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Bank Future Development In Uzodimma’s Reelection, APC tells Imo, Ganduje Inaugurates Campaign Council, We are ready for election – Uzodimma

By
The Source
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The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday took a holistic evaluation of what Governor Hope Uzodimma has achieved in Imo State in the past three years and eight months and came to the conclusion that the State’s future development is bankable if the people reelect Uzodimma come November 11, 2023.

Leading a galaxy of the Party’s top guns who came to Owerri for the inauguration ceremony of the Imo State National Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje told the army of Party faithful and supporters at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri that President Ahmed Bola Ahmed was seriously looking forward to the Governor’s reelection to consummate the future development trajectory of Imo which s Uzodimma has laid the foundation.

While inaugurating members of the Campaign Council, Dr. Ganduje, the immediate past Governor of Kano State, noted that President Tinubu’s choice of the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu and other key members of the Campaign Council spoke volume about the seriousness the President attaches to the election.

But the man in the eye of the storm, Governor Uzodimma, is not only optimistic that he will win the election, he is also certain that the APC in Imo State is battle ready for the contest.

Dr. Ganduje who reminded Imo people of the benefits they stand to gain by re-electing Governor Uzodimma, insisted that the Governor has worked so hard to position his State in the good books of the federal government, and is generally believed to be  intelligent, loving, peaceful, hardworking.

The National Chairman of APC expressed happiness that members the APC in Imo State love their Governor from the bottom of their hearts and thanked Governor Uzodimma for the massive mobilisation at all levels of the Party.

He brought greetings from President Tinubu whom he informed, “has promised to do everything in his powers  to move the State to the next level.”

The National Chairman described Governor Uzodimma as “loving, very intelligent, dexterous and cooperative” to the President and APC in general.”

On his part, he promised to assist the National Campaign Council and the State Campaign Council to ensure success in the Imo State Governorship election in November.

About changes made at the National Executive Council level, Dr. Ganduje said his administration has introduced new reforms to include; E-registration of members, “a process that will help them keep comprehensive list of their members and help them have realistic membership register.”

Secondly, he said they have decided that all Party officers and offices from polling units to National Headquarters must be accorded due recognition.

Thirdly, he said they have decided that Party executives at all levels must hold meetings every month.  “This will help the State and National Working Committees to be aware of what the Government in power is doing.”

Finally, Dr. Ganduje said that his administration has decided “to establish a National Institute of Progressive Studies that will reengineer the democratic process and bring positive changes to all sectors of the country.”

He said he brought greetings from Igbo Community in Kano and assured that as “Agu-na-eche-mba of Ndigbo (the lion that protects the people), he will always protect the Igbos all over the world.

He advised Imo people to take advantage of Governor Uzodimma’s good will that cuts across ethnic divide and his wisdom, to secure the future development of Imo State.

Dr. Ganduje said he was “highly elated” with the turn out of Party faithful from the State for the inauguration, insisting that he didn’t need to be told that Governor Uzodimma has done well for the APC and for Imo people in general.

He said that what he saw at the inauguration ceremony was a sign of what to come in the November 11governorship election.

While he advised them to vote massively for Governor Uzodimma’s reelection in November 11, Dr. Ganduje reminded APC members that the new leadership will ensure that the Party’s presence is felt at all the nooks and crannies of the country and advised the executives to take seriously the issue of identifying their leaders and according them recognitions in their offices.

On arrival Friday night, Dr. Ganduje had commissioned the Imo State APC Governorship Campaign Office on Wethdral Road Owerri where he described the edifice as “more than an office, but a Secretariat because of what I saw inside.”

He had congratulated the Governor and Imo State APC leadership and said with the Office, ” Governor Uzodimma continuity is assured.”

In Governor Uzodimma’s remarks before he called on Dr. Ganduje to inaugurate the Campaign Council members, Saturday, he maintained that APC has become a movement in Imo State and by extension in the South East.

Welcoming the APC Leadership and others, Governor Uzodimma reminded all that in the past, Campaign Councils were inaugurated at the National Headquarters “but now it is taken to the States where the elections will hold.”

He expressed delight that under his administration, the APC has brought observable changes that have showcased Imo as a State of massive development, stating that “Imo of yesterday is no longer what it is today.”

He affirmed that there are a lot of enthusiasm and political awareness among the people “and they are now ready to come out and participate in politics and elections because of what they see on ground.”

The Governor noted that the Campaign structure in Imo State is “bottom to top to drive the message to the last man at the grassroots.”

He expressed his gratitude to Mr. President for giving his approval and the National Leadership of APC, for all their support particularly for all the appointments they gave to Imo State.

He reiterated that the APC in Imo State is “a movement and not a mere Political Party.”

“It is a Party to beat in any election,” he said, noting that the Imo State Working Committee and himself as the Leader of APC in Imo State are working hard to ensure that the National APC recognises the Imo APC and places it top most in their organogram.

Governor Uzodimma said: “From all indications, the APC is the only Party in Imo State that is properly positioned and ready for the November election. No doubt my people are very confident and waiting for the D-Day.  So what is already known will be made formal.

“We have embarked on reconciliation. All the leaders and members of our great Party who had suffered one grievance or the other;  we have opened the doors.

“Of late, not only have many of them come back to join the party, we have also witnessed massive defections from other Political Parties. As I speak to you, for majority of the opposition Political Parties in Imo State, their Party structures and majority of their leadership have joined the APC.

“Our people have bought into the Party. I want to inform you that I have decided to take the campaign up to polling units. This is in our effort to drive our campaign directly to the grassroots. Our campaign structure is bottom up.

“We are not doing our formal flag off rally today. The national leadership of our great Party, working with members of the Progressive Governors Forum, are simply here to inaugurate our National Campaign Council. The Council that will drive the campaign and the management of the election.

“The APC in Imo State is like a movement. The members and supporters are battle ready. Even if the election is tomorrow, we are ready for the election.”

Governor Uzodimma who thanked President Tinubu for his love for Imo State and the people also expressed gratitude to Dr. Ganduje, his brother Governors and other key figures from the National body of the APC who came to solidarize with him.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the National Gubernatorial Campaign Council for Imo State who is also the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu said they have “only come to reemphasize the reelection of Governor Hope Uzodimma by saying Yes! Yes!!. Yes!!!”

He thanked Imo people for their performance in the last general elections where they massively voted for APC in the two Houses of National Assembly and Mr. President.

He said that their job is “simple because the message to Imo people is to vote Governor Uzodimma for more infrastructure that will make Imo greater and bigger than what it is now.”

Governor Otu captured some milestone achievements of Governor Uzodimma such as the dredging of Oguta Lake and the Naval Base at Oguta, massive road infrastructure, youth empowerment and achievements in the areas of health, education, civil service etc. He spoke about sustainable development.

His words: “For Imo when everything tends to have collapsed, Hope remains the only passion.”

He asked Imo people for “excellent and massive support that will enable and sustain Renewed Hope and Retained Hope.”

In his welcome speech, the National Secretary of APC, Senator Surajudeen Basiru said the November 11 election will be different. “Not only will the APC win convincingly in the 4,758 units across the 305 wards in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State, but all votes for the APC in every polling unit across the State must count.”

He emphasized that “Governor Hope Uzodimma has demonstrated unwavering devotion to our Political Party core beliefs and ideals, which have been essential in cementing our Party’s position in Imo State and across the South East.”

Basiru said that Governor Uzodimma recognizes the significance of connecting his administration to the Party’s programme by simply emphasizing the essence of good governance from the beginning of his tenure.

“His dedication to Party objectives, shared economic prosperity, infrastructure development, security and human capital development has set a precedent that resonates far beyond the shores of Imo State.

“Therefore, re-electing Uzodimma is about solidifying Imo State’s position on the Party towards greater heights of prosperity and progress.”

In their remarks to thank the visitors, the Chairman of APC in Imo State, Macdonald Ebere and the APC deputy governorship candidate, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru assured that they will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that the Governor gets reelected in November 11, 2023.

Present at the inauguration were the Governors of Ebonyi ( Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru) Yobe ( Mai Mala- Buni), and Kastina(Dikko Umar Radda) States, Ministers, APC National Working Committee Members, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly and Members of the National Assembly of Imo State extraction and other APC faithful.

Ondo Set To Reap From Cashew, Oil Palm Production

By
Ayodele Oni
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Palm Plantation

By Ayodele Oni

As efforts and investment in agribusiness are beginning to yield results, Ondo State is set to take the lead in cashew nut and oil palm production

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu expressed the hope that his administration’s investment on cash crops would help reduce the country’s dependent on oil.

Akeredolu spoke when he visited the Chocolate factory at Idanre which was recently acquired by Johnvents limited.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture and Agribuisness, Pastor Akin Olotu, Governor Akeredolu said he was delighted at the transformation of the factory by its new owners.

He said the people would soon begin to feel the impact of the state’s investment in oil palm and cashew.

According to him: “We are doing perfectly well in Oil palm. In the next three years, Ondo State would be number one in oil palm in Nigeria. We have done that and we are not relenting in our efforts.

“We have cocoa farms. We have a single cocoa estate. Mr Governor has opened a new cocoa farm also for our Farmers for cocoa farming in clusters.

“It is an opportunity I believe our people would jump at. We will continue to give the support, not just that, we have given over 3 millions seedling of cocoa. That would be impactful.

“Somethings we have done, you might not be feeling the effects immediately, but in two or three years the story would change.

“Sustainability has come to stay, the structure, the business concept, the management, only a madman would work against what is going on here.”

Managing Director, Johnvents, Mr. Oloyede Olatunji, said chocolates from the factory was of international standard.

He appealed to the state government to create a more friendly environment for local and small businesses to thrive.

“Cashew would be given topmost attention starting From October this year. In Ondo State, we would have million seedlings of Cashew  that would be produced and planted.”

Oluwo Dares Obasanjo On Order To Royal Fathers, Says It Is Sacrilege – Oluwo

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Oluwo of Iwo, in Osun state, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has desecrated Yoruba tradition for ordering Traditional Rulers in Oyo State to stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin, Oyo State.

A short video of Obasanjo, who spoke in Yoruba language, had surfaced on the Internet, expressing displeasure that the Monarchs did not stand up to greet him and Governor Makinde, describing the action of Royal Fathers as disrespectful to the Office of the Governor.

Reacting on Saturday,  Oba Akanbi, in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, demanded a letter of apology from Obasanjo, insisting that Yoruba Monarchs could not be treated as uniform men that are being commanded.

Oluwo, however  blamed the Royal Fathers that responded to Obasanjo’s order.

The statement partly read,  “I trust myself and my stool. In death, there are certain things my soul will not take let alone when alive, active, and kicking. I only blame the monarchs who stood in obeisance to such an ignoble and desecration of Traditional Institutions from the old man. Respect should be earned not demanded.

“Traditional Rulers respect their subjects too. There is a way respect is accorded to people of old age and position by monarchs. Kingship is an institution of God. As such, relating with kings requires a high sense of modesty, courtesy, and respect.

“The display by the former President of Nigeria, General Obasanjo, was an affront, an intentional desecration and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland. An injury to one is an injury to all. Yoruba traditional rulers are not uniform men anyone can command at will. I don’t blame him, those royal fathers who stood up to obey such an embarrassing direction are to be blamed.

“The show by the former General is condemnable. Yoruba traditional institutions demand an apology for the open desecration to molest and bring down the institution. He needs to prove himself as a core Yoruba man with an apology letter. Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He will never dare that against the Northern Emirs.”

Cement: BUA Boss Unveils Plan To Crash Price To N3000

By
James Orji
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0

Abdul-Samad Rabiu, the Chairman of BUA Group has assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of plan to  slash the price of a bag of cement to N3,500.
 
The company is building capacity to produce at least six million metric tonnes of cement by next year, following which the price will be reduced to N3000 from the current price of N5000.
 
The BUA boss made this known after a meeting with the president in Aso Rock on Friday .
 
He spoke few days after Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, said the federal government will prevail on cement producers in the country to reduce the price of the product.
 
The minister was present at the meeting President Tinubu had with the BUA chairman yesterday.
 
According to Abdulsamad, the decision to reduce price is meant to support the federal government, adding that the company will ramp up production, by adding two new plants early next year to ensure this is achieved.
 
 “Let me thank His Excellency Mr. President for graciously receiving me today. I came to intimate His Excellency on the affairs of our cement business. We have two new lines of 3 million tonnes each that we will be commissioned by the end of the year,” he said.
 
 
 
“So I came to intimate His Excellency and also to explain to him the efforts we’re making in trying to support again the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement.
 
 
 
 
“With this 6 million tonnes that are commissioning by the end of the year. And by the way, His Excellency has agreed to come and commission the plants, sometimes in December or early January next year.
 
 
 
 
 
“So I explained to him and we want to support the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement. By the time these lines are commissioned, BUA Cement will to be producing about 17 million tonnes per annum. And with that, we intend to bring down the price of cement from its current level of N5000 or N5500 per bag to maybe N3000 to N3500 per bag.
 
 
 
“And we can only do that because we’re producing cement locally. 80% of the raw materials that we’re using to produce cement are in Nigeria. We want to support the government efforts in ensuring that the price of thess commodities are brought down.
 
 
 
“Incidentally, I also saw the Honorable Minister David Umahi, when I was with the with His Excellency, Mr. President, and we agreed to meet so what we’re going to do is by the time we commission these two lines is to announce to Nigerians that the price of cement is going to come down.”
 
 
Not a few Nigerians blamed cement manufacturers in the country for the rising cost of the product, a development hampering many People from owning their own homes.
 
 

Abuja MOU: Minister Charges Members On Ratification Of Conventions

By
James Orji
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0

The  Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has charged member states on the need to achieve full ratification and domestication of all relevant instruments.

Oyetola who also doubles as the Vice Chairman of the Abuja MOU spoke at the 13th Port State Control Committee Meeting of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU), hosted by the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan.

Meanwhile the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR noted that the maritime administration in Nigeria is committed to effective implementation of regulatory instruments in Nigeria.

The Honourable Minister who emphasized the need for regulators and stakeholders in the member states to ensure their maritime domains remain safe, secure, and environmentally friendly reiterated the need to achieve full ratification and domestication of all relevant instruments; compliance with the requirement for member States to inspect at least 15 percent of vessels calling at their ports.

Other areas identified are; the imperative of recruitment and subsequent training of the Port State Control officers to avoid over burdening the few PSCOs in the field; and the need for us to collaborate and ensure that no substandard vessel is allowed to trade within the region.”

Speaking at the session, the NIMASA DG, noted that the Agency as Nigeria’s maritime administration has ensured the ratification of not less than six International maritime conventions for proper governance of the country’s maritime space. These ratified conventions spell out proper mode of governance for various areas such as standards of training, certification and Watchkeeping for the fishing sector, pollution management and carriage of passenger luggage by sea.

Nigeria has ratified Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and

Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009; International Convention on Standard of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW –F) 1995; and Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties (Intervention Protocol)1973.

Others are; Protocol on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) 1996; Protocol to the 1974 Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 2002; and Protocol of 2005 to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Act against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf (SUA PROT 2005)

On his part, the Secretary General Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren assured of continuous engagement sessions to ensure regional collaboration to attain globally acceptable Port State Control in the West and Central Africa Region.

The performance of member states on PSC Inspections, and financial status amongst others formed part of the deliberations.

Women in Maritime West attended the event, WIMOWCA, in their Observer status capacity.

National Economy: Clean Sweep; Tinubu’s Men Firmly In Control

By
James Orji
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0

Following the appointment of Olayemi Micheal Cardoso as the acting Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor President Bola Tinubu appears to have completely rid the country’s public financial sector of the appointees of his predecessor, appointing in their place his own men.
Cardoso, a former commissioner under Tinubu while he was governor of Lagos state was appointed by the president to replace embattled CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who is facing corruption charges and is currently being detained by the Department of State Services, DSS.

His name and four other Deputy Governor nominees have now been sent to the Senate for confirmation, according to a statement released on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

“President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate,” the statement said.

The president’s spokesman said further that the four Deputy Governors were appointed in “conformity with Section 8 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which vests in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the authority to appoint the governor and four (4) deputy governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

if he’s confirmed by the Senate, Cardoso’s appointment has completed the cycle of key appointments President Tinubu has made in the nation’s financial sector since he came to power on May 29, 2023, according to keen business and financial analysts who spoke on the issue.

According to this school of thought, the president has left no one in doubt of his plan to reform the financial sector of the economy by appointing his own people who he believes can expand the revenue net, as well as give him quality advice on how to implement public finance policies.

“The monetary and fiscal policies of the country need total re-engineering if any achievement is to be made in these areas. It will be difficult for the current administration to work with some appointees it inherited from the former government. Some people just have to go,” a source in the Ministry of Finance said.

The reform, according to the source started with the appointment of Wale Edun as the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minster of the Economy.

The minister served as the commissioner of Finance while the president was the governor of Lagos state. His appointment did not surprise many who credited him for the success of the Tinubu administration in Lagos state in the area of management of the state’s financial resources.

Before Cardoso’s appointment, President Tinubu had appointed Zach Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, to replace Muhammad Nami who has been directed to proceed on three months compulsory leave.
Adedeji, a former Commissioner of Finance in Oyos State and close aide of the president had earlier been appointed as Special Adviser on Revenue, but some key analysts in the financial sector said he had been tipped to head the government revenue generating agency.

Meanwhile, close analysts in the financial sector said what these appointees have in common, apart from their pedigree as technocrats, is that they have once worked with the president one way or the other in the past.

Kano Election Tribunal: Gov Sacks Commissioner, Adviser, For Outbursts Against Judges, Shettima

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf,  has dismissed from office, his Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Adamu Kibiya, for threatening the lives of Judges on the Panel of the Governorship Election Tribunal in the State.

In the same manner, the Governor, also, fired his Special Adviser on Youth and Sports, Aliyu Yusuf Imam, popular as “Ogan Boye”, for making unguarded statements against Vice President Kashim Shettima.

In a now viral video, the Commissioner asked the Judges handling the Petition against Governor Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, by the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, to choose between their lives and their work in the deliverance of the judgement.

The sacked Commissioner said in part: “People voted for us and some people are attempting to do injustice. We want to tell the Judges that we will not accept this. Any Judge that is willing to deprive us of our rights will regret it. Whatever will happen, we won’t care”

He said this  during a protest organised by members of the ruling New  NNPP in the State against what they perceive as the alleged body language of the Tribunal Judges.

Embarrassed by the viral video, the Governor fired Kibiya. He also fired Special Adviser, Imam, over his unguarded and disrespectful utterances against Vice President Shettima.

The Governor’s action was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye when he  addressed  journalists at Government House, Kano, on Friday. He said the Governor ordered the dismissal from office of both men with immediate effect.

Dantiye  said the utterances  by Kibiya and Imam do not represent the position of the State Government on the Judges and the Vice President

Dantiye: “While condemning the unfortunate threat to the Judges and the disrespect shown to the VP, we wish to make it categorically clear that the views expressed do not represent the official position of the State Government under the leadership of His Excellency Alh Abba Kabir Yusuf.

“It is important to emphasise that neither of the two officials have any clearance to speak on behalf of Government and none of them serves as official spokesperson of the Government.

“Kano State Government under HE Abba Kabir Yusuf holds the Judiciary in very high esteem and expresses tremendous amount of respect to Justices and all Judicial Officers.

“Besides, the good understanding between the Government and people of Kano State and Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Kano State Governor HE Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf deeply respects the person and office of the Vice President His Excellency Alh. Kashim Shettima, GCON, and will not condone any lota of disrespect on the Vice President or any other Nigerian leader.

“The Government has also directed that, henceforth, no official of Government should speak on any matter outside the purview of their MDAs without express clearance and permission.

“Henceforth, unguarded and inflammatory statements will not be condoned. The Ministry of Information is directed to ensure that all Media outlets in the State, especially, Radio stations are complying with the extant guidelines provided by regulatory agencies.

“While expressing our faith in the judicial process, believing very strangly that justice will prevail at all the levels of judicial processes, the Kano State Government wishes to call on all residents in the State to remain law-abiding and continue to go about their normal businesses without any hindrances.”

“Tinubu Deprived Me From Setting More Records” – Rtd. FIRS Chairman, Nami,  Laments

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Muhammad Nami

By Adesina Soyooye

The just compulsorily retired Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, has lamented how his sudden retirement from office deprived him of setting more records than he claims he already did.

Apparently confused on the reason of his sudden retirement, he said he had done a good job, and was set to even do more when his retirement, with immediate effect, was ordered by President Bola Tinubu.

President Tinubu had on Thursday, asked Nami to proceed on a- three month pre-retirement leave. In his place, the President nominated  Dr Zacchaeus Adedeji, his Special Adviser on Revenue, in an acting capacity, pending his confirmation by the Senate.

But Nami who expressed his appreciation to former President Muhamnmadu Buhari who appointed him, and President Tinubu who allowed him to remain in office till his sudden retirement, said he was going to set a record but for his earky retirement.

Dr Nami’s feelings were contained in a farewell statement where he recounted his achievements in the less than four years he was in office. His tenure was to last for four years, and renewable after the first tenure.

One of them was his ability  to collect tax of more than eight trillion Naira within eight months which he said he would have set a new record of a minimum of N13 trillion at the end of the current tax year.

His statement, titled, “My Appreciation To Nigerians reads:

“With utmost gratitude to the Almighty God, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the erstwhile President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the incumbent President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the opportunity given to me to serve the country and humanity as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for almost four years.

“I want to extend my deep appreciation to the entire staff of the Service, our esteemed taxpayers, and Nigerians for believing in me, and for the support and cooperation extended to me throughout my tenure.

“I want to put on record that the support and cooperation I received enabled my team to meet our target, and set new records for tax collection in Nigeria.

“Even as I take my bow, we have so far collected more than eight trillion Naira in eight months and would have set a new record of a minimum of N13 trillion at the end of this tax year.

“During the inauguration of the erstwhile Board Members of the Service, I promised to raise the country’s Tax-To-GDP ratio from 6% to 10% in 4-years. We already have achieved a Tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.86% within two years (i.e. as at 31st December 2021.)

“I can, therefore, say that I am leaving as a fulfilled man knowing that I have served diligently. I am equally leaving a Service that is built on world-class best practices. Indeed, it couldn’t have been more fulfilling.

“I implore the staff, taxpayers, and Nigerians to extend the same measure of cooperation to the incoming Executive Chairman, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, to enable him to succeed. Tax collection is a sensitive matter that requires all hands on deck to achieve.”

Supreme Court Declines To Sack Mba, Enugu Governor

By
The Source
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0
Peter Mbah

By Gideon Njoku

The Supreme Court on Friday, September 15, declined to sack Enugu State Governor, Peter Mba.

Ruling on a suit brought against the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governor, by the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Uche Nnaji, in challenge of his victory at the polls in March 2023, the Supreme Court said it had no merit.

Nnaji’s grouse was that Mba’s nomination by his Party did not follow due process. He, therefore, asked the Apex Court to nullify his election as Governor.

But the Five-man Panel of Justices, in a unanimous judgement, refused to nullify the Governor’s election.  It held that the suit filed by Nnaji and his Party, the APC, is invalid, and therefore, incompetent.

The Justices also noted that Nnaji and APC were unable to prove why the Court should rely on the alleged invalid process it filed to invalidate Mba’s victory.

The Court of Appeal had earlier thrown away the case, but Nnaji and APC proceeded to the Supreme Court.

Governor Mba has a pending case before the Enugu Governorship Election Tribunal instituted against his victory and qualification to contest by the Candidate of the Labour Party, Chijoke Edoga, who, like Mba, is a Lawyer.

Tinubu Names Cardoso, His Former Commissioner,  New CBN Governor, Effectively Sacks Emefiele

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A successor to embattled suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, currently under detention and being prosecuted by the Federal Government, has emerged.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday, approved the nomination of Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of the CBN, for a term of five years at the first instance, pending his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. With the appointment, Emefiele has Effectively been sacked as the CBN Governor.

Cardoso, Lagos indigene, accomplished Chartered Accountant, Banker, and Financial guru, was the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget under Tinubu as Lagos State Governor.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale stated in a release that the nomination is in line with CBN rules.

“This directive is in conformity with Section 8 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which vests in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the authority to appoint the Governor and Four (4) Deputy Governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, as listed below:

“Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro; Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo; Mr. Philip Ikeazor; and Dr. Bala M. Bello.

“In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the President expects the above listed nominees to successfully implement critical reforms at the Central Bank of Nigeria, which will enhance the confidence of Nigerians and international partners in the restructuring of the Nigerian economy toward sustainable growth and prosperity for all.”

Cardoso was a founding member  of Citi Bank, and later, Citizens Bank. Between 2010 – 2022, he was the Chairman of Citi Bank.

A father of five children and three grandchildren, his father, Felix Bankole Cardoso, was Nigeria’s first indigenous Accountant General of the Federation, and first indigenous Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Barclays Bank Bank of Nigeria.

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