A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for hitting the ground running and taking bold and landmark decisions after his swearing on May 29.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday at a reception party held in honour of lawmakers, Oshiomhole described the Electricity Act 2023 signed into law by Tinubu as a game-changer, saying the President is living up to Nigerians’ expectations as an ‘action President.’

While recalling how Tinubu campaigned to become President, Oshiomhole said he had proved the naysayers wrong.

“Some people were screaming ‘Edo no be Lagos,’ when the then candidate of the APC, now President Bola Tinubu, visited Benin City (to campaign). But he said something back then. I remember him saying those who said ‘Edo no be Lagos’ will leave and see Edo becoming not just like Lagos but even better than Lagos. That same man is now the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a legislative branch called National Assembly.

“He has also extended the tenure of our judges so they can have courage to dispense justice without being afraid that they will soon retire and wondering what they will do thereafter,” Oshiomhole said.

He noted that the new electricity law signed by Tinubu will, among other benefits, curb electricity smuggling into neighbouring communities of Niger Republic.

He said, “The President has hit the ground running. He has started what he promised to do. People may not like the immediate effect but in the long run, what he saves will be ploughed back in the system. There is another one he said which many people have noticed. He said as President, he will no longer accept the situation where you have the so-called national grid that cannot carry power from Ovia to Azura power plant.

“As governor of Edo State, Azura power plant was set up producing about 750 megawatts. But that power is sometimes taken to Niger Republic and you don’t have power in Benin. The President has now signed a law that says you can generate your power and consume it where you generate it. You don’t have to transfer it to avoid collapse of the system that may leave the producers and consumers in the dark. That is now a law. He signed it last week.”

Oshiomhole said with the way Tinubu had begun, “what we owe him is our prayers and in the National Assembly, we will work hand-in-hand with him. We will interrogate policies, cooperate and ensure that the President is able to translate into action all of those things that are well documented in the Bola Tinubu action plan when he was contesting for office.”

The Middle Belt Forum, on Sunday, attacked the immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over a recent viral video in which he was captured explaining why he went for a Muslim deputy governor instead of a Christian.

The MBF, in a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Isuwa Dogo, said El-Rufai’s remarks were anti-Christian, describing him as a dangerous politician that must be avoided by President Bola Tinubu.

In the video complained about, El-Rufai was captured telling some Islamic clerics on the eve of his final day in office, in Hausa language that “Why did I pick Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe to be my deputy in 2019? First, I did a thorough calculation that most of those that are not Muslims don’t vote for our party (the All Progressives Congress). Most of them. So, why should I give them the deputy (governor) position?

“I did my calculation and I knew we could win the election without giving them (position of deputy governor). That’s first. That’s a purely political issue. It’s politics. You want to win an election, you’re looking for people that will vote for you. We have observed that since we started practising democracy, we know places we used to win elections and those places we don’t. We’ve done that calculation politically. That’s the political point of it.”

The MBF, in its statement, said El-Rufai’s comment validated the fear of Islamisation in the country.

MBF said, “There is no doubt that this former governor remains a clear present and future danger to the unity of our nation. He is subtly working for a group that is unremittingly and persistently poised at installing the supremacy of the Islamic faith in the corridor of power.

“Both Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be wary of associating with him. He must not be allowed near the corridors of power.”

Furthermore, the MBF called on security agencies in the country “not only to place the former governor under their radar, but he should be invited by the secret police for a chat.”

“Considering the comments he made before the clerics, the man who suffers from an inferiority complex must be considered as a dangerous politician riding on the wings of religion for relevance. We hereby denounce El-Rufai’s comments before the clerics as a shameless act of national hypocrisy steeped in the premeditated plot to set adherents of both religions on war path,” it added.

El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, neither took calls nor responded to a text message to get his principal’s reaction.

The agitation for ministerial slots has led to in-fighting in some state chapters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as governors, former governors and party leaders are battling to ensure they present slots to President Bola Tinubu.

Vanguard gathered that apart from APC stakeholders who argue that they worked for the president during the February 25 presidential election, some leaders of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, among other parties, are also said to be jostling to make the ministerial list.

President may send list to Senate after July 4

By law, Tinubu must name his cabinet within 60 days after taking the oath of office on May 29 and transmit it to the Senate for confirmation.

Multiple sources disclosed that the President is expected to send the list of the nominees to the Senate when it resumes plenary on July 4.

In-fighting in APC

In Osun, the decision by the APC in the state to sanction the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and a former speaker may not be unconnected with Osun ministerial slots.

Aregbesola and immediate past governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, have been in a frosty relationship over the former’s alleged moves to scuttle Oyetola’s re-election chances during the 2022 election.

The APC in Osun State has decided “to deal with members involved in anti-party during the last governorship and general election in the state,” the party said in a statement.

Similarly, former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Umar Ganduje is at loggerheads with the presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso.

In Oyo State, APC members are said not to be comfortable with Governor Seyi Makinde’s romance with President Tinubu.

APC leaders kick against strangers

One of the arguments put forward by APC leaders and members is that only “genuine APC members should be appointed.”
They argued that in the last dispensation, strangers benefited from their contributions to the party.

Tinubu’s special advisers

Last week, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Mr. Dele Alake as Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy; and Mr Nuhu Ribadu, as Special Adviser, Security.

A statement by the Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, stated that other persons appointed are Mr. Yau Darazo, Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs; Mr. Wale Edun, Special Adviser, Monetary Policies; and Mrs. Olu Verheijen Special Adviser, Energy.

Zacchaeus Adedeji was appointed Special Adviser, Revenue, Mr. John Uwajumogu, Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment and Mrs Salma Anas, Special Adviser, Health.

Jostle for ministerial slots

Following the appointment of special advisers, Vanguard gathered that lobbyists have been sending resumes (CVs) of prospective candidates to the Presidency, which are being collected for screening.

Despite the lobby by governors, former governors and leaders across party lines, multiple sources said President Tinubu has not disclosed those likely to make his cabinet.

Sources also informed Vanguard that close aides of the President do not have any idea of those likely to be in the cabinet.

Lobbyists besiege Aso Rock

A close ally to a former governor said: “I know they are collecting CVs of ministerial nominees. You know the Senate has gone on recess and adjourned sitting to July 4 and as they’re resuming, they will commence work on screening of ministerial nominees. For now, no name has been mentioned.”

Another source told Vanguard that with the president keeping the list close to his chest, party leaders had been left guessing.
The source said: “The president has not disclosed the ministerial nominees. Even those said to be close to the president have no idea of those likely to make the list.

‘’I am sure the list is ready and unofficially, the President may have given it to the Senate President.”

Tinubu not bothered about in-fighting—Source

Vanguard was further told that the jostling for ministerial slots has led to a crack in some of the APC state chapters.
Giving insight into the in-fighting in the APC, a source said: “The fight has been on and they are still fighting. I was informed that the President has refused to listen to those fighting themselves.”

Special Advisers may supervise ministers

Another source also hinted that the president may likely give more powers to the special advisers, while ministers would just be ceremonial heads.

He said: “From what I know, those who will work with the President are the 20 special advisers and they will be powerful. They are likely going to be the cabal.

‘’The in-fighting within the APC is serious. Some people are pushing former Kano governor, Umar Ganduje but Tinubu has aligned with the Presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso.

“Unfortunately, Ganduje has lost Kano State and is no longer relevant. Kwakwanso may likely be made defence minister.”

Government of National Unity

Speaking on the prospect of the President forming a Government of National Unity, GNU, the source said Tinubu intended to bring everyone on board after the election petition tribunal.

He said: “Tinubu is likely to form a Government of National Unity and it will be across the board. For now, the president wants to settle down and sort out the court cases.”

2023 data from the World Poverty Clock, has pegged the number of extremely poor Nigerians at 71 million.

Tonye Cole, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, who quoted the data also said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) classifies 133 million people as multidimensionally poor.

He spoke during the weekend in Abuja, at the Nigeria Zero Hunger Symposium, organised by T200 Foundation to mark World Hunger Day and unveiling of the “Nigeria Zero Hunger” report.

Quoting the United Nations (UN), Cole said globally, 25,000 die daily from hunger, including more than 10,000 children.

He noted that Nigeria must design a simple, implementable, and sustainable poverty eradication model and stick to it over time.

He said, “Nigeria has the awful distinction of being the world capital of poverty, with 71 million people living in extreme poverty today (World Poverty Clock, 2023) and a total of 133 million people classed as multidimensionally poor according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

“In other words, about 828 million people will wake up every day having no idea when or where their next meal will come from, and many will go to bed that day without eating anything. This is according to a 2021 UN report. The UN further states that of these 828 million people, 25,000 will die today, including more than 10,000 children.

“Nigeria must design a simple, implementable, and sustainable poverty eradication model and stick to it over time.

“Other factors that contribute to hunger, such as violence, weak government, and health-care systems, must be addressed promptly if zero hunger is to be achieved. These are real difficulties in Nigeria and addressing them is critical not only for hunger eradication but also for the country’s overall progress.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (GCFR) government is well positioned to push the goal of strengthening democratic institutions that will yield democratic dividends to the Nigerian people.”

According to the report by T200 Foundation, Nigeria has a Global Hunger Index score of 27.9, which falls into the serious hunger category. However, there are significant variations in the hunger index score across states.

The report noted that the state with the highest hunger index score is Yobe, with a score of 44.2 percent. Yobe also has the highest prevalence of undernourishment, which is 27.4 percent. This is more than twice the national average of 12.9 percent. Yobe also has the highest child-wasting rate of 22.5 percent, which is almost three times the national average of 7.9 percent.

Also, the state with the second-highest hunger index score is Sokoto, with a score of 42.1 percent. Sokoto also has a high prevalence of undernourishment, which is 24.4 percent. The child wasting rate in Sokoto is 18.4 percent, which is more than twice the national average.

The report added that other states with high hunger index scores include Zamfara (37.2%), Kebbi (34.5%), and Jigawa (33.9%). These states also have high rates of undernourishment and child wasting.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Executive Director T200 Foundation, Amb. Emmanuel Osadebay, said Nigeria needs collaboration among stakeholders to end hunger by 2030 in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This was as he called on individuals to be empathetic towards the poor and work collaboratively to eradicate hunger.

He said, “People don’t pay attention to beggars on the street, so how do we eradicate hunger? We have to believe that we can change the world. Change starts from inside, when we go around without empathy, it can’t work that way, so the change starts from within us. So hunger is not a one-man effort, it’s a compiled effort.”

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has declared Wednesday, June 28, 2023, as the day of Eid-il Adha 1444 AH.

The Sultan who is the President-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, through Sultanate Council Sokoto made the announcement on Sunday night.

Posted on the official Twitter page of the National Moonlighting Committee, the Sultan said, “The Sultanate Council Sokoto has declared Monday 19/June/2023 as the first day of Zul-Hijjah 1444 AH.

“Accordingly Wednesday 28/June/2023 will be the day of Eidul Adha 1444 AH. His Eminence The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes the entire Muslim Ummah happy Eidul Adha Mubarak in advance.”

Ex-Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has escaped assassination by hoodlums last Friday along Ihube community on the Okigwe- Enugu expressway way.

Okorocha spoke in brief about the attack, on Sunday, when he attended the birthday celebration of the Imo state Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, at Amaimo, Ikeduru council area of the state.

The security convoy was said to be that of the security operatives from the Enugu state government to provide Okorocha with security.

Explaining further, Okorocha said shortly; “Why is it that after spending two days in Enugu, peacefully. It was only when i came to Imo state that i was attacked. The convoy that brought to Imo when they were going back to Enugu, they were attacked and one person was killed.

“Why must it be so in Imo state. I am not happy what is happening in Imo state. The convoy helped to convey me to the burial ceremony of the mother of former governor, Emeka Ihedioha.”

He added: “The convoy also dropped me at my Spibat masion in Owerri. As they were driving back to Enugu, the convoy was attacked. This is so bad in this Imo state.”

The World Bank Group has approved a loan of $750m to boost Nigeria’s power sector.

The loan with project ID P174622 was approved on June 9, 2023, making it the first World Bank loan approved under the new administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Information obtained from the website of the bank showed the fresh loan as additional financing for the Power Sector Recovery Performance-Based Operation, which was first approved on June 23, 2020.

In a document published on May 19 titled ‘Nigeria – Power Sector Recovery Performance Based Operation Project: Additional Financing (English)’, it was disclosed that the parent project will end on June 30, 2023.

It was also disclosed that out of the $750m initially approved in 2020, only 72 per cent financing of $535.09m was disbursed, with the balance expected by June 30, 2023, for the parent project.

For the newly approved additional financing, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide $449m, and International Development Association will provide $301m.

The International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which make up the World Bank, have, over the years, advanced loans to Nigeria.

The IBRD lends to governments of middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, while the IDA provides concessionary loans – called credits – and grants to governments of the poorest countries.

The document read in part, “This Program Paper seeks the approval of the Board of Executive Directors to provide Additional Financing to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through an International Development Association credit in the amount of $301m and an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan in the amount of $449m to the Power Sector Recovery Performance-Based Operation (PSRO, P164001).

“The proposed AF will build on the tangible results achieved and lessons learned under the parent Program. The proposed AF will continue supporting the implementation of the FGN’s Power Sector Recovery Plan’s critical actions to address the next set of power sector challenges and facilitate the achievement of the FGN’s ambitious access and energy transition targets.”

The document further disclosed that the new financing would run from 2023 to June 30, 2027

Justifying the reason for the loan, the document noted that Nigeria has the largest electricity access deficit in the world.

It read in part, “Nigeria has the world’s largest absolute electricity access deficit. Lack of access to the electricity grid affects 45 per cent of the population (90 million people), making Nigeria the country with the largest number of people not connected to electricity.

“As such, Nigeria accounts for 12 per cent of the global access deficit. Large disparities exist in access to electricity between urban areas (84 per cent) and rural ones (26 per cent). The net access deficit has increased by over seven million citizens over the last decade, as the pace of population growth has overtaken the pace of electrification.

“Even those Nigerians who are connected to the grid face frequent outages and hence do not get reliable supply.”

The document placed economic loss from poor electricity supply at $25bn annually, with firms saying that it is a major business challenge.

“Economic losses from unreliable electricity supply are estimated to be around N7-10tn (~$25bn equivalent) annually, or 5-7 percent of GDP. Firms cite a lack of reliable electricity as the top constraint to their business.

“Faced with unreliable and insufficient supply, businesses and households fill the gap with expensive petrol and diesel-run generators. It is estimated that over 20 GW of gasoline generator capacity is employed by households and small businesses, nearly twice as much as the 12 GW capacity connected to the national grid. Over 22 million diesel/gasoline generators power about 26 percent of total households and 30 per cent of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria,” the document added.

A Lagos High Court sitting Ikeja has summoned Union Bank Plc to explain contentious debt of N119, 773, 826 between it and a multinational company, Ravih Abdul and Co. Limited ahead of the bank’s planned acquisition of minority shareholders by Titan Trust Bank Limited.

Although no date has been fixed for definite hearing, in a writ, suit No: ADR/2520/2023, the court has ordered the bank to file its defence within 42 days.

Ravih Abdul and its managing director, Mr. Adekunle Abdul had approached the court, asking it to compel Union Bank to pay him N119, 773, 826 being the total accumulated indebtedness to the company.

The company and its managing director said the bank’s indebtedness dated between November 1994 and December 2022 “being arrears of accumulated interest.”

In the suit dated May 26, Ravih’s managing director said the bank, which having allegedly received 5, 240 pounds sterling as payment of required fees to process letter of credit, had refused to use the money for the purpose of the letter of credit,”

He said: “Although the defendant had claimed paying the money on the letter of credit, it had failed to make available to the claimants all the accrued interests generated on the money between November 1993 when the letter of credit expired and September 1994 the period they kept the money in their account without payment to the beneficiary which had amounted to 1, 008.77 pounds sterling that should have accrued to the claimants in their account.

“The defendant has refused till date to explain what it did with the interests that were accumulated on the money they paid to the defendant after a long period that the money was lodged with them when they did not pay the money within three months specified in the letter of credit after revalidation which the money was not used for the purpose it was intended.

“The claimants aver that pursuant to the above, they had earlier forwarded letters of demand to the defendant for the payment of the accumulated outstanding due to them and copies of the letters dated September 26, 2022, November 4, 2022 and January 11, 2023 respectively.

“That the defendant had not denied receiving the sum of 5, 240.26 pounds sterling as payment of the required fees for the processing of letters of credit in their favour, more so, it had not denied delaying the payment to the beneficiary until 1994.

However, Ravih Abdul and its managing director “are claiming 220, 838.74 pounds sterling about #119, 773, 826, being total accumulated indebtedness from the defendant to the claimants from arrears of accumulated interests on the claimants’ account with the defendant from November 19194 to December 2022.”

Meanwhile, the court has ordered Union Bank Plc, to file its defence within 42 days to the alleged 3119, 773, 826 debt. It said: “You are hereby commanded that within 42 days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of such service, you do cause an appearance.”

Ex-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he was poisoned and flown out of Nigeria when he was governor of the state.

Wike made the revelation during a thanksgiving service in a church on Sunday, while also revealing that his wife was diagnosed with cancer even as her room was gutted by mysterious fire.

He said he was thanking God for surviving these ordeals especially when the medical doctor who diagnosed him gave a negative prognostication.

“There is a lot to thank God for; from 2015 to 2023, God was in charge; everybody who knew how we came to power knew it was turbulent, but God saw us through.

“I will give three instances why we need to thank God. While in your office, so many people think as governor everything is going on well with you,” Wike said.

He pointed out that, “As governor, nobody wants to ask if you are well, all is, you wake up in the morning, see text messages, accounts you are to send money to… December 2018, that day was the day my former Chief of Staff was to have a Thanksgiving ceremony, and I was to attend that event on a Sunday.

“On that Sunday, I never came down from my room, it was bad. For those who attended the January 1st State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day, I just sat down there and told my deputy to speak on my behalf, people didn’t know what was going on.

“After that banquet, 12:00 am midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over.

“When we got to Beirut the doctors told me they had to do so many tests…they came back the next morning and said it was bad; my kidney, liver were gone.

“Doctors told me I’d been poisoned and that my liver and kidney were no longer functioning. I believe I was poisoned at the secretariat. To God be the glory, I survived it.”

He continued, “I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat; my intestines were all black.

“The doctors did everything they could do, and the next day the doctors came and said everything was turning around; to the glory of God after about one week, they said I could then go.

“I came back to Nigeria and told those who are close to me that we wouldn’t stop at anybody’s house because I could not identify how I was poisoned; everyone was a suspect to me.

“When I was going through my presidential primaries, my wife called me from London that she had been diagnosed with cancer, I called my G5 members who were supporting me, I said ‘there is a problem and I don’t think I can continue with this race.’ I called my wife back and she said ‘no, continue so we started’ (the race).”

According to the former governor, “On the night of the primaries, I went with my wife to Abuja, and from nowhere, we were called that fire gutted my wife’s room. We called the fire service, everything was burnt; up till today, we haven’t repaired that room… and nobody knew, I just kept quiet.

“That is why I said some people don’t ask what I’m passing through–you just want me to give you! give you! you don’t even know if I’m dying.

“But I thank God today that my wife is hale and hearty. When people text me, my wife is sick, my mother is at the hospital, I always say should I text back, my wife is also in the hospital? If anything should have happened you can imagine the effect on my children.

“The last one, as we finished the primary, my wife went to Lagos to bring my daughter, they landed at the air force base, and I said when they land I will just enter and go to Lagos (somebody was waiting for me that I must see).

“After 15 minutes of take-off, we heard a sound, I saw the air hostess running.

“I rushed to the cockpit, but the door was locked; nobody to communicate with; she ran back and told us one engine is gone.

“The pilot said it’s safer for us to turn back (we were three)…by the grace of God before we landed, we saw several ambulances, fire service trucks line up.

“I didn’t know the pilot had communicated with them that there was a serious problem.

“To the glory of God we landed safely; people just see me as a strong man; part of leadership is not to frighten one’s supporters,” Wike said.

THE Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria says it has lodged a petition with the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress ahead of its planned indefinite strike in protest of the refusal of e-hailing firms to raise their pay.

The union’s Publicity Chairman, Jossy Olawale, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said the union was disappointed that despite a seven-day ultimatum issued to the app-based firms, no action had been taken to address the drivers’ concerns.

He said the union had opted to suspend its week-long strike to pave the way for dialogue between the drivers and the app companies.

However, by Tuesday, June 20, the seven working days ultimatum will elapse and the union feels that the chances of coming to an agreement are becoming slim or nonexistent.

Olawale expressed worry that ride-hailing companies refused to reduce their commission by 50 per cent as a measure to reduce the burden of the outrageous cost of PMS on the drivers.

He said, “The union has written a letter to the Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress and other relevant stakeholders to midwife a process of dialogue towards an amicable resolution of the numerous challenge faced by app-based transport workers.”

Olawale also called on the app-based companies to restore the accounts of some of its members who were unjustifiably blocked due to their role in the nationwide strike and protest held by the union last week.

He added, “We are calling on President Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgency prioritise members of app-based transport workers of Nigeria, most of which are unemployed graduates who undertook driving e-hailing cab as a means of finding a legitimate means of living.”

When The PUNCH reached out to Uber, a global app-based company with a strong base of operations in Nigeria, the firm’s Country Manager, Tope Akinwumi, said the increase in fare prices had to be done in a manner that would not discourage riders from making use of the service.

He said, “Uber takes into consideration the economic climate in rolling out any price reviews. We believe this fare increase will have a positive impact on driver earnings while maintaining an affordable service for riders. Where price options are made too high there could be a risk of fewer or no requests from riders.”