The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has declared his interest to contest the forthcoming 2024 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, declaring that nobody can halt his ambition.
The deputy governor, who made his declaration at the Bishop Kelly Centre, Benin, said he is a home boy who feels the pain of the people, urging the electorate and party members to back his ambition.
He said having been in politics for 30 years and working with Governor Godwin Obaseki in the last seven years to improve the state, he was in the best position to succeed his principal.
“Nobody can stop my ambition,” he declared.
The deputy governor promised to deliver practical governance if elected governor of the state in 2024.
He said this on Monday in a live broadcast while declaring his ambition to join the Edo governorship race.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier announced September 21 as the election date.
“I just want to appreciate all of you. We have started the journey and I decided together with all of us that after the consultation, we needed to make the answer to our consultation known to Edo people and the answer is clear.
“They (Edo people) have asked me to go and run and they said I am the one they see not just as a street boy but original own boy that can live there.
“I can assure you that by the grace of God, we will deliver practical governance,” he said.
The governorship aspirant talked about his achievements while he served as a House of Assembly member before he became a federal lawmaker at the House of Representatives.
Shaibu who promised to strengthen the agricultural sector vowed to continue where Obaseki stopped in the execution of projects across the state and promised to “hit the ground running.”
Shaibu was billed to declare at the Eterno Hotel but the hotel was taken over by some allies of the state governor who also fixed an event for the hotel.
The deputy governor’s plan to declare on Monday was contained in a letter issued by the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation which was dated November 23 and signed by the deputy governor.
The letter which was titled ‘Special Invitation,’ read, “On behalf of Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation, I invite you to honour me with your esteemed presence as I offer myself to serve as the Chief Servant (Governor) of Edo State.”
Shaibu’s ambition has put him at loggerheads with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is believed not to be disposed to his deputy taking over from him.
At the height of the face-off, Shaibu approached an Abuja High Court to stop Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from impeaching him.
He later withdrew the case after the intervention of well-meaning individuals.
However, Shaibu remains ostracised and currently has his office outside the Government House in the GRA in Benin, the state capital.
Shaibu has been consulting and meeting with politicians and the media on his intention.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja last Saturday, Shaibu said he wanted to succeed Obaseki because, “Edo people are in dire need of practical governance and we cannot afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics and needs of Edo State.”
He added, “Everywhere, including the international scene, people are clamouring that governments should not be pushing projects that are not needed. So, we need to do needs assessment. You cannot know the needs of the people when you don’t live with them.
“For me, competence and experience should be the watchword. Who is competent, more experienced and who will hit the ground running from day one if he becomes governor?
“Are we going to experiment with a new person again and the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and the next four years trying to embezzle and set up businesses in the name of consolidating on his first term?”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in eight newly appointed Permanent Secretaries into the Federal Civil Service.
Naija News reports that President Tinubu swore them in at the State House Council Chamber today, Monday.
Last week Friday, Tinubu approved the appointment of the eight new Permanent Secretaries into the Federal Civil Service.
Their appointment follows the recently concluded selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
This was made known in a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
President Tinubu stated that he expects the new Permanent Secretaries, having emerged at the top of qualified candidates after a diligent assessment process, will deploy their expertise and competence in the effective execution of the Renewed Hope mandate to revitalize service delivery in all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the superseding interest of the Nigerian people.
The new Permanent Secretaries are:
(1) Ndakayo-Aishetu Gogo
(2) Adeoye Adeleye Ayodeji
(3) Rimi Nura Abba
(4) Bako Deborah Odoh
(5) Omachi Raymond Omenka
(6) Ahmed Dunoma Umar
(7) Watti Tinuke
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of the traditional ruler of Otulu Amumara Autonomous Community in the Ezinihitte-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Joe Ochulor, by gunmen.
The spokesperson of the command, Henry Okoye, in a statement released on Monday, said gunmen kidnapped the traditional ruler on November 25, 2023, stressing his lifeless body was found less than 24 hours later along Mbutu Community road, in the Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Danjuma Aboki, condemned in strong terms the unfortunate incident, vowing that the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
The police commissioner subsequently set up an investigating team to clamp down on the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
He called on the public to remain calm and cooperate with the police by providing useful information that may assist in apprehending the suspects.
Ochulor’s death comes just a few days after the ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ife/ Akpodim/Chokoneze Ward in the same Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Chiedoziem Anyanwu, was assassinated in the presence of his wife.
The gunmen had arrived and demanded to see him.
Upon confirming that he was the one they were looking for, they shot him and confirmed that he was dead before they left the scene.
A member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Kano, in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin has said that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is open to an alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jibrin stated this on Sunday while hosting 1,000 Ulamas at his country home of Kofa, Bebeji, Kano for a special prayer session for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the country, and the national leader of NNPP and Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The Ulamas also prayed for the success of the Kano state Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Supreme Court.
During the prayer session, the clerics repeatedly read Quran 1,101 times and offered special prayers.
Speaking during the prayers, Hon Jibrin said his relationship with President Tinubu is no secret.
He added that Kwankwaso is his mentor and will continue to support harmonious relationship between the NNPP flag bearer and the president.
Jibrin said the NNPP is a very promising party and still open to collaboration, alliance and merger with the APC and even with the PDP, LP or any other party that shows interest, so long as it is for the good of Nigerians.
The fourth term lawmaker also promised to deploy his modest political network to reach out to gladiators in Kano politics towards resolving all resolvable issues and to de-escalate the current tension in the state as a result of the Kano Governorship seat.
Plans are underway by the Enugu State Government to build over 250 smart schools across the 260 wards in the state.
This, the state government explained, is in a bid to ensure that the poorest of the poor in the rural and remote areas of the state receives world-class education using the 21st century tools.
Prof. Leonard Mbah, Education Commissioner in the state, disclosed this in Ihe community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State while commissioning the remodeled ultra-model Primary School in Ihe.
The project, which reportedly gulped over N200m, was bankrolled by the old boys of the primary school.
According to the Commissioner, the remodelling of the primary school is in line with the plan of the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to reform education in the state.
Stating that education remained the greatest weapon in fighting a war against poverty, he said, “This reminds me of the 1960s when most of our primary schools were built by communities both home and abroad.
“Those schools lasted because communities invested in them. It means that our communities take ownership and that is the only way our institutions can survive and be sustained.”
Urging other communities in the state to emulate the gesture of the old students, he said, “The initiative was seen as a priority to invest in basic education which is the foundation of the education pyramid.”
The President of the Old Students Association, Dr Madueke Ekoh, in his address said the gesture was necessitated by the poor state of the primary school.
Ekoh, who was represented by Ekenedilichukwu Ekoh, said that the renovation of the dilapidated school into ultra modern facility costs the group over N200 million.
He said that the gesture was a way of giving back to the school and society that nurtured them.
He listed the projects constructed to include the renovation of two big blocks, the building of a modern toilet house with a water closet, the drilling of a water borehole, the construction of a modern basket ball pitch and a lawn tennis court.
Others are the fencing of the school and building of modern library with modern computer room, installation of solar power in and around the school compound, and instillation of recreational equipment.
The Chairman of the event, Chief Anthony Udeh, said, “As an average Ihe man, I am overwhelmed and I am thanking God for this kind of opportunity in our lifetime.”
Earlier, the Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Dorathy Udeani, described the project as ‘huge,’ saying that she was short of suitable words to express her feelings about the initiative.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has projected that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue will exceed N70 billion by 2024.
While addressing to media in Benin over the weekend, the governor said that the state’s monthly IGR collection has steadily climbed since 2016 as a consequence of his administration’s deliberate efforts in growing the local economy.
Obaseki stated that IGR development will be achieved by capitalising on the state’s comparative advantage and investigating potential in technology, culture, industry, and agriculture, among other areas of the state’s economy.
In his words:
“For the past seven years, we have focused on the economy, setting modalities on the ground to create an economic revolution in Edo State. Our focus was to attract private investors to Edo to focus on areas where we have a competitive and comparative advantage. We said the government would be made an enabler to stimulate and ignite business opportunities in Edo State.
“Since 2016, our monthly IGR collection has consistently increased as a result of the conscious investments made in boosting our local economy. Our partnerships and popular ‘MOUs’ have set Edo on the path of financial sustainability.
“Government is now working more efficiently and we are seeing the results of the hard work in terms of revenue increases. Between 2016 and 2023, we have achieved a lot in terms of IGR for the state, and next year, we anticipate that we will get an IGR in excess of N70 billion.
“Projects like the Gelegele Seaport and Enterprise Park, among others, will further impact the Internally Generated Revenue of the state in years to come.”
“We have done a lot with cassava and ethanol as well as oil palm in the agricultural sector. We have worked hard with partners to open up the retail space in Edo State and hopefully, before the end of the year, we will be launching about 60 shops in the Benin Mall with different facilities.
“The future we see is a state with organised infrastructure to support the private sector production. We have done a lot with the Benin Enterprise Park as we are working on the one in Benin and have acquired land to build those in Edo Central and Edo North. We are hoping that the future is one where the government will work very closely with the private sector to drive the growth of Edo State’s economy.”
The popular Kogi Central Market in Kabba was razed down by fire.
The fire, which began on Monday morning, shocked and saddened traders and members of the community as it devoured multiple enterprises and sources of livelihood.
Sympathisers hurried to the site to stop the spread, but the ferocity of the blaze made it difficult.
Authorities are still investigating the origin of the incident, trying to ascertain if it was caused by an electrical failure, carelessness, or anything else.
Meanwhile, people in Kabba have criticised the lack of firefighting equipment on the market, which would have assisted in putting out the flames.
Over 1,000 Islamic clerics have offered special prayers for President Bola Tinubu and the NNPP National Leader, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, for the country’s peace, growth, and political stability.
Rep. Abdulmumin Kofa (NNPP-Kiru/Bebeji), who hosted the clerics in Kiru, prayed for Kano State Governor Kabir Yusuf’s victory in court.
This was said by the lawmaker’s Media Aide, Malam Sani Paki, in Kano on Monday.
The clerics recited the holy Qur’an 1,101 times throughout the prayer session and prayed for the country’s peace, growth, and political stability, according to the statement.
According to Kofa, his relationship with Tinubu is no secret.
He stated that Kwankwaso is his mentor and that he will continue to support and promote Tinubu and Kwankwaso’s peaceful relationship.
The NNPP, according to Kofa, is a highly promising party that is still open to collaboration, alliance, and merger with the APC, as well as the PDP, LP, or any other party that expressed interest, as long as it is for the sake of Nigerians.
He also vowed to use his little political network to reach out to Kano political gladiators in order to resolve any resolvable issues and de-escalate the state’s existing tensions as a consequence of the Kano governorship race.
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Sunday, said the country was almost comatose when President Bola Tinubu came into power.
Abiodun disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He said, “The President Tinubu-led administration has been very bold and audacious.
“They’ve taken the bull by the horns. They’ve done what no government has done in the history of Nigeria.
“Tinubu inherited an administration that was almost comatose. I believe this government is very bold and taking the bull by the horns.
“President Tinubu has been able to do what no president has ever been able to do in the history of Nigeria.
“President Tinubu deregulated the petroleum industry to save Nigerians.”
The governor, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with the President, saying he is confident in the Tinubu-led administration to tackle the challenges facing the country.
He added, “You know our President, besides being a former governor and a senator, he is also an accountant.
“So, he is someone who is very spot on and all hands are on deck to turn this economy around. We are very hopeful and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
This is coming a few days after the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, said the administration of Tinubu took over a “dead economy.”
Soludo stated that the Tinubu regime inherited an economy already beyond revival before it assumed office.
“I said it before. This particular government inherited a dead economy from a microeconomic point of view. This government inherited a dead horse that was seen standing but people didn’t know that it was dead. I think it’s important for Nigerians to understand this,” he said on the same programme.
Earlier this month, Tinubu while negotiating an infrastructure loan in Saudi Arabia had also stated his administration took over substantial fiscal and infrastructure deficits.
PUNCH reports that Tinubu took over from former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
Buhari and Tinubu belong to the same party, the All Progressives Congress.
A nationwide curfew was declared yesterday by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio after unidentified gunmen attacked military barracks in the West African nation’s capital, Freetown.
This is as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the plot by some individuals to disturb the peace of the West African country.
The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja.
The situation in Sierra Leone has been tense since the disputed re-election of Bio.
Taking to X, Bio said unidentified gunmen attacked a military armoury within the barracks in the capital, Freetown, early morning. “They were driven back by security forces and calm has been restored,” he added.
As the combined team of security forces continues to root out the remnant of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors, he wrote.
But, ECOWAS said it has learnt, “with utter disgust, a plot by certain individuals to acquire arms and disturb the peace and constitutional order in Sierra Leone”.
“ECOWAS condemns this act and calls for the arrest and prosecution of everyone involved in the illegality.
“The bloc has always maintained its zero-tolerance for unconstitutional change of government.
“We want to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the government and the people of Sierra Leone’s quest to deepen democracy and good governance by consolidating peace and security so as to foster socio-economic development,” it stated.
It was also learnt that some inmates from the central prison in Freetown had escaped and the authorities are investigating into the incident. So far, it is not clear how many had escaped the prison.
Some of the videos that circulated in the social media revealed many people fleeing from the prison area, while gunshots were heard in the background. According to officials, the gunmen who attacked the military barracks later broke into the prison and freed the prisoners.
Sierra Leone’s civil aviation authority had urged airlines to reschedule flights after the curfew was imposed.
The aviation authority said in a statement that passengers should be placed on the next available flights after the curfew is lifted. It added that the country’s airspace remains open.
Bio was reelected for a second term in June amid opposition party’s accusation of Sierra Leone’s electoral commission of conspiring with his party.
Since the end of the 11-year brutal civil war, it was the fifth presidential election held in the nation.
Since 2020, there have been eight military coups in West and Central Africa. Bio has been facing criticism because of weakening economic conditions. The nation is battling severe poverty, youth unemployment among other issues.
On the latest attack, the U.S. embassy in Freetown said in a statement that such actions were not justified.
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he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke absconded from the state to avoid giving account of stewardship for his one year anniversary.
The Nation recalls that Adeleke had embarked on overseas trips amid speculations that he went for a knee surgery three weeks ago, but his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, at the weekend disclosed that the governor embarked on vacation because he had not gone for any since he assumed office.
APC through its Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement yesterday berated Adeleke’s one year old administration, saying: “We know very well that Governor Adeleke has absconded from the state so he will not be able to give due account of his stewardship to the people.”
He added: “Since November 2022 when he came on board, Governor Adeleke has run the state aground with his sheer incompetence, lack of proper education and his zero administrative acumen. He is afraid to disclose to Osun people how he has mismanaged over N130billion revenue accrued to his government in the last one year.”
Lawal said: “Adeleke is afraid to tell them how he has allocated the supplementary budget of over N10billion for his food, entertainment and office use while the parents of University of Osun (UNIOSUN) students are struggling to pay increased school fees his administration forced on them to pay. Osun people deserve to know the whereabouts of their governor.
“Governor Adeleke is ashamed to face Osun people that one year after, his promise of making Osun another Dubai is a fluke told by a scoundrel and conman. Adeleke is distraught to face Osun people because he has failed to provide palliative for them in the face of economic hardship occasioned by removal of fuel subsidy and the N9billion he collected from the Federal Government, his demonic government has looted it.”
Adeleke through his spokesperson, Rasheed, reacting to Osun APC, said the opposition was still living in pains of 2022 governorship and 2023 general election defeats
He said: “When I assumed office, we had benchmarks and deliverables according to each sector. Our team set milestones to achieve in health, education, infrastructure, ICT, agriculture, youth, women among others. I look back and I can tell you we’ve performed beyond our plans.
“The opposition APC is still nursing the wound of their electoral defeat. So the party is ashamed to see the positive changes we are recording in the state. Our achievements are there for all to see.
“In the road sector, we have reconstructed 90 kilometres of roads, with another 45 kilometres ongoing. We have rehabilitated 31 schools with another 31 in the pipeline. We have built 332 water projects, while major water works at Iwo, Ede, Osogbo are under rehabilitation.”
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the government of Nigeria to amend some Sections of the Nigerian Press Council Act of 1992 to align with international practices that promote free, pluralistic, and professional journalism.
Two Nigerian journalists had sued the government for violating their right to freedom of expression by imposing restrictive criteria for practicing journalism.
They claimed that the Nigerian Press Council Act of 1992 discriminated against online and citizen journalists and failed to recognize public interest media.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled in their favor and ordered the government to amend the contested sections of the Act.
In its judgment delivered by Hon Justice Dupe Atoki, Judge Rapporteur, the Court declared that Sections 19 (1)(a), 27 and 37 of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act failed to recognize public interest media including rights of online and citizen journalists thereby violating Article 9 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and Article 8 (1) and 10 (2) of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa.
The Court also dismissed some of the journalists’ claims that were not substantiated, such as unlawful arrest and detention.
The journalists asked for one million USD as damages, but the Court did not grant this request.
The case with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/31/21 was filed on 14 June 2021 by lawyers representing the Applicants – Mr Isaac Olamikan and Mrs Edoghogho Ugberease – online and citizen journalists who practise journalism for the promotion of freedom of expression, opinion, and access to information.
In the application, they claimed that Sections 19(1)a, 27 and 37 of the Nigeria Press Council Act of 1992 requiring journalists to be at least 18 years and accredited by the NPC, 25 years to be an editor with working experience in reputable media organization or news agency and registered with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, discriminated against them.
Foresees A Brighter Future For Nigeria
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, assuring them that ongoing reforms in the country will ultimately lead to economic prosperity and stability for the nation.
Speaking during a prayer ceremony organized in his honour by his family at his Ijagbo country home in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Fagbemi emphasized that President Tinubu’s primary goal is not self-aggrandizement but rather the betterment of Nigeria.
Fagbemi expressed confidence that Tinubu’s interactions with foreign investors will soon yield positive results for the country’s economic development.
He urged Nigerians to remain patient, acknowledging that progress takes time.
He said, “Immediately after his swearing-in, he has been all out to seek investors’ buy-in. As a result, positive responses have been trailing his discussions with foreign investors. The only thing we need is to exercise some patience. Even if you plant a tree, it won’t grow into fruition until after a while.
“Nigerians need to be patient; things will improve greatly in the coming days. The sacrifices of today will translate to a greater future for the country. I know with prayers and support of Nigerians, the country will emerge stronger.”
The event was attended by Kwara State Governor Abdurrazaq Abdurrahman, along with monarchs, friends, and well-wishers.
Fagbemi took the opportunity to acknowledge the governor’s significant contributions to the state’s progress.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Enyinnanya Abaribe, has said Nigeria is collaborating with the Shanghai University of Electric Power (SUEP) to correct the misalignment arising from the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) value chain.
Addressing reporters at a workshop tagged: “Exploring opportunities for cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for the Nigerian Electric Power Sector” at the weekend in Abuja, Abaribe said the engineers in the sector are not competent enough for the attainment of seamless generation, transmission and distribution the country has been yearning for.
The committee chairman said the focus of the partnership was mostly on capacity building for the manpower.
He said: “I think what we are discussing with SUEP mostly are in the area of capacity building.
“The fact on the ground in Nigeria is that we have a misalignment between the different parts of the power sector. There is a misalignment between generation and transmission. There is a misalignment between transmission and distribution. And so, part of the critical issue that has led to this is lack of capacity.
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“So, many of our people, like the engineers, are not competent enough at ensuring that we are able to have a seamless transition between generation and distribution.”
Abaribe noted that the discussion with SUEP was focused on capacity building, either by training manpower within the sector itself or training those who in the universities who would enter the power sector.
The chairman noted that by identifying the opportunities that abound in the sector with an energy shortage of over 35,000MW, it was germane to support the discussions with BRI to tap into the opportunities.
The Managing Director of XEM Consultants Limited, Dr. Eugenia Ndukwe, who was the convener of the conference, explained that the ceremony was meant to explore opportunities for collaboration between China and Nigeria under the BRI-funded project.
She explained that the BRI is a Chinese government initiative to connect the world together.
Ndukwe added: “For sure, we know that the philosophy of President Xi Jinping is to build the community of shared future and for shared prosperity.
“So, the BRI has done so well and funding a lot of projects, especially roads, rails at the port and powering infrastructure.”
Narrowing the initiative down to Nigeria, the convener said: ”But so far, there tends to be a missing gap in our own assessment of the BRI. The power infrastructure is a serious and a critical challenge for us here in Nigeria.
“So, what we are doing is to leverage that gap to look at opportunities where we can begin to consolidate opportunities under the BRI to help the sector.”
According to her, SUEP is an academic institution that serves the energy needs of the Belt and Road Initiative of China.
Ndukwe added: “Basically, as a knowledge and research-based organisation, what intervention they will be providing is in terms of talent development for the power sector and not infrastructure.”
Also, the Director General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Ahmed Nagode, said the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SUEP in 2019 to support Nigeria with power sector capacity building.
The support, he said, rangeds from training of instructors and curriculum development.
Nagode, who described China as adept in solar PV installation, added that SUEP would be required to upgrade Nigeria with new technology in the sector.
He said: “We want to see where we can exchange the programme to deal with the content of what we do and see how they can also help deepen and improve on what we do, especially in relation to new technology.
“We equally look at the fact that China is very good in building energy, especially solar PV.”