APC Not Meeting Expectations Of Nigerians – Salihu Lukman, Ex-APC National Vice Chairman Admits
AdminA former national vice chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Salihu Lukman, has admitted that the ruling All Progressives Congress has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
Making this assertion while speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Lukman revealed that Nigerians were unhappy with the President Bola Tinubu-led government.
“It is important to emphasize the issue the critical challenge facing us as a nation is to make our democracy work. After 24 years of uninterrupted democracy, we seem to be stuck in one place. Citizens are not happy with leaders, expectations of citizens are not being met, we have gone through cycle in, after 2011 election we created excitement by proving that PDP had failed, citizens believed in us as a party when APC came about and they gave us that confidence for the first time we had an election that was not in dispute, the sitting president who lost the election conceded defeat even before the final collation were done, unfortunately we are not able to build on that,” he said.
His remark comes as Nigerians continue to feel the brunt of President Tinubu’s recent decision to eliminate fuel subsidies.
Naija News recalls that Tinubu had on assumption of office immediately announced that the fuel subsidy era was over.
The decision resulted in an enormous surge in the pump price of fuel, which rose to over N600 per litre from around N189 before the elimination of fuel subsidy. The development further worsened the economic situation in Nigeria.
…Analysts Label $1trn Economy Target As Unrealistic
…Say Decline In Inflation Will Lead To Increase In Naira Value
The Federal Government has been told to do everything in its capacity to tackle high inflation in the country rather than setting an agenda to build an ambitious $1 trillion economy in eight years.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate for November increased to 28.20 percent compared to the October 2023 rate which was 27.33 percent, underscoring a worsening cost of living crisis in the country.
In its new ‘Consumer Price Index: November 2023’ released on Friday, the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that the headline inflation, which surged by 0.87 percentage points in November, was a new record high in almost two decades.
NBS said, “In November 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 28.20 percent relative to October 2023 headline inflation rate which was 27.33 percent.
“Looking at the movement, the November 2023 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.87 percent points when compared to the October 2023 headline inflation rate.
“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 6.73 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2022, which was 21.47 percent.
“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in November 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., November 2022”.
On a month-month basis, headline inflation in November 2023 was 2.09 percent. Which was 0.35 percentage points higher than what was recorded in October (1.73 per cent), defeating a recent claim by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that inflation is slowing down m-o-m.
Nigeria’s annual inflation rose in September to its highest level in about two decades at 26.72 percent, amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis in Africa’s largest economy.
The September inflation rate rose for a ninth straight month from August’s 25.8 percent, with millions of Nigerians impoverished due to the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.
One of those who believe that the chase for a $1 trillion economy is too ambitious is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, who said he is not comfortable with the plan.
Rewane cited concerns about current crude oil prices, coupled with production cuts, impacting the feasibility of the government’s economic target.
With crude oil hovering around $74–$76 per barrel, below the benchmark, and OPEC reducing Nigeria’s daily production quota to 1.5 million barrels, Rewane labels the $1 trillion target as increasingly unrealistic.
He emphasised the significance of both price and quantity in revenue generation, indicating challenges on both fronts.
Addressing currency valuation, Rewane highlights the undervaluation of the naira, emphasising the need for market structure changes, including a wholesale option where the central bank can participate.
He anticipates a currency appreciation in 2024 as these adjustments take effect.
In terms of inflation, Rewane foresees a temporary rise in early 2024 due to market reforms and currency volatility.
However, he expects a moderating trend by mid-year, projecting an average inflation rate of 23.6 percent in 2024 compared to 24.4 percent in 2023.
He suggested that a decline in inflation will naturally lead to an appreciation of the exchange rate.
Discussing foreign investment, Rewane noted the current low participation of foreign investors in Nigeria’s market at 11 percent. He projects an increase to 20–25 percent in 2024, highlighting potential improvements.
Identifying structural imbalances and an oversized government as root issues, Rewane asserts that Nigeria’s economic challenges extend beyond the present. He points to fiscal dominance and growing external imbalances due to system leakages.
In his opinion, Stephen Iloba, a Lagos-based economist, said though it is good to be ambitious but the Federal Government should find solution to the prevalent high inflation since the beginning of the year.
He said, “No country will attain economic success with high inflation. Nigeria should not miss this opportunity of the proceeds coming from petro subsidy removal and the floating of the naira. They should look at how to bring inflation down before building an ambitious $1 trillion economy”.
CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, while appearing before the joint National Assembly Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, said inflation and oil revenue will decline in 2024.
He said there will also be less revenue from oil in the coming year owing to the production limit of 1.78 million barrels per day.
He said his assumptions are based on the outlook for the country’s economy in 2024 which “is very positive”, adding that inflation and the foreign exchange market will stabilise.
“Inflation pressures may persist in the short-term but are expected to decline in 2024,” Cardoso said.
“Exchange rate pressures are also expected to reduce significantly with the smooth functioning of foreign exchange market”.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its failure to arrest and prosecute suspected perpetrators of grave electoral offences in the recently concluded off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
In the suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1694/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “An order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to probe the allegations of electoral offences including electoral violence, in the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
“An order of mandamus to compel INEC to promptly and effectively prosecute suspected perpetrators of these grave electoral offences, and bring to justice anyone who sponsored, aided and abetted them.
“An order of mandamus to compel INEC to disclose spending details on the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states, including the specific amount spent to conduct voter and civic education and details of the activities carried out in the three states.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring accountability for the grave electoral offences in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states. Granting the reliefs sought would compel INEC to live up to its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and end the impunity of electoral offenders.
“The recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy. The electoral offences in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states show that INEC has learnt little or nothing from the well-documented problems during the 2023 general elections.
“Unless INEC is compelled to arrest and prosecute suspected electoral offenders and their sponsors in the elections Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states, perpetrators would continue to enjoy impunity for their crimes.
“Many years of allegations of electoral offences and the impunity of perpetrators and their sponsors have continued to undermine public trust and confidence in the electoral process and citizens’ right to participation.
“Electoral integrity is critical to a legitimate democracy. When the integrity of that process is compromised, the legitimacy of the government and the public confidence in public institutions is seriously undermined.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, also reads in part: “INEC has constitutional and statutory duties to ensure accountability for electoral offences in the country, and to guarantee the effective enjoyment of the citizens’ right to vote in future elections.
“The right to vote is fundamental and is the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government. Nigerians should have the final say in the election of governmental officials.
“Persistent cases of electoral offences in the country’s elections gravely violate Nigerians’ right to vote, which is central to the effective participation of every citizen.
“Unless INEC is compelled to arrest and prosecute suspected electoral offenders and their sponsors, impunity for these crimes against the Nigerian people will continue. And citizens will continue to lose confidence in the electoral process.
“Nigerians have the right to know how INEC is spending public funds in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory responsibilities. It is in the public interest to compel INEC to publish spending details on the elections in the three states.
“Electoral bribery and violence and other electoral offences undermine the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the Nigerian constitution and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the constitution, and the Electoral Act.
“Allegations of electoral offences during the off-cycle governorship elections in the three states are contrary to the Nigerian constitution, the Electoral Act and international standards.
“The Nigerian constitution provides in Section 14(1) (c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.’
“Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence before, during and after any election. Section 145(2) provides that, ‘a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the commission or any legal practitioner appointed by it.’
“Under Section 2(a) and (b), the commission ‘shall have power to conduct voter and civic education and to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes.’
“The crisis confronting the country’s elections and lack of public trust and confidence in the electoral process can be addressed if impunity for electoral offences is combated through the arrest and prosecution of suspected perpetrators.
“According to our information, the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states witnessed cases of electoral offences including electoral violence, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence.
“Suspected political thugs reportedly harassed journalists covering the governorship election in Omuma community in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State. INEC official in the Oguta Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State also alleged that some men invaded her polling unit and carted away result sheets.”
However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
…Over 60 Abandoned Aircraft Still Litter Nation’s Airports
…Court Orders Restraining FG From Relocating Them — Source
Owners of unused aircraft at the various airports across the country have disobeyed the 90 days ultimatum issued by Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, for the relocation of their equipment.
Investigation by Daily Independent revealed that despite the 90 days ultimatum, which came to an end on November 30, 2023, none of the unused aircraft had been moved from the graveyard where they were abandoned.
Also, there are strong indications that various court injunctions may be responsible for the inability of the Federal Government to forcefully remove the unused aircraft in most parts of the country’s airports as threatened.
Investigations by Daily Independent indicated that there are over 60 unused aircraft in eight airports in the country, with the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, emerging the airport with the highest number of such unused aircraft.
Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport, Owerri; Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos; Benin Airport, Benin; Kaduna Airport, Kaduna; Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano and Maiduguri Airport, Maiduguri.
Some of the unused aircraft in the eight airports belong to Space World, Okada, Arik Air (Airbus 340-500), Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Med-View Airlines, Capital Airlines, IRS, EAS, Dasab, Fresh, Nigeria Airways, Chrome Air, Albarka, Kabo Air, Triax Airline, Oriental Airlines, Sosoliso, Afrijet, Freedom Air, Capital Air, Chanchangi Airlines, Gas Air, among others.
Some of the aircraft are owned by Brigadier General Muhammed Buba Marwa (rtd) and Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom and others.
Apart from their airframes, most of the aircraft are empty as they have been cannibalised either by their former owners or tampered with by unknown persons at the graveyards where they are parked.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had in the past made attempts to relocate or even planned to sell off some of the aircraft as scrap, but failed.
Attempts in the past to remove the aircraft led to litigations by the airline owners or their lessors who approached the court to stop the authority from carrying out its threat of scrapping the machines.
A source in FAAN, confided in Daily Independent that court injunctions had in the past prevented the government from carrying out its threats on the abandoned airplanes over the years.
Commenting on the issue, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu, aviation security expert, expressed the fear that the unused aircraft may constitute security and safety threats to the aviation industry.
He stressed that in the past, the sector had recorded unauthorised cannibalisations of parts from such aircraft from some airlines for the repairs of others of other airlines without the knowledge of the regulatory body.
The security expert advised the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to come out with regulations on disused aircraft and the locations of storages relative to the airports/aircraft operational areas especially the operations/security identification zones.
He opined that to address the challenge, all the domestic airline operators should have designated operational base for their operations where such disused aircraft could be parked only for a limited time instead of their concentration at the Lagos airport.
He added: “FAAN should profile charges for the period of stay that should not exceed six months after which it should have regulatory authority to dispose such aircraft if the aircraft owners cannot relocate the aircraft outside the FAAN airports locations.
“Such carelessness or concessions would seize once the airports are given out as concession. Even the overnight or daily parking will no longer be free. The domestic airlines are better be prepared for the new commercial business plans, which were not in their plans.”
Engr. Chris Amokwu, aviation analyst, called for establishment of a proper graveyard, especially in the far north with favourable weather condition for the aircraft air frame aluminum materials.
He, however, said that it was necessary for the airplanes to be removed for safety and security reasons as well as maintaining the airport aesthetics.
Amokwu declared that for the directive to be complied with, certain protocols are needed to be adopted to ensure that NCAA and FAAN operated within the ambits of the law in order to avoid litigation.
He posited that the continuous littering of the airports with unused aircraft had safety and security implications.
“Inasmuch as FAAN security is doing its utmost best to ensure that our airports are secure from unauthorised access to all airport areas particularly the airside, we cannot rule out potential human factor issues that may create security lapses with regards to unauthorised access to those abandoned aircraft by miscreants, individuals or groups who may have ill-intentions.
“But, more importantly, there are safety, operational, and economic angles to such abandoned aircraft with these abandoned aircraft littered on the airside/aprons, in some airports at the cargo terminals like the Murtala Muhammed Airport,” he added.
The aviation analyst further explained that abandoned aircraft could become revenue-generating assets that could also create jobs by converting them to hotels, diving underwater hotspot and could also be put in museums as tourist attraction.
He also suggested auctioning of the aircraft if all the legal and regulatory issues are resolved.
Keyamo had on August 31, 2023, during his maiden tour of the facilities of the Lagos airport gave a 90-day ultimatum to owners of disused aircraft littering the strategic areas of the airport.
Keyamo had said that the disused aircraft were constituting danger to the airport environment.
He stressed that the three months’ notice would afford FAAN time to expand the Lagos airport apron to accommodate aircraft that were still in service.
He said: “A common sight strikes the eyes of passengers in airports throughout Nigeria’s major airports.
“This old aircraft belonging to bankrupt airlines shares the ground with on-duty planes and wears out in the weather.”
Martins Amaehwule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Sunday expressed its disapproval of the passage of the 2024 budget by the four members of the state assembly led by Edison Ehie.
Sunday Telegraph had last week reported that the four-man House of Assembly members approved the sum of N800 billion budget, shortly after it was presented by Governor Similanayi Fubara in the government house.
Amaehwule, who is aligned with former Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, criticized Fubara for allegedly overseeing the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex without prior notification.
“The governor’s action is against the law. We hear that some four persons gathered and are meeting somewhere. We don’t know what they are doing.
“Rivers people should know today that the House of Assembly of any state is defined by the Constitution; to reconvene the House, you need to have a quorum, and the quorum is 11.
“We are 27, and they are just four. They are just doing a family meeting. Anything they told you they had done, ignore them; it’s null and void. The law is clear about it,” he said.
Amid the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and the gale of resignations trailing the crisis, the Rivers State Government has said the governor did not force any of his commissioners to resign.
“Whatever their reason, I will like to say that the governor did not force, compel or ask anyone to leave,” the state’s Commissioner for Information, Joe Johnson, said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“Those who left did so on their own volition, and according to their reasons.”
The commissioner said a structural firm confirmed that assembly Rivers State Assembly Complex was no longer habitable and that informed the decision of the governor to demolish the complex.
Johnson said even Wike agreed that the complex was no longer habitable, adding that his principal is a pacifist and he is doing all in his capacity to quell the crisis.
Rivers State has been a theatre of the absurd in the last three months with the state House of Assembly serving as the “boxing ring”. The rift between Wike and Fubara split lawmakers in the House with 27 of them decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party in whose central government Wike currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The feud also saw the emergence of parallel sittings, impeachment plot against the governor, demolition of the Assembly complex, and gale of resignations of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.
Though President Bola Tinubu and some elder statesmen have intervened in the crisis, there seems to be no end in sight to the political tsunami sweeping the oil-rich South-South state.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has declared that learning and education were veritable weapons in the fight against terrorism and criminality by individuals and communities.
Speaking Sunday at the State House, Abuja, when she received four of the five rescued students of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Mrs Tinubu noted that their experience and that of other Nigerians, who had been kidnapped was difficult.
She, therefore, encouraged them that this phase would pass with the determination and tenacity of the security and intelligence forces and the support of all Nigerians.
She expressed gratitude for the safe return of the other students and commended the role of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the effective coordination of law enforcement agencies, who worked diligently over the past few months to ensure their safe return and the return of every Nigerian held against their will.
The First Lady, in a release by her media assistant, Busola Kukoyi, said, “I join a cheerful nation to welcome our beloved daughters home as you re-unite with your families.
“We grieved over the sad fate that had befallen you and we join your family to celebrate your safe return. Since your dreadful abduction on October 5, 2023, it has been a period of pain for you, your parents, your teachers and indeed all Nigerians.
“Throughout this period, we have kept faith and trust in God and in our law enforcement agencies that you will return safely. Since the incident, law enforcement officers from various agencies worked tirelessly to ensure your return home. Today, we thank Almighty God for protecting you and reuniting you with your loved ones.”
She assured the girls of the federal government’s commitment and that of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to support them psychologically and with their education as they begin their healing after more than 70 days in captivity.
She added that it was imperative that their experience did not hinder their educational pursuits and career interest.
“Beyond your safe return, we would follow up on your journey not only to recover from this sad episode in your lives, but to see that you accomplish your mission in your educational pursuit and career interests.
“Already, I have been briefed on the courage you have shown so far and I encourage you to turn this episode in your lives, into a story of triumph.
“You must continue to pursue your educational interests. By ensuring that you continue to learn, as we provide you with the necessary medical and psychological support, we at the Renewed Hope Initiative, (RHI) are also committed to providing you with guidance and support to reach your full potential.”
Meanwhile, each rescued girl received a Scholarship Grant of One Million Naira and a brand-new laptop from the Renewed Hope Initiative, an Initiative of the First Lady.
She also announced that the federal government would givea sum of two million naira to the parents of each of the rescued girls and One million naira to the Vice Chancellor of the University.
Representative of the National Security Adviser, Brigadier-General Olutayo Adesuyi, while handing over the girls said, the First Lady’s meeting with them was significant as it showed the solidarity of the federal government’s support.
Amid the political crisis rocking Rivers State, ex-governor Nyesom Wike, has warned politicians not to pull the ladder they used in getting to exalted positions.
“Don’t pull the ladder that you use in climbing. When you are coming down, the ladder may not be there,” Wike said on Sunday.
“And leave the ladder too so that other people can also climb the ladder.”
Wike, who has been embroiled in a dispute with his successor and incumbent governor of the oil-rich state, Siminalayi Fubara, spoke at his residence in Port Harcourt, the state capital while addressing the traditional ruler of Ogbaland who had come to felicitate with him on the occasion of his birthday.
The chiefs and other members of the traditional institution from Ogbaland in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state were led by the traditional ruler, Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi III, who sued for peace in the state.
In his response, Wike, who is also the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assured the monarch that he will listen to his advice and that he is welcome to peaceful resolutions.
Speaking further, the minister debunked claims that the political imbroglio is an ethnic war, insisting that there is no such consideration.
“We didn’t vote based on ethnicity…but for the unity of Rivers,” the minister said.
“We shall never be part of violence but will always support peace.”
“There are rules within the political group you emerge.
“You cannot say that because an Oba has emerged and then an Oba will not follow the rules of the traditional institution. No; an Oba will always obey the rules. So also in politics, there are things you must not do and there are things you must do.”
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday, said he knew long ago that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, was destined to be a king.
The PUNCH reports that Olaoye was an RCCG pastor, in charge of the church’s branch, Jesus House in Washington DC, when he was selected as the Soun of Ogbomoso after the ancient stool became vacant following the death of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III.
Olaoye was installed as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State in September and he is scheduled to be presented with the staff of office on Tuesday, December 19 by Governor, Seyi Makinde.
On Sunday, an interdenominational thanksgiving service for the new Soun was held at Beulah Baptist Conference, Ogbomoso.
In attendance was the RCCG General Overseer, Adeboye.
In his remarks, Adeboye said he had always known that Olaoye was born to be a king, adding that God had a hand in his ascension to the ancient throne.
The emergence of Olaoye, a pastor, as the Soun had raised an eyebrow in the public space, with many wondering how he would maneuver through the African traditional rites involved in the coronation of a Yoruba monarch.
Addressing the issue on Sunday, Adeboye said Olaoye’s emergence as Soun had God’s backing and he could not stop it.
The GO said, “I knew Olaoye was born to be king. When he (Olaoye) came to me to inform me about the development I told him to go and pray. He came back and said he had not heard anything. I told him to go back and pray again, and after a while, he came back and told me, ‘God has spoken. I have heard him loud and clear that I should go ahead’. It was then that I told him to go ahead because it had been destined. I knew that long ago but I wanted God to speak to him directly.
“To my critics, if I said no and God said yes, whose word is the final? God, of course. So, I cannot stop him because Pastor Olaoye was destined to be a king even before he was born and thank God it is coming to fruition.”
Adeboye, who took his scripture from the book of Act 15:18, advised the monarch to embrace the people and promote peace and unity among his subjects.
He subsequently anointed the king and his wife, praying for a peaceful and prosperous reign as Soun.
Responding, Oba Olaoye said, “I give the Lord all the glory for the day I met Pastor Adeboye. He has been a father to me. He is a spiritual father to me. He was a role model. I have travelled with him to every part of the world. I watched him closely and I saw a genuine man of God. So, he has been a role model to me. You can imagine how excited I am today (Sunday) that the person who anointed and laid hands on me to become a pastor is the same person who lays hands on me as a King today.
“This is a new season. I believe it’s a new dawn for Ogbomoso, where there will be an opportunity, this land shall be a land where God Almighty will reign. I want everybody in this land to continue to pray for me that the Lord should lead me aright. I will rule with equity, justice and fairness. I will not be the king to Christians alone, I will be a king to the Muslims, to the traditionalists and to every indigene of this land and make Ogbomosoland a place where sons and daughters can be proud. I pray for the grace and mercy to rule in the right way and do justice to everyone. I believe God will make this city a great city, the envy of many towns not only in this state not even in Nigeria but in the world at large.
“To the people of Ogbomosoland, I want to thank you all for the love you have been showing to me since I became the Soun of Ogbomosoland. Your love has been humbling to me and I will use all the networks that God has given me to help this city grow better.”
Special prayers were also offered by the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Israel Akanji; Bishop Titus Olayinka; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Pastor J.S. Adegoke; Rev. Solomon Ademola Isola; former President of the seminary, Professor Nihinlola Emiola; Rev Stephen Ayankeye; Rev Bishop Moradeyo Olayinka; Bishop of Anglican Church, Rev Johnson Adeniji, Prophet Akintola, Baba Awoye among others.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received an official notice requesting the conduct of fresh elections in 25 state constituencies in Rivers State.
This comes after the seats of lawmakers in the constituencies were declared vacant by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a letter addressed to INEC on December 14 and acknowledged by the commission on December 15, the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly communicated that the seats were declared vacant following the defection of the affected lawmakers from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in contravention of Section 109 (1)(G) and Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution.
It reads, “(1) A member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if –
“(g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected:
“Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored; or
Section 2 mandates, “The Speaker of the House of Assembly shall give effect to subsection (1) of this section, so however that the Speaker or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of the member.”
The lawmakers’ defection is linked to the ongoing political feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of the PDP structure in the state. The 25 lawmakers are said to be loyalists of Wike.
Consequently, INEC has been urged by Governor Fubara’s faction of the Rivers assembly to immediately commence the process for fresh elections to fill the vacant seats to ensure adequate representation for the constituencies affected.
Part of the letter seen by THE WHISTLER on Sunday reads: “…I write on behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly to kindly request for a bye-election to be conducted to fill the vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
Political tensions continue to heighten in Rivers as the face-off between Governor Fubara and Wike escalates.
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The Court of Appeal will today, Monday, December 18, pronounce its decision on the appeal before it by the Adamawa State Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Aishatu Ahmed (Binani).
Binani is at the court challenging the victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last governorship election, Ahmadu Fintiri, who has since been functioning as the state governor.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier heard the case and reserved judgment, will on Monday deliver the awaited judgment, according to multiple sources in Adamawa on Sunday.
Binani had gone to the Court of Appeal shortly after the Adamawa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal in October 2023 dismissed the petition filed by Binani.
Binani had approached the tribunal asking it to quash the declaration of Governor Fintiri by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as elected governor of Adamawa State.
In her petition challenging the governorship election conducted by INEC on March 18, 2023, Binani, who named INEC, Fintiri, and PDP as the first, second, and third respondents respectively, asked the tribunal to annul the election over non-compliance with the Nigerian Electoral Act.
The tribunal had, however, dismissed Binani’s petition and affirmed Fintiri’s victory, after which Binani filed an appeal at the appellate court.
As the decision of the Court of Appeal pends on Monday, supporters of the two principal figures – Fintiri and Binani – wait in tension.
While Fintiri enjoys the massive goodwill of an incumbent governor, Binani, who did admirably well in the March 2023 election in view, scoring all of 398,788 votes against Fintiri’s 430,861, is also quite popular.
By appearing desperate through accepting, or apparently engineering illegal declaration of herself as governor-elect while collation was yet to be completed after the March 2023 election, Binani has lost the respect of many, but she still has a huge following around the state.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has given the federal government till Jan 31, 2024 to implement the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
President of the association, Dr Uche Ojinmah, gave the ultimatum Sunday during the closing ceremony of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
He said that the association cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector if all its demands particularly on welfare are not met.
While saying that the association had been patient enough, he said the federal government should also implement the newly approved accruement allowance with arrears from June 2022.
The NMA president said that the association did not have a clear direction about when all the allowances would be implemented even though they had been approved since July 1, 2023.
He called on the federal government to quickly do the little it intends to do for doctors, stressing that doctors were making great sacrifices.
The NMA called on the federal government to put mechanisms in place to enable private hospitals attend to emergency cases.
While commending government ‘s directive for all cases of medical emergencies to be treated by doctors in private and public hospitals, Ojinmah said questions therefore arise on who pays the bill for the emergency cases especially for private hospitals.
The NMA president said that private hospitals were purposely opened for business, adding that where things were done properly, the government should have a universal health coverage (UHC) mechanism where health insurance takes care of the emergency cases.
He said, “The basic healthcare fund is supposed to take care of the first 48 to 72 hours of emergency for every Nigerian, this has not been implemented till today. So if you asked a private practitioner to treat people free, he won’t do that. These are issues that should be untangled before we start issuing directive.
“Every private hospital is open for business; some are even running on loan, so let’s stop paying lip service to emergency healthcare and do the right thing,’’.
He said medical doctors were also ready to comply with the directive to treat gunshot injury patients without police reports.
He however enjoined the Inspector-General of Police to make police officers comply with the directive and stop unnecessary harassment of doctors over treatment of emergency cases.
As the yuletide approaches, air passengers are facing increasing discomfort over the high cost of tickets. Daily Trust on Sunday reports that a one-way flight ticket costs up to N200,000, depending on the route.
Checks by our correspondent showed that ahead of Christmas and New Year, many seats have been booked; and as the festive period draws nearer, available seats are becoming more expensive.
The eastern routes are the most affected, with Enugu flight tickets selling between N171,000 and N200,000.
Checks by our correspondent indicate that the base fare to Port Harcourt is N99,000 and projected to hit N138,000 as bookings increase.
Lagos to Owerri, from December 5 sells between N114,400 and N190,600 for a one-way economy ticket and N238,200 for business, while the base fare for Lagos-Calabar is N100,000.
At the moment, a 30-minute flight to Ilorin from Lagos costs between 100,000 and N143,000 for economy class.
Lagos to Sokoto ticket goes for N150,000, while a Lagos-Kaduna ticket is N143,000 as the base fare.
How airfares have doubled in one year
Our correspondent reports that an economy ticket one-way flight has increased from N50,000 (by 100 per cent) to over N100,000 on some routes. Airlines are blaming the hike on the prevailing economic challenges, especially high cost of operation.
The airlines had in 2022 increased a one-way ticket to N50,000 from N30,000. This had generated controversy in the travel industry.
But at present, a one-way economy ticket base fare is around N80,000.
Some of the factors cited by airline operators who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday include high cost of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1, high exchange rate, multiple charges, among others.
The managing director/chief executive of Aero Contractors, Capt Ado Sanusi, recently told our correspondent that with the current rate of exchange, a one-way ticket should sell for over N130,000.
According to him, any operator pricing his ticket low might be cutting corners.
He said, “You can quote me on this: When the dollar was N460 we were selling a Lagos-Abuja ticket at N65,000, but the dollar is now twice that amount. And there is nothing we do in aviation that is not dollarised. You can imagine. So, we should be selling the ticket at N130,000.
“We don’t manufacture the aircraft; we don’t even refine the oil. So, what else do you do? We don’t even do the wheel on an aircraft. We also have to buy the bolts on the aircraft outside the country. So the moment the dollar is rising, we are affected. The fuel we buy is imported, as well as parts of the aircraft, so how would anybody tell me that he would not increase his ticket, except he is cutting corners. The only thing we can control is manpower.”
Another airline operator who spoke on condition of anonymity noted that the aviation industry was not immune to the inflationary pressure in the country.
He said with the rise in the dollar, airlines could not afford to maintain the old prices of tickets.
Experts urge govt to control fares
Experts warned that the situation might get worse if the operational challenges confronting the airlines persist. They noted that with the deregulation of the industry, airlines had been empowered to fix their prices in line with the demand and supply principle.
They called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to intervene by controlling fares, saying the more they go up, the more prospective passengers would try alternatives if they are unable to afford airfares.
Capt Samuel Caulcrick, the chief executive officer of Merchant Express Cargo Limited said, “There will be no respite because we have dollarised the economy. Besides, every component in commercial air transport, apart from personnel wages, rent, etc, is in forex.
“It is only an aggressive import substitution policy that will calm the forex market, but the government has to take the lead.”
The general secretary of Aviation Roundtable, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, in a chat with our correspondent, said the situation might get worse as the yuletide approached.
Ohunayo advised airlines to have a human face in determining their fares.
He said, “The rule of airfare, apart from the cost components, is that of demand and supply. And if you look at it, some routes are getting very busy and they just have one airline on the route. When you have one airline on a particular route, the price goes crazy, which was what happened when we had one airline on the Enugu route.
“At a time, Enugu flight was going for N150,000 when other routes were going for about N70,000 or N80,000.
“What we can only push for is to have more airlines or more aircraft for the airlines to increase their capacity. The more seats you have, the more competition and advantage for passengers.”
Group Capt John Ojikutu also defended airlines, saying, “Majorly, the tariffs are: fuel prices, ground handling service charges, air traffic control/navigational charges, landing and parking charges, catering etc.
“Increase in fuel prices has been incessant in the last six months because of the price of the dollar (from #500/$ to #1000/$), 100 per cent increase, and because it is being imported. Periodic maintenance like the c-checks on aircraft would need the dollars, and that could put extra charges on airfares.”
Be reasonable in prices for more people to fly, Expert advises
An aviation expert, Dr Daniel Young, said there must be a way to handle the issue of pricing so that passengers would not stop flying.
“The people who are driving this change in price also must consider that those flying their airplanes are majorly government workers. This is because as a businessman, I don’t see an Igbo man paying N300,000 to go from Onitsha by air to purchase goods.
“Now, airline business is operating at only two per cent of total passenger traffic in Nigeria; and the higher you go up in price, the more you lose out in terms of passenger number. So, if you are losing, then the entire business model, which is supposed to be low-cost, is already lost because it is all about making it affordable so that you can increase your revenue or profit through compound interest. And as more people fly, you take marginal profit that you translate into huge profit,” Young said.
He said that rather than increase fares, airlines should churn out promos ahead of the yuletide.
“Have you ever seen any airline advertising anything? They would rather keep increasing because of insecurity in the land.
“How do we reach a compromise? And that is why I said that in terms of economic regulations, the NCAA has a full right to regulate the industry. It may not impose any price on them, but it should ask questions; such as: Is there no way they can manage this so that everybody in the industry would not feel the bite, including passengers?
“Should the passengers stop flying, the airports become warehouses and the airplanes would be left unused. And mind you, most of these airplanes are on wet-lease and they have paid for block hours. Whether you fly or not, the person who gave you the aircraft must collect his money,” he said.
Airlines are in business to make money – NCAA DG
The director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt Musa Nuhu, in an interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, admitted that the economic situation in the country made things extremely difficult for airlines.
“I understand passengers’ complaint of airfares increasing. Yes, I sympathise with them, but airlines are in the business to make money. Unfortunately, the economic situation in the country has made it very difficult for the airlines. I am not being insensitive, but I sympathise with the passengers.
“How many times has the price of fuel gone up? It has tripled/quadrupled in the last one year? Foreign exchange has gone to over N1,000/$. If you want to service your aircraft at $1million, it is equivalent to N1billion. You can imagine that.”
According to him, if the cost of production can’t be controlled, there is no need to control price.
Airlines advised to merge
Despite the numerous problems affecting airlines in Nigeria, some experts said the operators could still make profit through collaboration.
Tijjani Shehu, who worked with some airlines, both in Nigeria and the United States, said investors should look at the business from a different perspective instead of floating aircraft as status symbol.
He said, “The issue here is that every person wants to have his or her airline for commercial purposes; and that is why they are not getting it right.
“How do you expect someone with two or three aircraft to make any headway? It is not possible.
“They should come down from their high horses and merge for comparative advantage. If two or three of the airlines could come together, they stand to gain more because the taxes they would be paying would be less, and they would not have a top heavy organogram. They would be more efficient and could cover more routes with ease,” he said.
Another aviation expert said, “The major problem is that the airlines are small operations, not large enough to absorb changes in the market while keeping prices reasonable.
“If the airlines were large, for example, if they were forced to merge and consolidate, there would be more efficiency in their operations and routes; and therefore, less need to keep increasing prices at the slightest opportunity.”
[DailyTrust]
The chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Dr Chima Amadi, on Saturday said economic remedies from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank could not revive the Nigerian economy.
He also said the policies of the two international financial institutions may not be able to raise 200million Nigerians out of poverty.
He asked the country to look beyond ideas being imposed by developed countries.
He said developing countries should have the autonomy to choose policies that best suit their conditions.
Amadi, who made the submissions at the 4th National Colloquium in Sokoto, said the country’s high inflation rate was indefensible.
He said, “With a gross domestic product of about $45billion in 2001 and per capita income of about $300 a year, Nigeria has become one of the poorest countries in the world. As at 2000, it had earned about $300bn from oil exports since the mid-1970s, but its per capita income was 20 per cent lower than in 1975.”