A former National Vice Chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has lamented that the ruling party has been leading the country from crisis to crisis since it came to power in 2015.
Lukman, in a statement issued Saturday, said the only slight difference between APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was that APC came with a vision which was well articulated in the manifesto of the party.
He, however, said that having won the 2015 elections, the first casualty was the APC manifesto.
Lukman noted: “It was discarded and like the PDP, the APC continue to lead ‘Nigeria from one crisis to another, lurching deeper into political anarchy, economic decline and social disillusionment.’
“Nothing changed as the APC, despite all the plans it had ‘for security and advancement of Nigerians,’ lacked ‘the wherewithal to’ implement its vision. With that, sadly, the APC ‘thrived on the maxim; promise (everything), do nothing.’”
“It is quite painful to admit that the crisis of insecurity in the country today, is worse than it was in 2015. It has further deepened the economic crisis because many farmers have abandoned their farms.
“Some of the gains achieved in agricultural production because of some of the policies of the Buhari administration, such as Anchor Borrower and the ban on the importation of food items, which helped to incentivise agricultural production, were eroded by the crisis of insecurity.”
Fubara: ‘Rivers State people are tired of Wike’ – Amaechi Declares Position On Rivers Political Crisis
AFOLABI
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has commented on the lingering political crisis in the state involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Amaechi, who spoke during his recent visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Hon. Okorinama, West, in Port Harcourt, expressed his decision not to endorse either Governor Fubara or the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wike, in the ongoing political scenario in Rivers.
Amaechi highlighted Governor Fubara’s popularity as a response to the negative sentiment towards Minister Wike.
According to him, the Rivers State people are tired of Wike, hence Fubara’s popularity.
He also touched upon the changing political landscape in the state, noting that some of his former supporters were now aligning with different factions based on personal motives.
Additionally, Amaechi urged young supporters to actively participate in shaping the state’s governance.
He said, “I can’t stand and join either Sim or Wike. I will not join Sim, I will not join Wike.
“But don’t forget, they are not big without you people, I hope you know that.
“What Sim thinks is popularity today is because he is anti-Wike. That’s his popularity, not that Sim is the best man on earth. It’s because he is anti-Wike and because the state is tired of Wike.”
Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has praised the recent South African election results as a prime example of a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process.
He contrasted this with Nigeria’s 2023 general election, which he referred to as a “show of shame.”
Recall that Obi was the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the last general election.
In a thread on his official X handle on Saturday, Peter Obi stressed that this stark difference is a painful reminder of Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.
He commended the robustness and transparency of the South African election, particularly highlighting their seamless online dissemination of results as a testament to their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.
However, Obi lamented the lack of transparency and controversy surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process.
Obi wrote: “The outcome of the recent South African election results remains a shining example of what a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process should look like.
“With about 60% voter turnout, over 90% of polling stations opening on time, and allowing diaspora voting, the results and updates were provided in real-time without any technical glitches during the election.
“This demonstrated the robustness and transparency of their system. The seamless online dissemination of results further highlights their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.
“This is in stark contrast to the ‘show of shame’ that the giant of Africa, Nigeria, presented to the world in 2023. Nigeria’s 2023 election, with less than 30% voter turnout and over 60% of polling stations starting late, no diaspora voting, and plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, experienced all forms of glitches despite enormous expenditure to the tune of about a billion dollars (direct allocation of ₦313 billion and donor agencies’ support).
“The process has been widely discredited. The differences between the two countries’ electoral processes are both stark and lamentable. South Africa’s Election Results Center, with its state-of-the-art electronic board, showcased results with unparalleled precision and speed.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s electoral process is mired in controversy and lacks transparency. This glaring juxtaposition is a painful reminder of our country’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.
“It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that our elections are free, fair, and credible. We must learn from South Africa’s example and strive to build a system that restores the people’s faith in our democracy.
“The time for action is now, and we cannot afford to delay any longer in addressing these critical issues for a new Nigeria is POssible!”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara‘s government of Rivers State has authorized the allocation of ₦19.5 billion for the reconstruction of the State Assembly Chambers, which the government destroyed during the political turmoil in the state.
The approval was granted during the State Executive Council Meeting on Friday evening at the government house in Port Harcourt.
Following the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Special Projects, Dr Rowland Obed-Whyte, informed the press that Monier Construction Company Nigeria Limited (MCC) was granted the contract for ₦19,566,621,284.24.
The project is expected to be finished within 9 months and will consist of a new Assembly Complex with 34 en suite offices, a two-story building with an elevator, gallery, meeting rooms, and a conference hall.
Additionally, the renovation and refurbishment of other structures within the House of Assembly Complex that were not demolished are included in the project’s specifications.
Obed-Whyte said that upon completion, the Rivers State House of Assembly building will be one of the finest Assembly complexes in the country. This approval is part of the comprehensive deliberations of the State Executive Council on Friday.
The government has also approved renovating and upgrading four zonal hospitals and other healthcare infrastructure projects in the state.
The construction of the Kalaibiama/Epellema road and bridge in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area has also been approved.
The four Zonal Hospitals are situated in Ahoada Town in the Ahead East Local Government Area, Degema Town in the Degema Local Government, Omoku Town in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, and Bori Town in the Khana Local Government Area.
Other healthcare infrastructure initiatives include renovating Bonny General Hospital, renovating and upgrading the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Rumuigbo, and building a new General Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The hospital projects have been allocated a budget of ₦26,350,310,714.88, while the Kalaibiama-Epellema road and bridge in the Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area will require ₦29,035,907,233.76.
Following the meeting, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, informed the press that the ministry had requested approval to cancel and terminate all existing contracts for the Zonal Hospitals in the State.
According to Oreh, new contracts will be awarded to ensure the completion of the projects, including the renovation of Bonny General Hospital.
She said, “We are thankful to the Rivers State Executive Council that the various decisions sought and prayers that were made by the Rivers State Ministry of Health for the approval of the termination of the contracts for the completion of the Zonal Hospitals at Ahoada, Bori, Degema and Omoku, and the re-award of fresh contracts for their completion were approved.
“That the request to the State Executive Council for the approval of the award of these contracts in total summed up to N26, 350, 310, 714. 88k that was approved for the completion of those Zonal Hospitals, the renovation of Bonny General Hospital and the upgrade of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital.
“This also included the construction of a new General Hospital at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, which were not among those initially awarded for renovation.”
She mentioned that the new contractors will be deployed to the site to begin construction work on various projects within the health sector, aiming to enhance healthcare services in the State.
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma on Friday expressed optimism that the minimum wage offer of N62,000 jointly proposed by the federal government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) will become law.
Organised Labour on Tuesday (June 4, 2024) called off their industrial action in what they described as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to a higher national minimum wage above the N60,000 earlier proposed.
However, THE WHISTLER reported that although OPS and the federal government proposed the sum of N62,000 a 3.33 per cent increase from the earlier N60,000 rejected.
The Organised labour again rejected the amount, insisting on N250,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerians.
But Uzodinma while answering questions shortly after the tripartite committee meeting for minimum wage in Abuja said, “We expect what happened in 2018, to repeat itself”.
Recall in 2018, the OPS and Organised Labour proposed N30,000 while the federal government under the administration of Former President Muhammadu Buhari proposed N24,000.
The two figures went to the president as a recommendation for his consideration for onward transmission to the National Assembly for it to become a law and the majority proposal of N30,000 was enacted.
In the same vein, Uzodinma said, “We were able to engage the critical stakeholders at the committee by the end of the day.
“Out of the three parties involved, the OPS, government and organised labour we met and two parties have agreed to go with N62,000, as of yesterday (Thursday) Labour insisted on N494,000 today they came down to N250,000.
“Among the three parties, two have come to be the majority. So, the majority will always have their way and the minority can have their say.
“Arising from what happened in 2018, when the government lost after offering N24,000 and OPS and Labour offered N30,000. When the recommendation got to the then-president, he approved and took the opposition party.
“In the same margin, we expect when this gets to the president he will also take the majority position”.
Weighing in on the minimum wage disparity, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National New minimum wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji said the two recommendations would be sent to the president to act on.
He said, “In the last four months, the issue of the new national minimum wage has been the topic discussed everywhere A lot of work has gone into it, the plenary meeting today is our 12th meeting”.
“And the recommendation today came as a deeper understanding and studies of all the economic indices. Caution has been displayed so that a figure that will further throw the country into confusion is not allowed.
“This is because the very moment a party goes into an agreement that it knows it cannot afford, then it is going to create another problem and the federal government and OPS have agreed to the figure of what they term what they can afford”.
The chairman noted that the committee was to recommend a minimum wage but was not bestowed the power to implement or approve a minimum wage.
…..says that it’s a diverse and inclusive collective
Against the backdrop of a Political Party creating a directorate for the Obidient Movement, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections and the Principal mentor of the Obidient Movement In Nigeria, Peter Obi has said that the group is beyond a political party and cannot be cubbyhole into one.
Obi explained that membership of the Obidient Movement cut across a political party, sex, tribe, religion or geopolitical area pointing out that the driving force of the body is rescuing and building a new Nigeria that is POssible.
Explaining further the size, scope and nature of the Obidient Movement, the LP standards bearer wrote in his X platform on Wednesday “I like to categorically state that the Obidient Movement is not a directorate in any particular political party. Any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement.
“There may be a youth mobilization directorate in political parties but the Obidient movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations.
“It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country. Its membership spans across Africa and the globe, comprising individuals from various backgrounds, including rural communities, and public, private, and corporate entities, united by a shared vision for a New and better Nigeria. Guided by the principles of adaptive and transformative change, progress, discipline, and democratic values, the Obidient Movement advocates for fairness, equity, inclusivity, and justice.
“It is committed to a strictly accountable and responsible code of government. Our members are committed to contributing to the realization of a better future for Nigeria through the New Nigeria project, anchored on loyalty, integrity, and democratic values.
“The Obidient Movement seeks to foster positive change through a commitment to integrity, honesty, and accountability, rejecting deceitful behaviours.
“We serve as a beacon of hope for a reimagined Nigeria, where leadership is grounded in character, capacity, competence, compassion and the well-being of all citizens.
“Let this serve as a clarification that the Obidient Movement operates independently of any political party, and its membership is not limited to any particular affiliation.
“Our focus remains steadfast on driving positive change and promoting a New Nigeria for all. This is who we are and will remain for all time.
Nigeria’s inflation rate is predicted to stabilize at 14 per cent in 2029, indicating a potential end to the current upward trend according to the latest data from the International Monetary Fund.
This projection comes as a relief amidst concerns over the increasing inflation rate, which currently stands at 33.69 per cent as of April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics a variation from the IMF’s prediction of 24.6 per cent in the year.
The IMF data suggests that the inflation rate will gradually decline from 23 per cent in 2025 to 16 per cent in 2026, 15.4 per cent in 2027, and 14 per cent in both 2028 and 2029.
This predicted stabilisation is believed to be a welcome development for the Nigerian economy, which has been grappling with rising inflation and interest rates.
Nigeria’s economy has been facing challenges in recent times, with rising inflation and interest rates posing significant threats to economic growth and stability.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has implemented various measures to address these challenges, including the increase in interest rates at the 295th MPC meeting in May 2024.
However, economists have raised concerns over the continued increase in inflation and interest rates, urging the government to address the underlying drivers of inflation, which are primarily food and transportation costs.
The Chief Economist, SPM Professionals, Paul Alaje, who spoke exclusively to PUNCH online via phone decried the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate.
He said, “I do not encourage any increase in MPR because the increase would have implications.
“Already within 4 weeks, we have seen the Monetary Policy Committee increase on 600 basis points, the MPR.
Alaje asserted that Nigeria is getting poorer and the economy is growing at a slow pace.
“We need to look at other tools rather than monetary tools in providing solutions to our economy. Monetary authorities have tried their best and we have seen so many things they have brought, however, despite all of the efforts, the exchange rate is back at 1,500 heading towards 1,600.
“Our solution would go beyond forcing and using monetary tools when we know that it is not just money supply influencing what we have,” he said.
However, another economist Jonathan Thomas said he believed “the IMF prediction of a stabilised inflation rate in 2029 is a positive indicator for the Nigerian economy. However, the government and monetary authorities must remain vigilant and implement policies that address the root causes of inflation.”
The current increase in inflation and interest rates has significant implications for businesses, households, and the overall economy.
By addressing the drivers of inflation and maintaining a stable economic environment, Nigeria can promote sustainable economic growth and development and possibly meet up with the IMF’s prediction.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Abayomi Arabambi, had said that the party would not allow Peter Obi to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Arabambi made this statement in an interview on Channels Television on Friday monitored by DAILY POST.
According to him, the party is seeking a political solution to its internal crisis so that its 2023 presidential candidate won’t work with his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 poll.
“Politically, we will not allow the crisis to fester for long that we will now allow Mr Peter Obi to join Atiku.
“We knew their plans, that was why we said ‘we need to explore political solution between ourselves,” he said.
The Labour Party chieftain also spoke on the recent legal tussle bedeviling the party wherein an FCT High Court barred Julius Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Recall that Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court, ruling on an ex parte application on April 5, 2023, had restrained Abure, Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu, and Oluchi Opara from acting as national officers of the LP.
But in March 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja set aside the judgment of the lower court which restrained Julius Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the Labour Party.
Justice Hamman Barka, leading a three-member panel of justices, held that Abure’s appeal had merit and was accordingly allowed. He held that the FCT high court was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on the matter.
The court also awarded the sum of N1 million in favour of Abure and other appellants in the matter.
Reacting to the verdict, Arabambi said every action taken by Abure between March 2023 and March 2024 is a nullity.
“Since the Court of Appeal just set aside the judgement in March 2024, every other thing done between March 2023 and to 2024 by Julius Abure is a nullity,” he added.
The spokesman of the Obi-Datti organisation, Yunusa Tanko, on Friday, clarified that the Obidient Movement is bigger than the Labour Party.
Tanko, while speaking on Channels TV, stated this despite the movement being supporters of the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
He said, “It’s bigger than the Labour Party. It is so because it is a move of its own that has a life of its own. What they are interested in is good governance
“Even if the Labour Party is doing something that is wrong, they are able to challenge it. Let me go further. Even His Excellency [Peter Obi], if he does something that is not aligned with good governance, we would challenge it.”
According to Tanko, the Obidient Movement is all about good governance, which Obi preaches.
He said, “They are loyal to the messages that connect to good governance and Peter Obi is championing that particular good governance.”
Recall that the Labour Party, after a backlash, recently renamed a directorate of the party named the Directorate of Obidient Affairs.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, the Obidient Directorate is now renamed as the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration.
Obiorah said, “Following the controversies arising from the creation of the Directorate of OBIDIENT Affairs, in the party, the Directorate is hereby renamed the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration.
“The inauguration will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the party’s National Secretariat, Utako, Abuja, by 10 a.m. Party members and the general public should take note.”
In the wake of the move, Obi said the movement is beyond the LP and cuts across party, gender, and ethnic divides.
Obi said, “There may be a youth mobilization directorate in political parties, but the Obidient Movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations
“It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country.”
A former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, has maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s lack of prior experience in the presidency warrants a grace period.
The PDP chieftain stressed that President Bola Tinubu might not have been able to achieve much in one year because he was studying the failures of his predecessors.
The elder statesman, therefore, called on Nigerians to give President Tinubu an additional year to deliver on his promises and fix the country’s challenges.
George highlighted in an interview with AriseTV on Friday, June 7, that Tinubu, being a first-time president, requires additional time to enact his policies and gain Nigerians’ trust in his vision.
The elder statesman said, “He (Tinubu) had never served at that level (presidency). Well… you will say he was part of the party (APC) that formed the government (of Muhammadu Buhari), but it’s a hell of a different thing taking over and now leading the team.
“To be fair to my conscience, he has had that one-year holiday of trying to study the failures of the past administration. I have given him that one year of grace because now he has seen it and lived there.
“I expect his ministers to have come back in one year with those areas of lapses. Even when Baba (Olusegun Obasanjo became president in 1999, he was still trying to figure out what happened there or vise-versa in his first year. Let’s give him more time.”
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The Nigerian government said it is releasing N20 billion to provide electricity meters for Band A customers before the end of September 2024.
Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, disclosed this on Friday at the BusinessDay Conference in Lagos.
“We are releasing N20 billion for the electricity distribution companies to procure meters for the unmetered Band A customers before the end of September,” he stated.
“The government has put in place the required framework to enable an injection of 1.5 million meters into the power sector through the World Bank Distribution Support Recovery Program.
“The Presidential Metering Initiative will ensure an additional 2 million meters will be procured annually for 5 years. This will ensure accurate billing, reducing revenue loss and improving cash flow for a more liquid power sector.”
According to latest data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, electricity customers in Nigeria without meters stood at 7,319,846 million which is 55.61 per cent of a total of 13,162,572 power consumers.
Consequently, only 5,842,726 electricity customers are metered of 13,162,572 registered consumers who get supply from the national grid, according to NERC.
The development comes as NERC announced a 245 per cent electricity tariff hike for Band A customers, getting 20-24 power supply in April.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress embarked on strike on Monday, calling for the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has increased its offer of a new national minimum wage to N62,000.
Organized labour has reduced its demand from N494,000 to N250,000.
Already the Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage has adjourned as there was no consensus at the meeting.
The organized private sector also backed the government offer of N62,000, Vanguard reports.
The Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage, NNMW, adjourned following their inability to reach an agreement.
According to the source, “there was disagreement on the amount. The government offered N62,000 and Labour offered N250,000.
“The report is to be communicated to the President for further deliberation on the next line of action. Let us wait for the President to receive the report.”
Recalls that organised labour’s negotiating team walked out of the committee meeting on Tuesday, May 22, for the second time in two weeks after the Federal Government increased its offer to N60,000 from the N57,000 it offered on Wednesday, May 22.
Labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, walked out of the tripartite committee meeting on May 15 after the government offered N48,000 and Organised Private Sector, OPS, offered N54,000, against the N615,000.
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, said the voice of Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi can’t be suspended from the people’s hearts.
Atiku said those who bear true conscience are welcome to his house.
Posting on X, Atiku wrote: “The voice of truth which Senator Ningi represents cannot be suspended from the hearts of the people. Every bearer of true conscience is welcome in my house. -AA”
In March, DAILY POST reported that the Senate suspended Ningi for three months over his allegation of budget padding.
His suspension followed an interview with BBC Hausa where he claimed that the Federal Government was operating two versions of the 2024 budget.
Ningi claimed that the N28.7 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu was skewed against the North.
Following his suspension, he was recalled on May 28 after the Deputy Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro initiated a process, expressing regret on his behalf.
The Bauchi Central senator resumed at the National Assembly on Tuesday after he was recalled.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, has told federal lawmakers that posterity will not be kind to them if they keep looking away from what he alleged is the “daylight robbery” surrounding the fuel subsidy regime of the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Atiku also alleged that the Tinubu administration was diverting public funds through petrol subsidy, hence the refusal of the government to reveal how much is being spent on subsidy.
The former vice president was reacting to the Presidency’s debunking of claims that it is making provisions to pay the sum of N5.4trn for fuel subsidy in 2024.
Recalled the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, had, in an Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP), revealed that the government would be spending up to N5.4 trillion on oil subsidies in 2024.
Meanwhile, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reacting also to the presidency’s claim, said the revelation confirmed its stand that the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is corrupt and deceitful.
The PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary Hon Debo Ologunagba, further demanded that the president immediately clear the air and come clean by “personally addressing Nigerians and ordering a public enquiry into the reported N5.4 trillion fuel subsidy under his watch.”
However, Atiku, in his own statement yesterday, said there is a need for the National Assembly to get to the bottom of the matter rather than focusing on frivolous issues.
“The National Assembly needs to be alive to its responsibilities, especially in the area of oversight. Posterity will not be kind to members of the National Assembly if they continue to look the other way while daylight robbery is taking place,” the former Vice President said.
He said the clandestine subsidy regime was one of the reasons investments in the oil sector had refused to come in.
Atiku added, “Tinubu has brought the shady nature of running Lagos to the federal level. He claims subsidy is gone but his Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, says they are intervening from time to time while his Finance Minister, Wale Edun, described subsidy removal as an ‘ongoing process’. A document authored by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy revealing how much subsidy is being paid is now being disowned by the very authors of the document.
“Both the World Bank and the IMF have revealed in separate reports that Nigeria is still paying petrol subsidies, but the Tinubu government refuses to come clean. Even a senior member of the APC had revealed that subsidy was beyond paid.
“For a man who claims to be on a mission to attract foreign direct investment, it is ironic that he cannot see that his policy flip flops and lies are capable of dissuading investors. He must come clean on this subsidy issue since he doubles as petroleum minister. The Tinubu administration should be courageous enough to own their policies and outcome with their full chest and responsible enough to be accountable for their actions to Nigerians.”
Atiku said the denial lends credence that money meant for the Federation Account, which ought to be shared to states and local governments, is being diverted without any form of accountability whatsoever.
[Leadership]