With hours to the November 11, 2023 governorship elections, the Department of State Services (DSS) has cautioned politicians against provocative comments.
In a statement, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, “observed rising trends and patterns of incendiary comments by some personalities of influence and representatives of non-governmental entities within and outside the country”.
The secret police said “such statements run against public peace and harmony”.
“With the elections and the attendant contentions legally over, it is expected that we should forge ahead in nation building without rancour or acrimony. This is against the backdrop that reckless rhetorics have the capacity to lead to social unrest and instability, which can put the country’s well-being and the general safety of citizens at risk.
“Similarly, the Service urges key players and their supporters in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States to conform to the rules of engagement and specifically the electoral law during the 11th November, 2023 gubernatorial elections in the areas. The aim is to avert situations likely to undermine the processes. So far, the Service has substantially liaised with INEC, sister security agencies and relevant NGOs to ensure hitch free exercises in the affected States.”
The DSS implored all stakeholders, irrespective of their political affiliations or grievances, to engage in respectful and constructive conversations that promote collective understanding.
The Federal Government has countered a claim by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election Peter Obi that President Bola Tinubu is uncaring and insensitive to the suffering of Nigerians.
A day after Tinubu signed into law the N2.17trn supplementary budget, Obi had taken to his X handle claiming that the President failed to consider certain emergencies and pressing needs of the country.
The LP presidential candidate said that going by the manner the budgetary allocations were done, Tinubu was obviously unaware of the dire crisis in the country.
READ ALSO: Obi Faults Supplementary Budget, Says FG ‘Uncaring, Insensitive To Suffering Nigerians’
But in a swift response, the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said the budget “is not insensitive, but rather a bold and pragmatic response to the pressing and economic challenges Nigeria currently faces”.
In a Thursday statement, the minister urged Obi to take the time and effort to acquaint himself with the details of the supplementary budget which includes allocations for essential sectors: security, agriculture and food security, works and housing, wage increase for workers, student loan scheme and social safety nets, among others, all aimed at strengthening the country’s economic foundations and improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
“The broad provision in the supplementary budget is a reflection of President Tinubu’s strong desire and eagerness to support the vital functions of government, address urgent security needs, and fast-track the country’s recovery process from the economic impact occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy,” the minister was quoted by his media aide Rabiu Ibrahim as saying.
Idris asked the opposition to be informed and balanced in the exercise of their right to differing opinions and refrain from misrepresentation of facts for political gains, explaining that the supplementary budget was derived from the active engagement and consultation with relevant stakeholders who ensured that the budgetary provisions aligned with the needs and expectations of Nigerians.
He emphasized that, in line with President Tinubu’s inclination to accountability and transparency in government expenditure, all items in the supplementary budget have been meticulously scrutinised to ensure efficient utilisation of public funds.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, says the electoral umpire has no candidate in the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
In a statement late Thursday, the electoral chief pledged to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates in the elections.
He also promised the readiness of the staff of the commission, saying, “we are determined to ensure that our officials are there waiting for voters rather than the voters waiting for our arrival”.
See full statement:
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE ON THE OFF-CYCLE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS
Saturday 11th November 2023
In less than 48 hours, 5,169,692 Nigerians who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are expected to vote in off-cycle Governorship elections. This is the first time in our history that these elections are held on the same day and across three geo-political zones of the country: North Central (Kogi), South East (Imo) and South South (Bayelsa).
As we approach the Election Day, I wish to call on our officials (both regular and ad-hoc) to demonstrate the highest level of patriotism and professionalism. As I said repeatedly, not least during my recent readiness assessment visits to the three States, INEC is not a political party and we have no candidate in the election. Our responsibility is to safeguard the process and ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. The choice of who becomes the Governor of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States is entirely in the hands of voters.
We have delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have been configured for deployment to Polling Units as the only means of voter verification and fingerprint/facial biometric authentication of voters. Polling Unit results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. All election duty officials have been trained. Arrangements have been made for land and maritime transportation to enable us commence voting on schedule. In spite of the extremely difficult terrain and physical infrastructure in some locations, we are determined to ensure that our officials are there waiting for voters rather than the voters waiting for our arrival.
For these off-cycle elections, the Commission is deploying two (2) National Commissioners, nine (9) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Administrative Secretaries (ASs) as well as additional staff from different States to each of the three States to support the process. They will be deployed across the senatorial zones in the States.
Election is a multi-stakeholder responsibility. As with every election, lessons have been learnt from recent elections. We will continue to ensure free, fair and credible and inclusive elections but INEC cannot do it alone. We have received assurances from the security agencies that the environment will be secure for electoral activities and all participants: voters, electoral officials, accredited observers, the media and polling/collation agents. Political parties and candidates have signed the peace accord under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC). Let us maintain the peace and play our roles conscientiously. By doing so, we shall continue to consolidate our democracy.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu
Abuja
Thursday 10th November 2023
The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj.-Gen. John-Ochefu Ochai, on Wednesday, visited Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria to commend Prof. Umar Ka’oje for voluntarily returning N1,153,953.36 wrongly paid to him.
The money was paid to the don after the expiration of his teaching contract with the nation’s apex military academy.
The visit by the commandant to the university was in addition to a letter of commendation to the don by the NDA dated Sept. 11.
The commandant was received by Dr Rahanatu Lawal Head, Department of Political Science and International Studies.
Lawal said,” Only a few people today could exhibit Prof. Ka’oje’s uncommon moral courage stressing that such exemplary character should be emulated.”
In his remarks, the commandant said that he had to follow up the letter of commendation earlier written to the professor with the physical visit to show appreciation for such an act further.
According to him, the act exhibited by Ka’oje was infrequent in Africa’s climate.
He, therefore, pledged the NDA’s readiness to further honour the professor at an appropriate time.
The commandant also thanked the department for its well-established culture of training leaders to be honest and accountable.
In his response, Ka’oje commended the academy, saying,” the Commandant equally deserved commendation for recognising and rewarding honesty.”
[nigerianeye]
Israel has reportedly agreed to a daily four-hour pauses in the northern Gaza Strip to enable civilians to flee the ongoing hostilities.
John Kirby, White House spokesperson, announced the ceasefire on Thursday in a press briefing.
Kirby also said two humanitarian corridors in northern Gaza would be opened to allow Palestinians to seek safety from Israel’s military operations.
According to the White House spokesperson, the pauses emerged from discussions between US and Israeli officials in recent days, including talks President Joe Biden had with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister.
“We understand that Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an announcement to be made three hours beforehand,” Kirby said.
The US government official clarified that Israel had not agreed to a ceasefire, saying the pauses were only to aid humanitarian interventions.
Although Israel is yet to make an official confirmation of the pauses, the move comes amid calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza where thousands of civilians, including children, have died.
Last weekend, Netanyahu reiterated that operations had been intensified against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, with no time frame set for their activities.
Netanyahu said the only condition for a cessation of hostilities would be the return of all hostages captured by the militant group during its October 7 attack.
However, concerned foreign nations and bodies have frowned at the prime minister’s stance.
[TheCable]
You Will Be Arrested If You Escort Your Principal To Polling Unit – Police Warns Orderlies, Guards
AdminThe Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Bayelsa State has banned orderlies and guards from escorting their employers to their polling unit.
The DIG in charge of election in the State, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, gave the warning on Thursday in Yenagoa.
He said those who refuse to obey the directive would be arrested and tried in the orderly room.
Speaking to stakeholders and senior police officers deployed for the governorship election, Sokari-Pedro said that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed police personnel to be committed to a free, fair, safe and unhindered democratic process during the off-cycle election.
According to him, the police consider all three senatorial zones in the state as volatile and have identified some local government areas considered flashpoints.
He said, “Any orderly or guard that escorts his principal to the polling centre shall be arrested and thereafter tried in the orderly room, in this case, if care is not taken, may lead to his dismissal.
“I want to assure you that at every point from voting, counting and collation, police shall provide protection for voters, INEC officials, property and materials. Sanctions shall be meted to officers for any breach.
“The three Senatorial zones that make up the state are politically volatile, and some local governments are flashpoints, they include Sagbama, Nembe, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Southern Ijaw and Brass.
“These are just some of the local governments that are most volatile.
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“Unfortunately, the youths have been identified as the vanguard of election violence, and the so-called godfathers and principals are the purveyors and patrons of this.”
[NaijaNews]
Governor Hope Uzodimma says the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is pursuing the agenda of the Labour Party in Imo State.
“Joe Ajaero is pursuing his personal interest,” the governor said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.
“He (Ajaero) has said times with number that he is a member of Labour Party (LP). He has a candidate in the election of Imo State. So, he is driving whatever programme that will give advantage to Labour Party in Imo State.”
Ajaero was attacked in Owerri last Wednesday just before a planned protest in the state to press the state government to heed the demands of the workers in the state. the NLC accused the Uzodimma government of supervising the assault on Ajaero but the government has denied the allegations.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had since ordered shutdown of essential services in Imo as protest for the attack on Ajaero and declared a nationwide strike effective November 14, 2023.
On Wednesday, aviation unions in Nigeria directed their workers to withdraw services to all public and private Owerri flights (both inwards and outwards) with effect from midnight. The unions said the strike is indefinite until otherwise directed by the NLC and the TUC.
On Thursday, Labour picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and grounded air travel activities at the airport.
Speaking on Channels Television’s programme on Thursday, Uzodimma said he does not know why the NLC leader has been hostile to his government but he looks forward to the day he will engage Labour.
“It’s surprising that an NLC president from Imo State will be hostile to my government,” he said.
The governor further said contrary to claims by the NLC, there were backlogs of salaries that were not paid before he came that his administration has cleared.
Uzodimma said some workers were ghost workers while some received double salaries before they were discovered and stopped.
Governorship elections will hold on November 11, 2023 in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
In Imo, Uzodimma is seeking re-election and is being challenged by 17 other candidates including Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP)’s Achonu Nneji as well as Jack Ogunewe of the Action Alliance (AA).
The Defence Headquarters says the anti-terror fight is now focused on eliminating commanders of terror groups and bandits.
The DHQ also said the infrastructure of these terrorist and bandit groups and their foot soldiers would not be spared across the various theatres of operations.
Speaking during the bi-weekly briefing on the activities of the military across the country on Thursday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said the terrorists and bandits were already counting their loss.
He said, “There is no doubt that these groups must be defeated and are indeed being defeated. It is for this reason we are inflicting severe damage on the terrorist, insurgents, and violent extremists through our operations across the country.
“Accordingly, we are targeting their leadership, infrastructure, and foot soldiers. The coordination between the air and ground forces is like never seen before and is yielding amazing results and achievements. “
Buba said no fewer than 113 terrorists were killed and 300 arrested in the last week.
He said, “The operations of the last one week resulted in 113 neutralised terrorists with 300 of them arrested. Troops also arrested 25 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 91 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of N571,793,350.00 only.”
Buba added that troops recovered 129 assorted weapons and 717 assorted ammunition.
Buba, however, warned troops on the frontline against human rights violations.
He said, “It is important to highlight that the AFN is a disciplined well-trained force that conducts its operation within the ambit of laws governing human rights and that of armed conflict. We have rules of engagement that are followed in the course of our actions. Nevertheless, there are standing court martials to put on trial any erring personnel that is found wanting during operations.”
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday said his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike remains his principal.
The governor stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the rededication service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary that was equally attended by Wike. The event was held at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Hospital Road in the state capital.
The moment Governor Fubara and Wike met at the rededication service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt.
He described the recent political crisis in the state as a thing of the past, calling again for peace in the oil-rich state. Fubara noted that Rivers State can if the actors and their supporters are peaceful.
“My oga remains my oga. Whatever that has happened is in the past. I have not sent anybody to malign anybody,” the governor said.
He said that although it has been a trying time for the state, the current phase of political misunderstanding will pass and the promises his administration made to the people will be delivered.
The governor also warned those pledging support for him to stop using abusive words on perceived opponents, saying that he did not authorise them to malign anybody.
According to him, in trying to attain development, the devil will always attack, but that what is most important is to “identify the devil and push it out”.
It was the first time the two politicians who were the major characters in the recent political fight would be meeting each other in public in the state.
Wike who is the FCT Minister arrived at the church service almost at the end and had a handshake with his successor before sitting on the same row with him while the service lasted.
At the start of his speech, Governor Fubara jokingly appealed to the congregants to suspend the recognition of guests in order not to commit another impeachable offence.
The Peoples Democratic Party has issued a warning to the All Progressives Congress, urging the party to abandon any plans of rigging as the governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi States draw near on November 11.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Thursday, said they have mobilised the people of the three states to go to every length allowed by the law to protect their votes.
He restated that the PDP will never allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to manipulate the electoral process in the governorship election in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States.
Ologunagba, who declared that anybody who attempts to manipulate the election will have to deal with the legitimate wrath of the people, cautioned Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to accept the decision of the people.
The PDP publicity scribe also said that all indices from several entrance polls indicated that the party’s candidates are leading and will sweep the governorship election in the three states.
Ologunagba warned that any electoral trajectory that does not reflect the clear tide of the will of the people at the polling units will be firmly resisted.
The statement read, “Meanwhile, the PDP cautions that the delay by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to redeploy the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Agu, is heightening tension and capable of pushing the people to resort to self-help.
“We are in a democracy and INEC must respect the wishes and aspirations of the people and stakeholders in the electoral process. The people of Imo State have spoken clearly in demanding that Prof. Agu must not participate in any capacity whatsoever in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State, given her antecedents in favoring the APC in previous elections.
“The PDP is marching to victory with the people of Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States notwithstanding the antics of the APC.”
More...
The full ramp up of Africa’s largest oil refinery, a landmark moment for crude and fuel markets both regionally and beyond, is still a long way off.
The Dangote plant in Nigeria just concluded a deal to receive six million barrels of crude from December, an indication that commercial activity is close to getting underway. However, the facility is still several months from full-scale production of fuels including of high-quality gasoline, according to analysts tracking the refinery’s development.
A Dangote official said ramp-up would happen faster than that.
Built by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, oil market watchers have followed construction of the 650,000 barrel-a-day facility through years of delays. Its enormous size means the refinery will have wide-reaching consequences for crude and fuel markets — though precisely when remains to be seen.
“The refinery is likely to be started up in a phased fashion, with the crude distillation unit being the first unit,” said Ronan Hodgson, an analyst at Facts Global Energy.
The consultancy expects several months of production of fuel oil and other lower-quality petroleum products, with Euro V — a reference to European emissions standards — gasoline not forecast until the second half of next year.
Close to Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub, the refinery was officially opened back in May by former President Muhammadu Buhari amid uncertainty about how fast it would really be able to ramp up.
That same month, Nigeria’s state oil company almost tripled the pump price of gasoline after the new President, Bola Tinubu, said he’d fulfill a pledge to scrap domestic fuel subsidies.
“During the initial phase, yields will be highly dependent on feedstock choice,” said James McCullagh, executive director at Citac Africa Ltd., a firm specializing in the continent’s downstream oil industry. “But there will likely be exports of some straight-run products, namely fuel oil and naphtha.”
The plant’s financiers include numerous banks and it is “too big to fail, so it is a question of when, not if, it will begin commercial operations in some form,” he said.
Several traders said they were unclear about the timeline for Dangote’s full ramp-up, but that they weren’t counting on it happening in the next few months.
Devakumar Edwin, group executive director of Dangote Industries Ltd., said it would be incorrect to assert that a full ramp up will take months, or that that first phase would entail mostly naphtha and fuel oil.
“As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” he said.
The facility is building up crude stocks in order to carry out test runs, but the start of commercial production remains unclear, according to two officials from NNPC who asked not to be identified. NNPC is the main supplier of domestic crude to the refinery.
While the plant should be able to run a full range of crude grades, its initial intake is expected to include major Nigerian streams such as Bonny Light, Forcados and Egina, the two officials said.
There’s not likely to be “substantial, useful product” from the Dangote refinery in December, Hodgson said. Looking further forward, gasoline should make up to half of the refinery’s product yield.
[Bloomberg]
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Wednesday presented cheques of different amounts worth forty-two million, three hundred and fourteen thousand naira, and eighty-one kobo (₦42,314,145.81K) to families/next of kin of the deceased police officers who died while in active service in Katsina State.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Musa, while presenting the cheques at the Command Headquarters, Katsina on behalf of the IGP said the gesture is part of the IGP’s Family Welfare Insurance Scheme, which is given to families of the deceased police officers.
CP Musa appreciated the efforts of the Inspector-General of Police in improving the welfare of the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, urging the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money for their own benefit.
One of the benefiting families, Philip Paul, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, also thanked the Inspector-General of Police for the welfare package, promising to use the money judiciously.
[Channels TV]
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says the 2023 supplementary budget is a bold and pragmatic response to address the current economic challenges.
Idris stated this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu on Nov. 8, signed the 2023 supplementary budget into law.
However, Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, claimed that the 2023 supplementary budget was insensitive.
The Minister admonished Obi to take the time and effort to acquaint himself with the details of the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget.
He said that highlight of the budget captured allocations for essential sectors including security; agriculture and food security, works and housing, wage increase for workers, student loan scheme, social safety nets, among others.
“All these aimed at strengthening the country’s economic foundation and improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
“The broad provisions in the supplementary budget is a reflection of President Tinubu’s strong desire and eagerness to support the vital functions of government.
“These include addressing urgent security needs, and fast-track the country’s recovery process from the economic impact occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy,” he said.
Idris urged the oppositions to be informed and balanced in the exercise of their right to differing opinions and refrain from misrepresentation of facts for political gains.
He said the supplementary budget was derived from the active engagement and consultations with relevant stakeholders who ensured that the budgetary provisions aligned with the needs and expectations of Nigerians.
“In line with President Tinubu’s inclination to accountability and transparency in government expenditure, all items in the supplementary budget have been meticulously scrutinised to ensure efficient utilisation of public funds”.
(NAN)
The Nigerian government has deployed a contingent of soldiers, police personnel, and operatives from other security agencies to disperse Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) members at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The NLC and TUC members had assembled at the Abuja airport to enforce their directive to aviation workers, urging them to halt all flights to Owerri, Imo State.
The action was prompted by the reported assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero by police personnel allegedly affiliated with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration.
Ajaero was reportedly subjected to physical assault and blindfolded following his arrest by security operatives, according to a statement released by the NLC last week.
The union also highlighted that Ajaero’s confiscated belongings, including his phone, had not been returned.
At the protest scene, union members sang and chanted, displaying banners with messages like ‘We Stand With Oppressed Imo State Workers – An Injury To One Is An Injury To All.’
One of the protesters informed Sahara Reporters that security forces comprising the Department of State Security, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were at the airport with instructions to disperse the gathering by force. However, no confrontation had commenced at the time of reporting.
Watch the video below:
[PoliticsNigeria]