Governor Sanwo-Olu Says Old Naira Notes Remain Legal Tender In Lagos

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March 13, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has announced that the Old Naira Notes of N500 and N1,000 remain legal tender in the State.

The Governor, in a statement, on Monday signed on his behalf by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, called on business owners, especially retailers, to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes in line with the Supreme Court judgement that the denominations remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.

Governor Sanwo Olu said that it was necessary for the Supreme Court verdict on the Old Naira to be followed to the letter.

It would be recalled that the Apex Court had invalidated the declaration of the notes as illegal, and chided the Federal Government on the grounds that it was not done with due consultation and in line with constitutional provisions.

Consequently, the apex court ordered that the old naira notes shall continue to be used side by side with the new naira notes till December 31, 2023.

The Lagos State Government has asked all its agencies not to reject the old notes in line with the Supreme Court directives.

The statement read: “The Lagos State Government has noted the hardship sparked by the naira redesign policy, which has affected business and commercial activities. There is no reason to reject the old notes, going by the Supreme Court judgement delivered on March 3, 2023.

“The Apex Court declared that ‘no reasonable notice was given as required by Section 20(3) of the CBN Act’, noting that the public only became aware of the policy through press remarks, which cannot qualify as a notice to the public.

“The court maintained that the policy has impeded the functions of State governments, pointing out that the directive that stops the use of the old notes is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

“I call on business owners, especially retailers, to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes in line with the Supreme Court judgement that the currency remains legal tender until December 31, 2023. It is illegal to reject the notes.

“All agencies of the Lagos State Government are advised not to reject payments made with the old currency by the public.”

I Am Not Plotting Against President Elect, Bola Tinubu – Emefiele

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Ayodele Oni

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March 13, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, says he is done with politics and, for now, has nothing to do with it.

Reacting to media report that he is plotting against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, Emefiele described the claim as “false and malicious.”

He was said to be plotting with a “billionaire retired General” from the north and provided funds to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor, the Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, to enable him defeat Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent.

But in a statement issued on Monday, Isa Abdulmumin, CBN’s acting director of corporate communications, said Emefiele “does not take part in politics”.

The report states that “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a story alleging that the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has launched a ‘fresh plot against President-elect’.

“The aforementioned story went further to allege that the Governor has made certain amount of money available to a political aspirant ahead of March 18, 2023 Gubernatorial poll.

“We wish to reiterate that the CBN Governor does not take part in Politics and, therefore, urge anyone with contrary information to prove the Governor wrong should provide such facts.”

Emefiele had, in the weeks running up to the Presidential Primary of the APC, shockingly, picked both the show of interest and nomination forms at the cost of N100m. It was the first time, in Nigeria, a sitting CBN Governor would brazenly dabble into partisan politics. Not a few people expected him to be fired by President Muhammadu Buhari. But that did not happen. He was, simply, allowed to drop his interest in running, and continues to sit pretty on his chair.

Osun Election Petition: Court Of Appeal Set To Deliver Judgement

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Ayodele Oni

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March 13, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the immediate past Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, and their supporters are anxiously awaiting the decision of the Appeal Court which on Monday, reserved judgement to decide on the Appeal by Adeleke challenging the decision of an Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his victory in last year’s governorship election.

A three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu agreed to fix the date to decide on the matter after taking the argument and adopting the briefs of all parties in the suit.

During proceedings on Monday, Counsel to Adeleke, Onyechi Ikpeazu, held that a member of the panel, who is also a chief magistrate, did not air her opinion during the Judgement delivery.

Rather, she only appended her signature and the constitution mandates her to have aired her views about the suit.

Counsel to Mr Oyetola, Lateef Fagbemi, however held that mere signing of the judgment, and not making any comment afterwards does not make the judgment invalid.

He noted that the case of over voting exceeded six polling units as claimed by the Appellant, adding that the anomaly was experienced in 744 polling units across the state.

Senator Adeleke who is candidate of the People’s Democratic Party had won the election held on 16 July, 2022, the result which was nullified on the grounds of over-voting.

Adeleke had in February, appealed the judgement of the Osun State Governorship Tribunal which nullified his election.

The tribunal ruled in favour of former governor Oyetola, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) who is seeking a second term in office.

While delivering the judgement, two out of the three-member panel of the tribunal held that Oyetola proved that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

But Adeleke swiftly rejected the ruling and described it as a “miscarriage of justice”. Weeks later, the governor filed an appeal before the Akure division of the Court of Appeal.

Peter Obi: “The Outcome Of The Presidential Election Not God’s Wish; We Should Stop Defaming Him”

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Akinwale Kasali

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March 13, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has said that he decided to go to Court to challenge the process of the outcome of the February 25th, 2023, Presidential Election, because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahemd Tinubu winner using a questionable and untidy process.

The former Anambra State Governor made this known in an interview on ARISE TV Monday, stressing that the process that ushered in Tinubu was worrisome.

Obi stressed that there were a lot of discrepancies on the part of the electoral umpire prompting him to challenge the result.

Asked about his view on some Clerics and prominent Nigerians’ position that the outcome of the presidential election was God’s wish despite the recorded infractions, Obi, who said he was very respectful to prominent Nigerians including Clerics and Traditional Rulers, said, “I disagree with them. What they’re actually preaching is the problem of Nigeria.

“The problem of Nigeria is accepting wrongdoing, accepting what is unacceptable, that is using God’s name in vain. That’s not what God says.”

He continued, “What they’re saying is not God’s wish. It is not God’s plan for Nigeria. Why don’t we accept that the 133 million Nigerians who are poor is God’s wish? Why don’t we accept that 95 million Nigerians living in…poverty is God’s wish? It is God’s wish that we don’t have electricity. It is God’s wish that our children are kidnapped. It is God’s wish that we have collapsed primary healthcare leading us to be the country with the highest (rate of) infant mortality. That’s not what God says.

“God’s wish is when you do the right thing.”

Obi said there were clear laws for the conduct of the elections and if the laws were followed, no one would challenge the process.

He added that “it would have been concluded in a matter of hours without anybody arguing about it.

“But it is not God’s wish that you do the wrong thing. It is not God’s wish that you go and rob a train and make money and start sharing it. This is what is killing the country. People come here, take public money and then go and give it to people in the Church. And they say it’s God’s wish That is what we’re fighting. That’s what we want to stop.

“We want God’s wish to be truly God’s wish. And that is when we do the right things and God gives His blessings.

“What do you tell the young ones growing up? That it’s God’s wish that you steal? That is God’s wish that you conduct a wrong election? So, tell me the difference between those of us who are doing this and the armed robbers.”

Obi noted that he wants “God to allow us to do the right things so we can start building a better country for our children.”

“God Wishes Only What Is Right”, – Obi Replies Those Attributing Divine Hand To Rigged Mandate

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The Source

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March 13, 2023

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The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that the problem of Nigeria is accepting what is wrong and unacceptable as God’s wish for the country.

Obi who was a guest at the Arise Television Morning Show interview programme on Monday was reacting to the position of some Nigerians that the outcome of the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, should be seen and accepted as the wish of God.

The LP Candidate said that God doesn’t wish bad things for people and it’s these things that the Obidient Movement is trying to change.

“The problem of Nigeria is accepting what is unacceptable. That’s not God’s wish.

God’s wish is when you do the right thing. Is it God’s wish that we remain poor as a country despite his abundant blessings on us?”

He said that Nigeria has remained decadent, in a continuous state of moral decline because they keep accepting what is wrong and dragging God into it, but noted that the Obidient Movement is in the system to change it and create a new egalitarian society.

The former Anambra State Governor said it’s a saddening fact that after 63 years as a nation, Nigeria is yet unable to conduct a good election, describing the February 25 Presidential election as the worst in Nigeria’s history considering that the Electoral Law of 2022 was enacted to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Obi said that while he is pursuing his mandate through legal and peaceful means, it’s disheartening that rule of law is being treated with levity by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which is a public institution maintained by taxpayer’s money.

He reiterated that what he is challenging is the process and he does not hope to back out until the right thing is done because doing and accepting the wrong thing is what has kept us down as a nation.

On some insinuations on him from some characters speaking for their principals, Obi said since they were not on the ballot he would prefer to speak when those he contested with speak, but said that the 97 percent votes he got in Anambra State shouldn’t disturb anybody, for, he was expecting 100% votes because the people know him and believe in him. He, further, noted that he has been truthful to them. Ditto for the South East and other States where he received the lion’s share of the votes cast because they believe and trust in him.

“They forgot that I got over 95% in Anambra State in 2019 when I was a running mate. In 2023 I was the main candidate, I am even surprised that I did not get 100%”

On the claim of some persons that he took away PDP votes and helped Bola Tinubu to win, Obi said he was not contesting to help anybody but to win and by records, Nigerians made that happen despite the abracadabra by the INEC.

Obi also gave clarifications on his support for Labour Party Governorship Candidates in some states, saying that he supports LP ticket holders in Enugu, Abia, Lagos, and Plateau States, among others 100%, and directs his supporters to vote for them.

On the ethnic tension in Lagos state over his victory on the February 25 poll ahead of the governorship election, Obi said it’s not ethnic but some mischievous persons are trying to create such an impression pointing out that many more non-Igbos and Yorubas who share the aspiration for new Nigeria voted for him.

He explained that even if the Igbo voted for him, this is not the first time they are voting for people. They had voted massively like this for Olusegun Obadsnjo even when he lost the election in his region and they also gave Jonathan more votes than South-South states and all these brouhahas did not happen.

On the possible partnership with the PDP, Obi said that there is nothing like that but that “we are challenging a process that is wrong created by INEC to serve a particular purpose”.

CBN: Emefiele Not Behind Rhodes-Vivour

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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March 13, 2023

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Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank oc Nigeria, CBN, Governor is not behind the quest of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the govrnorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, to rule Lagos state.

The CBN governor has also not made funds available to the LP candidate to fund his govrnorship campaign, the apex bank said in a statement on Monday contrary to suggestions in the social media.

According to the statement signed by Isa Abdulmumin, Head, Corporate Department of the government- controlled bank, its governor is not a polician, and therefore, has nothing to do with Rhodes-Vivour’s ambition.

The sttenent said: “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a story published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, March 13, 2023 edition, alleging that the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele has launched a “fresh plot against President-elect”. The aforementioned story went further to allege that the Governor has made certain amount of money available to a political aspirant ahead of March 18, 2023 gubernatorial poll.

“We wish to inform members of the public that this story is completely false and malicious as the Governor does not know and has never met or even spoke with Mr Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour either in person or through proxy.

“We wish to reiterate that the CBN Governor does not take part in Politics and therefore urge anyone with contrary information to prove the Governor wrong should provide such facts.

“As such the Governor and team at the CBN should be allowed to focus on their assigned job with a view to achieving statutory mandates of the Bank.”

Battle For Lagos: Desperate Tinubu Enlists Aregbesola to Help Sanwo-Olu

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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March 13, 2023

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A former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola is back to Lagos to assist the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC , reverse the misfortune it suffered during the presidential and National Assembly election in the state.

Aregbesola who is also the Minister of Internal Affairs was seen in a viral video appealing to leaders of the party in Alimosho to ensure that the APC emerge winner in the governorship election this weekend.

The meeting he had with a cross section of APC leaders, Including Igbo APC supporters came amidst fear that the party will struggle to return Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to office.

“Tinubu is the leader of the party and head of Lagos party, ” he said, adding “Asiwaju has changed o, he’s no longer the National Leader, he’s now the President-elect. If we want to have the benefits of all the labour of over 30 years, since you have been with this tendency and the formation of it………. some of you have been with us since the days of SDP……..someone like Okonkwo has been with us since the days of SDP in 1988, that’s over 30 years: SDP to AD, to AC, to ACN and now APC. If you want all those efforts not to go into waste, I beg us let us vote APC.

“So that we can marry the benefits of Asiwaju presidency with the joy of having our party in power in Lagos. That is the message. All those efforts since 1988 will just be a waste if you bring in somebody that will be in opposition to Asiwaju,” the minister said.

The APC is still in shock after its candidate, now President elect lost the state to Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, the very first time since 1999 that the ruling party had been so defeated in its stronghold.

This must not be allowed to happen in the governorship election, where incumbent Governor Sanwo-Olu is facing the battle of his life to be re-elected , some leaders of the party said, and as such they are now doing everything to ensue that the party wins both the governorship and House of Assembly election on March 18.

The ruling party has been closing ranks among it members, appealing to aggrieved leaders who are not happy with the party, and have worked against its interests in the past and during the just concluded election.

For instance, Aregbesola, it would be recalled worked against the APC in the Osun State governorship election, won by Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP last year.

Before the election, Aregbesola said unprintable things about Tinubu, including that the former Lagos governor had made himself an emperor , and that he’s playing God.

Since that loss, the relationship between the former allies, many insist, had broken down completely, and to show they were no longer together the minister avoided the presidential campaign organised by the party for Tinubu, he did not also vote during the election, as those close to him told the magazine he was away in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj at the time.

Notwithstanding the animosity he has shown to the party, sources close to Tinubu disclosed on Monday that the minister needed to be brought back because what matters to the party now is how to win the election.

“As policians we agree and disagree. We will bring everybody back so long they will add value to our camp to retain Lagos. Aregbesola is one of the respected leaders of the party. He may have had instances when he disagree with the decision of the party, but what is important now is that he’s back with us and helping the party,” a source who craved anonymity said.

Lagos: Police Debunks Assassination Claim By LP Candidate, Rhodes-Vivour

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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March 13, 2023

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The Nigerian Police Lagos state command has debunked claim that Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate in the state was attacked by hoodlums during a campaign.

The state Police spokes man, Benjamin Hundeyin told Daily Trust on Sunday that the police could not find a concrete evidence to prove that there was an attack on the supporters of LP.

The party had claimed that it’s candidate missed assassination by the whiskers after some gunmen attacked him and some LP chieftain in Epe during a campaign walk on Saturday.

Rhodes-Vivour had posted on his twitter handle that he would have been killed if not for his security that saved him.

Also, Olawale Oluwo, a chieftain of the party and former commsioner under the administration of former Governor Ambode, said he was lucky to escape with his life after the attack.

But Hundeyin said although, the mater was reported to the command, investigations revealed that there was no empirical evidence to show any such attack took place.

He said the Divisional Police Officer of Epe Division visited the scene to carry out an on-the-spot investigation, but that after hours of investigation, the team did not see any pointer that suggested an attack

“The police are not saying that they are lying, but like the build up to the Presidential and National Assembly, we saw videos of attacks and those who had been injured on social media.

“There was no such evidence when the police visited the scene. We are still yet to see anyone come up to say that he or she was injured in the attack. So for now there is no evidence to show of any such attack.”
LP supporters have allegedly be under regular attack from those believed to be th3 supporters of th3 All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling party in the state.

During the presidential and National Assembly election on February a viral video surfaced where Musiliu Akinsanya, the Chairman of Lagos state Park Management Agency, prevented voters in Oshodi, a part of the state, from voting for other political parties.

Akinsanya aka Oluomo is a staunch member of the ruling APC, and an ally of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Lagos Guber: Lagos Party Candidate, Rhodes-Vivour, Alleges Assassination Plot Against Him

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Akinwale Kasali

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March 13, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Labour Party, LP, Gubernatorial Candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has cried out over an alleged plot by his political opponents to assassinate him.

He said his life is being threatened and that there have been death threats and assassination attempts on his life.

He made this revelation Sunday, on Arise TV, where he alleged that he was attacked on Saturday.

He said: “There have been lots of threats. We have gotten a lot of intel about potential assassination attempts on my life. Yes, it happened in Epe, I was attacked.

“We had Honourable Wale Oluwo with us and we also had Honourable Najid of the PDP working with us and they were also shot at in Epe yesterday.”

It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Deputy National Chairman, Bode George had raised alarm that the life of Rhodes-Vivour is in danger as there are plot to assassinate him.

George alleged that the opposition were scheming and planning to eliminate the Labour Party Candidate just the way Late Funsho Williams was assassinated prior to the 1999 Governorship Election in Lagos State.

Group Likens Ajaero’s NLC Strike To IPOB Sit At Home; Says Ordinary People Going Through Hell

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The Source

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March 13, 2023

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The current strike in Imo State being prosecuted by the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been likened to the weekly sit at home order by IPOB because of its devastating consequences on the economy of the ordinary people of the State.

Consequently, the Federal government has been asked to wade into the issue due to the security implication of the strike, especially its potentials of defranchising millions of voters in Saturday’s election.

Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, the Chairman of Coalition for Good Governance in the South East, Comrade Nkemakolam Nwankwo said the total strike being prosecuted in imo State was capable of causing social upheaval if the matter was not checked.

He said apart from the fact that the local chapter of NLC has washed its hands off the strike, it was against labour laws to call a strike during election.

Nwankwo said if the matter was purely a labour dispute, it would not have led to the shutting of petrol stations, cutting off electricity supply and generally crippling all activities in the state.

“The question to ask is what Ajaero wants to achieve by suffering the poor masses who are neither workers nor Government people? By restricting their movements through economic strangulation, Ajaero has taken over the enforcement of sit at home order in Imo State,” he averred.

According to him, it was disheartening that for purely selfish and political reasons, Ajaero is determined to inflict hardship on the ordinary people of the State in the name of labour militancy.

He called on security agencies to move in and arrest the situation before the matter escalates into a social upheaval.

Said he: “What is happening in Imo State is capable of threatening national security when one man decides to stop millions of people from going out to vote for the candidates of their choices during Saturday’s governorship and state legislative elections.”

Comrade Nwankwo, also, urged labour leaders across the country to condemn what he called dictatorship of Ajaero so as not to rubbish the integrity of labour.

“There is no doubt that the man is sliding towards dictatorship. The earlier he is called to order, the better for the organized labour,” he concluded.