Reno Omokri, a socio-political activist, has identified those who may emerge victorious at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Omokri said either President Bola Tinubu or the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would smile at the tribunal.
He noted that the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate Peter Obi and his followers should accept the election outcome.
Tweeting, Omokri wrote: “Either Waziri Atiku or President Bola Tinubu will smile today.
“As for Peter Obi and his Obidients, my counsel to all Nigerians and all those who have endured their cyberbullying, insults and threats, is to buy straws, cups and buckets, for you shall drink their tears in large quantities today!”
On Wednesday, the tribunal will decide the petitions against Tinubu.
Obi and Atiku are challenging Tinubu’s victory during the last presidential election.
The tribunal is currently deciding the petitions.
[DailyPost]
Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), says there is need for a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) annual finance facility for developing countries.
Speaking at the ongoing Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Guterres said at least $500 billion annually will help vulnerable countries make investments that will benefit their people.
He said African countries embody great potential that remains untapped due to injustice like the climate crisis.
He said Africa is set to become a “renewable energy superpower” if provided with essential support, adding that it is time to forge an alliance and create a new global financial system.
“Africa can be a renewable energy superpower. Now is the time to bring together African countries with developed countries financial institutions and technology companies to create a true African Renewable Energy Alliance,” he said.
“And all of that requires addressing another injustice: an outdated, unfair and dysfunctional global financial system.
“On average, African countries pay four times more for borrowing than the United States — and eight times more than the wealthiest European countries.
“I have called for an SDG stimulus of at least $500 billion a year to help developing countries invest in their people and the systems they need.”
He added that accelerating a just and equitable green transition requires a dramatic course correction which includes “ensuring an effective debt-relief mechanism that supports payment suspensions, longer lending terms, and lower rates”.
“It means re-capitalizing and changing the business model of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) so they can massively leverage private finance at affordable rates to help developing countries build truly sustainable economies,” Guterres said.
AFRICAN NATIONS SHOULD COME TO COP28 LEADING IN ACTION
On his part, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN climate change, said there is a need to stabilise the climate change agenda and build resilient societies in Africa and globally.
He said the world needs to develop, but not in a carbon intensive way, and that is why there needs to be a global responsibility on how that is achieved.
“And that’s exactly what we’re here to do. So that African nations can come to COP28 leading in action and ambition,” Stiell said.
“The discussions taking place here will inform the global stock-take about the challenges, barriers, solutions and opportunities for climate action and support within the context of Africa.”
He added that Africa Climate Week will usher in action that must enable governments to amplify their commitments, strengthen regional collaboration and empower local transformation.
He said this will enable African nations “come to COP28 — less than 100 days away — leading on action and ambition”.
He assured that the UN framework convention on climate change will work with Africa to identify the solutions to attain those opportunities.
[TheCable]
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he set up the 2014 National Conference, saying that it was to make Nigeria work.
Jonathan, who was the nation’s leader from 2010 to 2015, on March 17, 2014, inaugurated the national conference chaired by the late Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, a former chief justice of Nigeria.
Speaking on the topic, “How to Make Nigeria Work,” in Abuja yesterday at the 60th birthday of Prof. Udenta O Udenta in Abuja, Jonathan said: “When I set up the 2014 National Dialogue, the key thing was how to make Nigeria work, though we did not emphasise that so that people will really discuss the country.”
Udenta was the founding national secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, AD and now fellow, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought.
Jonathan said when the North and South were amalgamated in 1914 by Lord Lugard, there was the failure to integrate Nigerians into a proper nation.
He described Udenta as a true democrat, a nation builder, a man with passion, who has demonstrated his capacity towards achieving national unity and the development of Nigeria.
He said, “I must commend Udenta for presenting 21 books. Even writing one book is a problem. People have been asking me when are you going to write your biography, I said wait but here today someone has written 21 books. These books are different and divergent that can solve national problems.
“These books can also make our children understand us better and prepare us for leadership in all sectors whether in public sector, private, political positions in the country.”
According to him when he set up a national dialogue committee in 2014, the topic was ‘How to make Nigeria work.’
He said right from when the Northern and the Southern protectorates was amalgamated in 1914 by Lord Lugard till date, and all through party elections and independent struggle Nigeria has not gotten it right. “But I’m not blaming our forefathers but we fail to integrate into a proper nation.
“Individual interest, if you read some of the comments by our former leaders, of course Sir Awolowo, made it clear that there is not a nation called Nigeria. Yes, it is a geophysical state entity and the country was so polarized, especially during political formation and regional politics.
“There was no sense of commitment as a country to integrate Nigeria into an entity where we can say yes, we have a nation with a common interest,” he said.
At the event, former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, admitted that the protest which trailed the 2012 fuel subsidy removal during the administration of Jonathan was largely for political interests.
“What we need is alternative politics and my own notion of alternative politics is that you can’t have 35 per cent of the vote and take 100 per cent. It won’t work! We must look at proportional representation so that the party that is said to have won 21 per cent of the votes will have 21 per cent of the government. Adversary politics bring division and enmity.
“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed. We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth Sir, but it is all politics.
“That is why we must ensure that everybody is a crucial stakeholder by stopping all these. Let the manifesto of PDP, APC and Labour Party, be put on the table and select all those who will pilot the programme from all parties,” Fayemi added.
The strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress to protest the failure of the Federal Government to provide palliatives following the fuel subsidy removal Tuesday grounded economic and commercial activities in several states but workers in Lagos, Sokoto, and Katsina states snubbed the labour action.
Banks and other financial institutions and the civil service in the three states as well as Delta, Bayelsa, and Ogun did not comply with the NLC directive to shut down services as they attended to their customers.
But the two-day strike, which commenced on Tuesday paralysed activities in the Federal Capital Territory and some states with banks, ministries, agencies, and departments shut to the public.
Also, workers in various power firms, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Tuesday, joined the industrial action as their action disrupted the supply of electricity across the country. Power distribution companies however begged their customers for the disruption.
The NLC leadership had said the two-day warning strike was in preparation for a total shutdown which would start in 21 days.
The decision was taken at the end of its National Executive Council meeting which was held last Friday.
A communiqué released by the labour centre and jointly signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it decided to take the decision following the failure of the Bola Tinubu government to enter into dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labour on efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol on the masses.
A move to stop the strike by the Federal Government on Monday failed as the NLC leaders did not turn up at a meeting with the Minister of Information, Mallam Mohammed Idiris, and his labour ministry counterpart, Simeon Lalong.
Though the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees said its members would join the strike due to the punishing economic situation in the country, visits to several branches of banks on Lagos Island confirmed that they did not join the industrial action.
Bank workers
Branches of First Bank Plc including its head office, a branch of Union Bank, Wema Bank, and Polaris Bank attended to their customers.
The First Bank head office and its Abibu Oki branch along Marina were open to the public.
However, a security guard at a First Bank branch on Customs Street, Lagos Island, opposite the Lagos office of the Central Bank of Nigeria, initially prevented customers from entering the banking hall saying, “We are not operating because of the strike.”
As the customers insisted on carrying out their transactions, he went inside the hall and later returned to let the customers in.
At the Polaris bank branch along Broad Street, a bank worker said that they were still waiting for directives on the strike but until then, they would be working.
The bank worker who didn’t want his name in print said, “We are not on strike. We are working until they tell us that we should go home.”
Similarly, operations at the Broad Street branch of Wema Bank were uninterrupted, the same as the Union Bank branch at Tinubu Square.
Like their colleagues in the banks, the aviation workers at the Lagos airport shunned the strike as activities at the nation’s flagship airport continued as normal.
The aviation union said the representatives of the United Nations agency and the International Civil Aviation Authority were due to arrive in Nigeria to audit the nation’s aviation sector and it would be insensitive to down tolls at this time.
The General Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, Abdulrazak Saidu said, “We will not participate 100 percent because of the ongoing International Civil Aviation Organization audit. We cannot afford to allow ICAO to punish Nigeria because of this (strike) and we made this known to them at the last NLC meeting.’’
However, the NLC directive was fully implemented at the Lagos Ports as the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria shut down port operations.
The PUNCH reports that the MWUN in a letter on Monday titled, ‘Compliance to the Nigerian Labour Congress directive on a nationwide two-day warning strike’, signed by the Head of Media, MWUN, John Ikemefuna, said it was backing the two-day strike.
However, our correspondent on Tuesday gathered that the Apapa and Tincan Island Ports gates were all locked.
Also, the Mile 2 expressway was locked down as commercial vehicles refused to transport commuters, leading to disruptions in some offices in the Apapa area.
Giving an update on the strike, the National Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Nnadi Ugochukwu, said that some containers that were cleared early Tuesday morning could not leave the ports because the main gate of Tincan Island Port had been locked.
Also speaking, a former Apapa Chapter Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Frank Obiejesi said, “There are no activities at Apapa ports, it is shut down.”
But, normal day-to-day activities at the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa were in progress when our correspondent visited the place on Tuesday.
An official at the secretariat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH that civil servants in the state had no reason to join the strike.
Lagos civil servants
He said, “Most of the things that the NLC is demanding had been done by the state government even before the labour union began its agitation.
“For example, the NLC is demanding an increase in salary for workers. Lagos State already did this long before the demand.
“The demand for palliatives has also been fulfilled by the state government. Bus fares have been slashed by 50 percent, buses are provided to convey workers to and from work, and just on Sunday, the governor flagged off the distribution of food palliatives.
“So, why should civil servants in the state join the strike? There is no reason to join the strike.”
Another civil servant, who also spoke under the condition of anonymity, simply said, “We don’t have any reason to join the strike.”
When contacted, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the NLC, Mrs Agnes Sessi, said members of the union in the civil service were part of the strike.
“Our members in the civil service joined the strike. Those you saw maybe management staff and others who may be members of the TUC.
“The TUC is not part of this struggle.”
In Sokoto, the majority of civil servants shunned the strike and turned up for work.
Our correspondent who monitored the level of compliance observed that almost all the banks within the metropolis opened for business.
A trip to the Federal secretariat in the state confirmed workers in their offices.
Also, the state workers were resumed for work at both the Usmanu Farouk and Gingiya secretariats.
But later at 2 pm on Tuesday, union leaders stormed banks and government offices to enforce compliance.
A union leader, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, stated, “We have to storm those banks to ensure they comply with the warning strike as directed by the labour union.
The state NLC chairman, Abdullahi Jungle, could not be reached for comment as he did not respond to calls and messages.
In Katsina, the workers equally did not observe the strike as they reported for work.
The state secretariat, general hospital, and Federal Teaching Hospitals were all busy attending to people when our correspondent visited the facilities.
The strike was said to have failed because the senior civil servants were affiliated to the Trade Union Congress which was opposed to the strike action called by its counterpart.
A mild drama was recorded at the main gate of the state secretariat when the police officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps prevented workers from entering the complex.
On receiving the report of the development, the TUC state chairman, Muntari Ruma, stormed the gate with his members and directed the security personnel to grant all senior officers on Grade Level 07 and above access to their offices.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Musa, who also visited the scene, explained that the operatives were drafted there to protect the government property.
He directed that all the senior officials who were earlier barred should be allowed into the complex.
The state NLC Chairman, Hussaini Hamisu could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report as he did not respond to calls and messages.
Some commercial banks opened their gates to customers in Ilorin, Kwara state capital early on Tuesday but later shut their gates and drove back the customers in compliance with the NLC directive.
It was a mixed grill in Kwara State as the strike recorded partial compliance.
Some of the banks visited by our correspondent early on Tuesday did not join the strike, claiming that they had yet to receive directives from their respective head offices to that effect.
However, some of the branches of UBA, Union Bank, and First Bank later complied with the strike directive.
A security guard at the Taiwo branch of UBA told our correspondent at about 1 pm that the workers had just received the directive to join the strike.
However, checks at the Kwara State Civil Service Secretariat located along the High Court Area of the state revealed workers at their duty stations.
The state Chairman of the National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, David Ehindero described the strike as a success.
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, several MDAs were shut down in observance of the warning strike.
Our correspondent who visited the Federal Secretariat and the popular Radio House which houses some agencies under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation observed that the offices were deserted as the workers stayed away.
Banks in the areas were also under lock and key.
Lawyers and litigants who were at the Federal High Court were shocked when they were asked to vacate the courts at 2 pm by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria official.
The union shut the entrance gates of the court and hung a banner with the inscription,
The situation was the same in Jos, Plateau State where the industrial action recorded full compliance.
The PUNCH correspondent who visited the Federal Secretariat learnt that NLC officials locked the gates around 5 am and prevented workers from accessing their offices.
A security officer said, ‘’No work today. Workers are obeying the two-day warning strike declared by the NLC. In fact, their officials came very early around 5 a.m., and locked the gates. As you can see, no worker can go inside and there is nothing we can do because the strike is just one and we support it one hundred percent “
Many banks in Jos and other parts of the state did not open their doors to customers in compliance with the warning strike.
Warri port blocked
Officials of the NLC enforced the strike in Delta State and prevented workers from going to their offices.
The NPA workers in Warri were blocked from accessing their offices by the union officials sporting white polo shirts and face caps.
The NPA workers in Warri were blocked from accessing their offices by the union officials sporting white polo shirts and face caps.
The strike partly paralysed commercial activities in the Enugu metropolis as only a few businesses were open to the public.
Public offices locked up included the courts, banks, and other financial institutions.
But senior officials were seen going about their duties at the Federal and Enugu State Secretariats.
However, there was ongoing vehicular movement and traders were seen going about their daily activities.
Workers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, stayed away from office even as public schools were shut but a few banks opened for business.
The same scenario was observed in Minna, Niger State where the public workers down tools in protest over the alleged failure of the government to distribute palliatives.
Notwithstanding the strike, GTB, Access Bank, and other banks recorded huge customers who trooped into their banking halls to carry out transactions.
“We are not part of the warning strike. That is why you can see us working,’’ a bank worker explained.
The state NLC Chairman, Idrees Lafene declared, “There is compliance by the banks. We are just coming from some of the banks. But if you say some banks did not comply, we are going to compel them to comply.”
In Osogbo, Osun State, members of the National Union of Electricity Employees also joined the warning strike.
Some workers of Osogbo Region Transmission Company of Nigeria were locked out of the premises while some banks were firmly shut.
Vice President West, NUEE Sodiq Adewale, said, ‘’Presently, in compliance with the NLC directive, we are mandated to embark on a warning strike which started today and will continue tomorrow. As you can see, the whole place is under lock. Nobody is coming in and as time goes on, we are going to be reviewing our activities at the level of our actions.
“So far from our end, we have total compliance. Nobody is saying there is going to be a disruption of power, but our men are out. We are not tampering with anything.’’
In Ondo State, the NLC and the Head of Service engaged in a verbal exchange over a directive by the Head of Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele, directing workers to ignore the strike.
Ogundele had during a routine inspection of the MDAs in Akure noted that the state NLC was yet to inform the state government of its intention to go on strike.
But the chairman of the state NLC, Victor Amoko, in a statement, expressed displeasure over the alleged directive of the HoS.
“The Labour unions under NLC shall take on the HoS and call on the Acting Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the SA on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye to call Mr Ogundele to order before he truncates the existing labour harmony in the state,’’ it read.
Academic activities were grounded at the Bayero University Kano as the Academic Staff Union of Universities branch of the university joined the industrial action.
Checks showed that the lecture halls were deserted by both lecturers and students as a result of the strike.
It was the same story at the two state-owned universities, Maitama Sule University and Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil.
In Benin City, commercial banks, fuel stations, and government parastatals including hospitals complied with the warning strike which paralysed activities in the city.
On Akpapava Road, Wema Bank, Access Bank, and First Bank on Ring Road were closed to customers but the Automated Teller Machines were dispensing money to customers.
The NNPC Limited and Raptors fuel stations on Sapele Road were locked as customers.
Other companies like Guinness, the 7Up bottling plant, and the Central Park in Benin City were shut down by the protesting NLC members led by the state Chairman, Odion Olaye.
Commercial activities in Port Harcourt and its environs were grounded. Courts along the stretch of Azikiwe and Bank Roads were not open, while Access Bank, UBA, First Bank, and Polaris Bank along Ikwerre Road were also closed to customers.
The same situation was recorded in Kaduna as the strike crippled socio-economic activities across the metropolis.
The strike recorded full compliance as government offices, banks, and other financial institutions, especially along the ever-busy Ahmadu Bello Way, Yakubu Gowon Way as well Kachia Road, were shut.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the National Assistant Secretary General of Nigeria Labour Congress, Christopher Onyeka, said, the report that he got indicated that the strike was successful.
He stated, ‘’In a situation like this, we expect one or two defaulters either because of communication issues but towards the end of the day, all those issues were resolved, and the strike proceeded as expected.’’
‘’In fact, our expectations were exceeded in all ramifications, and NLC knows that the right message has been sent to the government and we have achieved all of the objectives on the first day of the warning strike.’’
The Peoples Democratic Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Labour Party have slammed the performance of President Bola Tinubu as he clocked 100 days in office.
The parties noted that the Tinubu-led Federal Government has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians. They also flayed the claim of the FG that it inherited a battered economy.
Recall that the Federal Government earlier on Tuesday said that President Bola Tinubu inherited a battered economy but has changed the narrative within 100 days in office.
While describing the fuel subsidy that was removed as “A Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades”, the FG said that although the challenges had been tough, the President had planted the seeds of national transformation.
“This period may be challenging, but the President has planted the seeds of national transformation, growth, and all-round development. Our appeal to Nigerians and the labour unions are to continue to support the government and show more understanding. We must continue to work hard and confidently press forward to the glory of a greater Nigeria,” the government said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris stated these in a statement titled, “President Tinubu’s 100 days of steady progress and national rejuvenation.”
Idris said, “Since May 29, President Tinubu has been at his duty post, working assiduously to deliver on his campaign promises as enunciated in his Renewed Hope Agenda for a better and
greater Nigeria.
“The President began the journey to rebuild our battered economy, realising that our country was in a difficult situation with our public debts – both local and foreign – coupled with an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime that created, for several decades, a galling hole in our public finance, rendering the three tiers of government insolvent and incapable of meeting the needs of the citizens.
“President Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions. Fuel subsidy was a Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades. It stunted growth and set the country a-borrowing.
“In addition to subsidy removal, President Tinubu took further steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets. While these two vital steps to save the country from hitting the rocks brought momentary discomfort to Nigerians, President Tinubu has never failed in his appeal to Nigerians to see the current inconveniences as a price we must all pay to save our country from disappearing.
“Considering the people’s pains, the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms. These interventions include working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments to enable them to cater to the most vulnerable among us, and providing fertilisers to farmers, grains to households, and cash transfers to people with low incomes. In addition to these, there are plans to roll out over 11,000 CNG buses for affordable public transportation among others.
“While striving to reduce the impact of the high cost of living for the citizens, President Tinubu has focused on redirecting our economy and removing the impediments to productivity and competitiveness so that the real sector can grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long-term economic growth.”
However, speaking with our correspondent, the Deputy Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor slammed the comment credited to the information and finance ministers on the state of the economy.
Recall that Finance Minister, Wale Edun recently stated that President Tinubu inherited a battered economy, adding that the last time the country witnessed economic development was during the administration of ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Although PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba and his deputy, Ibrahim Abdullahi were unavailable for comment, Osadolor said Mr Edun’s comment is a veiled excuse that the Tinubu-led government is already offering reasons for nonperformance.
He said, “President Tinubu should bury his head in shame. He was the national leader of the All Progressives Congress that brought about the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari which turned out to be a monumental failure.
“Like Buhari, Tinubu has started cluelessly, subjecting millions of Nigerians to untold hardship. They have sent Edun to make excuses for them but Nigerians should be aware that the man who asked them to blame him if Buhari failed is already out to tell them that he has nothing to offer.
“He campaigned for Buhari twice and today he is telling us that his predecessor handed him a battered economy. This is a shameful admission but Nigerians are not fooled.
“If Edun does not know what to do, he can as well resign his appointment. Nigerians are tired of excuses from leaders who promised heaven on earth but are already overwhelmed by the task of governance.”
Also, speaking with our correspondent, the National Auditor of the NNPP, Barrister Ladipo Johnson flayed the claim of the APC-led FG that it inherited a battered economy.
Johnson noted that the APC could not have inherited a battered economy, noting that the party should stop giving untenable excuses.
Johnson said what Nigerians want to hear are solutions that will bring stability to the economy in the medium and long, adding that the twin policies of floating the naira happening at the end of the fuel subsidy have led to instant difficulties for the common man.
“We wish them well for the sake of the country and the people,” he said.
In his reaction, the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun slammed the FG over claims that President Bola Tinubu took a ‘bold and courageous decision’ to remove the contentious fuel subsidy to avert national catastrophe.
The LP chieftain while reacting to Tuesday’s statement issued by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, titled “President Tinubu’s 100 days of steady progress and national rejuvenation” said there was nothing courageous about the decision of the president.
The minister had stated in the statement that Tinubu inherited a battered economy but noted that the president had courageously changed the narrative in his first 100 days in office.
But Edun slammed the claim, saying there was nothing courageous in the pains and agony the president’s hasty decision has brought on the masses.
“What is courageous in the harsh decision he took that is bringing pain to Nigerians all over the country? And it appears like they were prepared for it. Obviously, it wasn’t a well-thought-out decision. It was taken in a rush and, of course, they were at a loss when they realised their mistake. Nigerians can now see they were not even prepared for the fallout or consequence of that action. They simply cannot defend it.
Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, says the protest against the removal of petrol subsidy during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was mere politics.
Fayemi spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday of Udenta Udenta, the founding national secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD).
On January 1, 2012, Jonathan announced the removal of the petrol subsidy, leading to the increment in the pump price of the product from N65 per litre to N141.
The announcement sparked a mass protest tagged “Occupy Nigeria” across the country. Nigerians abroad also joined in the mass action.
After days of protest and negotiations between organised labour and the government, the Jonathan administration reinstated the subsidy with the petrol pump price reduced to N97 per litre.
In a recent interview with TheCable, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Nigeria needs to rethink its democracy.
The former president said the liberal type of democracy practised in the West would not work for the country.
Aligning with Obasanjo’s view, Fayemi noted that what Nigeria needs is alternative politics where proportional representation is employed.
“Today, I read former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview in The Cable saying our liberal democracy is not working and we need to revisit it, and I agree with him,” Fayemi said.
“We must move from the political alternatives. I think we are almost on a dead end of that.
“What we need is alternative politics and my own notion of alternative politics is that you can’t have 35 percent of the vote and take 100 percent. It won’t work.
“We must look at proportional representation so that the party that is said to have won 21 percent of the votes will have 21 percent of the government. Adversary politics bring division and enmity.
“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed.
“We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth sir, but it is all politics.
“That is why we must ensure that everybody is a crucial stakeholder by stopping all these.
“Let the manifesto of PDP, APC and Labour Party be put on the table and select all those who will pilot the programme from all parties.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.
Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.
The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.
The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.
Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.
The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.
But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.
During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).
The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.
Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:
“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.
“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 100 days in office has seen steady progress and national rejuvenation.
In a statement on Tuesday to mark Tinubu’s administration 100 days in office, Idris said the present administration met the country in a difficult situation.
According to the Information Minister, President Tinubu met a battered economy when he took over from Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.
He said Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions.
Idris, however, noted that the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms.
His statement read: “Exactly 100 days ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office following the popular mandate graciously bestowed by the good people of Nigeria, who elected him as the 16th leader of our country.
“Since May 29, President Tinubu has been at his duty post, working assiduously to deliver on his campaign promises as enunciated in his Renewed Hope Agenda for a better and greater Nigeria.
“The President began the journey to rebuild our battered economy, realising that our country was in a difficult situation with our public debts – both local and foreign – coupled with an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime that created, for several decades, a galling hole in our public finance, rendering the three tiers of governments insolvent and incapable of meeting the needs of the citizens.
“President Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions. Fuel subsidy was a Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades. It stunted growth and set the country a-borrowing.
“In addition to subsidy removal, President Tinubu took further steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets.
‘While these two vital steps to save the country from hitting the rocks brought momentary discomfort to Nigerians, President Tinubu has never failed in his appeal to Nigerians to see the current inconveniences as a price we must all pay to save our country from disappearing.
“Considering the people’s pains, the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms. These interventions include working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments to enable them to cater for the most vulnerable among us, providing fertilisers to farmers, grains to households, cash transfers to people with low incomes. In addition to these, there are plans to roll out over 11,000 CNG buses for affordable public transportation among others.
“While striving to reduce the impact of the high cost of living on the citizens, President Tinubu has focused on redirecting our economy and removing the impediments to productivity and competitiveness so that the real sector can grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long term economic growth.
“In the last 100 days, the government set up a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee that is fully at work to deepen the ongoing reforms and reposition the national economy for long-term sustainability. A renowned Tax and Fiscal Policy expert is leading this committee. Part of the committee’s mandate, working with the state governments, is to simplify our complicated tax system, eliminate multiple taxes, streamline regulations that negate the ease of doing business, and close the over 20 trillion annual tax gap.
“To ensure that Nigerians and businesses are not burdened with new taxes, the administration will promote efficiency in revenue collection. It will expand the tax net by ensuring that those not paying are made to pay while those not paying the correct amount are made to pay their fair share.
“Within the last 100 days, President Tinubu has worked to promote political stability in Nigeria because he understands that there cannot be any meaningful progress and development without peace.
“The administration has stabilised the polity and reduced tensions associated with ethnic and religious agitations by better managing our diversity. President Tinubu believes Nigeria’s heterogeneity is a strength to harness for national development. To strengthen the bond of national unity and social harmony, President Tinubu ensured balance in all the appointments into key government positions including that of service chiefs from diverse parts of the country.
“While promoting peace and political stability within the country by carrying along every segment of our country, the President also prioritises adequate information about government activities and policy direction. President Tinubu emerged as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government within his 100 days in office. In this role, he has commendably raised the profile of Nigeria globally and within the West Africa sub-region, promoting the rule of law, defending constitutional order, and standing as a bulwark against military incursion into governance, especially in the Republic of Niger, where a democratic government was toppled recently.
“It is not by accident that Nigeria continues to enjoy the respect of the rest of the world. It is so because of the firm and principled stand of President Tinubu for the ideals of democracy, rule of law and good governance.
“In continuation of his drive to rejuvenate and revitalise the national economy, President Tinubu embarked on a journey to India accompanied by a select delegation of cabinet ministers and over 30 entrepreneurs across various sectors of the economy for the G20 summit. This initiative showcases Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate meaningfully for sustainable economic development.
“In the last 100 days, President Tinubu has offered purposeful leadership and set the administration’s tone, texture, and character. The appointment of Ministers and allocation of portfolios bolstered the growing global confidence in the direction the President is taking in Nigeria. This action has renewed the trust of both the local and international communities in the ability of President Tinubu to revamp and retool the political economy for collective and shared prosperity. The spiralling confidence of the business community is the primary reason Equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange recently beat a 15-year record.
“This period may be challenging, but the President has planted the seeds of national transformation, growth, and all-round development. Our appeal to Nigerians and the labour unions is to continue to support the government and show more understanding. We must continue to work hard and confidently press forward to the glory of a greater Nigeria.”
Hours after the delivery of the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the Labour Party, LP, has raised the alarm over remarks made by a retired Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, concerning the verdict of the tribunal.
The LP, in a statement released by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, on Tuesday evening, also expressed concern over what it described as boastful comments being made by some ministers and other persons connected to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The party, whose candidate, Peter Obi, is challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential poll, said the statements made by Odili and the ministers amounted to a pre-emptive announcement of the judgement in favour of Tinubu.
According to the LP, the development portends danger for the country’s democracy.
“The unguarded statement from the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, last week at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of the elevation of a renowned jurist, JK Gadzama to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
“And the boasting of some persons, serving ministers and notable legislators about the outcome has left our party in shock.
“When those who should know the importance of the sanctity of the judiciary descend to the arena of abusing it with their pre-emptive utterances just to show loyalty and support to their interests, we as a party see this as unfortunate and dangerous to our democratic journey as a nation.
“We note also the needless lavish showering of praises on the legal counsels of both APC and candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the retired Justice when the gathering was not theirs.
“We find this extremely undignified of a renowned jurist who rose to the peak of her career in the country’s Apex court and who as the Chairperson of the body of benchers, should be at the forefront of defending the virtuousness of the courts.”
The LP, in the statement, equally expressed concern at the sudden decision of the tribunal to televise its judgement, after earlier rejecting live coverage of proceedings.
Noting that the action of the tribunal was suspicious, the statement said, “Also curious to every discerning mind watching the unfolding events in Nigeria since the February 25th Presidential election is the fact that the PEPC refused to live coverage of the hearings of the petition, and is now anxious to have the conclusion beamed live.
“What is it that has happened between the hearing period and the delivery of the judgment that the live coverage, which they claimed was a policy issue changed suddenly at the delivery point?”
Seemingly referring to the statement released by the Department of State Services, DSS, to warn of plans by unnamed politicians to sponsor riots, the Labour Party said the agents of the government intend to orchestrate problems and blame such on the opposition.
But the party insisted that citizens have the right to demonstrate in a democratic society.
“We are aware of the efforts of the agents of the States to orchestrate problems and blame them on the political opposition.
“We wish to emphasise that it is the right of the people in a democracy to demonstrate and the obligation of state security agents to protect the demonstrators and those not demonstrating.
“We implore Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful, abide by the rule of law, and understand that this matter has not reached its logical and final conclusion.
“Our concern as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s project, especially the democratic evolution is that what is being destroyed with all these clever by half playing on people’s intelligence is Nigeria as a nation, not necessarily an individual.
“Anybody who loves this country should appreciate the importance of due process and the rule of law because, without it, this country is going nowhere.”
The National/ State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, of the APC, challenging the victory of Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe of NNPP for Rimin Gado/Dawakin Tofa/ Tofa/ Federal House of Representatives Election held on March. 25, 2023.
Recall that the son of the former Kano State Governor, Abba Umar Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed a petition, challenging the emergence of Abdulkadir-Jobe of the NNPP, as a member representing Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa and Tofa Constituency election, held on February 25, 2023.
Counsel to the Petitioner, Mr. Abdulgafar Murtala, urged the court to declare Umar, as the winner and set aside the INEC declaration that earlier announced Jobe as the winner.
He alleged that the Rimin Gado, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa Constituency election was marred with irregularities, over-voting, and non-compliance, with the Electoral Act.
However, Counsel to NNPP, Ibrahim Wangida and Counsel to Jobe, Mr Auwal Sani, during the hearing urged the court to dismiss the petition, adding that the election was conducted, in accordance with the 2022 electoral act
Delivering judgment, the three-man Panel of Judges dismissed the petition for lack of merit. The panel also averred that the petitioner failed to present sufficient evidence to support the allegation raised.
To this extent, the tribunal awarded the sum of N200,000 to the respondents, jointly and severally.
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A popular security expert, Bulama Bukarti, has said the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) may not deliver the much-anticipated judgement on the 2023 presidential election today.
Recall that the Court of Appeal, in a statement on Monday, had fixed Wednesday, September 6, as the date it would deliver judgment on the petitions challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
But in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Bukarti stated that the tribunal may not give the ruling as expected today due to the ongoing warning strike by the National Labour Congress (NLC).
In the post titled: ‘PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION JUDGEMENT MAY NOT BE DELIVERED TOMORROW’, Bukarti asserted that the NLC strike might ground activities at the court premises.
The security expert said, while the judges may not participate in the strike, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which is affiliated with the NLC, has issued orders to close all courts in the country for two days.
Burkari stated that while the strike would result in the closure of the court premises and judges’ offices, making it impossible to deliver the judgment, the tribunal could delay judgment until after the strike.
He said: “Is it possible for the NLC’s strike tomorrow to prevent the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal from delivering its judgment? I believe it’s a possibility.
“While the judges themselves may not participate in the strike, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which is affiliated with the NLC, has issued orders to close all courts in the country today and tomorrow.
“If this occurs, it would result in the closure of the tribunal premises and judges’ offices, making it impossible to deliver the judgment. If such a scenario unfolds, it could have a significant impact, garnering headlines.
“However, the Tribunal could delay judgment until after the strike, potentially towards the late evening or the early night hours.
“But this may not work, as JUSUN may refuse to open the court after working hours, or NLC officials may put it under lock and key until Thursday morning. I am keen to see what will happen tomorrow.”
The Parish Priest, SS Peter & Paul Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife; Rev Fr Dr. Peter Oluseyi Adeyemi has on Sunday 3 September 2023, in his address, expanded on how digital age has impacted religion and religious activities.
In his opinion, there is a tendency to presume that saintliness was possible in the past but impossible in this current time, because of the technological advancements in all aspects of human existence. His other reasons for this assertion is that; the world of today which relishes the digital age has positively and negatively impacted on the way things are done - not only as it pertains to human existence but also in religious observances.
He then asserted that; though it is difficult to become saints in the presence of digital advancement, however, not impossible. According to Fr Adeyemi, digital technology is fundamentally changing what it means to be human; most especially - to be a religious or spiritual human being.
He worried of the digital world full of virtual deception vis-à-vis religious practices. Though the priest agreed that the digital phenomena, such as the interconnected networks, coupled with its socially interactive applications, like - Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and others, have come to stay since it has been so-much integrated into the fabrics of the society; the implications for human spirituality according to him, are staggering.
Some of technological invention that further triggered his worries is the current reality of robots, leading prayers in some religious gathering. Another is the ongoing attempt to manufacture spirituality-enhancement- technologies that can provide shortcut to meditation using cognitive augmentation via brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
The priest noted that, though there is possibility that such inventions may enhance stronger, calmer, quick and sharp reasoning - or even intense and transformative spiritual experiences; which may contribute to virtuousness - through the help of biomedical moral enhancement (BME).
What bothers him the most is its negative implications on human freedom and freewill in relating to God; this, according to him, is because; human efforts to worship God may then' become a cosmetic and impersonal affair.
Former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, says democracy in the country is not working despite the end of the military administration in 1999.
This is as Fayemi said the protest that trailed the fuel subsidy removal during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 was due to political interests.
He spoke Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday of Prof Udenta Udenta, founding national secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD).
In January 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the removal of fuel subsidy, causing a significant increase in the pump price of petrol, from N65 per litre to N141.
This decision ignited widespread protests across major cities in Nigeria, known as ‘Occupy Nigeria.’
After more than a week of protests, the government adjusted the petrol price to N97 and later reduced it to N87.
While speaking at the event, the ex-governor criticised the “winner-takes-all” nature of Nigeria’s democracy stating that the nation’s current challenges could not be effectively addressed without adopting proportional representation, where election rewards are distributed among contestants based on their share of the vote.
“Today, I read former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview in TheCable saying our liberal democracy is not working and we need to revisit it, and I agree with him. We must move from the political alternatives. I think we are almost on a dead end of that.”
“What we need is alternative politics, and my own notion of alternative politics is that you can’t have 35 per cent of the vote and take 100 per cent. It won’t work! We must look at proportional representation so that the party that is said to have won 21 per cent of the votes will have 21 per cent of the government. Adversary politics bring division and enmity,” he said.
He also acknowledged that all major political parties in Nigeria, including the PDP, APC, and Labour Party, had previously included the removal of subsidy in their manifestos.
However, he emphasized that the actual implementation of the policy in 2012 was driven by political considerations rather than a genuine commitment to the policy itself.
“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed. We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth sir, but it is all politics.
“That is why we must ensure that everybody is a crucial stakeholder by stopping all these. Let the manifesto of PDP, APC and Labour Party be put on the table and select all those who will pilot the programme from all parties.”
Among those at the event were Jonathan, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka.
Abia State Government said it will invest the N2bn palliative so far released by the Federal Government into transportation.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing the press alongside some of his colleagues after this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
The Commissioner said that details of how to deploy the fund would be made available soon, adding that the State Government would roll out its own palliatives after it is through with that of the Federal Government which is going on smoothly.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Father Christian Anokwuru revealed that a total of 16,800 bags of rice was received from the Federal Government, disclosing that each ward would get 90 bags.
He added that 55 bags have been shared to each of the 184 wards while the remaining 35 bags would get to the wards tomorrow.