The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has commenced the restructuring of the anti-graft agency.

Olukoyede appointed Mr. Michael Nzekwe as his Chief of Staff.

He also appointed zonal directors for each of the 14 zonal commands of the commission. 

A statement on the EFCC’s website said Nzekwe is a top-notch investigator, lawyer and former commander of its Ilorin Zonal Command and is a course-one officer of the commission.

The statement reads: “He has served in various departments in the Commission, including Legal and Prosecution Department, Department of Operations (now Department of Investigations), Department of Internal Affairs (now Department of Ethics and Integrity), Servicom, and Asset Forfeiture Department.

“A seasoned administrator, he has attended several trainings and courses home and abroad, including the Advance Defence Intelligence Officers Course organised by the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA. The appointment takes immediate effect and he has assumed duties.

“Olukoyede, in his restructuring and repositioning of the EFCC, equally upgraded all the Zonal Commands of the Commission to the status of Departments, with each of them headed by a Director. To this effect, 14 new directors have been appointed to head each of the Zonal Commands. Additionally, to bolster and fortify the security architecture of the Commission, the Security Unit of the EFCC has been upgraded to a department with a seasoned officer appointed as Director, Security and Chief Security Officer.

“A new department has also been created in the Executive Chairman’s office and it is headed by former Makurdi Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Mr. Friday Ebelo, who also doubles as Director and Coordinator, Special Duties, at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. The former Department of Internal Affairs has been renamed Department of Ethics and Integrity and minor reshuffling effected in some departments at the headquarters.

“An important component of the restructuring is the creation of a new department to drive the preventive mandate of the EFCC. Olukoyede, in an unprecedented move, created the Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department to handle this all-important work of the Commission. The department has commenced operations and its impact will be felt more across the country in a short while.

“Olukoyede says that the ongoing restructuring is meant for the repositioning and strengthening of the EFCC to deliver on its assigned mandate optimally.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said it is all out to tackle rising inflation in Nigeria.

The acting director of the Banking Supervision Department of CBN, Dr Adetona Adedeji, disclosed this on Friday on the bank’s second episode of the talk podcast on its YouTube page.

He affirmed the bank’s decision to prioritise combating inflation over tackling rising unemployment rates.

During his talk, Adedeji emphasised that the Central Bank’s primary goal is to curb inflation, acknowledging the potential for impacts in other areas.

“The ultimate objective is for us to combat inflation. That is what the central bank is doing today. Whatever it takes to fight inflation, we are going to do that. It may have some impact in some areas.

“We can’t fight two things at the same time. There will be trade-offs. If you are fighting inflation, you can’t fight unemployment simultaneously. Even if you fight unemployment, it cannot reach the desired level. So, you have to choose either to fight inflation or unemployment. These two are macroeconomic objectives that are very critical to the development of the economy.

“But we are saying if we are talking of economic growth, it is because the economy is still relevant and available, which is why you are talking of economic growth. But if you look at an economy hit by inflation, you will not even talk of economic growth.

“So, it is essential that we concentrate and fight inflation. By bringing inflation down, we start talking of economic growth,” he said.

Meanwhile, despite the CBN consistently raising interest rates, which stood at 24.75 per cent in March, the country’s inflation increased to 33.20 per cent in the same month.

Predictably, there is disquiet in the South-West after the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, led by Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho, sent an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, seeking a peaceful breakaway of Yoruba people from Nigeria. 

The letter came on the heels of the failed attempt by some armed agitators to seize Oyo State Government House and the state House of Assembly in Ibadan. 

29 of the agitators have been taken before a magistrate’s court in Ibadan which ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody.

Akintoye and Igboho dissociated themselves from the violent action.

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, immediately responded to the call, last week, describing it as undesirable, self-serving and unnecessary “at the moment at least”.

The National President of Soludero Hunters’ Association, Oba Ajijola Akintola Anabi, toed the path of the Afenifere when he took exception to the call for the exit of Yoruba from Nigeria.

A former governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Tunji Light-Ariyomo, on his part, said it was doubtful that Akintoye and Sunday Igboho would take that route at this time.

But an octogenarian, Pa Dele Aladekomo, Mr Adeola Fehintola, an Oyo State-based legal practitioner, and the Convener, Yoruba Commitment Forum, Otunba Tayo Onayemi, lauded the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement letter to the president.

In the open letter, dated April 17, 2024, and signed by Akintoye, Igboho and one Ola Ademola, the group said, “We have the honour to send to Your Excellency this important letter on behalf of the many millions of Yoruba people at home in Yorubaland in Nigeria and in the Yoruba Diaspora in almost all countries across the world.

“We send this letter as a follow-up to our earlier letter, dated August 06, 2022, which we delivered to your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his exalted position then as President of Nigeria.

“Since 2015, the Fulani have been killing widely among the other peoples of Nigeria, including us Yoruba, destroying farms, villages and other assets, kidnapping men, women and children, extorting large amounts of money as ransom from friends and family of the kidnapped, and repeatedly asserting their intention to seize the homelands of all the indigenous peoples of Nigeria to turn all into a Fulani homeland.”

It said in the Middle Belt, horrendous blood-letting was going on with many families forced into Internally Displaced People Camps while many of their villages were seized by the Fulani and renamed as Fulani villages.

“In our Yoruba homeland, our people are resisting somewhat better, but the Fulani attacks and killings and kidnappings are unrelenting and are coming daily, leading to horrific instability, and forcing most of our farmers to abandon farming altogether, thereby dooming Yoruba people to years and years of famine”, the group said.

It further alleged that an unofficial estimate showed that Fulani had killed as many as 29,000 Yoruba people since 2015 till date, adding that the aforementioned reasons were enough for them to seek breakaway from Nigeria. “All these actions by the Fulani are, to us Yoruba, a sufficient reason for our seeking to separate our Yoruba Nation from Nigeria. Most of us, Yoruba have no confidence in the ‘restructuring’ that some of our most respected Yoruba leaders (such as our fathers in our highly exalted Afenifere) are advocating. 

“And our reason is that we know that restructuring cannot keep the Fulani marauders away from our homeland. Since, after restructuring, the Fulani would still be Nigerians like us, and would still have full citizens’ rights to come in large numbers, and with weapons and intent to kill and destroy and seize land, to our homeland.

“The Fulani elite seem to be saying in effect that they intend to make Nigeria ungovernable for President Tinubu, and that they would never accept any official action of his.

“We are acting for and on behalf of our 60 million Yoruba people of the Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo State, respectively, plus the Yoruba Local Government Areas of Kogi and Kwara State, and the Itshekiri homeland of Delta State, all together constituting the Yorubaland in Nigeria, hereby most humbly place our crowning request before Your Excellency as follows:

“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall, within the next two months, but not later than June 15, 2024, inform us Yoruba Self-determination Movement that the Nigerian Federal Government has graciously agreed to our proposal for negotiation and that they have set up a negotiation team that will meet and have a dialogue with our Yoruba Nation’s negotiation team.

“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall invite the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, to send observers to the negotiation meetings.”

It, therefore, promised to forward the list of its negotiation team to the government as soon as it received a message in response to its request for the negotiation.

Perceived marginalization

Afenifere faulted the group’s position on many grounds.

First was the reason adduced for the request to exit Nigeria which was based on the perceived marginalization that the Yoruba are suffering in Nigeria.

It maintained that the problems bedevilling Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole “are not merely because multi-ethnic groups make up the country”.

Rather, Afenifere, according to the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the country’s multifarious problems can be traced to a lack of good governance. 

The group went on, “There is no doubt that the lot of Yoruba can be better than it presently is. But whatever deprivation Yoruba may be experiencing today in the Nigerian nation is not due mainly to the fact that they are Yoruba.

“The deprivations they are suffering could be traced to the general misgovernance that corporate Nigeria had been subjected to over the years if not decades.

“Meaning that marginalization, deprivation, injustice, misgovernance etc that Yoruba may be experiencing today is, if truth is to be told, not peculiar to Yoruba alone.

“We are not, by this submission, claiming that Yoruba are getting the best or should not be better served.

“Far from it. What we are saying is that it would be unfair to use the excuse of the deprivations in the land as an alibi to want to leave Nigeria. “What we should clamour for is good governance that will enable every segment of the society to have a better lease of life”.

Doubtful call

Tunji Light-Ariyomo, a former APC governorship aspirant, told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend, “l was under the impression that it was a woman, Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola, that made the call in a widely circulated video.

“Many reliable news channels also featured stories about some Yoruba Nation agitators, purportedly acting under her instructions, storming Agodi Secretariat in Ibadan with dane guns, pump action rifles and charms to declare the Republic of Oduduwa.

“It is doubtful that Prof. Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Igboho would take that route at this time. If indeed they have, it would be most unfortunate.

“This is because the issues at stake are all-encompassing and every Yoruba person, from Ijumu in Kogi State and parts of Niger State to the creeks of Ilaje and even Itshekiri, to Idiroko in Ogun State and the lands of the Egun people in Badagry, is a bonafide equal stakeholder.

“If they intend to opt out of Nigeria, the majority of those people will express their concurrence. But I am very sure that most Yoruba only came across this news just like that.

“More importantly, the majority of the Yoruba believe in the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the current President of Nigeria.

“They believe in the leadership of the elder statesman, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti, the current de facto head of the Yoruba race as leader of Afenifere.

“I don’t think any of these two leaders are in support of the quest to exit Nigeria. This is also applicable to our traditional rulers. Is the Oonirisa in support? The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, is he in support? The Alake of Egbaland or the Deji of Akure Kingdom, are they in support?

“I concur that this is not the Nigeria of our dreams.

“I concede that our country has foundational structural flaws that continue to hamper growth and development.

“Amos 3:3, a prominent verse in the holy book, says ‘Can two walk together except they agree?’

“Hence, I agree that Nigeria needs to fix its fundamental problems, agree to a template for equitable and egalitarian coexistence among its ethnic nationalities and tribes, and embrace a model of governance that does not condone wastages and profligacy or impose the will of one ethnic group upon others. We can look at models of governance in other countries – nations with more than one primary ethnicity like the United Kingdom etc.

“The UK is officially four countries with each having its relative autonomy. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland even attend international sporting events in their names!

“The consensus forged in support of appalling evil today in Nigeria derives its strength from identity politics.
“If an Ijaw woman steals billions of Naira, you could suddenly see many Izons rallying in her support.

“If an Igbo man steals billions, you could easily see many Igbo youths rallying in his support. Ditto the Yoruba, the Hausa etc. “Ethnicity is a powerful sentiment, just like religion. If we however evolve a model of governance that ring-fences ethnicity, it would no longer be an issue. It would then stop being a weapon that could be conjured at will by looters of our common patrimony.

“So, my counsel is that we work with other regions across Nigeria to evolve a model for the country of our dreams”.

‘Drop the issue for now’

Also speaking on the letter, the National President of the Soludero Hunters’ Association, Anabi, said he took exception to the call for the exit of Yoruba from Nigeria.

He said, “I will implore Prof Akintoye to please drop the issue for now because the current president is a Yoruba man and the best thing for us is to support him to make the country surmount its numerous challenges.

“But I will call on all our leaders to look into the complaints of Professor Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo and tackle them because no one is blind to the evil that Fulani herders continue to perpetrate.

“President Tinubu should please help us to empower local security men like hunters so that we comb all forests and flush out all criminal elements that make it difficult for our people to farm. 

“We should drop this call for our good so that it doesn’t lead to another bloodshed because it’s not all that easy to exit a nation without violence”.

Meanwhile, Fehintola, an Oyo State-based legal practitioner, on his part, noted that
Akintoye deserves attention.

“First, we have to consider his antecedents as an academic and a veteran politician with rich ideological clout”, he said.

The Nigerian government has said the N50,000 Conditional Grant Scheme to Nigerians is ongoing as 150,000 of one million targeted citizens have received disbursement.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a recent statement through her official X handle.

“Grant disbursements are ongoing; 150,000 of the 1 million targeted payments have been issued as of this week.

“If you’re verified and awaiting funds, we appreciate your patience. For full transparency, a list of all beneficiaries will be released upon completion,” she said.

The grant disbursement, which commenced last week, is part of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s effort to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.

The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme announced a portal for registering interested beneficiaries in December last year.

The media office of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, has described claims that the American International School Abuja (AISA) intends to refund $760,000 of school fees paid in advance as a “mischievous narrative”.

On April 26, documents in which AISA asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Bello, made the rounds online.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.

AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.

On April 23, Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chair, had said Bello paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.

However, in a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, the ex-governor’s media office said “Yahaya Bello’s children have attended the American International School, Abuja, since before he became Governor, and he has paid their fees as due without fail”.

The statement added that Bello did not use Kogi state funds to pay the fees.

“He did not pay USD720,000 or USD840,000 as alleged. The payment commenced in 2021, not when he was leaving office,” the statement reads.

“He did not use Kogi State Government funds to pay the fees.

“The EFCC’s attempt to recover funds from the school was unsuccessful, and the court mandated the school to continue providing services.

“The documents published online are public documents filed in court and show that Yahaya Bello has nothing to hide.

“The payment is the subject of an ongoing court case, and we await the EFCC’s proof in court.”

Michael added that Bello will not be intimidated by blackmail.

“We will not engage in prejudicial statements while the matter is sub judice,” the statement reads.

“We thank Nigerians who recognize the EFCC’s desperation as personal vendetta.

“We implore others not to be misled by mischievous narratives but to follow the case until justice is served.

“Yahaya Bello will not be intimidated by blackmail and will continue to follow due process.”

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege to Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.

The EFCC has since declared Bello wanted, with the NIS placing the ex-governor on a watchlist.

By - ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU 

From the build-up to the aftermath of the 2023 election, the primary opposition political entity, the People’s Democratic Party, has been mired in internal turmoil marked by leadership disputes, suspensions, and legal battles. Tranquility reigned within the PDP until the 17 presidential hopefuls of 2023 started voicing their intentions and pursuing their agendas, sparking internal discord within the primary opposition party.

Matters intensified when the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was defeated by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in the party’s presidential primary in 2022.

The situation in the party took a fresh dimension when Atiku announced former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate for the recent presidential election, going against the recommendation of ex-governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and other influential figures who favoured Wike as the PDP’s vice presidential candidate.

As a result, the party splintered into two factions; the Wike G5 group and Atiku’s group, each pursuing its objectives. The G5 faction insisted on the resignation of the currently suspended PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition for supporting Atiku in the 2023 presidential election.

However, Atiku’s faction rejected this demand and instead reluctantly accepted the resignation of the Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin. Wike’s faction also opposed this decision and conducted several press conferences, divulging information that further tarnished the already tarnished reputation of both the party and the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate.

 While other political parties were gearing up for the elections, the conflict between Wike and Atiku dominated discussions within the PDP. This resulted in conflicting strategies during the election, ultimately leading to its (PDP) defeat against President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress. Efforts to unite both factions ahead of the presidential election hit a roadblock, as the Atiku and Wike camps refused appeals from party leaders and members to mend their differences.

After the election, tensions between the Atiku and Wike factions escalated, leading to the suspension of some members and legal action taken against the party by others. The crisis peaked when Ayu was ordered by Justice W. I. Kpochi of the Benue State High Court to cease acting as the party’s chairman.

In the interim, the National Working Committee, by the court ruling and the party’s 2017 constitution as amended, appointed Ambassador Umar Damagum, the Deputy National Chairman (North), as the acting national chairman of the party. Damagum, who sought to maintain neutrality, also faced significant challenges in stabilising the PDP. The conflict between the Wike and Atiku factions has deeply impacted all facets of the party, including the NWC, PDP Governors’ Forum, National Executive Council, BoT, and others.

These obstacles, among others, have impeded the PDP’s capacity to present a cohesive stance on national issues. Additionally, the recent 98th NEC meeting was fraught with tension as the Atiku and Wike factions vied for dominance, failing to address key issues crucial for the party’s future direction.

Regarding these national issues, numerous state party chapters are also grappling with crises. In Kaduna State, disagreements involve former Vice President Namadi Sambo, ex-governor, Ahmed Makarfi, and the 2023 governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru. Similarly, internal conflicts plague Kano and Yobe state chapters of the party.

In the North-Central, the PDP chapter in Niger State is striving to reclaim its influence. Internal discord in Plateau State nearly resulted in the party losing its governorship position in court. Prolonged internal disputes have left the PDP seemingly inactive in Kogi and Kwara states.

The North-East region faces its challenges, with chapters in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe encountering obstacles. Members and stakeholders from these states impede the party’s progress due to their vested interests.

In the South-West, Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ademola Adeleke of Osun have succeeded in stabilising the party in their respective states. However, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, and Ogun states are experiencing significant crises.

In the South-East, aside from the recent disagreement over the position of PDP National Secretary, which sparked a conflict among party leaders, chapters in the five states of the zone are embroiled in internal strife and numerous legal battles. On Tuesday, former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, and 11 others resigned from the party.

Explaining why he dumped the PDP after 26 years of membership, he said, “Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempts to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules, or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party effective immediately. While the decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one,” he added.

Due to the prolonged internal crisis, the PDP is gradually losing ground in the South-East to former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi’s Labour Party.

The PDP chapters in the South-South have recently faced negative publicity. The crisis between Wike and Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, has destabilised the PDP, along with the defection of 27 state House of Assembly members from the PDP to the APC. Many party leaders are also defecting from the PDP to the APC and other parties. In Cross River and Edo states, the PDP is mired in internal conflicts.

Amidst all these challenges, the PDP continues to grapple with numerous legal battles with no end in sight. The Legal Adviser of the PDP, Kamaldeen Ajibade, stated that the party was currently facing multiple court cases.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in a telephone interview with Saturday PUNCH, urged party members to exhaust the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms before resorting to court.

The SAN, who does not want his name mentioned because of the sensitive nature of the issues affecting the PDP, stated, “It is part of our constitution; it has always been part of the founding principles of the party that internal mechanism should be explored before going to court. Taking the party to court without exploring the internal conflict resolution mechanism is an offence.

“We have a record of cases in court. We have cases that are on internal issues aside from election and pre-election matters in all courts; Federal High Court to Supreme Court.”

Damagum, discussing his leadership approach recently, clarified that the party prioritised reconciliation and attracting more individuals into the party over penalising anyone for alleged anti-party activities, which, in his view, could harm the party.

He said, “They are always telling you these people are not doing the right thing. But when you are in a position of leadership, you are bound by a set of rules, and these rules, even though they are itching you, you don’t apply them; not because of anything, but so that you don’t destroy the house.”

The acting PDP national chairman added, “I am very proud to say that this party was started by me as a driver. Today, I am the acting national chairman by the grace of God. I have never calculated that I will be given this title. I believe in this party; I believe that this party is the best in this country.

Damagum, who admitted that many members were involved in anti-party activities at different levels, said, “If I say we should start suspension, I will end up suspending many people because they were involved in anti-party activities. So, please bear with us. We intend to keep this party together and to manage it. This is my mandate.

“When a substantive chairman comes, he can decide to suspend or dismiss anybody. But myself as somebody who loves this party, somebody who started this party, I think we need even those from the other side to come back and join.”

As Damagum leads the NWC of the PDP, the delay in making crucial decisions to address internal crises is a cause for concern. Political analysts worry that the party may lose members to the APC and the LP, and potentially diminish its influence in future Nigerian elections. 

‘Crisis may consume PDP’

Political analyst, Jide Ojo, and former national chairman of the National Democratic Party, Chudi Chukwuani, cautioned that the internal crisis currently plaguing the PDP might engulf the party if genuine efforts were not made to reconcile all aggrieved members.

In an interview with our correspondent, Ojo said, “The internal crisis may consume the PDP if not urgently addressed. In politics, the only permanent thing is interest. Part of the crisis is because there’s no peaceful transition from one NWC to another; you have people who were either removed or resigned.

“The PDP is still the main opposition party considering the number of states under its control, 13 out of 36. APC has 20; then you have the New Nigeria People’s Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and LP having one under their control. So, in terms of structure and size, you will give it to the PDP as being the main opposition party, but the PDP is plagued with internal crisis.”

Ojo wondered why the party won’t be in crisis, saying, “It has been over one year since Ayu was removed. They still have an acting chairman. So, the NWC has not been able to perform at an optimal level. The internal crisis is affecting the growth of the PDP. So, there is an urgent need for the party to reconcile. The general election has been over since February, March 2023. Why couldn’t the PDP have a convention and appoint or elect a substantive chairman? There is an urgent need for the Damagum-led NWC to be active and be seen working towards genuine reconciliation. The NWC also needs to liaise with the 13 PDP governors to see how they can move the party forward.

“The PDP can choose to be different by the way they go about their task or responsibility. In their respective states under their control, at the leadership level in Abuja; how united are they? For them to be able to engage constructively with the ruling party, there are many distractions. The party needs to do things professionally so that when they organise party primaries, they are without rancour and contention. Due process is followed. When they go on campaigns they are united. Where there is a crisis, they reconcile because there is no political party without internal wrongdoings. So, having a leadership crisis is not unique to any party. Almost all the parties are involved. But how the party will emerge from that crisis and how it will manage it is very key.”

In an interview with our correspondent, Chukwuani told Saturday PUNCH that being plagued with a crisis would not make the PDP credible, adding that nobody would want to invest in the PDP because of the crisis. The political analyst urged the PDP to get the party leadership right for Nigerians to enable them to perform effectively as an opposition party.

He stated, “Yes, of course, when a party is in crisis, that party normally does not succeed. The party that succeeds is the party that can manage its affairs, avoid crises, and be united before elections. You need that unity to get the best of your political class along with you for elective offices and to come along with you and invest in you. Nobody will invest in a crisis-driven political party; that would amount to a waste of your time, energy, or money.

“So when a party is in crisis, it doesn’t augur well at all. And nobody will take the PDP seriously; the party cannot mount an effective opposition. The PDP can best be described as an empty shell divided into pieces. To reposition itself, the PDP has to put in place intact leadership; a party without a leader is no party. So, the leadership has to be put in place as quickly as possible. The leadership has to work together and be united. When they have that united leadership, then the PDP can build up all the other structures of the party.”

Reconciliation ongoing – Scribe

Reacting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who confirmed that the party was grappling with an internal crisis, revealed that reconciliation efforts were ongoing. Ologunagba explained, “Human organisation is not in a straitjacket. Some dynamics happen. As a party, we believe that even if we have issues before the election, we must continue to accommodate each other.”

He continued, “There are issues, but reconciliation is ongoing. As I always say, there are issues even in a family setting. There are issues in the PDP, but reconciliation in a human organisation like our party is constant because every step cannot meet the taste of everyone at the same time. So, reconciliation is ongoing.

“On a final note, I want to remind you that this party relies on its constitution, and we will obey it to the letter. I can tell you that this party is focused. We will lead the charge to sustain this democracy to ensure that we have a true federal system where fairness and equity, human resources, and management of the affairs of the nation exist; that is our vision. People come to parties and go. The PDP will remain strong and united to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, one of the most notable outcomes from the 98th NEC gathering, which holds potential advantages for the PDP, is the establishment of committees focused on reconciliation, disciplinary actions, and constitutional amendments.

At the meeting, the NEC designated former Senate President, Abubakar Saraki, as the head of the Reconciliation Committee, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udoh Emmanuel, as the chair of the Disciplinary Committee, and the PDP Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, as the leader of the Constitution Amendment Committee.

Political pundits commended the NEC for these appointments, emphasising that while reconciliation and disciplining of errant leaders were crucial for promoting party supremacy, amending the party’s constitution could prevent the recurrence of many crises plaguing the party.

As a result, political observers hold the view that individuals appointed to these committees by the party, along with the approach they take in carrying out their duties, will dictate whether the party achieves the peace it desires or continues to struggle with crises that could lead to its downfall or extinction.

The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Government of Nigeria received an additional N3.8 trillion in Ways and Means Borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria in the last six months of 2023.

According to Nairametrics, this is the provisional data published in the latest Statistics bulletin for the fourth quarter of 2023, which the central bank recently released.

The CBN’s provision data showed that the total figure rose from N4.4 trillion at the end of June 2023, meaning that the cumulative Ways and Means balances due by the government now stand at N8.2 trillion as of December 2023.

The figure contradicts claims by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, that Tinubu’s government has yet to borrow from CBN.

Edun said this when he spoke with journalists at the recently held Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC, United States.

Meanwhile, the Total Ways and Means balance as of May 2023, when the Tinubu administration took over, was N26.95 trillion.

However, the balances were securitized as part of the federal government’s domestic debt profile.

Further analysis showed that at the end of June 2023, it was N4.36 trillion, indicating that the prior month’s balances may have been moved to the Debt Management Office, the custodial of the country’s debt record.

However, from July 2023, the balances increased monthly to N4.5 trillion in July, then N5.1 trillion in August, crossing the N5.1 trillion mark for the first time.

By September, the total was N6.4 trillion, representing the largest monthly additional borrowing with about N1.3 trillion.

It climbed to N7.2 trillion in October before rising marginally to N7.6 trillion in November.

At the end of the year, in December, the total hit N8.21 trillion, suggesting that Ways and Means increased by 88 per cent in 6 months.

The opposition Labour Party, LP, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, expressed shock over how the United States 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices arrived at its conclusion that the 2023 polls reflected the will of Nigerians, despite widespread irregularities.

However, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Presidency hailed the report but said the party did not need external validation of its victories at the polls. 

The report published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, US Department of State, highlighted human rights practices and violations in different countries, including Nigeria. 

It said the last general elections in Nigeria reflected the will of the populace, despite widespread irregularities. 

Picking holes in the conclusion, LP and PDP said they are committed to deepening democracy in Nigeria and averting a one-party state.

The report stated that supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, suppressed votes in Igbo-dominated areas during the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos.

“National elections were widely reported to have reflected the will of voters, despite technical and logistical difficulties, and some irregularities.

“Many independent observers who assessed the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters despite reports of voter suppression and vote-buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation. 

“During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, won in the February 25 national election.

“Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo (LGA in Lagos) threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi.

“In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin.

“According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks,’’ the report read.

It said there was no evidence that individuals who perpetrated violence in Lagos during the election were arrested or prosecuted.

The report also stated that the Nigerian government has not “consistently” implemented anti-corruption laws.

It said there was “widespread” corruption across the country, including the judiciary.

“In August, President Tinubu appointed former Governor Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget, despite Bagudu’s widely reported history of helping then-President Sani Abacha steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the government in the 1990s,’’ the report stated.

However, the two main opposition political parties, the PDP and the LP, in reaction to the report, restated their commitment to the development of democracy in Nigeria, despite its shortcomings.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in a telephone chat with newsmen said: “I am yet to read the report but one thing we, as a party, can assure Nigerians is that we remain committed to the advancement of democracy in our country.

“We are also committed to ensuring that our country does not become a one-party state or slide into dictatorship.”

Speaking in a similar vein, his counterpart in the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said: “With all said and done, we take solace in the fact that the report was fair enough to admit that there were irregularities, including but not limited to vote buying, ballot box snatching, intimidation and physical attacks on our party supporters, especially in Lagos.

“The report was magnanimous enough to note that supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, suppressed votes in areas dominated by our supporters during the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos.

“To say the outcome of such an election reflects the majority view of Nigerians is left for the people to judge. Our commitment to the development of democracy in Nigeria remains unshakable.”

On its part, the ruling APC said while it welcomed the report, it does not need any external validation in that regard.

Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru, told Vanguard that the party had since moved on, concentrating on developing Nigeria’s electoral democracy.

He said: “It (report) is a welcome development but I want to restate that we do not need any external validation on the outcome of the 2023 general election.

‘’That election, as far as the party is concerned and as far as the people of Nigeria are concerned, is now behind us and we are looking forward to the 2027 general election.

“All the infrastructure of government at all levels, whether it is at the federal, state, local government or ward level, are already in place. Our councillors, National Assembly members and governors have been elected and are in place.
‘’Where there are issues arising from that election, those elections have been contested at the courts and we know that the courts have heard and given their well-considered ruling. So, we have gone beyond that.

“We also believe improvement, development and change are constant things and then as a government, we will continue to encourage and fund INEC in a way that empowers them to be able to further improve the electoral process in Nigeria.

“As we continue to march on the path of democracy, we hope to continue to conduct elections that would reflect the will of Nigerians.

“So, in a nutshell, as much as this is welcome, we do not need any external validation. Elections have been conducted and those elected have assumed offices and where there are disputes, they were taken to courts and the issues have been resolved.”

Speaking in like manner, the Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said INEC “conducted a free and fair election.’’

He noted that there is nowhere in the world the electoral umpire conducted a 100 per cent error-free election.

His words: “INEC conducted a free and fair election. We don’t need any foreign country to validate or make our election free and fair.

“The report doesn’t require any validation. As far as we are concerned, it was a free and fair election. We (the All Progressives Congress) won the election.”

The presidential aide also debunked the allegation of voter suppression in Lagos State.

The federal government has directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to conduct a thorough audit of all domestic airlines operating in the country.

This was made known on Thursday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who emphasized the need to ensure the safety of passengers.

Fortunately, no casualty was recorded in the incident, which happened on Tuesday, 23rd April.

Against the backdrop of the incident, Keyamo said during an appearance on Channels TV that in addition to suspending Dana Airlines and conducting an audit of the airline, all other airlines in the country will undergo audits to ensure the safety of passengers and the sustainability of the civil aviation sector.

FAAN Reopens Lagos Airport Runway After Dana Air Incident

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially declared the reopening of runway 18L/36R at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

Naija News understands that the runway was temporarily closed earlier on Tuesday following a Dana Air plane skidding off it.

A press release signed by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, on Wednesday, stated that the runway is now safe for operation following a joint inspection by the FAAN Operations Division and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

FAAN also recognized the need for extensive cleaning efforts in the muddy area affected by the overshoot to ensure safety is restored.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has expressed his concern about the growing prevalence of ethnic and religious prejudices in Nigerian universities, especially in the northern region of the country.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Kukah alleged that most universities in the North have refused to allow the Christian community to establish worship centres on the school premises. 

Bishop Kukah also criticized the diminishing diversity and merit-based practices in academic institutions in the region. 

He said: “A mosque was constructed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I delivered a convocation lecture in Calabar three weeks ago. After my lecture, the Chief Imam of the University came to congratulate me.

“But as I speak to you, Usman Dan Fodio, who is over 40 years old, Bayero University, and other universities in Northern Nigeria have decided to close their doors to the possibility of churches being built in the universities across this country.

“All this fanaticism we are seeing is expressed in public life. If students in the university or at the point of their growing up are not allowed to integrate and interrelate, and if churches or mosques cannot be built across this country, then there is a problem.”

The Catholic Bishop emphasized that diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities are on the decline, with ethnic and religious factors taking on a more prominent role.

“There was a time when Ahmadu Bello University had lecturers from different parts of the world. Now, look at what has happened to our universities across Nigeria. Our universities have become just mere incubators of ethnic jingoism.

“So, I do not know which funded Federal University that you will name that has a Vice Chancellor that is not a local boy.

“So the universities themselves have become playgrounds for the ambitions of the local elite. The question is, why should a place of worship be a problem for a university? Whether it is for the Muslim students in Calabar or the Christian students in Sokoto. 

“I approached the Minister of Education about this. I have a letter from the Nigerian University Commission. The universities in northern Nigeria have refused to implement this recommendation,” Bishop Kukah said.