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President Tinubu Recalls All Ambassadors

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Three months into his tenure in office, President Bola Tinubu has directed the recall of all Nigeria Representatives, career ambassadors and non-career overseas.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.

Tinubu had earlier directed the country’s envoy to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Ishola, to return to Nigeria.

A statement on Saturday by an Aide of the Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir,  confirmed the recall of all Ambassadors.

The statement read: “Sequel to the inquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian Ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has clarified that all Career Ambassadors and Non-career Ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

A recall letter by Ambassador Tuggar indicated the end of the tenure of Ambassador Ishola as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

The letter reads, “I have the honour to notify you of Mr President’s decision to recall you, signalling the end of your tenure as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

“By this communication, you are now expected to commence the process of winding down your affairs, and take formal leave of your host government within sixty days and to return to Nigeria by 31 October, 2023 at the latest.”

The recall of the Ambassadors, especially, the non-career Ambassadors, will make way for the President to extend patronage to scores of his loyalists and Party members who feel, somehow, left out of “action” since his tenure began on May 29, 2023.

BUA To Reduce Cement Price Next Year, Kicks Against  Importation

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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BUA Group is considering reducing the price of cement produced from its factory, according to Abdul Samad Rabiu, the company’s chairman.

The cement firm is among the producers of the product in the country that have come under severe criticism for pricing cement beyond the reach of many Nigerians who are planning to build their own houses.

The price of a bag of cement ranges from N5000 to N5500 per bag depending on the location where the consumer is buying from.

Recently, Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works hinted that federal government contractors are considering importing cheaper cement into the country.

The minister also promised to dialogue with cement companies in the country with a view to bringing the price down.

BUA and other producers were further put on the spot after the report surfaced during the week that Dangote Cement, a major cement producer sells the product at a cheaper rate in neighbouring countries.

Dangote has debunked the report.

Daily Trust reports that the BUA boss spoke at the company’s Annual General Meeting, AGM, saying the company is planning to ramp up its production capacity with the aim of reducing prices.

He explained that the company is doing this to assist the government’s economic plan, noting however that the importation of cement cannot solve the current price problem.

Abdulsamad said, “By the end of the year, we intend to have two more production lines on stream which will boost our production capacity by at least 40 per cent to 70 million tons.

“The idea of increasing production capacity is to see how we can be able to drop prices on our part to support the government’s efforts because importation will not be the best solution.

“The average price of cement in Nigeria is N4,500 which translates into N90,000 per ton or $100. So if the government threatens to start importing cement, it will even cost them more because the forex is now high and when you bring it through the ports, you must pay taxes, trucking, and other levies which will add to the price.”

Kelvin Ugwu, Multi-talented FRCN’s Ace Broadcaster, Actor, Is Dead

By
The Source
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Kelvin Ugwu - Ex-FRCN Presenter

By Charles Igbo

Mr Kelvin Ugwu, an accomplished veteran Broadcaster, multi-talented, is dead.

Ugwu, also, an accomplished Actor, Master of Ceremony, recently retired on attaining the mandatory retirement of 60 years from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, where, for a long time, he read the network news and hosted  the popular Police Diary.

Sadly, he was not alive to enjoy his retirement with his family or pursue his many other passions.

Ugwu’s sudden death was announced by his devastated colleague, Solomon  Lorpev, on his Facebook page.

Lorpev wrote:

“I can’t explain this coz I don’t understand it. The only thing that seems to make sense now is what Yahaya Umar said to me once while I was in the studio  preparing for the news at 4. He said ‘when you sit behind the mic and you take your time check on the hour either for the news or a program presentation and you observe the seconds hand on the clock, tirelessly tick away, just know that it is the irreversible withdrawal being made from your life’s bank.”  The transaction is life, the currency is time.

Unfortunately, you don’t even have the luxury of checking your balance. No wonder the Bible says “teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

“Big brother Kelvin Ugwu, the golden voice on Radio, if anyone told me your time was up, I would have drawn daggers, but at last, my Pastor, my artist, my brother, my uncle, my colleague, my boss, my friend.

“Sleep well big brother. You were indeed a BIG BROTHER”

Ugwu was aged 60 years at death.

Kingsley Obiora, Deputy CBN Governor, Released From Detention; President Fires NASENI Boss, Gwandu

By
The Source
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Kingsley Obiora

By Gideon Njoku

A Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Dr Kingsley Obiora has been released from the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Obiora was freed just as President Bola Tinubu sacked the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, Dr Bashir Gwandu.

On the behest of the Jim Obazee -led Special Investigative Panel set-up by President Bola Tinubu to probe the activities of the Bank under its suspended Governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, the DSS kept Obiora, CBN’s DG in charge of  Economic Policy.

He was in custody for a couple of days and before his release.

Speculations are that, just like other very senior staff invited for  grilling since the suspension and arrest of Emefiele in June, Obiora was called in,  in other, to perhaps, be used as a prosecution witness against Emefiele. This Speculation has not been independently confirmed by this magazine.

Also invited and grilled and detained are Sa’adatu Ramaian Yero and Abbas Masanawa, boss of NIRSAL  sacked recently by the President.

Dr. Gwandu, the NASENI Boss, sacked on Friday, was in office for barely three months before President Tinubu sacked him.

No reason was given for the sudden sack. But, in his place, Tinubu appointed 32-year old Khalil Halilu.

According to a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale,  Halilu’s appointment took immediate effect.

It reads:

“President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved the appointment of Khalil Suleiman Halilu as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI),” the statement read.

Khalil Suleiman Halilu
Khalil Suleiman Halilu

“By this appointment, Khalil Suleiman Halilu will serve for an initial term of five years in accordance with the relevant sections of the NASENI Act, 2014.

“Mr. Halilu, 32, is expected to bring his significant experience as an innovator and technology expert to bear in this important new national assignment.

“The tenure of Dr. Bashir Gwandu as EVC/CEO of NASENI is hereby terminated. By the directive of the President, this appointment takes immediate effect.”

Gwandu assumed office at the NASENI Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday, May 22, 2023, and was barely three months in office.

He took over from Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi who was overseeing the affairs of the Agency following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari as the new boss.

Road Construction: FG Opts For Concrete Pavement, To Review Ongoing Projects

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

This may look like a frustrating step to people of Ekiti and Ondo States, especially commuters of the already dilapidated Akure/Ado Ekiti highway news that the federal government plans to redesign it.

Contract for reconstruction and dualization of the highway was awarded to two contractors by the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

The flag off was performed with pomp by the former works minister, Raji Fashola, with a completion deadline of 36 months.

News of a possible redesign of the highway was broken by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, during a working visit to Akure, who said all ongoing works on highways in the country that has not attain 20 percent will be redesign, using concrete pavement.

According to him, Nigerians would see more of concrete pavements on roads as it has more life span than Bitumen roads.

Umahi, stated this in Akure during a courtesy visit to the Acting Governor of Ondo State,Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while on inspection of federal roads in the South-West region of the country.

The minister explained that concrete roads had been tested in several states, saying that it has a life span of 50 years, compared to Asphalt roads that will only last for 15 years.

Umahi said that any road construction contract that the job was not more than 20 per cent done would be redesigned to concrete pavement roads.

Another reason for adopting concrete pavement apart from durability is that importation of bitumen alone was putting more pressure on the Naira and with the use of concrete pavement roads, it would be more of local content.

“Very important thing that I must let you know is the issue introduction of concrete technology in our roads. My argument is that you see a lot of roads that are built  on concrete with a life span of 50years.

“But there is no asphalt road here, especially in  South-South, South-East and South-West even if it’s done by top contractors will not last more than 15 years.

”You see jobs that are still ongoing and that is why we are going round  and then redesigning a portion of roads that are maybe 10 to 20 per cent completion and we are sure that this is the way to go and it has guarantee of 50 years.

“Not only that, you find out that  we are having so much pressure on the Naira, the importation of bitumen is putting lot pressure on the Naira, so cement is a local content, almost everything we need is produced in Nigeria.

“Now local content, The high cost of petroleum products and the very volatile nature of the industry is also another point.

“Almost all our project that are awarded three years ago are due for review, some have been reviewed through VOP (variation of price) and so it doesn’t leave us with an assurance that if a project is started that it would appropriated for and it could be completed.”

Umahi stated further that road construction was a dynamic sector as prices of materials needed keep on soaring and varying and despite all, guarantee for road might not last for the designed life span.

“Let me put it on record that bitumen imported in the 1950s, 1960s are of more quality than what we have today, so we have a lot of problems in our hand and that’s why we are of courageous to introduce the concrete road department.”

The Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa,who congratulated the minister on his appointment, commended him for the zeal on his official engagements.

Aiyedatiwa said that most of the federal roads in the state were either deteriorated of poorly maintained,while many suffered severe degradation.

The acting governor called for the dualization of Ore-Ondo-Akure road and the need to rehabilitate Ore-Okitipupa axis among other federal roads in the state.

“It is noteworthy to mention that the intervention of  my boss is principally what has made these roads remain in their present motorable state.”

Tinubu Goes After Buhari’s Legacies

By
The Source
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0

On August 31, the Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, announced the suspension of the Nigerian Air Project, thus stirring up more controversy over the PPP project signed by the Federal Government with the Ethiopian airline under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Keyamo, who served as the Minister of State for Labour in the Buhari administration did not elaborate on the reason for the suspension except that “A few months after Nigeria Air was launched with so much fanfare, using a borrowed airplane, it is now suspended.”

The Minister said further: “I owe it to the Government and Nigerians to provide an honest assessment.”

What Keyamo did not say, according to the critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is that Air Nigeria is one of the untidy legacies of his predecessor, Buhari which should either be done away with, or completely reviewed.

The now still-birth Airline was the baby of Hardi Srika, Buhari’s cousin and the immediate past Aviation Minister who was roundly criticized over the alleged corruption which trailed  the project. As an icing on the cake, Kayamo, also, cancelled the concession of Airports.

Since the incumbent came into office on May 29, 2023,  he has not left anyone in doubt of his readiness to do away with some policies and projects that he inherited from his predecessor.

Three months in office, so far, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Tinubu has not directly attacked the former President, according to those watching what is going on in the polity, but they hinted that the incumbent has taken actions that indicate that he doesn’t want to have anything to do with a number of decisions made by the man who handed over power to him.

Tinubu and Buhari are of the same ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Tinubu was, also, the Leader of the Party as everybody called him that. So, why do away with some of the actions taken by his predecessor.

A day before Keyamo brought down the hammer on Nigerian Air, Tinubu had bared his fangs by appointing a new Board and Management for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, after sacking the former Board led by Lauretta Onochie, an ardent supporter of the former President.

The former NDDC Management had barely spent eight months in office out of its four-year tenure before it was sacked. The fact that the President retained Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director / Chief executive of the interventionist agency, some say, is a pointer that Onochie was the target.

“There’s no other way to show that he, perhaps, wany a clean sweep president in utter disdain than what he’s presently doing. Even though Tinubu has not verbally attacked Buhari, from his body language, you can clearly see that he’s fighting a cold war with his predecessor,” an APC chieftain from the North said to the magazine in confidence.

The APC politician may be right in a sense, considering what other analysts described as an alleged ongoing vendetta against the former president since he left power barely four months ago.

“Apart from the policy decisions taken by the administration of Tinubu, some utterances of his aides lately have clearly pointed to the direction that all is being done to discredit the former president,” Sam Akintola, a political analyst said. According to him, “You can deduce from what the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said recently that Tinubu’s administration ‘met a bad economy’ from Buhari”.

President Tinubu is not only trying to dissociate himself from his predecessor, he explained, the president is also trying to ensure that key figures “in that administration he considers as enemies” are punished too.

This may not be far from the truth as President Tinubu has not left anyone in doubt of his anger against some key functionaries in the immediate past administration, particularly those believed to have worked against his election as President.

One of such, according to close watchers of events in the country, is Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor.

Since his suspension from the vantage position in June, and eventual arrest the day after, the embattled Emefiele has been detained by the DSS, who initially accused him of economic sabotage and for sponsoring terrorism, but later charged him with illegal possession of firearms. That has since been withdrawn.

Emefiele’s detention has been declared illegal by a Federal High Court in Lagos, which ordered his release. But that has not been done.

The former apex bank governor has now been charged with a 20-count charge of contract fraud totalling over N6 billion while in office. The charge has been described by not a few critics of President Tinubu as a plot to keep Emefiele in detention perpetually.

Those who know also said Emefiele is being punished for some critical actions that he took while in office, including the Naira redesign policy, believed to have been targeted at Tinubu to stop him from being elected President in the February 25 Presidential election.

The Naira swap policy introduced in December 2022 by the CBN has been seriously criticized by not a few Nigerians as a result of the pains it inflicted on them, but analysts insist that Emefiele could not have carried it out without approval from Buhari, his boss.

The policy was suspended immediately Tinubu took power from Buhari three months ago.

Apart from Emefiele who was suspended from office, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is among the top officials from the former administration that has been removed from office.

Bawa’s case is very instructive, close watchers of this administration said, because he has also been detained by the DSS without any charge against him following his suspension by President Tinubu.

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, while reacting to the detention of both Emefiele and Bawa described the action of the Federal Government as illegal, noting that the administration of Tinubu has no regard for the rule of law.

Critics of Tinubu’s administration insist that the two former officials are being punished for the role they played in Buhari’s government, particularly how they treated some ex-government functionaries in that government who are now serving under Tinubu’s government.

For instance, Bawa’s predicament has been linked to his prosecution of the immediate past former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, for alleged corruption. The ex-governor is now a Minister in Tinubu’s cabinet. Instructively, both Emefiele and Bawa were away the third highest National Honour, Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, by Buhari, for their invaluable service by a few days before he left office.

Meanwhile, analysts insist that President Tinubu is following the precedence set by others before him considering that Nigerian leaders rarely continue with the legacies of their predecessors.

He’s only trying to be his own man, by asserting his authority his supporters said.

Dele Momodu Mocks Wike Over Fate Of Three G5 Members; Calls Him “Arrogant Liar”

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

Accomplished Journalist, Politician and a Director on the Presidential Campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 25 election, Dele Momodu, has dismissed the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as an arrogant liar. Momodu, also, mocked Wike for dumping members of his G5 after  using them to grab a ministerial position.

Momodu, in a post in reaction to an interview granted by Wike to Channels Television where he taunted the leadership of the PDP,  and boasted that nobody can suspend or expel him from the Party, accused the former Governor as deceitful behaviour.

Wike, a PDP member, along with four other PDP Governors  then – Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, and Seyi Makinde, Oyo – openly worked against the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in favour of President Bola Tinubu, then the APC Presidential candidate.

Wike’s anger was because aside from losing the Presidential ticket to Atiku, the Presidential Candidate snubbed him and settled for Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, his Delta State counterpart, as his Vice Presidential Candidate, a position Wike desperately wanted.

It was after he lost the Vice Presidential slot that Wike began to talk of Presidential seat rotation between the North and the South in PDP’s constitution and vowed with his G5 colleagues not to support Atiku. All of them worked for Tinubu.

But tackling Wike, Momodu  asked him when he, Wike, became a champion of the South. He asked if it was before Atiku rejected him as his running mate or after. He wondered if Wike would have talked about rotation if Atiku had picked him as his running mate. Momodu noted that Wike should be ashamed that after all the noise, he was able to deliver only Rivers State, controversially, to Tinubu.

He also mocked the FCT Minister for abandoning the other members of the G5, except Makinde, who is still a Governor. He noted that only Wike grabbed a Ministerial position, and left the others in the lurch after they failed in their Senatorial bids. Where are they now?, Momodu said.

Asked Momodu: “When did Wike become the champion of the South; was it after his bid to be Vice President to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was rejected or after requests to handpick the juiciest ministerial portfolios, like the ones he got from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were rebuffed?  Would he have continued to flagrantly badmouth Alhaji Atiku Abubakar if he had selected him as his runningmate?”

He dismissed Wike as a poor student of history, and chided him for not learning from the experience of former President Muhammadu Buhari who thought he was the alpha and omega a few months ago. Three months out of power, Momodu pointed out, Buhari has been thrown under the bus by Tinubu.

Momodu challenged Wike to show where rotation of the Presidential seat was written in the PDP constitution.

Momodu: “When did Wike become the sole owner of PDP that he cannot be disciplined by a 24-year-old political party? It would have been nice to know if he founded the party or when he acquired majority shares in it since he now has more money than Aliko Dangote.

“Wike should quote the portion of the PDP Constitution that says power must come to the South. He should tell the world the Chairman of the Zoning Committee that threw the contest open to all zones of the party and why he agreed to buy the Presidential nomination form.

“When did Wike become the champion of the South; was it after his bid to be Vice President to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was rejected or after requests to handpick the juiciest ministerial portfolios, like the ones he got from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were rebuffed?

“Would he have continued to flagrantly badmouth Alhaji Atiku Abubakar if he had selected him as his runningmate?

“Wike and four other governors were parading themselves as G5 while frolicking from Nigeria to Europe and back. Three of them from Benue, Enugu and Abia lost their Senatorial bids, spectacularly and resoundingly.

“Seun should have asked Wike, where are the other ‘suicide bombers’ today? Gone with the wind. The G5 was always about one man’s ego and ambition.

“Wike claimed, contentiously, that he delivered Rivers State to Tinubu, only one state out of six in the South/South region. Was that enough to justify all this grandiloquent vituperation by Nigeria’s co-President, Wike? His three acolytes couldn’t deliver and they’ve since been abandoned in the lurch!! What happened to their regular joint press conferences?

“Wike claims all PDP governors sent Ministerial nominations to Tinubu. He should tell us how many of them were eventually approved, except the one he handpicked from a neighboring state. Wike forgot to recommend any member of the G5. No nominee of Governor Seyi Makinde was visible on the Ministerial list.

“Wike seems to know more about the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal verdict ahead of the rest of us by saying on television that he and his people are only waiting for PEPT to finish, in order to unleash a reign of one party state on Nigeria. His mission is very clear, collapse PDP and hand over its remnants to APC, as long as he remains the co-President of Tinubu and allowed to go all out on his vengeful mission.

“Wike is obviously a poor student of history, he would have seen the dead end ahead. Barely three months ago, President Buhari was the alpha & omega of APC. His word was Law. Where’s he today? All the blames for the failure of Nigeria are being heaped on him. His most fastidiously loyal men, EFCC’s Bawa and Central Bank’s Emefiele are already in Tinubu’s gulag, indefinitely.

“Buhari must be wondering how quickly he’s been thrown under the bus. Truth is, as they say in America, that is how the COOKIE crumbles…”

Wike Laments, Says FCT Is Dead, Has $800 million Garnishee Order; Cries He Met Unbelievable Rot

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike has declared that with what he met on ground, the Federal Capital Territory is dead.

Wike while addressing staff of the FCT declared that it is better to tell Nigerians what is on ground rather than leave them to be expecting miracle. How can there be a miracle?, he asked. “With $800m Garnishee, the place is dead.”

But he added: “Something must happen.We cannot continue this way. Everybody has a role to play. I sincerely believe that things will work out.

“If I tell you what I have seen in FCT, with due respect to you, FCT is dead. I don’t give a damn to whatever anybody will say. Yes, it is true and we are coming out to tell the public to see what we have seen and what is on ground.

“We are not going to hide it. I was telling the Permanent Secretary this morning, how can we get a garnishee order of $800 million? How do we survive from this, who is going to be responsible for this?

“How do we survive this that there is a garnishee order of $800 million. That there is a territory without any project and $800 million garnishee order is hanging?

“Do you know what I am talking about. Who is going to be responsible for this, how do we survive this?

“And they are now saying we have come, we should do miracle. Which miracle? How do I survive with garnishee order of $800 million? The Auditor General will talk on this later. Where will I get the money to pay $800 million ?

“If you don’t tell the public what is on ground, the public will not appreciate it. Nigerians should know the rot on ground.”

Wike, immediate past Governor of Rivers State, PDP, was recently appointed the Minister of FCT.

President Tinubu Replaces PDP Members On The Board Of NDDC; Ondo, Cross River Affected

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

After two days of protests over nomination of a member of the opposition  People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Ondo State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), presidency has yielded to the People’s demand.

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, approved the immediate replacement of the NDDC’s Ondo State Representative nominee, Mr. Victor Akinjo, with a new Ondo State Representative nominee, Otito Atikase.

This was contained in a statement by the presidential spokesman,  Ajuri Ngelale

The President has equally approved the immediate replacement of the NDDC’s Cross River State Representative nominee, Mr. Asi Oku Okang, with a new Cross River State Representative, Rt. Hon. Orok Otuk Duke.

Furthermore, the immediate past Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, is reappointed to a second term and will remain in acting capacity, pending the Senate’s confirmation of his reappointment.

Tinubu’s Wife Says Uzodinma Has Full Backing Of Abuja For Second Term; Empowers 2000 Imo Women At August Meeting Grand Finale In Owerri

By
The Source
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0

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has the full backing of President Bola Tinubu’s Government for his re-election to a second term in office. Mrs Tinubu, therefore, urged Imo Women  to come out in their hundreds of thousands on November 11, 2023, and vote massively for Governor Uzodinma.

On same occasion, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and his  wife, Barrister (Mrs) Chioma Uzodinma, harped on the role of  women in national development

They said these on Friday in Owerri, September 1, 2023, when Nigeria’s First Lady, Wife of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived Owerri, Imo State, for the grand finale of the Annual August Meeting where she spoke to a mammoth crowd of Imo women.

She said that already, the Governor has the backing of the current administration at the centre to complete his second term in office.

Nigeria’s First Lady spoke at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in her capacity as Special Guest of Honour at the 2023 Grand Finale of Imo Women’s August meeting organised by the First Lady of Imo State, Barr (Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma.

Also at the occasion, Governor Uzodimma and his wife were in agreement that women have great roles to play in the development of the Nigerian society and are, indeed, doing a lot already and should be encouraged to be the best they can.

The event which attracted women clad in motley of beautiful attires from the 27 Local Government areas of Imo State, was also graced by wives of serving and former Governors, ministers, lawmakers, All Progressives Congress stalwarts, captains of industries, traditional rulers, among other dignitaries.

The wives of the Governors of Abia,  Ebonyi,  Ekiti, Nasarawa, and former wives of Governors of Kano and Oyo States attended the event.

It was an event where Mrs Tinubu announced the empowerment of 2000 women from Imo State in support of the efforts by Mrs Uzodimma to lift the women and the girl-child out of poverty, with a pledge to do more in line with her Renewed Hope Empowerment Initiative.

In her remarks, Mrs Tinubu described the Women August meeting as a wonderful occasion “worthy to be borrowed by every tribe in the country.”

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the voices of women are heard, their needs are addressed, and their legacies are preserved.”

She said, “empowering women is not just a slogan, but a commitment towards a better life for families in every State of the Federation because when we support women and uplift their status, we uplift the entire society.”

She described her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) as a concept which focusses on women and families, with scope in agriculture, education, health, economic empowerment and social investment.

On the forth coming Imo State governorship election, Mrs Tinubu said: “As we navigate the part towards the governorship election in Imo State let us not lose sight of the transformative power that women hold.

“I call on all of you great women of Imo State, to come out en mass and vote overwhelmingly for Governor Hope Uzodimma for a well-deserved second term and to complete the good work he has started, and I believe you know that he has the backing of this present administration.

“I believe that you will give him that vote so that his dreams and aspirations for the people of Imo will be actualised.

“With his re-election by the grace of God, Imo State will be set for a greater lease of life. I urge you, all of us here present, to stand united behind Governor Hope Uzodimma who has championed gender equity and parity. He has continued to pursue the course of a better life for all the people of Imo State.”

Mrs Tinubu who said she was delighted to be here in Owerri to celebrate the wonderful women of Imo State extended her appreciation to Mrs. Uzodinma for inviting her “for the first time to experience the Imo Women August Meeting.”

” I salute her commitment to the course of the great women of Imo State and her resolve to ensure that the women get the best dividends of democracy. Thank you,Your Excellency.”

Mrs Tinubu thanked the people of Imo State for the overwhelming support she got from them during the 2023 Presidential election and assured that the current administration is doing everything possible to ensure a better life for every Nigerian.

She said one of the reasons she came to Imo was to reassure Imo women of “the Federal Government’s commitment to making Nigeria a more prosperous nation, where all of us and generations yet unborn will be proud to belong.”

Mrs Tinubu’s speech read in part: “Today, as we gather to commemorate and celebrate the achievements and progress of women at this Annual Imo Women August Meeting, we are reminded of the remarkable strength, resilience, and contributions that women bring to our society.

“While we note the accomplishments of the younger generation which are undoubtedly inspiring, let us not forget the invaluable role that the elderly women play in shaping our communities and indeed our future. Our elderly women have been the backbone of our families, our communities, and our States.

“At this year’s celebration which has the theme – Women Supporting Each Other, Making Things Happen – I am delighted to be here in Owerri, celebrating the wonderful women of Imo State.

“I extend my appreciation to the wife of the Executive Governor of Imo State, Her Excellency, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma for inviting me for the first time to experience the Imo Women August Meeting. I salute her commitment to the course of the great women of Imo State and her resolve to ensure that the women get the best dividends of democracy. Thank you,Your Excellency.

“I must also at this time thank the good people of Imo State for their overwhelming support during the 2023 Presidential election – daalu noor.

“I assure you all that the administration is doing everything possible to ensure a better life for every Nigerian.

“This is one of the reasons we are here today, to reassure you of the Federal Government’s commitment to making Nigeria a more prosperous nation, where all of us and generations yet unborn will be proud to belong.

“Today, as we gather to commemorate and celebrate the achievements and progress of women at this Annual Imo Women August Meeting, we are reminded of the remarkable strength, resilience, and contributions that women bring to our society.

“While we note the accomplishments of the younger generation which are undoubtedly inspiring, let us not forget the invaluable role that the elderly women play in shaping our communities and indeed our future. Our elderly women have been the backbone of our families, our communities, and our States.

“At this year’s celebration which has the theme – Women Supporting Each Other, Making Things Happen – we must take cognizance of the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of our older women, which have paved the way for the progress we enjoy today. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the voices of women are heard, their needs are addressed, and their legacies are preserved. The wisdom they possess, the stories they tell, and the guidance they provide are essential pillars for our society.

“The support we are advocating is what we have come to present today through the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Social Investment Agenda by celebrating the elderly and the widows at this event.

“We join our voices with that of Her Excellency, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma and indeed that of His Excellency, Governor  Hope Uzodimma, against all forms of sexual and domestic violence, fight against trafficking in persons, drug abuse and other gender-based vices in the society.

“Empowering women is not just a slogan for us in the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, but a commitment towards a better life for families in every State of the Federation.

“When we support women and uplift their status, we uplift our entire society. And this empowerment extends to women of all ages, from the young girls who dream of their future to the elderly women who have shaped our past.

“These are the hallmarks of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). It is an Initiative which is focused on women and families with its scope in Agriculture, Education, Health, Economic Empowerment and Social Investment.

“I assure you all that the Initiative will soon be back in Imo State to give you our modest contributions in the area of Economic Empowerment, which the wife of the Executive Governor has said you are all interested in…

“In the pursuit of a better future for Imo State and our nation Nigeria, let us remember that we are strongest when we stand together.

“In closing, let us honour the women who came out today—the pillars of strength, the bearers of wisdom. We celebrate the potential and promise of the women who walk among us today. And let us commit ourselves to a future where every woman’s voice is heard, every woman’s contribution is valued, and every woman’s dreams are within reach.

“As we celebrate The Women of Imo State today, let us also celebrate the elderly women who have nurtured us, guided us, and set examples for us who never abused us, but loved us even when we do not do right. Let us recognize that their strength and wisdom as invaluable assets that we must cherish and protect.

“Together, as a united community, we can ensure that their contributions continue to shape the course of this State, not only today but for generations to come.”

Earlier, the Chief Host, Mrs Uzodimma reminded the women of what they stand to gain by supporting and helping each other, particularly as they find themselves in positions to do so.

In her address, Mrs. Uzodimma informed that the 2023 August Meeting was outstanding with reports showing that women in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State were highly enthusiastic and attended the meetings with joy.

She said that the level of participation of Imo women in the meeting and their readiness to take responsibilities shows that “the days when women are ignored are over.’’

She urged Imo women to ensure peace reigns in their families and society at large, noting that when they do so the level of insecurity in the society will be reduced to the barest minimum.

She reiterated that without peace not much can be achieved among the women, the family and the society, “therefore women have a big role to play in restoring peace by talking to their children and educating them to be good citizens of the State and Nation.”

Imo First Lady told the audience that in today’s Nigeria women are better educated and occupy positions of authority and have the opportunity to lead the way for a better tomorrow, emphasising that there is every need for women to love one another.

On the theme for the meeting, she said: “Women should support one another, because; women have common problems, women achieve more when they support each other. When women support each other their children are better off and women by nature like to give assistance… for every successful woman there is another supporting her.  Women benefit more by cooperation than competition.’’

Mrs. Uzodimma recalled that the Governor had executed projects in Imo State aimed at empowering the women, youths and moving them away from crime and criminality, identifying the programmes like the Skill-Up programme, skills acquisition and empowerment and more importantly, conducive environment for the youths to thrive as part of them.

Mrs Uzodimma said that her office has keyed into the programmes of the Governor and his women friendly government and by doing so, “Imo women have gained a lot beyond mere empowerment,” through the offices of the Chief Judge of Imo who is a woman, several women Commissioners, SAs and SSAs and Chairmen of Commissions and Agencies.

She said despite the several achievements recorded in the 3R Government of her husband, her office will continue to push for more women and people leaving with disabilities (PLWD) to be included in the programmes and policies of the Governor.

Mrs Uzodimma announced that her Office was rounding off the August Meeting with the empowerment of 500 women with different household equipment, foodstuffs, agricultural/farming seedlings and stems in addition to 1,000 indigent women that will go home with cash empowerment.

She thanked the wife of Mr. President for honouring the invitation and pledged continued loyalty to her and the President Tinubu.

In her opening remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye expressed joy for being part of the August Meeting Grand Finale in Imo and used the opportunity to reveal that the World Bank has some packages for Nigerian Women to enhance their economic growth.

The minister said her Ministry plans to assist women to uplift themselves and appealed to the girl child to protect herself by being responsible and asking all women to stay away from crime.

In his brief remarks, Governor Uzodimma on behalf of the Government and people of Imo State thanked the wife of Mr. President for finding time to attend the programme in person and for supporting the women empowerment programme through counterpart funding.

He also congratulated the wife and members of the Organising Committee for mobilising Imo women in such organic manner and magnitude that was “overwhelming in the eyes of all present.”

“I sincerely congratulate all the women, and more importantly, my adorable wife, the First Lady of Imo State, Her Excellency Chief (Barr.) Chioma Uzodimma, for well-thought-out theme for this year’s Meeting: Women Supporting Each Other Makes Things Happen.

“I have always known that women are strong believers in the maxim, ‘united we stand and divided we fall.’

“Therefore, I am not under any illusion that the strength of our women lies more in their ability to work together to achieve results, the reason they make a lot of differences where the men folk flounder.

“As you round off your activities for the 2023 August meeting, be rest assured that my 3R government which most of you are key players, and which has shown

considerable interest in the welfare of the entire womenfolk in our State, will stop at nothing to promote the positive ideals that you as our wives, mothers, sisters, aunties and daughters represent.”

The ceremony featured other programmes like march past by different women groups in Imo State and had in attendance the three Senators from Imo State, Federal House of Representatives members, female Ministers, traditional rulers and distinguished Nigerians too numerous to mention.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor
September 1, 2023.

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