Home Blog Page 1461

President Tinubu Charges Ministers To Prioritize Interest Of Nigerians

August 21, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu on Monday, August 21, 2022, swore – in 45 newly inaugurated Ministers with a charge to prioritize the interests and welfare of the entire nation and its diverse population, above any regional or state-specific considerations.

The President underscored the immense responsibility the ministers now bear in shaping policies that will significantly influence the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians.

“You are not a Minister of a particular State, colony, region, or ethnic nationality. You are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,”

A State House statement reads “This is all about the cohesion and work of a great team, and I believe we now have it. It is an honour to be chosen to serve as a minister in the Federal Executive Council, and such a high honour comes with tremendous responsibility.

“In this moment of abundant promise and peril in equal measure, all of you that have been sworn in have been called to distinguish yourselves. Nigerians are highly expectant of excellence in service delivery, accountability, and transparency.”

The President also reminded the new ministers that they can not disappoint Nigerians, who expect them to serve with integrity, dignity and competence to actualize the Renewed Hope manifesto of the administration—failing which he will not hesitate to take necessary remedial measures.

“As your country honours you today, you must each work to make yourselves worthy in the eyes of God and our entire nation’s people.

“Your highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that our people can once again believe that government can be a positive force for transformation and a vehicle for collective progress of all citizens of this great country,”

President Tinubu, while congratulating each of the ministers and welcoming them to “the Administration of Renewed Hope,” further affirmed that the newly appointed ministers were selected based on their track records of excellence in both the public and private sectors, noting their effective representation of the rich diversity present within Nigeria.

“In this new assignment, we are in this boat together, even if it is a vehicle, I am the driver. The entire nation sits watchful, as you and I navigate this vehicle.

“We must hold each other responsible. We have to do the job to meet the expectations of all Nigerians. God be with you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Women Group Seeks Akpabio’s Resignation Over Careless Statement

Akinwale Kasali

August 21, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

A Niger Delta Women Group, under the aegis of Niger Delta Women League, has called for the immediate resignation of Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

The Group, in a Statement on Monday, August 21, 2023, signed by its National President, Sheila Abiye Tamuno, and Coordinators from all South South States and Ondo State and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, said that Akpabio was not elected to joke with the lives of millions of Nigerians, many of whom are groaning under hardship.

This call is coming following a Statement by the former Akwa Ibom State Governor that money had been sent to the bank accounts of Senators for enjoyment during their recess.

The Group added that another statement, “let the poor breathe”, which the Senate President joked with was offensive and careless.

In a statement on Monday, NDWL said they are convinced that Akpabio does not understand the seriousness of his position as Senate President.

“It is our solid conviction that Akpabio does not understand the seriousness of the legislative business of the senate of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, hence he has elected to joke with the fate of over two hundred million Nigerians,” they said.

“It is sufficiently clear that from his infamous ‘Let the poor breathe’ misplaced joke to ‘token has been sent to your bank accounts to enable you enjoy your vacation’, Akpabio has inconsiderately and injuriously slammed the gavel on the head of every Nigerian.

“We are bleeding from his actions and he needs to leave before he kills us all.

“We call on H.E (Sen) Godswill Akpabio to honorably resign his position as president of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and drop the gavel with immediate effect.”

Stakeholders Lament Continued Security Threats In North East; General Doubts “Repented” Insurgents

Akinwale Kasali

August 21, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Stakeholders at the ongoing 12th North-East Zonal Conference of State Directors of Security are perturbed by the continued spate of insecurity in the North East.

They also expressed grave concern over emerging security threats and criminalities capable of igniting a Boko Haram-style crisis across the region which has remained abated over the years.

In order to find a way to restore peace and tranquillity in the North East, a three-day Conference waa organized to navigate the future and brainstorm on how the insurgency can be tamed.

The event is holding at the Borno State Command of the Department of State Services, DSS, and began on Monday, August 21.

Discussing challenges bedeviling the region, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Kanemi, who spoke on the emerging criminalities and security threats in some communities in Borno State, recalled that such threats gave birth to the Boko Haram crisis because they were neglected.

“Security Chiefs should, therefore, identify and nip in the bud all such criminalities and security threats to avoid a recurrence of Boko Haram,” the Monarch, represented by one of his title holders, Alhaji Hassan Boguma, the Zanna Boguma of Borno, charged.

“Criminalities by the traumatised youth population are emerging from the rubbles of the Boko Haram insurgency,” the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Lawal Yusuf, observed.

Citing the example of a growing group of miscreants called Malians, unleashing terror in the Maiduguri metropolis, the CP called for strengthened synergy and cooperation among all security agencies across the region to identify and nip in the bud all such criminalities.

The Commander of the 7 Division Garrison, Brig. Gen. Timothy Opurum, expressed reservations on the ongoing repentance and surrender of Boko Haram insurgents.

“They (repentant insurgents) surrender and lay down their arms, but who knows if they are up to some pranks?” he queried, suggesting, “so the post-insurgency period should even be more important to us the security agencies in terms of intelligence gathering and sharing to nip all threats in the bud.”

Declaring open the conference, Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by the Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, concurred with all earlier speakers, expressing grief that new crimes and criminalities are emerging from the rubbles of Boko Haram.

“Inter-agency synergy and cooperation must be upheld because no individual agency can do it alone,” he charged, stressing, “There has to be strengthened synergy and cooperation to deal with the adversaries (insurgents and other criminals).”

The Conference, according to the Chairman of its organising committee, Hussaini Abdullahi, was “in furtherance of the sequence of such quarterly conferences introduced by the State Security Services to bring together directors within the zone to deliberate on general and specific secury situation of respective states, share experience on identified basic and contemporary security threats affecting the sub-region, as well as adopt practical steps/measures in neutralising them.”

Ministers’ Inauguration: Reps’ Job Racketeering Committee Shifts Hearing To Tuesday

Tosin Olatokunbo

August 21, 2023

The Adhoc Committee investigating Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, Parastatals and Tertiary Institutions on Mismanagement of Personnel Recruitment Employment Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, which was earlier scheduled to continue on Monday, August 21, 2023, has been moved to Tuesday, 22, 2023.

The Chairman of the Committee, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, said this was to enable heads of agencies, parastatals, departments and other institutions to attend or participate in the swearing-in ceremony of ministers scheduled at the same time of the hearing.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCDA, was to make a presentation before the Legislative panel on Monday. Other agencies who were asked to make more submissions after their appearance last week were also expected at the hearing.

The investigative hearings which started on August 1, 2023, has so made revelations that the Committee Chairmen, Gagdi, has said will aid the lawmakers make informed decisions in making its final recommendations to the House.

He has consistently assured that the Committee will be fair and just, to every of the over 600 agencies under its probe.

In the previous outing by the committee, the chairman, Gagdi decried the deliberate exclusion of common Nigerians from recruitment into public institutions through the use of waivers.

Speaking when the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, appeared before the committee, Gagdi said it was unacceptable that the common man is denied the opportunity to get employment into Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.

He made the comment after observations by the committee members that many agencies preferred to secure waivers from the Federal Character Commission, FCC, and other relevant agencies to recruit staff into the civil service without notifying the public of those vacancies through advertisements.

The lawmaker also noted that many of the agencies do not reflect federal character in their employment, leading to a situation where some states get many slots, while others are left with next to nothing.

He, therefore, demanded that all agencies who are to appear before the committee must submit their nominal payroll to enable the committee scrutinise and make appropriate recommendations where the Federal Character representation is skewed

Owerri: Tragic Sunday As Gunmen Kill Police Officer, Wife

The Source

August 21, 2023

By Charles Igbo

It was a tragic Sunday, August 20, 2023, in Owerri, capital of Imo State, when gunmen, numbering three, killed a retired Police Officer and his wife.

The two were killed at the Fire Service Police Shopping Complex.

The gunmen who came in a black-coloured Sienna, shot and killed the Police Officer identified as Sampson Owobo, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and heartlessly, also, shot and killed his wife who rushed down to her husband’s aid on hearing his screams.

The incident took place at about 8.00pm.

Eye witnesses said the gunmen arrived at Owodo’s shop in pretence that they wanted to do a POS transaction. But in the process, they attempted to grab a bag containing money from the daughter of the Police Officer. Intuitively, the retired Police Officer tried to resist them. That was a mistake.

They shot him. His wife, on hearing her husband’s screams, and seeing people running away, rushed to his aid, but was equally shot as she shouted “my husband, my husband”.

While her husband died on the spot, the brave woman died on the way to the hospital, leaving their children, suddenly, orphaned.

ASP Owobo hailed from Benin, Edo State.

At the time of filing this report, the Police Command has not issued a statement, but the crime scene has been cordoned off.

Pastor Bakare: Size Of Tinubu’s Cabinet Hypocritical; Some Appointees Reward For Bad Behaviour

Ayodele Oni

August 21, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church has advised President Bola Tinubu to consider a reduction in the size of his government.

The Cleric, in a sermon pointed out that the administration is setting a record of highest number of political appointees since return of democracy in 1999.

The Cleric stated that ” a government that is asking the poor to tighten their belt cannot afford a bloated waste life.

“A reduction in the size of governance will ultimately translate to a reduction in government spendings.

“By nominating 48 Ministers, the president is about to set a record for highest number since 1999. This is not the kind of record expected from a supposed reform minded government.

“In a world of cutting edge nations, in which governance is becoming lean and agile, what does the president needs 48 Ministers or cabinet of close to 70 for other than distribution of patronage.

“It is hypocritical for a government that has subjected Nigerians to untold hardship by adopting neo liberal policy prescriptions to now turn around and expand size of government, thereby violating a core aspect of some liberal principles.

“That Mr President does not constitute genuine reforms. It is a government by political convenient.

“Truth must be told, certain ministerial appointments and that of APC National Chairman by consensus illustrates the error that proceeds from the ruler. It a reward for bad behaviour and mediocrity in our Polity.”

Foreign: Niger: Stalemate As ECOWAS Rejects Junta’s 3-Year Transition Plan

Tosin Olatokunbo

August 21, 2023

The political stalemate in Niger Republic seems to be far from over as the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS has rejected the plan by the military junta in the country to remain in power for three years before handing over power.

The junta led by Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani took power last month and has refused to relinquish power to deposed President Muhammed Bazoum despite pressure from the regional leaders.

In response to the insistence of the soldiers to stay put in power, the 15-country ECOWAS bloc has threatened the use of force if diplomacy failed.

Last week, the Chief of General Staff from the region met in Ghana where they restated their position to use force to reinstate Bazoum.

But in what some leaders in ECOWAS have described as a provocation, the military junta in the country said on Sunday they are not prepared to leave power very soon.

The General Tchiani-led coup plotters said they need at least three years to set in motion a transition government.

This is not acceptable, according to ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musa.

Musa during an interview with BBC described General Tchiani’s proposal as a plot to scuttle the ongoing peace efforts by the regional body to restore peace and stability to the country.

Last week, Ali Lamine Zeine, the recently appointed Prime Minister disclosed that the junta was ready for dialogue following weeks of stalemate as ECOWAS and other world leaders tried to find a solution to the political crisis in the landlocked country.

Meanwhile, watchers of what is going on in the country said the junta has further raised the stakes in their quest to entrench themselves in power despite external pressure to force them out.

Subsidy Removal: 27m PWDs Demands N9bn Palliatives

Tosin Olatokunbo

August 21, 2023

People living with disability under the aegis of the National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, NAPWPD, has demanded a share of the monetary palliative recently distributed to the 36 states and FCT.

Over 27 million, according to government’s statistics are currently living with one disability or the other in Nigeria.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced last week that his government has distributed N5 billion each to the state governments and the FCT.

The amount totaling N185 billion is to be used to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government on Nigerians.

In a statement released on Sunday the PWDs said five percent of the total sum should be allocated to their members in line with the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Prohibition Act.

Doing so, they said will go a long way to cushion the effects of the economic hardship brought by ending the petrol subsidy regime on their members.

The palliative is to ease the hardship of the petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.

The national president of the association, Rilwan Mohammed,

who signed the statement said they are part of the country and should not be excluded from what the government is doing to assist Nigerians to survive the current economic situation in the country.

PWDs, he explained, need special protection, in his statement quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria, NANS.

“The impact of the removal has continued to have a debilitating impact on PWDs who are largely poor and vulnerable,” NAN quoted Mohammed as saying.

Citing the challenges facing his members, Mohammed said “The inability of PWDs to afford decent food, healthcare and necessities of life have been compounded and made worse with the recent situation in the country.”

According to him, “Our members now find it difficult to access public transport as the transport system is largely inaccessible and unaffordable to members of the disability community.”

“The vehicles should also be fitted with signage and electronic display for directions with audio announcements for the benefit of the deaf and the blind.

“All these are provided for in the disability law.

“Our demands, therefore, are not based on charity requests but consistent with legal provisions.”

Some states have announced various interventionists programmes after receiving the N5 billion palliatives from the federal government.

NPAN Congratulates Edun, Idris

The Source

August 21, 2023

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), has described as well deserved, the appointment as Ministers, of Mr Olawale Edun and Alh. Mohammed Idris. Both of them were Executive members of the Association.

While Edun was the Treasurer, Idris was the General Secretary.

Their very rich resumes and track records speak for them and we congratulate them on their new assignments, while thanking Mr. President, for giving them the opportunity to contribute to nation building at this critical moment of national development.

Mr. Edun, an economist, was the Chairman of Vintage Press, publishers of Nation Newspapers while Alh. Idris, a public relations guru and media entrepreneur, is the Publisher of the Blue Print newspapers.

Signed

MAL. KABIRU A. YUSUF
PRESIDENT
NPAN

What Are Your Names, Hon Deputy Speaker Kalu?

The Source

August 21, 2023

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

How many times in a life time can one change names? There seems to be no limit. Why do people change names? The answers are as many as the people you ask. Neither legality nor morality, some claim, is offended if you change your name.

A name is important as an individual’s official, even private, identity. Some change names with minimal regard to their importance and implications.

Could they be the ones who have come up with that seemingly incorrect line, “What are your names?”. You could expect an answer like, “My names are…, but I am addressed as…, also known as…, and also called… just call me anyone”.

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu Okezie is at the centre of a plethora of name changes that is central to the election petition case before the three-man National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal 4 Panel of Honourable Justice Samson P. Gang, Chairman, Honourable Justice Kabiru Ibrahim Ahmed, and Honourable Justice Abdulfatai Baba Sekoni, members, which rounded up on 14 August 2023 in Umuahia.

Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN, in his final address remarked that the petitioner Chief Ifeanyi Frank Chinasa of the Labour Party’s case was built on questions about Benjamin Kalu Okezie who made several changes to his names.

Kalu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, born as Umunna Okezie in 1971, had made these distinct and different changes to his name, according to Usman’s address:

.Affidavit of Change of Name of 17th day of June, 2002

.Affidavit of Change of Name of 10th day of January, 2011

.Deed Poll of 6th October, 2011. South Africa Gazette No. 25492 of 03 October, 2003 for change of name

Punch Newspaper of Thursday August 29, 2002

Usman said the changes provided grounds to doubt Kalu’s identity and ownership of the education documents he uses.

Benjamin Kalu Okezie has documents bearing these names –

The 1st Respondent’s First School Leaving Certificate which he obtained in 1983 but was issued in 1987 has the name Umunna Okezie.

The name in the 1st Respondent’s Leaving Certificate and Testimonial of 1988 is Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie.

The 1st Respondent’s West African Examinations Council Certificate of 1991 bears Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie.

The name in 1st Respondent’s Bachelor of Laws Certificate of 1998 is Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie.

.The name of the 1st Respondent in the Council of Legal Education Certificate of 2011 is Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu.

.The 1st Respondent’s NYSC Discharge Certificate of 2011 has Kalu Benjamin Okezie as his name.

.His Certificate of Call to Bar of 2006 has the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu.

.The name in the 1st Respondent’s Statutory Declaration of Age of 2002 is Kalu Benjamin Okezie.

The INEC Form EC 9 for 2019 election submitted by the 1st Respondent bears Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

.INEC Form EC 9 for 2023 election submitted by the 1st Respondent has the name Kalu Benjamin Okezie.

In the course of the trial, Kalu had deposed on oath thus: “That consequently, upon these changes and steps, the Registry of the Supreme Court enrolled me as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with my name Kalu Benjamin Okezie on the 6th day of June, 2012 with enrolment number SCN/078630.”

Usman dug in on the deposition, drawing the attention of the tribunal to the facts that the Certificate of Call to Bar and Council of Legal Education Certificate Kalu tendered had “Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu” on them and not “Kalu Benjamin Okezie”. The Call to Bar Certificate read 6th day of September, 2011 and not 6th day of June, 2012 when Kalu said he was called to Bar. Usman continued that if Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 6th day of September, 2011, he would have enrolled at the registry of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the same day.

“The 1st Respondent could not have enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 6th day of June, 2012, nine (9) months after his Call to Bar. The 1st Respondent had the burden to explain to the Honourable Tribunal the reason for his delayed enrolment, if at all he was called by the Body of Benchers and enrolled before the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” Usman said.

Usman raised more issues. Kalu’s 2006 Certificate of Birth and his 2002 Statutory Declaration of Age obtained in 2002 also bear Kalu Benjamin Okezie. An age document is one of the mandatory documents for registration at the Nigerian Law School. Usman wondered how the Call to Bar Certificate and Council of Legal Education Certificate will bear different names Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu and not Kalu Benjamin Okezie which is also on Kalu’s NYSC certificate.

Usman said since it was evident that the first respondent lacked the necessary qualifications to stand for the election, the tribunal should nullify Kalu’s victory and declare Chief Chinasa as the rightful winner.

Kelvin Nwufo, SAN, Kalu’s lawyer, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of merit. Kalu, he said, did not forge any documents and that all the contested documents bearing different names of Kalu had been duly reconciled and published in the Federal Government Gazette, as the law required.

Counsel of All Progressives Congress, APC, Viginus Nwankwo argued that the burden of proof in Kalu’s names lay with the petitioner. He stated that the burden was not adequately discharged. He was in tandem with Nwufo in asking that the petition be dismissed.

Ifeanyi Chukwuka Igbokwe of Action Alliance, AA, asked that the election should be cancelled as INEC excluded his party’s logo on the ballot paper. INEC stated that AA had no candidate in the election. Its candidate’s name was submitted outside the time the law provided. Latest reports say Igbokwe has disclaimed the suit. He said neither the petitioner nor the counsel was known to him. Igbokwe said he was celebrating with his brother who had been elected the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Outside the tribunal, the counsels bantered in more accessible language, called each other by name or honorifics, in an ambience that belied the battle of a few minutes earlier.

It is important to know what people are. It is more important to know who they are, by name. If you ask the Honourable Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives his names, he has a rich repertoire from which to draw answers.

The tribunal will announce a date for the judgement.

Finally…

PASSENGERS are STILL being asked to disembark and walk across checkpoints in the South East. It doesn’t matter if it is raining or if those being humiliated were old, infirm, infants, or pregnant women. The “punishment” is repeated at every checkpoint. Who ordered this practice? When Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe raised the matter on the floor of the Senate, they stopped for a few days. Perhaps, they know that the Senate is on recess.

Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues

1...1,4601,4611,462...2,908 Page 1,461 of 2,908