President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, held a meeting with traditional rulers in the country as part of efforts to avert a planned nationwide protest.

The meeting, which held in the State House, Abuja, had in attendance prominent monarchs, including the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

During the meeting, President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to making Nigeria a better place for all and sundry, noting that he asked for the job and he is ready to do it. According to him, he has accepted all the liabilities of his predecessors.

The President declared during the meeting that his administration is not afraid of the protest, but is worried about what may happen to ordinary Nigerians if the protest goes ahead.

According to him, the destruction which happened in Lagos during the famous #EndSARS protest in 2020 are still fresh in his memories.

The Nigerian leader stressed that he is committed to doing more to meet the needs and aspirations of the people, even as he noted that the nation’s economy is on a gradual but steady path of recovery.

“Yes, it is true that I asked for this job, and I approached some of you to support me. So, I have no excuse not to do the job with sincerity of purpose and honesty. I have committed myself to it diligently, and I will never look backwards.

“I have accepted the assets and the liabilities of my predecessor. How I will take Nigeria forward should be my concern, and that is my concern.

“I have been extremely busy. The only exercise I have had here is the walk from the residence to this place and then continue with the work.

“Nigeria is hilly, and it is the largest democracy in Africa. No other democracy comes close to us in terms of population on the continent. We cannot blame God for giving us these children, and we have to seek peace and better livelihoods,’’ the President said as quoted in a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale.

President Tinubu went ahead to list some of the actions taken by his administration to ease the burden on Nigerians.

He identified the student loan programme, the consumer credit scheme, and the affirmation of fiscal autonomy for local government councils, saying the Ministry of Finance will continue to ensure that funds go to the grassroots for human and infrastructural development.

“Today, the Bank of Agriculture is empty. We have to reactivate it. If they are not talking about flooding, they are talking of banditry. We have to start all over again. Yes, infrastructural decay is there.

“The Lagos-Calabar coastal road is not being done without studies. It is an economic energizer. From it, we can create infrastructure along the route to develop wind energy and generate power, and we can expand our irrigation network.

“The economic viability of infrastructure has to be studied before we embark on projects. How many dams are there on the corridors of Sokoto- Badagry? From there, we can energize electricity. We can do irrigation and additional farms.

“Even if it is two million hectares of arable land, you can create opportunities for farmers on a small scale. Then you have to find capital for them.

“Nigeria is on the path of recovery. You have heard it from the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun. We are not afraid of protests. Our concern is the ordinary people, and the damages that will be done. Till today, I cannot forget the brand new 60 and 100 seater buses, down there in Lagos that were burnt down, and we are now complaining of transportation. That is the problem. That is why I must say thank you for talking to the citizens,’’ the President told the traditional rulers.

President Tinubu submitted that security is getting better in Nigeria and the foot would not be taken off the pedal.

“Security is getting better, but we cannot take our eyes off the camera because it takes one accident for things to flare up. We are managing it.

“We have created instruments to support the students so that they get education, consumer credit to expand the economy, to improve the purchasing power of the people in order to rejuvenate the economy within a short period of time. We are still recalibrating our oil usage,’’ the President stated.

President Tinubu said he will continue to explain the economic reforms and projected benefits to the nation, adding that he remains open to dialogue for the development of the country.

President Tinubu urged the royal fathers to reach out to citizens on the genuine intentions of the government to deliver on its promises of Renewed Hope.

“Now, we are sending money to the local governments. I addressed the governors today on that issue. I have been distributing fertilizer, rice, and other items to support the recovery of citizens. I assure you, Nigerians, we are looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. I can assure you, this economy will be revived, will survive, and prosper,’’ the President emphasized.

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto said: “I believe that this brief meeting will clear some issues that many people have in their minds. At our meeting on Monday, we had a very open discussion on all issues affecting the nation. We are the ones who will tell you the truth about what is happening in our various communities.’’

The royal father said an executive council meeting was held on Monday, and the Council, composed of all State Chairmen of the 36 States and the FCT, met to deliberate on the economy.

The Ooni of Ife thanked the President for inviting the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating of Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and the GCEO of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, to brief the traditional rulers on the state of the economy.

“We heard from the GCEO of NNPCL. They are the ones that propel our economy. We have heard from the Minister of Finance. We also heard from the Minister of Budget and the NSA. We want to encourage you, Mr. President, we will all get back to our various communities and let our people know because none of us locks our palaces,’’ the Monarch added

..I Spent My Personal Money For Elections 

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has declared that his administration is not under the control or influence of any cabal.

The President stated that he spent his personal fortunes for election, and, therefore not responsible to any cabal under whatever guise.

Tinubu said that even though the banks were closed during the campaign period, God gave him victory and made him the President of Nigeria.

Naija News reports Tinubu stated this on Thursday when he hosted a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the State House in Abuja.

He said, “I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against me; banks were locked. But Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the President. Mine is to now follow the leading and teaching of the Almighty God.

“One of the most potent elements of defence is a good conscience. It is also a defence against corruption.

“What should be uppermost in our minds is the future of our children. We have a lot to teach them on what it takes to be a good citizen and what it takes to be a responsible citizen.’

Planned Protest

On the planned nationwide protest by some groups, President Tinubu urged the organizers to have a change of heart, noting that protests, fuelled by anger and hate, could degenerate into violence and set the country backwards.

He assured of the commitment of his government to meeting the needs of Nigerians.

“We are reworking the social welfare scheme to reach the ward level, which is the closest to our people. We are going to ensure that we re-establish connection with the wards, again, so that we can give allowances to the poor and the vulnerable.

“The student loans will pay for school fees. There will be monetary support for the education of our children. The consumer credit will support citizens to buy cars and houses, and they can repay gradually.

“We have increased the minimum wage by more than 100 percent,’’ the President said.

President Tinubu also accused the sponsors of the planned protest of putting their selfish ambitions above the national interest.

“The sponsors of protests do not love our country. They have no love for the nation. They do not understand citizenship. They have alternative passports. They are in different parts of the world holding meetings virtually.

“We do not want to turn Nigeria into Sudan. We are talking about hunger, not burials. We have to be careful. We should be careful with premature politics; politics of hate, and anger. The internet has made it possible to hold meetings in artificial settings. They hold meetings and sponsor anger,’’ the President told the clerics.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Sheikh Bala Lau, assured the President of support

with prayers and more sensitization.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has insisted that the federal government is no longer paying subsidy on petrol.

He made the assertion on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja.

According to him, since President Bola Tinubu declared an end to the fuel subsidy regime on May 29, 2023, the government has not made any provision in the budget for subsidy payment and has not made any subsidy payment outside the budget as well.

“Mr President said on May 29 that subsidy is gone. Subsidy is gone. We do not have a line in the budget for subsidy payment. We do not have payments being made whether in the budget or out by the federal government of Nigeria or even the federation directly for subsidy,” Edun said.

He submitted that what has been happening is a situation where the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is carrying the burden of the spike in exchange rate variation as part of its responsibility to ensure the availability of petrol in the local market.

The position of the Minister is coming at a time the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria recently said, the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, was ₦1,117/litre as of July 16, 2024.

The figure was based on the prevailing rate of ₦1,500 per one US dollar in the nation’s exchange market.

The claim by the marketers is yet to be rebuffed by the federal government.

As the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest slated for August draws close, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday entered an emergency closed-door meeting with top traditional rulers, security top brass in his government and governors of his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). 

The high-delegation meeting was held at the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The APC governors were led to the meeting by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

Some first-class traditional rulers were spotted at the meeting with the President. They include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III; and other traditional leaders across the country.

The meeting was also attended by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; as well as ministers and other members of the President’s cabinet.

A delegation of Islamic scholars (Ulamas) later joined the high-powered meeting with the President.

Last-Minute Efforts

Tinubu, former Lagos governor, who was sworn in as President in May 2023, has appealed to displeased youths to shelve the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest slated for next month.

As part of moves to placate aggrieved citizens, the President sent a bill to raise the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 to the National Assembly this week. Both chambers of the legislature speedily passed the bill on Tuesday, awaiting the President’s assent.

On Thursday, the military authorities warned that unscrupulous elements plan to hijack the protest and use it to stage anarchy like what was recently witnessed in East African country Kenya.

The police had also warned against bloody demonstrations come next month just as Uzodimma surmised that the protest could be hijacked and turn violent like the EndSARS nationwide protest against police brutality back in October 2020.

The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organisers of the protest have been faceless.

Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows

Popular Nigerian actor, Kevin Ikeduba has opened up on his other plans if he was not in the movie industry.

The talented thespian revealed that he would be a drug baron if he wasn’t an actor.

He disclosed this while featuring on Hip TV programme, ‘Trending,’ recently.

The host, Pascal, asked: “If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing?”

Ikeduba replied: “I would be a drug baron if I wasn’t an actor.”

Kevin Ikeduba made his Nollywood debut in the year 2000. He is best known for playing the role of notorious criminal in movies.

Bashir Ahmad, a former Media Aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has faulted the alleged decision of organizers of the August 1 protest to add the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to their demands.

Ahmad vowed never to join the protest if Kanu’s unconditional release was part of the demands of the protesters.

Posting on X, the former presidential aide wrote: “You should not expect me to join a protest where the unconditional release of terrorist Nnamdi Kanu is listed as one of the non-negotiable demands. Never!”

Popular activist and convener of the nationwide protest, Omoyele Sowore, had unveiled the key demands to be tabled to President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Daily Post reports that the nation’s economic situation has propelled citizens, particularly the youths, to stage a mass protest nationwide.

Despite efforts by the government to quell the move, Nigerian youths have insisted on embarking on the protest in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The looming protest titled, ‘Days of Rage’, or ‘EndBadGovernance’, is aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the unfortunate economic situation of the country.

Part of the demands listed by Sowore is the unconditional release of Kanu.

The IPOB leader has been locked up by the Nigerian Government despite courts granting him bail.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it is fully capable of managing the conduct of local government elections if tasked with the responsibility.

The chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said this on Thursday, July 25, when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

He said INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so.

He pointed out that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections.

He pointed out some advantages of INEC handling elections to include that there are regular elections as when due, stability of tenure, and also that there has never been a caretaker committee in the FCT.

He noted that there has never been a time one political party has won all the seats at the elections as is common in the states.

He said if INEC handles the election, it would be better for democracy.

He, however, said this can only happen if the constitution is amended to take the responsibility from state electoral commissions.

Details shortly…