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National Economic Council Set To Tackle Crude Oil Theft, Constitutes Committees

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

In a bid to derive maximum benefits from the country’s crude oil, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and state governors have set up committees on crude oil theft and management as well as economic affairs.

This decision was taken during the 138th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) which was held virtually on Thursday.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, on Friday, explained that the committees will be headed by the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, respectively.

He said the meeting followed “deliberations on critical economic matters and assessments of potential short-term, medium and long-term strategies for addressing pressing economic issues.”

The Economic Matters committee is tasked with preparing a clear roadmap for dealing with petroleum subsidy, including a framework for defending wage negotiations.

It will also address exchange rate management and fiscal consolidation sustainability, liquidity management and inflation, medium-term investment and growth, fiscal transparency and accountability, as well as state of emergency on food production for 2024.

Members of the committee include the Gombe State Governor, representing North East; Governor of Lagos (South West); the Governor of Akwa Ibom (South-South); the Governor of Anambra (South East); the Governor of Niger (North Central), and Governor of Kaduna (North West).

The Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, would serve as its Secretary.

The Crude Oil Theft and Management Committee, an existing NEC committee, was reconstituted with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as its chairperson.

Other members are the Governor of Ogun State representing South West; the Governor of Plateau State (North Central); the Governor of Rivers (South-South) Governor of Borno (North East); Governor of Jigawa State (North West); the Governor of Abia State (South East); Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; CBN Governor; GCEO of NNPCL, NDDC Chairman, and Service Chiefs.

The secretariat will be domiciled at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Tope Fasua, will serve on the committee.

Nigeria’s Death Statistics Is Scanty, No Record For Five Years – Ondo Health Ministry

By
Ayodele Oni
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World Population Day

By Ayodele Oni

A programme manager in the Ondo state ministry of health, Babatunde Alabi has said that Nigeria has no record of the dead, which is one of the reasons for improper planning in the health sector.

Alabi, who is the programme manager, Population Activities in Health and Mandatory Death Reporting, observed that since most deaths occur outside the hospitals, their cases are not recorded in mortuaries.

Addressing stakeholders in Akure, as part of activities marking the World Population Day,  Alabi stated that “only 13.5% of death in Nigeria were registered in 2007 which regressed to 10% in 2017.

“There was no data reported for Nigeria in the World Health Organization database between 2008 and 2018. This reason has necessitated the reporting for all the states in Nigeria”

According to him, the actual death record in Ondo State as at today is unknown and this, he opined, has grossly affected the health policy and health plan in the state.

He stressed the need to track death, which could only be achieved if mandatory death reporting was put in place.

Mandatory Death Reporting, Alabi explained, would ensure that every death within the state is tracked and cause of death is known.

This, he maintained, would assist the government in planning for the health of the citizens while  ensuring regulation of burial in the state to promote safe environment for the citizens.

For the category of people whose deaths are to be reported in the state, the programme officer clarified that  a person who died in the state, a person whose body was discovered in the state, and a spontaneous fetal death occurring in the state.

The Director, Public Health, Dr Stephen Fagbemi said in his  welcome address that the burial Law has been in existence since 2006, but has not been implemented, stating further that the state is ready for the enforcement of death reporting.

“It might really be challenging to track all deaths across the state but we have commenced tracking at our health institutions in the state.”

He urged all stakeholders, mortuary operators and heads of institutions to always ensure that death reports are properly filed and transmitted to appropriate quarters.

The representative of the World Health Organization, (WHO) Mr Adewale Moses said death tracking and reporting remain important and the whole world has not been generating enough and accurate data on death.

Uzodinma Urges Returning Imo People To Savour The Beauty Of State

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has admonished Christians all over the world and Imo State in particular, to make love for God and mankind the core reason for the celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ – Christmas.

He advised that the perception by some persons that Christmas is a period of wild celebration should be done away with, noting that the salient but significant message of the season is God’s immeasurable love for mankind.

“It is because of this unique love that he sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be born by a woman so that He can die for us for our sins and guarantee our salvation. No love can be greater than this.”

Governor Uzodimma gave the Christmas message in his remarks at the 2023 Christmas Carol with the theme: “Unto Us A Son Is Given” held at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square New Owerri on Wednesday.

It was an occasion where he also urged returning Imo people to use the Christmas period to savour the beauty of the State that is now peaceful and serene due to God’s gracious intervention and immeasurable love for Imo people.

Accompanied by his wife, Chioma, the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, the Deputy Governor-elect, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and other key personalities across the three arms and government, Governor Uzodimma further admonished Christians to show love to one another as the greatest commandment to mankind is to humanity.

The Governor said that the recourse to criminality by persons who claim to be Christians but are enmeshed in killings, kidnapping, armed robbery, sponsorship of insecurity etc, either for political reasons or other considerations, cast a slur on the love God showed to mankind by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to be born for all and for our salvation.

“The advent season holds immense importance in the lives of Christians, for it signifies the birth of Christ as the fulfillment of prophesies and divine promises, without his birth, there would be no redemption, no resurrection and ultimately, no Christianity.”

He was also full of appreciation to the leadership of the Church for their constant prayers and intercession for the peace of God to reign in Imo, stressing that 2024 will be a better year for all.

Governor Uzodimma’s remarks read in full: “Another season of joy is here, the season of Christmas, the season of advent, our season of boundless joy and salvation. For Christians all over the world, the advent season is when we gather as Christians in joyous anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the saviour of mankind.

“The advent is a very significant and important period in the life of all Christians because it heralds the birth of Christ as a fulfilment of the prophesies and God’s promise to the world.  Without the birth, there would have been no death, and there would have been no resurrection. And without resurrection, there would have been no Christianity.

“This is why I am very happy that this year’s Christmas Carol Service has been planned to include a lot of praise songs. As you are aware, nothing pleases God more than praises.  Praise worship is another form of showing our gratitude to God for continuously showering us with unmerited favours and mercy.

“So, let the praise songs reverberate across the length and breadth of Imo State for all to know that we are happy and that we are grateful to God for the gift of life, for his countless graces on us as individuals and on Imo State in general. Yes, God has been merciful and  faithful to our state in many ways than one, and we need to thank and praise Him with all our might.

“However, often times, we wittingly or unwittingly allow our wild perception and accompanying celebration of Christmas to drown the salient but significant message, which is God’s immeasurable love for mankind. It is because of this unique love that he sent His only begotten Son,  Jesus Christ, to be born by a woman so that He can die for us for our sins and guarantee our salvation. No love can be greater than this.

“Therefore, we should make love the theme for this year’s Christmas celebrations.  We should show love to God who loved us first, even while we were still sinners and also show love to our fellow human beings. The Gospel tells us that the greatest of all commandments is love.

“In truth, if we have love, we can overcome almost all of life’s challenges.  Nobody  with love will go to rob his neighbour or kidnap people just to get money to celebrate Christmas.  Nobody will engage in the mindless murder of others if he has love. No politician will engage in thuggery and bloodletting just to score a cheap political point if the person has love. If we have love, there will be no politically contrived insecurity.

“My brothers and sisters in Christ,  let us embrace this year’s Christmas with the renewed hope it offers us, especially here in the state where we are transiting to a new term that is solidly committed to the welfare of the people.

“Indeed, as we emerge from the ashes of avoidable insecurity and the attendant misery, we should  look forward, in the coming years,  to a new lease of life that offers love and prosperity to all. We must make love our new banner in the coming years.

“Let me use this opportunity to assure our people who intend to come home to celebrate the season with their loved ones, that they should do so without any iota of hesitation. Imo State is safe and beautiful. The streets are wearing warm, beautiful looks with open arms to welcome everybody.

“The days of Egyptian drudgery are over. We are in a new dawn; a new era of the greatest good for the greatest number of our people.  With our well paved roads and massive youth empowerment, we are enthroning prosperity for all.

“Let me also commend the body of Christ for their fervent prayers that assisted in no small measure in ushering peace back in our dear State.  I am most grateful to the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria for its resilience in upholding the state in prayers in spite of the intimidation and threats from the enemies of peace. Thank you.

“But let me say that Christians should not relent in their prayers.  We need to sustain the hard won peace in our state.  And we need to preach to our people to appreciate the fact that without peace, we cannot have progress.

“As we await this year’s Christmas, the  birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, I wish all Imo people and residents a merry Christmas and a happy new year in advance.

“Let the songs of PRAISE continue to the glory of God.”

Earlier in his admonition, the Guest Preacher, the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace the Most Red. David Onuoha, appreciated God for another Christmas and for everyone who came to be part of this year’s Christmas Carol.

Archbishop Onuoha expressed his profound gratitude to the Governor for loving God by way of sustaining the “Imo Prays” since the inception of his tenure and prayed God to continue to bless and direct him aright in piloting the affairs of the State.

He urged Christians to use this festive period to embrace peace, unity and reconciliation, noting that with the elections now over, those who lost and are aggrieved should join hands with Governor Uzodimma to develop Imo State “because it can only be one Governor at a time.”

In his goodwill message, the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) Chairman in Imo State, Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches thanked God for another successful Christmas Carol and commended the Governor for his support to the CAN.

Dr. Eches recalled all the commendable testimonies of different men of God and respected Nigerians about Governor Uzodimma and concluded that God did not make any mistake in giving him to Imo at this time.

Prayers were generously offered for the Governor and his family, those working with him and Imo State at large by Bishop Maxwell Korie and other men of God present.

The Government House Choir and other Choirs rendered solorous hymns that captivated the souls of attendees and reminded all that 2023 Christmas is here for real.

Vatican: African Catholic Leaders Reject Blessing For Same-sex Marriage

By
James Orji
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Blessing Same- Sex Marriage Is Sin Against God, Bishops Tell Vatican
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has urged gays, homosexuals and LGBTQ to convert to be able to receive God’s blessings.
Same sex unions would not received blessings from the Catholic church in Nigeria, contrary to the Vatican director, the bishops said.
The appeal comes on the back of recent decision of the Vatican, the headquarters of Catholic church in the world to bless same sex unions.
Apart from the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the Church in Malawi has also said they would not obey the new order from Rome.
Not a few insist that many African Catholic leaders are likely to reject the order as the Vatican grapples with the division imposed by homosexuality among its adherents.
The Vatican’s decision violates the time tested position of the Catholic church that same sex union is a ‘sin” which cannot receive blessings from God.
The change in policy by the Pope Francis-led Holy See, has been widely criticized.
In their reaction, Nigeria Catholic Bishops said on Thursday that the policy is unacceptable because it contravenes Nigeria’s laws and tradition.
According to a statement signed by Lucius Ugorji, the Bishops said Church blessings can only be given to those who have agreed to live according to the tenets of God, noting that those in same sex marriage don’t belong to this category.
The Bishops said same sex persons “are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God’s grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion,” before they can receive Church blessings.
Part of the statement said: “In conclusion, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria assures the entire People of God that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains the same,” the statement added.
“There is, therefore, no possibility in the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities. That would go against God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation and the cultural sensibilities of our people.”
Nigerian laws imposes serious punishment on those involved in homosexuality.

Port Harcourt Refinery: Promise Delivered, NNPC Says

By
James Orji
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0
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, NNPCL, says it has kept its promise by completing the rehabilitation work on Area 5 Plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC.
The company disclosed this on Thursday in a statement signed by Olufemi Soneye its Chief Corporate Communications Officer
Rehabilitation work has been ongoing at the Refinery for over two years and the NNPC Ltd. had pledged to complete Phase One of the project (mechanical completion and flare start-up) of Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5) by 31st December 2023.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation project, which also coincided with the 15th Refineries’ Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, said as of December 15th, 2023, 84.4% of Area 5 Plant, a key component of the Refinery, and 77.4% of the entire rehabilitation project have been completed.
“In our quest to ensure that this refinery is re-streamed to continue to deliver value to Nigerians, we made a promise that we will reach a mechanical completion of phase one of the rehabilitation project by the end of December and get the other plants running in 2024. Today, we have kept those commitments,” Kyari stated.
The GCEO commended the NNPC Ltd.’s staff and the EPCIC contractors for doing a great job in ensuring that the refinery achieved that significant milestone.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NNPC Ltd Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure described the milestone as “historic”, stressing that the board was proud of the staff and management of the refinery.
“We are just starting. We want to be at the highest level of production so that we will keep the prices of petroleum prices in the country stable in order to give comfort to our people and generate more revenue for our country,” Akinyelure noted.
Also speaking, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the milestone is another landmark of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
He thanked Nigerians for their patience and the trust they have in NNPC Ltd.’s ability to deliver on this huge project.
In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, said re-streaming the Refinery will herald a good omen for the nation’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry, as LPG, also known as cooking gas, is a major bye-product of the Refinery.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Tecnimont Nig. Ltd., Fabio Del Cioppo, one of the EPC Contractors of the Rehabilitation Project, said his company remains committed to fulfilling the terms of the contract.
The PHRC rehabilitation project, which costs about $1.5bn, is an EPCIC project that covers Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning phases. For Area 5, the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation have all been completed. The mechanical completion signifies the closure of the Construction and Installation phases.

Cardoso Blames DMBs, POS Agents For Cash Scarcity

By
James Orji
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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, says collusion between some commercial bank and POS operators is affecting the free flow of cash in the country.
The cash scarcity started almost two months ago, with no end in sight to the problem despite CBN’s assurance that it is in top of the situation.
The apex bank raised the alarm amidst serious cash scarcity in the country, a problem many insist has defied CBN’s solutions.
The Yemi Cardoso-led CBN has come under trenchant criticism for being unable to bring the problem under control.
Not a few Nigerians have complained that the cash scarcity has been capitalised on by Money Agents to exploit customers.
But, in a manner of pushing back against its critics the CBN said some deposit money banks and POS operators are responsible for the cash disruptions being experienced currently.
The bank in a statement signed by Sidi Ali, Acting Director of Communication and Public Relations on Thursday, warned bank’s and POS operators to desist from such act to avoid serious sanctions.
It also advises the public to use other payment channels for their transactions.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to alleged cases of collusion between some Deposit Money Banks and Point-Of-Sale operators affecting the availability of cash and disrupting the seamless circulation of the Naira.
“The CBN frowns at such inappropriate actions by certain individuals and is investigating the reported cases capable of undermining the smooth running of the economy.
“The CBN has, therefore, warned banks and PoS operators to desist from such activities as relevant sanctions shall be meted out to those found wanting.
“Meanwhile, members of the public are encouraged to use alternative payment channels as well as report any case of unauthorised activities, such as capping and hoarding, by banks or PoS agents to the CBN branch in their locations or via the link attached to address complaints and inquiries on the subject.”
Meanwhile, not a few have described the CBN current approach as a buck passing, after realising that the problem has got out of hands despite its promise to handle it.

Sultan Of Sokoto Calls For The Criminalization Of LGBTQ, Warns Its Promoters

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has sternly warned the promoters of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) not to bring the practice to Nigeria. He holds that Nigerians with their rich culture and heritage have an established pattern of family lifestyle.

Abubakar gave the warning a day after the Vatican under the spiritual leadership of Pope Francis, approved blessings for same-sex couples in a landmark ruling.

JNI stated that same-sex marriage has been criminalised in Nigeria and should remain so, adding that Nigerians have an established pattern of family life and are well-cultured people.

In the 10-point resolution issued at the end of its Annual Central Council Meeting held at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State, the group reminded both the Federal and State Governments that in 2013, the Eighth Senate kicked against same-sex marriage in Nigeria amid much pressure.

JNI described the recent promotion and activities of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) in Nigeria as worrisome and a source of concern for every right-thinking person.

Signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar and Local Organising Committee, Aliyu Makama, JNI also decried that lack of good leadership and political will in the governance of the country has posed a great threat to the infrastructural, social and economic development of Nigeria.

The resolutions partly read: “A thorough and transparent investigation be conducted on the military attack on Tudun-Biri, Kaduna State, where more than 120 innocent Muslims were shelled – who authorised the attack, what intelligence was used, how could the attack be repeated thirty minutes after the first one? The JNI and other Muslim organisations must be on top of the matter and keep the ummah informed; while necessary sanctions against the culprits must be satisfactorily seen to be applied by the federal government, just as we reiterate our earlier call for due compensation (Diyyah) to all the deceased families and the government should take-up complete medicals of all the injured victims. We nonetheless call on all Muslims to exercise restraint and patience as we await the outcome of investigations on the matter;

“That the JNI must lead other Muslim organisations and Ulama’ in reviving ethos of Islam among the youths, as well as inculcating in them the pristine values of the religion via a sustained reorientation of priorities;

“With the reforms in the financial industry and the coming of Islamic Banking, Zakah (Due Alms), Waqf (Endowment) and Sadaqah (charity) should be easier to collect and administer now, as there is the need for the JNI to convene a National Zakah (Due Alms), Waqf (Endowment) and Sadaqah (Charity) Summit with Islamic bankers, Muslim organisations and Ulama’ in charting ways of leveraging the current trends in the industry;

“The JNI and Muslim leadership must be decisive in ensuring the unity of the ummah – for example, a strategy must be deployed to eliminate the ‘Yan Hakika phenomenon, as these miscreants have been disowned by the Sufi Tariqas they claim to be part of;

“Still on insecurity, majority of the bandits and insurgents terrorising the Muslim community are themselves professed Muslims – the JNI and the country’s Muslim leadership must not shirk their responsibility in advising the security agencies, as well as reaching out to some of the more malleable miscreants to bring an end to this sorry state of affairs, as many non-state actors are filling the vacuum of this role;

“The lopsided nature of the recruitment process into the federal security agencies detrimental to and biased against otherwise qualified Muslim candidates requires a thorough audit to be undertaken by the JNI and other Islamic organisations, in addition to putting pressure on Muslim national assembly members and Muslim governors to redress the imbalance;

“The federal and state governments in Nigeria should note that way back in 2013, erstwhile Senate President David Mark, in the 8th Senate kicked against same-sex marriage in Nigeria amidst pressure.

“We, therefore, call on all government agencies to note that same-sex marriage has been criminalised and remains so because we have an established pattern of family life and we are a well-cultured people;

“The federal government of Nigeria is implored to use all diplomatic avenues in providing leeway to intending Nigerian pilgrims through NAHCON, while the Ulama’ and all hajj operation stakeholders in Nigeria are called upon to provide the necessary enlightenment and guidance to the intending 2024 pilgrims;

“Islamic leadership is recognised as the solution to the nation’s myriad problems – the JNI must lead other Muslim organisations in being proactive in ensuring that our traditional and religious leaders are given roles in the Nigerian constitution, especially in matters of security, education, health, social and economic wellbeing;

“The offer of financial contribution to the leaders of the Ummah, as well as the JNI by some Muslim organisations, is a welcome and happy development – this should be pursued diligently, while the Emirates should also diversify their sources of support other than the governments, as philanthropists abound within and across all Muslim communities.”

According to the communique, the meeting chaired by His Eminence the Sultan, was attended by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris Malagi, the Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi, the Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the Niger State Government; their Highnesses, the Etsu Nupe and JNI Vice President-General (VPG), Niger State, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, CFR; the Emir of Hadejia and JNI VPG Jigawa State, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Abubakar Maje, CON;

Others were the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji (Dr.) Najib Hussaini Adamu, CON; the Emir of Muri and JNI VPG Taraba State, Alhaji Abbas Njidda Tafida; (traffic the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Barau Mu’azu II, the Emir of Wase and JNI VPG Plateau State, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo Haruna; the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu: the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, CON; Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Attahiru, II, as well as many other Traditional rulers and their representatives; the National Chairman of Izala, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, the representative of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, the representative of Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and many other Muslim scholars and clerics, members of the academia and Muslim organisations from across the country.

OPINION: Kwankwaso After The Supreme Court

By
The Source
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0
Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

In the last one and a half decades, Rabiu Kwankwaso has been the most charismatic politician out of Kano after the passing of Abubakar Rimi. Kwankwaso is not just charismatic; he is consequential, with a cult-like following that responds twice, even when he calls once.

He is facing yet another defining moment in his political career. The outcome of the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case between the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and his rival, NasiruGawuna, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), could well determine if the sun has finally set on Kwankwaso’s reign or whether he would get a new lease of life.

Kwankwaso’s protegee, Yusuf, lost at the election petition tribunal and also at the court of appeal, where Gawuna had challenged his election on three main grounds: 1) That Yusuf is not a registered member of the NNPP; 2) That 165,663 out of the 1,019,602 votes scored by the NNPP were invalid because the ballots were neither stamped nor signed, therefore reducing his total valid votes to 853,939, and 3) That he, Gawunahaving scored 890,705 votes with margin of nearly 36k, won the governorship election and should be declared governor.

The lower courts agreed with his submissions in rulings – one from an undisclosed location and the other from cyberspace – that sparked widespread protests in the state, not to mention accusations of compromise. Even though a member of the tribunal raised the alarm that some persons were trying to lean on her by offeringfinancial gifts through a proxy, all allegations of wrongdoing have been denied by the judiciary. All eyes are now on the Supreme Court.

Nigeria’s courts have been swamped with election petitions, making election litigation one of the fastest growing industries. Voters vote, but judges choose the winners.

In spite of the large number of decided election petition cases in the last over 20 years, however, there have been only a few where the two lower courts ruled in one way, only to have their rulings overturned by the Supreme Court. Governorship election petitions used to end at the Court of Appeal. Even after the law was amended to take governorship election disputes up to the Supreme Court, the norm was a split decision between the lower courts, before the final ruling by the Supreme Court.

From the case involving Rotimi Amaechi and Celestine Omehia in 2007, to the ruling in 2016 where the Supreme Court set aside the ruling of the two lower courts and declared Nyesom Wike as the validly elected governor of Rivers State (without giving reasons for its decision), perhaps the most dramatic of the three or four exceptional cases was the one in 2019 involving the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.

Apart from Reverend EjikeMbaka whose extraordinary gift enabled him to foretell the outcome of the Uzodimma case in his famous “I see hope” speech, most normal, reasonable people could not fathom how a man who came fourth place in an election could become first. Yet, in a landmark decision wonderful beyond understanding, the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the two lower courts and ruled that Uzodimma won the election.

Kwankwaso and his supporters obviously hope to beat the odds, which in any case, are perhaps not as formidable as those ofUzodimma. But Gawuna’s backers appear to have gone even one step further to secure their current juridical advantage. On the state’s Wikipedia page, for example, some folks terminated the tenure of Yusuf in November when the Court of Appeal gave its ruling. Gawuna is described on that page as “incumbent governor” from November!

Kwankwaso has fought many wars but this battle may redefine the rest of his political days, and those of theKwankwasiyya movement. His first significant defeat was 20 years ago, when he failed his second term bid for governorship. In the wave of political sharia sweeping the North at the time, Kwankwaso had positioned himself as a moderate.

His opponent, Ibrahim Shekarau, did two things: he latched onto the Muhammadu Buhari bandwagon, under the flag of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); and more important, played the sharia card. He succeeded big, not only in dislodging Kwankwaso, but also becoming the first two-term governor in Kano.

Shekarau defeated Kwankwaso again in the contest for a senatorial seat in 2019, after latter’s first tenure as senator. The leader of the Kwankwasiyya

movement was caught in the maelstrom of the APC presidential primaries, but in the run-up to the 2019 elections, he decamped back to the PDP. To be fair, during APC’s 2015 presidential primaries, Kwankwaso was the preferred candidate of the APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the time, before a strong Northern lobby pressed Buhari into the race.

Shekarau exploited the accumulated rage of the pro-Buhari crowd, kindled against the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement for daring to challenge Buhari’s talismanic hold on Kano.

But Kwankwaso has matured since, especially after his eventful second term as governor, during which he was widely acclaimed for paying serious attention to education, health and infrastructure. Also, leveraging the crucial place of Kano as the Nigeria’s largest political vote bank, he played a decisive role, along with four other governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, that led to the fall of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

Perhaps the most significant marker of his political maturity was the formation of the NNPP only months to the last general elections and yet carrying one state – the most politically significant in the North West – and coming fourth in an election contested by 18 political parties. This legacy is now threatened.

If Shekarau was his nemesis in the past, his nemesis for the last eight years has been his former deputy and Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje. In the battle at the Supreme Court, Yusuf and Gawuna are, in a manner of speaking, pawns. The chess masters are Kwankwaso and Ganduje.

After the last general elections, Kwankwaso seemed to have the aces. He had literally secured a third term in Kano and President Tinubu, the winner of the presidential election, needed to court him. Not just because he proved himself in present reckoning, but also because anyone in charge of Kano would be indispensable in future political calculations.

After the elections, while Ganduje was still looking for a second address, Kwankwaso was already on Tinubu’s speed dial. He held several exploratory meetings with the President both in the country and in Paris for a potential role in the new government. I’m told that he was, in fact, considered for either the Ministry of Education or FCT.

Ganduje and a few other influential politicians close to Tinubu panicked. But Ganduje, a man who looks incapable of hurting a fly, but doesn’t mind hunting a lion for game, waited for his time to pounce. Once he was appointed APC chairman, in spite of Kwankwaso, he slowly clawed himself back and swung the wrecking ball in cahoots with a few insiders who were also uncomfortable with Kwankwaso.

Gandujealso consolidated his hold on the President afterGawuna won the first round of victory at the tribunal. Then Kwankwaso, whether out of frustration or defiance, made what was potentially a serious mistake. He held a closed-door meeting with Atiku in Abuja and left the press and politicians to pour petrol into the fire by making wild guesses about the motive for the meeting.

The battle has now entered its final phase. If the Supreme Court bucks the trend and rules in favour of Yusuf, Kwankwaso would have used one judicial stone to vanquish Shekarau and Ganduje, two of his most potent longstanding enemies. If, on the other hand, the Supreme Court upholds the ruling of the lower courts, Kwankwaso’s decline will start in earnest, sucking his cult and scattering his sheepfold.

Inconclusive is an unlikely outcome. But who knows?

Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP. More: www.azuishiekwene.com

 

Nigeria’s First Lady Gives N950 Million To Elderly, To Cushion Hardship, N250 Million Goes To Each State

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

It is going to be a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for the elderly persons in Ondo State as the First Lady,  Oluremi Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) gave out a total sum of N25 million to support them.

The beneficiaries, which came from across all the 18 local government areas of Ondo state received N100,000 each.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Akure on behalf of the First Lady, the APC chairman in Ondo state, Ade Adetimehin said the economic empowerment would go a long way towards cushioning the effect of the present situation alleviate the burdens of the elders during this festive period.

She said, “This economic empowerment programme is borne out of a steadfast commitment to the well-being of our elderly citizens and it marks a significant stride in our collective pursuit of a more inclusive and compassionate society.

“This scheme is to support Two Hundred and Fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).

“These selected beneficiaries will receive a sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) each. This is to cushion the effect of the economic situation and to alleviate the burdens of our esteemed elders during this festive period.

“The total sum to be disbursed is Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N950,000,000) as approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“Each state of the federation will receive the sum of Twenty-Five Million Naira (N25,000,000). We are committed to ensuring that each state receives this gesture, without discrimination.

“As we approach the festive season, it becomes very important to emphasize the significance of prioritizing our elderly citizens in our initiatives. By reaching out to the elderly this festive period, we not only honour their contributions but also acknowledge the unique encounters they face.

“To our senior citizens, I urge you to embrace life to the fullest, prioritize your health, nurture your minds, and strengthen your bonds with loved ones and with God. These are the keys to a rich and fulfilling life in your golden years.

“I equally extend my heartfelt appreciation to all your Excellencies, state coordinators of RHI, and partners who have supported with free medical screening and the distribution of other sundry items to the beneficiaries as the case may be, in ensuring the success of this programme.

“This period should be a time of joy and comfort for all, even as we hope for a greater Nigeria, in security, education, health, employment and business opportunities for all. We seek your continued support and prayers for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, as we look forward to better days ahead.”

Nigerian Correctional Centres House 53,836 Inmates Awaiting Trial

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Even with efforts by the federal government to decongest prisons, the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCS), has disclosed that no fewer than 53,836 inmates in the 253 correctional centres across the country are awaiting trial as at December 18.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the spokesperson of the service, Assistant Controller, Abubakar Umar, who made the revelation, said the summary of the inmates across the country by conviction and those on awaiting trial list was 77,849 within the period under review.

He explained that the total number of convicted inmates was 24,013, stressing that the convicted male inmates are 23,569 and 444 convicted are females.

“Statistics shows that 69 per cent of the inmates in Custodial Centres are actually awaiting trial, while 31 per cent are convicted inmates.”

The prison boss pointed out that one of the challenges of the service was the issues of dilapidated custodial structures which resulted to overcrowded and congested spaces within the centres.

The spokesman said the government has recently constructed 3,000 ultra-modern additional custodial facilities across the six geopolitical zones to decongest existing centres.

He further stated that the initiative would help in decongesting the centers as well as enhance the welfare and the health of the inmates.

“That of Kano has been inaugurated and we are expecting speedy completion on the remaining facilities under construction.”

The minister of interior, Tunji Ojo on assumption of duty has launched an appeal fund in which Nigerians have been making contributions, to pay fines of some of those in the custody charged with minor offences.

The first batch of beneficiaries, were recently released after necessary fines paid.

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