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Uzodimma: New World Order Is Digital Economy; Minister Challenges Imo Youths On Critical Thinking

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

The Governor of Imo State,  Senator Hope Uzodimma has said that the New World Order is about digital economy, just as digital literacy, he insists, is the real literacy.

The Governor made the remarks at the Skill-Up Imo Project Cohort I, Batch I, Graduation Ceremony of 5,000 Imo youths at the Landmark Event Centre, in Owerri on Wednesday.

Addressing the granduands and their invited guests, the Governor congratulated them for accepting the programme and for showing determination to participate in it which he said “has snowballed in the graduation of the first batch of 5,000 out of the proposed 300,000 youths.”

He said the Skill-Up Imo Project represents three things; Technology, Opportunity and the People, explaining that “the New World order is about Digital Economy and Digital Literacy is the real Literacy which is all about technology.”

Governor Uzodimma who added that the Skill-Up Imo Project gives the youth the opportunity to learn a skill that can make them earn a living for life further noted that “the third aspect of the entire programme is about the person which is the Imo future and the Imo of tomorrow and that is the youths.”

The governor added flavour to the graduation ceremony when he announced that 2,500 of the granduands will go home with Brand New Modern Laptops while the other 2,500 will go home with various Start-Up Kits on their areas of Skills specialization with a promise  that soon, the programme will graduate another batch.

Governor Uzodimma emphasized that with the progamme, the beneficiaries can become self-employed and even employers of labour.

“When many of the youths must have acquired skills and being employed it will bring an end to the activities of banditry, and unknown gunmen and in fact, other social vices in Imo State and Nigeria in general.”

He then charged the granduands and all Imo youths not to “forget where they are coming from, but rather, go out there to be good ambassadors, God fearing, humble and to be themselves.”

In rounding off his remarks, the governor commended the efforts of the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi for living up to the dream of the project.

He also commended the Special Guest of Honour, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for seconding Dr. Amadi to the Imo State Government, expressing satisfaction that the Minister is not disappointed in his expectations from Amadi based on what happened at the graduation ceremony.

In his remarks,  Prof. Pantami congratulated the Governor for coming up with the initiative and expressed happiness to be in Imo State to witness the graduation of 5,000 Skill-Up graduates.

Prof. Pantami said from what he saw, Dr. Amadi has been able to coordinate properly the activities in the two areas of Hard and Soft Skill Courses.

He said that “the programme will provide Skill on employment for the youths at the National and International levels, create potential job employers instead of job employees,” and emphasized that “today’s world economy is driven by Digital Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship.”

Prof. Pantami challenged the Nigerian leaders on the need to ‘’think out of the box on how to solve the problem of unemployment through the digital economy,” noting that “the world economy is no more based on natural resources, rather on digital technology initiatives.”

He noted that the “training is a foundation for the youths to base their life expectations and not the end of the journey to their successes in life,” adding that “the youths must have passion for invention, customers intercity and long time thinking.”

The Minister then urged Imo youths to continue to partake in critical thinking so that the future world critical thinkers will emerge from Imo State and Nigeria in general.

In his welcome address,  the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi thanked the Governor for the Skill-Up initiative, insisting that the graduation of 5,000 participants was the brain child of Governor Uzodimma whom, he said, encouraged his Ministry to take responsibility and implement the project.

Dr. Amadi said the programme is a subset of Imo Economic Agenda (2022-2026) which has the target of Up-Skilling Imo youths by providing free training and support to 300,000 of them in new innovation that would equip them to be productively employed or self-employed.

The Commissioner informed that the project draws its inspiration from the National Digital Economy and that “Imo is the first State in the Federation to draw from it which is aimed at reducing youth unemployment.”

He used the opportunity to thank government partners, including Zinox Computer, assuring that “with what Imo is doing now it will surely emerge as the Africa’s Digital Skills Hub through massive training of Imolites from all works of live in the areas of Digital Literacy Skills.”

In their appreciation, Mr. Ikechukwu Ukonu who is the Chairman of the College of Course representatives, poured encomium on the Governor and the Commissioner for giving them the opportunity to be part of the Skill-Up Project, saying it has provided them with life opportunity.

He promised that they will support the Governor in his programmes and policies  through the polling booths.

The Governor was joined at the event by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and members of the State Expanded Executive Council.

The Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof. Nnenna Otti, the Vice Chancellor of K.O. Mbadiwe University, Ideato,  Prof. Ikechukwu Dozie, the Chairman Imo Elders Council, HRH Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanya and other traditional rulers were also in attendance.

The highpoints of the ceremony was the presentation of Start-Up Kits to some of the graduates by the Governor assisted by the Minister.

We Have No Support For Any Candidate, Party, Says EU

By
Uche Mbah
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Samuela Isopi EU Envoy

By Uche Mbah

The European Union (EU) Mission to Nigeria said it is not in Nigeria to support any group in the 2023 general elections.

Addressing Parties and candidates at the National Peace Accord Signing ceremony in Abuja, Wednesday, Ambassador of the EU Mission, Samuela Isopi highlighted the role of the Mission in advancing the integrity of elections.

“For us at the European Union, we wish to reiterate our impartiality and commitment to our role. We are not here to support any candidate or party. We are here on the invitation of the Nigerian government to support democratic process”, she said.

“The EU Election Observation Mission is deployed on the Nigerian government invitation to observe the election across the country and give independent assessment and contribution to the continuous deepening of Nigeria’s democracy.

“The world is watching and Nigerians are hopeful for the process and expect each vote to count. Democracy is under threat in Africa and across the globe.

“In 2015, Nigeria set example for Africa and the world with the peaceful transition of power from one civilian administration to another.

“As the largest democracy on the continent, it’s our hope that Nigeria will continue to lead by example and send a strong message to the world by further consolidating its democracy through a credible, transparent and peaceful election,” she further said.

She urged the stakeholders to support President Muhammadu Buhari in fulfilling a credible 2023 elections. She said that all political leaders and candidates “have a vital role to play in the key responsibility in placing the peace and unity of Nigeria above other interests.”

“We call on all candidates and parties to accept the result of the elections that we hope will be credible and peaceful. We encourage them to use all the legal means to seek redress and contribute to a peaceful transition. ”She named Security forces as having a vital role to play after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, stressing that both must be neutral.

“INEC must be neautral in guaranteeing the safety of voters including women, people with disabilities and all vulnerable groups. We all strongly support media freedom. We encourage the judiciary to remain impartial and fair with adjudication of electoral matters,” she said.

Kogi Tackles EFCC Over Forfeiture Of Property, Says Commission Now Being Led By Convict

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State
Yahaya Bello

By Ayodele Oni

The Kogi State Government has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,(EFCC) of pursuing personal interest of some individuals in the state going by the commission’s latest onslaught.

It called the Nigerian public’s attention to what it described as the ridicule the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has made of the fight against corruption in Nigeria with its “disgraceful fixation on the State in the pursuit of desperate political interests of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa and his godfathers.”

The Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, said in a statement on Wednesday that it backed position of some Civil Society Organizations that Bawa has outlived his usefulness at the EFCC.

According to the commissioner, Bawa’s  mandate at the EFCC is to bring down perceived enemies of those who planted him there at the expense of the nation’s integrity.

He said the fact that the EFCC could send out a press statement, titled, “Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 14 properties linked to Kogi State Government”, showed clearly that uninformed minds had been picked to oversee the affairs of an agency as important as the EFCC, adding that the “forfeiture joke is clearly a desperate concoction of confused, unintelligent officials.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Kogi State Government has no property that can be forfeited to the Federal Government under any guise, it is a campaign of calumny taken too far.”

Fanwo noted that it was clear that the EFCC has declared a tactless open war against the Kogi State Government, owing mainly to the Governor’s unflinching loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and not individuals, stressing that the Governor was not one that could be cowed once he believes in a cause.

“Nigerians, and indeed, the international community are not as ignorant as the convicted Bawa and his sponsors.

“They know, with the different onslaughts against the Kogi State Government, and its officials, that this is clear persecution by a desperate and power drunk EFCC.

“In due course, Nigerians will confirm that the EFCC, under Bawa, is the capital of corruption amongst agencies in Nigeria.

“Unlike the convicted Bawa, who has no regard for the courts. We want to state clearly here that, from what we have read in the media, not one we witnessed, this is a forfeiture proceeding and the order is an order of interim forfeiture, which gives persons who allegedly own the properties rights to come to court to establish their ownership of the said properties. We will follow through with the courts.

“For now, it is clear the EFCC has declared a tactless open war against the Kogi State Government, owing mainly to the Governor’s unflinching loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and not individuals. We will prove our innocence in court. It is a matter of time.”

The state government thanked Nigerians for standing by what is right and pointing out the mess that had become of the fight against corruption under an “emergency chairman.

“On this note, we advise the public to ignore Bawa’s EFFC’s latest naked dance in the market square as the desperate last kicks of a dying horse.”

Osun Assembly Speaker Narrates How Suspected Assailants Laid Siege On Residence

By
Ayodele Oni
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Timothy Owoeye - Speaker Osun State

By Ayodele Oni

The political tension in Osun State took a new dimension as Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, claimed that he escaped being assassinated by people suspected to be political thugs on Wednesday.

He stated that men of Department of State Services, (DSS) and the Police officers attached to the office of the Speaker repelled the assailants, who arrived the Speaker’s residence at around 2.00 am shooting sporadically at the building.

The Speaker and Ijesa South All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders during a press conference in Ilesa on Wednesday, disclosed that the attackers also reached out to other APC members including a member representing Ilesa West State constituency, Wale Adedoyin and Folarin Fafowora, the immediate past Chairman of Ilesa West Central LCDA.

Owoeye explained  that about five members of the APC have been killed in gruesome manner across Eti Oni in Atakumosa East, Oke Aga and Ilesa, notable among the dead is the immediate past Secretary of Atakumosa East LCDA.

“In the early hours of today 22nd February an assassination attempt was made on my life if not for divine Providence the story would have been different.

“I want to salute the security men who stood their ground to prevent my assailants from carrying out their aim.

“Recall that last week, I released a press release about the killings of Ebenezer Alaro, a member of our party whose only crime was to drive a Truck used to convey the public address system we used for our rally from Monday through Thursday.

“He was trailed home after the Thursday rally and was killed in front of his parents house.

“I was also informed that this morning that an electrification project which I have expended over 15 million naira on in Oke Aga has been destroyed and riddled with bullets. I sympathize with the community who will be thrown into darkness because of this senseless politics.

“The recent happening in Osun is becoming worrisome and needs proper attention from every well-meaning citizens, the return of political thuggery after about 12 years of the APC Administration in the states now gives residence and citizen sleepless nights.

“It will not be wrong to say that the change of baton in the government in the state has actually encouraged the return of that dark era of when citizens cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.

“I, therefore, call on the police to investigate the assassination attempt on my life, the gruesome murder of Alaro and others with a view to ensuring that those involved are brought to Justice.

“I want to believe that such heinous crime if not quickly investigated and perpetrators docked could aggravate an already tensed situation that will lead to breakdown of law and order in the State before and during the forthcoming election.

“The Nigerian police and other relevant security Agencies must be seen to be alive to order constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties.

“A quick investigation into the attempted murder, murder and other hooliganism will serve as deterrent to people who are hell-bent on distrusting the peace of our society.”

”Bloody Nose Awaits You” – Chief of Defence Staff, Irabor, Promises Election Day Trouble Makers”

By
The Source
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Lucky Irabor CDS

By Gideon Njoku

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has a chilling message for those who plan to disrupt the Presidential Election on Saturday February 25, 2023.

Nigerians will go to the polls that day to elect a new President who would succeed the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.

But not a few people are worried over the spate of violence and threat to the election, especially, in the South-east.

In the Zone, Simon Ekpa, self- styled disciple of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, detained Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has been threatening fire and brimstone, insisting that  election will not hold in the South-east.

Finland-based Ekpa who, now leads a group, allegedly, a break away from IPOB, called Autopilot, aside from issuing a no-election order in the Zone has, also, declared a sit-at-home order in the whole of the South-east beginning from February 22 to February 27, 2023.  This, ostensibly, is to stop the Igbo from coming out to vote.

In the past couple of days, violence has escalated in the Zone, especially, in Anambra and Imo States, with hoodlums wreaking havoc. Police Stations, especially, in Anambra State, and INEC facilities have been torched. A number of Policemen have been killed, and even private homes have also been razed.

In Okigwe, Imo State, in tye wee hours of Wednesday, they went on rampage, setting people’s homes on fire. The homes of a serving Imo State Cabinet member, that of a Professor of Law and a former Cabinet member, and that of a retired Director of DSS were razed. Sadly, at the home of tye retired Director, a woman died in the inferno.

These are aimed  at scaring people from exercising their voting rights.

But General Irabor, speaking to Journalists on Wednesday after a meeting with Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police,  the Director General of tye Department of State Services, DSS, represented by the Director of Operations, among others, has promised a “bloody nose” for those who plan to disrupt the Presidential Election on Saturday.

Giving an update on the preparations made by Security Agencies for the election, Irabor said they are very ready for the job at hand. He promised a violence-free exercise but warned those preparing to disrupt it to “have a change of mind because a bloody nose awaits them.”

Three Days to Presidential Election: Calabar Looks Good For Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

By Stanley Ekpenyong, (South South Bureau Chief)

Three days to the 2023 Presidential Election, residents of Calabar, the sleepy capital of Cross River state, are upbeat for the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

Except few political appointees of the State Government, virtually every one in Calabar is emphatic about voting Obi on Saturday.

Even among Government appointees,  those of them vociferously mouthing support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu on social media platforms, canvass support for Obi outside Government circles.

In drinking joints, Churches and at social events, they openly profess support for the Labour Party candidate.

Commercial keke, okada, cab and bus drivers do not hide their preference too. Their modus operandi is to strike conversation with their passengers around the 2023 general election and how Nigerians have suffered in the hands of the APC in the last eight years and how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not a credible alternative to rescue and restore Nigeria.

And then, the clincher is always an admonition to vote Peter Obi “to save us”

A cab ride the magazine undertook Wednesday from Etta Agbor roundabout to the popular Watts market was dominated by a discussion on why Obi is a better choice.

Acting as a lone dissent voice to properly gauge the mood of the passengers almost caused this magazine an assault by an incensed passenger who could not understand why “person wey no dey crazy still dey support APC”

With a clinched fist and a raised voice, he made towards the magazine, shouting, “sufferness no dey tire you? You still wan suffer under APC”, abi? I no under why person wey no dey crazy dey still support APC because na only person wey him head no correct fit support that party”.

It took the intervention of an older passenger to restore calm.

In a similar vein, a middle aged man who came for shopping at a superstore along IBB Way by Akim was shouted down on Monday by other shoppers when he urged them to vote the APC, insisting that Tinubu will reverse the Naira redesign policy if elected into office.

However, in an apparent face- saving measure, he was later to claim he was merely joking.

A visit to various markets, drinking joints, viewing centres, eateries etc in the city tells the same story of overwhelming eagerness and resolve to vote Obi.

Feb. 25: Diasporan Yoruba Rally Support For Tinubu

By
James Orji
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu At Arewa Joint Committee Forum

Yoruba Global Council, YGC has endorsed Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives, APC presidential candidate as the next pesident.

The APC candidate who is tied in a three horse race with Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been receiving support across the country in his quest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, the most recent being the one he got from South west leaders last weekend.

Speaking of the group’s support for the APC candidate, the foremost Yoruba body said it has become pertinent to put to rest wrong perceptions about the former Lagos governor.

YGC spokespersons Prof. Lere Amusan and General Secretary, Segun Akanni in a statement jointly signed urged Yoruba men and women to rally round the candidature of Tinubu in ensuring that he emerged winner in the February 25 presidential election.

“Tinubu only, among the top three candidates for the February 25 presidential election, possesses the required standard in education, exposure and experience to move Nigerians out her present challenges and provide Nigerians a new lease of life in line with his campaign slogan, ‘Renewed Hope,” posit Amusan and Akanni, adding that YGC is throwing its support for Tinubu in line with its core mandate of protecting the interest and advancing the course and aspiration of Yoruba sons and daughters in any fields, anywhere in the world.

Yoruba Global Council, in its statement, noted that Nigeria’s foundation appears to shaky as songs of disintegration and dismemberment are being echoed by different ethnic nationalities on account of the age-long discontent and disillusionment occasioned by the inequitable distribution of the country’s commonwealth and the apparent neglect of the Federal Character Code thereby denying some sections of Nigeria a sense of belonging.

“Tinubu and the party he represents, APC, is conscious of the depressing nature of our country and, if elected, is more than determined to right the wrongs and bring genuine relief to the victimized and marginalized Nigerians as well creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians to thrive and succeed irrespective of tribe, religion or party affiliation.”

The statement said Tinubu is a detribalise Nigerian who has a track record of appointing non- Yoruba into his cabinet when he was Lagos state governor.

recaptures Tinubu’s track record as Lagos State governor when he appointed Igbos as commissioners and other qualified non Yoruba persons into key governmental positions, which it notes speaks volume of his belief in the oneness of the Nigerian nation.

Rivers: Wike Backtracks, Denies Support For Tinubu

By
James Orji
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Tinubu-Wike and Atiku

Embattled and seemingly confused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has denied he is supporting the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the Presidential election scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2023.

This is the first time Wike is denying the story which has been in the streets for sometime, and which he helped give wings to fly by his actions and utterances.

Wike and four other Governors whose Leader he is, have been at loggerheads  with the leadership of his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The disagreement which factionalised the Party, with Wike’s Group holding the short end of the stick, began when Wike lost the Party’s Presidential Primary to Atiku Abubakar and also lost the Vice Presidential slot, which he desperately desired after his loss to Atiku. The PDP candidate preferred the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to Wike.

Wike and Group who go by the name, G5, and later, Integrity Group, hold the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu responsible for his losses, and the Group vowed never to participate in any Party activities, including the Presidential Campaign. As a condition to participate, they asked that Ayu must step down from office in favour of a Southerner for what they called equity.

All appeals to them fell on deaf ears, all meetings, in vain. Instead, the Governors – Wike, Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Seyi Makinde, Oyo – embarked on a vigorous demarketing of the PDP and its Presidential Candidate. Wike’s, in particular, was very bad.

They let it be known that they would never support Atiku, with Wike promising Atiku would fail, he would “pepper” him, and that PDP would cry. Wike has done  everything to frustrate Atiku’s Campaign in Rivers State, including, arresting and prosecuting and persecuting any PDP member loyal to Atiku and the National Leadership of the Party. The climax was his  abortion of the Presidential Campaign Rally in Porthacourt by making the environment uncomfortable for it to hold.

He promised, in December of 2022, that he would make public to Rivers people, his preferred Presidential Candidate in January 2023.

Three days to the Presidential election, he has failed to do so. But his utterances and actions in the past three weeks point to the fact that he is supporting the Candidate of the APC,  Tinubu. When the story made the rounds that he had instructed members of his Cabinet and National and State Assembly members, Chairmen and Ward Leaders to mobilise all supporters and vote Tinubu, he did not deny it.

Instead  he indirectly affirmed it by giving, free of charge, the APC PCC, the venue for the Party’s Presidential Rally. He received Tinubu and entourage warmly at the Government House, and was full of praises for the APC Candidate. He also praised the APC Governors who championed the zoning of the Presidential office to the South.

But, a few days to the election, feelers are that Wike is realising that he “over-did it”, and so, worried about his political future.

The first sign came when he ran to the Federal Court, Abuja, to save him from being suspended or expelled from the Party. Second, at a Rally a couple of days ago, he begged Rivers people to save his political career by not voting for those who would jail or kill him. And now, he has suddenly denied supporting Tinubu.

His Chief of Staff, Chukwumaeze Woke, denied that the Governor  directed his supporters to vote for Tinubu.

“Wike never told Rivers people to vote for Tinubu because of his political relevance,” Woke said.

He spoke on a radio programme  Wednesday, and dismissed the reports as false. He described Wike as a beautiful bride, being courted by many politicians in the country who value his competence and capacity.

The Chief of Staff said the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, has been sending emissaries to his principal to beg for his support.

Governor Wike will leave office on May 29, 2023. For now, depending on who wins the Presidential election, his political future seems to hang in the balance.

Ecobank Rewards Customers With Millions

By
James Orji
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0

Ecobank Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), has rewarded four customers, being winners in the Super Rewards deposit promo ,with N1 million each.

The Super Rewards Campaign is a customer-focused initiative designed by Ecobank Nigeria to reward customers’ loyalty and consistent use of the bank’s electronic payment platforms.

This edition of Super Reward campaign, tagged, ‘Season 3.1,’ rewarded 100 customers monthly since November, 2022 with cash prizes of N50,000, while four customers won N1 million each at the end of the three-month campaign which ran between November 2022 to January 2023. The four winners are Mr John Sokeipiriala, Ahmed Said, Onashile Obafemi, and a couple with a joint account, Mr David Edokwe and Mrs Ifeoma Edokwe.

Speaking at the cheque presentation in Lagos, Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Korede Adeniyi, said the scheme was introduced by the bank to reward customers’ loyalty, adding that it was also to promote the use of its electronic payment channels that offered convenient banking.

According to her, “This is the third edition of our reward initiative which started about two years ago. The feedback from our customers have been quite impressive. It is not just to encourage people to save but also transact on our digital channels. Today, you and I know that with the cash scarcity, the digital banking channels have become very helpful. So today, we’re rewarding four customers who won N4m. We have also rewarded 100 customers with cash prizes of N50,000 monthly during the period of the campaign.”

Commenting on the dynamics of the scheme, Head, Asset Products, Ecobank Nigeria, Daberechi Effiong, said the conditions to qualify for the scheme were made simple and easy to ensure both new and existing customers of the bank participate and get rewarded. According to her, “new customers were expected to open an account with a minimum of N5,000 and maintain the deposit for a 30-day period”. “Same applies to existing customers, who only need to fund their active account with a minimum of N5,000 or reactivate their dormant account with a minimum of N5,000 and maintain the deposit for a 30-day period.”

One of the joint account winners, Ifeoma Ezokwe, said she and her husband did not expect they would win a promo from the bank. She said, “When we got married, we decided that joint account is one of the things we’re going to inculcate into the marriage, and we’ve been operating the accounts very well. For more than 12 or 13 years we’ve been running the joint account.”

Media Group Says CBN Cash Policy May Lead To Voters Apathy

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Foremost Media Group, Journalists For Democratic Rights, JODER, has lamented that the Apex Bank’s  Cash Policy may likely lead to Voters apathy on Saturday February 25th, 2023, when the Presidential Election Will hold.

It said that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, cash swap may deny the democratic rights of millions of Nigerians who will be unable to cast their votes due to the prevailing lack of access to funds they own which in turn will affect their movements.

In a statement on Tuesday, by the Executive Director, Adewale Adeoye, it said millions of Nigerians work or reside outside the location of their polling units the tradition being to travel to their states or communities during each election season. The cash strapped situation will see many Nigerians unable to meet the aspirations of casting their votes, the group said.

The Group added that In the past two weeks, Intra and inter-state movements of people have almost been stunted.

“Millions of Nigerians who register outside their work places or homes will not be able to perform the historic ritual of electoral migration during the National Elections which begins on Saturday.

“JODER has been active in election monitoring since 1999. The custom is that in states, millions of people register in their communities far from where they live or work. Some register in their communities located outside their state of residency. They travel ahead of the election either from one community to the other or from one state to the other. The CBN policy is set to drastically pull down this tradition’”, Adeoye said.

Adeoye furthermore stressed that the random interviews during election monitoring indicated that millions of people travel with the sole purpose of going home to vote in their communities but that the CBN cash policy will flounder the opportunity.

This is  coming at a time that the transfer window of voters cards has been closed.

The pro-media rights group said during elections, there are usually mass movements across the six geo-political zones. Without cash, a situation imposed on voters and with the epileptic inter-bank transfers, millions of Nigerians will be denied their democratic right underlining the fascist and despotic policy of the CBN policy implementation mechanism.

Adeoye said the policy has also destroyed the prospect of strategic communication between political parties and voters since access to mass communication instruments like pamphlets, radio jingles and community and rural meetings were annulled due to scarcity of cash and trade hitches occasioned by the CBN policy.

JODER said it is difficult to assess the number of Nigerians that will be affected due to lack of cash to travel ahead of the election but estimates that the number should be in millions.

“We estimate  that millions of people will be disenfranchised by the CBN policy. This portrays the CBN as anti-democracy whereas a responsible apx bank should realize the importance of representative government to economic growth and prosperity”.

The group said Voters need cash for electoral migration both within, outside the states and even for thousands of Nigerians expected to come home from outside the country. Due to lack of cash, millions of voters are expected to stay back having been economically castrated by the CBN policy.

On corruption, JODER said it is unlikely that the policy will stop vote buying but would only enhance vote inducement to be paid in areas instead of instant payment associated with past elections while the possibility of voters becoming more desperate for compensation has been fueled by the impoverishing CBN policy.

“The policy has made many people poorer. They have money that they cannot access. The consequence is that with voters brought to the lowest economic ebb, they will be more desperate for compensation to address immediate needs, having been stripped of livelihood by the cash crunch.”.

The Group in the Statement said the anti-corruption fight is not the primary responsibility of the CBN adding that what the CBN needed to do is to provide relevant information for the anti-graft agencies.

“With 2.7trillion return to the vaults of banks, Nigerians waited in vain for the CBN to provide information on those who made suspicious deposits. What the apex bank did in return was to withhold funds belonging to poor persons which is tantamount to economic sabotage on a large and unprecedented scale”.

JODER said the CBN policy was like starving a whole community of food and water for weeks on the pretext that one child in the community  is suspected of stealing from the store house.

“The CBN has undermined democracy and sustainable development by its ill-thought and despotic approach to an otherwise progressive fiscal policy that ought to have been driven with over all public good from the beginning”, the statement reads.

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