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Ortom Says Governor Alia Lied Over N359Bn Debt Inheritance Claim

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has debunked the claim of incumbent Governor of the State, Hyacinth Alia, that he inherited a huge sum of N359 Billion from the administration of his predecessor.

Governor Alia had last weekend in Abuja, the nation’s Capital, stated that he was working tirelessly to clear the huge debt he inherited from Ortom administration. But Ortom has described the State as false, calling Alia a liar.

Ortom in a statement through his Media Aide, Terver Akase said, “The present Government of Benue State is selling a narrative to unsuspecting people of the state that they inherited N359 billion as debt from the previous government led by Chief Ortom.

“This narrative is not only false but is also a deliberate stratagem to snooker the people.

“Curiously, this same Government told the people via a statement by Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary in June this year, that Governor Ortom handed N187.56 billion to them as debt, which was the same amount the former governor mentioned while presenting handover notes to his successor.

“What the present Government is saying about the state debts now contradicts their previous statement,” parts of Ortom’s aide statement read.

The former Governor said that he was explicit in his handover speech that though the debt situation of the state government at the time of his exit from office might appear to be on the high side (N187.56 billion), his administration had taken proactive steps to negotiate and ensure significant debt reduction/reliefs leading to Debt Swap between Benue State and the Federal Government, as facilitated by the Nigerian Governors Forum.

He said that the total debt swap for State and Local Government Councils stood at N71.6 billion.

He further explained, “The inflows Benue State was expecting at the time Governor Ortom was leaving office were: (a) Backlog of accumulated Stamp Duties – N48billion, (b) Refund from Debt Swap with Federal Government – N22.95 billion. Total = N70.95 billion.

“When the negotiated debt swap and the expected inflows are discounted, the State was set to attain a significant debt reduction, bringing down its debt profile to N45.2 billion.

“It should also be noted that owing to the efforts of the Ortom administration, Benue State by May 29, 2023, had outstanding approvals awaiting disbursement from the federal government including the balance of Bailout – N41 billion and a N20 billion Central Bank of Nigeria facility.

“At the same time, the Benue state government was expecting N9 billion as a refund on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P.  The Alia administration has yet to tell the people if it has already received the N9 billion SURE-P funds.

Ortom added that his commitment to finding a lasting solution to the problem of pensions, the state government domesticated the federal government reforms in pension administration through the Benue State Pension Law, 2019, which introduced the Contributory Pension Scheme was his priority.

“Our administration met most of the requirements for full implementation status of the contributory pension scheme.

“At the time Governor Ortom was rounding off his stewardship, over N8 billion, had already been raised under the Scheme, and Benue State was on the threshold of meeting the conditions for benefitting from the contributory pension scheme including access to long-term loans and bonds for development projects or defraying existing pension liabilities.”

He furthermore said that on assuming office in 2015, he also inherited assets and liabilities from his predecessor, adding that a similar thing happened to previous administrations of Suswam, Akume, and Adasu who also inherited assets and liabilities.

“If the Alia administration wants the people to believe their tale, they should publicly prove that his predecessor Chief Ortom handed over N359 debt to them.

“What baffles me is that the Alia administration has not disclosed to Benue people how much it has received from Abuja as federal allocations and what they have raised as internal revenue since they came on board. They are also mute on the monthly state wage bill.

“Since the Federal Government removed oil subsidy, allocations to states have increased enormously. Let the Alia government tell the people what has come to Benue as federal allocation in the last five months,” the statement concluded.

APC Leadership Wades Into Ondo Deputy Governor Impeachment, Ganduje Rallies Parties

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

In its continued search for amicable resolution to the crisis between Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party have met with members of the Ondo State House of Assembly to discuss the impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor.

In attendance at the meeting were members of the Aminu Bello Masari-led Nine-man Reconciliation Committee, the State Party Chairman,  Ade Adetimehin.

The Ganduje-led NWC recently inaugurated the reconciliation committee as part of efforts to resolve the crisis.

The party leadership had earlier expressed its reservations against plans by the lawmakers to impeach Ayiedatiwa.

It was gathered that the meeting was held at the party’s national Secretariat in Abuja with all parties present.

The deputy governor was accused of disrespecting the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, while the state chief executive was on a medical vacation abroad.

The lawmakers also accused him of abusing his office, an allegation he has since denied.

The impeachment move has been stalled due to refusal of the state Chief Judge to set up investigation panel to sit over allegations against the deputy governor.

Tension In The Senate As Akpabio, Ndume, Engage Each Other In Heated Argument, Ndume Walks Out

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

There is brewing crisis in the 10th Senate led by Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

At plenary Tuesday, Akpabio and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume engaged each other in a heated argument, prompting Ndume to walk out of the Red Chamber back to his office.

Sources within the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly disclosed that the shouting row between Akpabio and Ndume was as result of certain decisions taken by the former Akwa Ibom State Governor which Ndume stood up to complain about.

Ndume had raised a point of order, citing order 54 of the Senate Rule Book to draw the attention of the Senate President to his handling of affairs in the chambers which he pointed out were against the rules.

He said: “Mr. President there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn.”

Akpabio hardly allowed Ndume to end his speech, when he ruled him out of order.

An enraged Ndume then stormed out of the chamber and went straight to his office, prompting the Senate to decide to hold an Executive Session.

Ndume was called back by colleagues for the Executive Session.

Akpabio, in recent weeks, have been having brushes with a number of his colleagues over his handling of affairs at plenary.

Details Later…..

Akpabio Denies He Sacked Elisha Abbo From Senate

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has denied he had anything to do with the sack of Senator Elisha Abbo from the Senate.

Abbo, APC, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, was sacked by the Appeal Court on Monday.

The Court, headed by the Honourable Justice Chioma Iheme-Nwosu, declared the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Amos Yohanna, duly elected.

But Abbo, in his reaction to his sack, fingered  Akpabio as the person behind his loss.

Abbo said Akpabio moved against him because he supported Akpabio’s opponent during the race to the office of the Senate President.

He also said that four other Senators who worked for Senator Abdulaziz Yari are, also,  targeted for removal from the Red Chamber through the court, by Akpabio.

While he declined from revealing the names of three of them, he was specific on Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as the next target to be  removed from the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly through the Court.

But reacting to Abbo’s  allegations, Media aide to the Senate President, Eseme Eyiboh, said Abbo was just looking for someone to blame for his sack from the Senate.

Eyiboh said his principal was not responsible for the court judgement which sacked Abbo from the Senate and has no reason to witch-hunt any of his colleagues.

He said, “It is unfortunate if he actually said that Akpabio was responsible for his removal. That’s the swan song of a man looking for scapegoats.

“The Court of Appeal across the country decides cases based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and evidence advanced by petitioners. The Senate President has no reason to witch-hunt any of his colleagues”.

Poverty Eradication Day: Pulling People Out of Poverty Remains My Priority – Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has reiterated his desire to pull people out of poverty as a top priority in his plans for a New Nigeria.

Obi said his position derives from the empirical facts that no nation,  Nigeria inclusive can develop with more than half of its population living in poverty.

In his message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Obi lamented that the high rate of poverty in the country is avoidable with good and focused leadership.

The former Anambra state governor stated that a combination of high levels of insecurity, a harsh economic environment, and an unstable political atmosphere, all combine to push more Nigerians below the poverty line, daily.

“Nigeria is today known as the world capital of poverty. According to the World Poverty Clock, over 71 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty today and a total of 133 million people, 63 percent of the population, are classed as multidimensionally poor according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

According to Oxfam, the richest 0.003 percent of Nigerians, 6,355 individuals worth $5 million and above, have 1.4 times more wealth than 107 million other Nigerians. This high rate of poverty and gross income inequality, are obviously a threat to national prosperity and development,” he said.

Obi argued that investing in small-scale businesses across the country remains the fastest way of lifting people out of poverty. He argued that such small businesses, as the engine of economic growth, will catalyze the economy, and help in moving the nation from consumption to production. By so doing, there will be rapid creation of jobs and more productivity in the nation.

“According to the United Nations, India lifted approximately 415 million individuals out of poverty between 2006 and 2021. The United Nations reported that India achieved a remarkable milestone by reducing their global MPI (Multidimensional Poverty Index) values by half within a span of 15 years.

“According to the World Bank, more than 33 million Bangladeshi people have been lifted out of poverty since 2000; Bangladesh’s per capita has increased almost threefold between 2010 and 2020, from under $700 to $2,068, moving Bangladesh into the ranks of middle-income economies. Bangladesh is projected to enter upper-middle income status by 2041.

“All these countries, and many other comparable nations, have invested in the small business sector, enabling them to lift millions of people out of poverty,” Obi pointed out.

He, therefore, called on government, at all levels, to take urgent and positive action by reforming and investing in critical areas of development; health, education, and lifting people out of poverty. He maintained that this remains his mission in the New Nigeria.

Ebonyi: Youth Group Urges Opposition To Withdraw Election Suits Against Governor Nwifuru

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the recent victory of Governor Francis Nwifuru at the Ebonyi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Youth Groups under the aegis  of Ezza North Youth General Assembly, has urged the Governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the March 18th 2023 General elections, Ifeanyi Odii and Benard Odoh, respectively, to withdraw their suits against the state governor.

The Group urged the opposition to embrace the olive branch extended to them by Governor Nwifuru for the growth, development and prosperity of Ebonyi State and its people.

The PDP and APGA candidates had approached the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja to challenge the processes that upheld Nwifuru as governor of the state, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission erred by declaring him winner of the March 18 polls.

Last month, the Tribunal ruled in favour of Nwifuru, but the ruling has been appealed by Odii and Odoh.

The Group said the interest of Ebonyians should be the priority of the opposition, and should join hands with the duly elected Governor Nwifuru in uplifting the State.

In a communique signed by Chairman, Nwokporo Emeka, Secretary, Titus Eze, Legal adviser, Chika Igboke, and Media Director, Polycarp Alegu, among others, the Youth Group called on the opposition candidates to end the legal tussle with Nwifuru, adding that the elections have been contested and won.

The communique reads in parts, “The apex youth organisation of Ezza North LGA held her general meeting on the 12th day of October, 2023 at Onu-Nwode Primary School, Okposi Umuoghara in the council area wherefore the following resolutions were made:

“Firstly to thank the Almighty God for the outcome of the Ebonyi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja whose judgment was rendered on the 27th day of September, 2023 affirming the Chief Servant and the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru FNIOB, FCAI, GGCEHF, as the authentic candidate of APC and the winner of the last concluded governorship election in the state.

“That we commend very highly the dispositions of the members of the tribunal whose rendered judgment was a true reflection of the aspirations and wishes of the majority of the people in the state.

“That the apex youth body want to reiterate their earlier stand and position but in a broader manner by calling on our brothers, Prof. Ifeanyi Benard Odoh and Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii to wholeheartedly accept the outcome of Ebonyi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgment which is the true reflection of the mandate Ebonyians bestowed on Governor Nwifuru.

“That we are specifically calling on Mr. Odii to backtrack and stop paragliding around the courts and continuing to distract Governor Nwifuru where he is seeking unholy judgment in election he knew he failed woefully.

“That Mr. Odii who is from Ebonyi South Zone is fully aware that the founding fathers of the state had enthroned the charter of equity in our political terrain upon which the three senatorial districts in the state rotate the governorship position and presently, it is not the turn of Ebonyi South Zone to produce the governor.

“That the reason why majority of Umuekumaenyi vehemently rejected their own, Chief Arch. Edward Nkwegu in 2015 who had the backing of the then incumbent Governor, H.E Martin N. Elechi and overwhelmingly supported the immediate past governor and minister for works, Fed. Rep. of Nigeria, H.E Engr. Chief David N. Umahi was because it was the turn of Ebonyi South Zone to produce the Governor of the State then.

“That the political voyage of Mr. Odii to govern the state now is untimely, pretentious and aberration and if he over-stretches the good people of Umuekumaenyi, there will be a compound and combusting political catastrophe as the apex youth body of Ezza North shall spur Umuekeumaenyi youths to convoke the Igala politics of Benue people to be played in Ebonyi State.”

Kano Moves To Encourage Youths To Embrace Education

By
The Source
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Kano State Government has stepped up efforts to encourage youths in the State to embrace Education.

Part of the measures is the release of N1.3 billion for the payment of the National Examination Council, (NECO), and National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) registration fees for 57,000 indigent students.

The State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, disclosed this in Kano while inaugurating the distribution of over two million educational materials to basic and post-basic schools.

He said that his administration accorded priority to the provision of modern learning materials to public schools in the state.

“The era of pupils receiving lectures on the bare floor is totally over in our state. Already, we have a blueprint to ensure the provision of furniture for public institutions.

“We are operating a responsible government that will ensure the provision of qualitative and sound education for our pupils.”

According to  Kabir-Yusuf, the state government is constructing 130 new girls’ and boys’ schools in a bid to enrol out-of-school children the next year.

He said the State was also paying N20,000 monthly stipend to 40,000 indigent girls to encourage enrollment, retention, and completion of school.

While 5,000 members of the state basic education service delivery association would be employed by the government,

“I directed the Committee set up to screen members of the Basic Education Service Delivery Association to submit their names and qualifications for quick employment by the government.”

The Governor charged public office holders to ensure probity and transparency in the discharge of their duties, warning that his administration would not condone corruption and embezzlement.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Umar Haruna-Doguwa, reiterated the State Government’s commitment to enhance access to free, quality education for all through the provision of basic learning materials to schools.

He said Mr Yusuf’s administration has reopened all closed-down girls boarding schools across the state.

Doguwa lauded the Governor over the payment of N300 million in unpaid allowances to the State Basic Education Service Delivery Association.

Diversion Of 500 Bags Of Rice: Ondo Commissioner Removed From Palliatives Committee, Under Investigation

By
Ayodele Oni
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Charles Titiloye

Ayodele Oni

For his inability to account for 500 bags of rice  released to him for distribution in his Local Council, a Commissioner in Ondo state is currently under investigation.

Charles Titiloye, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, has been accused by people of Akure South Local Government of, allegedly, diverting 500 bags of rice from allocation due to them.

Some leaders of Akure Community had recently asked the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Titiloye, to account for the alleged disappearance of 500 out of the 2000 bags of rice allocated to the area by the state Palliative Distribution Committee.

The Commissioner heads the 11-man Palliative Sub-committee for Akure South Local Government.

The leaders said “We implore the authorities to thoroughly investigate these allegations and hold Commissioner Charles Titiloye accountable for his actions. We demand transparency, accountability, and a fair redistribution of the palliatives to those who are truly in need.”

Reacting to the allegation, the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju explained that the Ondo State Government has commenced investigation into the allegation.

Mrs Ademola-Olateju disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the commencement of second phase of palliative distribution to the people of Ondo state.

The Commissioner  pointed out that as part of Government’s  promises to the people, the palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee would henceforth be in charge of subsequent distribution of palliatives to the people in Akure South Local Government area of the state, pending the outcome of its investigation.

She said, “I don’t have all the facts yet and it is an allegation. We have all kinds of reports and the Committee on Palliatives has decided to take a look because we have received reports from the DSS, from the Police, we have petitions on our table making all these allegations.

“We are going to look deeper into it. But as safeguard to prevent recurrence, this new distribution will be different in Akure South.

“Akure people should hold us accountable and the way we can be accountable is to say that we made a mistake and we are trying to correct it.

“The Committee is seriously considering administering Akure South as a Committee thing because it is the State capital and they keep saying they have not “seen” the palliatives and we want the palliatives to get to those it is meant for.”

Inflation: FG To Borrow $1.5bn; PDP Says Tinubu Unprepared

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government for the worsening state of the nation’s economy.

The main opposition party in the country said the recent report released by the Nigeria Bureau of Statics, NBS, is a pointer that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party were not prepared for governance.

According to the NBS Consumer Price Index, CPI, report, headline inflation which represents the cost of basic food items and energy rose in the month of September to close to 27 percent compared to 26 percent for the same period last year.

NBS said: “In September 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 26.72 percent relative to the August 2023 headline inflation rate, which was 25.8 percent.

The NBS report said, “Looking at the movement, the September 2023 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.92 percentage points when compared to the August 2023 headline inflation rate.

“On a YoY basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.94 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2022, which was 20.77 percent.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (YoY basis) increased in September 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., September 2022).”

“The Food inflation rate in September 2023 was 30.64 percent on a YoY basis, which was 7.3 percentage points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2022 (23.34 percent).

“The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of Oil and fat, bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, fruit, meat, vegetables and milk, cheese, and eggs.”

What this means, according to analysts is that the cost of basic food commodities has risen beyond what many Nigerians can afford.

For instance, not a few Nigerians have criticized the government for the sharp rise in the price of cooking gas, rice, beans, vegetables, and other household commodities.

The federal government said it’s working hard to ensure that the situation is remedied.

Reacting to the NBS report, PDP said the level of despondency and hunger in the country is an indication that President Tinubu was not well prepared to run the country.

Debo Ologunagba, PDP National Publicity Secretary said the country has been on the wrong trajectory since the APC took over power in 2015, noting that Nigerians were not “surprised about the report.”

He said the party had warned Nigerians that APC has nothing to offer to move the country forward, noting that it’s not a surprise the “news that the prices of food and other items have pushed inflation to 26.72 percent.”

The PDP spokesman stated further: “When inflation climbed to double digits after the APC took power in 2015, we told Nigerians it can only get worse because the APC can’t give what it does not have. “Like the Muhammadu Buhari administration before it, this administration has pushed more Nigerians further down into poverty. The number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty which stood at over 133 million, representing roughly 64 per cent of Nigerians during the Buhari regime, has risen under Tinubu.

“Nigerians are invited to note that when the PDP was in power, the economy was better managed, inflation was within single digits, the exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar was around N180 to $1 USD but today, the Naira is the worst performing currency in the world exchanging at over N1,000 to $1USD.

“A 50 kg bag of rice under successive PDP governments sold for no more N8,000 per bag but now you’ll struggle to get the same bag for N50,000 at a time the national minimum wage is just N30,000 per month.

“This is the legacy the APC is leaving behind. We urge Nigerians not to despair, help is coming. We are confident that the Supreme Court which is the last hope of the common man will do justice and return our stolen mandate for our dear nation to return to the path of growth and prosperity.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy said on Monday after the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting that President Tinubu understands the hardship in the country, the government, he stated has devised a plan to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, part of which is the $1.5 billion loan to be obtained from the World Bank to fight inflation.

NIPOST: Who’s The Postmaster General? Plot To Undermine Tinubu Revealed

By
James Orji
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0

The controversy surrounding the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer/ Postmaster General for the Nigerian Poster Service, NIPOST has yet to settle.

Laolu Akande, a spokesman for former Vice President Yemi has alleged a plot by some elements in the government to undermine and probably embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show that he’s not in charge of his government.

Last Wednesday, President Tinubu appointed Tola Odeyemi as the new postmaster General and chief executive officer, CEO, after sacking Adeyemi Adepoju from the post.

Odeyemi’s appointment among other recent appointments of chief executives of federal government agencies, was contained in a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Barely a few hours after the appointment, a statement on the NIPOST website claimed that Adepoju had been reinstated by the president.

In the now-viral statement, the sacked NIPOST boss thanked President Tinubu for reappointing him, promising to elevate the agency to a “world-class digital postal service.”

Not long after the statement was posted, another viral video surfaced where some employees of the agency were seen protesting the appointment of Odeyemi, calling for the reinstatement of their former boss.

The belief among close watchers of what is going on in the agency, is that the protesters were sponsored by some interests in NIPOST who are not happy with the president’s appointment of Odeyemi to take over from Adepoju.

Speaking on Channels Television, Akande condemned the protest, describing the NIPOST staff behavior as unruly.

The former presidential spokesman also accused some government officials of trying to undermine President Tinubu, adding that there should be severe consequences for civil servants who breached extant Civil Service rules.

Akande who blasted the protesting NIPOST staff for “locking out” Odeyemi after her appointment by the president called on the government to call unruly civil servants to order.

“It’s left to the authority to ensure that things are done right. I just think this must be part of the civil service reform” process, he said.

Recall that some staff of the Ministry of Works recently shut the gate on David Umahi after he tried to punish them for coming to work late. The minister would later beg the workers to allow peace to reign.

According to Akande, the president should be seriously concerned that some people in his administration are trying to undermine him, calling on the Chief of Staff to the President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, to intervene on the matter.

Meanwhile, watchers of the Presidency insist that a statement should have been issued to affirm the appointment of Odeyemi, which according to them would have cleared the air over the issue.

The silence from Aso Villa, they say, has obviously left the issue of the substantive NIPOST chief executive in ambiguity.

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