Zenith Bank Signs Agreement With AfCFTA To Develop Smart Portal

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August 9, 2023

Zenith Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFT, Secretariat for the development of the SMARTAfCFTA Portal, for trade promotion within the African continent. The SMARTAfCFTA Portal, which has the capacity to provide information like trade indicators, market trends, custom tariffs, trade agreements, rules of origin, market access requirements of relevant jurisdictions, export potentials, export diversification indicators and contact details of business partners in target markets and other trade-related information about Africa, will help to unlock the vast opportunities for trade on the African continent.

The MoU was signed by the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu and the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, His Excellency Wamkele Mene, during the 8th Annual Edition of the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export themed “Nigerian Non-Oil Export Industry: The Present, The Future”, held on Wednesday, August 8, 2023, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos and virtually.

Speaking on the partnership with AfCFTA for the development of the SMARTAfCFTA Portal, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “This collaboration aims to unlock the vast opportunities presented by AfCFTA not only for Nigeria’s economic prosperity but also for advancing trade across African countries”.

Dr. Onyeagwu noted the key role that the annual Zenith Bank Trade Seminar plays in deepening the conversation on promoting non-oil export in Nigeria by bringing together non-oil export practitioners and relevant government agencies to interact and explore the opportunities and proffer solutions to the challenges of non-oil export in the country, noting that previous editions’ outcomes have found expression and influenced policy initiatives. For instance, the extension of the period of repatriation of Non-Oil Export proceeds from 90 days to 180 days, and the policy mandating shippers not to carry export without a Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) Form Number were recommendations from previous seminars.

Also, the need to incentivise exporters to repatriate their export proceeds through the official channels and the recommendation to create export terminals across various export hubs in the country were also from past seminars. Also, previous editions recommended having Export Desks in commercial banks, which has now been instituted.

In his keynote address at the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, His Excellency Wamkele Mene, thanked the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, CFR, for partnering with the AfCFTA for the development of the SMARTAfCFTA Portal. In his words: “Zenith Bank was the first bank to say “we want to partner with you”. We went to see the Founder and Chairman, and he said that Zenith Bank wants to make a contribution to digitise trade in Africa. And so the portal was not my idea, it was not our idea at the AfCTA Secretariat, it was Zenith Bank that stepped up and said, ‘this has to be done!’. So I want to thank you very much, GMD for this collaboration.”

In his goodwill message, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, the Deputy Governor of Economic Policy representing the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, commended Zenith Bank for leading Nigeria’s non-oil export promotion advocacy. He bemoaned the 1.2 per cent non-oil export to total GDP ratio and emphasised the need for concerted efforts to boost non-oil exports in Nigeria.
Zenith Bank launched the Non-Oil Export Seminar in 2016 as an initiative to deepen the discourse on promoting the non-oil export business in Nigeria.

The 2023 International Trade Seminar also featured a goodwill message from the Secretary of the National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo. There were also two-panel discussions, with the first panel discussion titled: “Nigeria Non-Oil Export Industry – Growth Opportunities”, while the second panel discussion was titled: “Harnessing the Opportunities in Service Export”.

Resist Temptation Of Naming Self Petroleum Minister, CNPP Warns Tinubu

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The Source

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August 9, 2023

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Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist the temptation to name himself the Minister of Petroleum Resources as he prepares to assign portfolios to Ministers-designate.

The umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, gave the advice on Tuesday, while also hailing the Senate “for not approving the hasty decision by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to deploy troops to Niger Republic to oust the military junta in the West African country.”

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, the CNPP added that “the oil industry, which is the main stay of the Nigerian economy is challenged on every side and supervised by very corrupt leadership.”

The CNPP noted that “since the job of a President of Nigeria is enormous, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should assign the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, or whatsoever name he chooses for the Ministry overseeing the petroleum industry, to a substantive Minister who he will hold accountable for the activities of the Ministry.

“The oil industry in Nigeria is one of the most corrupt sectors, where we often heard of zero remittances by the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“We call on the President to ensure a thorough forensic probe of the old NNPC to recover the alleged unremitted revenues by the defunct corporation and to sanitize the oil industry and begin on a clear slate”, the CNPP stated.

On the war drums against the coupists in Niger, the CNPP said that “the Senate was on point by stopping the planned deployment of Nigerian troops to Niger.

“The consequences of Nigeria’s involvement in the ill-throughout plans by ECOWAS to deploy troops in Niger against the Junta will be regrettable as most parts of northern Nigeria will be destroyed as a result of the aftermath of the war.

“Nigeria should learn a lesson from Ukrainian and Russian war. While Ukraine is receiving the negative impacts of the war, it has been impossible for Russia to overrun Ukraine too.

“Nigeria has enough security challenges within her territory and should not be dragged into needless war against the military junta in Niger which is massively supported by the majority of the civilian population in the country”, the statement noted.

Ministerial Nominees: South-East Senators Protest Marginalisation Of Zone

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The Source

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August 9, 2023

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By Osita Chidoka

“The South East Senators supported a motion tagged: “Urgent Need to Balance Geo-political Representation in the Ministerial Appointment”, sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye and 14 other senators from the South East geopolitical zone.”

I commend the Southeast Senators for standing up against a growing conspiracy against the zone.

A few weeks ago I called on the President to resist the temptation of deliberate relegation of the Southeast zone in the commanding heights of the polity by supporting a Chairman of their Party from the zone. Many failed to see the import of that statement.

Past Presidents usually appointed 36 Ministers and an additional 6 (one per zone) to take care of other interests. To appoint 3 Ministers from one state and 9 from one zone is an egregious attack on our national sensibilities and consensus.

The Southeast is an integral part of Nigeria and should not be punished for the political choices of its people. Southwest for many years voted for Action Group/UPN/AD, they did not join the “Mainstream” and yet were not relegated in the national equation. The North voted massively for PDP (Obasanjo 1st term) and subsequently voted majorly for ANPP, CPC, and APC all with a Northern candidate, President Buhari for 16 years and nobody held it against them.

Southeast politicians in public office must insist on respect for the federal character and fight against this creeping relegation of the zone in public office. This evil plan was made a deliberate policy under President Buhari. As a nation, we must always remember that appointments to and promotions in the public service, and admissions to federal institutions are all going on under quota systems instituted to give a sense of belonging to all parts of the country.

President Tinubu has a golden opportunity to reverse this ugly trend that would only lead to national disunity. The President’s knee-jerk reaction to the coup in Niger is a lesson on consultation and a clear message on the urgent need to unite Nigerians towards the dream of a nation where no man is oppressed and the affirmation that though tribes and tongues may differ in brotherhood we stand.

I call on the Southeast legislators to stay the course in the fight to build a united Nigeria governed by rules and not prejudice.

Chidoka is a former Minister for Aviation

Founder Of Fountain Of Life Church, Taiwo Odukoya Is Dead, Family, Church Mourn

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Akinwale Kasali

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August 9, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Founder of Fountain Of Life Church, has been confirmed dead.

The Cleric’s death was confirmed on the Official Facebook Page of the Church at the United States of America, Monday August 7th, 2023.

The post read: “The Fountain of Life Church Family, in total submission to the will of God Almighty announces the passing unto greater glory of our Father, Teacher, a great servant of the Most High God, Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya, Founding Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, who passed unto glory on the 7th of August 2023 in the USA.

“We are in total submission to you LORD!!!

“We thank the Lord for the gift of greater leader!!!”

The 67-Year Old Odukoya lost his Televangelist wife, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, in the tragic Sosoliso Plane Crash in 2005.

Two Years ago, the Late Odukoya lost his South African Wife, Nomthi Rosemary Simangele Odukoya, who was an educationist, life coach and writer. She died of Cancer.

Odukoya had married the South African in January 2010, after the death of his first wife.

His demise, however, come as a rude shock to the Church, families and associates.

President Tinubu Hints Of His Administration’s Resolve Not To Borrow

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Ayodele Oni

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August 9, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians on the determination of his administration not to rely on borrowing money to run Government.

With the country’s debt burden running into trillions of Naira, the president expressed his resolve to break the vicious cycle of over reliance on borrowing for public spending.

He pointed out that the continous borrowing has resulted into burden of debt servicing which places pressure on the management of Nigeria’s limited government revenues.

Tinubu, who gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja, while inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, chaired by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.

He charged the committee to improve the country’s revenue profile and business environment as the Federal Government moves to achieve an 18% Tax-to-GDP ratio within three years.

He therefore directed the Committee to achieve its one-year mandate, which is divided into three main areas: fiscal governance, tax reforms, and growth facilitation.

The President also directed all government ministries and departments to cooperate fully with the committee towards achieving their mandate.

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said that President Tinubu told the Committee members the significance of their assignment, as his administration carries the burden of expectations from citizens who want government to make their lives better.

“We cannot blame the people for expecting much from us. To whom much is given, much is expected. It is even more so when we campaigned on a promise of a better country anchored on our Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I have committed myself to use every minute I spend in this office to work to improve the quality of life of our people.”

Tinubu said the nation is still facing challenges in areas such as ease of tax payment and its Tax-to-GDP ratio, which lags behind even Africa’s Continental average.

“Our aim is to transform the tax system to support sustainable development while achieving a minimum of 18% tax-to-GDP ratio within the next three years.

“Without revenue, government cannot provide adequate social services to the people it is entrusted to serve. The Committee, in the first instance, is expected to deliver a schedule of quick reforms that can be implemented within thirty days.

“Critical reform measures should be recommended within six months and full implementation will take place within one calendar year.”

Recounting the President’s sterling track record on revenue transformation, the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Mr. Zacchaeus Adedeji described the committee members, drawn from the public and private sectors, as accomplished individuals from various sectors.

“Mr. President, you have the pedigree when it comes to revenue transformation. You demonstrated this when you were the Governor of Lagos State over 20 years ago,” he said.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele pledged the total commitment of members to give their best in the interest of the nation, saying that many of our existing laws are out-dated, hence they require comprehensive updates to achieve full harmonisation to address the multiplicity of taxes, and to remove the burden on the poor and vulnerable while addressing the concerns of all investors, big and small.

Ekiti: Gov Oyebanji Drops Commissioner-Nominee Over Linkage With Thuggery

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Ayodele Oni

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August 9, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday swore-in 19 Commissioners and 14 Special Advisers that will form the State Executive Council.

The name of one of the commissioner-nominees, Oladapo Karounwi, a former speaker of the State House of Assembly was, however, conspicuously missing from the list of those sworn in.

Despite that Karounwi had earlier been cleared by the Assembly, his name was at the last minute removed over his alleged linkage with a bloody clash which happened in his community few days ago.

During the clash among rival factions of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at Efon Alaaye, some leaders of the party were seriously wounded.

A group of thugs led by one Gbenga Oluwafemi popularly known as Owolesu, who is currently being remanded at a Correctional Service in Ado Ekiti, had attacked some APC Chieftains in Efon Alaye over the forthcoming local government election in Ekiti State.

The Victims had, however, written a petition to Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, seeking arrest and prosecution of others in connection with the attack.

Performing the Ceremony at the Government House Ground in Ado Ekiti, Oyebanji charged the appointees to live above board at performing their duties.

According to him, “I, therefore, demand total dedication to duty, diligence and commitment to the actualisation of our Six Pillars which is our social contract with Ekitikete.”

Osun: APC Says PDP Support Unnecessary For Oyetola’s Senate Clearance

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Ayodele Oni

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August 9, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as unnecessary the support of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senators in the State who claimed they gave former Governor Gboyega Oyetola before his clearance as Minister by the senate.

The party cautioned the ruling PDP, the State Governor and his co-travellers to desist from talking as if the political fortune of the leader of the party, Oyetola, depends on their whims and caprices.

Oyetola, was screened for Ministerial appointment by the Senate last Friday during which Senator Lere Oyewumi, the Deputy Senate Minority Leader and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, spoke glowingly about Oyetola, the Osun State ministerial nominee.

Oyewumi in his eulogy of Oyetola disclosed that the State Governor, Adeleke, had directed all the three PDP Senators representing the State in the Senate to support the Ministerial nomination of Oyetola.

Osun State APC Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement in Osogbo, on Tuesday, stated that the support of the three PDP Senators given to Oyetola during the screening exercise was good but not spectacular.

Lawal told Governor Adeleke, the PDP, the three senators and all the members and supporters of the ruling party in Osun State that their opposition to the nomination of Oyetola as a Minister would not have prevented the former Osun State governor from scaling through the screening exercise.

He explained that “the state PDP, the Governor and his co-travellers are only making a mountain out of a mole hill by making a superlative issue out of the so-called Osun State Senatorial support which intention could not have been genuine.

“There wasn’t anything spectacular about the support given to Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola by the three PDP Senators during the screening of the former Osun State Governor for Ministerial nomination in the Senate.

“There is no rule in the Senate that makes such a support mandatory as a prerequisite to be screened.

“The opposition of the three PDP Osun senators and Governor Adeleke would not have blocked the chances of Oyetola from becoming a Minister.

“The occasion was only tapped as an opportunity for the Osun State PDP Senators to join the winning team and as an opportunity for them not to wash their dirty linen in the public.

“The Adeleke and PDP Senators’ support for Oyetola during the Ministerial screening was a ploy to assuage our members and supporters in Osun State for the extra-judicial killings of about 30 of the APC members by the PDP thugs during the series of the past elections in the state.

“Apart from the fact that Governor Adeleke would need the services of Oyetola as a minister, it should resonate in the memory of the Osun PDP town criers and their principal that while a Minister represents the President in all the states making up of the country, a Governor only superintends his State.”

First Bank: Furore Over AGM, Otudeko Fingered

By

James Orji

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August 8, 2023

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Some shareholders in First Bank have fingered Oba Otudeko, a former Chairman of the bank in the plot to stop the bank’s annual general meeting, AGM, scheduled for next week.

First Bank of Nigeria Holdings, FBNH had last month put shareholders of the bank on a notice to hold its statutory AGM in the middle of August subject to regulatory approval.

But a shareholder of the bank, Samuel Onagoruwa recently cited a court order dated July 27, stopping the bank from proceeding with the AGM, warning that the respondents will be charged for contempt of court if they proceed with the meeting.

The order read: “That an order is hereby made granting leave to the Applicant effect service of the FORM 48 dated 25th July, 2023 and all subsequent processes to be filed or issued in the contempt proceedings on the 2nd 3rd and 4th Respondents/alleged contemnors (Alhaji Ahmed Abdulahi, Mr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga and Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo) by substituted means to wit: (a) By advertisement in at least two Newspapers circulating in Nigeria and to deem such service as proper service on the 2nd Respondent; and/or (c)By courier service of DHL Nigeria -Limited at Samuel Asabia -House, 35, Marina, Lagos, and to deem such service as proper on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th.”

The order was granted by Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the federal high court, Lagos as part of a suit filed by Onagoruwa, who claimed that his rights will be violated if the lender forged ahead with the AGM.
According to Olu Onagoruwa, counsel to the petitioner in a letter written to the management of FBNH, a suit is pending in the court where the petitioner is seeking relief for his rights allegedly breached during the last AGM held on June 20, 2022, and until the matter has been fully resolved the bank cannot proceed with this year’s AGM.

The major crux in the affidavit filed by the petitioner is that he was not served with the notice of the 2022 AGM, an action he said violated his rights, therefore praying the court to nullify all the decisions taken during the meeting.

Meanwhile, some shareholders of the bank are not happy with the development, accusing Otudeko, one of the major owners of the bank of being behind the plot to stop the AGM.

Protesting at the head office of the bank in Marina, Lagos on Monday, the Chairman of Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, who spoke on behalf of the angry shareholders claimed that some powerful persons led by Otudeko are trying to hold the bank to ransom.
Brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “Oba Otudeko, First Bank is not your property,’ Otudeko, First Bank is Greater than you,’ the aggrieved shareholders said AGM is a statutory event that cannot be stopped by a court order.

The protesters also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and other regulators in the financial sector to intervene in the matter because “there are strong suspicion and strong allegations, that Oba Otudeko is oiling the crisis and oiling people to approach the court” to stop the AGM from holding.

According to Mukhtar, there are indications that Otudeko is trying to stop the AGM because some resolutions taken during the 2022 AGM, which seek to curtail the influence of the former FBN chairman did not favour him.

Part of the resolutions include, the issuance of FBNH share capital from N17.95 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to N22.43 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, the Holder is also seeking shareholders’ approval to raise fresh capital by means of right issue.

The management is also seeking shareholder approval to raise funds via the creation of 8.974 billion ordinary shares at 50 kobo each.

Speaking during the protest Mukhtar said “We are here to register our displeasure, our discontent, our disapproval and rejection of the attempt by some shareholders to prevent the AGM of FBN from holding and thereby preventing some resolutions from be passed. We want the AGM to proceed and the resolutions passed.

“There are strong suspicion and strong allegations, that Oba Otudeko is oiling the crisis and oiling people to approach the court. And then they want First Bank not to consider raising more capital like some of the banks are doing. And also not to appoint some directors into the board of the bank.

“I think this is very improper. It is not right that some people who have benefited from the political economy of this country, are the ones holding this institution to ransom.”

“So I think those people that have gone to court in order to stop the AGM from holding know that it is illegal. They know that we have precedence’s, whereby Annual General Meetings are statutory meetings, nobody can stop it. Nobody can stop any activity from holding.

“We have instances from the past whereby some aggrieved individuals or parties or shareholders approached the court in order to stop the conduct of the AGM. But the judges told them that this is a statutory meeting, they cannot stop.

“They are trying to prevent the bank from holding AGM and considering some resolutions, which is to raise more capital for the banking business. You can agree with me that banking business is about capital. If there is no capital, business will collapse. And for the banking industry, capital is very, very important,” Muktar said.

Strike: Labour Wins, FG Withdraws Contempt Suit

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James Orji

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August 8, 2023

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The Federal Government has withdrawn the suit filed against the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for embarking on strike last week.

The withdrawal, according to the permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, is due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Recall that the two unions had threatened to embark on fresh strike on August 14 after they got wind of the contempt suit filed against them by the federal government for protesting against the fuel subsidy removal and attendant economic hardship facing Nigerians on August 2.

The unions were warned not to go on strike by the federal government, citing an order of the National Industrial Court, NIC. restraining them from doing so.

In a letter addressed to Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and counsel to the unions, the federal government stated that the contempt suit is no longer necessary as events have overtaken it.

In the letter dated August 7, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, the government said it has decided not to proceed following the intervention of President Tinubu and the National Assembly.

The letter reads, “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Justice has been drawn to the Communique issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress on 3 August 2023 wherein NLC announced the suspension of its nationwide protests and criticised the contempt summons issued by the National Industrial Court (*Court”), amongst other issues.

“Kindly recall the exchange of correspondence between the Ministry and your Office on the need for compliance with the extant court orders, restraining industrial action of any kind on the part of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

” The position of the Ministry was informed by the need to safeguard the integrity of the court and prevent avoidable service disruption or damages to public facilities.

“However, despite these exchanges/interventions, the labour unions on 2nd August 2023 proceeded with the industrial action through public protests which led to disruption of work and the eventual pulling down of the gate of the National Assembly.

” The foregoing prompted the Ministry to initiate contempt proceedings by filing Form 48 on the same 2nd August 2023 in accordance with Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and Order 9 Rule 13 of the Judgement (Enforcement) Rules.

“It is trite that issuance of Form 48 is just the starting point in contempt proceedings which will only crystalize upon the issuance of Form 49 and the consequential committal order. Upon the intervention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the decision of the labour unions to call off their industrial action after meetings with the President and leadership of the National Assembly, this Ministry did not proceed further with the contempt proceedings, which would have required the issuance of Form 49 within two days of the issuance of Form 48.

“It is self-evident that the non-issuance of Form 49 as at 4′ August 2023, renders the contempt proceedings inchoate. You may therefore wish to advise or guide the labour unions on the practice and procedure of contempt proceedings, particularly to the effect that the issues or concerns raised by NLC in its communique on the proceedings have been overtaken by events.”

With the current situation, the unions will no longer make good their threatens, reliable sources in NLC informed the magazine on Tuesday.

Edo Crisis: My Deputy Planning To Join APC- Obaseki

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James Orji

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August 8, 2023

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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has further shed light on the crisis of confidence between him and Phillip Shuaibu, his deputy saying the latter is on his way to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

They are both members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the ruling party in the state.

Lately, the two former political allies have been at dagger-drawn over Shuaibu’s plan to succeed his boss next year, as Governor Obaseki is expected to wind down his eight-year administration.

The crisis worsened recently after Shuaibu got a restraining order at a federal high court in Abuja stopping an alleged plot to impeach him by the state house of Assembly, fingering the governor as the arrowhead.

Shuaibu has also accused the governor of blocking him from attending important state functions, saying his problem with his boss started after he informed him that he wanted to succeed him.

But in what could be described as his first direct response to his deputy’s allegations, Governor Obaseki said Shuaibu has never informed him of his ambition to take over from him.

Briefing journalists in Benin City, the state’s capital during a visit by PDP leaders in Edo North, the governor accused his deputy of hobnobbing with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC ahead of his defection to the ruling party.

Denying the knowledge of his deputy governorship ambition, Governor Obaseki noted that “Philip Shaibu has never had the courtesy to discuss his ambition with me,” adding that he’s aware of the former’s plan to defect to the APC to achieve his ambition of succeeding him next year.

The governor said, “Let me put it on record that I am not aware of any plot or any scheme to impeach the Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan.

“So, the Court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given a broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.”

“It’s clear what has happened in the last few weeks. It is a preemptive move for him to conclude what he has started. Those of you from Akoko-Edo can recall that when we were discussing the issue of your local government chairman and that of Owan, there was a lot of resistance from you on the candidates he wanted to impose on you. I listened to your entreaties and thought that what you were recommending was fair. How can he be recommending the son of an APC leader in that local government? You resisted and I saw reason and acceded to your request.

“The next day, I saw on social media that he was in Abuja robbing minds with the opposition party. I have heard for months now that he has been in closed consultation with friends from another party because he was not sure that you, the leaders of PDP, will give him the ticket as governor in 2024.

“I must State here that Philip Shaibu has never had the courtesy to discuss his ambition with me. The last time we spoke of my successor after the House of Assembly election, I did say that we should be patient and that our task is to try and finish well and conclude all our projects we started. It’s only when we do this right that we will have the support of the people for my successor.’

Obaseki stated further, “I believe that this action by him is a preemptive move to get a court order, keep his ticket and move to another party. I think it’s unfair for our party. We don’t need this sort of crisis. I have been getting calls all over the world and it’s rather sad that somebody who is part of an administration will do this to the administration because of his personal ambition.

“I am not angry but naturally I should be disappointed. I understand what is going on. I thank you for your solidarity. We should not be distracted but consolidate and unite our party and bring all on board.

“As we start our local government campaigns tomorrow, I urge you to join me so that we can build a PDP that will continue to dominate the politics of Edo State as we must finish well so our people will continue to give us the mandate.

“Edo will continue to be great as our collective efforts will drive our future as no one man can be bigger than all of us.”