Oyo State, Contractor Disagree Over Project Execution

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April 25, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The Oyo State Government has given reason why its Light Up Oyo Project has been stalled.

Government has however commenced actions that will resolve the technical and sundry difficulties the Light-Up Oyo Project has been facing in recent times, which has hindered the project from running optimally.

The Commissioner for Information, Wasiu Olatubosun, in a statement on Monday stated that “In the spirit of accountability and transparency, the authorities would like to put on record that there is a dispute between the Oyo State Government and the Contractor.

“This centres on how much work has been done and how the infrastructure is being operated.

“The government is not satisfied with the infrastructure provided and its specifications.

“These have been the main cause of the operation and maintenance challenges the project is facing.

“Therefore, the Oyo State Government is presently auditing the entire infrastructure to determine the level and quality of work done.

“The audit process will be completed in about six weeks, after which the general public will be updated regarding any decisions reached and the way forward for the project.

“You will recall that in September 2019, the Oyo State Government embarked on the Light Up Oyo Project.

“The logic behind this project was two-fold. First, to grow the Oyo State economy.

“As Governor Seyi Makinde stated, Oyo State cannot compete with cities that run a 24-hour economy if economic activities are shut down by 7 pm.

“Second, to tackle insecurity. Crime thrives in darkness. And so, when major parts of towns and cities are lit up, criminals will not have anywhere to hide.

“Oyo State residents are urged to remain assured that the government is doing all in its power to ensure that the entire 240 km of the Light Up Oyo project is delivered in the shortest possible time for the benefit of the residents of the state.

“This will ensure that the good people of Oyo State get maximum value for the money spent on this project.”

NNPC Probe, Missing 149m Crude: CNPP Says Buhari Can’t Probe Self, Calls For Independent Investigative Panel

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The Source

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April 25, 2023

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Amid probe of the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in revenue from illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015 and the call by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a presidential panel of enquiry to probe allegations that over 149 million barrels of crude oil are missing, as documented in the 2019 reports by the Auditor General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that such investigation by the current administration will be fruitless.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP noted that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot probe himself as the Minister of Petroleum Resources since 2015.

While SERAP also urged the President to ensure prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for plundering the country’s oil wealth and make full recovery of any proceeds of crime, the House of Reps Committee on Oil Theft is inviting several high-ranking officials over alleged missing 149 million barrels of crude oil in 2019.

But the CNPP maintained that “it will be futile for any citizen or member of the civil society community to get NNPC management team to account for their stewardship or be held accountable for their alleged financial and economic crimes under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration or any All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled government.

“Recall that the CNPP as the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations had expressed worries that while oil producing countries globally were experiencing a boost in their revenue generation as a result of increasing international prices of crude oil, Nigeria continued to suffer decline in earnings, had in 2022 reiterated it’s earlier call for the sack of the management team of the newly registered Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), urging President Muhammadu Buhari to replace them with prudent private sector players to save the country’s economy.

“However, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, has so far refused to take any decisive action against the NNPC management team led by Mallam Mele Kyari whose leadership has wasted more funds and contributed less revenue to the federal treasury than the NNPC under the corrupt Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government which the APC constantly criticised before its members got into office in 2015.

“More worrisome is that the National Assembly progressively failed exercise its oversight powers on the NNPC to serve as clog in the speedy wheels of a strategic corporation managed by very corrupt individuals like the NNPC.

“Nigerians had expected that a Buhari-led administration will end corruption in the country, especially in a government owned corporation or company like the NNPC, but this was not the case in the last eight years.

“While corruption continued to thrive unbridled at the NNPC under Mallam Mele Kyari, the Federation Government of Nigeria opted to continue to borrow money in connivance with a rubber stamp National Assembly, where equally corrupt politicians have retired into as legislators to seemingly help cover the track of serving executives.

“Therefore, only an independent investigative panel under a sincere Executive or Legislature can effectively probe NNPC Limited or any other parastatal or institution of government.

“The CNPP recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari was warned that the transformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was an incorporation of corruption, having left the old NNPC management team to manage the new NNPC Limited.

“Since 2015, the National Assembly has attempted to investigate not only the NNPC but several other agencies and parastatals without success.

Some of the probes by relevant National Assembly’s investigative committees were either inconclusive or abandoned at the committee stage and when the reports were eventually laid on the floor of the Senate, little or nothing came out of it.

“The list of such adventure by the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, is endless but to mention a few: the House in 2019 instituted one of the biggest investigations in terms of monetary value, to probe Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency for allegedly failing to remit revenue totalling N1.343tn to the Federal Government’s treasury.

“Also, on December 17, 2019, the House launched investigation into the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund over alleged illegal expenditures, especially the about N2.3bn spent on staff training without approval.

Similarly, on December 11, 2019, the House, began the investigation of the decadence of infrastructure at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports and the roads leading to the ports in Lagos, causing Nigeria to lose N600bn revenue monthly.

“The House on November 27, 2019, also investigated the collapse of the Delta Steel Company built with $1.89bn.

“In the same vein, on November 21, 2019, the House started an investigation of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency over a contract entered into on behalf of Nigeria with a foreign private company, HLS International Limited, for the supply of certain security and surveillance equipment and systems to the tune of $214,830,000, including $195,300,000 for the actual contract and an additional $19,530,000 NIMASA agreed to pay to HLSI for ‘Management Training Consideration.’

“Time and space will fail us to mention the November 21, 2019 probe into the ‘Turn Around Maintenance’ of the petroleum refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna within four years, costing a total sum of $396.33m and the November 2019 joint Senate and House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission probe of the Federal Government and 17 local and international oil companies over their indebtedness to the NDDC to the tune of N72bn and $73m, while the Federal Government alone owed NDDC N1.2tn, among other inconclusive investigations.

“The CNPP is therefore convinced that the current probe of NNPC Limited and the for investigation of missing 149m crude will equally by fruitless and no person will be prosecuted as demanded by SERAP in the missing crude oil case as President Muhammadu Buhari cannot investigate himself neither can he arrest any loyal member of the ruling APC”, the CNPP stated.

Nigerian Banks Grapple With Ghana Debt Crisis; The Losers

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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April 25, 2023

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By Bayo Bernard, Business Editor

Nigerian- based commercial banks are not smiling at all after losing billions of naira to the Ghanaian government debt default during the 2022 Financial year.

At least, no fewer than four tier-one commercial banks in the country have all released their full-year statements which clearly showed that they recorded terrible losses in the West African country which at the moment is facing a serious debt crisis.

Records from some banks that invested in the Ghana sovereign bonds, and have released their report indicate an estimated impairment of over N284 billion.

These banks include Access Bank, which released its full-year 2022 report last week; Zenith Bank, UBA and Ecobank Transnational.

The four banks recorded a combined N284 billion losses following the decision of the Ghanaian government to restructure its debt due to the ongoing economic crisis which has tested one of the strongest economies in the West African sub-region.

With the statement of First Bank and Fidelity Bank Plc still being awaited, financial experts insist that the impairments will likely rise to at least N300 billion by the time the two commercial banks make their financial statements public in a few days.

“The sky was not blue for Nigerian banks who have exposed to the Ghanaian government’s sovereign debt to the tune of billions last year. The economic headwinds in that country have affected some Nigerian-based commercial banks with serious effects on their balance sheet. In fact, some banks deliberately delayed the release of their financial statements as a result of what happened in Ghana which threw many of them off balance,” James Harrison, an expert said.

According to him, many banks will now be very cautious before investing in the country’s government bonds in the future.

“This is because the economy of Ghana has not shown any sign of recovery to encourage any short-term investments, and investors will consider it a very high risk to invest in that economy, according to Festus Adedeji an investment expert who spoke with the magazine.

He said Nigerian-based commercial banks would have been worse hit if ” they suffered the same fate in Nigerian and other countries where they have invested in government bonds”, adding that the “problem in Ghana played a huge role on the losses declared by Nigerians banks for the year ending December 222,” despite the fact that some of them raised the bar in critical metric indices during the financial ending December 2023.

He explained that the situation is not totally bad for the affected banks who have succeeded in making up in other areas.

For instance, Access Bank (Access Holdings) declared in the statement released last week that its earning has hit over N 1.4 trillion, the very first time that a commercial bank in the country has earned so much revenue despite the serious economic challenges.

“Access Holdings Plc Full Year 2022 financial results showed strong growth across revenue lines, despite the strong macroeconomic headwinds locally & internationally,” the bank said.

“We registered a record revenue of ₦ 1.4 trillion a 43% y/y growth (FY’21: ₦971.9) as we begin to see the dividends of organic & inorganic activities across the ecosystem. Access Holdings Plc recorded a Profit Before Tax of ₦167.7 billion, 5% y/y decline (FY’21: ₦ 176.6bn) following huge write-downs from the Ghana sovereign debt crisis.”

On its part, Guarantee Trust Company, GTCO explained in its statement released two weeks ago, that it advanced more loans to customers during the period in spite of the economic challenges across its market channels apart from its customers’ deposits which grew significantly.

According to the details provided in the statement, the Group’s loan book increased by 4.6 percent from ₦1.80 trillion as at December 2021 to ₦1.89trillion in December 2022, while deposit liabilities grew by 11.6 percent from ₦4.13trillion to ₦4.61trillion during the same period.

The Group Managing Director of GTCO, Segun Agabje said “As an organisation, 2022 was quite significant for us being the first year after our corporate restructuring into a financial holding company in August 2021. Today, across our Banking, Payment, Funds Management, and Pension businesses, we have successfully built a robust ecosystem with immense potential to deepen our addressable market and create more value for all our stakeholders.

“We will continue to prioritise innovation, service excellence, and execute seamlessly towards achieving our vision of leading financial services in Africa.”

Africa’s Global Bank, the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc said in its statement that it recorded impressive performance across metric lines particularly, its profit after tax, PAT, which grew by over 40 percent to N170 billion as at December 2022.

According to the Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, “The Group delivered record headline earnings (+29.2%) and profitability (+31.2%) amid significant headwinds in markets where we are present and a heightened global risk environment.

“Our record earnings, growth, and robust capital levels supported higher returns for the shareholders. The Group is on course to achieve its strategic goals, and we are confident we will deliver our targets.

“We have navigated unprecedented macroeconomic headwinds and made significant gains in our diversification strategy and Customer 1st philosophy as we build resilience in our operations across Africa and the Rest of the World to support the mission of providing superior value to our stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, keen watchers in the sector said shareholders of these banks are the ultimate losers as the affected banks will not be able to declare fair dividends to them within the period under review.

This is because such banks have already indicated in their statements a slide in their yearly profit, which has righly been blamed on the west African nation’s debt problem.

Apart from the shareholders who may not get fair returns on their investment in such banks, the commercial banks on their part will also face a serious backlash from new investors who are looking for bank’s stock to invest in.

Greenhorn Umahi Deserves To be Senate President – Commissioner

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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April 25, 2023

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Despite lacking legislative experience, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state is qualified to be Nigeria’s next Senate President.

The state’s commissioner for Information and Oeientation, Uchena Orji disclosed this on Monday, while responding to suggestion that the Ebonyi helmsman lacked required experience to be the country’s number three citizen.

Apart from his inexperience, those with this line of thought said the governor who became a senator-elect after winning the February 25 election to represent the state in the National Assembly, said he stands no chance considering the array of contestants gunning for the job.

They include Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Godswill Akpabio, Ali Ndume, amongst others who are all ranking senators, by virtue of which they are at advantage over new comers to the NASS.

Speaking Orji said being a fresher does not prevent Umahi, his boss from running.

According to him, Umahi had a good relationship with legislators as governor, adding that Ranking should not be used to edge the governor who has a passion for public service, out of the contest.

He claimed that nothing in the Senate guidelines prevents Umahi from contesting like other senators who already declated their interset to run.

Orji said, “Much has been said about Ranking in the Senate as if it is a condition precedent for being a Senate President. This sentiment has shrinked the thought of legal minds and suppressed the pre- eminence and considerations of the rule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on who qualifies to be elected as Senate President of Nigeria’s Senate.

“Under the constitution, the eligibility for being a Senate President is clear. By Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), every member of the Senate, who has taken oath is eligible to be voted for as Senate President. Ranking is not given any iota of pre-eminence.

“It is expected that in electing a Senate President, emphasis should be on nation building, capability and character to lead the Senate to achieve the aspirations of the Nigerian people. The Senate members are known to be distinguished representatives of the people who must emphasise the virtue of mental and moral character (not ranking) as a yardstick for who is to be elected President of the Senate.

“Order 3 of the Senate Senate Standing Orders 2015 as Amended has three categories of people that can be elected as President of the Senate of Nigeria. A first timer is clearly empowered by Order 3 to contest for Senate Presidency alongside ranking members and those who came from the Federal House of Representatives.

“Essentially what determines the pendulum is the mindset of the Party in Majority, in this case the APC, the interest of the majority of the Distinguished Senators and the prominence of power play between the ranking Senators and the first timers. Mind you, the first timers are greater in number under the 10th Senate.

“No rule says that Ranking members will determine who is elected as President of the Senate. All the inaugurated Senators have equal voting rights. The Ranking Senators have no extra- influence or right of first refusal in who becomes the Senate President.

“In the 10th Senate, Nigerians want a Senate Presidency that will be vibrant, that will balance the national political equilibrium and geo-political tripod. South East deserves the fullest consideration in this regard.

In Zoning considerations, South East is one of the three major parts of the tripod. In the history of Nigeria’s independence, leadership of this Nation has always stood on the tripod of East, West and North. This is fair and equitable.

He said if Governor Umahi is elected as the next Senate President, he will provide leadership to the chamber, noting that pedigree should should be key in the quest to ensure that the next occupier of the office hails from the south east.

Anambra: “No Governor Has Taken Us To Mecca Since Obi Left Office ” – Miyetti Allah Chairman

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The Source

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April 24, 2023

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi was highly commended by the Muslim Community in Awka, Anambra state Capital for his exceptional show of love to them while in and out of office.

The Zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the state, Alhaji Gidado Siddik disclosed this when Obi paid Sallah homage to them at the Awka Central Mosque on Monday.

Alhaji Siddik explaining why the former Governor was invited to their Mosque, noted that it was ‘to fraternize with him as they always did in the past, and to encourage him on his journey to New Nigeria, not minding the falsehoods peddled against him.

According to Alhaji Siddik, they had wanted to visit Mr. Peter Obi at his house in Onitsha, but on receiving their invitation, Obi offered to visit them at the mosque and celebrate Eid el Fitr with them.

Speaking at the Central Mosque in Awka during Obi’s visit, the Zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Gidado recalled that Obi never failed to celebrate their sallah with them when he was the Governor of the State, a ritual he continued after. He praised Obi for his visible contributions to the development of their Community over the years.

Gidado stated that under Obi’s administration as Governor, many of their children received scholarships and many of their members were sponsored for pilgrimage to Mecca by Obi, and since Obi left office, that tradition ended. “No Governor has sponsored any of us to Mecca since Obi left office,” Gidado said.

He continued, “Some of our members applied for agricultural loans under Peter Obi’s administration, and they were approved, without knowing us in person. Such a thing has never happened. Obi treated us like indigenes and made us feel at home in Anambra. He did not segregate between Muslims and Christians nor between Northerners and Easterners.”

The Leader of the Awka Muslim Community, Alhaji Garba Sarki, in his remarks, noted that the many lies told by traducers to tarnish Obi’s image in the North are sad. He said he was willing to tell the whole world who Obi is, and how he has helped their community to grow in the State. He said that the Muslim Community in Awka supported Obi’s bid for the presidency because they know and understand the kind of person he is and how prepared he is to change the trajectory of the nation.

The LP Presidential standard bearer Obi appreciated the Community for their love and support and urged the people to resist any attempt to divide the nation along religious and tribal lines.

He maintained that a prosperous economy will be beneficial both to Christians and Muslims, and as such, all should join hands to make the nation better. He called on Nigerians to continue to love and support one another for a better nation.

Obi who was accompanied by Chief Celestine Okoye (Retd DIG), the House of Representatives- elect, Prof. Oby Orogbu, and his former Commissioners, namely: Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna; Barr. Peter Afuba, SAN; Mr. Ndubisi Menakaya; Dr. Patrick Obi; Lady Henrietta Agbata; Mr. Fidel Okafor as well as House of Assembly member-elect, Hon. Henry Mbachu presented his material and cash gifts to the Community and wished them well.

Imo: PDP’s Day Of Woes As High Profile Members Defect To APC

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The Source

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April 24, 2023

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Hope Uzodimma with PDP Members that defected to APC in Imo State

By Charles Igbo

It was a day of woes for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State Chapter on Monday, 24th April 2023 when a number of its high profile members dumped the Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

It was an unexpected tsunami which left not a few PDP faithful dumbfounded.

The Party in the State has never been the same since former Governor, Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, suddenly withdrew from the Governorship race, and left the field for Samuel Anyanwu (SamDaddy) as the sole Candidate. Anyanwu, still the National Secretary of the Party, picked the ticket. The Party in Imo, has since then, lost relevance which began when it failed to win any Senatorial Zone during the 25th February National Assembly elections, and was worsted in the 18th March 2023 State House of Assembly elections.

On Monday, Imolites watched as big guns of the once vibrant Party defected en masse, with their supporters to the (APC) in a move that left their former Party not only stranded, but badly wounded.

It was a day of glory for the APC leadership at the State and National levels as the defectors filed out in what looked like an Alter Call, ascending the podium at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Owerri to be formally received into the Party and handed over the broom, the symbol of the APC.

Top on the list of the defectors were Rt. Hon Bede Eke (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency), Rt. Hon Henry Nwawuba (Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency) and Rt. Hon Ikenna Elezianya (Owerri Federal Constituency), all PDP chieftains and federal lawmakers from the Owerri zone.

The others include, Hon. Bruno Ukoha from Ezinihitte/Ahiazu Federal Constituency, PDP Apex Leader in Ngor Okpala, Hon. Emma Nwogu and Pastor Frank Onwumere from Okigwe.

In unison, the defectors, with their supporters running into thousands who took every available space at the venue of the event, endorsed the second term bid of Governor Uzodimma and pledged to work for his reelection come November 11, 2023.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, his deputy, Prof Placid Njoku, Dr. MacDonald Ebere, Imo State APC Chairman, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, APC National Vice Chairman, South East, among other key Party members were on ground to welcome the new entrants into the APC fold.

An elated Governor Uzodimma said: “My heart is full of joy. Firstly, I will start by giving God glory. He set aside today for a reunion of men of good conscience from Imo State, those who understand the need for a united Imo State and a new Imo State. A State where everybody must be his brother’s keeper, a State where people must support a winning team to continue to play the match. I want to thank the Almighty God for that.

“I am particularly very happy that prominent leaders of our State representing the political class have decided to give peace a chance, have bought into the idea that Imo State must be united and Imo must develop and there must be an economy in the State. I want to thank them, particularly those of them with national name recognition.

“Those who have been at the National Assembly speaking for and on behalf of our people. I am very happy that we have bought into the acronym that charity begins at home. My promise is that there are no new members of APC and there are no old members of APC. I want to assure them that they will not regret their decision because what is there to fight?

“For some of us, we are praying – kneeling on our knees in our various homes praying to Almighty God. Sometimes we don’t even know when God has answered our prayer. I am indeed very happy that these great brothers of ours, and sisters, have seen the new dynamics of national politics. They have seen the new dynamics of the global economy. It is only when we are united and on the same page that we will be able to attract good development into our State. If we are not united, we will be divided, but if we are united we will not be divided and United We Stand.

“I want to thank them. One assurance I will give you; power belongs to God, the power we are holding; God gave to us to hold and only God can remove it. Human beings cannot. So, come together, I cannot do it alone, nobody can do it alone.

“Today the only economy that has global acceptance is the digital economy. Communication and technology have taken over the world. We must buy into the New World Order. The new world order is about development and prosperity. If the stomach is empty the body is angry, if the stomach is filled up, the body is relaxed. We must create prosperity together. We must create prosperity for our people, our children must go to good schools, there must be food for our people to eat, there must be good hospitals, and there must be good schools for people to go to.

“We must love ourselves, we must reduce anger in the land, and we must discourage those who want to get power at all costs and know that power belongs to God. We must continue to develop Imo State. The only State we can call our own is Imo State. If we are united and understand the need to move our people from where they are at the moment to the next level, that is only when God will be happy with us.

“It is not about being a governor, it is about coming to sit over the commonwealth, over the money of the people and using the money for the people. I challenge anybody here in Imo State or outside Imo State who will accuse Hope Uzodimma of having taken Imo State people’s money. I challenge any accountant, any cashier that Hope Uzodimma has asked for money that has no official Ledger.

“So I am not here to exploit my people. I am here to develop my people. I thank my brothers, they have come to add value, they have not come to reduce value. I know every one of them on their credentials, they are people with impeccable credentials, they have something to offer and I can tell you that, I know how to use the value they are coming to add.”

Governor Uzodimma assured the defectors that they will not regret their decision to join the APC.

Earlier, Prof. Njoku had described the gathering as a carnival, saying that “the people are happy because they have a performing, passionate, loving and listening Governor.”

He also thanked the defectors for the decision they had taken, saying that “the decision is ordained by God.” In congratulating them, Prof Njoku urged them to join hands to build Imo State.

Welcoming the defectors, the Chairman of APC Imo State, Dr. Macdonald Ebere said the new members came to endorse the Governor for a second tenure and that the gathering was symbolic and memorable.

“By the performance of the Governor, he has surpassed the expectations of his admirers and surprised his detractors,” Ebere said and assured the defectors of equal attention and opportunity in the activities of APC in Imo State. “There will be no segregation, marginalization or dichotomy.”

In his brief remarks, the APC South East Zonal Chairman, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu thanked the defectors for “taking a wise and deliberate decision to join and help develop Imo State, their constituencies and communities as well as help build the APC in Imo State and Nigeria at large.”

He specifically thanked Governor Uzodimma for his contributions in the growth and strengthening of APC in Imo State, South East and Nigeria through his giant strides and achievements.

The key defectors took turns to speak.

Hon. Bede Ekeh told the mammoth crowd that the PDP in Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala has collapsed into APC, describing APC as “indeed a Progressive Party and the Governor is a Progressive Governor.“ He added that “the Governor has capacity. In fact triple capacity” and expressed his support and endorsement of the Governor for another term of four years.

Hon. Henry Nwawuba said: “Governor Uzodimma is a man of focus” and added that “Mba/Ike has decided to return him with very large number of votes in the November 11th election.”

Hon. Ikenna Elezieanya said: “I am happy to be in the midst of the Progressives and Progressive Party.” He expressed happiness with the level of infrastructural development that the Governor has given to Imo people and Owerri zone in particular, saying that he and his supporters are joining APC to add value and support the Governor to actualise his second term bid.

Pastor Frank Onwumere, a former Chairman of Okigwe Local Government, and former Head of Imo Security Network in the administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha sincerely thanked the Governor for the quality road he gave to the people of Okigwe and prayed for the Governor and his family.

He reminded the Governor that he and his team are always available and ready to work whenever he desires.

Top leaders of the APC from Owerri zone like Prince Lemmy Akakem, Prince Charles Amadi, Chief Henry Njoku, Chief Malcolm Nlemigbo, Chief Justus Ogu, among other political leaders from Owerri zone were on ground to witness the event.

Also, top government officials such as the Secretary to the Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, Commissioners and other government appointees attended the occasion.

Again Fresh Crisis Rocks Ondo Community, Two Persons Feared Dead

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Ayodele Oni

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April 24, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

As Muslims round off the celebrations of Id fitr, signs of escalated crisis rocked the Ikare community in Akoko North local government as sounds of sporadic gunshots rented the air.

Ikare Akoko, one of the commercial nerve centres of Ondo State is one of the Muslim dominated communities in the state.

It was gathered that shop owners and market women hurriedly closed their shops while commercial activities were halted as a result of the situation.

It was further learnt that two persons have been shot dead on Monday, while houses were burnt during the mayhem that is ongoing between two warring parts of the community.

Meanwhile, some residents lamented that security agents are not enough to douse the tension while the Ondo state government is advised to immediately declared a curfew in the town and find a lasting solution to incessant and senseless conflict in the town.

The cause of the crisis was unknown as at the time of filing this report.

The state government had recently set up a panel to look into communal and religious issues causing unrest in the town, but the committee is yet to submit its report.

One of the monarchs in the community was recently accused of breaching the earlier agreement by singlehandedly appointing an acting chief Iman for the central mosque.

The monarch has however cancelled the appointment following state government warning that the appointment should be reversed.

A curfew imposed on the community was recently lifted by the state government following return of peace after an earlier crisis.

“I Am Fully Prepared For Task Ahead” – President Elect, As He Returns From France

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Ayodele Oni

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April 24, 2023

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Bola Ahmed Returns to Nigeria From France

By Ayodele Oni

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to the country on Monday evening after about a month trip to Paris, France.

He was received by a mammoth crowd of enthusiastic associates and supporters who thronged the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja where his plane touched down.

A statement by Tunde Rahman, one of media aides to the president elect stated that the President-elect was in company with his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, and son, Seyi Tinubu.

Among those at the airport to receive him were Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila as well as Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger), former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

Also at the airport were former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman, South, Barrister Emma Enekwu, and National Woman Leader, Dr. Betta Edu.

There were also Senators Barau Jibril, Adeola Olamilekan Yahyi, Opeyemi Bamidele, Dayo Adeyeye, Sabi Abdullahi and Adelere Oriolowo as well as Secretary of the recently-dissolved Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke, Hon. Babajimi Benson and Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Director of media and publicity in the dissolved Presidential Campaign Council.

Speaking to the tumultuous crowd who followed him home, the President-elect said: “I’m happy to be back. I have rested, I’m refreshed and I’m ready for the task ahead.

“Forget about what the rumour mill may have told you. I’m strong, very strong.”

Asked about about his plans for the country, he said he had been consulting and planning with a view to putting together a strong team so he could hit the ground running once he assumes office on May 29.

The President-elect left the country March 21 for Paris on vacation after a hectic campaign and election season.

Imo Killings: IPOB Condemns Killing Of Policemen, Couple, Distances Self From Insecurity In South East

By

Akinwale Kasali

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April 24, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB has distanced itself from the killing of five Policemen and a Couple at Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.

The Group said that it is disappointed and finds it disheartening for people to be linking the Pro-Biafra Group with insecurity in the South Eastern Region.

A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, it said, “IPOB is a peaceful movement seeking separation from the Nigerian state through internationally recognised and accepted modus operandi called self-determination and not through murderous or criminal activities.

“IPOB is a peaceful movement seeking separation from the Nigerian state through internationally recognised and accepted modus operandi called self-determination and not through murderous or criminal activities.

“Even though Nigerian security agents have been brutal on us, we have always maintained our calm. For now, those security men are no hindrance to our freedom, though they are agents of oppression.”

It further reads, “ It is public knowledge that the Federal Government is using both state actors and non-state actors to create insecurity and chaos in the South-East just to blackmail IPOB through some compromised media agencies and agents.

“The paid criminals in the South-East should stop and allow Biafra agitation to flow naturally according to plans. We are warning them to stay off Biafraland or face the consequences. They have already been declared wanted by IPOB, and their sins will catch up with them soon.”

Reactions Trail Appointment Of Ekiti Indigene As Member, Tinubu Inauguration Committee

By

Ayodele Oni

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April 24, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

There is discordant tune in Ekiti state over the appointment of an indigene, Makinde Araoye as a member of the Presidential Inauguration Transition Committee of President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Araoye, who had earlier served as member of the Campaign Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is among those whose names were announced last week.

However, a group of youths in the state under the name, Ekiti-Kete APC Youths Frontier (EYF), said Araoye does not deserve the appointment.

Rising from its meeting in Ado Ekiti, it stated that “as a group with membership of over 500,000, the nominee is not recognized by us and as such can’t represent Ekiti youth population in such a sensitive committee.

“And neither has he at any point contributed anything meaningful to the development of Ekiti youths and we challenge him to come forward with proofs to the contrary.

“That the nominee was a known arch-antagonist of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu before and during the campaign as clearly instructed by former Governor Kayode Fayemi, his boss who he served as Special Adviser on Federal Matters until recently.

“That the nominee at no time during the stretch of the presidential campaign came out to openly make pro-Tinubu statements or contributions on his behalf either in Ekiti or his Ilawe Ekiti hometown.

“If he has any evidence of videos or audiovisual tapes of meetings he held with Ekiti youths during the campaign to promote Asiwaju’s candidature; he should bring them forward without further delay. Arsoye appt

“That Araoye in his four years in office as Special Adviser to Fayemi on Federal Matters while his former boss was serving as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum couldn’t attract a single federal project to Ekiti.

“It is on record that this is so despite that the nominee was one of the youngest political appointees of all time in Ekiti.

“That Araoye’s nomination into such a critical Committee is likened to robbing Peter to pay Paul and a slap on the collective intelligence of Ekiti youths who worked day and night to ensure the victory of the President-elect in their respective our domains.

“That for the avoidance of doubts, those saddled with the responsibilities of drafting names for appointments and sundry national assignments should know that Ekiti parades an array of credible and committed youths who can represent the state in various capacities instead of settling for those who want to reap where they did not sow and hustlers of name dropping.”

A statement, signed on behalf of the group by Bayou Ajayi, President and Ige Famuyiwa, secretary, it claimed that Araoye is a political godson of both Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi who have not hidden their disdain against Tinubu at any given opportunity, and as such his consideration for further national responsibilities will amount to a serious political risk.

“That henceforth, background checks and due diligence must be carried out on future nominees from Ekiti through the genuine leaders of constituted Tinubu campaign chapter in the state for adequate knowledge of such persons and their characters.”

In another statement, Ekiti State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) congratulated Araoye on his appointment as member of the presidential transition committee by the President Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the organization, Hon. Famuyibo Oluwasegun described the appointment of Hon. Makinde Araoye is a round peg in a round hole.

According to him, those who are against his appointment are mere political enemies and selfish individuals who does not see anything good in others.

The statement reads: ”We congratulate our own, a youthful and useful Youth leader in Ekiti State, he has contributed immensely to the growth of Ekiti and that of the youths in particular, his appointment is well deserve and we shall support him to succeed at all time.”