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Bawa Vs Matawalle: The Joke Is On Us

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The Source
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Comfort Obi

By Comfort Obi

Life is funny. I am trying not to say it is a b**ch. But its twists and turns, often times, leave one breathless. And wondering. And asking questions which answers leave one more confused.

Or, how does one explain and/or understand the story of the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle and the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa? It is  unprecedented. And  makes any  Nollywood block buster green with envy.

Their story, known to Nigerians, still needs retelling because it passes all understanding. By retelling it, perhaps, one would manage to make a head and a tail out of it. For me, it took time to sink. And since it sunk, I have been singing my late mother’s favorite song.  Literally translated from Igbo to English it says: “Nobody should boast with the World. Don’t boast with the world because it could suddenly turn upside down, and leave one confused.”

The song tells the story of Matawalle and Bawa. For, honestly, not a few Nigerians are confused. Both men, prominent Nigerians. Powerful. Members of Nigeria’s powers-that-be.

Abdulrasheed Bawa
Abdulrasheed Bawa
Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State
Bello Matawalle

A couple of months ago, precisely in the month of May, both men were in the news, flaunting their powers. Bawa seemed more powerful and more sure-footed than Matawalle. It didn’t matter  that, at the time,  Matawalle was a State Governor, with Executive powers. The guys love to be called Executive Governors. But power pass power. Bawa was in a position to make Matawalle shake and cringe. He was in a position to scare him. He was in a position to lock him up. And Bawa never hid it. He flaunted it. And taunted Matawalle with it.

Matawalle was in a disadvantaged position. He had just lost his second term bid to Zamfara State’s Governorship seat. Big deal. To lose all that executive power. The loss not only embarrassed him, it hit him hard and left him confused. So confused and uncoordinated was Matawalle after his loss that he held everybody, but himself, responsible.

He even neither spared then President Muhammadu Buhari nor the whole of the Presidency. Matawalle pointedly held both responsible for his misfortune.

He said the Presidency worked against his re-election bid. Meaning that even though he is of the  APC, the Presidency worked with the opposition to defeat him, to reduce him to the unenviable status of a one-term Governor. He said his sin was joining two other others – immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello – to take Buhari’s Government to the Supreme Court over the Naira redesign and the unprecedented cash crunch  and suffering that came with it.

Not a few people dismissed him as a drowning man, clinging to any straw to survive, especially, with the EFCC on his neck. Others said his statement was to curry the favour of then President-elect, Bola Tinubu,  who like Matawalle and his two colleagues, was  against the Naira redesign and the declaration of the old Naira notes as illegal tender.

It was at that most frustrating period of Matawalle’s life, when he was at his most vulnerable, that the EFCC, under Bawa struck. While Matawalle was lamenting his loss at the Governorship  polls, EFCC accused him of monumental corruption. The Commission gave him the treatment it gave former Governors Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

While both Fayose and Obiano still had some weeks  to stay in office, the EFCC gave them notice that they would be guests in their cells as soon they leave office. Meaning: Exiting from the luxurious life in Government  House to the EFCC cell. Seems like descending from Heaven to hell.

However, Fayose did not give the Commission the joy to hunt  him down and arrest him. As “crazy” and defiant as ever,  he packed a bag, and the minute he handed over to his successor, he headed to the EFCC Head Office in Abuja, donned a T-shirt on which was written – “EFCC here I come.” He pulled the rug off EFCC’s feet. And made his ordeal very ordinary. The story the next day was Fayose’s “EFCC here I come”  t-shirt.

Obiano was not as smart as Fayose. He gave the Commission the joy to embarrass and arrest him at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on his way to the United States of America, the very day he handed over to his successor.

So, it was the same treatment the Commission promised Matawalle. It gave the then Governor notice of his would-be arrest, notice that he would  be its guest as soon as he hands over to his successor. But the Commission did not reckon with Matawalle’s state of mind at the time. For, him, it was like a case of “he that is down needs fear no fall.” Or even more appropriately put: “If I have to go down, I will not go down alone.”

So, he faced the  Commission head-long. He fought back in a most vicious unexpected manner. He went for the Commission’s jugular. He, frontally, attacked its Chairman, Bawa, and put him on the defensive.

Matawalle revealed he had been discussing some untidy business with Bawa. The contents of his alleged  discussion with Bawa were unsavory.  He accused Bawa of corruption. Proof: He revealed that Bawa, allegedly, asked him for  bribe to the tune of two million US Dollars so as to stop his (Matawalle’s) investigation by the EFCC. Meaning that Bawa asked Matawalle to buy his “freedom” and a clean record from the EFCC.

When an obviously embarrassed Bawa recovered from the weight of the allegation and challenged him to show proof, Matawalle, with no blink of the eyes,  said he had evidence to prove his allegation against Bawa. Case closed!

Then, Bawa took a second hit.  About the same time,  a group addressed a Press Conference, and alleged that Bawa went on a religious pilgrimage to Saudi with about 18 members of his family and that all basked in luxury. The group alleged that  the 18 family menvers stayed at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel which cost it put at 1,500 US Dollars per room, per night. Many people alleged the group was sponsored by Matawalle.

Yours sincerely did not believe any of the allegations against Bawa. I had argued then that Bawa, considering the office he held, would be dumb to ask a Governor, under his investigation, for a two-million US Dollars bribe. I, also, doubted that Bawa would pay such a huge amount of money for 18 members of his family on a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Whatever, the damage had been done.

Bawa  became so weakened by Matawalle’s unexpected hit that he did not make a go at Matawalle, as promised, when Matawalle lost his immunity on handing over to his successor. Opinion was that  Bawa was busy trying to extricate himself from Matawalle’s weighty below- the- belt bribery allegation.

Unless I missed it, I never really read where Bawa seriously denied the allegations by putting his job on the line. In some climes, he would have stepped down from office and offered himself for investigation, over such embarrarrassing allegation. That’s taking one’s credibility serious.

In same manner, I neither saw, nor read any proof/ evidence against Bawa from Matawalle. In other climes, he would have been made to make public such evidence  given the seriousness of the allegation which shook the foundation of the Federal Government’s fight against corruption. The allegation shook the credibility of the EFCC and  the people’s trust in the Commission.

Or, did Matawalle present his alleged damning evidence/proof, against Bawa, privately, to the appropriate authorities?

That would still not be right. He did not make his allegation privately. He dumped it on the public, in the public arena. So, the public deserves the right to know the details.

I may be wrong, but it must be why we are witnessing this bizarre twist of fate in the case of Matawalle and Bawa where the later has been given a golden handshake, and the former kept in the custody of Security Agents, uncomfortably lying down in the bed he had prepared for the former Governor.

Such drastic change of fate.

Bawa, Matawalle’s hunter, is now the hunted. Bawa has been suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu, and Matawalle,  nominated a Minister in Tinubu’s Cabinet. Bawa has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, for eight weeks and counting, and Matawalle, free as air, preparing to move into a Minister’s office.Does anybody still remember he was under EFCC’s investigation? Soon, he will be addressed as His Excellency, the Honourable Minister. And Bawa? The sacked Chairman of the EFCC. That Commission has gradually become the nemesis of its Chairmen. They never leave the seat in a tidy manner.

I cannot begin to imagine what Bawa, wherever he is now, is thinking, or doing, since after Matawalle’s nomination as a Minister. In his shoes, many would walk the wall. Many would curse the day they met a Matawalle and accused him of corruption.

Speculation is strong that one of the reasons Bawa was suspended from office and put in custody, is Matawalle’s bribery allegation against him. True?

Whatever, what has happened, in a layman’s interpretation, is that Matawalle is clean, and innocent of the allegations against him by the EFCC under Bawa. Otherwise, why was he cleared for a Ministerial appointed by both the DSS and the same EFCC? Or, are there more to all these than the public is allowed to know? Is this a case of “the more you look, the less you see?” Nigeria! The joke is on us!!

Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com.  Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Niger Coup: Senate May Reject Military Option As Northern Senators Warn Tinubu Against It, Frown At Sanctions

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The Source
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Gideon Njoku

President Bola Tinubu’s letter to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seeking approval for a Military intervention to restore Civilian rule in neighbouring Niger Republic, may suffer a defeat.

Tinubu had, on Friday, against, all expectations, and advice from a number of well-meaning Nigerians, written to the Senate to permit his Government to intervene in Niger Republic to flush out the Soldiers who toppled elected President Mohammed Bazoum from office, and are holding him and members of his family incommunicado at the Presidential Palace.

Earlier, Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Heads of Government of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, had, in agreement with his brother-Heads of State, given the junta a seven-day ultimatum to restore democracy.  The junta ignored the ultimatum, ignored the tough economic sanctions against its regime, and shunned a delegation sent by Tinubu, led by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar to dialogue with its leaders.

As a last resort, President Tinubu wrote to the Senate, seeking a Military option. However, Tinubu’s request is likely to fail at the Senate as Northern Senators who are in the majority have rallied against it.

In a Press Release issued in Abuja on Friday, the Northern Caucus in the Senate warned against the Military option, and frowned against the “economic and other sanctions” against Niger Republic.

Insisting that they take exception to the Military option which would result in fatalities amongst the innocent civilian populace, the Caucus, in the Release signed by its Spokesperson, Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, added that Northern States which share borders “with Niger Republic, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno will be negatively affected.”

The Senators envisage “serious implication for our country if military force is used without exhausting all the diplomatic channels.” They, also, noted: “We are, also, aware of the situation of Mali, Burkina Faso and Libya which may affect the seven Northern States if Military Force is used.”

They urged their colleagues in the Senate to ” observe due diligence in invoking section 5 sub section (4) (a) and(b) of 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.”

Following is the full text of the Press Release.

“NORTHERN NIGERIAN SENATORS RESPONSE TO THE NIGER REPUBLIC COUP.

“We, the Northern Senators Caucus of the 10th Senate under the leadership of Sen. Abdul Ahmad Ningi, note with concern and condemn in its entirety the unfortunate development in Niger Republic, where the military forcefully upstaged a democratically elected government of President Mohammed Bazoum.

“The Northern Senators also take cognizance of the efforts of the ECOWAS leaders under the chairmanship of our Dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in resolving the situation in Niger Republic. The emphasis, however should be focused on political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in Niger Republic.

“We also take exception to use of the of military force until other avenues as mentioned above are exhausted as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent citizens who go about their daily business. Besides, about seven northern states who shared border with Niger Republic namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno will be negatively affected.

“We are also aware of the situation of Mali, Burkina Faso and Libya, which may affect the seven Northern states, if military force is used. There is serious implication for our country, if military force is used without exhausting all the diplomatic channels.

As democrats and representatives of the people we are here by urging our colleagues to observe due diligence in invoking section 5 sub section (4) (a) and (b) of 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.

“Sen. Suleiman A. Kawu Sumaila, OFR, PhD. Spokesperson Northern Senators Forum”

Both Mali and Burkina Faso, incidentally ECOWAS Countries, but which are under Military Regimes, have warned that they would take any Military action against Niger Republic as a declaration of war against them as well.

Buoyed by the support of both countries, the seeming tacit support by Russia, and a seeming support by majority of Nigerien citizens, the Junta is talking, and acting tough. It has, reportedly, severed diplomatic relationships with Nigeria, United States of America, and France, Niger Republic’s former Colonial masters, which Embassy in Niamey, has been torched.

INEC Fetes Journalists; Prepares For Guber Election In 3 States

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James Orji
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By Akinwale Kasali
The Chairman of the In independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has extolled the role played by the media in the  conduct of  free and fair elections in the country.
The INEC boss made the assertion at a three-day Strategic meeting with select journalists,  Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC, and Administrative Secretaries to review the 2023 General Elections and the way forward for future elections.
The meeting was also held as part of the commission’s preparations for the governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states later this year.
In his address Prof. Yakubu hailed the media pivotal role as one of the commission’s critical stakeholders, and   a link between it and the electorates.
He stressed that the review is necessary to access its performances and challenges as it prepares for the Governorship Election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo State, as well as the 2027 general election.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the commission’s officials during the 2023 polls, adding
that the media also played a significant role in voter educations, and assisting the commission in policy formations.
“We as a commission are convinced that the media are part of the discussion for the overall improvement of the Electoral process based on their field observations and report received from people they deployed to the field during the election,” Yakubu said.
The focus of the meeting, the INEC boss stated include; Continuous Voters Registration, Apathy at Polling Unit, Logistics, Polling Unit Administration On Election Conduct of Regular Staff, and Advocate Officials during election, Conduct of Security Personnel, Accreditation of Voters especially those that operate in state and local government level and movement, Access for Journalist into the voting centres, the role of technology in voter registration, amongst other.
The INEC boss, however, blamed the voters apathy witnessed during the last mostly on  security agencies including, the Police, Navy, Airforce, Army, Civil Defence and other para-military bodies.
He said the problem would however be looked into in its subsequent election to bring about inclusiveness with every voter exercising their franchise.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Planning Monitoring and Strategy Committee INEC, Prof. Rhodes Gumus said the Media played a vital role in electoral process through timely and effective
information dissemination and public enlightenment.
Gumus stated that without the media safeguarding the credibility and transparency of electoral process will be a difficult task.
Humus added that the meeting is also designed to receive feedback from the media and also highlight how the media can work together to ensure the Nation’s stability during and after the election.
Lagos State INEC Administrative Secretary, Adebisi Ajayi said the meeting was necessary ahead the upcoming governorship elections in some states.
He applauded the 36 states’ Administrative Secretaries including FCT,
for their coordination during the election.

Uzodimma lauds Owerri indigenes over Oru Owerri Festival

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The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has lauded  Owerri indigenes for their unity of purpose that has helped to sustain their highly cherished cultural, traditional and historical festival, Oru Owerre.

The Governor said this on Friday in a statement issued  by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku,  as he felicitated with the people on this year’s Oru Owerre, the climax of the festival taking place on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

Governor Uzodimma recalls the huge benefits that accrue from the festival, top of which is the unity that Oru Owerre has helped to foster among the communities that comprise Owerri and their neighbours and congratulated the people for sustaining the Oru Owerre ceremony.

The Imo State Governor also noted that the Owerri indigenes have learnt over the years to live peacefully with their numerous neighbours regardless of sex, creed and ethnicity, noting that their friendly disposition should be a lesson to other communities in and outside Imo State.

He said he was not surprised that their fore fathers were visionary enough to concede  that the seat of Imo State government be hosted by Owerri communities, a development the Governor said has helped to transform the place to a metropolitan area without losing its historical cum cultural and historical trajectory.

It is the wish of the Governor that the Oru Owerre will continue to be a source of sustainable unity among the leadership and other indigenes of Owerri such that the cultural, traditional and historical baton handed over to them by their forefathers will witness seamless generational transfer in the years ahead.

Governor Uzodimma finally urged the indigenes to remember the less privileged in their midst as they engage in the yearly merriment that comes with the Oru Owerre festival.

Corpse Disappears From Ondo Hospital Morgue

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A possible mistaken identity of a corpse at the Ondo State Teaching Hospital morgue is unsettling two families in the State.

Already, Osi community in Akure North Local Government Area, the supposed owner of the dead body and Oba-Akoko in the Southwest, where funeral rites were billed to commence for the corpse are confused and disturbed by the development.

The corpse was deposited at the State UNIMED Teaching Hospital, but when the family of the late Mrs Olajumoke Julianah Ogunsuyi went to pick her remains on Friday for Christian wake keep, it had disappeared from the hospital’s mortuary.

Trouble started when the family members of Mrs Ogunsuyi got to the hospital Friday morning to carry the body for burial ceremony, but after waiting for several hours, it was discovered that her body was missing at the morgue.

It was gathered from a family source that mortuary attendants and hospital officials are currently facing Police investigation as it was discovered that the body of Mrs Ogunsuyi had been released to another family at Oba Akoko.

According to burial arrangements, Mrs Ogunsuyi’s lying-in-state, Christian wake and other ceremony supposed to hold on Friday August 4 and Saturday at her residence in Osi in Akure North council area.

Mrs Olajumoke died at the age of 63. The development, it was learnt, has caused apprehension at Oba-Akoko.

Niger Republic: President Tinubu Set For War: Seeks Senate Approval; Nigerians Disapprove

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria and other members of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) are set to deploy the  Military to Niger Republic in an effort to restore democracy.

Prominent Nigerians, including Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Chief Bode George have advised President Tinubu on the adverse effect of deploying the military to the embattled Niger Republic.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday sent a letter to the National Assembly intimating legislators of the proposed ECOWAS’ military action and other sanctions against military coup leaders in Niger Republic.

President Tinubu in an executive communication, addressed to the Senate and read on the floor of plenary by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that the ECOWAS under his leadership seek the return of the democratically elected government in Niger Republic.

He said the development followed the “unfortunate political” situation in Niger Republic that culminated in the overthrow of its President, Mohammed Bazoum.

Tinubu further explained that in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and resolved on military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger Republic should they remain recalcitrant.

The President also said that ECOWAS also came out with a communique with a resolution to “enforce the closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise”.

The executive communication read in part; “Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic, mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique, Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic.

“Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports, embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media.”

Nigeria Closes Borders With Niger Republic

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bashir Adewale

By Ayodele Oni

As Countries in the continent are contemplating  possible sanctions on Niger Republic as a result of recent mutiny, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the closure of all land borders linking Nigeria with the country.

The NCS’s Acting Controller General (CG), Mr Bashir Adewale, disclosed this on Friday during a visit to the Jibia border in Katsina.

The Customs boss, also, explained during a visit to another border community that the border closure did not signify that Nigeria is at war with Niger Republic.

According to him, the decision for the total blockage of the borders was to comply with the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) directive to suspend the movement of cargos until further notice.

He added that as part of measures to ensure 100 per cent compliance, they will sensitize the border communities.

The Acting Controller General pointed out that the decision was taken for the interest of peace and stability between the two countries.

According to Adewale, he had visited the Deputy Governor of Katsina State regarding the issue of sensitisation.

Other sanctions as stipulated by ECOWAS are the suspension of trade, diplomacy, and financial services to the country; while a no-fly zone has also been declared over Niger and its military hierarchy.

While  addressing Illela border community of Sokoto State also on Friday, the custom boss clarified that what is happening in Nigeria is also happening in other states of West Africa that shares same border with Niger Republic.

Adeniyi, while inspecting Illela border community in Sokoto State, stated that “My mission here is to restate the directives of President Bola Tinubu, being not only the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“As we are aware one of the Chairman’s responsibility is to promote trade between members of ECOWAS. But we all know that trade cannot happen in an environment where there is no peace.

“So the intention of government is to ensure that we leverage perfectly on the nexus between trade and security.

Elevator Accident: LAHA To Wield Big Stick, As  Lawmakers Begin Probe On Doctor’s Death

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Diaso Vwaere

By Akinwale Kasali

The circumstances surrounding the tragic death  of Vwaere Diaso, a Medical Doctor at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, has been described as unfortunate and pathetic.

The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has condemned the Lagos State Government and the Hospital for negligence.

This has prompted the Lagos State House of Assembly to order an immediate probe of the elevator accident that led to the death of Diaso. LAHA promised to ensure justice for the deceased.

Mourning the demise of the Doctor, the Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa led the 10th Assembly to hold a one-minute silence in honour of the deceased and sympathised with the family and friends of the late doctor as well as the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA.

The Speaker also set up a committee to investigate the accident, and a proper probe of the incident and stressed that it needed to ensure proper management and safety of lives.

An eight-man Committee has been set up, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, include: Hon. David Setonji, Hon. Lara Oyekan, Olayinka Ajomale, Hon. Shabi Adekola, Omolara Olumegbon, Hon. Oluwa Akanbi and Hon. Olarenwaju Afinni.

They have a mandate to report their findings to the House in two weeks.

Obasa approved that the  Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital and staff who had roles in the incident be summoned.

He also asked the Committee to invite the NMA branch in Lagos Island.

The Speaker said it was unimaginable the pain that the loss of the medical doctor would bring to her immediate family.

“It is saddening to lose such a young promising daughter and there is no convincing explanation we can give to the parents and her colleagues; no amount of explanation can suffice,” he said.

The Speaker also appealed to the NMA to resume work, saying government would look into their demands.

Earlier, raising the issue on the floor of the House, Hon. Olarenwaju Afinni representing Lagos Island Constituency 2, urged his colleagues to help look into the crisis.

In his own contribution, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa 2, said the NMA had the right to express its grievances over the death of its colleague, but appealed to its members to call off the indefinite strike in order to avert more death.

“This incident saddens my heart and we sympathise with the family and NMA. We have seen their demands and we are appealing that they should resume work to prevent patients from dying,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House has ordered the State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit to stop demolition of houses in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos with immediate effect.

The decision of the House followed a ‘matter of urgent public importance’ raised by Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, who told his colleagues that some policemen stormed the area and demolished buildings.

He said the demolition squad had claimed that only shanties would be affected. He lamented that the team had gone beyond the shanties and have demolished a lot of other buildings.

According to him, over 300 people have lost buildings, property and sources of livelihood and that his finding showed that the Ministry of the Environment and the Police Taskforce headed by one CSA Jejeloye were behind the action.

Speaker Obasa, thereafter, directed the Clerk, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, to write a letter to CSA Jejeloye and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment to stop the demolition.

He also set up a five-man ad-hoc committee including Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Hon. Adewale Temitope, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, Hon. Femi Saheed and Hon. Aro Moshood to investigate the matter.

Why We Suspended Airport Taxi Services At Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja –  FAAN  Suspended

By
The Source
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0
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that the airport car hire service at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja has been suspended with immediate effect.

This is as a result of the unresolved factional dispute amongst the car hire operators which has been affecting airport car hire service operations.

Consequent upon this suspension, FAAN Management advises the general public and all airport users, particularly our esteemed passengers to use secured alternative means of transportation or E-hailing services in and out of the airport.

The Management of FAAN regrets any inconvenience this necessary suspension may cause our esteemed passengers, airport users and the general public. Normal Car Hire Services resumes as soon as their differences are resolved.

CNPP Kick Against War Option In Resolving Niger Crisis, Says Labour Unions Have Vindicated Us

By
The Source
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0

…Faults FG’s Promise To Revive Port Harcourt Refinery By December

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has called on Nigeria to quit the ego trip by rescinding the decision to lead ECOWAS to war against the military junta in Niger Republic, saying that the country cannot afford to fund such expensive adventure while her citizens are suffering.

The umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, in a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, also faulted “calling off the jamboree tagged nationwide protests by the Nigeria labour unions after the first day without any concrete roadmap on how the government intends to ameliorate the hardships faced by Nigerians following the petrol subsidy removal.”

The CNPP noted that “the actions and inactions of the labour leaders have vindicated our position that Nigerians should not trust the labour movement to negotiate with the Federal Government on their behalf.

According to the CNPP, “It will be difficult for President Bola Tinubu administration to revive the petroleum refinery in Port Harcourt by December 2023.

“The current management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are not reliable hands, having failed to get a single local refinery working in the last eight years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“NNPCL has been rehabilitating one refinery forever in the said contract between the company and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.

“The CNPP advises President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately Initiative a contract for a new refinery instead of wasting scarce resources on outdated refinery in a digital age”, the CNPP said.

On the planned use of force to restore constitutional order in Republic of Niger, the CNPP said, “In view of the economic realities in the country, Nigeria cannot afford to fund the war as many West African countries are opting out of the war option.

“ECOWAS should negotiate with the military junta in Niger and find a middle ground. No sacrifice too much in a bid to save lives and very limited resources”, the CNPP stated.

Advising the President to concentrate on cutting down the cost of government, the CNPP noted that “37 Ministers are more than enough to run a government and deliver on dividends of democracy.

“Nigeria is in deep economic crisis, with heavy debt burden and cutting down on the cost of running the Federal Government should be a priority of the President Tinubu administration”, the CNPP noted.

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