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TD Jakes, bishop of The Potter’s House, a megachurch in the United States, suffered a health scare after delivering a sermon on Sunday.
As Jakes rounded off his sermon with a prayer, social media videos showed how his movements slowed.
“The meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord,” Jakes prayed amid laboured breaths.
“My strength and my redeemer, let them go in peace,” he added with his head bowed while slowly lowering the microphone.
Soon afterwards, the bishop’s head began to bob back and forth as his body jerked awkwardly.
Church officials ran towards him to prevent an imminent collapse.
In a statement on Facebook, The Potter’s House said the renowned pastor and author received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.
“The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers,” the statement added.
The church did not share if Jakes was hospitalised following the incident or what may have caused it.
Renowned Nigerian comedian and actor, Okechukwu Anthony Onyegbule, popularly known asOkey Bakassi, has argued that polygamy is a more suitable form of marriage for Africans, claiming that monogamy is failing in the region.
Bakassi shared his views during a conversation on the Honest Bunch Podcast, where he expressed that many couples in monogamous marriages are merely pretending to be happy.
He said, “Forget all the lip services that we pay to polygamy here. I still think that polygamy is the best form of marriage for Africa. Monogamy is not working.
“We are pretending. Now, what’s the difference between polygamy and monogamy? Polygamy says you can marry two people at the same time. Monogamy says you cannot marry them at the same time, you have to let one go. What if you don’t want to let one go?”
Similarly, Nollywood veteran Stephen Alajemba, better known as Uwaezuoke, has controversially claimed that having less than three wives is sinful.
He warned that men with one or two wives face risks, including being poisoned by their spouses.
In an interview with Ugwumba TV, Alajemba explained, “It’s a sin to marry one or two wives. But if you marry three or four, you will be free from sin. If you marry one wife your life is at risk. The safety of the director is in the hands of the security. If you marry two wives, they will conspire to poison you.
“But if you marry three or more wives, they will all be on their own and you will only be providing for them. You will be taking turns with their meals and bedrooms.”
You Lack Ideas, Clear Vision’ – Obaseki Fires Okpebholo Over Plans To Probe His Administration
AFOLABI
Former Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has knocked Governor Monday Okpebholo decision to probe his (Obaseki) administration, saying it is a diversionary tactic to mask his incompetence and unpreparedness for office.
Recall that Okpebholo had approved the formation of a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to investigate the administration of his predecessor.
The committee is tasked with verifying the state’s assets and liabilities under the previous administration.
But reacting in a statement to Naija News on Sunday, Obaseki’s Media Aide, Crusoe Osagie, said his principal ran Edo’s most transparent government.
He stated that the barrage of empty probes by Okpebholo is a smoke screen to mask his incompetence and unpreparedness for office.
According to Obaseki’s aide, Okpebholo is devoid of ideas and lacks a clear vision to drive development in the State, noting that the Edo governor is resorting to cheap political theatrics and using a circus of meaningless probes to distract from his glaring incompetence and lack of direction.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a laughable and utterly ridiculous statement by the Monday Okpebholo’s administration setting up a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to probe the administration of his predecessor, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, who is globally acclaimed to have run one of the most transparent, accountable and prudent government’s in the history of Nigeria.
“This is another in the list of the barrage of meaningless probes which the governor and his directionless government is embarking on since they got into Dennis Osadebey Avenue through the back door. From probing civil servants’ employment to probing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and probing vehicles and other assets of government, among others, the governor-select has continued to show that he is bereft of ideas and lacks a clear vision for the development of the State and has therefore resorted to these charades of empty probes to buy time and distract from his incompetence and unpreparedness for office.
“His plan is to treat Edo people like an undiscerning mob that you can distract with a show like the duel of gladiators in the Ancient Roman Colosseum. But Okpebholo will soon learn that he is the governor with the hardest job in Nigeria because the Edo people of Edo State are wise and can hardly be fooled. His diversionary probes may succeed in deceiving people in some States in Nigeria but certainly not those in Edo State.
“He should stop his futile and failed attempt to fool the people of Edo State who have already seen him for who he truly is: a politician out of his depth who has become a tool in the hands of his many godfathers who are thirsty for vendetta, having for long been denied access to the people’s patrimony by the immediate past government of His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
“It is on record that the Obaseki administration achieved an unprecedented level of transparency in governance, laying a solid foundation for fiscal discipline, which was why it was able to accomplish the numerous milestones recorded across various sectors of the State, including the economy, education, agriculture, infrastructure, among others. Under Obaseki’s watch, the State developed its first asset register, containing all the government’s assets, which has since been handed over to the new government.”
He added: “So, we know what their plans are with the diversionary probes. It is just a smokescreen to mask the governor-select’s incompetence and unpreparedness for office, having come into power through a stolen mandate.
“We want to advise Okpebholo to focus on governance and improving the lives of Edo people rather than waste state resources masking his incompetence in meaningless probes. Edo people are watching and his short-span government which lasts until the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reclaims its mandate duly given to it by Edo voters will be judged not by the noise it makes but by the impact it delivers.”
Buhari And Malami Oppressed, Removed ex-CJN Onnoghen To Perpetrate Electoral Mischief, Secure Second Term – Edwin Clark
AFOLABI
Elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has alleged that former President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), oppressed and humiliated former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
According to Clark, Buhari removed Onnoghen at all costs in order to get away with “the mess and mischievous things they wanted to carry out” during the 2019 presidential election.
Clark stated this in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Sunday, where he commended the judgment of the Court of Appeal acquitting Justice Onnoghen of all charges of false declaration of assets, following a settlement agreement with the Federal Government.
He faulted the suspension of the former CJN by President Buhari, noting the constitutional provision that placed the power to appoint and suspend a CJN in the hands of the President, the National Judicial Council, and the National Assembly.
The Ijaw leader also urged President Tinubu not to allow sacred cows to exist in his government, noting that the constitution did not provide immunity for life for a former President.
Clark said, “As for the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, in his own case, ‘a Daniel has come to judgment’. I knew he was not fairly treated; he was oppressed and humiliated by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
“At this juncture, let me say this: President Tinubu’s government must not allow sacred cows to exist in Nigeria, no matter whose ox is gored. There is no one who is above the law in his own country. A president of a country is just one of the ordinary members in the country, but once elected, enjoys immunity. There is nowhere therefore in the constitution or any legal document where it is stated that immunity is for life.
“Today in Nigeria, we have corrupt Presidents and some of them today are accusing their successors of corruption without looking back at what they themselves stole while in office but no one dares to touch them. Perhaps, it is an irony of fate for the former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was one of the Supreme Court Justices whose judgment favored President Muhammadu Buhari in his presidential election case in the Supreme Court in 2011.”
Clark also alleged that the former President removed Onnoghen from his position as CJN prior to the 2019 general elections because of “the mess and mischievous things they wanted to carry out,” during the elections, again describing Buhari’s actions as “disgraceful, callous, unjust and so barbaric”.
“He (Buhari) allowed him to rise to the post of CJN but he saw that, that was not good enough for him because if Justice Onnoghen was to remain the CJN, the mess and mischievous things they wanted to carry out during the presidential election in 2019, Justice Onnoghen would not accept it and the best thing was to remove him, and this was the secret plan between President Buhari and his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
“The show of shame that took place at the time was so disgraceful, callous, unjust and so barbaric that instead the President of Nigeria, who swore to an oath of office that he would maintain security and welfare of Nigerians, chose to stoop so low in order to humiliate a fellow Nigerian because he wanted to be President of Nigeria at all costs for a second term. It is a shame which Nigeria has just recovered from,” he stated.
The former Commissioner for Information faulted the silence of the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council during the ousting of the former CJN from office, while commending Justice Kekere-Ekun and the Court of Appeal’s judgment acquitting Justice Onnoghen.
“I am, therefore, very happy to have read that both the judiciary, particularly the Court of Appeal and the former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, have come to an amicable settlement, and I wholeheartedly congratulate him for passing out the ordeal he was subjected to by the former President, and I pray God will protect him and for him to always have the courage to fight for his right because Nigeria belongs to all of us and we are all equal citizens,” Clark said.
The Senior Special Assistant to former President Buhari, Garba Shehu, did not comment on the issue.
However, an official in the previous administration, who pleaded anonymity for lack of authorisation to speak on the issue, told one of our correspondents that the decision of the Buhari government to suspend Onoghen from office was justified under extant laws.
The official said, “The case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Onoghen was the non-declaration of assets, an offence against the laws of the land, the Constitution. The records are there at the Code of Conduct Bureau that Onoghen had never declared his assets, but only twice: when he was appointed as acting CJN and when he was appointed as CJN.
“That was the only time he declared his assets. Never, as a high court judge, appeal or Supreme Court Justice. And he admitted that he didn’t declare his assets. And all these bank assets that they said should be released to him, the truth is, even when he declared as CJN, he did not declare those assets. But the man, by his admission, said that he did not declare. Is that not enough to fire him?
“So, if the government of the day decides that he has not committed any offence and that they have waived it off, then they can let him off the hook. That is a political decision.”
The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has said that President Bola Tinubu, his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, and other previous heads of state were not fully prepared before taking over power.
He insisted that Tinubu and other past leaders found themselves in power by accident.
Kukah stated this on Sunday while delivering a keynote address at the official commissioning of Start-Rite School’s new building and the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja.
He lamented that the fundamental element missing in Nigerian leadership is knowledge.
The clergyman expressed concern that democracy appears to be malfunctioning under successive administrations.
He stated, “If we are to start from the beginning, you will find that almost every leader who came to power in Nigeria did so as a result of one accident or another. President Tinubu, who said he was prepared for the role, is struggling. We are still trying to get off the ground. He took over from Buhari, who had already given up.
“Buhari succeeded Jonathan, who thought he would retire after being deputy governor, but circumstances thrust him into power. Jonathan succeeded Yar’Adua, who had planned to return to teaching at Ahmadu Bello University after his governorship.
“Yar’Adua, in turn, succeeded Obasanjo, who was unexpectedly released from prison to become president. Obasanjo took over after Abacha, who was being positioned by five political parties to rule indefinitely until nature intervened.
“Abacha succeeded Shonekan, who was a business executive at UAC before being called to serve as Head of State. We can go on and on, but the fundamental issue in governance is knowledge. Leaders need a deep understanding of their environment.”
Kukah stressed that while the world has changed, the expectations of leadership have not.
Former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), has accused PresidentBola Tinubu‘s proposed tax reform bills of being discriminatory and favouring a few states, particularly Lagos, at the expense of others.
In an interview with Vanguard, Ningi alleged that the reforms, rather than addressing national issues, cater disproportionately to Lagos and two other states.
He described the bills as an attempt to exploit citizens’ silence and push through an inequitable fiscal agenda.
“The crux of the bill lies in its discriminatory nature,” Ningi emphasized.
He further criticized the President for disregarding the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which had rejected the reforms.
Ningi expressed concerns that the bills were now being fast-tracked through the National Assembly despite NEC’s objections.
“It’s disturbing that, after failing to convince the NEC, the President is now attempting to push these bills through the National Assembly,” Ningi said.
The Senator highlighted the inequitable distribution of Value-Added Tax (VAT) revenues as a glaring example of the system’s flaws.
“This is not about North or South. The pains of Bauchi are no different from those of Anambra, Ebonyi, or Katsina. Lawmakers must stand united against these reforms for the sake of the country,” he said.
He explained that VAT collected in Lagos on goods sold in other states is retained in Lagos, leaving the producing states without a share of the revenue.
Ningi said, “You buy maize in Kaduna without VAT. When the maize is processed into Semovita in Lagos, VAT is collected when it is sold back in Kaduna. That VAT is returned to Lagos. Where is the fairness or ethics in this system?”
He also pointed to similar disparities in revenue allocation from petrol sales and airtime purchases, which benefit the locations of company headquarters rather than the states where the products are consumed.
Ningi called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal structure, proposing a system where resource-producing communities retain their earnings and pay taxes to the federal government.
“If these bills pass through the National Assembly, there will be consequences. Many will pay the price for their indifference, lack of patriotism, and outright unresponsiveness,”Ningi warned.
The bills, which include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and the Tax Administration Bill, among others, were transmitted to the legislature following recommendations by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele.
The Tax Reform Bills have faced pushback from some state governors, particularly from the northern region, who argue that the proposed derivation-based VAT distribution model would disproportionately disadvantage their states.
Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on Daniel Bwala, recently appointed as a spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of betraying his integrity for personal gain.
In a statement on Sunday, Ibe described Bwala as a man “without an iota of shame,” claiming he had conspired against his own dignity and values for selfish interests.
The remarks followed the circulation of a video compilation showcasing instances where Bwala, during his time as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, publicly criticized Tinubu.
Before his appointment, Bwala served as an aide to Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. His recent political alignment with Tinubu has sparked a backlash from his former party members and associates.
Ibe wrote in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Shut up, Daniel Bwala! If you had any iota of shame, you wouldn’t be eating your own vomit. Or is this the case of the hand of Daniel and the voice of Bwala?
“You are the master of conspiracy. For the sake of your stomach, you conspired against your own integrity and dignity.
“You are damn right about God exposing humans for who they are in the fullness of time. God has already exposed you as a duplicitous, “double-faced infernal traitor and schemer.”
Office of Nigeria’s Auditor-General of the Federation has uncovered irregular payment for contracts amounting to N197.72 billion in Rural Electrification Agency agencies, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, a subsidiary of Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company and other ministries, departments, and agencies in the country.
The details of the findings were disclosed in the Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses, covering activities between 2020 and 2021.
These violations include irregular payment for contracts, and payment for jobs partially executed or not executed at all, contravening the country’s financial regulations and procurement laws.
Specifically, N7.386 billion was the amount of irregularities in the award of contracts by 32 MDAs.
REA topped the chart with N2.12 billion while NSPM recorded the least with N11.7 million.
“The sum of N7,386,551,051.09 (seven billion, three hundred and eighty-six million, five hundred and fifty-one thousand, fifty-one naira, nine kobos) was the number of irregularities in the award of contracts by 32 ministries, departments and agencies.
“The Rural Electrification Agency, Abuja, has the highest amount of N2,117,143,168.09 (two billion, one hundred and seventeen million, one hundred and three thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight naira, nine kobo), while the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc (NSPM) has the least amount of N11,720,000 (Eleven million, seven hundred and twenty thousand,” the report indicated.
The worst revelation of the report showed that the sum of N167.59 billion was paid for jobs or contracts that were either partially executed or not executed at all. This contravenes Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations, which prohibits payments for services or goods not yet delivered.
In this aspect, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, an agency in the country’s power sector accounted for N100 billion of these irregular payments, making it the highest in this category. Meanwhile National Centre for Women Development recorded the lowest irregularity at N2.17 million.
The report read, “The sum of N167,592,177,559.40 (one hundred and sixty-seven billion, five hundred and ninety-two million, one hundred and seventy-seven thousand, five hundred and fifty-nine naira, forty kobos) was the number of payments for jobs/contracts not executed by 31 ministries, departments and agencies.
“The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc., Abuja, has the highest amount of N100,000,000,000.00 (one hundred billion naira), while the National Centre for Women Development has the least amount of N2,171,766.44 (two million, one hundred and seventy-one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-six naira, forty-four kobo).”
Similarly, the report also uncovered violations of due process in contract awards amounting to N20.33 billion across 24 MDAs.
The violations are against Section 16(21) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 which requires strict adherence to procurement plans and mandatory approvals before contract awards. Meanwhile, the audit report found that these requirements were often ignored or violated. The report showed that NSPM, a subsidiary of CBN was responsible for the highest amount of due process violations, totaling N14.14 billion, while the Corporate Affairs Commission had the least, at N8.98 million.
“The sum of N20,334,104,016.27 (twenty billion, three hundred and thirty-four million, one hundred and four thousand, sixteen nairas, twenty-seven kobo) was the number of contracts awarded in violation of due process by 24 ministries, departments and agencies.
“The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc Abuja has the highest amount of N14,136,472,333.16 (fourteen billion, one hundred and thirty-six million, four hundred and seventy-two thousand, three hundred and thirty-three naira, sixteen kobos) while the Corporate Affairs Commission has the least amount of N8,980,603.72 (eight million, nine hundred and eighty thousand, six hundred and three naira, seventy-two kobo),” it added.
Financial corruption has been the bane of Nigeria’s problem. In July 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics’s corruption survey report showed that Nigerians paid N721 billion as bribes to public officials in 2023.
[DailyPost]
SERAP to Tinubu: Probe alleged missing N57bn in humanitarian affairs ministry, punish offenders
Admin
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the alleged diversion or theft of over N57 billion from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.
The organisation also claimed that hundreds of billions of naira were reportedly missing from other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
SERAP urged Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), alongside relevant anti-corruption agencies, to thoroughly probe these allegations.
The claims are detailed in the 2021 audited report recently released by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
SERAP stated: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
The organisation further urged the president to utilise any recovered funds to address the deficit in the 2025 budget and impose an immediate moratorium on government borrowing to alleviate Nigeria’s mounting debt crisis.
In a letter dated 23 November 2024, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and made available to Vanguard, the group said: “The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.”
The letter, read in part: “Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations and other ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs].
“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, [the Ministry] in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion [N54,630,000,000.00] meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021. The money was ‘not directly paid to the beneficiaries.
“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.
“The Ministry also reportedly failed to account for over N2.6 billion [N2,617,090,786.00] of public funds meant for the ‘home grown school feeding programme during Covid-19’, as ‘the programme was never executed.’
“The money was allegedly paid to five contractors to ‘procure, package and distribute Covid-19 palliatives to Kano, Zamfara and Abia states,’” but without any trace.
“The Auditor-General fears the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.
“The Ministry also reportedly spent over N78 million [N78,373,909.74] to ‘carry out a survey on the Ministry’s Covid-19 response to states and vulnerable groups’ but without any approval or document.
“The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing or have ended up in the pockets of ‘incompetent contractors’. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.
“The Ministry also reportedly failed to account for N39.5 million [M39,500,000.00] ‘personal donations to different personalities’. The money ‘was paid directly to the minister as reimbursement,’’ among others.
SERAP warned that; “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.
“The country’s wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations.
“These allegations can promptly be investigated and suspected perpetrators named and shamed. Taking these steps would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.
“Prosecuting the allegations and recovering any missing public funds would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators.”
SERAP, urged the President, to urgently address the widespread and systemic corruption in MDAs, as documented by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, including in the 2021 audited report and previous reports.
“Tackling corruption in MDAs would go a long way in addressing the budget deficit and debt problems.
“SERAP urges you to immediately enforce the judgment by Hon. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordering your government to release the spending details of N729 billion by Mrs Sadia Umar-Farouk, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development.
“Investigating the allegations and naming and shaming and prosecuting those suspected to be responsible for the missing public funds and recovering the funds would end the impunity of perpetrators,” SERAP maintained.
[Vanguard]
The Akwa Ibom ministry of education has commenced an investigation into the nutrition of boarding students at Presbyterian Senior Science College.
A video, which has now gone viral on social media, shows the college students eating meals in sub-human conditions.
The video also showed the deplorable state of the dining area in the school.
Idongesit Etiebet, the state’s commissioner for education, has ordered the suspension of Nse Sunday Umoh, the school’s principal, till the end of the investigation.
In a statement, the commissioner assured that the investigation will be focused on the key facilities of all 26 public schools in the state.
She further emphasised the need for parental support while stating the state’s commitment to the well-being of the students.
“Following from the very disturbing video where students were fed with unpalatable and non-nutritious meals at Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, I paid an unscheduled visit to the school,” the statement reads.
“I have directed a comprehensive investigation into the state of boarding facilities in the school and the other 25 boarding secondary schools across the state.
“This review, which will focus on hostels, dining halls, recreation areas, menu, kitchen, and sanitary facilities, will be jointly overseen by the permanent secretaries of the ministry of education and the state secondary education board.
“Consequently, I have also directed the immediate suspension of the principal of the school, Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh pending the outcome of the investigation.
“Although the free education policy of the state government covers tuition fees only and not boarding fees, the welfare and dignity of all students, especially those in public schools, remain a priority of the Umo Eno-led administration.
“We appeal to parents who have already been greatly relieved of the burden of tuition fees to undertake basic parental responsibilities to support their children in secondary schools.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that all public school facilities meet irreducible minimum standards that uphold the well-being of both learners and staff.”
[TheCable]
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Economic Hardship: Come Up With Policies That Will Allow Nigerians Breath – Shettima to Tinubu
AFOLABI
The National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima has urged President Bola Tinubu to change economic policies that do not bring hope to Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview with The Sun, Shettima pleaded with the Tinubu-led administration to be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians and introduce favorable policies.
He insisted that those in power must come up with policies that would allow Nigerians breath.
According to him, “There is nothing bad in dropping a policy that does not give hope to the people.
“They should come up with policies that will allow Nigerians to breathe”.
Speaking further, he said, “That an economic policy has worked somewhere successfully does not mean it must work here in Nigeria. So, the government must be very sensitive concerning the policy models they import into our situation.
“This country is hugely blessed and there is no reason for Nigerians to be in this mess if the government decides to be more sensitive to the plight of the people. Yes, there is hunger, there is insecurity and Nigerians want to see gradual progress taking place.
“Yes, the time may still be too short for an objective assessment of this government, yet something better than what Nigerians are experiencing is possible.
“So, the onus is still on the government to raise the leadership bar that will inspire hope on the people.”
He, however, blamed the current economic woes on the immediate past government led by Mohammed Buhari, saying it will take years to correct their errors.
“The reality as I have said is that the government cannot reverse the damage of the Buhari regime as easily as most Nigerians think.
“They cannot even reverse all the mess in four years, but Nigerians should begin to see conscious relief, improvement and the government coming up with policies that give hope,” he added.
An irate mob has set ablaze two men said to be revenue touts allegedly working with Anambra State government.
According to Vanguard, the men were set ablaze after reportedly causing the death of an innocent bystander at Old Market Road along Venn Road by Egerton in Onitsha, Anambra State.
It was gathered that the revenue agents were dragging the steering wheel of a tipper driver with him, when he lost control and the vehicle rammed into the by-stander, killing him immediately.
A gory video circulating on the internet showed the mob beating two of the revenue agents with objects and setting them ablaze.
A man, who made the video recording of the incident, said, “There was chaos in Onitsha this morning as angry mob set ablaze two revenue touts, while four others were lucky as they managed to escape. The revenue collectors, numbering about six were chasing the tipper driver over a certain amount they asked him to pay.
“As they were chasing him, some of them were dragging the steering with him, but unfortunately, in the process, the tipper driver lost control rammed into a passer-by, killing him instantly.
“Immediately, the revenue collectors saw the damage they have caused, they tried to flee the scene, but Onitsha mob got angry and descended on them, setting ablaze two of them instantly while four of them managed to escape.
“This is one death too many that has been going on in Anambra in the last two years. The person who the tipper driver rammed into is a known person. We cannot continue like this anymore. These Revenue touts of the state government have killed more Ndi Anambra than non-state actors.”
Another source, who is a trader also said, “Onitsha was hot this morning at Egerton by old market road. Revenue men were dragging steering with a tipper driver because he refused to give them bribe and in the process, the vehicle ran over an innocent man, then seeing the result of their stupid action, they tried to run away. But the angry people chased and caught two of them.”
Speaking to the aforementioned publication, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had responded swiftly to bring the situation under control.
Ikenga said: “Anambra police responded swiftly on the receipt of the fatal accident that happened in that area. We are already working with the relevant authorities to ascertain what happened and find an amicable solution to such, especially on future occurrences. I will get back to you as soon as I get more facts on the incident, please.”
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared that citizens would resist any attempts to impose Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, as the next governor of the state.
This statement follows recent endorsements of Seyi as a potential successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027 by some groups.
One of such groups, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, issued an endorsement on Tuesday in Owerri, Imo State, suggesting that Seyi would be welcomed to run for governor in Osun or Imo states, where his family is reportedly from.
Similarly, a socio-political group, Friends of Seyi Tinubu, also endorsed him, describing the president’s son as a visionary leader with a rare combination of intellect, empathy, and strategic acumen.
However, their endorsements have drawn criticism from various stakeholders.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Lagos PDP spokesperson, Hakeem Amode, rejected the idea, saying, “Lagos will not serve him.”
He questioned whether governorship should become an inheritance, suggesting that it was inappropriate for a son to inherit such a role from his father.
“Governorship is not a gift,” he stated, stressing that if the Tinubu camp were to resort to tactics similar to those used in Ondo and Edo states in the past, it would be met with resistance.
He further reminded that many Lagosians did not vote for Tinubu in the last presidential election which was an indication that they would not support his son for governor.
Earlier, the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths also condemned the idea of a Tinubu family member taking over the governorship, insisting that non-indigenes should not be allowed to govern Lagos State.
But the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, dismissed the conversation about the 2027 elections as premature.
“It is too early to be discussing the 2027 elections,” he said, urging people to focus on supporting current government.
He said, “We should rally behind the governor and the president now to advance development.”
Earlier, a prominent APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, also weighed in on the issue, on his Facebook page.
“Who are these faceless people pushing Seyi Tinubu for Lagos Governor? This is a needless distraction. The real target is to bring down President Bola Tinubu. Ruling Lagos is not a job for amateurs,” he wrote.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asserted that its criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is delivered with the same fervor as during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Murtala Aliyu, the Secretary-General of the forum, disclosed this during an appearance on News Night, an Arise TV programme. He emphasized that the ACF, while political in nature, remains neutral and does not align with any partisan agenda.
He said, “I think that’s an unfair judgment to say we criticize the government because a Southerner is at the helm of affairs.
“We were huge critics of the last northern-led administration, and our records can verify this.
“We have consistently brought attention to government actions and pressed for improvement when necessary.
“The ACF’s official position is that selecting candidates is the responsibility of political parties.
“We’ll assess which candidate is better for the country and the north. We’re not partisan, but rather political, and our interest is the entire northern state and its benefit to the whole country.
“We don’t take sides, and we’re not against any person, including the current president.”
Aliyu’s remarks came after the reported announcement that the ACF will support a northern candidate in the 2027 general election.
On Wednesday, Mamman Osuman, ACF national chairman, criticised northern leaders for not finding solutions to the region’s challenges.
Osuma queried the roles the regional governors and lawmakers are playing toward improving the economic hardship inflicted on the people by Tinubu’s policies.
He reportedly announced the support of the forum for a northern candidate in the 2027 general election.
Subsequently, the ACF suspended Osuman for issuing an unauthorised statement, adding that he did not consult with other leaders and members of the forum before remarking.