The contractor handling the $6 billion 3.9 megawatts (MW) Mambilla Hydro-power project, Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, has said there was due process in the award of the contract.
In a statement, the company’s Chairman, Leno Adesanya, faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Committee (EFCC) for declaring him wanted.
Adesanya also said his company had no regrets about paying the medical and travel expenses of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye.
Agunloye is on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged fraud in the contract award to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, Adesanya faulted EFCC for accusing him of bribing Agunloye 21 years after he left office with N3.6 million by paying his medical bill and travel expenses.
“This criminalisation strategy of the Federal Government using institutions, including the EFCC, is manifest in alleging that I facilitated the payments of N3.5 million, N500,000 and N1.12 million (a total of N5.22 million) to Dr. Agunloye in 2019 for his medical treatment in Florida (the United States of America).
“This is laughable because Dr. Agunloye left the government 21 years ago and ceased to be a public officer in 2001.
“There is no alignment between my kindness of 2019 and the build, operate and transfer (BOT) contract of 2003.
“Who waits for bribes to be paid 16 years after a contract has been awarded?
“Which minister will collect N12 million bribe for a $6 billion (today’s rate N11 trillion) BOT contract? Definitely not a Nigerian security guard, let alone a minister.
“In the absence of any credible defence to Sunrise’s claims, the Federal Government, through the EFCC, has continued to desperately hunt down potential witnesses and to scandalise the underlying contract.
“In support of this objective, the EFCC has now secretly filed a charge against SPTC (in charge Number: FCT/HC/CR/618/2023 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Sunrise) pending in a court located in the remote village of Jikowi, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and bounded by Nasarawa State.
“To date, the said charge has not been served on me or Sunrise.
“However, to create leverage in the ongoing dispute, the Federal Government, acting through the EFCC, has now hurriedly declared me a ‘wanted person’ without any justification.
“It is on record that I relocated out of Nigeria in December 2017 due to an assassination attempt on me in December 2017.”
Insisting that he is not on the run, Adesanya added: “I am not missing and have never been missing. I have always made known my willingness to meet and work with Nigerian law enforcement officials at any location where there will be no threat to my life or person.
“Nigerians, what is more fundamental in all that I have said is the need to really understand why the Mambilla project has been stalled for years. One is endemic corruption, and the most dangerous is the issue of the ethnic card.”
Adesanya said he was told sometime in March 2020 that “the North will never allow a Yoruba man to be the local content partner for the Mambilla project”.
Explaining the role of his company in the project, Adesanya said: “In 2001, we established Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTC) as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to drive this power project.
“In furtherance thereof, SPTC established working relationships with several Chinese state conglomerates, such as North China Power Group (NCPG), China Hydroelectric companies (Sinohydro Corporation of China), and China State Construction (CSCEC).
“Sunrise arranged several meetings for the FGN, and these included meetings in Nigeria and China for then President (Olusegun) Obasanjo and the then Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and, as a result, two Chinese Presidents visited Nigeria to discuss the Mambilla Project with the FGN.
“The construction of the Mambilla project was based strictly on a Build, Operate and Transfer structure (BOT) without any funds from the FGN, which means that SPTC and its Chinese partners would source for the funds.
“To date, no money has ever been paid by the FGN to Sunrise and/or Leno Adesanya in respect of the BOT contract.
“Accordingly, in 2002, the then Power Minister, Dr. (Olusegun) Agagu, of blessed memory, initiated an international tender and bidding process, and based on the analysis of the tenders, the committee recommended the Sunrise Chinese Consortium of Sinohydro and NCPG for final negotiations, which led to President Obasanjo’s written approval in November 2002; before Dr. Olu Agunleye was appointed Power Minister.
“In April 2003, Dr. Olu Agunloye, in compliance with earlier approval of November 2002, sought and obtained then President Obasanjo’s ‘No Objection’ written Approval to award the $6 billion BOT contract to Sunrise – without any financial commitment from the FGN.”
Adesanya said former President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that existing agreements be honoured, but it was not complied with.
He added: “Stunned by its manifest lack of any defence or justification for the unilateral cancellation and breach of its binding contractual obligations to Sunrise, and the likelihood of being found liable for breach of contract, the FGN through its various security agencies has now resorted to attempting to criminalise and scandalise the Mambilla Power Project with the sole aim of evading the consequent legal contractual obligations of the Federal Government arising from breaches of agreements with Sunrise.
“As a sign of good faith, if the Federal Government is fully determined to execute the 3050MW Mambilla hydropower project as approved by then President Yar’Adua, and reconfirmed severally by President Goodluck Jonathan, I am ready to mobilise my Chinese Consortium partners only if His Excellency Mr. President will personally sign all the financial commitments to the Chinese Eximbank, Corporate and Financial Institutions who had demonstrated their commitments to the project in the past.”
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has revealed his latest venture: XMail, a new email service that could challenge Google’s dominance in the market.
Musk announced his social media platform, X, where he confirmed that XMail is “coming” soon. He did not provide further details about the service’s features, launch date, or pricing but hinted that it would be integrated with the X app.
The news comes amid a wave of panic among Gmail users, alarmed by a hoax image claiming Google was shutting down its popular email service by August 2024. The image, which looked like an official email from Google, went viral on X and other social media platforms, causing confusion and outrage among millions of users.
Google quickly debunked the rumor, stating that Gmail is “here to stay” and that it had recently updated its interface to make it more user-friendly and colorful. However, some users remained skeptical and expressed interest in trying out XMail as an alternative.
Gmail is here to stay.
— Gmail (@gmail) February 22, 2024
XMail is one of many products that Musk has launched on his revamped social media platform, which he acquired from Twitter in 2022. Earlier this year, he introduced ChatGPT, a conversational AI assistant that uses natural language processing to generate realistic and engaging responses. Some users have praised ChatGPT as a fun and innovative communication method, while others have criticized it as a potential source of misinformation and manipulation.
Musk has also stated that his ultimate goal for X is to make it an “everything app,” a one-stop shop for all online services and activities. He has hinted at developing other products such as XPay, a digital payment system, and XTube, a video-sharing platform.
Some experts believe that XMail could be a game-changer in the email service industry, which Gmail has dominated for over a decade. According to Demand Sage, a market research firm, Gmail has over 1.8 billion active users worldwide as of 2024.
Rhea Freeman, a social media strategist, told MailOnline that XMail “might happen” and that it would be “interesting to see the uptake.”
“Elon has made huge changes to Twitter and doesn’t seem to have public opinion on side, so whether people will trust X with their email management will be something to watch,” she said.
She added that XMail could have advantages over Gmail, such as being more secure, customizable, and integrated with other X products.
However, she also warned that XMail could face challenges, such as convincing users to switch from their existing email accounts, complying with data protection regulations, and competing with other email services such as Outlook, Yahoo, and ProtonMail.
It needs to be clarified whether XMail is being developed by xAI, a company that Musk founded in 2023 to focus on artificial intelligence research and development. xAI has been involved in some of Musk’s other projects, such as Neuralink, a brain-computer interface, and Starlink, a satellite internet service.
When we making XMail?
— Nate (@natemcgrady) February 22, 2024
Musk has yet to reveal when XMail will be available to the public, but some users are eager to sign up for it. Others, however, are more cautious and prefer to stick with Gmail, which they trust and rely on for personal and professional communication.
Despite Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rising above 3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023, experts have stated that the rising price of goods and commodities is pushing more Nigerians into poverty.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed that the economy grew by 3.46% in the fourth quarter of 2023 having slowed to 2.54% in the third quarter.
The NBS, in its latest report, stated that the Q4 GDP pushed the average 2023 GDP to 2.74% In 2023.
Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew averagely by 2.74% which was lower than the 3.10% the economy recorded in 2022.
The report showed that the performance of the GDP in the fourth quarter of 2023 was driven mainly by the services sector, which recorded a growth of 3.98% and contributed 56.55% to the aggregate GDP; while the agriculture sector grew by 2.10%, from the growth of 2.05% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022.
“In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP stood at N65.9trn in nominal terms. This performance is higher when compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 which recorded aggregate GDP of N56.7trn, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth of 16.12%.”
Oil production surges to 2-year high
The report indicated that oil production rose to an average of 1.55m barrels per day (mbpd) in the fourth quarter of 2023, highest since the third of 2021.
It said the daily oil production of 1.55 million was higher than the daily average production of 1.34mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2022 by 0.21mbpd and higher than the third quarter of 2023 production volume of 1.45 mbpd by 0.10mbpd.
On the other hand, the non-oil sector grew by 3.07%, which is lower by 1.37% points compared to the rate recorded in the same quarter of 2022 and 0.32% points higher than the third quarter of 2023.
It went on to say the agriculture sector grew by 14.94% year-on-year in nominal terms in Q4 2023, showing a decrease of 3.74% points from the same quarter of 2022.
Nigeria moving towards strata of poor country – Expert
Commenting on the GDP report, a financial expert and senior partner at SPM Professionals, Paul Alaje, noted that the Nigerian economy is far worse today when compared to 2021 or 2019.
Alaje pointed out that the situation had worsened and that the country could no longer be labelled a middle-income country but a poor country “because when you divide the real GDP by the exchange rate, it will give you less than $200bn. Where were we as of 2022? We were close to $500bn, which means more than half of the economy of Nigeria has disappeared into devaluation policies.”
He noted that despite the last seven months seeing income remain the same or increased, the rate at which commodity prices had increased was far more than the income that people were earning.
“What it means is that the purchasing power has significantly battered, and when the purchasing power is battered in a country that is poor, with high level of insecurity, high inflation and poor exchange rate, people will become poor, deprived and hungry.”
He said already, the economy was weak in 2022, thus, the comparison of 2023 with 2022 showed the economy further tanked.
A fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants of England and Wales, Alhaji Kabiru Ahmad, said while the economy improved, the agricultural sector did not do more owing to insecurity.
He said: “There should be a kind of producer price that will be a benchmark for trade in the agricultural commodity which is absent currently. You go to the market and the price is based on what the market brings. Before, at the end of any farming season, there will be an announcement on how much each commodity will be sold so that the farmer will know what he will get in the market.”
![Iyabo Ojo reacts as Lizzy Anjorin fails to show up in court after getting served [VIDEO]](https://www.withinnigeria.com/entertainment/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/photo-output-106-scaled-750x375.jpeg)
Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, Iyabo Ojo has reacted after Lizzy Anjorin failed to show up in court for their hearing.
A video shared by the actress on her Instagram page minutes ago reveals that Lizzy Anjorin did not show up for the court hearing with the said evidence in her possession.
Iyabo Ojo and her lawyer who spoke in the video disclosed that the case has been adjourned till the 10th of April and the court will be serving another order to her colleague.
The mother of two also mocked Lizzy Anjorin that the new order will be pasted everywhere on her wall to bring to her remembrance the date of the hearing, if she fails to accept it. Iyabo Ojo captioned the video:
“April 10th is round the corner……. the court will be serving you once again, Liz, and this time, the court has given the order for it to be pasted everywhere on your wall if you don’t accept it ……. this court se, we must go and you must bring all your evidence ???? by force by fire”
Months back, it was reported that Iyabo Ojo and Lizzy Anjorin stirred the internet by consistently washing their dirty linen publicly.
Iyabo Ojo had shared a video where she was mimicking and mocking Lizzy Anjorin humorously. Lizzy, obviously offended by this went on to reveal some intimate details about Iyabo Ojo, accusing her of promiscuity and being Gistlover, amongst other things.
Following the allegations, Iyabo Ojo threatened a legal action against Lizzy, demanding a public apology or risk paying N500 million for her libelous publication and if her terms were not met, be ready to be sued for N1 billion.
Their fight escalated when Iyabo Ojo made a mockery of Lizzy Anjorin after he was accused of stealing N90k at a jewelry market in Lagos.
Defending herself, Lizzy debunked the reports and blamed it on people like Iyabo trying to set her up.
Watch Iyabo Ojo and her lawyer speak in front of the courthouse below:
View this post on Instagram
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has thanked Nigerians for standing in solidarity with him during his travails in the United Kingdom.
Announcing the development, Ekweremadu’s successor and the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, detailed that the former Deputy Senate president thanked Nigerians from all works of life for their prayers and support.
Naija News reports that Ngwu stated that the former deputy senate president extended his greetings when he visited him in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the lawmaker representing Enugu West Senatorial District said Ekweremadu, who is currently serving a jail term abroad for organ harvesting, “acknowledged God’s mercy and kindness in his life, accepted his current situation with faith as well as grace, and did not express any sentiment suggesting that he had been forgotten by Nigerians.”
Senator Ngwu expressed shock, suggesting that the public was being led astray by those spreading false information about Ekweremadu.
He said he would never have bothered to provide a rebuttal if it weren’t for the need to safeguard the public from being misled by fake news.
The statement by Ngwu read, “It has come to the attention of the Senate Minority Whip and Senator for the Enugu West District, Distinguished Senator Osita Ngwu, that a malicious story has been circulated by some individuals, who are known for engaging in malicious activities.
“These individuals’ stock-in-trade involves targeting innocent citizens with false accusations and spreading rumours. Their claim that the distinguished Senator Ekweremadu is lamenting that Nigerians have forgotten him in London is completely false.
“The former Deputy President of the Senate holds a special place in the hearts of the people of the Enugu West District. No amount of cheap blackmail or indecent innuendos can alter the fact that he has served my constituents with excellence, and my people pray for his continued well-being and safety.
“I recently visited Senator Ekweremadu and had a lengthy conversation with him. During our meeting, Senator Ekweremadu expressed gratitude for the prayers and overwhelming support and solidarity he has received from Nigerians from all walks of life since his recent ordeal.
“It is worth noting that the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, a close friend of Senator Ekweremadu, was reported to have also denounced the diatribe allegedly published on social media by the nefarious group. Mr Obi cautioned them against hiding behind credible platforms to promote ulterior interests.”
Hardship: Tinubu Can’t Perform Magic, Economy’ll Improve Towards End of 2025 – Primate Ayodele
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The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has revealed when the economy will improve.
He said President Bola Tinubu cannot perform magic to ameliorate the current economic downturn Nigerians are facing.
He said the economy will improve towards the end of next year.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele warned that things might go worse if the government fails to do the needful.
He stated that the reason the economy will not be better is because the government has failed to listen to instructions that can take the country out of its present predicament.
“Let us be sincere with ourselves, both APC and PDP have failed Nigeria but the highest percentage goes to APC.
“The blame is on Tinubu because the situation got worse when it got to his turn. Nigerians should be aware that things will not get better this year.
“Tinubu cannot perform any magic and if at all things want to get better, it will be towards the end of next year.
‘’If we continue to pray and the government doesn’t do the needful, it will still lead to the same thing. For example, the palliative the customs did was a failure because it wasn’t planned.
“Why must they even wait till now before sharing it to people? What about the ones they have been seizing all these while?
“Why can’t they send them to all the states of the federation without middlemen and do it the right way?’’
Ace economist and chieftain of the Labour Party, Pat Utomi, has issued a stern warning that the naira may fall to N10,000 per dollar if nothing is done urgently.
Utomi gave this warning on Sunday at an event organised by activist Dr Moses Paul to mark the first anniversary of the 2023 presidential election.
He said the country was going down very fast because those in authority seem to be far from the people.
“Our country is dying before us; it is dying because the people don’t believe that those in authority are representing them and those in power don’t feel the people.
“They don’t act for the people and everything is running away. Going down very fast.
“This is like claiming this moment and acting like citizens to make this country work right now.
“We must not wait for the next election (2027) before we act, we need to take back our country right now.
“We need to take charge now because we know what to do that they don’t know what to do. If we don’t create our own security system, there will be no production, and if there is no production, the naira will reach N10,000 per dollar, I assure you.” he said.
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has announced that it is poised to begin a nationwide strike on Tuesday, February 27.
In a statement on Monday announcing the strike, the National President of AMBCON, Mansur Umar, said unless the Federal Government honours the agreement made with the association in 2020, the strike would commence.
It also called for the temporary suspension of all types of taxation on the bakery industry at the federal, state, and local government levels.
“The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria have critically accessed the state of our business operation, consequently demand the liberalisation of flour and sugar importation, reduction or total removal of import duties on major baking materials such as flour, sugar, butter, yeast, etc as applicable to other commodities as have recently been done by the Federal Government and provision of concessionary forex exchange to flour millers and other stakeholders as well as reduction of tariff on imported wheat and sugar,” it said.
It also called for the setting up of a price control and monitoring committee as allowed by the constitution as amended and other conditions that will enhance the ease of doing business in the country.
Drinkable water, a very important lubrication for the body system, has gone through many prices in the past few years, as Nigerians grapple to meet up with the increasing high cost of living.
Now, a bag of sachet water that was sold for N50 naira is now N500 in some areas.
Those who purchase water in less quantity now buy a sachet or two for N50.
Even the well-to-do Nigerians have gone through various means to cut costs in the area of water consumption.
Some have dumped bottled water, which now costs N300 per bottle in some cities; they now improvise by carrying sachet water in used bottles.
Some have resorted to boiling borehole water and sieving it into empty used bottles after it cools off.
This has reduced patronage and, subsequently, dropping the income of beverage hawkers.
Economy&Lifestyle discovered that to make ends meet, these hawkers have now returned to iced water (water poured in white nylons and refrigerated or added to block to get cold), as it was years back, which comes cheaper and affordable.
Such sellers are seen in school vicinities, market places and motor parks in smaller towns and cities in the country.
Mrs. Dorathy Ehis, a seller of sachet and bottled water in Benin said she had to improvise by selling ice water to increase sales.
“I never thought ice water would be sold in Nigeria again since the 90’s.
“But the continuous increase in the price of sachet and bottled water has left many drinking borehole water.
“My sachet and bottled water business is not moving at all.
“A bag of sachet water is sold for N500 here. It was sold for N300 a few months ago.
“In a day I sell 40 bags of pure water because those hawkers used to buy from me. But now, they only buy a few.
“So I added the selling of ice water which goes for three N20 because of the cost of nylon and boiling of borehole water before icing it.
“People bought it in large quantities to my surprise.
“Those women hawking water, request more for ice water than sachet and bottled water.
“If you go to the village markets on market days, you will find people hawking ice water and many buying it.”
Mrs. Sandra Momoh, a snack and water seller said: “I sell snacks and water outside a public school.
“Students cannot afford a sachet of water for N50.
“Also if you sell two sachet water for N50, you will run a loss because a bag is N500.
“So I had to improvise by selling ice water to increase patronage.
“I prepare the water by boiling it and when it cools off, I tie it in transparent nylons. Then I refrigerate them. When there is no electricity supply, I use ice blocks to make them chill.
“I sell it for N10 and they patronize me.
“I prepare up to 200 ice water daily and also ensure that the process of preparing the water is hygenic.”
Mr. Folawe Afolayan, a microbiologist, commended the initiative but expressed worry about the possibility of increased water borne diseases such as diarrhea due to unsafe and unclean water.
“It is a good innovation because I remember then in the 80’s and 90’s nobody was interested in sachet water but ice water.
“However, most borehole water are contaminated from the ground they are dug from ground to the septic tank which many do not clean.
“Drinking of unclean water can cause increase in waterborne diseases such as diarrhea.
“It is better for the government to look into the cost of producing clean water thereby making it accessible and affordable to the masses to save lives and avoid spending money on drugs to treat a break of water borne diseases.”
According to World Health Organization (WHO), 2022 State of the world’s drinking water report, “Unsafe drinking water is a driving factor behind the more than 1.5 million people who die every year from diarrhoea, most of them infants and small children.”
“Every one of these preventable deaths is a tragedy.
“Meeting the Sustainable Development Goal target of universal access to safe drinking water by 2030 will require countries and multilateral organizations to quadruple their investment – a small price to pay for the millions of lives saved.
“The progress we have made on increasing access to drinking water is fragile.
“Safe water is not a one-time investment. It requires monitoring and upkeep.
“At the same time, external factors threaten to roll back the gains we have made.
“Climate change is driving water scarcity and droughts, while flooding disrupts supplies and devastates communities. Pollutants threaten both human health and entire ecosystems.
“Urbanization and population growth are limiting the ability of cities to deliver water to the millions of people living in informal communities and slums, while in rural areas, low quality services, waterpoint breakdown, and distant, contaminated water sources are a daily reality.”
Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold, during a recent performance, took the time to acknowledge and honour people battling sickle cell anemia.
The vocalist shared a heartwarming message with the audience, particularly addressing those who have triumphed over the challenges of living with sickle cell disease.
Adekunle Gold revealed that he has been battling with sickle cell disease since birth but has successfully managed to lead a fulfilling life.
Adekunle Gold honours sickle cell survivors, reveals personal battle at concert
Despite his diagnosis, the singer expressed his gratitude for not only being able to cope with the condition but also for achieving success on the global stage.
He shared that despite a lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia, he has never let it hinder his career, emphasizing that he has never experienced significant health setbacks while performing worldwide.
During his heartfelt message, Adekunle Gold encouraged others affected by sickle cell disease to remain resilient and determined in pursuing their life goals.
Drawing from his own experiences, the singer urged individuals not to let the illness become a barrier to their aspirations and dreams.
The artist expressed his gratitude for his ability to manage the disease, acknowledging that the journey has not always been easy, but he remains thankful for his overall well-being.
As a symbol of solidarity and support, Adekunle Gold dedicated his performance of the song “5 Star” to sickle cell survivors
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The celebrity boxing match featuring prominent Nigerian actors Rykardo Agbor and Kelvin Ikeduba is making waves in the news, fueled by video footage circulating online.
Recently, the duo engaged in an electrifying entertainment event known as the “Celebrity Global Fight Concert,” held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the esteemed Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
In clips circulating across various platforms, Kelvin and Rykardo can be seen unleashing a barrage of unconventional moves within the confines of the boxing arena..
Their playful exchange of light jabs ignited a frenzy of excitement among spectators, fueling an array of animated reactions from fans across the board.
SEE VIDEO BELOW
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With the September 21 Edo State governorship election looming, the newly emerged governorship candidates from the three major political parties who may likely succeed the incumbent governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki; capturing their strengths and weaknesses.
Last week, Edo State was a beehive of activities following the primaries by the three major contending political parties in the upcoming September governorship election. On Thursday, February 22, The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state chose Mr. Asue Ighodalo as its standard bearer.
Ighodalo emerged as a candidate after defeating six other aspirants namely; the state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu; Osaro Onaiwu, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Arthur Esele, Martins Ihomoibhi and Hadizat Umoru. While Omosede Igbinedion withdrew from the race weeks before the election, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama declined to continue, citing irregularities in the process by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for his withdrawal
The following day saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), elect Mr. Monday Okpebholo and Olumide Akpata as their candidates respectively. While Akpata defeated Kenneth Imansuangbon, Prof. Sunday Eremosele Eboh, and Sergius Ogun to become the LP candidate, Okpebholo floored Dennis Idahosa and Sunday Anamero Dekeri to pick the APC ticket in a rescheduled primary.
The emergence of the three candidates will definitely turn the race into a battle royale because of their respective calibre and personalities. Two of the candidates, Asue and Okpebholo are from the same Edo Central senatorial district, while Akpata is from Edo South.
No doubt the emergence of Akpata in a contest for which the PDP and APC have chosen their candidates from the super minority Edo Central Zone (Esan) has created the fear of a possible massive disruption in the governorship contest. Many believe that his choice of running mate from Edo North will aid his planned upset of the governorship election equation.
Asue Ighodalo
Ighodalo is a consummate lawyer and successful businessman. He is a founding partner of Banwo & Ighodalo, a leading corporate and commercial law firm. His core areas of practice are corporate and project finance, securities and capital markets, energy and natural resources, and mergers and acquisitions. His early education was at King’s College, Lagos; and the University of Ibadan. Today, as Chairman of several top-notch organisations, Asue has had a remarkable journey, successfully led numerous high-stake negotiations, advised on critical legal matters, and directed strategic initiatives that have transformed organisations and achieved remarkable outcomes.
Born with a distinctive rarity and resolute devotion to justice, Asue embarked on a mission that birthed what has now become his legacy. He obtained his first degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan, a law degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and was admitted into the Nigerian Bar in July 1985.
Ighodalo is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (past Chairman of the Section on Business Law 2014-2016), International Bar Association (Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL)), Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, Institute of Directors Nigeria, Commercial Law and Taxation Committee of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
He was the Chairman, Board of Directors, Sterling Bank Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Levene Energy Group Limited, Edo State Investment Summit, DO II Designs Limited and Global Mix Limited. He also sat on the boards of Mainstreet Technologies Limited (ownership company of MainOne Cable Limited), Cardinal Stone Partners, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Christopher Kolade Foundation, Boff & Co. Insurance Brokers, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (NGO focused on the development of healthcare practitioners) and Kashim Ibrahim Foundation, Kaduna (NGO focused on the leadership development of Nigerian youths).
He is the immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and he also served on the Board of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, May 2017-May 2021, and was Chairman of Dangote Flour Mills Plc. Throughout the administration of the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, he was a member of the state Economic Team chaired by the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki, as well as the Chairman of Obaseki’s Alaghodaro, which in Benin parlance means progress.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ighodalo is a compassionate and philanthropic individual, channelling his success towards making a positive impact on society.
He has authored many articles in leading law publications and also delivered presentations on diverse subjects including a biannual seminar on ‘Contemporary Political History of Nigeria’ at the Nigerian Leadership Initiative Future Leaders class and the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) class. He also lectured on the roles and duties of directors and corporate governance at the Lagos Business School and the Institute of Directors. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Economics by the Edo University, Uzairue in November 2021.
He is ever-learning and seeking continuous growth through training and certifications. They include International Institute for Management Development (IMD)- (2023), Stanford Directors’ College – (2019), INSEAD International Directors Programme (2016), Harvard Business School – Making Corporate Boards More Effective (2015), Aspen Institute -Nigeria Leadership Seminar (2006), Harvard Business School – Governing for Nonprofit Excellence (2004) and Georgetown University – Georgetown Leadership Seminar (2003).
Strengths: Ighodalo will bring his wealth of business acumen to bear in handling the day-to-day affairs of the state; the likelihood of getting enough resources to prosecute his election being Obaseki’s preferred choice to take over from him; and the choice of a running mate coming from the south district will be of great advantage to his victory.
Rumours already have that he will pair with the current Secretary to State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, a formidable political figure from the area who many see as the only face of the Obaseki administration and a likeable fellow with the innate ability to galvanise votes because of his uncommon magnanimity and empathy which cut across every political divide. Ighodalo also possesses a very eloquent and persuasive voice.
Weaknesses: Although he sees himself as a unifier, some persons, however, perceive him as a continuation of Obaseki’s governorship style that lacks a human face. Others think that he is not a thorough Edo homeboy.
Monday Okpebholo:
Elected into the Senate last year to represent Edo Central District, he came from the background of an entrepreneur. He was born in Udomi-Uwesan, Irrua, Esan Central Local Government of Edo. Okpebholo whose name also coincides with his ancestry, was popularly nicknamed Akpakomisa from childhood because of his survival of the tough times occasioned by the numerous waterborne diseases at the time. That nickname strikes the typical Esan man to his marrow as it connotes unanticipated toughness, especially his ability to survive the difficulty at that time when many children couldn’t survive the diseases. He won the Senate seat and now the APC governorship ticket to the consternation of many.
Okpebholo came from a humble and hardworking family. He was born on June 12, 1962, and attended Uromi Elementary School in Edo. Thereafter, he went to Uromi Grammar School, where he excelled both academically and socially. He then attended the University of Benin, where he studied Agricultural Economics and bagged a Bachelor’s degree in 1986.
Strengths: Belongs to the ruling party at the national level to mobilise resources. Will also get support from his senatorial district. A good mobiliser of both human and material resources, generous.
Weaknesses: The harsh APC economic policy and lack of vision of his party at the national level may not persuade Edo voters enough to support his gubernatorial ambition. Will experience divided votes by virtue of his senatorial district being the least with voting strength. Other prominent members of his party may sabotage his election victory because of the circumstances that threw him up. The choice of a running mate may also work against him.
Olumide Akpata:
Born on October 7, 1972, Akpata is a legal practitioner and politician. He was a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars, a renowned commercial law firm in Nigeria until his resignation on August 31, 2023, to enable him to pursue his political ambition.
Olumide surprised many in July 2020 when he became the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) after he defeated several Senior Advocates of Nigeria to become the first non-SAN in 28 years to clinch the position.
Strengths: Comes from a prominent Benin family of Justice Ephraim Akpata, Tayo Akpata and Senator Akpata during the Second Republic. An eloquent and motivational speaker, and manager of men and materials. The only person from the three leading candidates to come from the Edo South senatorial district with the highest single voting population. Has the backing of youths because of his age. His party, Labour Party won the February 25 presidential election in the state.
Weaknesses: The choice of a running mate may be a drawback. If he chooses one from the central district, that may deplete the votes coming from that district. The northern district may not favour him either because it is the stronghold of the APC leader, Adams Oshiomhole. It is also not clear how he hopes to raise funds to prosecute the election.
For now, the people of Edo are carefully watching where the pendulum will swing by the time campaigns start leading to the election in September.
[TheNigeriaLawyer]
The National Leader of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the present administration and refrain from engaging in protests or actions that may escalate tensions across the country.
Pa Fasoranti, who acknowledged the hardships faced by Nigerians, however declared that “it is important to recognize that these economic measures, although difficult, are part of a larger strategy aimed at restoring economic prosperity and stability to Nigeria.”
He said this in a statement he issued and signed in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
The Yoruba leader specifically asked Yorubas to shun any protests and rallies called over the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.
He appealed to Yorubas at home and in the diaspora to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu some time to address the challenges being faced by Nigerians.
While appealing to Nigerians against rallies and protests, the Elderstatesman said they may lead to disruption of social and economic activities of citizens and lead to avoidable death.
According to him “As the National Leader of Afenifere, and leader of the Yoruba, I address all and sundry today with a deep understanding of the challenges our dear country is going through at this critical time.
“The outcry over the hardship, hunger, and price hikes is not unexpected.
“However, we must come to terms with the realities of our national challenges, which the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is striving to resolve.
“The government’s commitment to implementing these measures is a testament to its dedication to addressing the root causes of our economic challenges, inherited from the ills of the previous years.
“As a responsible leader, I appeal to every Yoruba man and woman, young and old, and our fellow citizens across the nationalities, to exercise patience and refrain from engaging in protests or actions that may escalate tensions.
“Understandably, the immediate impact of Tinubu’s economic reforms is challenging to everyone, but it is crucial to give the government the necessary time to realise the intended benefits.
“It is important to note that the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira is not undertaken lightly, as we all know the great damage done to our national prosperity through the nefarious activities of the agents of darkness within the oil and financial sectors.
“These measures by the Federal Government, though painful in the short term, are designed to create a more sustainable economic environment that will benefit us all in the long run.
“It requires collective understanding and resilience from every citizen as we navigate through these challenging times.
“We cannot afford a preference for the euthanasic approach of painless death of our nation, where we are propped up with loans and subsidies until a total collapse into a failed nation, while we have the opportunity of painful healing through treatment with multiple surgeries that will guarantee not just our survival, but restored health, vigour, and thriving life.
Fasoranti said that “We must endure today’s hardship for tomorrow’s prosperity.
“I implore you to trust in the government’s commitment to the welfare of our nation. Let us engage in constructive dialogue and contribute positively to the ongoing economic reforms.
“Join me in appealing for unity and understanding among our people. Together, we can weather this storm and emerge stronger as a nation.
“I want to assure you as the Leader of Afenifere, that we are actively engaging with the government at different levels to address the concerns of our people.
The Yoruba leader said that “Let us remain steadfast, patient, and united in the face of these challenges, confident that our collective resilience will pave the way for a more prosperous future.”
The private residence of the Minister of State of the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, located at Asokoro, was on Sunday gutted by fire.
The Acting Director of the FCT Fire Service, Amiola Adebayo, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
Adebayo stated that the first floor of the building was completely razed by the fire.
He explained that the fire had started at about 9:45 am, but said officers of the Service arrived at the scene some minutes after they had received a running call after responders had tried to reach the Federal Fire Service.
A running call means that rather than calling the Emergency line of the Fire Service, responders had insisted on going to the office to get the attention of the firemen.
“The fire was discovered a few minutes to ten, maybe around 9:45 am. We received a running call around thirteen minutes after ten, so we followed the person who came to call us to the fire scene.
“All of them were on the ground floor. They did not discover the fire on time, and they didn’t call the Fire Service. It was a running call that came to us. From our findings, they say they called the Federal Fire Service, but they didn’t respond on time, that’s when the running call came to our office.
“On reaching there, we saw that the first floor, the upper floor was completely engulfed in fire. So what we could do is just to prevent the fire from spreading to the ground floor, and the adjacent structures. No lives lost”, he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire was yet to be determined, although the media assistant to the minister, Austin Elemue, also confirmed the incident.
