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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has identified weak institutions, corruption, poor governance and the quality of leadership at the national, state and local government levels as some of the challenges hindering Nigeria’s development.
In a speech at a lecture to mark the country’s 64th independence, Governor Yusuf gave an assessment of the progress made in its democratic journey.
The governor commended the two speakers at the lecture, Prof. Kamilu Fagge and Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, for their contribution while they “incisively engaged us on topics that are of paramount importance to both Kano State and our country as a whole.”
He described the topics addressed as apt and reflecting the realities of national life, especially in the areas of governance, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of development.
In his assessment, Governor Yusuf raised questions on whether the democratic ideals of freedom, justice, and equality have been fulfilled.
He said: “As it is everywhere globally, the success of Nigeria’s democracy is tied closely to the quality of leadership.
“As a developing nation with a complex political landscape, leadership challenges, such as corruption, weak institutions and lack of accountability, have hindered national progress.
“A lecture focusing on leadership challenges will certainly allow for a deeper analysis of the role leaders at both state and national levels play in the country’s successes and shortcomings.
“Although the topics address national issues, its specific focus on Kano State is highly relevant. States are the building blocks of Nigeria’s federal structure, and the progress of individual states contributes to the overall success of the nation.”
Turning his attention on his own government and state, Governor Yusuf said that by repositioning Kano State to address leadership and governance challenges, it sets an example for other states on how to create a model of good governance that can be replicated nationwide.
He said, “Allow me to also remind you that the future of Nigeria is deeply linked to the development of its states. A brighter future for Kano State can serve as a small-scale version of the broader national aspiration for a prosperous Nigeria.
“By addressing state-level challenges in leadership, education, health, and infrastructure, these topics emphasise the importance of localized governance as a stepping stone to national success.
“We must recognise that democracy is a journey, and the success of that journey is largely dependent on the quality of leadership at every level — national, state, and local government.
“We in Kano State are fully committed to playing our part in strengthening the democratic process and building institutions that foster good governance.”
Governor Abba, who used the opportunity to highlight some of his achievements in education, health, security, agriculture, and public service reforms among others, said as Kano State looks to the future, his administration will continue to build on those achievements.
He called for the active participation of all citizens and unity in the spirit of patriotism, hard work, and dedication to the values that define Nigerians as a people.
“Let me therefore urge all of us to use this anniversary as a time for reflection, and renew our commitment to building a prosperous, secure, and inclusive Kano State and Nigeria at large,” he said.
[DailyTrust]
Popular actress Biola Adebayo recently opened up about the challenges she faced at the beginning of her career during an appearance on “Nollywood on Radio.”
Adebayo shared that she lost acting roles because she refused to date certain influential people in the industry.
She also recalled being pressured to lighten her skin, with someone suggesting she “tone it up a little” to advance her career.
Adebayo also discussed her podcast, “Talk To B,” which she started because of her natural ability to connect with people.
She explained: “For some reason, people are drawn to me and trust me with their secrets—even those I am not close to. I began to think about how I could impact people’s lives beyond just presenting and decided to create a platform where I could connect with and support ordinary people.”
The impact of her podcast has been significant, transforming many lives in a short time.
Adebayo revealed that over N10 million has been raised for various causes, including over 35 million naira for individuals needing accommodations.
The podcast has also helped people facing marital challenges, provided urgent assistance, and supported those in need of therapy or counseling.
Adebayo emphasised: “Talk To B” has become a source of hope for those without other places to turn, especially victims of abuse and those facing life’s most challenging situations.
[TheNation]
A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ondo state, Gbogi Emmanuel, has resigned his membership of the party.
Mr Emmanuel tendered his resignation letter on Saturday, citing that the ruling party under President Bola Tinubu has now become a “weapon of poverty.”
He explained that the party has made life miserable for the people, stressing that it was evident in the economic hardship in the country.
“More so, APC is now considered as a weapon of poverty and misery for the masses evident in the economic hardship that plagues the land.
“I hold the firm belief that politics is not only about winning elections, it is about bringing succour and dividends of democracy to the people we represent,” Mr Emmanuel said in the letter.
In the copy of the letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 6, Akoko South West Local Government, the party chieftain said the ruling party also failed to uphold the true tenets of democracy and disregarded loyalty among members.
According to Mr Emmanuel, the decision to exit the APC was well thought-out, especially after wide consultations with his family and political associates in Akoko land.
“My decision stems from failure of the party to continue to uphold the true tenets and principles of democracy which include fairness, equity, impartiality, rewards for loyalty and bringing dividends of democracy to the masses.”
He noted that the party now has a new practice of “rob Peter to pay Paul” and described the primary that produced Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor and governorship candidate of the APC, as “shabby and shoddy.”
Efforts to reach Ade Adetimehin, the chairman of the APC in the state, for his reactions on the telephone did not yield results.
A text message sent to his official line was still pending as of press time.
Mr Emmanuel’s resignation from the party is coming few days after a chieftain of the party in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe, decried the hardship Nigerians are facing amid the high cost of staple foods in the country.
Mr Igbokwe, who took to his social media page, lamented how the price of rice and other grains have skyrocketed under the present administration in the country.
The party chieftain had always been a strong ally of Mr Tinubu and joined his campaign during the presidential election.
Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says more than 40 percent of Nigerian electricity consumers now enjoy over 20 hours of regular supply daily.
The milestone was revealed during a review of the ministry’s achievements over the past year as part of the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
In a statement on Sunday, Adelabu attributed the progress to several “revolutionary measures” implemented with the support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He said the ministry’s initiatives are aligned with the president’s renewed hope agenda, which aims to enhance industrialisation through consistent power supply.
“The major achievement is the fact that today we generate over 5,500 megawatts of power, we transmit and distribute it, and over 40% of customers today enjoy over 20 hours of regular power supply across the nation,” Adelabu said.
“You can see that there is a significant improvement between when we came in and now, which we intend to improve further.”
Adelabu said the ministry is striving to enhance this achievement by the end of the year, as reliable power supply is one of the key campaign promises of the president.
He stressed the critical role of stable electricity in developed nations, linking it to economic success.
“This is why you see great economies like Korea, China, Europe, and North America industrialised today. Their stability in electricity supply has been instrumental to their economic growth and industrial development,” he said.
“That is why we say that we must achieve this for Nigeria as a country. We need to achieve the requisite economic growth and industrial development.”
‘RELIABLE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY WILL ENHANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH’
Adelabu said the ministry’s vision is to provide reliable and affordable electricity to households, businesses, and institutions.
This, he said, will enable the country achieve the desired economic growth and industrial development.
Reflecting on the ministry’s progress since the inception of the administration, the minister said the installed generation capacity has increased from 13,000 megawatts to over 14,000 megawatts.
He said this was made possible by the addition of new hydroelectric power plants and improvements in existing facilities.
Adelabu outlined several key reforms, including the signing of the new Electricity Act 2023, which decentralises power generation, allowing subnational governments to participate in the electricity market.
He said the liberalisation of the sector has paved the way for private sector to also participate in the electricity supply industry.
In the infrastructure space, the minister highlighted the successful commissioning of 10 power transformers and mobile substations under the presidential power initiative.
He also acknowledged ongoing efforts to close the metering gap, noting that over 7 million Nigerian households are still without meters.
“Within a year, we completed the pilot phase of this project, which involved importing 10 power transformers and 10 power mobile substations. They have arrived; we have installed them, and we have commissioned them,” the minister said.
“Therefore, the electricity stability that we enjoy today is not by accident. It’s because of all these transformers and mobile substations that we commissioned and installed.
“There is the issue of the meter gap that we have. We all know that out of almost 13 million customers that we have in the industry, over 7 million customers are still without meters and are on estimated billing.
“We said this is not the way to go. We must correct this, which is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu set up the Presidential Metering Initiative, which has the mandate of installing over 10 million meters within the next five years, at least 2 million meters on a yearly basis.
“We are making progress on this. The funds are being provided, and we will soon go into the acquisition of these meters. This would reduce the meter gap.”
‘WORLD BANK SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO REDUCE METER GAP’
Adelabu also said the World Bank is supporting these efforts through the distribution recovery programme by procuring and installing 1.8 million meters.
He said the contract of about 1.5 million meters has already been awarded and within the next two months, these meters will start arriving.
The minister also announced a special electricity supply initiative for the nation’s universities and other institutions aimed at preventing frequent power outages and ensuring they continue to benefit from lower tariffs.
“We have a program which we call the Nigerian electrification program, whereby we have about 34 universities to be energized through solar energy sources. I think we have completed about 13 now, and they are almost due for commissioning,” he said.
“We have plans to do this for some of the teaching hospitals and some of our military formations.
“We have electrified over three million people through these mini-grids across the rural areas nationwide.
“We also have what we call the solar home systems that we give to each household, providing them with some point of light, some point to charge their phones, and some points for farming.”
[TheCable]
The World Bank says it has approved three new financing totalling $1.57 billion to support Nigeria.
The Washington-based organisation announced in a statement on Monday.
The international lender said the approved funds will support the federal government in strengthening human capital through better health for women, children and adolescents.
World Bank also said the approved projects would also help build resilience to the effects of climate change such as floods and drought through improving dam safety and irrigation.
“The World Bank has today approved three operations for a total of $1.57 billion to support the government of Nigeria in strengthening human capital through better health for women, children and adolescents and building resilience to the effects of climate change such as floods and droughts through improving dam safety and irrigation,” World Bank said.
“The new financing includes $500 million for addressing governance issues that constrain the delivery of education and health (HOPE-GOV), $570 million for the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program (HOPE-PHC) and $500 million for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN).
“The HOPE-GOV and HOPE-PHC programs combined will support the government of Nigeria to improve service delivery in the basic education and primary healthcare sectors which are critical towards improving Nigeria’s human capital outcomes.
“The SPIN project will support improvement of dams’ safety and management of water resources for hydropower and irrigation in selected areas of Nigeria.”
According to the international lender, the HOPE-GOV programme will support Nigeria to address underlying governance weaknesses in the systems and procedures of government in two key human development sectors.
“It will particularly focus on critical cross-cutting challenges and enabling factors related to both financial and human resource management in basic education and primary healthcare sectors,” the World Bank said.
“The program will increase availability and effectiveness of financing for basic education and primary healthcare service delivery, enhance transparency and accountability of financing and improve recruitment, deployment and performance management of basic education teachers and primary healthcare workers by federal, state, and local governments.
“In support of the government’s newly launched reforms in the health sector, under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the HOPE-PHC project will improve the quality and utilization of core reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition services to substantially reduce maternal and under five mortality and to improve the resilience of the health system— benefiting 40 million people, especially vulnerable populations.”
The World Bank also said the HOPE-PHC project is financed by a concessional $500 million International Development Association (IDA) credit and an additional $70 million in grant financing from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF).
“The GFF support includes $11 million from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and $12.5 million from the Children’s Investment Foundation Fund (CIFF) through joint financing with the GFF to help close the financing gap for primary and community healthcare and maternal newborn care at hospital-level, while also supporting government efforts to ensure sustainable financing for family planning commodities,” World Bank said.
“The SPIN Program will help Nigeria to protect citizens from floods and drought through enhanced dam safety and operations. The project will further support the provision of new and improved irrigation and drainage services over an area of 40,000 hectares.
“This will help up to 950,000 people that includes households, farmers, and livestock breeders to directly benefit from more reliable, climate-resilient, and efficient irrigation, water supply and increased agricultural productivity through improved irrigation water management.
“Through the SPIN project, the government will develop a master plan for hydropower and a structured public private partnership transaction for a hydropower project.”
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FUND WILL ADDRESS DIFFICULTIES FACED BY WOMEN, GIRLS
Commenting on the development, Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Nigeria, said the new financing for human capital and primary healthcare will help to address the complex difficulties faced by Nigerians, especially women and girls around access and quality of services.
“Effective investment in the health and education of Nigerians today is central to increasing their future employment opportunities, productivity, and earnings, while reducing poverty of the most vulnerable,” Diop said.
“The SPIN program is timely and will protect Nigerians from floods and droughts in the areas where it will be implemented, while enabling an increase in hydropower generation.”
He also said the World Bank is ready to work with the federal government and other stakeholders to deliver the programmes.
Diop added that the direct positive impact of the project on people and livelihoods is enormous.
40 companies producing chemicals, leather in Nigeria shut down over faulty economic policies
AFOLABI
The National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, weekend, said no fewer than 40 companies in the sub-sector of the economy have shut down in the last three years due to economic instability in Nigeria.
The outgoing President of the Union, Babatunde Olatunji, who disclosed this, also criticized President Bola Tinubu for removing petrol subsidy, describing it as a contributing factor to the country’s economic woes.
Olatunji spoke during the 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the association, held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Speaking on the theme ‘Leading the Union in an Era of Economic Instability’, Olatunji said: “As of today, no fewer than 40 companies have closed down within the past three years due to economic instability.
“The hasty removal of fuel subsidy without considering measures to cushion its potential negative effects has been the starting point of the current economic challenges.
“The removal of the fuel subsidy should have been a gradual process, implemented in phases, rather than an outright removal without taking into account the feelings of the masses.”
Olatunji stressed that a top-down approach to decision-making could only lead to dissent, suggesting that decisions in a democracy should be made from the bottom-up to reflect the interests of the people better.
He urged the Federal Government to drastically reduce the high cost of governance, address insecurity, fix refineries, strengthen the modern railway system, and revamp the power sector to better serve the needs of the populace.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products’ Employers Federation, CANMPEF, Femi Oke, warned that the negative trend would only worsen the already high unemployment rate in the country and urged Tinubu to address the issue urgently before the situation deteriorates further.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has approved construction of a modern psychiatric hospital in Obi Akpor Local Government Area.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), his estranged godfather is from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor.
Both Wike and Fubara have been at crossroads over the control of Rivers State, with the minister accusing the governor of turning his back against those who helped him to the top.
Speaking at a reception organized for him by a group, the Ijaw Peoples Assembly, in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, Wike boasted that when the time comes, he would teach Fubara and his supporters a big lesson in the state.
He said: “Imagine in Rivers they are contemplating of APP. It is not about money. Money does not move. You can have all the money but if there is no capacity there is no capacity.
“All the things you see are people envious of our growth. We have defeated them severally and if opportunity comes again, we will defeat them We have not started politics, when the time comes, we will play politics. Our job is politics. Tell them to keep their party ready. We will teach them what is called politics.”
But responding at the Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service organised as part of activities marking the 64th Independence Day Celebration of Nigeria at St. Paul’s Cathedral of the Anglican Communion at Garrison Junction, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, Fubara said what he did in one year outweighed the performance of his opponents in 8 years.
“They even say, they don’t know what we are doing. Let me remind them, it is Fubara that signed the paper to borrow from Zenith Bank the N200billion for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. So, it is my project. It is Fubara that awarded the Trans-Kalabari Road that they couldn’t do. They did only a bridge from Krakrama, but I am the one doing it: the complete span, and it is N225billion. I didn’t borrow.
“It is this same Fubara that is building a General Hospital, which I also included a Psychiatric Hospital because they will need it very soon. So, tell them that what I did in one year is what they did in 8 years. It is only empty container that makes noise. If God has given you opportunity, eat your plantain and keep quiet. God will continue to give us the strength to do the best for our people, without fear.
“Very soon, you will see what we are doing. It is not about doing roads to your business interest. I don’t have any business interest. Whatever I am doing, I am doing it for the people of Rivers State. We will not take any decision that we cannot defend. We won’t be part of anything that will bring any form of disgrace to our dear State. This State is important to us. It is the only thing that we have.
“It is the beautiful pride. That is why they are struggling, coupled with the improvement in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) we have done. That is why they are struggling, we know. But, do it with modesty, you don’t need to destroy the house.”
Fubara said if his opponents continue to deride the grace of God on his life, they will continue to struggle for public recognition or approval.
He said his policy in office is not to embark on “mere jamboree” of groundbreaking for projects but assured that any project started will be inaugurated and actually put to public use.
“So, please, I will beg everyone of you, God has given us this opportunity, we must safeguard it. They are the ones looking for a way to destroy it.
“They didn’t believe we will get to this point, and I can tell you I had a reason for inviting all the candidates for the local government election for this service.”
As the leadership tussle between many factions in the Labour Party, LP, in Cross River State persists, the defection of Brian Odey, the lawmaker representing Yala state constituency 1 in the House of Assembly is yet another serious blow that has been dealt on the beleaguered party.
Over the weekend, the leadership of the state ruling party, APC, formally received Brian Odey and other defectors in a grand event.
Odey joined the APC in Yahe Ward of Yala LGA.
Both factions led by Ogar Osim and John Ushie, told the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission, CROSIEC, that they are ready to field candidates for upcoming Council elections on October 25, 2024.
Another lawmaker who was also welcomed to the APC is Martins Achadu, he represents Yala 2 State Constituency and officially defected to the APC in the Ijiraga ward.
Receiving them, Speaker of the Assembly, Elvert Ayambem described their move as a strategic decision for the APC, describing both as experienced lawmakers and passionate for their constituencies.
“Brian’s arrival is not only a personal joy for me, but it is also a victory for the APC. His dedication and commitment to his constituents will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and success of our party,” the Speaker remarked.
Former Edo State governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has criticized incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, labeling his tenure as a failure and asserting that there is nothing in Obaseki’s eight years in office to justify support for the candidate he endorsed in the just concluded gubernatorial election.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Oshiomhole expressed skepticism regarding Obaseki’s influence on the electorate, stating that the governor had effectively “burned his bridges” with those who once supported him.
This breakdown in relationships, he claimed, has left Obaseki as a “lonely man” in politics, isolated from the very constituents he needs to rally behind his chosen successor.
The Senator said, “God knows that Obaseki misgoverned the state, he defrauded the people, he jailed innocent women, he did a lot of terrible things that any man who has the fear of God will not do to his own people, and he’s proud to say ‘I will crush, I will crush’. Every other minute, he will say ‘I am the Chief Security Officer.’ In the process, he forgot that these powers belong to the people, the sovereignty belongs to the people. They delegate you, they entrust you, believing that you will do good to them.
“Instead, you used the power to threaten, you made promises you never kept, so there was nothing. And even the royal father, he was fighting him. He fought everybody, whether you looked for his trouble, didn’t look for his trouble, for Obaseki, crushing people was [for] himself a way of life. So, we are very happy now that we have consigned him to the dustbin of political history.
“As a person, he is my friend, but as governor, he was a failure,” he added.
Oshiomhole went on to say, “That we defeated Obaseki and Asue Ighodalo should be quite predictable. There was nothing either in Obaseki performance nor Asue’s credentials that would have made them win the elections, and I said that before to this channel that Asue is not electable. Now what are the facts? Obaseki is like the proverbial blind man who in 2016, he rode on my back as an outgoing governor, we crossed the river, and he didn’t allow his leg to touch the water, and so, he didn’t understand what it took to become a governor.
“In 2020, again, there were internal crisis in the APC, Obaseki again had the backing of some elements within the APC, and of course, the very Wike that he’s demonising now, Governor Wike, as he then was, left Port-Harcourt to Benin, and the REC they were protesting against, that same REC was in Benin. Again, Obaseki rode on the back of Wike and elements and what became known as PDP Legacy Group, together with some of the elements in APC. They took him to cross the river for the second time without his leg touching water. And so, twice, he was being described as the iron man.
“And so this time around, he has burned all the cables, he has divided the PDP into two, the legacy PDP left him, Wike left him, I left him, his deputy left him, and so he was now a lonely man. And now, he had to cross the river using his own strength, he just found that in the process he got stuck inside the river, which he himself predicted that once he loses the election, he said the election was a do or die. Now Edo people have done it, and he is dead.”
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he would always stand for what is right, but won’t give his liver or kidney to anybody in the name of loyalty.
Governor Fubara made the declaration on Sunday in what is believed to be a direct response to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
It would be recalled that Wike had on Saturday, while speaking at a reception held by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Rivers State, among other things, said he made Fubara the Governor of the State, but the Governor turned his back against him and others who worked for him after the election.
But speaking on Sunday, at the Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service organized as part of activities marking the 64th Independence Day Celebration of Nigeria at St. Paul’s Cathedral of the Anglican Communion at Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt, Fubara maintained that he belongs to the school of thought that believes in doing the right thing even if they are in the minority.
“As a matter of fact, I belong to that school of thought that if I am the only person that needs to stand on that side of right, I will stand there. I don’t need anybody to stand with me. I cannot give my kidney or liver to anybody, I won’t. If that is the only reason for me to be loyal, I will not be. But, I will not do the wrong thing. I will stand for the side of right,” Fubara said.
Responding to the allegation by Wike that he is behind an attempt to bomb the venue of the grand civic reception by Rivers Ijaw People’s Council, RIVCO, at Rainbow Town, in Port Harcourt on Saturday in his honour, Fubara denied any such responsibility.
The governor maintained that he had never instructed any security agency to do something wrong.
He said, “I make bold to say it, there is no security agency in this State that I have called any day to go and do something wrong. I have never. I don’t have a need for it. But I know what they do, and they keep failing because God has left them.”
The Governor also used the opportunity to highlight some of the projects being executed by his administration while responding to the allegations of not doing anything in Rivers State.
Fubara said he has done more in one year than what Wike did in his eight years as Rivers State Governor.
Mocking Wike, Fubara said the psychiatric wing is included in the General Hospital project because those attacking him would need it soon.
The Governor explained that he signed the contractual sum of N200billion loan papers from Zenith Bank to fund the construction of the 50.15-kilometer dual carriage Port Harcourt Ring Road as project started by his administration, adding that his administration is embarking on the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road project worth N225.1billion, plus the General Hospitals together with the Psychiatric Hospital in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, among others, which nobody can lay claims to at all and that the projects were being funded without borrowing.
“They even say, they don’t know what we are doing. Let me remind them, it is Fubara that signed the paper to borrow from Zenith Bank the N200billion for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. So, it is my project. It is Fubara that awarded the Trans-Kalabari Road that they couldn’t do. They did only a bridge from Krakrama, but I am the one doing it: the complete span, and it is N225billion. I didn’t borrow.
“It is this same Fubara that is building a General Hospital, which I also included a Psychiatric Hospital because they will need it very soon. So, tell them that what I did in one year is what they did in 8 years. It is only empty container that makes noise. If God has given you opportunity, eat your plantain and keep quiet. God will continue to give us the strength to do the best for our people, without fear.”
“Very soon, you will see what we are doing. It is not about doing roads to your business interest. I don’t have any business interest. Whatever I am doing, I am doing it for the people of Rivers State. We will not take any decision that we cannot defend. We won’t be part of anything that will bring any form of disgrace to our dear State. This State is important to us. It is the only thing that we have.
“It is the beautiful pride. That is why they are struggling, coupled with the improvement in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) we have done. That is why they are struggling, we know. But, do it with modesty, you don’t need to destroy the house,” he said.
In another veiled dig at Wike, Governor Fubara also insisted that making noise is a sign that such a person has lost relevance.
“God has a reason for allowing the devil or the evil one to stay long. It is not that He can’t take him or take them away but He gives them time to repent. And when they continue, He will come heavily, and then, they would say, it would have been better that they had left when they had time. That will be our story in this State. But, you see, anybody that is making noise for recognition, it is a sign that he has lost it. By the special grace of God, I don’t need introduction. I have the name, and I am the one standing here.”
The Rivers State Governor also insisted that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the ongoing crisis.
“As a matter of fact, I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but I know that there will be election that I am conducting. So, I have to invite you to come and receive prayers. And little did I know, the Bishop gave you the prayers.
“For those of you that are going to participate in the election, please, I want the election to be peaceful, very important. When you emerge, our major concern is the people. Care for the people. We have taken Rivers State into a different driveway,” he said.
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The various changes in government policies have continued to tell on Nigerians especially the recent increase in fuel pump prices across the country.
This year alone, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has adjusted petrol pump prices upwards twice from N617 to N855, N950 in Lagos state (depending on the fuel station) and above N1,000 in other states within two weeks in September.
Despite these changes, which have tremendously affected market prices and the cost of transportation, Nigerians have devised various means of survival.
But the recent increase has not gone down well with some Nigerian workers’ Economy& Lifestyle discovered.
This has made them resort to resigning from their jobs or sleeping in their workplace to cut costs as they can no longer meet up with the increased cost of transportation which is digging deep into their salaries.
Mr. Dotun Owoyemi, who works on the Island and receives a five-figure Salary lamented: “I live on the mainland and work on the Island.
“Before now, I spent N800 to and fro my workplace.
“Now, I spend N2,500 to N3,000 daily.
“Those commercial bus drivers are not helping matters at all either.
“A destination of N200 fare, they increased it to N500. That of N100 to N300.
“I earn just a five-figure salary and spend almost half of my monthly salary on transportation alone.
“This is not funny at all. I had to resign from work because this N70,000 minimum wage is not functioning in all private organizations truth be told.
“This fuel price increase pays a few people not salary earners.
“If you visit the market today, you will marvel at the negative effect of this new policy on the prices of goods.
“Many businesses have tagged the cost of fuel to the recent increase in the price of goods and services.
“I am still looking for a job on the mainland that is close to my house and will spend less transport fare compared to my previous workplace.”
Miss. Sandra Douglas said:”I’ve resigned already. I live around Elelonwo in Port Harcourt and was working at King Perekule, GRA. I spent N52,000 for transportation in a month for a job whose salary was not up to N100,000.
“I was working but couldn’t feed myself.”
For Mrs. Dorcas Chukwuma, a midwife who works in Marina, “I worked as a midwife in one of the private hospitals in Marina but resigned recently due to the high cost of transportation.
“I was not the only one in my workplace that resigned.
“There were four of us.
“Living on the mainland and working on the Island is not easy at all, especially now that the cost of transportation has tripled.
“The cost of food and services has also followed.
“I just had to source for another hospital on the mainland where I can work and spend less transport fare instead of spending all my salaries on transportation just to work on the Island.
“It is a pity that the government when introducing policies doesn’t consider the masses.
“This fuel price increase has introduced more poverty in the country.
“We were complaining that people are suffering, now husband’s will no longer go home to their family daily because they have to cut costs, young and old will have to come out of their houses to beg because those relatives giving them can hardly fend for themselves.
“We don’t even know our destination as a country anymore.
“Our government has failed us.”
Apart from resigning from jobs, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, who works in Lekki said he now sleeps in the office during the week and returns home on Fridays to cut transportation costs.
“I work in Lekki and live in Abule Ado. Within two weeks of the increased fuel price, my transportation fare grew from N2,000 a day to N4,000.
“ I don’t receive up to N100,000 salary in a month.
“So I started sleeping in the office on weekdays and going back home on weekends.
“It is so ridiculous because these private companies are also struggling to survive and cannot increase salaries.
“If private companies implement the so-called N70,000 minimum wage, many employees will lose their jobs.
“Except for companies that are resilient to all the effects of these economic policies which I doubt are in existence.”
Presidential candidate of Nigerian Rescue Movement in 2023, Felix Osakwe, has refuted reports that he called for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation as Petroleum minister.
He denied too that he never advocated removal of Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari.
The clergyman- turned politician, in a statement in Abuja, said there was no truth in the reports, stressing he did not speak to any media platform or their agents.
The Ukwuani, Delta State-born politician, noted that the President had been on the path of re-engineering the economy, saying but for his reformist agenda, Nigeria would have gone into extinction.
Osakwe said he couldn’t have sought Kyari sack because, to him, the group managing director was a suitable manager of our resources.
Kyari, he said, was doing his best for Niger Delta, a far cry from when youths went on the rampage.
The politician noted security of Petroleum infrastructure in the region was an initiative of the Kyari-led management so, “why would a rational and well-meaning citizen like me call for sack of such a top-notch manager of our resources?
“He is fighting oil thieves through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. Tantita has never faltered in the discharge of its duties but has almost brought economic saboteurs to their knees.
“That unfortunate report was a figment of the platforms’ imagination – a miscalculated attempt at causing me embarrassment and public odium.
“I couldn’t have granted such reckless and ill-motivated interview calling on the President to resign his position. I was the first candidate to congratulate Mr. President on his victory on NTA.
“I have worked with President Tinubu’s administration with goodwill from me and my party. The report was unprofessional, mischievous, dubious, and ethically fraudulent.
“The story must be pulled down and retracted, else they will meet me in court.” he said.
The former candidate called on Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s administration, maintaining the President was setting the nation on the path of rebirth and recovery.
The Nasarawa State Police Command says it has arrested one Khadija Aliyu for allegedly stealing a seven-day-old baby girl during a naming ceremony in the Keffi area of the state.
This is just as the command also arrested an ex-convict, Hussaini Mohammed, for allegedly stealing motorcycles in the same area.
PUNCH Metro learnt in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Rahman Nansel, on Sunday, that the suspect was arrested at about 6:30 pm on Saturday.
Nansel said the suspect had pretended to be pregnant and, while the christening was ongoing, she sneaked into the house and stole the baby who had been laid to sleep.
She was said to have carried the baby on her back, covered her with a veil, and escaped before being tracked down by police operatives.
He said, “At about 6:30 hrs, police operatives attached to the Keffi Division arrested one Khadija Aliyu for stealing a seven-day-old baby girl during a naming ceremony in Keffi.
“The suspect, who had been claiming to be pregnant, attended a naming ceremony at Behind INEC office, Keffi.
“While the event was ongoing, she sneaked into the house, stole the baby that was laid to sleep, carried the child on her back, covered her with a veil, and escaped before she was later arrested.”
In another incident, Rahman disclosed that Mohammed was apprehended for allegedly stealing motorcycles in the same area.
According to the PPRO, Hussaini, who was recently discharged from a correctional facility, was apprehended during the investigation into a case of stolen motorcycles.
Nansel said, “During the investigation, three motorcycles suspected to be stolen items were recovered from the suspect as exhibits.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu Nadada, called on members of the public with cases of stolen motorcycles to visit the Angwan Lambu Division in Keffi with proofs of ownership and lay claims to the items.
PUNCH Metro reported in July 2023 that a 19-year-old woman from Ishehi Hamlet in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State was arrested by the police for allegedly stealing a newborn baby.
The suspect, Hajara Usman, had allegedly stolen the infant after conspiring with an 18-year-old man, Ibrahim Usman, of Dugurgama Hamlet.
The Bauchi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, said the suspect was arrested after a resident of the Galawa Area of Akuyam District in Misau LGA reported the incident at the Akuyam Police Outstation that his daughter’s newborn baby was stolen at about 4:30 am.
The Adamawa State Police Command on Saturday night rescued and arrested a young man who climbed a 33kv high tension pole in the Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area headquarters insisting that President Bola Tinubu must resign before he would come down.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguruje, told PUNCH Metro exclusively on Sunday evening that the man, who police kept his name secret, was rescued on Saturday night, and is in custody in the state capital.
“The command is going to parade the man today (Monday) for attempting a suicide, You know attempting to commit a suicide is a criminal offence under our constitution, so we are going to charge him to court, “ he said.
Nguruje told our correspondent that it is the constitutional duty of the police to protect lives and property and that when any individual wants to take his life, he will face the full wrath of the law.
Our correspondent made several calls to the PPRO to disclose the name of the man, but he promised to do so without releasing the name at the time this report was filed.
On Friday morning, the market day of Mayo Belwa, the young man climbed the 33kv high tension along the Yola-Jalingo highway, insisting that he would not come down until the President vacated the presidential villa.
PUNCH Metro investigations revealed that the Adamawa State Police Command engaged the services of the locals in the area who finally convinced the man to come down on Saturday night.
When our correspondent visited the police headquarters on Sunday evening, it gathered that the young man was in protective custody in the Criminal Investigating Department of the Adamawa Police Command.