The growing rivalry between the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, and the All progress Congress APC in the political space of Kano, will on Saturday, February 3 2024 be re-enacted ,as the two dominant political platforms jostle for three House Of Assembly seats in a by- election.
This is just as the Police authorities in the State ,have warned potential trouble makers to steer clear of the re run election venues.
The re-run polls will cut across 66 polling units in the six Local Councils of the State namely – Tsanyawa/ Kunchi, Kura/ GarunMallam,and Tofa/ Rimin Gado .
The ruling NNPP in the State and its rival APC are actively involved in the contest to be conducted by the l Electoral Umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a statement issued and personally signed by the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mohammad Hussaini Gumel, the Command said while it is determined to provid e security in conjunction with other security agencies before ,during and after the re run , warns that it will not tolerate any form of thuggery by any political interest or groups, adding that security personnel have been directed to deal decisively with any acts capable of breaching peace and security in the state.
“Carrying of all manners of weapon during the elections will not be tolerated. Only eligible voters screened by INEC will be allowed to vote.
“No body will be allowed within the voting premises,except those accredited by INEC . There will be rigorous stop and search exercise and patrols in all the Local councils where the re run elections will be held.” CP Gumel stated.
The political acrimony between the NNPP and APC which began during the count down to the 2023 general elections heightened after the rulings of the Election Petitions Tribunal and The Appeal Court which separately nullified the election of NNPP,s Governor Abba Yusuf Kabir, declaring Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the APC as the duly elected Governor of the State instead.
But the Supreme Court’s final and decisive judgment on January 12 2024, restoring Governor Abba’s electoral victory , further raised the ante in the battle of Supremacy between the two, with the Saturday 3 February House of Assembly re-run providing the two parties yet another opportunity to test their strength.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti state is in search of a leader to reposition the party and bring back the warring factions.
Some leaders and stakeholders of the party on Friday converged at the residence of Senator Abiodun Olujimi, in Ado Ekiti, urging her to stand up and rescue the party from descending into political oblivion.
PDP in Ekiti State has been in a State of comatose due to the romance of the leader of the party, Ayo Fayose, with opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC) which has consistently de marketed the party.
Fayose, two term governor on the ticket of PDP, is presently being regarded more as APC member at the state and federal levels.
He once joined other former governors of the state to endorse Governor Biodun Oyebanji for second term, leaving his own party.
Rising from several previous stakeholders’ meeting across the Ekiti State, the party leaders resolved to plead with Senator Abiodun Olujimi to pick up the mantle of leadership and provide the missing link to political success for the party again in Ekiti.
The Representatives of the leaders from across the 16 local governments visited Olujimi and delivered the demand of the party and encouraged her to rise up as the rallying point for Ekiti State PDP.
Speakers at the meeting, which include Dr Omotoso, and Wale Ayeni reiterated the need for clarity of purpose and the preparedness of the party in Ekiti to avoid the impending doom that awaits it, “should we fail to meet up to the exigencies of the moment in positive leadership.”
Also present at the meeting were the Publicity Secretaries of the party both at the state and southwest region, Rapheal Adeyanju and Chief Sanya Atofarati, respectively.
Atofarati emphasized on the need for a rallying point that will galvanize support for the party which he believes Olujimi reserves to capability to deliver, owing to her vast reach within the party hierarchies, not only in Ekiti state, but also across the southwest region, while calling on all other well meaning leaders and stakeholders of the party to support her.
In her response, Olujimi thanked the party leaders reiterating that there is nowhere else to call her own other than PDP and all hands must be on deck to bring PDP back to winnings ways.
She promised to unite the party and work with other leaders to achieve the overall success in subsequent elections.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured the students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo,(RUGIPO) that his administration is aware of its mirage of problems assuring that efforts are underway to resolve some of the major challenges.
The Governor gave the assurance while addressing thousands of the students who halted the Governor’s convoy at the gate of the school on his way to Ikare Akoko.
The students had given the Governor and his entourage a rousing reception, with solidarity songs and urged him to address them.
The Governor, who thanked the students for the warm reception, said he was aware of some of the challenges facing the institution, especially the issues of arrears of salaries and entitlement of teaching and non-teaching staff.
“I want to thank you very much for this reception. When I initially saw the crowd, I thought you wanted to say that we are owing you, but I met something different. You have demonstrated love and solidarity with us.
“I want to assure you that the government knows your problems and the challenges you are facing. I want to tell you that your Union, they know what we are doing and they have been talking about it.
“When I was the Acting Governor, I ensured that the Government offset some of the arrears of workers of the institution by giving the school N850 million. I want to assure you again that in a few days, something will be done to resolve the remaining lingering issues.”
Already, on the directive of the Governor, the Head of Service of the State, Kayode Ogundele, is engaging the management of the institution towards finding lasting solutions to the issues that have threatened to cripple the academic calendar of the institution in recent years.
Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa has forwarded names of new set of political appointees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as Commissioners and Special Advisers.
A statement on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, stated that the nominees for Commissioners are Mrs. Omowumi Isaac; Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, Engr. Razaq Obe; Emmanuel Igbasan; Akinwumi Sowore and Oseni Oyeniyi.
The Governor also appointed the following individuals as Special Advisers: Olugbenga Omole, Information & Strategy; Mrs. Olamide Falana, Gender Affairs and Mr. Alabi Johnson, Energy.
I have since been compiling awards to be bestowed on Rivers State Governor, Siminalaye Fubara. By my calculation, he has won quite a number of them. And just when I thought that “This man don try”, Fubara garners two more.
A kidnapper. A murderer.
They were bestowed on him by a Local Government Chairman (under him), Samuel Nwanosike of Ikwerre Local Government Area, who also publicly called the Governor a foolish man.
It is not that Fubara is the first Governor to be called a kidnapper and a murderer. That “honour” belongs to the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma. But Uzodinma is a survivalist. And, unless
Fubara is as strong- willed as Uzodinma the awards could ruin his political future – assuming he still has one. For, I have since concluded that Fubara will be a one-term Governor. If he survives a first term in office, he will not get the ticket for a second term. His political godfather and nemesis, Nyesom Wike, who controls the two most powerful political parties in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, would rather die than see Fubara have a future in Rivers politics. Sadly for the Governor, Wike’s words are laws in the State.
Unlike Uzodinma who fought his way through, Fubara seems weak, spineless, and too complacent. He is like a trash can. Any rubbish that is thrown at him, he takes in without a whimper. Otherwise, why has he not written to Security Agencies to call in Nwanosike and interrogate him over the allegations the Local Government made against him?
He needs some tutorials from Uzodinma. For, in recent years, only Governor Uzodinma has gone through some of the travails Fubara is going through and survived. Sure, their cases and circumstances are definitely not the same, to an extent. But only an Uzodinma could have pulled throgh that, and finally come out smelling of roses.
A little brief.
When Uzodinma became the Governor after the Supreme Court unexpectedly removed the Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha from office, he waded through a raging fire. An unforgiving, very strong opposition went after him.
He was called all kinds of names. A kidnapper. A murderer. Guy man. Supreme Court Governor. A vulture. A caricature of him would be put out with blood dripping from his eyes and hands. Add those to the brazen lies told about him, and of him. They included, but not limited to: Renaming Imo State University after the late Abba Kyari, late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari; creating Emirates in Imo State, of all States, and appointing Emirs; invoking the prerogative of mercy to release his fellow guy men from prison; giving out hundreds of acres of land to Fulani herdsmen; marrying off scores of Imo young girls to Hausa/Fulani men; arranging for the unprecedented escape of thousands of prisoners from the Owerri Correctional Centre. And more.
But here are the differences between Uzodinma and Fubara. A quiet, smooth operator, not given to “too much talk”, Uzodinma won a number of his most bitter critics over – one by one. Only once did Security Agents go after one of them. After some sessions in Court to enable him prove his false allegations, he was forgiven. A prolific writer, he has since become Uzodinma’s number one supporter in the Media. As have most of those who used the media, conventional and unconventional, print and electronic, to make those serious allegations against the Governor. One by one, they became Uzodinma’s allies and strongest defenders. What they have not done, and I wonder why not, is to offer a public apology to the Governor and Imolites to the effect that the allegations they made against the Governor were fabricated; that they were playing politics; and that it was wrong of them to so defame and libel a man all in the name of politics. Fubara does not seem to have the clout or temperament to win over his adversaries.
Two: Unlike Fubara, Uzodinma had no political godfather breathing down his neck. He had no impeachment rope dangling over his head from the Members of the House of Assembly. Most of them were in the opposition when he was sworn-in as Governor. But within days, and to the shock of their political Parties – Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA – they defected to the Governor’s All Progressives Congress, APC, which, before then, had no member in the House. In Fubara’s case, he lost 27 members of his Party members in the House to the APC.
So, will the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, step forward to receive his awards. The awards are deservedly his. No contest, except for a new Governor who is desperately moving to depose him.
Pursuing Fubara, as we say in our Country, “bumper-to- bumber”, is Usman Ododo, the few-days-old Governor of Kogi State. If you watched Ododo’s disgraceful antics this other day when he was sworn-in, and more of his antics thereafter, your questions will be: “Who cursed this State?” Where were Kogites when this man was voted into office to shame them?”
Here’s why Ododo could depose Fubara.
In the public glare, during his swearing-in ceremony, Ododo knelt down to shake the hands of Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Vice President, a polished guy, but for his, somerimes, acidic tongue, was momentarily embarrassed. But Ododo was not done. From Shettima, he walked up to his predecessor in office, the Emperor himself, Yahaya Bello, and knelt down to also shake his hands. As if that was not enough, in one of the videos which made the rounds, Ododo, with his wife in tow, sprawled full length on the ground before Bello to thank him. His wife did the same. Ododo owes his new office to Bello, not to Kogites. His allegiance is to Bello, not to Kogites or the Constitution. Yet, Ododo was not done. He raised the ante after he was sworn-in.
Within hours, he reappointed Bello’s Cabinet members to his Cabinet, appointed Bello’s cousin, the one who has been having a running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as his Chief of Staff. Then, he left the unprecedented for the last.
To accommodate the very ambitious Emperor Bello, and keep him permanently in the “gravy”, Ododo established the “Office of the Immediate Past Governor of the State.” So, you see. Bello is out, Bello is in.
But forgive me. I have since digressed. I was talking about Fubara. I brought in Ododo to put Fubara on notice that if he does not buckle up, he would lose his awards to Ododo. So, back to Fubara’s awards.
On May 29, 2023, the day he was sworn-in as Governor, he won the award for “Nigeria’s Boy-boy Governor.” He declared himself so in his speech. He said he would do nothing, could do nothing, without the endorsement of his powerful predecessor, his “Oga”, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. He stuck to that.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalaye Fubara.
Proof:
● Fubara, allegedly, left at Wike’s disposal, the State-owned Aircraft while he chattered Private Jets to travel.
The Governor, allegedly, could not go to Abuja without clearance from Wike. He could not attend any meeting of the PDP or PDP Governors. At one public function, Wike asked the Governor not to frequent Abuja for meetings. Wike, thus reduced Fubara to a lonely Governor. Fubara could neither interact with Governors of the PDP, the Party under which Wike installed him Governor, nor that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Party which Wike now works for and favours. Fubara swallowed that and more.
Wike appointed most of his Cabinet members and other staff members, including his Chief of Staff and, allegedly, Chief Security Officer. If Wike sends for Fubara, he does not walk, Fubara jumps and runs both at once, and hollers “Sir” from far off, so Wike does not get upset that Fubara delayed in answering him.
Fubara got his second award- the garagara award- about five months in office when he, surprisingly, foolishly, tried to exhibit some independence from Wike. I say foolishly because he should have waited until after his first term, get a second term, and “shown Wike pepper”. We never quite knew what happened. Or the story behind it. But whatever, he showed some courage when he rallied his loyalists and quashed a would-have-been impeachment by Wike’s loyalists in the House of Assembly. But it was just a little “gragra.” You know, noise from an empty drum. That noise has since earned Governor Fubara two more awards – the most humiliated Governor in Nigeria as well as the most Powerless Governor in the Country.
As you read this, Governor Fubara is just answering a Governor in name. Cleanly forgetting that he does not have any spiritual powers like our Lord, Jesus Christ, to survive a trip to Golgotha, he allowed himself to be led on to the terrifying place. Sitting before President Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock Villa for the big boss to ostensibly make peace between him and Wike, he was literally alone. He sat there lonely, like a cow in its slaughter place. In the midst of those who had little or no sympathy for him, Fubara looked dumb, dull as “dodo” and withdrawn
On that day, Fubara was put down, given 24 lashes on the buttocks like the Headmasters of old gave wayward pupils. It was the day he was stripped of all Gubernatorial powers. Like Zebrudaya of the New Masqurade would put it, Governor Fubara became Mr Powerless Governor. With Wike maintaining an emperor-like dignified silence, Fubara was stripped of all dignity attached to the office of a Governor.
This Governor was asked to go back and re-present the budget which he had already signed. He was asked to withdraw all court cases against the Members of the House. He was told he couldn’t appoint Caretaker Committee Members for Local Government Areas in the State – something, almost, every Governor does. He was asked to work with his nemesis and Wike’s point man, Speaker Martin Amaewhule, a man whose stay in the Assembly remains controversial, having decamped, along with 26 others, to the APC from the PDP. Fubara was ordered to work with the House of Assembly members now strongly opposed to him and his Government. He was asked to go back and re-send, to the House of Assembly, for re-screening, his Cabinet members (appointed by Wike) who voluntarily resigned from office in the heat of his disagreement with Wike because they didn’t want to be seen to be working with him.
Fubara was so desperate to remain a Governor that he said nothing. He made no pim. He simply went back to Porthacourt and began the implementation of Tinubu’s humiliating orders. He couldn’t address a Press conference. He couldn’t make a public statement to tell his story. He couldn’t leak his story to any journalist or media house. He could not resign from office and make history as the first Nigerian Governor who quit office to keep his integrity, his self esteem. His only response is one meaningless song – “I dey my lane, you dey your lane.” What’s that?
Now, Fubara has been tied hands and legs. He has been caged. He can do nothing. His Governnment is in comatose. He can neither move forward nor backward. He is stuck at a place. He is Governor only in name.It will not be out of place to say that Speaker Amaewhule is the Governor of the State. He overrides, so easily, bills not signed by the Governor. He orders the Governor around. He warns the Governor.
This other day, the Speaker warned the Governor about not receiving, with “alacrity” letters from the Assembly sent to him. He warned that the Assembly would stop receiving any communication from the Governor. He warned the Governor against making illegal appointments. Can you imagine any Speaker, when President Bola Tinubu was Lagos State Governor, trying that nonsense? What about Dr Peter Odili as Governor? These were Governors of Governors. Which Speaker would try that with Uzodinma, Wike (as Governor), or Emperor Bello who just left Kogi as Governor?
With the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, Fubara’s Government is going nowhere. Nothing will work. He will be starved of funds. He will re-present the budget. But his budget will not be passed. If he had spent any money based on his earlier presentation, it will be held against him. It will be regarded as an impeachable offence.
Fubara has no political party to defend him. His Party is as powerless as he is. As docile. It does not even have the courage to expel the man who denied its candidate of the 2023 Presidency, and has literally, unbelievably, handed over Rivers State, a core PDP State since 1999, to the APC.
Fubara’s Cabinet is, mostly, made up of those who have no respect for him. When he says A, they say Z. A couple of days after they were sworn-in again as “his” Commissioners, they pointedly told him he was not their boss. They were conspicuously absent at Fubara’s Thanksgiving Service to celebrate his Governorship victory at the Supreme Court. It meant nothing to them. They are not answerable to him. Wike is their boss. Fubara can neither suspend, nor fire any of them. If he tries it, his own job would be on the line.
The Local Government Chairmen have no respect for him. He has no powers over them. Otherwise, why would Nwanosike, Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, call Governor Fubara a kidnapper? He accused the Governor of orchestrating the incessant kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory. He said Fubara “is part of those supporting the kidnapping in Abuja because he wants Nyesom Wike out of office. Nyesom Wike will not leave office. Foul!” He capped it with: “Fubara is a foolish man.”
And Fubara’s situation gets worse everyday. His Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, has been declared wanted by the Police. A Federal High Court has issued a warrant of arrest against him. On Friday, the Police, in a Special Police Gazette Buletin, flaunted Ehie’s photograph, along with five others, in a national newspaper, full page advert, as a wanted man. They are accused of kidnapping, murder of a Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim, DPO Ahoada Police Division, and five Police informants. They are, also, accused of terrorism, attempted murder, and arson. About five others, dubbed Fubara’s loyalists, are already in custody. The only reason Fubara is not locked up too, or declared wanted, is his immunity as a Governor. The day he leaves office, he will have questions to answer.
And Fubara does nothing. Says nothing. He is helpless. As helpless as most Politicians in Rivers State. What hold does Wike have on them all? It must be strong, so strong they all suddenly became dumb! Nobody can seriously challenge him.How did the oil rich Rivers State find itself in this laughable, yet troubling situation?
And now, will Governor Siminalayi Fubara step forward for his awards- The Most Humiliated Governor. The Most Powerless Governor.The Most Bullied Governor. And perhaps, the first Governor who could quit office out of frustration. Many people pray not. But why not? It will make sense, considering his situation.
A retired Army General and traditional ruler, Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti Local government area of Kwara state, Segun Aremu has been killed by unknown gunmen.
The monarch was killed Thursday night in his home by the assailants who also abducted his wife, and other two persons.
The killing marked the worsening state of abduction and insecurity in the country in the last few months, amidst public outrage that the government is not doing enough to rein in the problem.
In neighbouring Ekiti State, kidnappers, on Monday killed two traditional rulers, while some primary school pupils were also abducted, and their whereabout yet unknown as at the time of this publication.
Confirming the killing of the Kwara traditional ruler, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye said security agencies have ordered by the governor to find the perpetrators of the act.
Governor Abdul Rahman Abdulrasaq, according to the statement, said the government will not spare any resources to ensure that the gunmen were tracked down.
The statement said: “Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has condemned the killing of Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti Local Government, HRH retd General Segun Aremu. The monarch was reportedly shot dead in his palace on Thursday night by some unknown gunmen, who also whisked away his wife and two others.
“The governor condemned the development, which he said was reckless, shocking, and abominable. He charged the security agencies not to spare any resources to track down the perpetrators, free the spouse and others taken away, and bring them to book.
“We will certainly get the perpetrators and ensure that this is their last crime against humanity. My profound condolences go to the people of Koro. Our hearts are broken, and we stand by them at this time and always.”
On Thursday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to arrest the criminals in the killing of the two monarchs in Ekiti State.
Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, says the Katsina elders who said Tinubu should forget re-election in 2027 over his decision to relocate the FAAN and key departments in the CBN to Lagos, should bury the thought.
The region will not vote for him, except Tinubu reversed the decision the Elders said recently in their reaction to the issue.
Their assertion, the minister said did not represent the views of people of northern Nigeria.
Matawalle, the immediate past governor of Zamfara stated this in Abuja on Thursday on his way to Saudi Arabia to attend an official function.
President Tinubu has been receiving serious outbursts from key political figures in the region over his government’s decision to relocate FAAN and some departments in CBN.
Apart from the Elders, Ali Ndume, the Senate Chief Whip also kicked against the decision, saying President Tinubu is pursuing a ‘Lagos’ agenda, which he said is against the interest of the north.
Matawalle dismissed the suggestion, warning those peddling such not to cause hatred and disunity in the country.
and to set Northern Nigeria against their brothers and sisters from other parts of the country.
He said the expression of the elders is not the popular view in the northern part of the country, adding that President Tinubu needs the support of the region to tackle the problem of insecurity in the region.
He said, “Do Katsina Elders have the right to speak on behalf of Northern people? How can the elders who failed to support the President and their own, former President Muhammadu Buhari, to win Katsina State, make such a reckless statement on behalf of Northern people?
“Katsina Elders have forgotten how they betrayed Buhari and President Tinubu by their failure to ensure that President Tinubu wins the majority of votes in their state in the 2023 presidential election.
“Is the protest by Katsina Elders during the 2023 presidential election against former President Muhammadu Buhari, who asked them to support President Tinubu, not embarrassing enough?
“Did the Elders forget that Allah says, ‘Power belongs to HIM and can give it to whoever HE wishes at any time HE so desires’?”
Oba Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, has demanded a law prescribing a capital punishment for kidnappers in the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the traditional ruler asserted, must, without further delay send a bill to the National Assembly to ensure that kidnappers are executed when they are caught.
The monarch in a statement he released on Thursday in Osogbo, the Osun state capital said this is the only way to curb the menace of kidnapping.
According to him, some kidnappers should be made example of, through the death penalty to serve as a deterrence to other criminal elements carrying out the act.
He said the country will only know ‘peace’ if this is done
Oba Akanbi said: “Let two, three, or four culpable kidnappers taste death, then we will breathe the air of peace. There is no justifiable excuse for injustice.”
“Injustice is only justified when a matching penalty is meted. The change is in action. Let two, three, or four culpable kidnappers taste death, then we will breathe the air of peace.
The traditional ruler assertion comes following President Bola Tinubu order to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to fish out the killers of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state, by suspected kidnappers.
The Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olusola; and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsola, were killed when they were returning from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti on Monday.
Similarly, suspected kidnappers also abducted some pupils while on their way home from school around the Emure Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
The kidnappers have demanded N10 million for each abducted pupil.
Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president of Nigeria, has opposed the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to take over the receipt of crude oil sale from the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
The president gave the order recently following public outrage against the NNPCL for not remitting enough foreign exchange from crude oil sales to the federal government.
For instance, a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, last year, criticized the government-owned oil company for under-remitting forex to the government from crude oil sales.
Presidency sources informed the magazine that Tinubu order was based on the need to ensure accountability in the NNPCL.
The former vice president disagreed.
Regardless of the intension of the president, Abubakar said it’s illegal to do so, as this contradicts the extant NNPCL laws.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, in the last year election, made this known on his official X handle on Thursday, stressing that it is arbitrary on the part of the president to want to transfer the function of NNPLC to the CBN.
The full statement:
Without prejudice to the possibility of any good that was intended in the decision of the Federal Government to make the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) take over the responsibility for crude oil sales proceeds from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), it must be clearly stated that the action is not legal in its application.
Although, as usual, of the current administration, little has been communicated to the public about explaining details of the decision.
According to what is publicly available, the President has issued a directive that henceforth, the NNPCL would submit receipts for crude oil sales to CBN for vetting and documentation.
Whatever may be the merit of the new arrangement, the presidential directive is a violation of the legal status of the NNPCL.
It is an arbitrary order capable of undermining the operational independence of the NNPCL.
By this order, Mr. President has wrested control of the finances of the NNPCL and donated the same to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
This is an unprecedented act, without any legal or ethical basis. It is also a violation of the principle of due process in public administration.
State-owned enterprises are not subject to such arbitrary orders and have full control over their finances within the confines of their respective establishment laws.
The NNPCL is a creation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA), which was signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 16 August 2021.
The PIA makes extensive provisions for the formation, structure, governance, and operation of the NNPCL as an independent limited liability company in Sections 53 to 65 of the Act.
The government must, therefore, respect the provisions of the law and allow the NNPCL to run as an independent company based on sound commercial objectives and in line with international best practices and standard principles of corporate governance.
Only then would the new NNPCL grow into a formidable institution with track records, requisite technical and financial capacity, and readiness to operate in public space.
Any attempt to undermine the operational independence of the NNPCL will be a hindrance to any chances of attracting investments and attaining global relevance in the Petroleum Industry.
Let it also be stated that the Central Bank Act 2007 does not confer on the Central Bank of Nigeria, any responsibility for vetting the transactions of, or formulating and maintaining the internal controls and internal audits in state-owned enterprises, public or private.
The CBN should be allowed to perform its core functions as provided in the extant law.
To enhance transparency and accountability in the operation of the NNPCL, its bank accounts for crude sales proceeds (for example at Morgan Stanley) and the entire crude sales conversion circle can be trailed by Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and CBN.
Amongst other supportive measures to enhance transparency, the NNPCL board members can be better selected and reconstituted to include, if desired, representatives of the CBN and NEITI.
In an apparent bid to ensure an effective delivery of democracy dividends and general good governance to the people, the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, on Tuesday January 30 2024 signed a Executive Order And Performance Bonds with Commissioners and Heads of Parastatals and MDAs.
According to Governor Namadi, a crucial aspect of the Executive Bond is the establishment of a result delivery and performance Management Coordinating Unit to be domiciled in the office of the Executive Governor.
The Unit, he noted, will be charged with the task of coordinating and managing A Performance Tracking System with a view to ensuring effective delivery of results by government officials .
Among other things,the Tracking Unit will be responsible for monitoring of results as specified in the Performance Bond ,as well as developing and managing a comprehensive performance tracking system with key performance indicators.
“Beyond,establishing the Unit the primary purpose of the Executive Order is to provide a frame work for ensuring Accountability for results delivery by Heads of all MDAs .
“Accordingly, the order has provided that all respective and concerned Executive Heads of MDAs, particularly the Hon. Commissioners will sign a Performance Bond committing them to deliver on the set targets/ results within a specified time line,and to be held accountable for any unjustified failure.” Namadi stated.
While acknowledging probable hiccups in a novel project of the nature ,the Governor however expressed optimism in the realization of the ultimate aim of the scheme.
He assured that the project is not meant to intimidate and harass ,but a way of holding government officials accountable and responsible to the people.
” Let there be no apprehension,as long as we all work assiduously and conscientiously to deliver results . Gradually, we will achieve a convergence between the Performance Bond Measurement with sector- wide Annual Sector Performance Reviews of the State comprehensive Development Framework and Medium- term Sector Strategies.” Governor Namadi stated.
The Governor described the signing of the Performance Bond as a milestone in the journey towards achieving the shared vision and aspirations of the good people of Jigawa State, where the socio-economic wellbeing of all citizens, both present and future is sustainably guaranteed .
“We hold the mandate for us to steer the affairs of Jigawa state as sacred trust, bestowed on us to deliver in a responsive and accountable manner ” Governor Namadi noted.
In a prompt reaction, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered immediate deployment of more security personnel to zone 17 including Ekiti state following killing of two traditional rulers and abduction of school children.
Traditional Rulers in Ekiti state at the end of their meeting on security challenges, had called for deployment of more security personnel to address the spate of kidnapping in the state.
A statement by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday stated that the IGP strongly condemned the recent killing of two traditional rulers – HRM Oba Samuel Olusola Olatunji, Ph.D., the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti and HRM Oba David Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti in Ekiti State, and the abduction of school pupils and teachers in Emure-Ekiti.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, the IGP has therefore taken immediate steps to address the security challenges in the region.
“To ensure the swift restoration of peace and order, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Abiodun Asabi to Zone 17 Akure, along with additional personnel and assets.
The newly posted AIG has been tasked with overseeing a comprehensive and coordinated security response to bring an end to the unfortunate security incidents in Ekiti, and parts of Ondo State and ensure proper coordination among security agencies for optimum effectiveness in tackling the security concerns within Ekiti State.
“The Inspector-General expresses his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Ekiti State, the families and loved ones of the deceased traditional rulers whose lives were tragically cut short during these incidents.
“Preliminary investigations have led to the arrest of thirteen (13) suspects who are currently assisting the Police with the investigation process.
“The Inspector General of Police hereby reiterates the commitment of the NPF to ensuring that justice is served, and those responsible for these heinous acts are brought to book, while assuring the public that every necessary measure will be taken to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
“He therefore urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with the Police and other security agencies, as we work to restore peace and security to the affected areas.”
