new judges of the high courts and new justices of the Appeal Court. Did you see the number of state governors who were there? The number of senior politicians who were there?

“Politicians hosting receptions for judges and the judges going because the politicians know that our votes don’t count; what counts is the votes of judges and they are deliberating courting the judges.

“This judicial walkaround on processes of legitimacy has essentially destroyed democratic legitimacy and popular legitimacy in the people as a foundation of democracy. People are wondering why we are not getting the dividends of democracy when our votes don’t matter.”

“There are institutions we cannot afford to go bad. And I count three among those. In no particular order, INEC, the judiciary, and anti-corruption agencies. And that’s why I go hard on them in my private and public intellectual life. I go hard on them because these are the sentinels on the door of the people who will inflict destitution on the country or secure the country. And if we don’t make these institutions work, it is going to be impossible to save the country,” Odinkalu added.

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has advised President Bola Tinubu against taking the reputation of a dictator by fighting citizens’ right to protest.

Dele Momodu‘s advice followed statements from Nigeria’s security agencies, including Department of Security Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army and Defence Headquarters against citizens’ planned hunger protest.

Momodu reminded President Tinubu that he engaged in several protests before becoming president against policies of governments.

In a statement on Friday, on his X handle, the publisher of Ovation Magazine said, “As I write this, my mind goes back to my earliest recollection of you as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a young journalist, you were everyone’s delight. The June 12 Presidential election annulment brought out the best in you as a pro-democracy figure.

“You spent money and time fighting the military. Our exile years were lived in constant fear and trepidation.”

The PDP chieftain told Tinubu that since he became President things have been hard for citizens because of his economic policies.

He said the President failed to realize the country was more complicated than Lagos State.

He continued, “Unfortunately, things have not been easy for Nigerians (except members of the privilegentsia) since you realized your lifelong ambition. And let me be frank sir. You caused it all. You did not realize that a country is much more complicated than a state.

“I’m sad and embarrassed that a fighter for democracy is now saying Nigerians will not be allowed to congregate and demonstrate on the streets, something you and I enjoyed during the military regimes, at home and abroad.

“I will never support anarchy, after engaging in peace initiatives in Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. But I’m reasonably assured that any potential threat can be contained and nipped in the bud, since our secret service claims to have discovered the sponsors of mayhem. Such people should be arrested speedily.

Dele Momodu further advised President Tinubu to go back to his friends who fought for democracy alongside him for sincere truth.

He told Tinubu to use the opportunity of the planned protest to test the strength of Nigeria’s security agencies.

“Please Sir, go back to your original friends in civil liberties and seek their assistance. Then, use this opportunity to test the strength, security architecture and combat readiness of our security agencies. Ignore the advice of the hawks in your team. They have nothing to lose since they are mostly beneficiaries of what others died for. Resist the temptations of full blown dictatorship,” he said.

The Take-It-Back Movement, a civil society organization, has claimed that its bank account with a major bank has been frozen on the orders of the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to the group, this action is a direct response to their involvement in the upcoming nationwide protest.

In a statement posted on their X account on Friday, the organization condemned the freeze as an unlawful act.

The group demanded that their account be reinstated within 24 hours or face legal action against the bank.

“It has now come to our attention that @UBAGroup has frozen our account on the instructions of the DSS over our involvement in the forthcoming protest.

“We describe this action as lawless, and demand our account be unfrozen immediately within the next 24hours, without which a legal action will be instituted against @UBAGroup,” the post read.

Former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, commented on the situation, labeling it a conspiracy against the Nigerian populace.

Naija News reports that Nigerians are organizing a nationwide protest from August 1 to August 10, 2024.

The protest, dubbed #EndBadGovernance, aims to address the issues of widespread hunger and inflation in the country.

Recall that the DSS on Thursday issued a stern warning against the planned nationwide protest aimed at addressing the economic hardships in the country.

In a press statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Dr Peter Afunanya, and made available to Vanguard, the DSS disclosed that it had identified the sponsors of the protest.

In a move to stabilize the foreign exchange market and counteract the recent depreciation of the naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed $148 million to 29 authorized dealers.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on the apex bank’s website on Friday.

The statement highlighted that the sales were conducted on Monday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 23, 2024, with exchange rates ranging between ₦1470.00/$1 and ₦1510.00/$1.

This intervention follows the CBN’s previous disbursement of $122.67 million to 46 authorized dealers two weeks ago, aimed at promoting market stability and reducing volatility.

Additionally, a week ago, the CBN announced the sale of $20,000 to each Bureau De Change (BDC) operator at the rate of ₦1,450/$1.

Despite these efforts, the naira has continued to depreciate, trading above ₦1,600 against the US dollar at the official market on Thursday.

The continuous decline of the naira has raised concerns among businesses and consumers, with rising import costs and increasing inflationary pressures.

The CBN’s interventions are critical in providing liquidity and restoring confidence in the market during these challenging times.

The statement read, “The Central Bank of Nigeria sold a cumulative sum of US S148,000,000.00 in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange market to authorised dealers on July 22 and 23, 2024.

“The sale of foreign exchange was to 29 authorised dealer banks at an exchange rate of 1470.00/US$1-1510.00/US$1.”

A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has dared the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike over the planned nationwide strike.

Recall that Wike had stated that the protest would not hold in Abuja.

He said that August 1 had been set aside for the chairmen of the six Area Councils of the FCT to give out certificates of recognition to their traditional rulers.

The Minister gave the warning while briefing journalists on the outcome of the FCT Security Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Reacting via his X handle on Friday, Sowore stated that the protest would start from Abuja.

He shared a news article of the minister declaring that there would be no protest in the territory, and wrote, “It is starting from and in Abuja!.”

Naija News reports that some Nigerians are mobilising for the nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 10, 2024.

Grammy nominated Nigerian musician, Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, has launched barbie dolls designed in her image.

The 22-year-old Mavin princess unveiled the limited-edition custom-made barbie dolls via her social media pages on Thursday, July 25.

Ayra Starr announced that they will be available in Lagos, the United States, the United Kingdom and France. She, however, did not provide a specific release date. The songstress wrote:

“I’m so excited to announce the release of the limited edition Ayra Starr Dolls! The dolls are coming to: Lagos, the US, the UK and France.

“Stay tuned for more details on how you can enter and win. I can’t wait for you to see them and share the joy!”