Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his dissatisfaction with Bode George, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for asserting that he (Atiku) would have collapsed had he been elected president in 2023.
In a statement released via social media on Saturday, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, characterized George’s remarks as an ‘unwise’ discourse and underscored the advantages that would have been realized under Atiku’s leadership.
Ibe contended that Atiku’s governance would have fostered prosperity, promoted appointments based on merit, and protected Nigeria’s interests in contrast to the current administration’s prejudice and favouritism.
Furthermore, Ibe lampooned Bode George for his lack of public critique regarding the current administration’s performance, suggesting that his silence may be attributed to Atiku’s non-Southern heritage.
He wrote: “Contrary to Chief Bode George’s imprudent talk, an @atiku presidency would have heralded an era of prosperity, driven by a cabinet brimming with seasoned and adept individuals, chosen solely on merit regardless of their background or beliefs.
“Such leadership would have safeguarded Nigeria’s interests, steering clear of the bigotry and nepotism and brigandage that characterizes this administration. Instead of the current state of disarray, driven by haphazard policies, Nigeria would have thrived under Atiku’s guidance.
“In contrast, we see Bode George, who once threatened exile should Tinubu ascend to power, now oddly silent about the present administration. Is Bode’s reticence caused by Atiku not being from his region? It is prudent to consider Bode’s opinions with caution.
“Furthermore, Bode’s conduct is a disservice to the military, an institution esteemed for its unity. Here is a Commodore who, paradoxically, embraces tribalism and undermines the very principles of the military. It is a source of shame for the armed forces to have such a figure in their ranks.”
I Knew Atiku Would Collapse In The Future
Speaking on Arise TV’s “The Morning Show” earlier, George stated that Atiku would have collapsed in the future, and the country become unstable if a northerner (Atiku), had succeeded Muhammadu Buhari, another northerner.
He stressed that Nigerians would not have accepted this scenario, citing the party’s zoning arrangement as the root of the problem.
“If Atiku had won — I would have stayed in my house because I knew that for real in the future, he would collapse. This country would never accept.
“If he had won that election, you think this country would have been stable? Because somebody from the north (Buhari) had just finished eight years and our own norm is that after the eight years, the presidential candidate must come to the south,” George had said.
The PDP chieftain alleged that the party’s zoning arrangement was manipulated to favour Atiku, leading to the current issues.
The Federal Government has been asked to sell the government-owned Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to fund modular ones.
All three refineries are under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Federal Government’s oil firm.
The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria made the call for the sale of the refineries in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, saying that it is the only way out of the incessant fuel crisis in the country.
Since over a month ago, Nigerians started to experience fuel queues in filling stations even as the pump price rose to as high as N1,000 per litre in some areas.
Despite promises by the NNPC, the queues have refused to disappear, and this keeps impacting the cost of transportation,
CORAN Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, expressed concerns that the Federal Government has expended over $1bn to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery, yet the facility has yet to start production despite six postponements.
Idoko argued that the fuel queues would not go away unless the country starts refining its crude locally.
According to him, modular refineries should be given intervention funds which would also give the government stakes in the refineries.
He noted that the reason for the fuel crisis in Nigeria was that the country does not have enough refined products as the cost of importing fuel with foreign exchange is a burden on the government, especially when subsidy payment is involved.
“We are not asking for free money. The government should set up an intervention fund in which people can access credit. So, it’s not free money. There are a lot of intervention funds in the agricultural sector,” Idoko said.
He spoke further, “The $1.5bn spent on the Port Harcourt refinery could be used to develop 10 modular refineries to be able to produce PMS of a minimum of 10,000 barrels per day. That is about 100,000 barrels a day.
“And if you have 100,000 barrels per day, at least, with the Dangote refinery, you would have solved that problem. We would actually have enough to begin to export,” he stated.
Idoko maintained that no one else could import PMS because of the government subsidy and the lack of foreign exchange.
Suggesting a way out of repeated fuel scarcity, he said, “The low-hanging fruit is simply to empower the modular refineries.
A modular refinery takes an average of 12 to a maximum of 18 months to set up. This administration can identify and select from the modular refineries that are already on stream to support them.
“Right now, we have about 15 of them – five are operating but not producing PMS; the other 10 are at various stages of completion. If the government supported these 15 modular refineries to produce PMS, in about 12 months or less, they would have solved this problem of fuel scarcity, rather than say, you are putting money into the Port Harcourt refinery, Warri refinery, or Kaduna refinery.
“That was why there was a particular administration that tried to sell those facilities. Most of them are obsolete. Technology has changed. I would have said that the government should sell them off. We know that the issue of fuel crisis is a serious issue, but do we have a solution to it now? We don’t have a quick-fix solution other than what is being done right now, which is importation.
“But that is simply not sustainable. For how long can you continue like this? And so, what we are saying is that give yourself a target of the time to completely wind down the importation of petroleum products. Bring stakeholders like the modular refineries and the traders together. We will all put our heads together and then work out a scheme.”
Idoko added that in countries where there is self-sufficiency, the private sector drives the oil refinery segment.
“Saudi Aramco is a purely private-loaned entity. It has shares, it has boards, it runs as a private entity. In the United States, in all the countries where you are seeing self-sufficiency in their refineries, the private sector takes the lead. All the government does is to create an enabling environment to provide support,” he submitted.
The NNPC said it spent over N9.3tn to import petrol in 2023.
After many months of denying subsidy payment, the firm confirmed on Monday that it imports petrol and sells at 50 per cent below the landing cost, saying the government pays the shortfall.
Many have argued that this is why the NNPC is having challenges to import enough petrol for Nigerians.
In the 25 years since Nigeria’s return to democracy, the 1999 Constitution has undergone five amendments and billions of naira expended on the process.
This stark reality has raised questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of the constitutional amendment process in the country.
The constitutional amendment process has become a recurring phenomenon in Nigeria, with each attempt generating significant hype and expectation. However, the outcome has often been underwhelming, with few tangible results to show for it.
According to Sunday Vanguard findings, the Constitution has been altered five times – twice in 2010 under President Umaru Yar’Adua and thrice under President Muhammadu Buhari.
They include the first, second and third alterations of 2010, the fourth alteration of 2017 as well as the fifth alteration of 2023.
The constitutional review exercise under President Obasanjo was derailed in May 2006 over his purported third term ambition.
Former President Jonathan, on his part, vetoed the constitutional alteration bills in 2015 and advanced reasons for doing so in a seven-page letter read on the floor of the Senate on April 15, 2015.
Then-President said he could not sign the new proposals into law due to irregularities and an attempt by the lawmakers to violate the doctrine of Separation of Powers.
Among alterations of the Constitution signed into law in 2010, ex-President Yar’Adua put the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on First Line Charge in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation.
This gesture was similarly extended to the National Assembly and the Federal Judiciary.
The age qualification of INEC Chairman was reduced from 50 to 40 years and those of National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners reduced from 40 to 35 years.
It was also then that the number of judges at the Election Petition Tribunals was reduced from five to three and governorship election petition was made to now terminate at the Supreme Court rather than Court of Appeal where it used to end before 2011. Also, election petitions were now given a time limit of 180 days at the tribunal and 60 days each at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. It was also in the 2010 constitutional amendment that the National Industrial Court became the Court of Superior Records.
‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run’
On May 31, 2018, President Buhari signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill which reduced age qualifications for some political offices into law.
They include that of President from 40 to 35 years, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly from 30 to 25 years.
On June 8, 2018, Buhari signed four constitutional alteration bills into law.
They include Constitution Amendment Number 21 which relates to the determination of pre-election matters.
It has reduced the date and time of determining pre-election matters to ensure that pre-election matters in court do not get into the time of the elections and do not linger thereafter.
Slow pace
With billions of naira spent on the process, stakeholders said the slow pace of amendments has hindered the country’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and address emerging challenges.
FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has asked President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency, declare state of emergency on food as Nigerians are hungry and angry, just as he urged Ministers who are misadvising the President to wake up or resign now.
Speaking yesterday at his Asokoro residence in Abuja when the President of Host Communities of Nigeria producing Oil and Gas ( HOSTCOM) High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi led a delegation of his team on a visit to him, Chief Clark said that Nigerians voted for President Tinubu, have been supporting him and his government, but he should not take Nigerians for a ride, adding that he must come down and align with the people.
According to him, two years after the signing into law, the Petroleum Industry Bill, now PIA, it is not working because it was rashly passed and the problem of leadership is affecting its implementation, adding, “The PIB which has been signed into law with 3% to be paid to hostcom, not regularly paid. Not only that, signed into law 2 years ago, almost 2 years ago, but it’s not implemented.
“This thing was rushed and the President Buhari, signed the PIB law as one of the quickest or something that he has to do. Only to realize that they have made mistakes and they said for 18 months or 2 years before it will be implemented. Today, it has not been implemented.
“Things have not changed. I thought we were going to talk about Niger Delta hostcom problems. I prepared a very long address which I wanted to read, but now that I am surprised why you brought this into me.
“Big problem of this oil subsidy has been on for years. Oil subsidy is not confined to Nigeria alone, everywhere in the world, but it’s the management that will exist. Everything in Nigeria does not work because of poor management, poor leadership.
“True, we all realize later that the oil subsidy was a scam. It did not even exist sometime, and the money was just fleeting. That was why in 2012, during the administration of President Jonathan, in January 2012, his government removed the oil subsidy.
“And there was a lot of agitation in this country. When people talk down protests against government, they are not being sincere, they are not talking the truth. You cannot violate your own constitution, not only violating it, prevent people from speaking their minds, prevent people from moving around, fighting for their rights.
£Nigeria has become a true country. As you already mentioned, the middle class has been fighting to deal with poverty. People are begging, people are very worried, they talk about all this.
“The government is spending so much money on issues that could be delayed with the introduction of the stoppage of the oil subsidy, which has caused problems, which was never anticipated by President Tinubu in fairness to him. And I want to say at this juncture, President Tinubu did not, I say again, did not remove the oil subsidies himself. It has history.
“During the 2023 presidential campaign, all the major parties talked about removal of subsidies. How it will come about, nobody knew. But in 2020, 2020, 2021, the President of Nigeria, at that time, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Finance, Ahmed, and the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced to Nigerians that there was no longer subsidy in Nigeria.”
Speaking on the recent protest by Nigerians, the Elderstatesman who noted that Protest is a way of following the constitution where the people are defending their rights, said that the government cannot stop the people from protesting as it has been part of us in the past, just as he said that President Tinubu organised protest that lasted some weeks against President Goodluck Jonathan when he removed oil subsidy.
The leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF said, “What is wrong with the procession, a protest now? The constitution allows it. So, I do not blame Tinubu, President Tinubu.And therefore, in 2021, there was no subsidy in the budget. But how it came back, nobody knew. But in 2021, let me go back again, in 2012, when it was removed, it was Mr. President himself, President Tinubu, who sponsored procession, bring Jonathan’s government down.
“And members of the APC who are here now, all of them were together. Our own organization, PANDEF, our South-South People’s Assembly, we have to gather people to counteract them. Every day, they were demonstrating.
“They supported a strike, general strike, to bring Jonathan’s Government down because of the subsidy. We have to, we’re replying them. I invited all our people, leaders, from the six states, from the Middle Belt, and from, even from the South, East, and West.
“We gathered in my house here for the period of two weeks. Replying to the protests, the agitation, we were lucky. When I sent for them, Ayakame, who was our secretary, Dr. Ayakame, whiskey.
“They were able to fly in that Sunday, before the strike was to start. And we had a series of meetings to counteract the procession. Food was being provided by them.”
Edwin Clark who noted that President Bola Tinubu should not be blamed for the removal of fuel subsidy since budgetary provision for it , ended in June 2023, however advised the government to find practical means of alleviating poverty ,fuel subsidy removal is inflicting on many Nigerians.
Earlier in his remarks, HOSTCOM President , High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi who called on the federal government to end the incessant fuel scarcity in the Country, also lampooned the International Oil Companies ( IOCs) and others , for allegedly frustrating the Dangote Refinery from accessing crude oil from them for local refining and production .
Chief Tamaranebi who lamented that as a result of scarcity of fuel supply , a lite of PMS is now sold for N2,000.00 in most parts of the Niger Delta now ,where the crude are explored, exploited and exported outside the country, said that the International Oil Companies ( IOCs) are not helping matter by refusing to sell crude to Dangote Refinery which has 650, 000 litres capacity per day .
He said : ” Our visit to the residence of our Leader and Father in the Niger Delta Region today , is voice out our displeasure to the federal government and in particular , publicly owned key players in the oil sector on the endless fuel scarcity in the country.
“It is a sad commentary to state here that a country like Nigeria, an oil producing Nation, the 2nd largest oil producer in Africa, that has four Refineries is still suffering from endless fuel scarcity and bent on importation of refined Petroleum Products to her Country for over 20 years.
“Only recently, some Nigerians trooped to the street in all parts of the country to protest against hardship in the country. Some of them were calling for the re- introduction of OIL, SUBSIDY.
“We are aware that the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country is caused by marketers’ refusal to import petrol into the country due to the huge debt issue. It is alleged that NNPC is owing marketers huge sums of monies and as such, they can no longer continue to import when NNPCL is owing them, while same NNPCL is coming to celebrate gain but using same token to appeal to use the profit for subsidy, what an IRONY?
“We are here today to appeal through you to call on the Federal government ably led by our dear President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to have a rethink.
“Just last Saturday, I bought a liter of fuel at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at N1200, while I was reliably told that at the creeks in Ekeremor LGA, Southern Ijaw LGA down to other riverine communities they are buying at rate of N2000 per litre. This is indeed very worrisome,.
“We therefore call on the government to ensure that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries are fixed immediately and made to work optimally.
“We are also calling on the Federal government to as a matter of urgency, compel the International oil companies operating in our Niger Delta to begin sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local Refinery in Naira so as to reduce and possibly eliminate importation of finished petroleum products into Nigeria.
“With the Nigeria Refineries producing locally, the price of petrol will reduce, which will ultimately reduce inflation and hardship in the country so that prices of commodities and staple foods like Fufu, Rice, Garri ete can come down.”
No more than 130 pan-Yoruba groups have concluded plans to discuss the state of the nation.
Leaders from civil rights and community-based organisations from Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Delta and Edo states will be in attendance.
They are set to meet in Lagos on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at a summit themed: ‘Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: The Role of Non-state Actors.’
The gathering, according to its organisers, is expected to draw some 1,500 participants including but not limited to the media, professional groups and representatives of the South-West state governors among others.
General Secretary of the groups, Mr Popoola Ajayi, in a statement, said: “Leaders of Yoruba associations in West African Coast and Northern, Middle Belt and South Eastern Nigeria will be attending the event. Nigeria is passing through a critical moment in its history. As you may be aware, the AYDM is the largest coalition of Pan Yoruba groups made up of 130 coalition members drawn from community-based, artisan and professional groups.
“AYDM coalition members include but are not limited to South West Professional, (SOWPROF); O’odua Peoples Congress, (OPC); Agbekoya; South-West Farmers Forum,(SWFAF); United Itsekiri Peoples Congress, (UIPC); ANAMMACO, representing Okada Riders in the South West; South West Students Coalition, (SWSC); O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC); Yoruba Community Association in Northern Nigeria, (YOCANN); Ilaje Peoples Assembly; Igbimo Omo Oodua in Diaspora, Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, (NATA), with some 5million registered members of mechanics established in 1953; Covenant Group of South-West Professionals (SOWPROF); Association of Yoruba Communities in West Africa (AYOCWA); Yoruba Artisan and Traders Association, (NATA); O’odua International Democratic Movement, (OIDEM); O’odua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group,(OIDEM) among many others.”
A group of elder statesmen under the aegis of The Patriots and led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku visited President Bola Tinubu to demand for a new, People’s Constitution. Specifically, the statesmen made two demands: “We urged him to send a president’s Executive Bill to the National Assembly, a Bill that will call for two essential measures: One the convening of a National Constituents Assembly, to be mandated to produce a new Draft Constitution.
And we suggested that such National Constituents Assembly should consist of individuals elected by the people on non-party basis”. Anyaoku revealed what the group told Tinubu during their session with him in an interview with State House reporters. Excerpts:
We had a very constructive meeting with the President. We The Patriots are a non-partisan group of eminent Nigerians who are committed to the unity of our country and good governance of our country under a legitimate People’s Democratic Constitution.
So, we came to convey this view that Nigeria needs a People’s Democratic Constitution. Nigeria, we affirmed to Mr. President, is a pluralistic country.
And you all know that pluralistic countries exist all over the world. Those of them that addressed their pluralism by having true federal constitutions have survived. Example is India and Canada. But those pluralistic countries that failed to address their basic challenge of pluralism through federal constitutions have ended up disintegrating.
Examples of that are Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia and here in Africa Sudan. These countries existed in the case of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia for about 100 years as one country, but they eventually disintegrated because they could not manage their pluralism through truly federal constitutions.
And we put some proposals to Mr. President and we urged him to send a president’s Executive Bill to the National Assembly, a Bill that will call for two essential measures: One the convening of a National Constituent Assembly, to be mandated to produce a new Draft Constitution. And we suggested that such National Constituent Assembly should consist of individuals elected by the people on non-party basis.
Say for example, three individuals per each of the 36 states and one from the Federal Capital Territory and they should be mandated to produce a new Draft Constitution. And we also suggested that in the Bill, the National Assembly should be asked to legislate for a national referendum because as our laws stand at the moment, we have no provision for a national referendum.
And we concluded by saying that the Draft Constitution to emerge from the Constituent Assembly should be subjected to national referendum in order to give the peoples of Nigeria a chance to determine the new Constitution.
On the cost of Constituent Assembly, we’ve had similar meetings in the past. I do not believe that, with the challenges facing this country, the challenge of national unity, challenge of insecurity, the challenge of poverty and hunger, the cost of setting up a Constituent Assembly, with the mandate to produce a Constitution due to the inappropriateness of the Constitution that we have at present, is too much. (There is) the inappropriateness of the governance system we have at present. And I’m sure that, when a Constituent Assembly looks at all these and looks at all the recommendations of past efforts to call a National Conference and produce a Draft Constitution, their job will be easier.
Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), has resigned.
Abubakar tendered his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu on Saturday.
Speaking to State House correspondents, Abubakar said his letter had been accepted by the president, but did not specify the reason for his resignation.
“It’s a routine thing from time to time to brief the president on situations, and today is no exception. After the briefing today, I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted the resignation,” he said.
“I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for a period, for an extended period of 15 months. It is very rare, by the way, to have the opportunity to serve two presidents. So, I thanked him very well, and I promised to remain professionally dedicated to our country and noble causes.
“I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity that the president gave me—actually to serve the country and his leadership—the encouragement I got, the confidence he had in me and my service, the opportunity to listen to me, to read briefing notes and advice, and so on. I think this is everything to me, and I have had the opportunity to mentor officers and staff for all the time I have been DG. This is the seventh year, by the way.”
When asked the reason for his resignation, Abubakar said: “There are quite a number of reasons one will do that, some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue. I discussed this with Mr President, and he understood very well.”
He attended Bayero University in Kano, where he bagged bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French. He also speaks English and Arabic.
Abubakar, a 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer from Katsina state, was appointed head of the agency by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2018. His tenure was extended in 2021.
Abubakar joined the security department of the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993. In 2015, he was appointed senior special assistant to the president (SSAP) on international relations and foreign affairs.
Nigeria Police have confirmed that its personnel arrested and detained the missing whistleblower, PIDOM.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuwiya Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Naija News reported that PIDOM, a social media whistleblower, who has leaked many government and security agencies classified memos to expose corruption, was declared missing on Friday.
In a series of reports by Naija News, on Friday, Nigerians and human rights activists, including former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, condemned the police for going after PIDOM.
Adejobi, on Saturday, said Isaac Bristol, who is behind the PIDOM handle, was arrested at a hotel in Rivers State.
The statement read: “In a well-coordinated effort, officials from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) apprehended Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, on allegations of committing serious offenses that undermine the integrity of government operations. The arrest took place on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room Rivers State.”
He added that allegations against Bristol include leakage of classified documents and other cyber-related offenses. He assured that due diligence would be done in his case.
“There are several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offenses, and others. We will do due diligence in carrying out thorough investigation into the cases.
“The force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation,” he added.
[NaijaNews]
Over 100 former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have filed lawsuits against the apex bank at the National Industrial Court (NIC), seeking compensation and general damages following their recent dismissal.
According to reports, the staff were laid off as part of a reorganisation strategy implemented by President Bola Tinubu administration.
The plaintiffs argued that their termination, which came with years still left on their contracts, was abrupt and unjust. They are now demanding payment for their outstanding salaries, allowances, and other entitlements.
Lead Counsel for some of the affected staff, Mr. Ola Olanipekun (SAN), presented the court documents to journalists in Jos, Plateau State.
Olanipekun stated that the legal action was taken to enforce the plaintiffs’ rights to fair hearing. “The unlawful actions of the apex bank have caused monumental damages to my clients, amounting to hundreds of millions of Naira,” he said. “We are asking the court to ensure that the CBN pays all claimants their due monthly salaries, allowances, and other entitlements.”
Olanipekun highlighted the case of one claimant, who had nine years of service remaining. This individual would have earned N1,621,455.70 monthly, had the employment not terminated. The counsel is requesting that the court orders the CBN to pay N178,360,127.00—covering the period from the termination until the claimant’s expected retirement date on August 4, 2033.
Additionally, the claimant seeks N100,000,000 as general damages for wrongful termination, along with N30,000,000 to cover litigation costs. They also request a 21% post-judgment interest per annum on all awarded sums until fully paid, plus any further orders the court deems appropriate.
The Originating Summons, dated August 22, 2024, is supported by a 27-paragraph affidavit submitted by the claimant.
Recall that LEADERSHIP reported the mass layoffs in May 2024, citing the documentation in a letter titled “Re-organisation of the CBN”.
[Leadership]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign activities for the forthcoming United States of America elections.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Kennedy said he was not terminating his presidential campaign as his name would be on the ballot in many states.
Kennedy asked his supporters to vote for him in the “red and blues” states in case of a “contingent” election.
The independent candidate added that if any of the two major parties did not meet the threshold in the election, he could become the president in the “contingent” election.
He asked his supporters not to vote for him in the “10 battleground states,” where his presence will be a “spoiler”.
“I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign. I am simply suspending it and not ending it,” Kennedy said.
“My name will remain on the ballot in most states. I encourage you to vote for me, and if enough of you do vote for me and neither of the major party candidates win 270 votes, which is quite possible in fact today, our polling shows them tying at 269 to 269.
“I could conceivably still end up in the White House in a contingent election.
“With a sense of victory and not defeat that I’m suspending my campaign activities.
“Three great causes drove me to enter this race in the first place primarily, and these are the principal causes that pressured me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent and now to throw my support to President Trump.
“The causes were free speech, a war in Ukraine, and war on our children.”
He said the promise of former US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine when he becomes president justifies his support for him.
Kennedy added that he left the Democratic Party because it has become a “party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, and big money”.
Kennedy Jr. is a member of the Kennedy family. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, was the 64th US attorney-general. He is a nephew of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the US.
Some members of Kennedy’s family have distanced themselves from the decision of RFK Jr., saying their support is for Kamala Harris.
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Wale Edun, minister of finance and the coordinating minister of the economy, says the federal government plans to relaunch the suspended school feeding programme.
Edun said the government would ensure adequate resources are available to support and sustain educational programmes across the country.
The minister spoke on Thursday when the house of representatives committee on alternative education visited him, according to a statement by Mohammed Manga, director of information and public relations at the ministry of finance.
The ministry said the meeting was held to address the pressing issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria, providing a platform for the minister to outline the government’s financial strategies and programmes aimed at tackling the challenge.
Speaking at the meeting, Edun reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening education.
He said through a lineup of initiatives, every child will be provided with access to quality education.
The minister said these initiatives would “positively impact the national budget by providing sufficient resources to support and sustain the educational programs”.
Edun also announced the upcoming relaunch of the ‘Home-Grown School Feeding Program’ — an initiative designed to increase school attendance by providing meals to students.
He said, “feeding children at school would not only improve their health and well-being but also incentivise them to remain in school, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children”.
The minister said the government is dedicated to tackling critical issues through innovative initiatives like the “secretariat for financing safe schools” and the “home-grown school feeding program”.
“As the government continues to prioritise education, Nigeria’s future generations can expect improved access to quality learning, setting the stage for a brighter, and more prosperous tomorrow,” Edun added.
On January 12, President Bola Tinubu suspended all programmes, including school feeding, administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), as part of a probe into alleged irregularities in the management of the agency and its activities.
On January 2, Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of NSIPA over alleged financial malfeasance.
The president also suspended Betta Edu as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation on January 8.
Edu’s ministry supervises the operations of the NSIPA.
The programmes affected include N-Power, the conditional cash transfer (CCT), the government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative.
On March 13, the house of representatives asked the federal government to resume the implementation of the suspended social investment initiatives.
However, the green chamber later decided to probe the suspended school feeding programme, arguing that a complete cancellation of the initiative “may cause more harm”.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say the federal government interventions in states are not enough.
The governors’ position is contained in a communiqué issued on Friday after a meeting in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state.
The federal government has been distributing palliatives to states to address the economic hardship in the country.
The governors asked President Bola Tinubu to caution his appointees against “mentioning” the interventions provided by the federal government to states to make them “look bad”.
“The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the federal government has resorted to blackmail,” the communiqué reads.
“We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem.
“We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight.”
On the forthcoming governorship election in Edo, the forum alleged that there are attempts to “compromise” the poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that security operatives are intimidating PDP supporters in the state.
The governors also urged the federal government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested over the #EndBadGovernance protest.
“The governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which was edging to a major national crisis,” the governors said.
“We salute the dexterity of the governors, especially of the PDP extraction, in handling the situation in their respective states with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.
“The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances.
“The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested.”
There are indications that the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced a production test-run of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) before it is released in September.
This is according to a recent report by Reuters.
The publication stated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is undergoing test runs for petrol production, with full operation expected to commence by mid-September.
Citing a note by IIR Energy, an oil industry monitor, the publication said the commencement date could be extended further.
According to the report, IIR said in a note to clients that “it is possible that there could be further extensions”.
Recall that the Nigerian government had said Dangote Refinery would commence petrol production in September 2024.
This was contained in a statement by a Nigerian Government Committee headed by Finance Minister, Wale Edun on the implementation of crude oil sale in Naira to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.
However, Dangote Refinery or its owner, Aliko Dangote has not issued any comments on the commencement, except the mid-August, which he earlier announced in July 2024.
Dangote has announced several dates that the refinery would commence petrol production, which did not materialize.
Recall that Dangote announced on May 18, 2024, that from June, the refinery would begin producing petrol, adding that Nigeria would not have to import the product again.
Similarly, in June, he stated that due to a minor delay, the refinery would commence petrol supply in July.
The July target was then moved to August before the government announced on August 20 that the plant would release PMS in September.
The development comes as the refinery grapples with a crude supply crisis and other challenges.
Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, civil society organisations, CSOs, and Arewa youths, yesterday called for the immediate release of protesters during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest held between August 1 and 10, 2024.
This came on a day rights lawyer and chairman of Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, Femi Falana, SAN, said his group will not hesitate to sue the Federal Government should it fail to either arraign those arrested before August 25 or release them.
He also disclosed that of the 2,111 suspects arrested during the protests, 1,403 had been remanded in prisons across the country.
27 of the protesters, according to one of their lawyers, Deji Adeyanju, are to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja today, after two failed attempts to arraign them by the police.
Speaking on the issue in Abuja yesterday, Cardinal Onaiyekan, while making a case for the immediate release of the suspects, said the unarmed protesters are not the cause of Nigeria’s problems.
He said: “It is not unarmed protesters who are the cause of our problems. Our president told us he is ready to dialogue with all those who are unhappy, but he needs to take the initiative now.
“Is this how to ask for dialogue? There is need to completely change our attitude. The people (protesters) were just ordinary young people who are hungry.
‘’The only way to show that you feel our pain is to do things that will relieve the suffering and pain of the people. That is what the government is there for.
“When we talk about youth nowadays, we are not talking about small boys or girls, we are talking about people who are 35 and below. Most of them have graduated, and most of them have skills.”
On his part, Mr Falana in a statement, titled ‘’Halt The Clampdown On Protesters,’’ said: “Instead of subjecting the #EndBadGovernance protesters to unwarranted clampdown, the Federal Government should either release or arraign the scores of detained suspects before appropriate courts without any further delay.
‘’Whenever the suspects are going to be arraigned, they must be given adequate notice to be able to contact the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and their family members to make arrangements for their defence.
‘’However, if all the suspects are not charged before August 25, 2024, the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, will approach the Federal High Court to demand their immediate release.
‘’ASCAB has also resolved to defend the cases filed against the protests by two state governments (Lagos and Ogun) and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT
‘’More fundamentally, it’s important to remind the Nigerian state again that beyond legalism, the solution to the political problem of which protests are mere symptoms lie in the honest application of socio-economic justice.
“Elements of this socio-economic justice include policy instruments fashioned to fight hunger, ignorance, disease and the scandalous inequality which define the Nigerian society today.’’
The statement read further: ‘’Out of the 2,111 arrested suspects, 1,403 have been arraigned in various courts. Painfully, the suspects were ordered to be reminded in prison custody due to lack of legal representation.
‘’The suspects were denied legal representation, even though the Nigerian Bar Association had publicly announced its intention to provide lawyers to defend them.
‘’We have also confirmed that individual lawyers who had applied for bail of the detained suspects in police stations were not informed that they were going to be arraigned in the courts.
‘’We submit that the decision of the authorities to deny the suspects legal representation constitutes a violent breach of their fundamental right to fair hearing, guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
“This is highly discriminatory and illegal on the ground that politically exposed persons who are arrested for looting the treasury to the tune of several billions of naira are usually informed in advance of the dates and of their arraignment in courts.
“Such highly-placed suspected looters are always granted bail in liberal terms and even authorised by trial judges to travel abroad for medical treatment.
“It does appear that the security forces have decided to take advantage of the anti- government protests to clamp down on radical citizens and thereby expose the country to unprecedented ridicule.
“For instance, Comrade Michael Adaramoye (a.k.a. Lenin) has been detained for over three weeks in the anti-robbery department of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja because he answers the sobriquet, “Lenin”.
‘’Messrs Elejo Opaluwa and Mosiu Abolaji are also detained in the same police station for belonging to a socialist organisation which supported the protest.
‘’Seven Polish students who were taking part in an exchange programme in Bayero University, Kano, were arrested for taking photographs during the protest. They may be charged with espionage to give the impression that the protests were instigated by foreign interest groups.
“The offence allegedly committed by the 783 suspects arrested in Kano is that they displayed the Russian flag during the protest. A tailor who was sewing the flag was also arrested by the police.
‘’It may be difficult to press charges against the suspects in a country where the flags of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and other European countries are hoisted by majority of hotels in Nigeria, while churches hoist the flag of Israel based on the erroneous belief that it is a Christian country.
‘’During the recent invasion of the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja, some Marxist books and other radical works were carted away because they were allegedly used to incite and organise the #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
‘’As if that was not enough, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero, has been summoned by the Nigeria Police Force for ‘interview’ on criminal charges relating to ‘criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime’.
‘’Yesterday (Wednesday), a team of the Nigeria police force invaded the house of the Principal of Stars of Nations Schools in Nasarawa State, Mrs Helen Batubo, in connection with the protests.
“Mrs Batubo is the stepdaughter of Mr. Drew who owns the school and runs the bookshop on 2nd floor of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC‘s Labour House in Abuja.
‘’Since there is no scintilla of evidence to justify the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime, the police should cancel the planned interrogation of the President of the NLC and return the books seized from the bookshops as they have not been banned in the country.
‘’We are compelled to call on the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to cause an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing of 22 citizens that occurred during the protest.
“At the end of the investigation, the culprits should be charged with murder in the state high courts where the heinous offences were committed.
“Finally, it is pertinent to remind the Federal Government that some of the leaders of the 2020 #EndSARS protests were charged with frivolous offences, while others had their passports seized and accounts frozen.
“Over 160 people were killed in Lagos and other cities, yet the massive clampdown on #EndSARS leaders has not stopped aggrieved youths from protesting against official policies that are considered inimical to the interests of the Nigerian people.’’
Listing the 2,111 arrested suspects with their states of arrest, the statement read: ‘’Kano—873; Jigawa –403; Katsina—120; Gombe—111; Sokoto—110; Borno—99; Yobe—90; Bauchi-60; Plateau—51; Kaduna—50; FCT—50; Nasarawa –40; Niger—25; Zamfara –19; and Cross Rivers State—10.’’
CSOs react
Reacting yesterday, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), expressed concern over government’s continuous detention of the protesters without arraignment, noting that some people not involved in the protests were arrested as patients in hospitals were also targeted.
Rafsanjani called on government to either prosecute or release the detained protesters wihout further delay.
While emphasizing that detaining them could be a means of siphoning public funds, he said further: “It is very sad that the government, which makes laws for citizens to comply with, is the one breaking the law. The government has not complied with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Additionally, we have noted that some people who were not even part of the #EndBadGovernance protests were arrested.
“To worsen matters, some people who were in the hospital were arrested in the name of pursuing protesters. In Katsina, security agencies allegedly went to the hospital, threw tear-gas canisters and killed some patients.
“We don’t know what the government aims to achieve by dehumanizing and incriminating its citizens at all costs. Meanwhile, the military and police are being terrorized by terrorists.
“Instead of harnessing their efforts and resources to tackle insecurity in the country, they are busy chasing people who are complaining of suffering in the hands of wicked public officials and non-state actors.
“The government should either prosecute or release the detained protesters. Detaining them could even be another way of siphoning public funds in the name of feeding the detainees.”
You can’t silence everybody, undermine the rights of Nigerians – CISLAC
Also reacting yesterday, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, said: “We appeal to the government and security agencies to de-escalate the tension that is growing as result of continued detention of protesters.
“This action is sending a very bad signal and it is capable of mobilizing tension in the country because there were so many people who were not involved in destructive protests who are now in custody.
“So government should do everything possible to take them to court if they must take them to court, otherwise they must release those who were not involved in violent protest, and this is the only way Nigerians can see that the government is just and fair.
“You cannot silence everybody and undermine the rights of Nigerians, and those security people who are doing this are actually helping to destroy Tinubu and his legacy, and not promoting him.
“Therefore, we are calling on the President to see those who are perpetrating this brutality and attacks on Nigerians, especially those who were not involved in any violence. The protesters are not his enemies but those destroying his reputation.’’
FG’s commitment to human rights questionable –Yiaga Africa
In his reaction, the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said: “I think it raises questions on the commitment of government to upholding human rights and the tenets of democracy.
“This unlawful detention of protesters whose crime is just coming out to protest against policies of the government that are anti-people is really unfortunate and unacceptable.
“The President needs to make good his promise and his commitment to respect human rights and the rights of protesters, and calling security agencies, especially the police that have held this people in detention to release them forthwith.
“This is because the continuous detention of these people is not only hurting their rights but also actually putting to question the commitment of the government to democracy.
“To prevent detainees from accessing legal counsel or representation is the most unfortunate, draconian, unacceptable thing to do within our constitutional democracy.”
JAF reacts
Similarly, the Joint Action Front, JAF, also yesterday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters, including Micheal Lenin, Mosiu Adigun, Eleojo Opaluwa, Kunle Wizeman, among others.
Dr. Oladipo Fashina, Chairperson of JAF, described police justification for the attack as a ‘smokescreen’ and called for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police and prosecution of police officers involved in the killing of protesters.
Fashina stated: “We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Micheal Lenin, Mosiu Adigun, Eleojo Opaluwa, Kunle Wizeman, and hundreds of others who have been unjustly arrested across the country over the nationwide protests.
“Sadly, according to media reports, at least 40 protesters have been murdered by security agencies across the country. While we hold the Tinubu regime responsible for the killings, we demand the resignation of the Inspector General of Police and prosecution of police officers involved.”
Release suspects to avert further protests
The Arewa Youth Assembly also yesterday called for the release of the protesters, saying the fact that government had not been able to arraign them was an indication it had no charges against the protesters.
Coordinator of the group, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, noted that indefinite detention of the protesters is brewing a bigger protest.
He said: “We are advocating release of all the protesters languishing in various prisons. They were simply disenchanted with government policies and took to the streets to protest peacefully, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Even if they became culpable in unlawful acts, it should not take more than 48 hours before they are arraigned in court. Doing otherwise is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights and is in itself an unlawful act by the government.
“Two perceived wrongs can’t make a right. The government is totally wrong on this. It should know that indefinite detention of these protesters is already brewing a bigger protest.
“What government should do to avert a looming protest is to assuage anger by releasing these youths. The Federal Government has said it has programmes for the youth. Which programmes? For which youths?
“Is it the more than 1,000 young Nigerians languishing in detention? Or is it the ones who were extra-judicially murdered by security agents? The problem we have in Northern Nigeria is that most of our elites are sycophants.
“They are afraid to speak truth to power because they feel if they do, President Ahmed Tinubu will be angry and they will not have money, or perhaps they won’t get that contract or appointment they are expecting from his administration.”
Detention unconstitutional – Rights lawyer
Reacting, rights lawyer, Temi Salami, said continued the detention of the protesters is a violation of Section 36 of the Constitution, which requires suspects to be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours if the court is not within jurisdiction.
Salami described the detention as a clear violation of the protesters’ rights, likening it to the Abacha era and a sign of Nigeria becoming a police state under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He stated: “It is against our laws to detain any suspect beyond 48 hours without an arraignment. Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) specifically states that anyone arrested must be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours at the maximum, if the court is not within jurisdiction.
“Detaining the #EndBadGovernance protesters for nearly three weeks is a gross violation of their fundamental rights, and it seems the Tinubu administration is taking us back to the Abacha era. Nigeria is gradually becoming a police state under President Bola Tinubu.”
Over 30 lawyers to storm court over arraignment of protesters - Adeyanju
Meanwhile, ahead of the much anticipated arraignment of the protesters by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, today, one of their lawyers, Mr Deji Adeyanju, yesterday, disclosed that over 30 lawyers would be at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Adeyanju told Vanguard in an interview yesterday that they were preparing for the arraignment that had been delayed since last Thursday.
He said: “We are looking forward to the arraignment and and we are hoping that they will arraign the protesters tomorrow (today). We are also preparing in anticipation of their arraignment.
“We are expecting over 30 lawyers at the Federal High Court in Abuja in defence of the protesters.
27 protesters to be arraigned
“We are looking at 27 #EndBadGovernance protesters from the numbers we have to be arraigned in court.
“The police have also arrested some other people we are not aware of that we have now been made aware of today (yesterday). They were arrested two weeks ago in Abuja.”
Police remand warrant of 14 days long expired
“The remand warrant the police obtained for 14 days has long expired, we are optimistic that they will be charged.
“We went to the police station to see the protesters but we were still not allowed to see them but we can confirm that one of them was seen by her family two days ago.
Protesters badly treated
“They are being made to sleep on the bare floor in an extremely difficult situation, and they are largely very unkempt.”
We’ll soon file suit against FG
“We are in the process of filing a suit against the Federal Government on the unconstitutional act on the fundamental rights of the protesters by the President.
“The act of government is unconstitutional and unlawful, protesters cannot be kept for over two weeks for mere allegation of protesting, while bandits have abducted and killed an emir in the north and nothing is being done.
“The energy being used to attack and silence protesters should be used to solve the insecurity problem in the country.”
UNESCO calls for protection of journalists covering protests worldwide
In a related development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has raised the alarm that in recent months, multiple journalists covering protests in different parts of the world have been subjected to various forms of attacks, including killings, injuries, arbitrary detentions, and confiscation of their equipment, while exercising their rightful duties as journalists.
UNESCO noted that all authorities concerned have the duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests around the world, in accordance with international norms and human rights obligations.
It said: “In times of crisis, as in times of peace, journalists are crucial lifelines to verified information for citizens. They facilitate public debate and dialogue that are pathways to democratic solutions. Authorities must guarantee the safety of journalists covering protests, in line with international freedom of expression standards.
“Within the UNESCO Series World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO has previously highlighted the growing risks to the safety of journalists covering protests.
“A UNESCO report on the safety of journalists covering environmental issues, published for World Press Freedom Day in May 2024, revealed that 194 journalists, groups of journalists and media houses have been attacked in the context of environmental protests in the past 15 years.
“UNESCO is monitoring attacks and threats against journalists that undermine their legitimate role of informing populations with accurate and verified information. “
[Vanguard]