Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has named the groups that will form the mega political party to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027. 

Utomi told newsmen, on Thursday, that the redemption of the country could not be achieved by the ruling APC, or any of the opposition parties. 

While listing the groups, Utomi said the present political parties failed Nigerians. He said they had not added value to nation-building. 

According to him, the planned mega party is to disrupt the current political order and deliver that impactful leadership that the country truly deserves. 

“It is precisely the reason I arrived in Nigeria yesterday (Wednesday) to continue that work (formation of mega party).

“I believe that the political party system in Nigeria has failed completely. Political parties are not democratic and they are not serving the purpose.

“Political parties and politicians of these parties cannot save Nigeria now. It is clear.

“The nature and the structure of our politics is such that even good people, when they enter these existing political parties, will play to their interests.”

Utomi, Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, returned to Nigeria on Wednesday after a long stay in the U.S.

Also, he was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in 2007.

‘New order needed’

According to Utomi, parochial culture has consumed civic culture in the country and this has affected the mindset of politicians.

Therefore, he said, a new political order must be birthed to get Nigeria out of the woods. Also, citizens and leaders must begin to do the right things to reposition the country.

“Nigeria must be saved by its citizens and this is precisely what I am advancing. 

“We are talking about value-driven citizenship with integrity, work ethics, respect for the dignity of people, and regard for labour.

“We are created for others; we are not created for ourselves. A tree does not take benefit from the shades it creates. 

“We want Nigerians to develop that mindset. Right now, the mindset that Nigerians have is me, myself, and I.

“Self-love is so consuming and that is why Nigerian politicians don’t act in the interest of the people or the state. They act so narrowly in their self-interests,” he said.

Utomi said in continuation of work to float the mega party, he would hold meetings in Lagos this week, and in Abuja next week before a news conference.

The political economist added he hoped to achieve much with the mega-party talks before going back to the U.S.

The groups

Utomi said groups that would come together to form the mega platform were two cohorts of politicians- the ‘mea culpa’ and ‘new value’ cohorts. 

“The mea culpa cohort are politicians who have seen that what they did while in power had not helped Nigeria and are remorseful. And they are now willing to become part of the redemption initiative.

“There are also new Nigeria new value cohorts. This cohort will be working together, and they will include people from all these other political parties,” he said.

He said that some elder statesmen would also be brought into the fold.

Recall that Utomi had, in January 2024, said he had had conversations with leaders of some opposition parties on plans to form a new mega political party that would take power from the ruling APC in 2027.

He disclosed that he had held discussions with some of the presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections. 

According to Utomi, the discussion was the possibility of bringing them and other opposition politicians together to form a new party. (NAN)

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, sentenced a 23-year-old student, Rabiu Garba, to 12 strokes of the cane for stealing a laptop and two cell phones.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, sentenced Garba after he pleaded guilty to the two count of trespass and theft.

The convict, who resides at Badiko in Kaduna, had pleaded guilty earnestly and prayed for leniency from the court, vowing to reform his ways.

The magistrate held that the court was lenient to Garba because he did not waste the court’s time by his admission of guilt.

He, however, advised the convict to be of good behaviour and desist from crime in the future.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Chidi Leo, told the court that one Yusuf Usman, reported the matter at Gabasawa Police Station on May 3.

According to Leo, Garba trespassed into the complainant’s room and made away with his laptop valued at N220,000 and two phones valued at N342,000.

The Prosecutor said that the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

(NAN)

Nollywood actress Bimpe Akintunde has addressed the challenges of being a single parent, emphasizing the huge toll it can take on women.

During an interview with Biola Bayo on her podcast, Talk To B, Akintunde shared her view, stating that single parenthood is not a situation anyone hopes for, but rather a circumstance that can arise unexpectedly.

Bimpe advised men to take responsibility whenever they put a woman in a family way.

“Single mum isn’t what anyone prays for; there is nothing that kills a woman faster than single parenting. Men are polygamous in nature. Any man that puts a lady in a family way, whether knowingly or unknowingly, should take responsibility”.

Bimpe further revealed that whenever people meet her, they are surprised at how calm and nice she is, unlike her movie characters.

The mother of one made it known that Wasila Coded is just a character, and Bimpe Akintunde is her name.

“When people meet me, they are like they don’t know I am this calm nice and think I am always breaking bottles, but I told them Wasila Coded is just a character, Bimpe Akintunde is my name”.

Nigerian actor and film producer Yomi Fabiyi has provided an update on the legal proceedings surrounding his colleague, Baba Ijesha, who stands accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor.

Baba Ijesha, known for his work in the Nollywood industry, was previously arrested and handed a five-year sentence for allegations of assaulting a minor, who happens to be the foster daughter of another colleague, Damilola Adekoya, popularly referred to as Princess.

In a recent interview with Kolaolootu Live, Yomi stated that there exists no concrete evidence to support the claim that Baba Ijesha engaged in any inappropriate behavior with the minor.

He suggested that this lack of evidence led to the judge’s decision not to impose a life sentence on the embattled actor.

According to Yomi, Princess had called Baba Ijesha to shoot a skit, and her foster daughter affirmed the statement in court.

Yomi further claimed that the man who slept with Princess’ foster daughter is walking freely, adding the victim is not 14 years old as widely speculated.

He said,“Baba Ijesha’s appeal process is still ongoing in court. There was no evidence that he slept with the girl; that was why the judge didn’t sentence him to life imprisonment. He was called by Princess to shoot a skit, and the girl also said in court that she was called to shoot a skit. The person who actually slept with the girl is walking freely. The girl’s age is not 14. They never gave the court her birth certificate. We are waiting for the appeal court judgement.”

The Benue State Government has disclosed that the state ranks among the highest consumers of alcohol, particularly lager beer, with an estimated monthly consumption of about N1 billion worth of beer.

During a tour of the proposed state-owned brewery, water, and bakery factories in Makurdi on Tuesday, May 8, 2024, Raymond Asemakaha, the Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), revealed this to journalists.

He emphasized that upon completion, these factories would play a crucial role in curbing capital flight to other states.

Asemakaha explained that the decision to establish the brewery stemmed from recent findings highlighting the substantial amount of money leaving the state monthly due to staggering beer consumption.

According to him, the study indicated that N850 million worth of beer is consumed monthly from January to November, with December witnessing an even higher consumption, totaling over N1 billion annually.

“Basically, when we came on board, we understood that the rate of alcohol consumption in the state is around N850m-N870m per month.

“We understand that the people who sell these beers are taking this money out of Benue State.

“So, we concluded that all we need to do is float a new company that can be able to retain the cash flow in the state. That is why we are embarking on beer production.

“This N850m to N870m is a monthly sale of beers in the state and, in December, the sales were over N1bn. So, one of the things we are doing is to help retain the cash flow within the system.”

In a recent announcement, the Felabration Organising Committee has unveiled ‘Look and Laugh’ as the theme for Felabration 2024.

‘Look and Laugh,’ originally released by Fela Kuti in 1980 as part of his album ‘Coffin for Head of State,’ holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, as it remains a true and derisive reflection of the various faces of modern-day corruption. The lyrics subtly condemn self-serving actions and satirically call on listeners to open their eyes to the truth and act against oppression.

Yeni Kuti, Head of the Felabration Organising Committee, expressed her excitement for this year’s theme, stating, “With ‘Look and Laugh,’ we honour Fela’s legacy by embracing his message of resilience and expression. In a country grappling with record levels of inflation, currency devaluation, and rising food and fuel prices, this year’s theme takes on renewed significance. Felabration 2024 aims to ignite conversations, provoke reflection, and inspire action, carrying forward Fela’s legacy of social consciousness and innovation through entertainment.”

Felabration, the annual celebration of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s life, music, and legacy, has long been a cultural touchpoint for music enthusiasts, activists, artists, and fans worldwide. Each year, the festival serves as a rallying point to commemorate Fela’s enduring impact on music, politics, and culture.

The unveiling of the logo and theme marks the beginning of the journey towards October’s festival, promising an enriching experience for attendees.

Drawing from the success of the Festival’s expanded format in recent years, Felabration 2024 will feature staple activities like ‘The Fela Debates’, Afrobics Dance Competition, Secondary School Debate, Art Competition, the Dress Fela Fashion Competition, and the 7-day Music concert.

The festival is slated to run from Monday, October 14 to Sunday, October 20

Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, the popular Nigerian singer, who is better known as Skales, has revealed that he has been in a romantic relationship with over 100 women.

The ‘Shake Body’ crooner disclosed this in a recent episode of Drip Check.

He said, “I feel like I’ve been a dad all my life. I’ve been taking care of women all my life [laughs].

“I have dated over 100 women.”

Skales explained that he was a toxic boyfriend to most of the women he dated earlier in his career because he was young and reckless.

“I did a lot of childish things. What do you expect from a teenager who is famous and has access to everything including women? There are a lot of good women that I have lost because of my childish behaviour. But because of experience, I’m becoming a better man now.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Ifeanyi Ubah, has said that two refineries- Port Harcourt and Warri would be fully operational by the end of 2024.

Ubah said plans have already been put in place to achieve the target, stressing that the Kaduna Refinery would also be operational before the end of next year.

He said that the completion of the plants and the addition of supply from the 650,000 barrels per day, bpd Dangote Refinery would enable the nation to meet its domestic fuel demand.

The senator also called on the federal government and other stakeholders to work toward the establishment of modular refineries to further expand the nation’s domestic capacity to refine crude oil.

“My mandate is to ensure that the refineries in Nigeria are up and functional. By my involvement, before the end of this year, two refineries will be up and running.

“Also, before the end of next year, the Kaduna refinery will come on stream.

“I can assure Nigerians that I will tirelessly pursue and ensure that these refineries are up and running before the end of the year. We have set up a technical team to visit the refineries every two weeks in order to meet the set target,” he said.

Millions of people would profit from the project, according to Bolaji Ariyo, the chief executive officer of Mami Chula Beach and one of the impacted property owners in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road construction.

Last week, David Umahi, the Minister of Works, said that the Federal Government would compensate property owners impacted by the demolition required for the building of channel 0 to channel 3 with N2.75 billion.

Revealing this information during a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos State, he urged everyone to stop politicising the project and acknowledged Ariyo (a Yoruba man) as the largest property owner affected.

Ariyo, in a viral video interview with Channels TV, said he shared the project’s vision “even if it causes inconvenience for a small number of people.”

He said, “I understand when a government is promising to make life easy for the entire Nigerians.

“Some of us are affected, no doubt about it, but those affected are not up to 0.1 per cent of the millions that will enjoy the coastal roads.”

He also urged the people to support the president and the minister so that the project can come to fruition.

“That’s why people like me have taken it to heart to also support Mr President and the honourable minister to ensure that this road comes to life,” Ariyo added.

In an interaction with journalists on Saturday, the minister said no structure belonging to the Landmark beach resort was demolished, adding that only shanties erected on the government’s right of way were affected.

“Landmark has unfortunately made so much noise about this. I have revisited the place, and I can say none of his infrastructure is affected.

“Just the shanties are affected and they are bulldozed already. We are passing our coastal bridge within the right of way of the Federal Government.

“I have directed that the beach should be shut down for tomorrow and there is no beach. The place is owned by people who are sand filling it, and at the end of the day, there is no more beach.

“Those who are playing politics with it can go ahead. My job is simple: to pass the coastal road. It’s in a right-of-way within the coastal corridor which is the legitimate right-of-way of the federal government.”

Landmark employees recently staged a protest opposing the sand filling of the beach for road construction.

A post on X from Landmark Africa, the parent company of the beach, in reaction to the exercise, read, “What we built in six years was destroyed in six hours,” alluding to their investment believed to be around $200m that has been turned to ruins. They, however, promised to be back.

…urges Abia PDP faithful not to panic over exit of party chieftains

…as ex-chair, Sen Nwaka blames successors over party’s woes

Former Senate President and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to order, “before he plunges Rivers State into a needless political crisis.”

Wabara stated this while reacting to the latest move by pro-Wike lawmakers, and the call by the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the Rivers House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Recall that APC Chairman in Rivers, Tony Okocha, weekend, asked the lawmakers to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against the Governor, a call that has been supported by 21 Local Government Chairmen in the state.

The former Senate President who accused Wike of stoking the face-off between Gov. Fubara and the lawmakers, warned that Nigeria might not survive any instability in Rivers State considering the state’s economic importance to the country.

Senator Wabara appealed to President Tinubu to prevail on Wike to give peace a chance and allow his successor to discharge his constitutional roles without undue influence.

“I want to appeal to Mr President to call his appointee, Nyesom Wike to order so that his actions in Rivers do not confirm the suspicion that APC has an agenda to turn Nigeria into one party state. Wike should allow peace to reign in Rivers State.

“Mr President should appreciate the importance of Rivers as a major revenue base of the country, and should the trouble they are stoking erupt, Nigeria will definitely not escape the aftermath.”

The PDP BoT Chairman, further advised members of the Rivers House of Assembly not to yield themselves as agents of distabilization of the state “because history will not be kind to them.”

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He reminded the gladiators to carefully weigh the grave implications of any attempt to forcefully remove a democratically-elected Governor or President from office.

The former Senate President who warned that the PDP would not tolerate any further intimidation or persecution of the Governor, urged “all those involved in the political brouhaha in Rivers to give peace a chance”.

On the mass exodus of PDP members in Abia State, Senator Wabara who said such scenario was not unexpected, however, urged the party faithful not to panic.

He said that the elders of the party had initiated moves to half further exit of members, describing the development as the after effect of the impunity of the last PDP-led administration in the state, and its utter disregard to internal democracy and party supremacy.

Wabara further noted that some chieftains who are leaving the party are doing so for self protection while some join the bandwagon without any deep thought of their action.

He urged PDP members in the state to remain resolute and support the on-going efforts to rebuild and reposition the party for a winning spree in 2027.

Sen. Nwaka blames succesors for party woes

Meanwhile, a former Chairman of PDP in Abia State, Senator Emma Nwaka, has blamed the collapse of PDP in the state on the weakness of the party leaderships that emerged after him.

He regretted that his successors could not sustain his legacy of party supremacy but surrendered their authority to government officials as a tool of oppression against perceived opponents within the party, hence the current ordeals of the party.

Senator Nwaka was reacting to the gale of resignation that has hit the state chapter of the party, describing members exiting the party as ” food-is-ready politicians”.

Recall that a number of former PDP bigwigs including a presidential aspirant and former Deputy Speaker Abia House of Assembly, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe; former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji; ex-lawmaker, Hon. Jerry Uzodike; former Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo; among a host of others had resigned their membership of the party.

While some defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, some joined the ruling Labour Party in the state, while others are yet to disclose their next destination.

Reacting to the development, Nwaka who said he was not surprised at the goings-on in the party, however, blamed some party officials for the woes of PDP in Abia.

He recalled that while he held sway as the party Chairman in the state, he was able to rebuild the party but regretted that those who came on board after him, reduced themselves to stooges in the hands of some self-conceited government officials.

He said: I am not surprised at all with the turn of events. What you’re witnessing is symptomatic of food-is-ready politicians. Instead of rebuilding the party they destroyed, they have chosen to become mere tenants elsewhere.”

Asked how the said decampees destroyed the party, the former PDP boss said:” I am sure that you have heard that PDP, Abia State was comatose as at 2010 when I was head-hunted to come and rebuild it.

“Without thumping my chest, it is right to say that my team and I did a good job of the assignment. My five years at the helm have been described as the golden years of the party. I returned the party to its winning ways. During my time, party affairs were conducted from the party secretariat and party members had a say but the moment I turned my back, all that changed.

“Party officials, after my exit, lost control. They started taking instructions from a few government officials, who weaponized the party against perceived enemies within the party. They sat in Umuahia and decided who would be an officer of the party at the ward level.

“As if that was not enough, the three Senatorial Structure of the State became non-existent in their minds and ceased to be the basis for the allocation of offices.

“Abia, for them, was made up of old-Bende and Aba Districts. In the process, Abia North Senatorial Zone, was alienated. All these and more, laid the foundation for the death of the party.

” Instead of making efforts to rebuild, the food-is-ready politicians chose to abandon their sinking ship.”

On whether he is still in PDP or also planning to leave, Nwaka retorted: “The once vibrant party is now a ghost of itself. To remain there would be like having a one-man party. So, I have decided to join the Siddon Look Party (SLP). New members are welcome. We’ll soon build it into a formidable party: Better to build than to destroy- is our motto.”