Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that his administration does not intend to engage in unnecessary confrontation with those promoting the May 30 sit-at-home in honour of those killed during the Nigerian civil war.

The governor made this known in a statement on Thursday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, affirming the people’s right to mourn their dead.

The Governor disclosed that the government is working with schools to ensure that students currently sitting for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams are not adversely affected.
He said,
“The government is in touch with all the affected schools to ensure that WAEC exams are not disrupted.

“We are working on managing the situation without unnecessary confrontation with those advocating for the sit-at-home to honor their deceased loved ones. They have every right to mourn, considering the history of the war. This is not a matter of politicizing.

“The war was a tragic period, and remembering the genocidal events is an emotional experience.

“We do not wish to confront those observing this moment of remembrance. Instead, we are handling the situation with wisdom and diplomacy, engaging with all involved parties.

“While we are taking certain measures that we prefer to keep private, our main goal is to ensure students can take their exams peacefully.

“Rest assured, we are implementing measures to maintain peace in Abia State.”

Recall that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had on Tuesday reiterated that 30th May is crucial and respected for Igbo people and residents of the South-East to honour those who died during the Civil War between 6 July 1967 and 15 January 1970.

According to statement by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, on Tuesday, IPOB said, “wish to remind every person resident in Biafra territory that 30th May 2024 sit-at-home in commemoration of Biafra Heroes Day is sacrosanct and we obliged everyone to abide to this order, its only one day.

“As long as Biafra Land is concerned, IPOB remains a very important state actor on the issues concerning Biafra. The remembrance of all those who fought for Biafra freedom and sovereignty remains imperative, and no government or security agency has any authority to harass any innocent person during that event. We are urging all state governors in Biafra Land to ensure the safety of persons and properties on that day.”a

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the Kaduna Refinery was not calibrated to process Nigeria’s crude oil.

Lokpobiri made the shocking revelation on Wednesday when he featured in a Channels TV programme to speak on President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.

“What I said was that Nigeria had always imported crude based on the peculiarities of the refineries. And that is why I was giving example of the Kaduna Refinery. We were importing crude oil from Venezuela.

“Nigeria’s crude is one of the lightest crude in the world. It is one of the sweetest crude in the world. Some refineries are not calibrated for that.

“That was why the Kaduna Refinery was one that was meant to refine very thick crude oil. So, they were importing from Venezuela. So, it is not happening for the first time,” Lokpobiri said.

…orders Amaewhule, 24 other to stop parading as speaker, lawmakers

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared the seats of the 25 lawmakers, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, vacant pending the determination of a suit before it.

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The court, however, ordered the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, to stop parading as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and bared the 24 lawmakers, who are all Anti-Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of the state, from posing as lawmakers in the state.

Hon. Justice Charles Wali gave the order in Suit No PHC/1512/CS/2024, brought by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Speaker, Rivers State House Of Assembly, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, on the crises rocking the legislative arm of the state.

Defendants in the cases are Hon.martin Chike Amaewhule, Hon. Dumle Maol Hon. Major Jack, Hon. Franklin Uchenna Nwabochi, Hon.christopher Kagbang Ofiks, Hon. Azeru Opara, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Hon.Granville Tekenari Wellington, Hon. Ngbar Bernard, Hon. John Dominic Iderima.

Others are: Hon.queen Uwuma Tony Williams, Hon.loolo Isaiah Opuende, Hon.abbey Peter, Hon. Igwe-obey Aforji, Hon. Justina Emeji, Hon. Ignatius Onwuka, Hon.chimezie Nwankwo, Hon. Lemchi Prince Nyeche, Hon. Barile Nwakoh, Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, Hon. Nkemjika Ezekwe, Hon. Davids Arnold Okobiriari, Hon. Nwankwo Sylvanus Hon. Gerald Oforji, and Wami Solomon.

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honourable Chief Judge Of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, are the second set of defendants in the suit.

Wali in the Interlocutory Order, ordered that the lawmakers, who are Pro-Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, from parading as lawmakers to the determination of the substantive case.

The order read, “An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the 1” to 25th Defendants from parading land holding out themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at Aba Road;

“…Port Harcourt or at any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1at to 25th Descendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December,2023 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“That this case is adjourned to 1st July, 2024 for Mention.”

…says application portal for students of state institutions opens in 3 weeks 

…asks state institutions to submit their students’ data

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND said it has received over 60,000 applications from students of federal government institutions since it launched the students loan application portal.

However, NELFUND revealed that 30,000 applications have been successfully processed.

NELFUND also said so far, 90 percent of federal universities have submitted their students’ data to its dashboard, adding that 10 percent of federal institutions were yet to submit theirs.

Besides, the students loan agency declared that its portal for submission of data from state owned tertiary education begins in three weeks time.

To this end, it appealed to state institutions to begin submission of data of their students for onward processing.

Secondary school students in Ebonyi State, Thursday defied the directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to write their West African Examinations Council, WAEC. 

IPOB had through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, declared May 30^th as sit-at-home to honour those who died during the civil war. 

Disclosing how sacrosanct the day is IPOB noted that “Annually, we celebrate 30th of May as our heroes and heroine’s day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the Nigeria genocidal war against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

“30th of May is solemn memorial day for Biafrans. To honor our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one (1) day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today.

“Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit-at-home on this day and reflect on the danger of the force unity called Nigeria that have taken millions of lives of Biafrans. Other Biafrans outside Biafra territory are also encouraged to honor our heroes by observing the sit-at-home if possible or by limiting their activities on this day.

“To that effect, IPOB directs all schools, government offices, Private offices, Banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals to shut down all operations in honor of our heroes and heroines on Thursday, May 30, 2024”.

However, Vanguard observed that the students in the three zones in Ebonyi State are currently writing their examinations under the supervision of the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Nwobasi.

The commissioner while speaking on the Examination, lauded the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Erishi Nwifuru, for providing adequate security to schools.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane said Ghana is now richer than Nigeria.

Rewane disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television.

The renowned economist said Nigeria has fallen from the 32nd largest economy in the world to 42nd.

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He added that in Africa, the nation has also descended from its 1st ranking to 4th in terms of wealth management and accumulation.

Rewane, who noted that Ghana has also overtaken Nigeria, said, “In the past, we were always richer than Ghana, now we are here. External reserves and GDP figures speak for themselves.”

In March this year, Rewane, the CEO of FDC, was among the appointed members of President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) with a mandate to formulate and implement a consolidated emergency economic plan.

Speaking on the first anniversary of Tinubu’s term in office, Rewane categorized Nigeria’s economic performance into the good, bad, and ugly based on his available metrics.

He added that the economic metrics and rankings look tough but there is room for improvement in the Nigerian economy.

He said, “Our ranking among African countries has declined. Last year, our GDP growth was 2.98 per cent; South Africa was 1.93 per cent, Kenya four per cent, and Ghana 3.8 per cent. Inflation was 33 per cent for us, five per cent for South Africa, five per cent for Kenya, and 25 per cent for Ghana.

“Our GDP per capita is $1,111, while South Africa’s is $6,700, Kenya’s is $2,000, and Ghana’s is $2,200. External reserves as a percentage of GDP illustrate a tough picture.

“In the past, we were always richer than Ghana, but now we are here. External reserves and GDP figures speak for themselves.”

He added that major policy changes were announced in 2023, including the $1 trillion GDP goal, that the time lag between policy announcements and their effects was a drag on outcomes, and unintended consequences led to social unrest.

“There’s a cost of living crisis in Nigeria, and minimum wage negotiations are a source of widespread conflict. The wrong sequencing of reforms is taking its toll on output. Nigerians and Nigeria need new borrowing to refinance existing obligations, and policy changes, institutional reforms, and new borrowings are expected to lead to positive and faster growth from 2025 to 2026.

“The economic weakness is partly structural and mostly exogenous. Exogenous means from outside, while structural means fundamental. The structural challenges include rent-seeking, market structure issues, energy crunch (4,000 MW), regulatory bottlenecks, declining labour productivity, and demographic pressures including urbanization.

“Exogenous shocks include COVID-19 disruptions, post-COVID global supply chain disruptions, political tensions, high global interest rates, transit developments, the cost of living crisis, wage agitation, and social unrest,” Rewane said.

The economist also reviewed President Bola Tinubu’s promises, policies, and announcements a year after his assumption in office.

“The first promise President Tinubu made was to increase GDP to $1 trillion in eight years. Before then, our GDP was almost $400 billion, so he aimed to double it in eight years.

“He removed petroleum subsidies, unified exchange rates, promised to overhaul the security infrastructure, and also promised to double power generation from 5,000 MW to 10,000 MW in 5 years, which means an increase of 1,250 MW every year.

“Additionally, he promised to bring inflation under control. These were the promises, policies, and announcements.”

The Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) comprises distinguished leaders and key government officials, with President Tinubu serving as Chairman of the PECC.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi has called out Southeast governors.

Speaking on Thursday, he said Southeast governors should declare May 30 a public holiday to mark the Biafra War.

Amadi said there should be a Biafra Memorial Day in Nigeria.

This is coming amid the shutting down of the Southeast in compliance with the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups had set aside May 30 each year to remember those who paid the supreme price during the Biafra civil war.

Posting on X, Amadi wrote: “By the way, why can’t Southeast Governors declare May 30 a public holiday to mark the civil war and honor the heroes who died? Nations remember such events. There should be Biafra memorial

“As Governor, I will declare the 30th of May a holiday with public lectures and commemorative events.

“If I am a Governor no group will ever stop students from writing exams because of any ideology or political activity.

“We must protect the freedom of our people and the process of economic and social development. We cannot be playing with law and order.”