As the leadership tussle between many factions in the Labour Party, LP, in Cross River State persists, the defection of Brian Odey, the lawmaker representing Yala state constituency 1 in the House of Assembly is yet another serious blow that has been dealt on the beleaguered party.

Over the weekend, the leadership of the state ruling party, APC, formally received Brian Odey and other defectors in a grand event.

Odey joined the APC in Yahe Ward of Yala LGA.

Both factions led by Ogar Osim and John Ushie, told the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission, CROSIEC, that they are ready to field candidates for upcoming Council elections on October 25, 2024.

Another lawmaker who was also welcomed to the APC is Martins Achadu, he represents Yala 2 State Constituency and officially defected to the APC in the Ijiraga ward.

Receiving them, Speaker of the Assembly, Elvert Ayambem described their move as a strategic decision for the APC, describing both as experienced lawmakers and passionate for their constituencies.

“Brian’s arrival is not only a personal joy for me, but it is also a victory for the APC. His dedication and commitment to his constituents will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and success of our party,” the Speaker remarked.

The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is not discussing debt forgiveness with China, noting that Beijing is willing to lend Nigeria more money and invest more in the economy of Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, stated this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

Nigeria has been making proposals for debt forgiveness at the United Nations General Assembly for some years now but this hasn’t been achieved.

At the recent 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, pushed for reform of the international financial system to include “comprehensive debt relief measures, to enable sustainable financing for development”.

Asked whether any of the multilateral or bilateral loans obtained by Nigeria was cancelled at this year’s UNGA, the foreign minister said, “Under President Obasanjo, we benefited from debt forgiveness. It’s a process; it’s not just an event, it takes time but you have to be there, you have to be present, and then these things happen, they don’t happen overnight.

“The effect that we felt the last time we had debt forgiveness did not just happen with one UNGA.”

According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria’s external debt stock as of March 2024 was N56trn ($42bn) while domestic debt stood at N65trn ($46.29).

China is one of the lenders of Nigeria. Asked whether Nigeria is in talks with Beijing for debt relief considering that Tinubu met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping of late, the minister said that was not the case.

Tuggar said, “No, that is not what we are discussing with China. And when it comes to the issue of debt, look at the debt-to-GDP ratio of Nigeria, we are not even among the critically indebted nations.

“When you talk about the debt of a developing country, Nigeria is not in that sort of precarious situation. As a matter of fact, China is prepared to lend more, China is prepared to invest more in Nigeria in terms of infrastructure development and other things.”

The minister also said Nigeria would join BRICS+, a nine-member economic and political force, at the right time.

As of December 2004, Nigeria owed a total of $36bn (which amounted to N4.8trn at the exchange rate of N134/$1). $30.84bn of the country’s external debt at the time was borrowed from the Paris Club, alongside other bilateral and multilateral facilities.

The Paris Club is an official group of money lenders formed in 1956 with headquarters in Paris, France. Nigeria borrowed funds for developmental projects from members of the group such as the UK, US, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands and eight other countries. Some of the funds borrowed were long before Obasanjo’s administration.

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s debt relief campaign in 2005 saw the Paris Club grant Nigeria a debt relief of $18bn out of the $30.8bn outstanding. As an exit strategy, Nigeria paid Paris Club creditors $12.4bn which represented $6.3bn regularisation of arrears and a balance of $6.1bn.

Former Edo State governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has criticized incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, labeling his tenure as a failure and asserting that there is nothing in Obaseki’s eight years in office to justify support for the candidate he endorsed in the just concluded gubernatorial election.

In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Oshiomhole expressed skepticism regarding Obaseki’s influence on the electorate, stating that the governor had effectively “burned his bridges” with those who once supported him.

This breakdown in relationships, he claimed, has left Obaseki as a “lonely man” in politics, isolated from the very constituents he needs to rally behind his chosen successor.

The Senator said, “God knows that Obaseki misgoverned the state, he defrauded the people, he jailed innocent women, he did a lot of terrible things that any man who has the fear of God will not do to his own people, and he’s proud to say ‘I will crush, I will crush’. Every other minute, he will say ‘I am the Chief Security Officer.’ In the process, he forgot that these powers belong to the people, the sovereignty belongs to the people. They delegate you, they entrust you, believing that you will do good to them.

“Instead, you used the power to threaten, you made promises you never kept, so there was nothing. And even the royal father, he was fighting him. He fought everybody, whether you looked for his trouble, didn’t look for his trouble, for Obaseki, crushing people was [for] himself a way of life. So, we are very happy now that we have consigned him to the dustbin of political history.

“As a person, he is my friend, but as governor, he was a failure,” he added.

Oshiomhole went on to say, “That we defeated Obaseki and Asue Ighodalo should be quite predictable. There was nothing either in Obaseki performance nor Asue’s credentials that would have made them win the elections, and I said that before to this channel that Asue is not electable. Now what are the facts? Obaseki is like the proverbial blind man who in 2016, he rode on my back as an outgoing governor, we crossed the river, and he didn’t allow his leg to touch the water, and so, he didn’t understand what it took to become a governor.

“In 2020, again, there were internal crisis in the APC, Obaseki again had the backing of some elements within the APC, and of course, the very Wike that he’s demonising now, Governor Wike, as he then was, left Port-Harcourt to Benin, and the REC they were protesting against, that same REC was in Benin. Again, Obaseki rode on the back of Wike and elements and what became known as PDP Legacy Group, together with some of the elements in APC. They took him to cross the river for the second time without his leg touching water. And so, twice, he was being described as the iron man.

“And so this time around, he has burned all the cables, he has divided the PDP into two, the legacy PDP left him, Wike left him, I left him, his deputy left him, and so he was now a lonely man. And now, he had to cross the river using his own strength, he just found that in the process he got stuck inside the river, which he himself predicted that once he loses the election, he said the election was a do or die. Now Edo people have done it, and he is dead.”

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he would always stand for what is right, but won’t give his liver or kidney to anybody in the name of loyalty.

Governor Fubara made the declaration on Sunday in what is believed to be a direct response to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

It would be recalled that Wike had on Saturday, while speaking at a reception held by the Ijaw Peoples Congress in Rivers State, among other things, said he made Fubara the Governor of the State, but the Governor turned his back against him and others who worked for him after the election.

But speaking on Sunday, at the Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service organized as part of activities marking the 64th Independence Day Celebration of Nigeria at St. Paul’s Cathedral of the Anglican Communion at Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt, Fubara maintained that he belongs to the school of thought that believes in doing the right thing even if they are in the minority.

“As a matter of fact, I belong to that school of thought that if I am the only person that needs to stand on that side of right, I will stand there. I don’t need anybody to stand with me. I cannot give my kidney or liver to anybody, I won’t. If that is the only reason for me to be loyal, I will not be. But, I will not do the wrong thing. I will stand for the side of right,” Fubara said.

Responding to the allegation by Wike that he is behind an attempt to bomb the venue of the grand civic reception by Rivers Ijaw People’s Council, RIVCO, at Rainbow Town, in Port Harcourt on Saturday in his honour, Fubara denied any such responsibility.

The governor maintained that he had never instructed any security agency to do something wrong.

He said, “I make bold to say it, there is no security agency in this State that I have called any day to go and do something wrong. I have never. I don’t have a need for it. But I know what they do, and they keep failing because God has left them.”

The Governor also used the opportunity to highlight some of the projects being executed by his administration while responding to the allegations of not doing anything in Rivers State.

Fubara said he has done more in one year than what Wike did in his eight years as Rivers State Governor.

Mocking Wike, Fubara said the psychiatric wing is included in the General Hospital project because those attacking him would need it soon.

The Governor explained that he signed the contractual sum of N200billion loan papers from Zenith Bank to fund the construction of the 50.15-kilometer dual carriage Port Harcourt Ring Road as project started by his administration, adding that his administration is embarking on the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road project worth N225.1billion, plus the General Hospitals together with the Psychiatric Hospital in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, among others, which nobody can lay claims to at all and that the projects were being funded without borrowing.

“They even say, they don’t know what we are doing. Let me remind them, it is Fubara that signed the paper to borrow from Zenith Bank the N200billion for the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road. So, it is my project. It is Fubara that awarded the Trans-Kalabari Road that they couldn’t do. They did only a bridge from Krakrama, but I am the one doing it: the complete span, and it is N225billion. I didn’t borrow.

“It is this same Fubara that is building a General Hospital, which I also included a Psychiatric Hospital because they will need it very soon. So, tell them that what I did in one year is what they did in 8 years. It is only empty container that makes noise. If God has given you opportunity, eat your plantain and keep quiet. God will continue to give us the strength to do the best for our people, without fear.”

“Very soon, you will see what we are doing. It is not about doing roads to your business interest. I don’t have any business interest. Whatever I am doing, I am doing it for the people of Rivers State. We will not take any decision that we cannot defend. We won’t be part of anything that will bring any form of disgrace to our dear State. This State is important to us. It is the only thing that we have.

“It is the beautiful pride. That is why they are struggling, coupled with the improvement in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) we have done. That is why they are struggling, we know. But, do it with modesty, you don’t need to destroy the house,” he said.

In another veiled dig at Wike, Governor Fubara also insisted that making noise is a sign that such a person has lost relevance.

“God has a reason for allowing the devil or the evil one to stay long. It is not that He can’t take him or take them away but He gives them time to repent. And when they continue, He will come heavily, and then, they would say, it would have been better that they had left when they had time. That will be our story in this State. But, you see, anybody that is making noise for recognition, it is a sign that he has lost it. By the special grace of God, I don’t need introduction. I have the name, and I am the one standing here.”

The Rivers State Governor also insisted that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the ongoing crisis.

“As a matter of fact, I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but I know that there will be election that I am conducting. So, I have to invite you to come and receive prayers. And little did I know, the Bishop gave you the prayers.

“For those of you that are going to participate in the election, please, I want the election to be peaceful, very important. When you emerge, our major concern is the people. Care for the people. We have taken Rivers State into a different driveway,” he said.

China-Nigeria trade relations has hit $22.5 billion in 2023, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai has disclosed.

This is as the Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas said the National Assembly would deploy the necessary legislative framework to support the implementation of China-Nigeria agreements.

China-Nigeria recently signed 13 new agreements during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to China.

The duo spoke at the weekend during the reception in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Dunhai said: “In 2023, bilateral trade between our two countries reached $22.5 billion. Our practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results in areas such as infrastructure, investment, trade, agriculture and green economy, covering projects for the aviation, on the land and in the sea.

“The projects have brought tangible benefits to both Chinese and Nigerian people, and provided concrete support for Nigeria’s social and economic development.”

The envoy stressed that “Nigeria remains China’s largest project contracting market, the second largest export market, third largest trading partner, and a major investment destination in Africa.”

He added that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, both countries have been enjoying a long-standing friendship, with strengthened high-level engagements, consolidated political mutual trust, deepened people-to-people exchanges, and fruitful outcomes of practical cooperation.

On his part, Speaker Abass assured the Chinese envoy that the National Assembly would put in place necessary laws to ensure the implementation of the agreements. 

He said: “The National Assembly would deploy the necessary legislative framework to support the implementation of these agreements.”

The Speaker also revealed that the House of Representatives would be engaging with its Chinese counterpart as part of the efforts to explore more opportunities.

He said: “I am pleased to announce that the House of Representatives will be actively engaging through our China-Nigeria Parliamentary Friendship Group. 

“This initiative aims to explore various areas for collaboration and cooperation, focusing on sectors such as trade, technology transfer, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange.

“By learning from China’s experience in leveraging its legislature for national advancement, we can better position ourselves to address the challenges facing our own country.

“As we look forward to future endeavors together, let us reaffirm our commitment to enhancing cooperation between Nigeria and China. It is imperative that we work hand-in-hand to address common challenges while seizing opportunities for growth that benefit both nations.”

The Speaker also explained that the recent agreements reached during this forum with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signify a renewed commitment to strengthening our bilateral ties.

“These agreements will pave the way for further investments in critical areas such as energy production and technology transfer—areas that are vital for Nigeria’s sustainable development.

“The National Assembly would deploy the necessary legislative framework to support the implementation of these agreements.”

He also added: “The National People’s Congress (NPC) has demonstrated how a robust legislative framework can serve as an instrument for national development.

“By fostering a collaborative relationship with this esteemed body, we can exchange ideas and best practices that will enhance our own legislative processes.

“The success story of China is not merely one of economic prowess; it is also a testament to the power of effective governance and legislative action in driving national progress.”

The various changes in government policies have continued to tell on Nigerians especially the recent increase in fuel pump prices across the country.

This year alone, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has adjusted petrol pump prices upwards twice from N617 to N855, N950 in Lagos state (depending on the fuel station) and above N1,000 in other states within two weeks in September.

Despite these changes, which have tremendously affected market prices and the cost of transportation, Nigerians have devised various means of survival.

But the recent increase has not gone down well with some Nigerian workers’ Economy& Lifestyle discovered.

This has made them resort to resigning from their jobs or sleeping in their workplace to cut costs as they can no longer meet up with the increased cost of transportation which is digging deep into their salaries.

Mr. Dotun Owoyemi, who works on the Island and receives a five-figure Salary lamented: “I live on the mainland and work on the Island.

“Before now, I spent N800 to and fro my workplace.
“Now, I spend N2,500 to N3,000 daily.

“Those commercial bus drivers are not helping matters at all either.

“A destination of N200 fare, they increased it to N500. That of N100 to N300.

“I earn just a five-figure salary and spend almost half of my monthly salary on transportation alone.
“This is not funny at all. I had to resign from work because this N70,000 minimum wage is not functioning in all private organizations truth be told.

“This fuel price increase pays a few people not salary earners.
“If you visit the market today, you will marvel at the negative effect of this new policy on the prices of goods.

“Many businesses have tagged the cost of fuel to the recent increase in the price of goods and services.
“I am still looking for a job on the mainland that is close to my house and will spend less transport fare compared to my previous workplace.”

Miss. Sandra Douglas said:”I’ve resigned already. I live around Elelonwo in Port Harcourt and was working at King Perekule, GRA. I spent N52,000 for transportation in a month for a job whose salary was not up to N100,000.

“I was working but couldn’t feed myself.”

For Mrs. Dorcas Chukwuma, a midwife who works in Marina, “I worked as a midwife in one of the private hospitals in Marina but resigned recently due to the high cost of transportation.
“I was not the only one in my workplace that resigned.
“There were four of us.

“Living on the mainland and working on the Island is not easy at all, especially now that the cost of transportation has tripled.

“The cost of food and services has also followed.

“I just had to source for another hospital on the mainland where I can work and spend less transport fare instead of spending all my salaries on transportation just to work on the Island.

“It is a pity that the government when introducing policies doesn’t consider the masses.
“This fuel price increase has introduced more poverty in the country.

“We were complaining that people are suffering, now husband’s will no longer go home to their family daily because they have to cut costs, young and old will have to come out of their houses to beg because those relatives giving them can hardly fend for themselves.

“We don’t even know our destination as a country anymore.
“Our government has failed us.”

Apart from resigning from jobs, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, who works in Lekki said he now sleeps in the office during the week and returns home on Fridays to cut transportation costs.
“I work in Lekki and live in Abule Ado. Within two weeks of the increased fuel price, my transportation fare grew from N2,000 a day to N4,000.

“ I don’t receive up to N100,000 salary in a month.

“So I started sleeping in the office on weekdays and going back home on weekends.
“It is so ridiculous because these private companies are also struggling to survive and cannot increase salaries.

“If private companies implement the so-called N70,000 minimum wage, many employees will lose their jobs.
“Except for companies that are resilient to all the effects of these economic policies which I doubt are in existence.”

Despite appeals by some stakeholders and the Federal Government calling for calm, organisers of the October 1 protests against hardship in the country have insisted on going ahead with tomorrow’s action.

Giving reasons, one of the lawyers to the detained August 1 protesters, Mr Deji Adeyanju, yesterday, asserted that the fresh round of protest is on the heels of the Federal Government’s failure to address protesters’ earlier demands.

Speaking with Vanguard, Adeyanju said the government intentionally kept the issues aside, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s promise to engage with protesters had not been fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa Police command will deploy its men today in readiness for the protest, just as Lagos command met with protest organisers and assured them of security.

Also, Lagos State government said the restriction of the action to two designated venues still stands, warning that protesters will not be allowed in other areas to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

Refrain from any acts of violence —FG

Reacting to the planned protest, the Federal Government, yesterday, urged the protesters to sheathe their swords and refrain from acts of violence.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “The Federal Government is appealing to all Nigerians to remain calm and refrain from any acts of violence as Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence anniversary and 25 years of unbroken democracy.

“The government of President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring peace, unity and prosperity for all. It is also important for Nigerians to see opportunity in the various policies of the government, and use it for their betterment.”

‘Why we’ll protest’

However, Adeyanju said there is no going back on the protest because: “the issues from the August 1 nationwide peaceful protest have not been addressed, citizens have the right to protest.

“Irrespective of insinuations of government, arraignment of protesters, intimidation, and attempts to criminalize protest, citizens have insisted and expressed their rights that they must protest. It is a constitutionally guaranteed right that cannot be derogated in any circumstances.

‘’I believe that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that citizens enjoy constitutionally guaranteed rights, and all must protect their rights.

“They are hitting the streets on October 1 because the protesters’ demands have not been met. Not one has been met, and even the promise by the President that ‘please shelve the protest I am going to engage with you’; none and nothing has happened. The President has refused to engage, which means that the President really takes the people for granted.”

Nigerians have made up their minds

He also said the protest would hold as planned by the organisers because “even under the military, people were allowed to protest. The police are aware of the protest, and the organisers of the ‘Take it Back Movement’ have written to the police in Lagos, Abuja, Oyo and other parts of the country. The protest is nationwide.”

Recalling that security agents during the August 1 protest arrested and remanded peaceful protesters and might repeat the actions during the October 1 protest, he said the protesters are not deterred.

“That would be the intention of government anyway but I can tell you that would not deter citizens at all in exercising their franchise. And this is an opportunity to call on citizens to blaze the trail and ensure that their rights are enforced during this October 1 protest.’’

Police need to protect protesters

Adeyanju also said the Police Act mandated the police to protect protesters exercising their guaranteed constitutional rights, of which protest is one.

“In fact, the police had tried to say they were inviting the protesters for a meeting but the protesters had declined; the protesters had offered a zoom meeting, which the police did not oblige.”

On the days the protest will last, he said it was only the organisers who could decide how many days the protest will last, and he added that as soon the protest commences, the organisers will give details of activities.

We’re working aggressively to release all protesters

On the issue of protesters still in prison custody and yet to be arraigned, he said: “Many have been granted bail in Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, and other places across the country but so many more are still in custody. We are working aggressively to ensure that they are all released.”

He added that they will be in court today because “they said they have plans to arraign more protesters that were arrested and not released. We are optimistic that they will keep to their words and arraign them.”

Bail requirements are hard for protesters

However, Adeyanju explained that meeting the N100 million condition for 10 protesters recently granted bail was not the issue but landed property requested by the court.

“No, it is not payment of monetary sum or whatsoever, the hardest part of meeting that condition was just the issue around landed property.

“We have put in an application for variation, we have met some of the demands for some of the protesters. Three protesters that could not meet the demands we have put in an application for variation and that application is coming up on Friday, October 4, 2024”, he said.

On the condition of protesters in prison custody, the human rights activist said: “They have largely been incarcerated from their loved ones and it is definitely not a palatable one but it shows that the government is tyrannical in nature, and the government can do better.”

NBA’s efforts led to the release of protesters

Speaking on the efforts of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to release protesters in prison custody, he asserted: “The NBA is doing a lot, even at the last adjourned date the NBA was in court on behalf of the protesters. We have been to Kano, we have done interventions in Sokoto, Lagos and other parts of the country.”

Need for diplomatic community intervention

He lamented that so far, there had been “no foreign intervention on this matter. The diplomatic community has been quiet over the issue, and this is not comfortable. That is why we have called on the diplomatic community and development partners of the country to lend their voice to ensure that freedoms are exercised and citizens’ rights are not unnecessarily suppressed in the country.”

Give FG more time to fix economy — Kogi Police

In Kogi State, the Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, appealed to protest organisers to sheathe their swords and give more time to President Tinubu to address challenges facing the country.

In a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Anya, the CP, shortly after the organisers visited the command, appealed to them to be patient and give the Federal Government some time to fix the economy and other related demands.

The statement read: “Given the October 1 planned nationwide protest, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State police Command, CP Bethrand Onuoha engaged with the executives of “Take It Back Movement” Kogi State chapter at the command headquarters, Lokoja.

“The CP advised the group to reconsider their planned protest and give the government more time to fix the economy of our dear Nation.

“He further stated that he called for the engagement meeting in response to their letter received on Friday, September 27, 2024.

“Leader of the group assured the CP that as enlightened and law-abiding youths in Kogi State, they accept his advice as a father and promised to remain committed to the peace, progress, and development of the state.

“Present at the meeting were DCP Chike Nwabuwa, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations and his Assistant, ACP Aigbe Aghahowa, SP William Ovye Aya, PPRO, SP Emmanuel Abogonye, 2-I-C SID/OC Monitoring Unit, DSP Christopher Okoebor, PA to CP, while members of the Group include Moses Opeyemi, Coordinator, Oloruntoba Segun, Muhammed Abdul, Ande Joel, Michael John, Musa Matthew, Usman Alfa, Mohammed Usman Ahmed, Ibrahim Shaibu, and Adama Shaibu.”

Lagos CP meets protest organizers

In Lagos, the Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, met with the protest organizers in his office at the state headquarters, Ikeja, and assured them that arrangements had been perfected with sister security agencies to provide maximum security for them and other Lagosians. He urged them to remain peaceful and law-abiding in all their actions.

CP Ishola also ordered the immediate deployment of human and operational resources across strategic locations in the state, charging the deployed officers to be professional, and civil but firm.

The protest organizers, on their part, gave assurances that they and their followers would be peaceful and law-abiding during the exercise.

In attendance at the meeting were Dabiradura Adeyinka, Alex Omotehinse, I. Tobiloba, Lawal Adewale, Adewale Ojo, Declan I., Funmi Jolade Ajayi, Akintunde Adedeji, Balogun Hameed, Aghedo Stephen, Edafe Oghenebrume, H.O.T. Duro, Isaac Obasi, Soweto, Oloye Adeniji, Aishat Omolara, Barristers Chuks Nwobi, Emmanuel Ajide., Femi Akinyemi (Falana & Falana Chambers) and Comrade Oguntunji.

We are ready for the October 1 protest —Lagos organizers

Rising from the meeting, the organisers said the protest procession will be from Ikeja to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota.

Coordinator of the movement, Mr Hassan Taiwo, aka Soweto, who is also the National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign, ERC, said: “We are ready for the October 1 protest in Lagos. As you are already aware, the #EndBadGovernance movement has declared Tuesday October 1, 2024, as a ‘National Day of Survival’ to protest the condition of hunger and hardship precipitated by Tinubu’s anti-poor and neo-liberal capitalist policies.

“Here in Lagos, the movement has also announced Ikeja Under-bridge as the take-off point and the time is 7:30am. As a movement, we wholeheartedly believe in the unity of all fighting forces as a prerequisite for a successful struggle.

“October 1, a ‘National Day of Survival.’, is a day for the Nigerian people to come together at barricades across the country to reflect on the journey of nationhood so far and make a decision on how to rescue our country from the condition of mass poverty amid abundance.

‘’Here in Lagos, our peaceful protest march will take place as follows: Take off point is Ikeja Under-bridge. From there, we shall march around several roads and streets of Lagos to sensitize the long-suffering people of Lagos.

“By this announcement, we are informing the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State of our planned October action. We are also by this means, informing the Police of their obligation under Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 which imposes a duty on the Nigeria Police Force to provide adequate security for citizens who may wish to participate in public meetings, rallies and protests.

“We hereby call on the Nigerian people, progressive organisations, community groups, trade unions, students unions, youth groups to come out massively on October 1 in peaceful protest and demonstration.

‘’The October 1 action is an urgent cry to the Tinubu administration to address our demands immediately. Unless our demands are met, more protests will follow the ‘National Day of Survival.’’

Demands

Some of the group’s demands include rejection of IMF neo-liberal policies; reversal of hike in fuel price and electricity tariff back to pre-May 29, 2023 levels, making government-owned refineries work to guarantee affordable fuel products, reducing food prices, supporting farmers to ensure sustainable food production, ending insecurity, banditry, terrorism and violent crimes, prosecuting culprits and their sponsors.

Others are a robust security architecture and adequate support for soldiers at the front and their families, release of Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande and all #EndBadGovernance protesters, activists, journalists, whistle-blowers and other victims of state repression unconditionally, implement N70,000 New National Minimum wage at all levels, and reduce the cost of governance.

Other coordinators of the protest are Francis Nwapa, National Secretary, Youth Rights Campaign, YRC; Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji, Chairman, Movement for Fundamental Change, MFC; Abiodun Aremu, Secretary, Joint Action Front, JAF; and Mr Wale Balogun, National Coordinator, Yoruba Revolutionary Movement, YOREM.

Restriction of protests to two designated venues stands – LASG

Meanwhile, Lagos State government has advised organisers of the protest not to disrupt the social and economic activities in the state during the protest, saying the directives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Commissioner of Police for maintenance and securing of public safety and public order during the protest stands.

The state government also said a Lagos High Court order which restricted the protest to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state is still binding.

Responding to questions by some journalists on the issue, yesterday, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu is not opposed to any group of residents expressing their view about any government by way of public protest, but insisted that such expression must be done within the confines of the law.

Pedro stated that a Lagos High Court had restricted the protest in the state to Freedom and Peace Parks in the state and urged the protesters to respect the court order by confining themselves to the two venues.

He said: “We have and shall continue to engage the civil societies and NGOs in Lagos who are genuinely interested in the development of Lagos State to explain and enlighten them that the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is not opposed to any group of residents to express their view about any government by way of public protest as it is their fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria 1999.

“However the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, association and assembly is not absolute and by virtue of Section 45, Section 215 (4) of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and section 4 & 10(2) of the Police Act, it is lawful for the Governor of Lagos State or the Attorney General of Lagos on his behalf to give the Commissioner of Police of Lagos State directive for maintenance and securing of public safety and public order that may impact on the exercise of these fundamental rights.”

Pedro insisted that the state government would not permit any street protest that could be hijacked by criminal elements whose agenda is destruction of government or other residents’ properties.

“In that respect, we advise that the organisers should utilise the designated venues in the state for public protest to wit; Freedom Park and Peace Park for adequate protection and coverage of the protest by members of the press.

“It is the same set or group of people that organised the last protest that are planning the October 1 protest, so they should be guided by the interim preservative order of injunction of court restricting public protest in the State to designated venues for the purpose.

“More so, a substantive action is pending in court against them wherein an order of interlocutory and perpetual injunction are being sought to permanently restrict any person or group of persons that wish to organise public protest in Lagos State to do so at designated venues.

“It is settled principle of law that a defendant who is aware of a pending claim or application for injunction against him in a court of law, has an obligation to respect the court process and not engage in the same act sought to be restrained.

“Therefore, whether the interim preservative order is subsisting or not, by the subsisting suit, it will be unlawful for anybody, civil society or NGO in Lagos to convene any public protest outside the designated venue. They should use the designated venues for their protest so that adequate security protection and traffic management can be provided for them to exercise their recognised fundamental right to freedom of speech, association and assembly without fear of the protest being hijacked and turned violence as experienced during the #EndSARS protest.

“The last End bad governance protest in Lagos was violence-free and successful because it was held in designated venues for public protest in the state.”

Jigawa Police deploy men today

In Jigawa State, the Police said they werr ready to provide adequate security for residents of the state.
Towards this end, the command said it would be deploying its men to protect all critical national assets in the state.

Jigawa State was one of the states that witnessed massive destruction of public and private properties during the August 1-10 #EndBadGovernance protest.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, in an interview, yesterday, said though no group had approached it in respect of the protest, the police would not be leaving anything to chance.

“So far, we do not have any group that has approached us in respect of the planned protest, we have been monitoring the development around the state.

‘’In-fact, we will begin to deploy our men to all critical assets around the state. Apart from that, we have initiated dialogue with some critical groups such as the labour unions and they have assured us that they are not planning any protest in the state.”

No public interest yet in Katsina

In Katsina State, no group has publicly expressed interest in participating in the October 1 protest. It was also learned that those who participated in the last protest are still facing legal proceedings.
Efforts to contact Kabiru Yandaki, the leader of the “Struggle for Good Governance” protest, were unsuccessful. His associates also couldn’t be reached for comments.

When contacted, spokesperson, Katsina Police Command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, confirmed the development. He said the command is yet to receive any official notification about a protest and has not been contacted by any group planning to participate in the October 1 protest. Nevertheless, ASP Sadiq said the Command has made all necessary arrangements, including adequate deployment of personnel’ to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order during the protest.

Don’t join any protest, NAUS tells varsity students

Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Association of University Students, NAUS, has said that students in the nation’s universities will not participate in the October 1 protest

To this end, the body has called on the students to stay away from any form of protest instigated by any individual or groups on Independence Day.

NAUS,at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, said that it was making arrangements to engage in dialogue with relevant authorities to protect the interest of students.

NAUS National President, Mr Josiah Oche Peter, urged NNPCL to take proactive steps to ensure all filling stations sell PMS at a uniform price.

The body also charged NNPCL to ensure that the nation’s refineries begin operation.

“We urge all university students to shun all forms of protest, as we will engage in dialogue with relevant authorities to protect NAUS’s interests, except as a last resort if our demands are not met,”he said.

The university students’ body called on the Federal Government to distribute 3,000 Compressed Natural Gas, CNG buses to all institutions to help cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on university students.

Presidential candidate of Nigerian Rescue Movement in 2023, Felix Osakwe, has refuted reports that he called for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation as Petroleum minister.

He denied too that he never advocated removal of Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari.

The clergyman- turned politician, in a statement in Abuja, said there was no truth in the reports, stressing he did not speak to any media platform or their agents. 

The Ukwuani, Delta State-born politician, noted that the President had been on the path of re-engineering the economy, saying but for his reformist agenda, Nigeria would have gone into extinction.

Osakwe said he couldn’t have sought Kyari sack because, to him, the group managing director was a suitable manager of our resources.

Kyari, he said, was doing his best for Niger Delta, a far cry from when youths went on the rampage.

The politician noted security of Petroleum infrastructure in the region was an initiative of the Kyari-led management so, “why would a rational and well-meaning citizen like me call for sack of such a top-notch manager of our resources?

“He is fighting oil thieves  through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited. Tantita has never faltered in the discharge of its duties but has almost brought economic saboteurs to their knees.

“That unfortunate report was a figment of the platforms’ imagination – a miscalculated attempt at causing me embarrassment and public odium.

“I couldn’t have granted such reckless and ill-motivated interview calling on the President to resign his position. I was the first candidate to congratulate Mr. President on his victory on NTA.

“I have worked  with President Tinubu’s administration with goodwill from me and my party. The report was unprofessional, mischievous, dubious, and ethically fraudulent. 

“The story must be pulled down and retracted, else they will meet me in court.” he said.

The former candidate called on Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s administration, maintaining the President was setting the nation on the path of rebirth and recovery.

Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu has said the Federal Government through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund had approved over N350 billion to support dams and expand other facilities across Nigeria.

Bagudu said this while addressing reporters after condoling with former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa on the passing of his mother yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.

“The flooding is a dramatic change. It is a global challenge. We saw what happened in Borno, among other states. If you watch the footages coming from around the world, particularly in Europe, you will see a lot of flooding incidents.

“Climate change is real. Luckily enough, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu recognised it and took proactive steps, ensuring that money was given to states.

“A number of interventions have been approved by the President, in addition to numerous timely releases of Federal Allocation Account (FAC) money.

“The Federal Government allocated N3 billion to each state of the federation to mitigate the effects of flooding.

“Governor Nasiri Idris of Kebbi State has told me that the state has taken possession of its share of the fund.

“The Federal Government had, in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week, approved over N350 billion under the President’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund to support dams and expansion of irrigation facilities,” he said.

Bagudu also said FEC had approved N900 billion for the Kebbi component of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, saying: “It is the single biggest contract awarded under the current administration.”

According to him, there is another approval for the construction of Zaria-Kala-Kala road in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of the state.

The road, Bagudu said, joins other roads, particularly the awarded Melando–Warra in Birnin Yauri, Ngaski Local Government Area of the state.

“Kebbi is blessed. We are lucky that infrastructural projects, among other numerous interventions in agriculture, animal husbandry, hospitals, and schools, will complement the ongoing developmental projects taking place in the state,” he said.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said Nigeria will save N5.4 trillion from fuel subsidy at the end of this year, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of the funding last year when he assumed office.

The governor said it would have been disastrous for Nigeria to pay such a huge amount, if the nation was still operating the fuel subsidy regime against the Federal Government’s budget of N6.7 trillion for the same fiscal year.

Abiodun said this during a special church service commemorating the 64th National Day celebration at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter’s at Ake in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The governor said the money had been channeled to the development of infrastructures across the country.

“The Federal Government, under the amiable leadership of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wasted no time in embarking on some very bold and audacious initiatives aimed at repositioning our economy and saving us from bankruptcy. We must persevere.

“Mr. President removed the subsidy, which, if not curbed, would have cost us N5.4 trillion by the end of 2024.

“We have been busy subsidising our neighbours. These are funds that can be invested in improving our infrastructure and other social services.

“Our budget this year for infrastructure was N6.7 trillion; meanwhile, the subsidy would have consumed N5.4 trillion, if not curbed or checked,” he said.

Abiodun urged fellow Nigerians to engage the government constructively and not join those fanning the ember of discord.

The governor noted that protests would not achieve anything other than looting and vandalism of public properties.

“Let us be resilient, let us continue to pray, let us persevere, and let us hold on to our faith in Almighty God.

“Let us not join those who continue to fan the flames of discord in our land and those who are calling for protests, violence, and civil disobedience, which only leads to vandalism, looting, and destruction of public property.

“Let us engage constructively and work with the government, knowing that this administration is an inclusive one,” he added.