A former national vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for North-West, Salihu Lukman, has admitted Nigerians were going through tough times which could breed rebellion and kick the party out of office in 2027 elections.
Lukman stated this at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the public presentation of his new book, ‘APC and Transition Politics’ slated for next week Tuesday.
The APC Chieftain expressed worry that the party and other leaders of the country have become very comfortable to imagine that they can do anything and get away with it.
He said: “I think we must be honest and this is the point I say to our leaders, without any inhibition, at the moment, our democracy is not responsive enough. We must appeal to our leaders that things are almost getting out of hand at the rate at which we are going under a party that is envisioned to be progressive.
“We are likely going to start witnessing rebellion and if care is not taken by 2027 we will be kicked out of office, which means taking Nigeria back to where it was in 2015. I think we owe our leader the responsibility or President Asiwaju the responsibility to tell him the honest truth.”
Lukman said his book, ‘APC and Transition Politics’ was part of efforts to address these concerns, adding it documented the party’s experiences with the struggle under the transition that brought President Bola Tinubu.
The former APC Vice Chairman said his resignation from the party’s National Working Committee was not a rebellion against President Tinubu, as made believe by some elements in the party.
“I didn’t rebel against the leadership of President Asiwaju. All I thought as a person what we owe president is to be able to tell him the truth, no matter what. And which was what I did. So I thought I could document and in that documentation is mainly, I mean some of the things I have done.
“I am convinced if you’re going to count possibly 10 people who have consistently from the struggle against the caretaker committee to the emergence of President Asiwaju. If you’re going to count 10 people who consistently have been on the battle front. I think I’m among those 10.
Three more Commissioners have resigned their appointment in the administration of Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The latest Commissioners to quit are that of Environment, Hon. Austin Ben-Chioma; Housing, Dr. Gift Worlu, and Transport, Dr. Jacobson Nbina.
Also, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Media, Marshal Obuzor, and the Chief of Staff to the Ikwerre local government council, Hon. Darlington Orji, also resigned their appointments.
LEADERSHIP reports that the resignation of the five state government’s officials may not be unconnected with the ongoing face-off between Fubara and his erstwhile godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
While Ben-Chioma, Worlu, Nbina and Obuzor served in various capacities under the immediate-past administration of Governor Wike, Orji was state publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The resignation of the five officials bring to 11 the number of government appointees that have resigned from the Fubara-led government in the past 24 hours.
The appointees that have so far resigned from the position included the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zaccheus Adango; the Commissioner for Special Projects, Chief Chukwuemeka Woke and the Commissioner for Works, Dr. Dakorima George Kelly
Others were the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Issac Kamalu, the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Chinwenwo Aguma and the Commissioner for Education, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
Niger’s ruling military has agreed to terms and conditions of a transition back to civilian rule, and will present the plan to a regional bloc, the chief diplomat from mediator Togo announced Thursday.
Speaking on Niger’s national television, Togo Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said he had reached an agreement “on the content and timing of the transition” with Niger’s junta-appointed prime minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine and foreign minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.
“We are ready to present the plan… to the mediating heads of state and the ECOWAS Commission,” he said, referring to the Economic Community of West African States.
After Niger became the latest country in the Sahel to experience a coup with July’s ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum, the regional grouping imposed tough sanctions and suspended trade, while also floating the option of military intervention.
The sanctions and suspension of international finance and aid have left Niger, already one of the world’s poorest countries, economically hanging by a thread.
In October, the military leaders announced a 40-percent cut in the 2023 budget due to the “heavy sanctions imposed by international and regional organisations”.
On Sunday, ECOWAS leaders in Abuja said any easing of the punitive measures against Niger was contingent on a “short transition” period.
The bloc also decided that a committee made up of the presidents of Benin, Togo and Sierra Leone would lead negotiations with the Nigerien military leaders on the commitments to be implemented.
According to Niger’s broadcaster, Tele Sahel, mediator Dussey will return to Niamey in January with his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Timothy Kabba.
ECOWAS said on Thursday that Niger is now “suspended from all decision-making bodies” of the organisation, “until constitutional order is re-established”.
Niger’s military leaders have previously said they want up to three years for a transition back to civilian rule.
Since the coup, Niger — one of the Sahel nations battling long-running and bloody insurgencies by rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group — has rowed back security cooperation with Western partners and expelled French troops based there.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said that it will tackle the rising inflation and exchange rates issues by next year.
It also projected less revenue from oil exports in the fiscal year , just as it declared that total trade from Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), stood at N18.804 billion in the third quarter ( Q3) of 2023.
The declarations were made by the governor of the Apex Bank, Olayemi Cardoso in his presentation to the National Assembly joint committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.
He explained to members of the joint committee from both chambers of the National Assembly, that the outlook for the domestic economy in Nigeria for 2024 is very positive as both the Inflation and Exchange rates would withstand fluctuating pressures on them and get stabilised.
“The outlook for the domestic economy remains positive and is expected to maintain the positive trajectory for 2024.
“Inflation pressures may persist in the short – term but are expected to decline in 2024. Exchange rate pressures are also expected to reduce significantly with the smooth functioning of foreign exchange market”, he said.
He specifically informed the committee members that the unification of the exchange rate windows in June 2023, has ushered in a new approach to the management of the exchange rate , aimed at reducing arbitrage, rent seeking behaviour and speculation in the market.
“The policy aims at creating a market where the demand and supply of foreign exchange determines the exchange rate.
“The premium has narrowed and our focus on increasing the autonomous FX supply, would lead to more stability and further narrowing of the premium.
“Total Trade in the third quarter of 2023, stood at N18.804.68billion. Exports were valued at N10.346.60billion while total imports stood at N8.457.68billion . This represents a positive trade balance, which would lead to increase of the external reserves “, he said.
He however stated that due to domestic prevailing factors, less revenues would be earned from oil exports in 2024.
He said: “We expect less revenue from oil exports due to the production limit of 1.78mbpd in 2024. OPEC approved quota for Nigeria is 1.8mbps, which is higher than the 2024 budget assumption.
“However, the country’s production has been below these thresholds.
The budget benchmark for 2023 was 1.69mbpd, but the highest level of production during the year was about 1.35mbps in Q3 of 2023.
“The reasons for the underperformance of the oil production target, include, crude oil theft and pipeline vandalization, production shut- ins and divestments by major oil companies”.
Earlier before the CBN Governor’s presentation, the Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Tokunbo Abiru (APC Lagos East), said the interactive session was organised for statutory briefing by CBN in line with extant laws.
The co-chairman of the committee, Hon Bahir Bello El-Rufai, in his remarks, commended the CBN governor and the entire management team on measures being put in place to stabilise the economy generally.
The World Bank in a report has urged Nigeria to make more progress on medium-term fiscal and monetary measures,
Since taking over the presidency in May, President Bola Tinubu has made attempts at eliminating a costly fuel subsidy and lifted restrictions on the naira currency.
Tinubu administration officials say the measures are essential to bringing in more foreign investment, but in the short term Nigerians are struggling with higher inflation, tripled fuel prices and a sharply weakened naira.
In its report on Nigeria’s development update, the World Bank said reforms had been “essential” but there was a need to “sustain and fully implement” them.
“Now is the time to truly turn the corner by ensuring coordinated fiscal and monetary policy actions in the short to medium term,” Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said in a press release.
“Continued reform implementation can ensure that Nigeria benefits from the difficult adjustments underway.”
Chaudhuri, also said that included properly benefiting from the “fiscal space” of increased oil revenues after the end of the fuel subsidy.
Floating the naira, which was under a multi-tier exchange rate and currency restrictions, has also cleared one of the main concerns of foreign investors.
When presenting his budget to parliament at the end of November, Tinubu once again called on Nigerians to be patient and assured that the negative effects of his measures would be temporary.
But Nigeria had inflation of more than 27 per cent in October and petrol prices at the pump have tripled with a knock-on effect on transport, food and other costs.
Since May, the naira has lost around 41 per cent of its value against the dollar at the official exchange rate, adding to costs for imported goods and foreign debt payments.
Nigeria has seen its poverty rate increase from 40 per cent of the population in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, affecting around 104 million people, the bank said.
According to Tinubu’. the objective is to achieve an annual growth of 3.5% over the period 2023-2026 or “0.5 percentage points higher than in a scenario where the reforms had not been implemented”, the World Bank said.
A member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Solomon Bob, has expressed dismay over the ongoing political turmoil in the state, deeming it embarrassing, particularly when considering the state’s significant economic role in the country.
In an interview with Channels Television, Bob criticized the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and the presentation of the budget to only four state assembly members.
Bob urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reconsider his actions for the benefit of the state, highlighting potential economic losses due to the ongoing crisis. He appealed to the governor to take a step back and avoid being portrayed as a tribal governor.
Representing the Abua/Odual and Ahoada East constituency in the House of Representatives, Bob emphasized that the governor holds the key to resolving the crisis and restoring stability.
Addressing the resignations from Governor Fubara’s cabinet, Bob explained that they stemmed from the appointees’ lack of support for the governor’s actions.
The political discord, originating from the conflict between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Fubara, continues without resolution.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has split into two factions, with 27 lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting a response from the leader of another group, Edison Ehie.
Earlier in the week, Governor Fubara demolished the Assembly complex, citing its unsuitability after being damaged by fire two months prior.
He subsequently presented the 2024 budget to the Ehie-led group at the Government House in Port Harcourt, as a court prohibited the Martins Amaewhule-led group, perceived as allies of Wike, from using the assembly.
The recent wave of resignations from the state executive council has further intensified the crisis, with a total of nine commissioners departing from Governor Fubara’s cabinet.
The nullification of the Court of Appeal’s decision to release Nnamdi Kanu by the Supreme Court on Friday has been criticized and described as shocking, and unbelievable by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Naija News reported earlier that the apex court held that although Nnamdi Kanu was illegally repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya when he jumped bail, that development could not have divested the trial court of the jurisdiction to continue his trial.
The court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of Justices, acknowledged that FG acted “irresponsibly” when it forcefully brought Kanu back to the country from Kenya, against all known laws.
It, however, held that it was not enough to divest the trial court of its jurisdiction to continue with the case.
According to the Supreme Court, there is no legislation in the country that stripped the trial court of the jurisdiction to go ahead with Kanu’s case, despite the illegal action that FG took against him.
Ohanaeze’s Reactions
In response to the judgement, the spokesman for Ohanaeze, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, stated that the organization will disclose the court’s decision and formulate its definitive stance.
SaharaReporters quoted the Ohanaeze spokesman to have emphasized via a phone interview that the court cannot both condemn and condone.
He pointed out that while the court deemed the government’s abduction of Kanu from Kenya as illegal, it also ruled that he should stand trial, thereby allowing the government to benefit from its own wrongdoing through this judgment.
“But as I said, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will certainly meet and digest the decision and its implications to Southeast security and the well-being of its people and also come up with its position on the trial of Kanu henceforth,” Ogbonnia reportedly said.
Naija News reports that Kanu is the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group calling for the independent state of Biafra following what the group described as the systematic marginalisation of the Southeast region by the Nigerian government.
The IPOB leader, who was first arrested by security agents in Lagos on October 14, 2015, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.
The governors of the 19 Northern states have asked the Federal Government to redouble its efforts to tackle the menace of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other related security challenges bedeviling the region.
The governors under the aegis of the Northern Governors Forum also said they are working collectively to ensure that the tragic accidental military airstrike in Tundun Biri, Kaduna State is thoroughly investigated with a view to compensating the victims and taking corrective measures so as to prevent future occurrence.
In his opening remarks at the governors meeting in Kaduna on Friday, the chairman of the forum and governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, noted that security challenges have drastically affected socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the North.
While commending the Federal Government for the renewed vigour in the fight against insecurity, Governor Yahaya noted that more needs to be done to bring an end the menace of banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and terrorism plaguing the north.
On his part, Governor Uba Sani called for a strategic agenda for the development of the North that will be anchored on a core ideal that puts the people at the centre of their aspirations.
In addition, Governor Sani stressed the need for the governor’s forum to develop a common strategy and operational plan to tackle insecurity by establishing a command and control centre to coordinate their joint efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate for November increased to 28.20% compared to the October 2023 rate which was 27.33%, the National Bureau of Statistics has disclosed.
The NBS in its Consumer Price Index of November 2023 published on Friday said the headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.87% points when compared to that of October 2023.
“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 6.73% points higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2022, which was 21.47%.
“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).
“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in November 2023 was 2.09%, which was 0.35% higher than the rate recorded in October 2023 (1.73%).
“This means that in November 2023, the rate of increase in the average price level is more than the rate of increase in the average price level in October 2023,” NBS said.
It added that the food inflation rate in November 2023 was 32.84% on a year-on-year basis, which was 8.72% points higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2022 (24.13%).
According to the NBS, “the rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Oil and fat, Potatoes, Yam and other Tubers, Fish, Fruit, Meat, Vegetables and Coffee, Tea and Cocoa.
“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in November 2023 was 2.42% this was 0.51% higher compared to the rate recorded in October 2023 (1.91%).
“The rise in food inflation on a month-on-month basis was caused by a rise in the rate of increase in the average prices of Bread and Cereals, Oil and fat, Meat, Coffee, Tea and Cocoa, Potatoes, Yam and other Tubers.
“The average annual rate of Food inflation for the twelve-months ending November 2023 over the previous twelve-month average was 27.09%, which was a 6.68% points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in November 2022 (20.41%).”
The Supreme Court has upheld the Federal Government’s appeal challenging the verdict of the Appeal Court which dismissed the charges against Nnamdi Kanu.
In upholding the government’s appeal, the Supreme Court held that Kanu must face trial at the Federal High Court.
The Supreme Court in the judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, but prepared by Justice Garba Lawal, held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to rule that Kanu could not be tried again based on the illegality perpetrated against him by the Federal Government, following the invasion of his home.
Also, the Court held that although the Nigerian Government was reckless and unlawfully rendered Kanu from Kenya, such unlawful act has not divested any Court from proceeding with trial.
Justice Lawal said that no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking Kanu’s release on the grounds of unlawful abduction from Kenya.
According to the Court, at the moment, the remedy for such an action is for Kanu to file a civil matter against the act instead of removing the powers of the courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.
Kanu was not present in court for the judgement, the latest development in a case that has lasted for years.
Friday’s judgement was delivered amid tight security and followed calls by Ohanaeze and some others for Kanu’s release.
Kanu who is the leader of the proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since June 2021 when he was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.
He and his legal team have accused the Federal Government of abducting him and illegally bringing him to Nigeria. He has challenged the alleged extraordinary rendition in court.
Upon his re-arrest in 2021, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on four charges of treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, terrorism, illegal importation of radio equipment, and defamation of former President Muhammadu Buhari
The charges were later amended to a 15 bordering on terrorism and membership of a proscribed group.
Justice Binta Nyako of the trial court had in her ruling dismissed eight out of the 15 charges, saying that Mr Kanu had questions to answer in relation to the remaining seven charges.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Mr Kanu appealed to the Court of Appeal, which dismissed the remaining charges and ordered that Mr Kanu be released.
In a twist, the court then granted a stay of execution of its judgment after the Federal Government told the court it would be appealing to the Supreme Court.
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A former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has died.
Ezeife reportedly died in Abuja on Thursday. The cause of his death was not stated.
His death was announced by his family in a statement signed by Chief Rob Ezeife.
It read, “On behalf of the Ezeife Dynasty of Igbo-Ukwu, I wish to announce the promotion to glory of our most distinguished son, Okwadike Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, CON, a former Federal Permanent Secretary, the first Executive Governor of Anambra State, a former Political Adviser to the President and former Presidential Aspirant.
“This sad event took place yesterday at 6pm at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja. More details about the deceased and the arrangements for his state burial will be announced later.”
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS/CEDEAO, has officially suspended the Republic of Niger by all sub-regional bodies, until constitutional order is restored in the country.
This is contained in a statement by the regional organisation, following the decisions taken at the summit of heads of state and government held on Sunday in Abuja.
“Until the 64th ordinary session held on Dec. 10, 2023, the Conference of Heads of State and Government considered the situation in Niger as a coup attempt and continued to consider Mohamed Bazoum the President of the Republic of Niger, Head of State,” the statement said.
“Due to this position, Niger was not suspended from ECOWAS’ decision-making bodies and members of Bazoum’s government were authorized to represent Niger in ECOWAS’ statutory meetings.
The Dec. 10 summit recognised that Mohamed Bazoum’s government had effectively been overthrown by a military coup.
Consequently, beginning from Dec. 10, 2023, Niger is suspended from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS, until constitutional order is restored in the country,” the statement said.
On Sunday, the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting in Abuja, asked the military junta of Niger, which came to power in a coup on July 26, to release the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum in exchange for the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the country.
The proposal was, however, rejected by the leader of the junta, Omar Abdourahmane Tchiani, who reiterated that Bazoum would not be released.
After the summit, the bloc presented the proposal to lift the sanctions in exchange for the freedom of the deposed president, also asking the junta to shorten the duration of the transition period, currently set at three years.
Tchiani agreed to this last request, without however specifying by how much.
The sub-regional body also announced the maintenance of sanctions against Niger.
NAN
A former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is dead.
Ezeife, an Igbo leader and elder statesman died on Thursday at the age of 85.
His family announced his passing in a statement signed by Rob Ezeife.
“On behalf of the Ezeife Dynasty of Igbo-Ukwu, I wish to announce the promotion to glory of our most distinguished son, Okwadike, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, CON, a former federal permanent secretary, the first executive governor of Anambra State, a former political adviser to the president and former presidential aspirant,” the statement said.
“This sad event took place yesterday at 6pm, at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
“More details about the deceased and the arrangements for his state burial will be announced later,” he said.
[DailyPost]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has begun considering the names on the list of prospective Nigerian Ambassadors to various countries worldwide.
Speaking to The PUNCH, a high-ranking official in the nation’s foreign service stated that one of those being considered for the top diplomatic jobs is the Founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Tajudeen Afolabi Adeola, who will be designated Nigeria’s ambassador to one of the world’s top three economies.
“Yes, the President has the list and is considering it already. In fact, one of those I saw on the list is Fola Adeola, the Founder of GTB. He is being considered as the Nigerian ambassador to one of the world’s top three economies,” the source said.
The source further noted that the Tinubu administration was keen on deploying technocrats and captains of industry as its front persons in foreign lands.
The source said: “There are politicians on the list I saw. But the President is reserving many of the slots for technocrats, people who have built a strong reputation in their respective fields and who have built companies employing thousands of Nigerians. We need people who can use their influence to secure deals and partnerships for the benefit of their country.
“It is not a new thing. When choosing envoys, the most developed economies send their best hands for those jobs. And Tinubu is following that path.
“For example, Adeola is an investor and is not a strange face on the foreign scene and the global business community. He knows them, and they know him. And he is not the only one. You can see that this speaks of the administration’s pursuit of more Foreign Direct Investment.”
Explaining the process followed to compile the list; another source said the Federal Government had set up a small committee to recommend qualified individuals to fill the ambassadorial roles.
The source, who did not want to be named, said, “A committee was set up to make recommendations for career and political ambassadors. You see, most of the career ambassadors already know they are next for appointments. But they don’t know which country they will be sent to.
“There are countries where Nigeria has delicate political interests. For these ones, the government usually sends political ambassadors.
“If you remember, President Buhari appointed his former service chiefs as ambassadors to some African countries.”
Recall that Tinubu, on September 2, 2023, recalled all career and non-career ambassadors manning the country’s diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates globally.
Nigeria has 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates globally.