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For Years, Dangote Has Been Sabotaging Us, Gave Us Bounced Cheque

By
The Source
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0

By BUA Group

It’s with a profound sense of responsibility and a heavy heart that we address the claims and very cheap attempts at blackmail levelled against BUA by Aliko Dangote in a recent 7-page editorial following months of sponsored campaigns of calumny against us using third-party platforms.

To put things in perspective, it’s imperative to revisit history—a history not of rivalry but of resilience; not of enmity, but of endurance.

In August 1991, a young BUA was doing its commodities trading business just as Nigeria faced a scarcity of sugar. As sugar was scarce, BUA was lucky to be one of the few with any stock for sale, and we stood prepared to supply the nation’s needs as best as our stock could.

It was during this period Aliko Dangote approached us to purchase sugar. If only we knew he was setting the first of many traps in our business history. He gave us a Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria Cheque, which bounced upon presentation to the bank. Unbeknown to us, this was a ruse that would lead to a court-sanctioned freeze of our assets orchestrated by Dangote.

For three agonising months, our accounts were garnisheed, warehouses shuttered, and our spirit tested. Yet, from the ashes of deceit, BUA survived. (see attached court order)

Fast forward a few years later, we decided that since we were making good progress in our various businesses, we should open a sugar refinery.

We approached one Usman Dantata (now late), Aliko Dangote’s uncle, and leased his NPA waterfront land (4.5 hectares) at the Tincan Island port, ‘Polo House’. We took the land, signed an agreement with the consent of NPA, and paid all applicable dues. Dangote waited until our contractors and equipment had been mobilised to the site, then he went to former President Obasanjo. President Obasanjo had the land revoked entirely and gave the lease to Dangote. As a result, even his uncle lost the land. BUA was only given 24 hours to vacate the land.

It took us over a year to get another land. How?

Our survival as a business especially our Lagos sugar refinery is a legacy handed to us by a loving father who, seeing his son’s distress, did what only the noblest and kindest of hearts could do. With unwavering faith, our Chairman’s late father—may his soul rest in eternal peace—handed him the land on which our Lagos Sugar Refinery stands today.

This land was the location of one of his thriving businesses with a warehouse, which he shut down and handed to us without asking for compensation. He just saw the pain of our chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, called him one day and handed him the papers to the land. His gesture was a beacon of hope in one of our darkest hours. And so, BUA survived again another Dangote trap.

Today, we are now the largest Sugar refining concern in West Africa.

Our businesses continued to surge forward amid several other attempts, too many to mention now. In 2007, under President Yar’Adua’s visionary mandate to broaden Nigeria’s cement industry and break the monopoly in the sector, BUA was among the six companies selected and granted licenses.

Our approach was unconventional but effective: we introduced a floating terminal – ‘BUA CEMENT I’, which is a cement factory built into a large ship, as a stopgap while we were working on securing our land-based cement plant.

What followed, however, was another act intended to drive us out of business. Our application to dock the floating terminal in Lagos met with resistance. We then decided to berth the ship at the terminal we owned in Port Harcourt. Despite this, we faced considerable pushback and it took the decisive intervention of late President Yar Adua, who directed that the Minister of Transport and the Chairman of NPA honour our right to contribute to the nation’s growth.

But the hurdles didn’t end there. The drama intensified when Orwell Brown, a Deputy Comptroller General who was also an older brother to a Dangote Staff, launched a sudden strike, attempting to deport our vessel’s entire expatriate crew. It was a Friday that is forever seared into our memory—the shock of our expatriates rounded up, their confusion as they were shepherded onto a Dangote-funded one-way local flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos en-route Asia via Emirates.

Upon hearing of what had happened, we reached out to Tanimu Yakubu, the then Chief Economic Adviser, who acted with the urgency that the situation demanded. His call to the CG of Immigration was a lifeline, and our expatriate team was brought back from the Emirates aircraft and not deported. The aftermath was swift action by the President, who ensured that such a misuse of power would not go unchecked. DCG Brown, caught in a tangle of undue influence, admitted what he did to the Minister, and he was later dismissed.

Through all these tribulations, BUA’s resolve has only strengthened. These events narrate not just the trials of a company but the resolve of its people, bound together by a shared vision and an unwavering belief in justice and fairness.

We also know what transpired whilst we were building our Edo Cement Plant. Everyone knows the issues we faced. The plant we are operating in Edo would not have been operating and contributing immensely to the economy, if not for the former President Buhari who had to intervene by calling Governor Obaseki that no staff must lose their jobs and the plant must not be shut down, no matter what happens. We cannot say more as the matter is currently sub-judice – and is at the Supreme Court. During that time, Edwin Devakumar and Sunday Esan (two long-time and current staff of Dangote) were caught in leaked emails, whose content were not limited to sending thugs to foment trouble, close our factory as well as pushing bad press against us (See emails attached).

Same thing happened again with our Port Harcourt sugar refinery – the only sugar refinery in Nigeria that is outside Lagos. Dangote utilized every means possible to ensure the refinery did not take off and we raised the alarm. At some point, the terminal was taken away from us and was to have been given to someone else at the behest of Dangote. There had to be a presidential intervention again for NPA to do the right thing. Yet, we survived.

For over 32 years, we have been cast as the antagonists in a narrative woven with malice. We have not just survived; we have thrived, expanding our operations and contributing to Nigeria’s economy without resorting to subterfuge.

To Mr. Dangote and the Dangote Group, we say: Let us build, not belittle. Let us cultivate, not conquer. While we may share the marketplace, we need not share malice. We have nothing to do with your self-inflicted issues. Blame no one but yourself.

In closing, we at BUA remain committed to our ethos of innovation, integrity, and inclusiveness. Our history is not one of being handed anything on a silver platter.

We will continue to serve our beloved country and its people with the diligence and honour they deserve. Our past, present, and future activities are rooted in the prosperity of Nigeria, undeterred by the winds of unfounded criticism. We remain focused on building and developing Nigeria.

Economic Sabotage: BUA Group Is Blackmailing Us

By
The Source
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0

By Dangote Industries Ltd

The  attention of the Management of Dangote Industries Limited has been drawn to an unfounded allegation making the rounds in some online news media suggesting that the Company is being probed over alleged illegal foreign exchange deals and money laundering running to $3.4billion allegedly perpetrated by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Emefiele over the years.

As an organization, it is not in our custom to respond to any spurious allegation, but to the fact that this is a rehash of a similar report peddled out of malice by a competitor masquerading as a concerned Nigerian in 2016, we are therefore constrained to provide context to this issue.

The reporting of this spurious foreign exchange allegations by some media houses was turned down by credible traditional and online news media until it was featured as a paid advertorial in two Nigerian Newspapers, BusinessDay and Leadership (published March 14, 2016) titled ACTS OF ECONOMIC SABOTAGE BY DANGOTE CEMENT, published in the name of one David Osa Ighalo, from Benin, Edo State It is saddening to note that this publication of Monday, March 14, 2016 in BusinessDay and Leadership newspapers wherein the author alleged that “monies went from the company in question to other sister Dangote companies outside Nigeria.

It is estimated that almost USD3billion-if not more, has been taken out of Nigeria through these means. This encourages round tripping and in effect money laundering since there is no proper documentation”, has recently been given a fresh false slant by one Ahmed Fahad purporting it to be a new petition directed to the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Jim Obazee, the Special Investigator probing the CBN.

Different blogs and social media platforms have been carrying variants of this falsehood to the detriment of our corporate reputation.

The attempt by the authors of this misleading allegation to give it a fresh life in the media is baffling as the two newspapers that were misguided into publishing it as advertorial then (2016) have since publicly apologized to the Management of Dangote Industries Limited in writing as well as retracted the advertorial in its entirety in their respective publications.

Indeed, BusinessDay and Leadership Newspapers admitted that the advertorials were sponsored and paid for by Messrs. BUA Group (see appendix 1A AND 18).

Furthermore, in 2016, we wrote to the Department of State Services (DSS) copying the Governor of Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) on these spurious allegations in line with our good corporate governance practices and transparency which is one of the cardinal principles of our core values.

For the benefit of the new unsuspecting media recruits into the ill-fated voyage and the understanding of the general public, we state as follows: Dangote Industries Limited is a reputable global brand and responsible corporate citizen, operating in multiple jurisdictions conducting its business in line with global best corporate governance practices, extant laws and regulations, as it has done over the years.

We embarked on massive expansions of our business across Africa which led to the construction of cement plants; and for the avoidance of doubt, Senegal, Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Congo Brazzaville, Sierra Leone and Ghana were completed and commissioned while construction works in other African countries are nearing completionIn compliance with regulatory requirements, we, like other Nigerian companies and banks with investment in subsidiaries in and outside African countries, requested our Authorized Dealers to seek CBN approval to source FX locally to enable us fund the construction and establishment of the cement plants outside Nigeria.

We secured CBN approval to source FX specifically from Interbank Market to fund the construction of these plants and this has always been complied with. Specifically, CBN gave us approvals between 2010 to 2018 to purchase FX totaling USD3.755bition from the Interbank market for the funding of our various African Projects out of which we have utilized only 47.70% of the approvals in the total sum of N1.791billion.

We wish to reemphasize that foreign exchange for these projects were sourced strictly from Interbank Foreign Exchange market in compliance with the CBN approvals and CBN press release dated February 18, 2015. (See appendix 4)In all these transactions, Letters of Credit were established for the construction of the Plants and for the purchase of heavy equipment and spares required for the commissioning and take-off of the Cement plants.

The terms and conditions for payments on the transactions were dearly spelt out in the Letters of Credit instruments and in line with International Chamber of Commerce- Universal Customs & Practice for Documentation Credit – UCP 600. It is also crucial to note that the Letters of Credit in favour of Sinoma International Engineering Co Ltd (a Chinese Government owned company), being the major contractor who accounted for over 75 per cent of these expenditure were paid against the presentation of all relevant shipping documents.

There was no single payment that was made through any Dubai company owned by us.We wish to state that all FX purchased in respect of our African Projects expansion were fully utilized for what they were meant for.

The projects for which the FX were utilized are visible for everyone to see. It is on record that some of these projects were commissioned by Nigerian top-ranking government officials and in attendance were Chief Executives of various banks, Captains of Industries and the Presidents of the host countries supported by their Senior Government Officials.

The commissioning events of these projects were well documented and covered by both local and international media. There are also print and electronic copies of the commissioning ceremonies as a further testimony to the judicious utilization of the funds.We have recorded tremendous success stories in all our pan-African cement plants by way of Foreign Exchange repatriation of USD576,008,672.41 through various banks in Nigeria, (See appendix 5), inclusive of USD111,968,109.38 Cash Swap arrangement between Dangote Cement Pic and Ethiopian Airlines which was approved at an official exchange rate by Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) and National Bank of Ethiopia, thus saving the same amount that would have been paid by the CBN.

Furthermore, we wish to state our position as follows:1. Funds invested in our expansion project across African countries are legitimate capital investments in those countries and the repatriation of FX in sum of USD576 million so far helps to boost foreign Exchange earnings in Nigeria and stabilize the FX Market. All things considered, this positive trend will continue.

  1. We have always funded the construction of these plants from Interbank FX Market in line with the CBN directives and relevantperiodic progress reports were submitted to the banks for onward submission to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
  1. The regulations of the host countries require in most cases that payment to some local vendors, contractors and supplies are done locally for regulatory and tax purposes. Subsequently, funds for pre-operational expenses and purchase of other local construction materials are transferred to our Project Accounts in the host countries for payment to vendors in line with the countries regulations. All these transactions were well documented and approved. This has enabled us repatriate FX into Nigeria. All the payments made in respect of our various African Projects can be further verified, having been audited over the years by our auditors, Messrs Deloitte & Touche and KPMG in course of their statutory audits

.4. We remain the highest employer of labour in Nigeria outside the Government, as well as the highest tax paying Company inNigeria. Given these milestones, we cannot afford to engage in any unscrupulous and unprofessional conduct that could tamishour hard-earned reputation.As a serious and focused Group, we have invested more than any local and international investor in Nigeria. Our books are open for scrutiny by relevant Government Regulators. We believe in Nigeria, and we believe in Africa.

We assure our various stakeholders that these allegations are baseless, malicious and unfounded. This publication attests to our openness and transparency in the conduct of all our businesses and operations.

Ekiti Hosts Meeting Of National Council On Health

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Biodun Oyebanji

By Ayodele Oni

For the first time since its creation,  Ekiti State will host the meeting of the National Council on Health, (NCH).

The meeting, which is the 64th of its type, will hold between 13th and 17th November, 2023.

The State is expected to play host to the topmost management officers of health institutions from all states in Nigeria plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

These include the Commissioners, Permanent secretaries, directors, NGOs, Local and International Partners in the health sectors of all the 36 states plus FCT.

NCH is the highest National Body with the sole responsibility for the management of the health sector in Nigeria.

It is responsible for making health policies, reviewing the National strategic health development plans, considering and approving memos for the development and improvement of healthcare services in the Country.

Membership also include minister of state for health, top management staff of federal ministries of health and their Parastatals and Agencies. The meeting, which is chaired by the Minister of health holds once in a year.

Participants are expected to submit memos to the National body which will be considered at the yearly meeting such as the one holding in Ekiti State.

Such memos are deliberated upon and if approved, at the meeting it becomes a policy that will be introduced for implementation by the Federal and States.

No health policy will be implemented without approval by this highest body.

For instance the memo on Traditional Complementary and Alternative (TCAM) Medicine in Nigeria was considered and approved at the 2019 NCH meeting at Asaba, Delta State.

The approval was the recognition of TCAM as another tier of healthcare services in Nigeria.

In 2020 the Federal Ministry of Health issued letters to all the states and FCT directing the implementation of the policy.

At the 64th meeting holding in Ekiti state, several memos already submitted will be considered for approval. This is the chain of policy authority in health sector from top to bottom.

FG To Unveil Equipment Leasing Registration Authority

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government is set to unveil the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA), an organization which encourages Leasing to small and medium scale enterprises.

The official ceremony is expected to be performed on Tuesday in Abuja, by Mr. Wale Edu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

A statement signed by ELRA Chairman, Saidu Njidda, stated that the unveiling enables the Authority to play the role of a key driver and Facilitator of one of the 8-point Agenda of the Tinubu Administration, “bringing access to capital to Nigerians” through encouraging Leasing to small and medium scale enterprises.

The ELRA Board was inaugurated in May 2022 by Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, following the establishment of the authority, which is in accordance with Section 8 of the Equipment Leasing Act, 2015.

The inaugurated board comprises 11 members including Saidu Njidda, Executive Chairman, and Barrister Bassey Imoh, Registrar/Secretary.

One representative each from the CBN, SMEDAN, NACCIMA, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and three representatives from the Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body of lessors which sponsored the bill.

The Statement by the  Chairman of the Board observed that implementation of the Equipment Leasing Act, a viable alternative to loan heralds a new era of enhanced revenue generation.

“The industry is capable of generating an estimated total volume of $1.5trillion globally accounting for 20% of total investment in equipment and contributing about 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Equipment Leasing as an alternative and significant source of finance to loans, has been immensely contributing to capital formation in the global Economy with its wide usage in many countries  for the acquisition of capital assets.

“Major players in the Leasing industry in Africa include South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria who are ranked amongst the top 50 Leasing Countries in the world, with Ghana, Rwanda, Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia and Angola, playing significant roles.”

The ELRA Boss further observed that in Nigeria, particularly over the last 10 years, Leasing has contributed over ₦14.3 trillion to the country’s GDP and continues to be more relevant, especially under the prevailing situation where access to finance is difficult, especially for Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSMES).

“The whole essence of Leasing is to enhance the planning, improvement and development of any economy, by building and supporting productive ventures, through capital formation, generating employment and creating wealth.”

Dangote Vs BUA: Battle Of Nigeria’s Sworn Corporate Enemies 

By
James Orji
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0
For Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and Abdulsamad Rabiu, the Chairman of BUA,  the quest for the soul of Nigeria’s business sector have become a do or die.
The war of attrition which started a few years ago was renewed recently, after Dangote accused Rabiu of sponsoring negative reports against him in some Nigeria’s newspapers.
Detailing how his rival had tried to do him in, the business mogul said Rabiu who, like him, hailed from Kano state,  once tried to label him a saboteur of Nigeria’s economy.
According to Dangote, the vicious attack against him started in 2016 when BUA allegedly sponsored some editorials in some newspapers claiming that his companies were involved in round-tripping.
He denied the allegations, saying all the Forex he received from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, were used for the purposes they were meant for, adding that he never used the Forex allocated to him to finance his companies abroad.
 He explained that his decision to ensure that the Forex allocations to him were invested in his local companies has led to Forex gain for the country.
Reacting, however, In a letter titled ‘Blame No One But Yourself’, BUA in an explosive seven-page letter to counter the claim of Dangote, said his businesses had been a subject of sabotage by Dangote, who has allegedly done everything in his powers to run him out of business.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, BUA described his battle for survival against Dangote as “a history not of rivalry but of resulience: not of enmity. but of endurance.”
Rabiu said the reason why his businesses have survived Dangote’s onslaught is partly due to the intervention of two former Nigeria’s president, Umaru Yar’adua and Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement published hereunder,  reads: “BUA RESPONDS TO DANGOTE
It’s with a profound sense of responsibility and a heavy heart that we address the claims and very cheap attempts at blackmail levelled against BUA by Aliko Dangote in a recent I 7-page editorial following months of sponsored campaigns of calumny against us using third -party platforms. To put things in perspective, it’s imperative to revisit history-a historyn ot of rivalry but of resulience: not of enmity. but of endurance.
“In August 1991, a young BUA was doing its commodities trading business just as Nigeria faced a scarcity of sugar. As sugar was scarce, BUA was lucky to be one of the few with any stock for sale, and we stood prepared to supply the nation’s needs as best as our stock could. It was during this period Aliko Dangote approached us to purchase sugar. If only we knew he was setting the first of many traps in our business history. He gave us a Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria Cheque, which bounced upon presentation to the bank. Unknown to us this was a ruse that would lead to a court-sanctioned freeze of our assets orchestrated by Dangote. For three agonising months, our accounts were garnisheed warehouses shuttered, and our spirit tested. Yet, from the ashes of deceit, BUA survived.
Fast forward a few years later, we decided that since we were making good progress in our various businesses, we should open a sugar refinery. We approached one Usman Dantata (now late), Aliko Dangote’s uncle, and leased his NPA waterfront land (4.5 hectares) at the Tincan Island port, ‘Polo House’.
We took the land, signed an agreement with the consent of PA, and paid all applicable dues. Dangote waited until our contractors and equipment had been mobilised to the site, then he went to former Presicient Obasanio. President Obasanio had the land revoked entirely and gave the lease to Dangote. As a result, even his uncle lost the land. BUA was only given 24 hours to vacate the land. It took us over a year to get another land. How?
Our survival as a business especially our Lagos sugar refinery is a legacy handed to us by al oving father who, seeing his son’s distress, did what only the noblest and kindest of hearts could do. With unwavering faith, our chairman’s late father-may his soul rest in eternal peace- handed him the land on which our Lagos Sugar Refinery stands today. This land was the location of one of his thriving businesses with a warehouse, which he shut down and handed to us without asking for compensation. He just saw the pain of our chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, called him one day and handed him the papers to the land. His gesture was a beacon of hope in one of our darkest hours. And so, BUA survived again another Dangotet rap. Today, we are now the largest Sugar refining concern in West Atrica.
Our businesses continued to surge forward amid several other attempts, too many to mention now. In 2007, under President YarAdua’s visionary mandate to broaden Nigeria’s cement industry and break the monopoly in the sector, BUA was among the six companies selected and granted licenses. Our approach was unconventional but effective: we introduced a floating terminal – ‘BUA CEMENT I which is a cement factory built into a large ship, as a stopgap while we were working on securing our land-based cement plant.
What followed, however, was another act intended to drive us out of business. Our application to dock the floating terminal in Lagos met with resistance. We then decided to berth the shin at the terminal we owned in Port Harcourt. Despite this, we faced considerable pushback and it took the decisive intervention of late President Yar Adua who directed that the Minister of Transport and the chairman of PA honour our right to contribute to the nation’s growth.
But the hurdles didn’t end there. The drama intensified when Orwell Brown, a Deputy Comptroller General who was also an older brother to a Dangote Staff, launched a sudden strike, attempting to deport our vessel’s entire expatriate crew. It was a Friday that is forever
seared into our memory- the shock of our expatriates rounded up, their confusion as they were shepherded onto a Dangote-funded one-way local flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos en-route Asia via Emirates.
Upon heaning of what had happened, we reached out to Tanimu Yakubu, the then Chief Economic Adviser, who acted with the urgency that the situation demanded. His call to the CG of Immiaration was a lifeline, and our expatriate team was brought back from the emirates aircraft and not deported. The aftermath was swift action of the President, who ensured that such a misuse of power would not go unchecked. DC Brown, caught in a tangle of undue influence, admitted what he did to the Minister, and he was later dismissed. Through all these tribulations, BUA’s resolve has only strengthened. These events narrate not just the trials of a company but the resolve of its people, bound together by a shared vision and an unwavering belief in justice and fairness.
We also know what transpired whilst we were building our Edo Cement Plant. Everyone knows the issues we faced. The plant we are operating in Edo would not have been operating and contributing immensely to the economy, it not for the former President Buhari who had to intervene by calling Governor Obaseki that no staff must lose their jobs and the plant must not be shut down, no matter what happens. We cannot say more as the matter is currenty sub-judice – and is at the Supreme Court. During that time, Edwin Devakumar and Sunday Esan (two long-time and current staff of Dangote) were caught in leaked emails, whose content were not limited to sending thugs to foment trouble, close our factory as well as pushing bad press against us (See emails attached)
Same thing happened again with our Port Harcourt sugar refinery – the only sugar refinery in Nigeria that is outside Lagos. Dangote utilized every means possible to ensure the refinery did not take off and we raised the alarm. At some point, the terminal was taken away from us and was to have been given to someone else a the behest of Dangote. There had to be a presidential intervention again for NPA to do the right thing, yet we survived.
“For over 32 years, we have been cast as the antagonists in a narrative woven with malice. We have not just survived; we have thrived, expanding our operations and contributing to Nigeria’s economy without resorting to subterfuge. To Mr. Dangote and the Dangote Group, we say: Let us build, not belittle. Let us cultivate, not conquer. While we may share the marketplace, we need not share malice. We have nothing to do with your self-inflicted issues. Blame no one but yourself.
“In closing, we at BUA remain committed to our ethos of innovation, integrity, and inclusiveness. Our history is not one of being handed anything on a silver platter. We will continue to serve our beloved country and its people with the diligence and honour they deserve.
Our past, present, and future activities are rooted in the prosperity of Nigeria undeterred by the winds of unfounded criticism. We remain focused on building and developing Nigeria.

Kukah Says Bread And Butter Mentality Bane Of Nigeria’s Democracy

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has observed that those behind the problems of Nigeria are not also safe.

According to him, the masterminds of Nigeria’s woes are, also, as unsafe as the suffering masses. He said that although every country of the world had its own problems, it took the citizens and purposeful leaders to address such challenges.

Kukah pointed out that “It is not as if we cannot use democracy to develop Nigeria; but there are certain fundamental things that must be on ground before people can appreciate democracy.

“Unless Nigeria settles the issue of ‘bread and butter mentality’, the democracy can actually look like lottery.”

Kukah made the remarks in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in his keynote address with the theme, “The Nigerian Question: Survival of the Federation in The Throes of Increasing Economic Challenges”, at the 3rd Annual National Public Lecture of an Online Newspaper.

The Cleric also expressed pity on Nigerians who, because of many troubles, hardly travel out of their immediate environments.

“It is not as if we cannot use democracy to develop Nigeria, but there are certain fundamental things that must be on ground before people can appreciate democracy. Unless Nigeria settles the issue of ‘bread and butter mentality’, the democracy can actually look like lottery.

“The good thing about Nigeria is that everybody knows what the problems are and the people who are responsible for the problems are not also safe, they too do not know peace.

“Nigerians talk about other countries, I feel sorry for many Nigerians who, because of many troubles, hardly travel out of their immediate environments, not to talk about traveling to other parts of Africa or other parts of the world.

“Though every country has its own problems, the challenge before us in Nigeria is: what do we want, obviously, can we democratize and develop our nation?

“It is a very difficult question to answer, because what we called the civilized world today is the last 200 years of exploitation of Africa that help to build these nations.

“So we are imagining it ourselves, why are we not like other people, we are not like others because every nation has to find its own navigational truth for development.”

FG Seeks N500 Million From Individuals, Private Organisations To Free Inmates At Correctional Centres

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Olubunmi Tunji Ojo

By Ayodele Oni

As part of efforts to decongest the crowded Correctional Centers in Nigeria, the Federal Government is set to raise the sum of N500 million from private individuals and organisations to pay fines for 4000 inmates languishing in the various Correctional Centres.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,  disclosed that a whooping sum of N500m fines placed on over 4000 inmates is being raised for payment by the Federal Government.

The Minister had recently disclosed the plan by the Government to decongest the Correctional Centers through the release of people who are incarcerated due to inability to pay court fines.

Tunji-Ojo, in a chat on Saturday, explained that he had reached out to private companies and organisations to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in this direction with the aim of raising the fund.

He noted that the Government would not spend a dime to decongest Correctional facilities, assuring that the money, when raised, will be properly expended on payment of the fines.

“Border security and Correctional Centres’ reform are our major priorities for now. That is why we are about to reach the far end of raising N500m to pay fines placed on 4000 inmates.

“We have reached out to private organisations and companies to help raise the funds as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities and I am sure this will be sorted in a short time.”

NDLEA Explains Reason Behind Stop And Search Exercise In Lekki

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has faced series of criticism over the Stop and Search Exercise going on in Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, by its operatives.

Comedian, Bright Okocha, popularly known as Basketmouth had called out the Agency for embarking on such exercise on his X handle, formerly known as Twitter.

Responding, the agency revealed that the stop-and-search exercise was to “protect residents from the activities of drug dealers and disrupt supply chain of illicit substances.”

The comedian had tweeted late Friday, “Are you people  aware of the stop and search going on currently on Admiralty Way in LEKKI by members of your force? #ndlea_nigeria.”

The response on NDLEA’s X page on Saturday read, “Thanks #basket_mouth. The men are on authorized duty based on intelligence, their presence there is not a regular occurrence.

“It’s part of efforts to protect residents from the activities of drug dealers and disrupt supply chain of illicit substances. The cooperation of all is key.”

Court Dashes Ayade’s Hope, Affirms Jarigbe Jarigbe As Senator

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, failed in his bid to retire to the Senate, finally, dashed. The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Saturday, dismissed his appeal which challenged his defeat during the February 25 Senatorial Election.

The Court affirmed Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the Cross River North Senatorial District election.

Ayade of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had petitioned the Court,  which in its dismissal of his appeal, awarded  the sum of  N500,000 against him, in favour of the incumbent Senator.

Before Ayade became the Governor of Cross River State, he was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015. But in his bid to go back after his eight-year tenure as Governor, he lost by polling 56, 595 votes to Jarigbe’s  76,145 votes.

Earlier in September, the Cross River State National Assembly Election Petitions sitting in Calabar had declared Jarigbe as the winner of the February 25, Senatorial District Election and dismissed Ayade’s petition for lack of merit.

In the five-hour judgment, the Chairman, Hon. Justice M. A. Sambo, said the petitioners (Ayade and APC) failed to prove their case substantially.

Uzodimma to Mbaise Nation: “Vote For Me, I Won’t Disappoint You”

By
The Source
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Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has assured the Mbaise Nation that he will not disappoint their reasonable expectation if they massively cast their ballot for him in the November 11 governorship election.

Addressing the leadership of Ezuruezu Mbaise and other political and business leaders from the area who came to parley with him at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Council  Chamber on Thursday night, Governor Uzodimma reaffirmed his love for the people of Mbaise Nation.

“I have no issue with Mbaise Nation. I will not have any issue and that cannot happen,” Governor Uzodimma told the leaders.

The Governor reminded the Ezuruezu leadership that they have a responsibility to help the entire Mbaise Nation from their vantage positions, urging the body’s executive to take a second look at the notion that Ezuruezu is apolitical.

“I you are really interested in helping your people you must play politics. Ezuruezu must help the people by using what they have to get what they need. We can’t pretend about it. We will work together,” Governor Uzodimma told them.

The Governor reminded the Mbaise leaders on the need to be united, saying, “leadership is better if you are united. We have a responsibility to work as brothers and sisters. Form a formidable front and take advantage of your strength.”

Governor Uzodimma challenged his guests  to throw their weight behind his re-election agenda and the Charter of Equity with their bloc votes on November 11, noting that the bargaining power that lies in their bloc votes for his re-election can speak volume.

“If you vote for me, I will not disappoint you,” Governor Uzodimma assured.

On the complaints by Ezuruezu leadership about poor state of roads infrastructure in Mbaise Nation, the Governor promised that his administration is determined to fix all bad roads in Imo State. “I have sufficient information why Imo State must work and by the grace of God, Imo State must work.”

The Governor regretted that most of the local contractors he engaged to work on the rural roads in Mbaise and other parts of Imo State reneged on their promise and assured that efforts are in top gear to redress the situation. He also promised to find out the reason for the stoppage of an ongoing NDDC road project in Mbaise.

Earlier in his remarks, the President General of Ezuruezu Mbaise, Surveyor Joe Anosike thanked the Governor for granting them audience, and for all he has done for the Mbaise Nation in particular and Imo State in general since assumption of office.

He told the Governor that though the body is apolitical, most of the members are ardent supporters of his administration who are working so hard to ensure his victory at the polls on November 11.

While thanking the Governor for intervening on the Owerri-Mbaise-Obowo-Umuahia road, Anosike urged him to come to the aid of the people living on the corridor of Aba branch to Ngor Okpala, saying that the road which traverses five local government areas in Imo State needs his immediate attention, having broken down completely.

Other areas where Ezuruezu leadership sought the intervention of the Governor include the College of Midwifery, Aboh Mbaise, the return of the Imo State University Campus to Mbaise as originally conceived, the local roads in the area, among others.

He assured the Governor of their willingness to partner with him in the interest of the people and the State.

Senator Chris Anyanwu in her opening remarks, reminded the Governor that the Mbaise people are very proud of his achievements and have come not just to express it but to tell him that they are behind him on his re-election.

Sen Anyanwu noted that the parley with the leadership of Ezuruezu Mbaise and others was necessary to reaffirm the love they share with the Governor whom she noted, has so many friends in Mbaise. She said Mbaise Nation believes in the Charter of Equity and will work for its realisation.

Other key leaders from Mbaise who spoke: former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Chief Mrs Ada Okwuonu,  Chief S. Alozie (SAN) and former Permanent Secretary FCT, High Chief John Chukwu, all expressed the commitment of the Mbaise Nation to supporting the government of Governor Uzodimma and to work for his re-election.

They all aligned themselves with the demands made of the Governor by the Ezuruezu leadership, including conceding power to Owerri zone after his second tenure, and more importantly, to look the direction of Mbaise Nation where they said he will not have problems with highly qualified persons to succeed him.

Among those who joined in the parley with the Governor are the Chairman of ABC Transport, Mr. Frank Nneji, People’s Democratic Party chieftain in Ahiazu Mbaise, Dr. Sha Azu Okorie, former Ezuruezu Mbaise President General, Barr. CY. Anyanwu, former Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Godfrey Dikeocha, Chief Tony Onu, Chief Christaugunus Okoro, to name but a few.

Chairman of Ezinihitte Mbaise Council of Traditional rulers, HRH, Eze Ositadinma Nwokocha and his colleague for Aboh Mbaise, HRH Eze Marxillinus Nwaturuocha were also in attendance.

Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku, Secretary to Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmos Iwu, Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, Chief Political Adviser/Head of Political Bureau to the Governor, Barr Enyinnaya Onuegbu and other top government officials witnessed the meeting.

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