The Arewa Economic Forum (AEF) has accused President Bola Tinubu of what it termed ‘Yorubanisation’ and ‘Lagoslisation’ of his appointments.
The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Dandakata, who expressed the displeasure of the Forum lamented that the North, which significantly contributed to the enthronement of the Tinubu government, is being left out in the Finance and ICT sectors which are crucial to economic development.
Dandakata spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a press conference organized by the Forum to register its discontent over the seeming nepotism in some of the President’s appointments.
He added that both the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Folashodun Shonubi, are from the southwest.
The Group alleged that many of the appointments of Heads of strategic government agencies in Finance and ICT are from the southwest and also of the Lagos axis.
He said, “As you may be aware, Finance and Information Communication Technology (ICT) are crucial to the economic eldorado that the President envisions for Nigeria.
“While the Federal Ministry of Finance manages the finances of the Federation, including controlling and monitoring federal revenues and expenditures, the Federal Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy develops a knowledge-based economy and facilitates the development of the ICT industry towards increasing its contribution to GDP.
“The two ministries play greater roles in facilitating businesses, e-commerce, job creation, empowerment and increased efficiency and productivity, which are vital for economic growth and prosperity.
“The importance of Finance and ICT sectors are such that we must be circumspect in the kind of decisions we make in those sectors.
“As a patriotic, refined statesman who won a credible, national mandate on February 25, 2023, President Bola Tinubu has a duty to not only be fair to all parts of the country but also to be seen to be fair to all parts.
“We have observed that the Minister of Finance and the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, are both from the southwest though we admit that they are eminently qualified for their respective positions.
“The Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, is from the southwest and even the Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT, Senator Afolabi Salisu, and that of House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo, are also from the southwest.”
The Forum’s Chairman further alleged that some Chief Executive Officers of some key government agencies and parastatals, who were northerners are gradually being replaced with Lagosians and there is the fear that more may be replaced.
“It must be added that even some agencies in the Finance and ICT sectors whose chief executives were removed like the Customs and NIMC were replaced by people from the Southwest.
“There is even confusion on the recent appointment of Engr Bisoye Coker-Odusote from Lagos as acting DG NIMC, after Engr Aliyu Abubakar Aziz was asked to go on retirement leave.
“The presidential directive stated that after acting for three months, Coker-Odusote would then immediately resume as substantive DG for a full tenure.
“This is curious and unprecedented. If the President could not allow the most senior director in the Commission to act for some time, he should have instructed Madam Coker-Odusote to resume her four-year tenure immediately instead of making her enjoy extra three months. This is capable of setting a bad precedent in public service appointments.”
While commending the President for retaining some performing chief executive officers of leading agencies in Economy and Technology like Bello Hassan of NDIC and Kashifu Inuwa of NITDA, the Forum said it believes that more competent, qualified and experienced technocrats from the North can also be appointed to head crucial sectors of the economy.
He added, “There is however palpable fear that more Northerners may be recommended for removal and their replacements may take a similar pattern.
“We are afraid to state that a situation whereby the appointees in crucial economic sectors are not only from the southwest but also connected to the Lagos axis suggests a deliberate ‘Yorubanisation’ and ‘Lagoslisation’ of the polity.
“It is not too late for Mr. President to turn the corner and do the needful in upcoming appointments and crucial decisions.
“We believe firmly that this President means well for our dear nation but he and his lieutenants need to understand optics as perception is reality.
“We urge Mr. President not to yield to sectional pressure for parochial appointments and patronage on the critical sectors of our economy.”
In his appointments, changes and replacements, the Forum called on the President to be wary of actions that can send a wrong signal on his true intentions or the agenda of some of his key lieutenants.
“We expect President Tinubu to be fair, just and equitable in his decisions not only because the Northerners overwhelmingly voted for him but because that is the right thing to do,” he added.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dared his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to suspend him declaring he has not seen who is capable of suspending him.
The former Rivers State Governor stated this while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday, a day after the All Progressives Congress, APC, under which he’s a minister named him as a member of the party’s governorship campaign council for Bayelsa State.
The APC however said it would produce another list declaring the composition of the council as announced by its National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, as not authentic, in a statement by its spokesman, Felix Morka.
The spokesman of the party told THE WHISTLER on Wednesday that another list would be announced Thursday.
The PDP had earlier named Wike as a member of its Bayelsa State Campaign Council.
Some members of the party told THE WHISTLER on Thursday that Wike deserved suspension or expulsion for anti-party activities but blamed the acting National Chairman of the party for the poor direction the party was headed.
But speaking against the demand for his suspension, Wike said, “The person who will suspend me is when I couldn’t produce a governor, three senators, Assembly members. I have not seen that person. Nobody will do it”
He however made it clear that, “I am not working for APC. I am working for Tinubu who has trust in me to help him deliver the renewed hope agenda.”
No fewer than 84 loyalists of the former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, have been expelled from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State for anti-party activities.
They were expelled for accepting political appointments by Governor Ademola Adeleke, including as Commissioners and members of the Osun State and Local Government Caretaker Committees.
THE WHISTLER gathered that the party may also take disciplinary action against Aregbesola who disclosed in an interview on Tuesday that he deliberately worked against APC’s bid in the state’s 2022 governorship election.
The current Osun State Commissioner for Political Affairs and Inter-Governmental Relations, Biyi Odunlade and Rasaq Salinsile who was appointed by Governor Adeleke as Chairman, Osun Teaching Service Commission, were among those that were expelled from the party.
The Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, announced the party members’ expulsion in a news release.
“Following complaints of anti-party activities, the State Executive Committee of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the allegations against some members.
“This disciplinary measure came in response to the allegations of misconduct and actions that embarrassed and brought the party to disrepute. The Disciplinary Committee undertook a thorough and impartial review of the allegations and the findings were carefully deliberated upon by the State Executive Committee.
“After a comprehensive assessment of the evidence and consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the State Executive Committee has taken the difficult yet necessary step of expelling the members.
“Among the expelled are: Akibu Olaiya – Iwo LG, Yekeen Ajoke Nafisat – Iwo LG, Wakeel Mutaleeb Adekunle – Iwo East LCDA, Olufunke Akano – Iwo East LCDA, Olatunji Idowu Ajoke- Iwo West LCDA, Ajala Abayomi – Ayedire LG, Adegboyega Semiu Adeniyi – Ayedire LG, Sabitu Rofiat Omolayo – Ayedire South LCDA, Oladeji Ismail – Ayedire South LCDA, Tajudeen Akanbi – Olaoluwa LG, Oyediran Quasim – Olaoluwa LG, Ajetunmobi Moshood – Olaoluwa South LCDA, Akintoye Opeyemi – Irewole LG, Akerele Sunday – Irewole LG, Pastor Peter Olaawo – Irewole LCDA, Orisatola Surajudeen A. – Irewole LCDA, Shariat O. Olaniyi – Ayedaade LG, Akeem Olodude – Ayedaade LG, Raji Sikiru – Ayedaade South LCDA, Isaac Adeyemi Aderinoye – Ayedaade South LCDA, Oyedeji Tawab O. – Osogbo LG, Aderemi Tajudeen – Osogbo LG, Kamoru Afusat Bolanle – Osogbo South LCDA, Ibrahim Mumini Tunde – Osogbo South LCDA, Olayinka Musiliu Shina – Osogbo West LCDA, Adewumi Ademola Taofeeq – Osogbo West LCDA, Ajala Oladiran – Olorunda LG, Abiola Omotosho – Olorunda LG, Ganiyu Aliu O. – Olorunda North LCDA, Lawal Olalekan – Olorunda North LCDA and Ganiyu Adebayo A. – Olorunda Area Council
“Afolabi Olaniyi Olatunde – Olorunda Area Council, Serifat Olayiwola – Ifelodun LG, Olawale Morufu Adebukola – Ifelodun LG, Ajibade Olatunji Ganiyu – Ifelodun North LCDA, Oladunjoye Rasheed Taye – Ifelodun North LCDA, Wale Agboola – Ifelodun Area Council, Sulaiman Akeem – Ifelodun Area Council, Odetayo Olubunmi – Odo Otin LG, Agboola Dayo Remilekun – Odo Otin LG, David Ajiboso – Odo Otin North LCDA, Ajala Richard Folashade – Odo Otin North LCDA, Ogunkanmi Adekunle – Odo Otin South LCDA, Adepoju Kabiru – Odo Otin South LCDA, Fadunmola Fatai A. – Boluwaduro LG, Aina Olusola – Boluwaduro LG, Oyekanmi Hajarat Adenike – Boluwaduro East LCDA, Adewumi O. Olufemi – Boluwaduro East LCDA, Teniola Alaba – Ilesa East LG, Muraina Fatai Olusegun – Ilesa East LG, Alaka Bode Olakunle – Ilesa North East LCDA, Ojediran Folasade Kehinde – Ilesa North East LCDA, Raji Azeez – Ilesa West LG, Afolayan Kafayat – Ilesa West LG, Kabir Ademola Hameed – Ilesa West Central LCDA and Kazeem Kafayat – Ilesa West Central LCDA
Also, “Agunlejika Adejuyigbe – Atakumosa West LG, Ogundele Sesan Opeyemi – Atakumosa West LG, Omidiji Olaolu – Atakumosa West LCDA, Adejare Israel – Atakumosa West LCDA, Oni Abiodun – Ife Central LG, Ismail Busayo Alabelewe – Ife Central LG, Chief Titus Awofesobi – Ife Central West LCDA, Alhaji Akeem Oyeleye – Ife Central West LCDA, Alhaji Omisakin Bisi – Ife East LG, Ogunrinola Sayo – Ife East LG, Oyewole Rafiu – Ife Ooye LCDA, Adefioye Adegboyega – Ife Ooye LCDA, Sangolade Olawale – Ife East Area Office, Adekunle Toyin Asabi – Ife East Area Office, Adeyeye Yinusa O. – Oriade LG, Mathew Olamuyiwa Samuel – Oriade LG, Samson Fakinyede Oladipo – Oriade South LCDA, Oyediran Mikail – Oriade South LCDA, Lamidi Oyeyemi – Obokun LG, Dare Adarayaki- Obokun LG, Oluseyi Oyinloye – Obokun LCDA, Ogundele Ogunsanmi – Obokun LCDA, Ismail Elewedi – Ejigbo Central LCDA, Yekeen Adewale – Oyebisi Ejigbo South LCDA, Muraina Atanda Adeleke – Ejigbo South LCDA, Alhaja Temilade Olokungboye Halid – Osogbo West LCDA, Comrade Biyi Odunlade – Ife Central LGA and Hon. Rasak Salinsile – Iwo LGA.”
He enjoined members of the party to remain focused on the party’s goals and continue working together to serve the interests of the State.
Governor Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated the then incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola, who ran on the platform of the APC.
Oyetola failed both at the tribunal and Supreme Court to have Adeleke’s victory overturned.
Appeal court orders Senator Abbo to pay N50 million damages for assaulting woman in Abuja adult toy shop
AdminThe Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the N50 million damages that was awarded against Senator Elisha Abbo for assaulting a lady, Ms. Osimibibra Warmate, in a sex toy shop in Abuja.
A High Court of Federal Capital Territory had ordered the lawmaker who represented Adamawa North, to pay damages over the incident that occurred in 2019.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, Senator Abbo approached the appellate court to set aside the judgement.
However, the appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Jamilu Tukur, dismissed the appeal.
The panel said it found no reason to dislodge the verdict the high court delivered on September 29, 2020, following a fundamental right enforcement suit that was lodged by Ms. Warmate.
The appellate court held that trial Justice Samira Bature was right in upholding Ms. Warmate’s case and awarding damages against the lawmaker.
It dismissed the Appellant’s argument that the suit that led to the damages that was awarded against him, was not properly commenced.
While also dismissing Senator Abbo’s contention that he was denied fair hearing, the appellate court faulted his argument that Ms. Warmate’s claim that he slapped her, pulled her hair and dragged her out of the sex toy shop, was only a case of simple assault and not rights violation.
The court, aside from upholding the N50m damages, equally awarded another N500, 000 in favour of Ms. Warmate, even as it resolved all five issues that were raised in the appeal, against the Appellant.
In its lead judgement that was delivered Danlami Senchi, the appellate court held that Senator Abbo’s appeal marked: CA/ABJ/945/2020, was bereft of any merit.
“The decision of the trial court in the award of N50m against the Appellant and in favour of the Respondent was proper,” Justice Senchi held, adding that going by the quality of evidence that was presented by Ms Warmate, including a medical report and video recordings of the incident, the decision of the trial court could not be tampered with.
“The conduct of the Appellant is sufficiently outrageous to merit the punishment as the facts of the case disclosed flagrant disobedience of the law, especially that the Appellant is an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the court held.
The Gabon military junta has announced the head of the Republican Guards, Colonel Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, as the new leader of the country after ending the 55-year rule of the Bongo family.
On Wednesday, August 30, the military announced that it had taken over power from Ali Bongo Ondimba, citing a degraded social atmosphere that, according to them, can lead to chaos in the future.
They also said the August 26 presidential election in the country was fraudulently conducted.
The country’s electoral commission had announced at midnight on Tuesday that incumbent, Ali Bongo, won 64.27% votes with the opposition candidate Ondo Ossa scoring 30%.
According to a report by Cameroon News Agency, Col. Nguema’s position as the leader of the Republican Guards was to protect the president.
The coup on Wednesday shows that the Gabonese military has had enough of the irregularities going on in the country.
In April 2020, Colonel Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema took over the head of the Republican Guard, an elite Army corps responsible for protecting the head of state, replacing General Grégoire Kouna, a cousin of Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Gambia has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 out of its 63 years since independence from France in 1960.
Bongo, 64, took over when his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in power.
Bongo senior, who took office in 1967, had the reputation of a kleptocrat — one of the richest men in the world, with a fortune derived from Gabon’s oil wealth.
The event in Gabon comes a month after members of the Presidential Guards staged a coup against the then President of Niger Republic in West Africa, Mohammed Bazoum, and placed him under House arrest since then.
Ali Bongo Ondimba is also being placed under house arrest at The Residence, the official home of the Gabonese President, while his wife and son were being held in unknown locations.
The joint task force of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has arrested MV Ofuoma, an oil vessel, and 10 crew members conveying “illegally refined petroleum products” in Rivers state.
John Siyanbade, the component commander of the task force, said MV Ofuoma was arrested on August 15 at Abuloma jetty in Port Harcourt by the Nigerian Navy ship, Pathfinder.
Speaking at the site on behalf of Olusegun Ferreira, a rear admiral, Siyanbade said the vessel was used as a storage facility for illegally refined petroleum products.
“The vessel was receiving product suspected to be illegally refined AGO from a dugout wooden boat alongside it,” he said.
“As it was intercepted by OPDS, about 20,000 litres of the product have already been transferred from the dugout boat to the vessel. Currently, we have about 35,000 litres still remaining on board.
“The operation was conducted by troops of the JTF Operation Delta Safe Headquarters.”
Siyanbade said the 10 suspects intercepted comprise both the crew on board the vessel and those on the boat.
“The suspects have given credible information about where they source the product from; operation is ongoing to deactivate the illegal refining site in the area, and the operation will be for some time,” the commander said.
He added that the task force would not relent in its efforts to eradicate crude oil theft and other forms of illegality in the region.
Siyanbade advised individuals involved to seek legitimate means of livelihood before they are apprehended.
The Ogun State Government in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA, has put necessary measures in place at ensuring effective health care delivery is available for the people of Intoji village, Orile-itesi community in Odeda Local Government Area of the state.
The facility which is fully funded by the NPHCDA will bring succour to the residents of the village and its environs, as all necessary equipment and machineries needed have been put in place.
Commissioner Designate, Ministry of Health, Dr. Tomi Coker revealed this during the commissioning of the newly built facility, saying that the government had put in place basic health care provision to run the facility.
Coker, in a statement made available to newsmen by Mrs. Fatimah Alatishe, Press Officer, PHCDB, further stated that health insurance will be provided for the venerable who would be registered at the center, saying that the facility will run 24hr services as government has provided nurses and resident doctor to attend to patients to ensure quality health care is provided.
Dr. Coker, while advising residents to make good use of the facility for proper care and management of their health, said "my plea is that people should come and make use of the facility, as the more we utilize it, the more resources will be drawn to the center, the vision of the governor is to bring quality and affordable health care to the doorstep of the people, so we are aligning with that".
In her welcome address, the Chairman, Odeda Local Government, Hon. Funmilayo Adeyemo, appreciated the State Government and the NPHCDA for the project, saying it would ease the health care access of the residents in the village, imploring the residents to make judicious use of the facility.
In their goodwill messages, the member representing Odeda State constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Daisi Elemide, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kayode Oladehinde, State coordinator, NPHCDA, Dr Victoria Adebiyi, and the Olu of Orile-itesi, Oba Adeniyi Emulu commended the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for the re-appointment of the commissioner designate, and his efforts on delivering quality health care services, by bringing affordable and adequate healthcare to their doorstep.
They appreciated Dr. Tomi Coker for facilitating the project to the community, saying that she has demonstrated a good indigeneship of Odeda Local Government, urging the people to reciprocate the gesture by making good use of the facility by protecting and patronizing the PHC.
Responding on behalf of the community, Mr Adebayo Wasiu expressed their gratitude to the National Primary Health Care Agency, the state government and the commissioner designate for giving them such a massive facility to take care of their health needs, promising to put it to good use and protect it adequately.
Controversies have continued to trail Nigeria’s 4.1 per cent unemployment figure amid economic hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and the foreign exchange crisis.
DAILY POST recalls that the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday last week disclosed in its recent Nigeria Labour Force Survey that the country’s unemployment rate is 5.6 per cent for Q4 2022 and 4.1 per cent Q1 2023 using the revised International Labour Organization methodology.
The recent figure is coming after two years of being without unemployment figures. The last time the National Bureau of Statistics released labour data was in 2020, when it stood at 33.3 per cent.
In perspective, the 4.1 per cent unemployment rate means that only four of every 100 Nigerians are unemployed.
For some Nigerians, the figure ignited a utopic feeling because the 4.1 unemployment rate seems not to match reality.
Assessing NBS’ 4.1% unemployment rate
The announcement of a 4.1 per cent unemployment rate in Q1 2023 has been greeted with mixed reactions Nationwide.
The figure sharply contrasted with the last official data of 33.3 per cent for Q4 2020, disclosed in March 2021.
NBS explained that it arrived at the figure by adopting new International Labour Organization guidelines.
Accordingly, the report noted employed persons grew from 73.6 per cent in Q4 2022 to 76.7 per cent in Q1 2023.
Meanwhile, the figure stated that Nigerians in paid employment dropped from 13.4 in Q4 2022 to 11.8 per cent in Q1 2023. Also, informal employment dropped from 93.5 per cent in Q4 2022 to 92.6 per cent in Q1 2023.
The NBS stressed that the difference between the old and new Methodology constitutes the term’ unemployment’. While the old Methodology says any population working below 20 hours or did not work but searching and available in the reference week, the new format sees unemployment as not being in employment, actively searching and available (did nothing for pay or profit).
However, many Nigerians, like the Director of the Institute of Capital Market Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof Uche Uwaleke, said the new Methodology does not reflect Nigeria’s economic realities.
Uwaleke’s perspective resonates heavily with the proportion of Nigerians living below the poverty line.
A similar argument was advanced by the Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere.
According to him, the unemployment reported rate is incongruent with the economic challenges a significant percentage of the population faces.
Also, Muda Yusuf, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Public Enterprises, said the NBS needs to review the Methodology adopted for the report.
“It is difficult to accept the recently released unemployment report by the NBS.
“The Methodology needs to be reviewed to reflect our realities. 4.1 per cent unemployment rate in this part of the world is as good as full employment. Empirical evidence abounds of many young people, especially the educated ones, who practically have nothing to do.”
The Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2022, released by NBS in November last year, showed that 133 million Nigerians are poor out of an estimated population of over 223 million.
Experts contend that the economic misery caused by the rising inflation, which stood at 24.08 per cent in July, the fuel subsidy removal hardship and the foreign exchange crisis, leaves much to be desired from the 4.1 per cent unemployment rate.
Figure not in tune with Nigeria’s reality – Experts
Speaking with DAILY POST, a popular economist and the former President and Chairman of the Council of Chartered Institute of Bankers, Prof Segun Ajibola said the new Methodology used by NBS is irrelevant to Nigeria.
According to him, combating poverty is critical to employment.
He said the NBS playing around with figures of the unemployment rate will not solve the problem of poverty in Nigeria.
“Economists look at unemployment in different ways, about eight different types, but usually when the subject matter comes up, most people think of open unemployment, those who are not engaged at all.
“Unless the figure is attached to a specific aspect of unemployment, the figure will be misleading. At times, you have complications in discussing unemployment.
“But generally, unemployment has some attachment to poverty. It is believed you are employed if you are fully engaged and earning a living wage. So, if you are fully engaged and still do not earn a living wage, you will still suffer from poverty.
“The new Methodology by ILO is not relevant to us in this part of the world. What is important to us is for labour to be fully skilled to earn a living wage.
“If you look at our environment, can you say out of 100 Nigerians, only four are unemployed? Playing around with figures will not solve the problem of poverty”, he stated.
Also, Idakolo Gbolade, Chief Executive Officer of SD & D Capital Management, said the technique used by NBS to arrive at the 4.1 unemployment rate in Q1 2023 is likened to living in a fool’s paradise.
He noted that the figure is not in tune with reality.
Gbolade said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to ensure that various policies towards reviving Nigeria’s economy are properly implemented.
“The new technique NBS uses is like living in a fool’s paradise. This is not in tune with reality when statistics clearly show the poverty rate is about 70 per cent. The poverty rate is directly proportional to unemployment, so the statistics used to arrive at the Q1 2023 unemployment figure are unrealistic.
“The 4.1 per cent unemployment rate is a good place for Nigeria; however, a lot needs to be done in key sectors of our economy like agriculture, energy, manufacturing and SMEs to create an enabling environment for employment opportunities for our teeming youth.
“The Bola Tinubu government needs to ensure that various policies announced in the agricultural sector, manufacturing and SMEs are properly implemented to lift our economy”, he stated.
In contrast, an accounting and financial development Don at Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Godwin Oyedokun, said there is no need to disbelieve the unemployment figure.
“If we can believe the inflation data, we just believe this because they use the same system. The real unemployment in Nigeria is not as we often define it.
“You are employed as long as you are engaged by making a profit or wage. The fuel subsidy removal did not lead to unemployment but shrunk the purchasing power of Nigeria.
“The euphoria of fuel subsidy removal may not be as claimed because many Nigerians continue their economic activities. People will rather adjust their consumption patterns. Unemployment and poverty differ, but one can lead to the other,” he said.
[DailyPost]
The coup in Gabon is fueling a modest increase in the prices of crude oil due to seemingly threats to exports from the country which produces about 200,000 barrels a day (bpd) of crude oil, making it the second-smallest OPEC producer.
Earlier on August 30, a cohort of senior military officers declared that they had assumed control following the announcement by the state election body that President Ali Bongo, had secured a third term. Note that Bongo’s Father had ruled as president before him for 42 years.
According to a report by Wall Street Journal, since Gabon’s coup announcement, global crude oil prices have seen a modest increase due to seeming threats to exports from the country.
“The coup and the threat of disruptions to Gabon’s oil exports are supporting oil prices, but only modestly as the nation is a minor OPEC oil producer, DNB Markets analyst Helge Andre Martinsen says. Brent crude oil is up 0.3 per cent at $85.19 a barrel.
“The nation’s output stands at a modest 190,000 barrels a day, but it has been the only African OPEC member to hit its production quotas. So far, there has been no sign of disruption to Gabon’s oil output. Still, the coup serves as a reminder of the geopolitical risk in the oil market, Martinsen says.”
It is important to note that as of 12:50 PM (GMT+1) on Wednesday, August 30, Brent crude price was at $86 per barrel.
The Gabon coup is raising supply concerns alongside Hurricane Idalia in the United States, which has raised oil supply concerns as well.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Amena Bakr, OPEC’s chief correspondent posted on Twitter that so far, it appears that oil production from fields in Gabon is not affected by the military coup.
Similarly, Assala Energy, which is wholly owned by Carlyle Group (CG.O), said its oil production in Gabon has been unaffected by the military coup in the country.
“We can confirm that all our personnel are safe, our operations continue as usual and our production is not affected,” a company spokesperson said.
The private equity fund’s non-U.S. energy arm first invested in Assala in 2017 when it acquired Shell’s (SHEL.L) ageing operations in Gabon for $628 million.
However, earlier this month, Carlyle agreed to sell Assala to French producer Maurel & Prom (MAUP.PA), which owns and operates oil and gas assets in Africa, Europe and Latin America, including three licences in Gabon, for $730 million.
[NationalDaily]
The United States Presidential Precinct has appointed Toyosi Ogunseye as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO).
Ogunseye, who is the second president and CEO of the organisation, takes over from Neal Piper, the founding director.
Jim Murray, the organisation’s founder and board chair, said Ogunseye’s appointment will guarantee a bright future for the Precinct.
“Toyosi’s experience combined with partnerships and resources that we have established over the past ten years will guarantee a bright future at the Precinct,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We began this search process by looking far and wide; little did we know that after six months of exhaustive outreach and networking, one of our own would be stepping in to lead.
“I am grateful for Toyosi’s longstanding commitment to the Precinct. We have much to look forward to.”
Commenting on her appointment, Ogunseye, who was a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, said she is honoured to lead an organisation that opened its doors to her nine years ago.
“I’m honoured to have this opportunity to lead such an impactful organization 9 years after I first walked through its doors,” she said.
“I look forward to innovative collaborations with our staff, Board, program alumni, and community partners in Williamsburg and Charlottesville.
“Working together, we will expand and elevate tools and resources that have distinguished the Presidential Precinct as a transformative public diplomacy organisation.”
Ogunseye has two decades of leadership experience in journalism, most recently serving as a senior news editor for news and commissioning at the BBC.
Prior to joining BBC, Ogunseye was the first female editor in the 50-year history of Punch Newspaper.
Ogunseye, who recently concluded her term as vice-president of the World Editors Forum, is a board member of the World Association of News Publishers.
[TheCable]
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dared his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to expel him.
Speaking on the possibility of getting expelled from the PDP for anti-party activities, Wike dared those contemplating the move saying, “Nobody can expel me.”
Wike stated this Wednesday evening when he featured on Channels Television’s programme, “Politics Today.”
The immediate-past governor of Rivers State stressed that he had yet to see any leader in the PDP who had the authority to expel him from the party.
“The person who will suspend me is when I couldn’t produce a governor, three senators, Assembly members. I have not seen that person. Nobody will do it,” Wike said.
“Who will discipline me? I should be the one calling for the discipline of these people who violated the party constitution,” the minister added.
He continued, “The way that the party said there must be rotation and you violated the constitution of the party. Who dares say that they will suspend me? Who is that person? I want to dare anybody who will say that.”
He also said he was working for President Bola Tinubu and not the All Progressives Congress, stressing that he owed nobody any apology.
“I am not working for the APC. I am working for Tinubu who has trust in me to help him deliver the Renewed Hope,” adding, “I owe nobody any apology at all. I was in the PDP and I worked for Ahmed Bola Tinubu to become the President of Nigeria.”
The FCT minister also said the Abuja Metro Line was expected to be ready within the next eight months, adding that his administration would restore the FCT masterplan without minding whose ox is gored, saying the wealthy ones in the FCT are the lawbreakers.
“The Abuja metro line would be ready within the next eight months,” the minister said, adding, “Today in this country, who are the major lawbreakers? Is there any poor man who is doing something to distort the master plan of the FCT? Is there any poor man living in Asokoro, that is living in Maitama or Garki? So, what are we talking about?”
[Punch]
H.E. President Bola Tinubu is watching developments unfolding in Gabon very closely and with deep concern for the country’s socio-political stability and the seeming autocratic contagion appearing to spread to other parts of the African continent.
The President, as a man who has made significant personal sacrifices in his own life for the cause of advancing and defending democracy, remains steadfast in his unwavering belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun.
The President affirms that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to constitutional instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not be allowed to perish from our great continent.
To this end, the President will continue to communicate with other Heads of State within the African Union and beyond toward a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forward.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, says his principal is consulting with the African Union (AU) to determine the next course of action about the coup in Gabon.
Ngelale, who spoke on Wednesday during a press conference at the State House, Abuja, said the president “affirmed that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to the constitutional resolutions and instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not at any time be allowed to perish from our great continent”.
More to follow…
The coup leaders in Gabon have placed President Ali Bongo under house arrest, hours after he was toppled.
The soldiers also announced that one of his sons has been arrested for “treason”.
In a televised address, the soldiers who said they represent all security and defence forces in the Central African nation, added that Bongo is “surrounded by his family and doctors”.
Earlier on Wednesday, the soldiers cited institutional, political, economic, and social crises as reasons for the coup.
They added that Bongo’s administration had been reduced to an “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos”.
As elections were wrapping up in Gabon, the government announced a nationwide curfew and cut off internet access.
Media outlets were also banned over “a lack of objectivity and balance”.
The country’s political opposition described the election as a “fraud orchestrated by Ali Bongo and his supporters”.
The coup punctuated Bongo’s family’s 53-year hold on power.
The 64-year old rose to power when Omar, his father, died after ruling from 1967 to 2009.
The Gabon coup comes barely a month after President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic was toppled by a military junta.
Negotiations instigated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to relinquish power to Bazoum have been ongoing since his deposition on July 26.