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Obi’s Encounters With Professor Who Wants Job As SA To Rep Member

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election,  Peter Obi had an uncanny meeting with a University Professor in Nsukka on Wednesday who left him with a pitiable state of his affairs as a University Professor for 14 years.

And even sought Obi’s intervention to land a more lucrative job of serving as Special Assistant to a federal legislator.

The former Anambra state governor had gone to Nsukka to campaign for a Labour Party Rep member involved in a court-declared bye-election when he ran into the Professor old friend with his pathetic story which mirrors virtually all working class in the nation’s Tertiary institutions in the country.

Sharing the touchy story in his X handle platform,  Obi wrote:

“My two key assignments in Nsukka,  Enugu state on Wednesday as significant as they were, got consumed in my chance but emotional encounter with an old friend and University mate now a Professor in the institution.

“My mission in Nsukka was for two important events. First, was to visit and assess a dilapidated health center, and second, to campaign for one of the federal legislators, Hon Dennis Agbo, contesting to represent Udenu/Igbo Eze North Federal Constituency in the forthcoming bye-election on Saturday.

I believe this legislator is committed to the good of his people.

“But while in Nsukka, I met one of those brilliant fellows  I knew while I was a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the 80s. The fellow graduated with a first class and became a lecturer in the institution.

“When I later visited the University as the then Governor of Anambra State, he proudly announced to me that he was already a professor and I rejoiced with him.

“I met him again in Nsukka on Wednesday, but our exchange of pleasantries resulted in very pathetic tales about his general welfare. I noticed in his look and mien that all his happiness of being a professor had vanished.

He began his story by telling me that he felt like he wasted all his years lecturing.

“He dragged his arousing pity story into his current remuneration as a professor. According to him his salary as of January 31, 2010, which is 14 years ago remains the same to date, having reached the pinnacle of his career.

“The only significant difference is that while the money was worth something in 2010, today the same amount is worth nothing.

“The Professor recalled how he was able to buy a Toyota Corolla from his savings, something that is not possible again today. I asked for his salary today, he said about N400,000.

“He broke my heart when he requested that I put in words for him so that Hon Dennis Agbo can appoint him as Special Adviser when he wins. The reason for the bizarre request that shocked me was that he would earn more and receive more perks as an SA than as Prof.

“Touched by this and applying my finance background  I decided to do some comparative analysis.

“By January 31, 2010, the salary of a Nigerian University Professor was about N400,000. With the then prevalent exchange rate of N150.10 per dollar, the salary amounted to about $2665.

“Fourteen years later, on January 31, 2024, the salary of a University Professor remains about N400,000. With the prevailing exchange rate of N1,510 per dollar, the same salary now amounts to about $265.

“So after putting in 14 years of hard work,  having attained the zenith of his academic career, a Nigerian University Professor now earns 10% of what he earned 14 years ago – this is only possible in Nigeria.

”A few years ago, a Toyota Corolla cost N4.8 million, so his annual salary without any expenditure on any other item, amounting to about N4.8 million, could buy a Toyota Corolla.

“Today, the same Toyota Corolla costs about N52 million which is more than 10 years of his salary without expenditure, to be able to buy one, after having attained the highest point one can achieve in academia.

“Considering the critical role education plays in the development of a nation, and the low human development index, HDI, we are currently at, we require as many hands and a committed workforce as we can get in that sector. But can we get such, when the earnings of our professors are going backward relatively?

“Sadly, we are in the same country where the government can use an amount enough to buy 3 Toyota Corollas, to buy personal SUVs for the legislators, whose annual earnings amount to several times that of the university professor and can now afford to pay the professor more than he can earn from lecturing in a premier university in Nigeria. How does one then remain earnestly committed to contributing to the critical development of the nation?

”My campaign, therefore, is to dismantle this criminality and create a functional society where people’s talents, efforts, and sacrifices will match up with their opportunities in life.’

FG To Launch “Mega City Project”, Targets Affordable Housing For All –  Alhaji Tijani Gwarzo

By
The Source
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Alhaji Abdullahi Tijani Muhammad Gwarzo

By Daniel Maduka

The Federal Government would soon give teeth to the housing aspect of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renew Hope Agenda”, as plans have reached advanced stages for the launch of the Mega City Project, Minister of State For Housing And Urban Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijani Muhammad Gwarzo has said .

The Minister who gave the assurance on Wednesday ,January 31 in Abuja when he received in audience Executive members of Medical And Dental Consultant Association Of Nigeria, acknowledged the crucial roles of the medical body  in the task of providing decent and healthy houses for the citizenry.

In a release issued and signed by his Special Assistant Media Adamu Abdullahi and made available to The Source, Kano born ,Alhaji Gwarzo, noted that the Federal Government’s “Mega City Project” is targeted at providing affordable housing for all Nigerians irrespective of economic and social status.

He appreciated the Medical Union for their foresight in keying into the project, as well as seeking collaboration with the Ministry, assurring of the readiness of the Ministry of Housing to partner with them towards the construction of Housing Estates across the country.

The National President of  the Medical And Dental Consultants, Professor Muhammad Aminu Muhammad had earlier informed the Minister that their visit is to solicit the support and collaboration of the ministry in the area of provision of affordable, safe ,and stable houses in accordance with health planning.

Prof Muhammad, therefore, called on the Minister to assist in the facilitation of allotment of a plot of land in Abuja for the construction of its National Headquarters.

FG Threatens States For Collecting N2trn Mining Royalties

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The federal government has threatened to deduct directly from the monthly allocation of state government that fails to pay mining royalties to the centre.
Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development issued the threat on Thursday in Kaduna  at a meeting with Licensed Minerals Holders, Laterite /Sand Operators Dealers in the state.
The minister said what states government  are owing federal government over N2 trillion as mining royalties collected from miners.
According to the minister, it’s wrong for the state governments to collect royalties in behalf of the federal government, and failed to remit same to the appropriate quarters.
He said a special task force has been set up to tackle the activities of illegal miners in the country, stressing that state governments “are not to collect royalty and tax on mining.”
“Miners and Operators owed the federal government more than N2 trillion,” the minister who was represented at the event by the Acting Zonal Office r, North west zonal office, Kutman Hosea Ali, stated.
“We have made it very clear that in Kaduna State, every operator should make bold steps and clear their debt,” the minister, represented by the Acting Zonal Mines Officer, North-West Zonal Office, Kutman Hosea Ali, stated.
Adding that “Any state government or any local government that collects money in the name of Royalty or Mineral Tax will be deducted from the source allocated to the State.
“The Special Mines Taskforce has been activated in Kaduna State and they had commenced operation on the war against illegal Mining and nonpayment of royalties which must be paid monthly as well as other taxes to the Government of Nigeria.”
The minister recently accused some prominent Nigerians of aiding illegal mining in the country, which fueled insecurity.

Afenifere Flays FG’s Handling Of Security Challenges, Insists On Restructuring

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Factional Afenifere, being led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo has advised that the permanent option to the insecurity in the country is restructuring as a true federation with a new constitution using the reports of the 2014 National Conference as minimum template.

Rising from its meeting at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun state, the group pointed out that the State Police option should also be considered in the overall security of the nation.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting presided over by its leader, Adebanjo.

The meeting considered reports from delegations sent to Plateau and Oyo states on the Christmas killing and explosion which happened in the two states before arriving at its resolutions.

It urged South West states to fully equip the Amotekun Corps in a greater proportion of weaponry than available to terrorists now ravaging the land.

Afenifere berated the federal government for handling the issue of security with kid gloves and  called on the people to rise in their own defence stating that no action is illegitimate in self defence.

On the leadership crisis within Afenifere,  it resolved that “For the umpteenth time, the Meeting reiterated that Afenifere is the Yoruba interpretation of Action Group, a political party founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues on social welfarist ideology.

“The Group is constituted by those who subscribe to its ideology.

Afenifere is thus not a Yoruba sociocultural group or social club of Yoruba.”

The Communique

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING OF THE AFENIFERE HELD AT THE COUNTRY HOME OF THE LEADER, CHIEF AYO ADEBANJO AT ISANYA OGBO OGUN STATE ON TUESDAY 30TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024

000 PREAMBLE.

The Afenifere held its regular monthly General Meeting today, 30th day of January 2024, at the country home of the Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.

The Meeting was attended by delegates from the member states and after intensive deliberations on the state of the nation Resolved as follows:

2.00 RESOLUTIONS

2.01 on the Plateau Christmas eve terrorists attacks: Afenifere received reports of the visit of the delegation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum to the Government and people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt on the killings by terrorists in several parts of Plateau State on the eve of Christmas last year.

2.02 The delegation which was led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Leader of Afenifere and Deputy Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum included other leaders across the federation and received by the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, traditional rulers, Leaders of Thought in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt. It was resolved by all that the country needed be urgently restructured as a true federation with a new constitution using the reports of the 2014 National Conference as minimum template The imperative of State Police was emphasised in the overall security of the nation.

2.03 On the Ibadan explosion: The Meeting further received reports of its delegation led by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan to the Government and people of Oyo State on the recent Ibadan explosion.

The delegation and the host Governor Seyi Makinde noted that the unfortunate incident was made possible under the pseudo-Federal military constitution where explosives of that magnitude may be used in states without regulations by the state government.

2.04 On the Amotekun South West Security Networks: The Governor briefed the delegation on the activities of the Amotekun Security Corps. The delegation noted the immense contribution of the Amotekun initiative, commended and urged the governments of all South West states to fully equip the Corps in a greater proportion of weaponry than available to terrorists now ravaging our land.

2.05 Increased terrorists attacks in Nigeria and Yorubaland;

The Meeting was incensed by the activities of terrorists all over the country and its incursion into Yoruba land, the latest being the gruesome and sacrilegious murder of two Obas in Ekiti State.

The Meeting noted the unfortunate kid gloves with which the Federal Government continued to treat Security matters and therefore called on the people to rise in their own defence stating that no action is illegitimate in self defence.2.06 Afenifere:

For the umpteenth time, the Meeting reiterated that Afenifere is the Yoruba interpretation of Action Group, a political party founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues on social welfarist ideology

The Group is constituted by those who subscribe to its ideology.

Afenifere is thus not a Yoruba sociocultural group or social club of Yoruba.

2.07 The General Meeting as the highest organ, expressed the appreciation of Afenifere for the untiring activities of its leadership in line with the objectives and aspirations of its founding fathers.

The Meeting thus resolved and passed a vote of confidence on Chief Ayo Adebanjo as the Leader and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the Deputy Leader of the Organisation*.

2.08 Appointments.

The Meeting approved the following appointments

(1) Mr. Alade Rotimi-John as Assistant Secretary General

(2) Prince Justice Jadesola Faloye as Assistant National Publicity Secretary.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

Leader.

Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo

National Publicity Secretary.

Otti Challenges Nigerian Universities On Financial Independence, Asks Them To Remove Begging Cap For Thinking Cap

By
The Source
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Alex Otti

By Daniel Maduka

The Abia State Government has assured that it will take all necessary steps to address all the challenges facing the State-own University, Abia state university Uturu.

This is even as Governor Alex Otti, has challenged the Management of the Institution to put on its thinking cap, with a view to fashioning ways of being independent, as in other climes.

The Source reports that there has been a disruption of industrial harmony at the university in the last two weeks over claims of unpaid 11 months salary arrears, which is believed to have pre-dated the present Government.

The Governor who spoke  on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, when he received in audience a delegation of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU led by its Zonal coordinator Calabar zone Dr Happiness Uduak,

expressed shock over the 18 months salary differentials the Union said are being owed its ABSU members from 2009- 2010, in addition to the 11 months salary arrears owed them by the previous administration.

Governor Otti, however noted that universities, especially, the older ones should be able to function, independent of government subventions, adding that the Union members should work hand in glove with the management to make the university financially independent.

“It is important we put on  our thinking cap and remove our begging cap because this whole idea of begging is the problem we have in Nigeria

“Even as a country, we keep begging, we keep borrowing . We need to think about being financially independent.

“Even from research alone, if there is anything happening in the university ,we should be able to generate enough resources to do a few things.” Governor Otti stated.

The Governor, while promising to parley with the university authority, on how to solve the identified challenges, however said his administration is mulling the establishment of a Visitation Panel, as part of a restructuring process.

The ASUU delegation leader, Dr Uduak, appreciated the Government’s efforts towards stabilizing ABSU since mounting the saddle in the last few months, particularly in the area of prompt release of monthly subventions, a gesture which, according to her  has been instrumental to the industrial harmony between the government and the union.

She appealed to the Government to look into the issue of the 11 months salary arrears being owed the members ,as well as consider an up ward review of the university’s monthly subvention subventions.

Explosion Kill Suspected Oil Pipeline Vandals In Imo

By
Ayodele Oni
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Pipeline Explosion

By Ayodele Oni

Police in Imo State has confirmed the death of five persons in an explosion at Obitti community in Ohaji/Egbema local government.

It was gathered that the deceased persons are suspected to be vandals of oil pipeline, caught while perpetrating the act.

Investigation revealed that the vandals had stormed the Obitti Rubber Estate with an articulated vehicle and dug through to an oil pipeline that passed through the area.

“They dug a hole in the pipeline and connected their long pipe to their tanker to steal oil.

Residents explained “I cannot say exactly what caused the explosion but I knew, and from what I saw, many people died. Many others, who narrowly escaped the explosion, sustained serious injuries.

“The fire that raged for hours burnt the tanker and also destroyed our farm produce worth millions of naira.”

ASP Henry Okoye, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command confirmed the death, on Wednesday, in Owerri.

Okoye said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, has set up a team to unravel the immediate cause of the incident and arrest fleeing culprits.

Gani Adams Wants OPC Involvement In SW Security

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has accepted to take charge of security in the southwest region in view of rise in banditry.

According to him, insecurity across South West region would be curtailed within six months if governors in the region can involve Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC) in their plans to tackle the menace.

Gani Adams, who spoke in Ile-Ife, Osun State at the grand finale of this year’s edition of Oodua Festival, lamented the sudden rise in the cases of violent crimes in the region.

The National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, who noted that all efforts by both the Federal and the state government to address insecurity have failed, said the global community no longer take Nigeria seriously due to the large number of lives that have been lost to insecurity.

“The bad elements are now relocating to Lagos. Remember, that was how it started in Plateau State. As the Aare onakakanfo of Yoruba land, we will not allow the Plateau massacre to be replicated in any part of Yorubaland.

“With the present security situation in the country, it is obvious that the government cannot do it alone. If the governors of the South West involve me in their efforts to curb insecurity in the region, I assure you that the security challenges in the region will reduce drastically within six months.

“A good example of our involvement in curbing the security challenges in Lagos was when Baddo was the major security threat in Lagos and Ogun states, especially in Ikorodu area of the state.”

Ondo Reps Bye Election: INEC Assures Transparency, Distributes Materials

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters in Saturday’s bye-election that there will be no hitches.

This is just as the commission distributed sensitive materials ahead of the Akoko North-East/ Akoko North-West Federal constituency bye-election scheduled to hold on Feb 3.

The Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency became vacant after President Bola Tinubu appointed  Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as a minister.

Representatives of the eight political parties contesting in the election and security agencies including NSCDC, FRSC, Police, Immigration and DSS were at the INEC office in Akure, where the materials were distributed.

Kunle Ajayi, INEC National Commissioner, supervising Osun Ogun and Ondo, who monitored the exercise, said that the distribution  of the ballot papers was to show that the commission was ready for the by-election.

Ajayi, who said that the commission would be transparent in the conduct of the election,  appealed to the political parties to eschew violence on the election day.

The commissioner said that the sensitive materials were being distributed early to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted or does not get materials for the election.

“So the sensitive materials will be moved to the two local governments councils by Thursday  with the help of security agencies.

“And, we want people to have confidence in INEC’s conduct of a free and fair election because we don’t have any political party, we don’t have any candidate, we are neutral in everything that we are doing. And we are going to reflect that again in Saturday’s by-election

In her remarks, Mrs Toyin  Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo state, assured the political parties of the commission’s readiness to conduct transparent, free and fair election.

“The riot act has been read to all adhoc staff on implication of getting involved in any electoral malpractice.

“So, our level of transparency is going to be high with utmost professionalism. Moreover, we have trained our staff, trained our officers and talked to ourselves and we will do it right.”

Mr Adesanya Olaoluwa, State Chairman of Inter -Party Advisory Council (IPAC) commended the INEC for transparency in the exercise saying all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.

Supreme Court Rulings On Kano, Plateau, Others, Confirm Tinubu, Ganduje As Democrats – Nwaji, APC Chieftain

By
The Source
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Sylvanus Uzoma Nwaji

By Daniel Maduka

The recent Supreme Court rulings on some  States’ Gubernatorial  legal contests which saw the All Progressive  Congress APC  lose almost all of its appeals, have dispelled the opinions held before now in some quarters that President Bola Tinubu and the top hierarchy of the Party have  been  influencing the Judiciary.

In the same vein, it has eloquently testified to  the   commendable democratic credentials of the President and the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Abdullahi  Ganduje as political actors whose conducts are  consistently guided by the rule of law.

These were the views of an Abia State APC Chieftain and prominent opinion leader of the Ukwa Nation, Chief Sylvanus Uzoma Nwaji, in an interview with The Source on Monday January 29 2024, in Aba.

The four-time Chairman of the Oil rich Ukwa West Local Council of Abia State, noted that President Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, used the gubernatorial outcomes in such States as Kano and Plateau to demonstrate  to Nigerians and the world generally that they  are patriotic leaders out to promote the growth of democracy.

“The National Chairman deserves to be applauded, for not going to extreme points as some in his position would have done just to ensure that they retain control of their base.

“President Tinubu, also, exhibited a rare and great political restraint, not to be carried away by political expediency, the way some would have in a bid to capture the all important Kano state.

“We are all aware of the importance of Kano to the peace and security of this Country,. And anybody and/ or group that sacrificed personal interests for peace to reign in such an important State as Kano deserves some respect.” Nwaji stated

Chief Nwaji further stressed that the Supreme court rulings on the Gubernatorial disputes ,have shown that contrary to the views in the opposition camps ,the Judiciary was not in any way manipulated, cajoled and/or influenced in its handling of the Presidential  election petitions.

“With these Supreme Court judgments on the Governorship contests wherein the ruling APC lost all its appeals, including some key States, it should be clear that the Judiciary has never been under the influence of anybody..

“President Tinubu’s opponents should accept defeat and move on because we are currently seeing the true nature of independent judiciary.

“Whatever good changes we are seeing now is a process. And it has started with an independent judiciary which we should all celebrate.” Nwaji noted

First Bank: Finally, Maverick Otedola Grabs Nigeria’s Premier Bank

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
Billionaire Femi Otedola, has been appointed the Chairman of FBN Holdings, the parent company of Nigeria’s premier commercial bank, First Bank Nigeria, FBN.
The financial behemoth made his appointment known in a disclosure filed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, on Wednesday.
According to the bank, the businessman has been elected by the board of the bank following the departure of Ahmad Abdullahi, the former holder of the position.
Otedola is coming to the position barely two years after he swore never to take up position in the board of the bank.
He made the assertion during the contest between him and a former chairman of the bank, Oba Otudeko to purchase the controlling shares of the bank in 2021 with the aim of taking it over.
The magazine had reported insiders’ suggestion that Otedola was planning to beat Otudeko in his own game of plotting to return to the bank where he once held sway as chairman before he was sacked by embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele over alleged abuse of office, insider trading, and illegal removal of Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan as FBN Limited Managing Director.
Otedola had committed N45 billion to purchase 2,717,282,140 shares in the group with the intention of upturning the apple’s cart against his major rival, Otudeko.
He however denied the alleged move, saying he was on his way to retirement from boardroom scheming, stressing that he preferred professionals to be in charge of the bank.
He was simply grandstanding as events have now clearly indicated.
He said: “I am simply an investor who saw an opportunity in the financial institution and decided to take advantage of it through the investment I have made.
“My interest, contrary to speculations is not to become chairman of the bank or its holdco. Moreover, I am in semi-retirement.”
“Being the single largest shareholder doesn’t mean I must necessarily hold a position in the bank. I believe in allowing competent people run institutions in a professional manner and to the benefit of all the stakeholders.”
Keen stakeholders in the industry informed the magazine after his appointment was announced yesterday that it has nursed ‘serious’ to take over the bank from the onset, notwithstanding his denial.
The business mogul who recently shelled  out over N6 billion to purchase shares in Dangote Cement, insiders stressed, has become bullish in his quest to have a pie in major sectors of the economy.
“Recall that he was technically edged out from taking over Transcorp by Elumelu who quickly increased his shares in the power firm, thereby stopping Otedola from overthrowing him. The power, banking and manufacturing sectors are Otedola’s targets, according to insiders, in his quest to maintain his position as one of Nigeria’s richest men.
According to Forbes Businessmen Index released early in January, Otedola was racked alongside Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, and Abdulrahman Abdulsamad as Nigeria’s fourth richest man with a net worth of $1.1 billion.
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