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Ondo 33 LCDAs Created By Late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Stay – Gov Aiyedatiwa

February 19, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has foreclosed the hope of reappointing the 255 former local governments caretaker members earlier sacked by Court order.

The affected caretaker members were hurriedly put together by some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) without the input of Aiyedatiwa while serving as acting governor of the state.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had gone to court to challenge their appointments and the court ruled in their favour.

Some members of the APC loyal to late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of being behind the sack of the caretaker members.

The Governor told them on Monday that government will soon constitute another transition committees for the 18 Local Government Areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas before the coming local government elections in the State.

Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed this during a meeting with the former members of Caretaker Committees of the LGAs and LCDAs at the Governor’s Office in Akure.

The Governor also disclosed that his administration does not have plans to abolish the recently created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

According to the Governor, the creation of the LCDAs is one of the legacies of the late former Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, which must be preserved.

The Governor told the 255 former appointees that the case instituted in court by the opposition party and subsequent court injunction had prevented their inauguration and assumption of office.

The Governor said efforts were being intensified to resolve the court case through a political solution which has been granted by the court.

He added that once the case is finally withdrawn from the court, all the errors made in the composition of the list of the appointees would be corrected and transition committees will be inaugurated.

The Governor urged the former appointees to demonstrate more commitment to the party within their respective local government areas.

“It is important for us to come together as one big family for the progress of the APC and the development of our State,” he said, stressing that there is no division in the party’s leadership.

The State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, echoed the governor’s words of unity in the party, commending the Governor for the interface with the party members.

Mr Olaniyi Gbenga and Mrs. Funke Kumuyi, who spoke on behalf of the former appointees, thanked the Governor the interface and pledged their loyalty and support for his administration.

OPINION: Emefiele A Saint Compared To Akpabio, Edu And Tinubu’s Ministers

The Source

February 19, 2024

By Steve Osuji

EMEFIELE AS SCAPEGOAT:

The Tinubu administration which can be better described as a house of sleaze seems to have created a buffer and a punching bag for its graft-sodden state.

Even our so-called Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has found his voice. He has just revealed to us that former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele’s crimes are so bad that government is unsure what to charge him with. Perhaps there are no crimes afterall.

It gets curiouser. It seems that as the Tinubu government sinks deeper, it loses touch with reality.

How could Akpabio forget that he was part of the failed Buhari administration?

Hear him: Tinubu inherited an economic mess from President Muhammadu Buhari, and Emefiele is to be blamed. The economic situation left by Emefiele was terrible.

Akpabio seems to forget that he was the last minister of Niger Delta Affairs and no notable project was recorded by him for four years. Not in the Ministry, not in NDDC. In fact, NDDC board was not convened under Akpabio’s watch.

If Akpabio has forgotten how he pole-vaulted to APC, we can remind him a bit. EFCC happened upon his humongous loot as governor of Akwa Ibom State. He was about to he detained when he fled to Paris to meet Tinubu who after helping himself to his fill on Akpabio’s loot, took him to London to see President Buhari… he was allowed to join APC and his sins were immediately forgiven. But not before he had agreed to use a chunk of the funds he stole from Akwa Ibom people to bankroll President Buhari’s 2019 reelection. This earned Akpabio the Niger Delta Affairs ministerial slot. It has also kept him in power today as Senate President.

This is Akpabio’s current political history. He forgets he’s the poster boy of corruption of this dispensation, the dark emblem of this lurid age.

SOME BACKGROUND TO THE EMEFIELE STORY: Let us recap the Emefiele story a bit: Between June 10, and December 23, 2O23, a period of over six months, Mr Godwin Emefiele, was in the custody of President Bola Tinubu’s federal government. Emefiele who was governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was virtually abducted from his Ikoyi, Lagos home by the DSS (Department of State Service) and hauled to Abuja. While the DSS kept Emefiele in detention they turned his person and his residences upside-down and inside out for about four months.

They found nothing incriminating against him. The world is still waiting for Nigeria’s supposedly intelligence agency to recant and apologise to Emefiele who they accused of financing terrorism and committing economic crimes. Well, they found a little ‘toy’ gun after tearing down his residences.

Thankfully, the courts threw all these silly allegations out.

Thankfully again, a court recently granted Emefiele N100m in damages against the federal government for violation of his rights.

Apparently not satisfied with the DSS doodling with Emefiele for one month without “expected” results, President Bola Tinubu in July last year, recruited Mr Jim Obazee as so-called Special Financial Investigator even as Emefiele was still held in the cages of the DSS.

Obazee who was fired in 2017 as Executive Secretary of the Financial Regulatory Commission of Nigeria (FRCN) was ostensibly detailed to comb through the Emefiele era at the CBN. Shorn of all the lies about investigating other Government Business Entities (GBEs), Obazee zeroed in on the nine-year stint of Emefiele at the CBN.

Again Obazee seemed not to find anything tangible to nail Emefiele, but like a man on a mission, the so-called investigator started releasing snippets of spurious findings to the media to achieve a propaganda motive of damaging Emefiele and to safe face for a failed investigation.

No official public presentation of the report of the investigation; no review panel, no white paper, yet the Federal Government hastily implemented the so-called report by dismantling the management and board of four money deposit banks: Union, Titan, Polaris and Keystone banks.

OBAZEE: A HATCHET MAN AND HIS DECEITFUL REPORT:

Just like the investigator has a record of doing hatchet jobs in the past, this one too has been described by financial experts as a poor outing. Recall that the same Obazee was used in the past by different presidents to hound former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi and Atedo Peterside of Stanbic-IBTC.

Back to the current report, most of about a dozen issues raised against Emefiele, have come across as lacking in substance, even on the face of it. Let’s consider a few.

First, Obazee reported that President Buhari didn’t approve the Naira redesign policy. But Buhari’s approval was in public domain then and now. In a recent interview with the NTA, November 20, 2023, former President Buhari restated that he approved the naira redesign to ensure his “integrity became unquestionable.” Why would Obazee lie about this open fact? Why should we trust his entire report?

Obazee reported that CBN under Emefiele had 593 foreign accounts in the USA, UK and CHINA. Assuming this to be true, are these accounts operated by Emefiele? What quantum of transactions? By whom? And when? These are simple riddles Obazee ought to have resolved to make his report credible in the eyes of reasonable people. If Emefiele had put as much as a thousand dollars in any of these accounts for personal purposes, surely Obazee would have made a mountain of it.

The report also fingered Emefiele for having a hand in the restructure and sale of some banks. This allegation seems to have died on arrival as the CBN never mentioned this serious malfeasance when it changed the board and management of these banks. CBN only told Nigerians that the action had been taken as a result of some unspecified financial infringements by the affected banks’ officials.

One more example of Obazee’s seeming spurious charges against Emefiele is what is described as “fraudulent economic interventions.” The question here is: how could the restriction of access to forex for 44 products Nigeria can produce be termed fraudulent? Why should Nigeria burn forex importing toothpicks, vegetable oils, tomato puree, and such others? Why should CBN provide forex at official rates for the importation of food in 2023?

This is the policy Obazee describes as “fraudulent”. We all have seen the naira fall like humpty-dumpty since this policy was reversed by this government. It’s a fact that naira has fallen by about 75 percent since Emefiele was illegally yanked off his tenured position as CBN governor.

DSS, SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR AND EFCC:

On October 26, 2023, after over four months of intensive investigation with nothing to nail him with, DSS apparently suffered Emefiele fatigue and handed him over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As a matter of fact, this is the agency meant to investigate the matter in the first place.

The EFCC quickly rushed to the press and then the court with a N9b procurement fraud against Emefiele. This charge was later to be amended to N1.2 billion. Even this case has fizzled out as witnesses have debunked it.

Apparently frustrated that it can’t place its knee on Emefiele’s neck, EFCC has decided to embark on a nine-year scrutiny of CBN’s foreign exchange transactions.

Wow! Daily forex transactions for nine years? That’s some helluva investigation even an expanded CIA economic unit will never be able to carry through in one year!

EFCC only resorted to harassing major manufacturers like Dangote Group, BUA Group and other heavy users of forex to have them submit their records of the last nine years. Of course what we have here is classic example of EVIDENCE HUNTING AFTER A FALSE CHARGE.

It’s remarkable that nearly a dozen charges previously brought against Emefiele by the DSS, EFCC and Special Investigator, including the finagling of N7.2 trillion, all fell flat. Only one charge is in court now, forgery to obtain $6.2m.

IS EMEFIELE A SAINT OR A SMART ALEC?

We wager that he has to be a SAINT. No other Nigerian public official can withstand this level of scrutiny and investigation without a whale of financial malfeasance to put such a person away for life.

Godwin Emefiele indeed deserves a special commendation for rare integrity and honesty in public office. Nine years as governor of the apex bank and subjected to the most vicious investigation yet no of direct “heavy lifting” or personal gains found against him. This column wagers that Godswill Akpabio can not withstand seven minutes of scrutiny by DSS or EFCC. No minister since Buhari’s administration till date can withstand investigation.

And we ask: why is Betta Edu not being tried? Why is Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo not being tried? What about Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Hadi Sirika, Halima Shehu, etc?

This column also insists for the umpteenth time, that Emefiele is being pursued by Tinubu for implementing Buhari’s naira redesign policy which prevented Tinubu from raising cash for massive vote buying. This is Emefiele main crime and nothing more. This is why Tinubu want to jail Emefiele by hook or crook.

Emefiele has undergone untold persecution and witch-hunt as has been suggested in here the past. In that case, when all this is over, and the climate becomes more civilized around here, Emefiele would be put up for beatification.

Osuji, an accomplished Journalist, Columnist, was on the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers. He was, also, Special Adviser, Media to a former Governor of Imo State, The Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha

Nigeria, Brazil Set To Revamp Relations

Ayodele Oni

February 19, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

In an apparent bid to restore relationship between their countries, President Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, and had discussions on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields.

President Tinubu, at the meeting emphasized the strength of Nigeria’s economic potential and influence, saying the country is witnessing a leap forward, despite some short-term reform pains, as his administration is removing all encumbrances to business.

The President further explained that his administration is investing in critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, education, and agriculture to ensure the welfare of Nigerian citizens and to create sustainable economic prosperity for future generations.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngalele quoted Tinubu as saying “We have a very vibrant population of young Nigerians who are trainable, dependable, and should be empowered. The economic potential of Nigeria is enormous. We are ready to break all the walls standing in our way to progress.

“We are ready to fight corruption from top to bottom. We are ready to invest in critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, infrastructure, and others. I have one of the most dedicated teams on agriculture.”

President Tinubu said Nigeria is ready to deepen ties with Brazil, noting that it is a “legacy of what can be done together to change the future for countless millions of our citizens”.

“We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to business. Red tape is being shredded around us.

“There is nothing we will not do to manifest the great potential of our nation. We are fighting corruption from the bottom to the top. We will prevent it, and we will remediate.

“We are very aware of your progressive legacies of social security provision, infrastructure, and reforms in Petrobras. We are in the process of implementing similar reforms in the NNPCL.

“We are focusing on investment in new production and new energy sources. We are investing in research, and we are removing obstacles to further partnerships in all areas of operation. There is opportunity for both companies in partnership.”

While identifying solid mineral exploration, agriculture, education, and healthcare as areas of immediate concern, President Tinubu emphasized that the will of the two leaders to collaborate is firmly established.

“I agree that our countries must now have direct air links. I will form a committee of cabinet members who will work directly with your cabinet ministers, and they will urgently form a joint plan of action for the benefit of our two great countries. We may have missed opportunities in the past, but we now look ahead.

“Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. Let us forget old mistakes. The phenomenal growth achieved by Brazil in agriculture is exemplary.

“We will work with you to mechanize our food production systems to enhance quality and quantity of output. I will work with you to re-energize Nigeria’s relations with Brazil across the board,” the President stated.

On his part, assessing Nigeria’s natural and human resource wealth akin to Brazil’s, President Lula da Silva said Africa’s largest economy and South America’s largest economy have a long and interesting history together.

The Brazilian leader said Nigeria and Brazil once had a trade volume of more than $10 billion in the past, which has now plummeted to $1.6 billion, emphasizing that he is determined to strengthen bilateral relations.

“I am back to try to restore; to reclaim our good relations with Nigeria. I can not imagine that a country of 216 million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations.

“Mr. President, I am 78 years old. You are 71. What keeps me energetic is that I fight for a cause. The cause of my nation and people. A great cause is the elixir of sustained vitality for experienced leaders.

“Nigeria and Brazil need stronger relations from the academic viewpoint; from the cultural viewpoint; from the commercial viewpoint; from the agricultural viewpoint; from the industrial relations viewpoint, and from trade relations viewpoint.

“It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo and vice versa. I can not understand that. We have to sit at a table and find a solution for that.

“In aviation, there are many areas of potential collaboration with our manufacturers who seek to have a greater presence in Africa.

“I only have three more years left of my term, Your Excellency, to do everything I have not done yet. The time is very short. I am in a hurry to make my contributions to improve these relations with Nigeria. To make this happen, we have to put our ministers to work.”

Jigawa To Convert Airport To Cargo Facility, Open Up Economy

The Source

February 19, 2024

By Daniel Maduka

Amidst the biting economic crunch currently challenging Nigeria, the Jjgawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has announced plans to diversify and open up the economy of the State to the global community, through livestock production.

This is even as he has stated that the State-owned Airport will be converted to a Cargo Airport to facilitate a robust business relationship with the outside world.

In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Hajia Zainab Rabo Ringim on Saturday February 17 2024, Governor Namadi said that Jigawa is presently interfacing with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant partners on how to develop and expand the Maigatari Livestock Market to a world class level ,adding that the focus is not just on improving the market ,but on how to take it beyond the shores of the country.

“At the moment, we are trying to make some arrangements on how to upgrade and modernize our abattoirs.

We have many interested entities who are ready to invest in the establishment of Cold Rooms and ,Modern abattoirs .

When that is done we will open up the market to the global community.” Governor Namadi assured.

The Jigawa State Governor expressed confidence that the conversion of the Airport in Dutse the state capital to a Cargo Facility will bolster the state economy ,and bring about a total transformation of other businesses, noting that the ultimate aim is to grow international trade and other business activities.

FG Threatens To Revoke Contract For the Reconstruction PH/Aba Highway, Accuses Chinese Firm Of Arm Twisting Tactics

The Source

February 19, 2024

By Daniel Maduka

For failing to mobilise to site, four clear weeks after a ministerial directives, Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has threatened to revoke the contractual agreement between the Federal Government and Messers China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC in respect of the reconstruction of a section of the PortHarcourt/ Aba Federal highway.

Consequently, the Hon Minister has directed the Federal Director of Works in charge of Rivers state to take steps and issue the construction giant a 14-day Termination Notice, paying due regard to due process.

Engr Umahi also directed that the contract be terminated immediately if the contracting firm fails to fully mobilize to site at the end of the 14-day notice.

It will be recalled that the Minister had, about a month ago, while on an inspection tour of the project site, directed the Chinese Construction giant to go back to site to complete the project.

In a statement signed and issued on Sunday, February 18, 2024, by the Special Adviser to the Minister on media, Bar Orji Uchenna, Umahi lamented that one of the major reasons for the escalation of contract costs in the country is some contractors penchant for delaying project execution.

He noted that some contracting firms are in the habit of staying on a project for years, only to turn around to request for cost variations.

According to the statement ,Engr. Umahi said that the federal government with recourse to due process will terminate all contractual agreements with firms out to delay contract execution in the country,.

The Minister of Works therefore warned contractors to either be committed and sincere in their dealings, or face the wrath of the Federal Government.

Abia Traders Blame Customs For High Cost Of Commodities As Govt Plans To Remodel, Reconstruct Existing Markets

The Source

February 19, 2024

By Daniel Maduka

In its determination to remodel and reconstruct, the over 30 high profile markets across the State to bring them to global best standards, the Abia State Government on Friday February 16, inaugurated the newly appointed members of the Abia State Almagamated Traders Association with a call on them to lead the charge to lift the status of the markets.

The Source reports that the State Commissioner of Information,Prince Okey Kalu had at the end of an Executive Council Meeting three weeks ago announced Government’s plan to remodel and reconstruct most of the State’s markets, most of which were established some 40 years ago.

Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu,the Abia State Commissioner For Trade , Commerce and Investment, while inaugurating the ASAMTA members in Umuahia the State capital enjoined them to partner with the Government in its efforts to create an enabling environment for the thriving of business activities .

Dr Ukaegbu noted that it is the avowed intention of the Abia State government to rehabilitate and transform infrastructural facilities in all parts of the state ,with a view to engendering economic growth and development.

Responding on behalf of the ASAMTA members, the Chairman, Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo while appreciating Governor Alex Otti for finding them worthy to serve, called on the Government to factor in the provisions of some infrastructural facilities such as model schools, fire fighting stations and hospitals at the markets.

Chief Udeigbo who is also at the head of the Interim Management Committee of the State’s largest Market Eziukwu Road Market Aba appealed for the assistance of the State Governor Dr Otti, in drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the negative effects the activities of Customs operatives are having on Abia traders .

The ASMATA Chairman lamented that incessant raids, uncountable check points and other alleged unwholesome activities of men of Customs are at the root of the escalation of prices of essential commodities in not only Abia,but most parts of the Southeast region.

While assuring the State Government of the readiness of the ASMATA leadership and indeed traders in Abia to partner with the authorities in the task of rediscovering and repositing the State ,Chief Udeigbo further appealed for Government’s support and assistance to Small And Medium Scale Enterprises SME ,through the provision of regular power supply and establishment of Micro Finance Banks to provide soft loans to traders and other business operators.

According to him, encouraging traders, and the SMEs with ready and soft loans ,will grow the economy and provide job opportunities ,particularly for the youths,which will in turn impact positively on the security situation in the State.

Other members of the ASMATA were drawn mainly from the leaderships of some the markets across the State.

Edo APC Primary Election: Controversy Over Idahosa’s Victory, Two Aspirants Lay Claim, Ganduje Lauds Uzodinma Committee

Ayodele Oni

February 19, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Saturday’s Primary Election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, is becoming more interesting as two other aspirants are insisting they won the election.

This is coming as the national chairman of the APC Ganduje congratulated Dennis Idahosa for his victory at the election.

Idahosa, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa was declared winner of the shadow election by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state, who is the chairman of the primary election committee, with 40, 448 votes.

Immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, in a swift reaction to the controversial outcome of the primary election, assured his supporters that they won the exercise based on the authentic turnout of party members.

In a statement dated February 17, 2024, entitled: “Edo 2024 APC Primary,”, Agba wrote: “To my good people of Edo state and esteemed members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, I want to thank you for your loyalty and support for my candidature.

“Unfortunately, what we have all witnessed in the APC party primaries in Edo State on Saturday February 17th, 2024 falls below the minimum standard of democratic elections that is universally acceptable.

“I believe strongly that thousands of loyal party members were disenfrachished. Based on the authentic turnout we clinched victory. The result so far announced is a ridicule and undermines the principles of democracy and fair play.

“The votes of the people did not count, the processes of election were compromised and the strength and unity of our party greatly undermined.

“On the eve of the primary election, there was a counter narrative that the Presidency had settled for Edo central and that Senator Monday Okpebholo had been endorsed for the party’s ticket.

The Okpebholo endorsement led to the withdrawal of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu from the race with a directive to his supporters to cast their votes for Senator Okpebholo.

Okpebholo had strongly supported Ize-Iyamu on the two occasions he contested for the gubernatorial election in 2016 and 2020 on the platforms of the PDP and the APC respectively.

But on Saturday, as Okpebholo was reportedly winning the primary election, the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, announced Senator Oshiomhole-endorsed aspirant, Hon Dennis Idahosa as winner of the primary election with 40, 448 votes.

Uzondinma, a political ally of Oshiomhole, announced his version of the result while collation was still going on at the Collation Centre, where the Returning Officer, Dr Stanley Ugboaja, was superintending the process.

Ugboaja, at the end of the collation of results from the 18 local government areas, announced that Senator Okpebholo scored 12,194 votes to emerge winner of the election and to become the APC’s standard bearer in the scheduled September 21, 2024 governorship election.

The national publicity secretary of APC Felix Morka had earlier warned that on Governor Uzodinma has power to announce the result of the election.

“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-Led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorized to undertake final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State.

“We urge all Party members, officials in the State, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorized persons.”

Meanwhile, the national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has congratulated the winner of the Edo state governorship primary election, Hon Dennis Idahosa.

Congratulating Idahosa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, the national chairman urged the party’s flag bearer to carry all aspirants along to deliver the party at the September state governorship election.

Ganduje equally commended Governor Hope Uzodinma’s election committee, noting that its transparency in the conduct of the election was highly commendable.

The chairman then urged all aspirants to put aside their differences now that the primary election is over and join hands with the winner to deliver the party at the election

Ganduje said: “I want to congratulate the winner of the Edo State governorship election, I want to equally commend and appreciate Governor Hope Uzodinma’s election committee for their hard work and the transparent manner in which the primary election was conducted.”

Hardship: Beggars, PLWD Beg Tinubu “We are Hungry, Give Us Palliatives”

Tosin Olatokunbo

February 19, 2024

Persons Living With Disabilities, PLWD, have made a clarion call to the federal and Lagos government to save them from the current hardship.

The Coordinator and Convener of the group Kehinde Oshilaja made the call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu in a statement in Lagos at the weekend, saying they need to be supported too, like other Nigerians who are facing hardship due to the prevailing economic situation in the country.

From the palliatives that government are sharing to citizens, the PLWD said they should also be considered, saying this would go a long way to ameliorate their sufferings.

The governments at the federal and subnational level have been sharing palliatives to groups and other Nigerians as a way of softening the current economic hardship on them, even though not a few Nigerians insist that the palliatives don’t really get to those who need them, as they are hijacked by government officials.

Speaking Oshilaja said some well-meaning Nigerians who would normally assist them could no longer do so due to the hardship in the country.

The government should come to their aide, the PLWD stressing that disabled people are ‘suffering’ and “could no longer eat, even once daily,” due to the current economic downturn.

Oshilaja said: “There is hunger in the land. People living with disability are hungry. We are disappointed, as inflation is biting hard. We are using this medium to appeal to President Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu and Lagos State House of Assembly members to fast track and implement budget proposal for people living with disability. Despite the hunger in the land, no one is willing to help us.”

Catholic Bishops Hit Tinubu: You Have No ‘Compassion’ For Nigerians

Tosin Olatokunbo

February 19, 2024

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for introducing economic policies which are now threatening to ground the country to a halt.

The umbrella body of Catholic Church in the country made its position known on Sunday in Abuja, the nation’s capital during the opening session of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly.

According to the bishops ‘millions of Nigerians have been reduced to a life of grinding poverty,” due to the unfriendly economic policies of the administration.

The bishops are referring to the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira last year, amongst others which not a few Nigerians led to the current hardship in the country.

The President of CBCN, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji said the country is experiencing the worse state of insecurity and economic hardship that have not been experience in Nigeria’s short history.

Taking a holistic look at the administration, Ugorji accused the administration’s officials of living in affluence while many Nigerians are struggling to eat, despite the huge sums of many the government is spending with nothing to show on the part of the masses.

Ugorji said, “If we cast a cursory glance at the present state of our nation, we are inclined to conclude that this seems to be the worst of times for our country in the areas of security and the economy. Despite the huge sums of money appropriated monthly as security votes, our communities have continued to experience persistent insecurity.

“Recently, there has been an upsurge in kidnapping for ransom and increasing incidents of senseless bloodshed across the nation. Unarmed citizens are brutally slaughtered on our highways, in their homes and even in the sacred precincts of places of worship. Killer herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen seem to be on rampage. Many communities across the nation have been taken over completely by criminals. Families have lost their ancestral lands to armed invaders and land-grabbers. The social and economic lives of communities have been paralysed due to insecurity.

“Schools have been shut down, and children can no longer continue their education. Farmers are unable to access their farms out of fear of either losing their lives or being kidnapped. Businesses have closed down. Many displaced families have no sources of livelihood and are daily afflicted by hunger and starvation.

“The reform agenda of the present government has added to the plight of Nigerians. With the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market, there has been a sharp increase in the pump price of petroleum products and a steep decline in the value of the Naira. Indeed, there is a free fall of the national currency. High spiralling inflation has made it difficult for the average Nigerian to access basic commodities, including food items and medication.

“As a result of the government’s reform agenda, millions of Nigerians have been reduced to a life of grinding poverty, wanton suffering, and untold hardship as never before in our national history. In a bid to survive, an increasing number of the poor have resorted to begging. With more than 80 million Nigerians living under the poverty line of less than two dollars a day, our country, according to the recent disclosure of the World Bank, is the world’s second-largest poor population after India.

“While many impoverished Nigerians continue to suffer and die as a result of the hardship caused by the government’s economic reforms, the president has continued to urge the populace to make even more and more sacrifices with the assurance that brighter days lay ahead.

“As the government demands additional sacrifice from the struggling masses, one would expect to see a drastic cut in the cost of running the government at all levels. On the contrary, it is worrisome to watch top government functionaries living by the sweat, toil and tears of the poor. They continue spending huge public funds on ostentatious and luxurious lifestyles and seem incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor.”

Labour Party: What’s Next For Abure, Will He Resign?

Tosin Olatokunbo

February 18, 2024

There is no respite yet for the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP.

This followed the decision, on Sunday, by 36 state chairmen of the party who demanded the resignation from his position to allow investigation into his alleged misappropriation of over N3.5 billion campaign fund.

The magazine reports that the National Treasurer of the party accused Abure last week of misappropriating the sum, and has refused to be accountable.

Some party officials including its presidential candidate in last year’s election, Peter Obi has demanded a thorough probe of the alleged financial scam.

Abure has however defended himself saying he is innocent of the allegation. In spite of this, not a few watching what is going on in the party, insist that the current pressure on the National Chairman may be too much for him to retain his position.

“The fact that Obi has waded into the matter is a pointer that the problem is a serious one which may likely consume Abure. The party prides itself as incorruptible. They would need to show Nigerians that they mean it. What happens to Abure next would determine whether the party is serious,’ a political analyst said on Sunday.

Demanding that Abure gave up his position, the 36 state chairmen stated during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital that this is to allow thorough investigation into the alleged financial scam.

Abure cannot be a judge in his own case, Solomon Ndem, Plateau State labour Party Chairman and the leader of the Forum, said.

According to the forum: “We stand before you with a profound appreciation for the responsiveness of HE Peter G. Obi, a stalwart in our party, for his swift action in response to the call for the external auditing of the LP accounts. This gesture underscores his unwavering commitment to transparency and the principles of the New Nigeria project.

“However, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where we must address certain internal matters for the sake of our party’s integrity in the spirit of openness and accountability as elected Chairmen of Labour Party in Nigeria, we wish to address certain concerns that have come to our attention,” the Forum stressed.

“We are appealing to His Excellency, Peter G. Obi, Senator Ahmed Datti, and other distinguished personalities within the party to join us in requesting Barrister Julius Abure to step aside.

“This step is essential to facilitate the establishment of an independent investigative panel that will thoroughly examine various allegations, including the misappropriation of funds level against him by the Treasurer of our Party and indeed the complaints of forgery and impersonation by a lot of our party aggrieved members.

“It is crucial that no one acts as a judge in his own case, and we believe this measure will ensure a fair and impartial inquiry.”

Meanwhile, the question on the lips of not a few Nigerians is whether Abure will bow to pressure to resign.

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