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Fear Looms Over Fresh Petrol Scarcity

By
James Orji
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0

By James Orji

Another round of petrol scarcity is looming following the return of queues by motorists at filling stations in the nation’s capital, Abuja last weekend. The queues could spread to major cities and state capitals in the country in few days if urgent steps are not taken by concerned authorities, close watchers say.
In February this year, the nation witnessed a month- long acute fuel shortages due to importation glut by the state owned NNPC following discovery that methanol found in imported fuel exceeded Nigeria’s specifications.
The NNPC later claimed that the shortages was caused by the withdrawal of the adulterated petrol. The problem lingered for many weeks as the NNPC struggled to meet the demand of desperate motorists.
Just three months after the ugly experience, those watching the situation in Abuja, insist that the NNPC needs to inervene on the matter quickly before it degenerates into another fuel crisis, even though the immediate cause of the latest queues in Abuja remains unknown.
The magazine learnt that filling stations in the Wuse, Bwari, Lugbe and other satellite towns are still selling in prices raging from N165 and above. But petrol dealers said they are likely to exhaust their stocks in few days while appealing to the NNPC to ensure that the product t is available.
Meanwhile, the NNPC in its reaction said the development is due to the recent long Salah holiday, noting that the agency is on top of the situation.
“The NNPC Ltd notes the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja. This is very likely due to low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations. The state owned corporation said it has directed marketers to ramp up supply.
“Another contributing factor to the sudden appearances of queues is the increased fuel purchases which is also usual with returning residents of the FCT from the public holiday.”
“We assure all residents of the FCT, and indeed all Nigerians, that we have ample local supplies and national stock in excess of 2.5 billion litres, with sufficiency of more than 43 days.
“The NNPC Ltd hereby advises motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days,” NNPC said in a statement on Sunday.

Family Announces Arthur Nzeribe’s Death; Begins Consultation; Requests Privacy

By
The Source
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Arthur Nzeribe

By Charles Igbo

The family of Chief Francis Arthur Nzeribe has announced his passing.

Senator Nzeribe, a man of many parts, died in England on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

He had been bedridden for a couple of years but had been in absolute high profile, World class care put together by his family, led by his beloved wife, Joan.

In a statement  titled Our Mighty Iroko Has Fallen. Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe Is Dead signed by  his three sons – Ojiabu Francis Anyegbu Nzeribe, Anthony Akpati Nzeribe, Ojiabu Oliver Nwedo Nzeribe  –  on behalf of the Nzeribe – Royal Family of Oguta, Imo State, dated May 8, 2022, the family called him an African legend who they were very proud of.

Expressing their pain at his death, the family said it has began an immediate traditional consultations, and requested privacy as they mourn.

The statement reads:

“The Nzeribe Royal family of Umudei Rotal Village of Oguta in the Oguta Local Governor Area of Imo State, in total submission to the will of God Almighty and in appreciation of a remarkably worthy life, hereby announces the death of our Son, Cousin, Uncle, Husband, Father and Grandfather, Distinguished Senator Chief Francis Arthur Uzoma Nzeribe (Ogbuagu, Oshiji, Diamante Oyimba of Oguta) on the 5th day of May, 2022, at the age of 83.

“While we are pained by this loss, we are proud of this African Legend who Distinguished himself  in various fields including Sports, International Business, Politics and gave the Nzeribe brand worldwide acclaim.

“The family has immediately commenced the necessary traditional consultations and will, in due course, release a programme for his funeral rites.

“We appeal to the public  to respect the privacy of the family and the solemnity of this event to enable us grieve in peace. Thanks.”

Uzodinma Mourns Arthur Nzeribe: Says Nigeria Has Lost A Political Juggernaut

By
The Source
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0
Arthur Nzeribe

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that the death of Senator Arthur Nzeribe is  a big loss to the people of Imo State in particular and Nigeria in general.

Senator Nzeribe died on Sunday at the age of 83 according to family sources, having been born on November 2, 1938.

A statement by Governor Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, said Senator Nzeribe will forever be remembered as a political juggernaut in Nigeria.

Governor Uzodimma said his death has robbed Imo State and Nigeria of a seasoned politician and business icon, noting that Senator Nzeribe died when his fatherly and statesmanly advice were badly needed.

The Governor commiserated with the family members of Senator Nzeribe, the people of Oguta, his political and business associates, friends and well wishers on his passing, urging them to pray for the deceased.

Governor Uzodimma who also said Senator Nzeribe’s death is a personal loss to his family, the government and people of Imo State, urged God to grant the soul of the deceased a peaceful repose.

Senator Nzeribe, Osi ji,  Ogbuagu Damanze,  represented Orlu senatorial zone between October 1983 and December 1983 in the Second Republic on the platgorm of the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP).

At the return of the third republic he also represented the people of Imo West between May 1999 and May 2007 on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

2023 Presidential Race: Groups Buy APC Forms for Ayade

By
The Source
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0
Ben Ayade and Muhammed Buhari

By Stanley  Ekpenyong, Calabar

Cross River state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade’s presidential ambition has received a huge boost as his supporters across the country under different aegis including Niger-Delta Youth, Eko Boys, Arewa Youth and Friends of Ayade for President are set to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination and expression of intention forms for the governor.

The forms will be presented to the governor on Monday at the Cross River state Liaison office, Abuja at 3pm.

A statement released on Saturday said the governor fits the description of a president Nigeria needs in 2023.

“At this critical stage in Nigeria’s history, we need a president who is a unifer, a pan Nigerian, urbane and cerebral . Nigeria needs a president who will bring an exhilarating freshness to the polity and His Excellency, Senator (Professor) Ben Ayade undisputably fits this description.

“This explains our tireless effort to see that he emerges Nigeria’s next President and we will not rest till the Ayade presidency berths on the shores of reality “, the statement read in parts.

Continuing, it read: “Ayade is Nigeria and Nigerians’ only chance to forge enduring nationhood and unity. Here is a man who sees no tribe and sees no religion in anyone; all he sees is humanity. Indeed Ayade’s constituency is Nigeria and humanity. He is the only Governor in Nigeria that has Nigerians from all ethnic and religious groups-Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ijaw, Edo, Akwa Ibom etc- in his cabinet with many holding vital and sensitive positions.

“Nigeria cannot afford to miss this man. Not only is he a detribalised Nigerian and a bridge between the young and old, he is also a performer, having dotted Cross Rivers’ landscape with industries in just seven years in an industrialisation drive never before witnessed in any state in this country.”

On why various support groups pooled resources together to purchase the presidential nomination and intent  forms for the governor, it said: “No amount of money is too big to sacrifice for a noble cause which the Ayade presidency project represents. We met and resolved that N100 Million should not be a barrier between us and the best man for the job because Ayade is simply the best of the pack.”

Elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, Ayade, a Professor of Environmental Microbiology, defected to the APC on May 20, 2021, thus redrawing Cross River’s political map.

The state had been under the firm grip of the PDP since 1999 but the governor’s defection has  significantly altered political equation with the PDP now reduced to a struggling opposition party in the state.

Professor Ayade is credited with massive industrialisation of Cross River through his aggressive Agro- Industrialisation policy which has seen the establishment of Agro- based industries in virtually all the 18 local government areas of the state.

Drivers of his presidential project believe that Ayade as President will replicate the same policy across the country.

Why I Fell Out With Ihedioha – Wike

By
The Source
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0
Emeka Ihedioha And Nyesom Wike

By Charles Igbo

For a couple of years, not a few people have wondered why the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha fell out.

Until they did, both men, of the same Political Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were close friends. But no longer.

Their relationship has so soured that Ihedioha and associates in the Imo PDP,  are not rooting for the Presidential aspiration of Wike in 2023. They are, allegedly, rooting for the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, while the associates of Samdaddy Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the Party are rooting for Wike.

Ordinarily, given their relationship before, Ihedioha  would have been rooting for Wike. In 2019, both Wike and Ihedioha rooted Tambuwal.

However, those who think both men fell out over Party politics are wrong. Their disagreement had nothing to do with that. It, instead, had everything to do with the interest of their different States. Both wanted more money for their States.

It began during the short-lived tenure of Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State when they fell out over Oil Wells located around the boundary  of both States – Akiri and Mbede oil wells.

This was revealed by Wike during a State broadcast to the people of Rivers State to celebrate their victory over Imo State on the Oil Wells at the Supreme Court.

According to Wike, the Government and people of Rivers State, gave tremendous support to Ihedioha and helped him to become Governor. But Wike said Ihedioha stabbed them at the back when he broke the gentleman agreement between the two States over the oil wells reached during the tenures of former Governors Peter Odili and Achike Udenwa to share the Oil Wells on a 50-50 basis.

He said as soon as Ihedioha became Governor, he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari claiming the Oil Wells  as belonging to Imo State.

Wike story: “Let us recall that following the disputed claims to the location and ownership of some oil wells at the Akiri and Mbede oilfields between Imo and Rivers States in 1999, the Governors, Their Excellencies, Achike Udenwa and Dr. Peter Odili respectively, worked out a political settlement and  mutually settled for a 50:50 percent beneficial sharing of the derivation proceeds accruing from these wells pending the proper demarcation of the boundaries between the two States by the National Boundary Commission (NBC).

“While the dispute lingered, nothing was done by the NBC to demarcate the boundaries of the two States and establish the proper location and title to the disputed oil wells.

“However, instead of instigating the NBC to do the right thing, Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, shortly after assuming office, repudiated the subsisting 50:50 percent sharing formula and made provocative claims to the exclusive ownership of the entire Akiri and Mbede oil wells.

“In order to actualize this spurious claims, he stealthily wrote a letter dated 9th August 2019 to President Mohammadu Buhari and requested for the refund of the sum of N15, 000,000.00 (fifteen billion naira) from Rivers State to Imo State as backlog of accrued proceeds from the 13% derivation revenue of the said oil wells.

“Acting on Governor Ihedioha’s letter, Mr. President warranted a letter to be written to the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) through his late Chief of State, Mr. Abba Kyari, to alter the status quo against in favour of Imo State without reference to the subsisting dispute and agreement between the two States.

“Surprised by the surreptitious plots and collusive actions of the Government of Imo State and the NBC to overreach the legal interest of Rivers State in the disputed oil wells, the Rivers State Government opted to approach the Court for a just and lasting resolution.

“Not satisfied with the positive ruling of the Federal High Court, the Imo State Government appealed to the Court of Appeal and lost. We then proceeded against the Government of Imo State at the Supreme Court in a fresh suit for a final and conclusive determination of the boundary dispute between our two States.”

Wike expressed his willingness for futher discussions on the Oil Wells with Imo State  “despite the betrayals and back-stabbing by Emeka Ihedioha, who in spite of the extensive support and goodwill he received from the Government and people of Rivers State to become Governor, led the onslaught and created a wedge between two brotherly States that have been living at peace and in friendship with each other.”

2023: Why Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign DG, Abdulmumin Jibrin Dumps APC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader and frontline Presidential Aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition has been dealt a big blow.

The Director General of his 2023 Presidential Campaign, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has left him, and dumped the ruling APC.

Announcing his exit from the APC fold on his Twitter Handle, Jibrin, said: “I have done my best for APC. It’s time to move on. I will announce my new political party within the next 24 hours Insha Allah. I will make a formal statement in due course,” he tweeted.

Surprisingly, Jibrin had earlier on Friday and Saturday tweeted twice respectively, suggesting he was committed to the aspirations of Tinubu and that of Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on the platform of APC.

Jibrin, a former Federal Lawmaker at the House of Representatives, where he represented represented Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011 before decamping to the newly formed political party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, was later re-elected into the House of Representatives in 2015.

Speculations are rife that he left the APC for two reasons. Jibrin, one school of thought insisted, was taken aback by the number of Presidential aspirants from the South West who came out to challenge Tinubu.

Said a source: “He thought it was going to be easy for Tinubu. But the number of  aspirants from Tinubu’s Zone who came out, and are still coming out to challenge him took him aback. He has a strong feeling Tinubu could be humiliated at the Presidential Primary slated to hold in a few weeks time.”

Another school of thought said Jubrin was no longer sure of a Presidential backing for Tinubu. He is, also, not sure that the Notth would allow a power shift to the South. The fact that the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan is coming out, confirms that. He gave up because he would hate to fight a lost battle, and did not want to battle the APC from within.

Jubrin, an academic, business man, was born in Kano. He began his early professional career in the media by working with the Century Research and Communication Limited and later in the construction industry. After a stint at the communications company and some experience under some building construction companies, he moved on to establish his own company, Green Forest Investment Limited in 2003.

Jibrin later became the Managing Director and subsequently Chairman/CEO Green Forest Group Limited, with subsidiaries in Energy, Property Development, Investment, Agriculture, Construction, and Engineering. He was also Chairman (Nigeria) of Turkish Construction giant, TASYAPI between 2010 and 2011.

He taught International Relations at the Nasarawa State University, Nigeria and authored publications in the field of International Relations viz- The new face of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, Nigeria’s Role in Peace Keeping Operations in Africa.

National Boundary Commission Is Notoriously Corrupt – Gov Wike

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the National Boundary Commission,  NBC, is one of the most corrupt Federal Agencies in Nigeria. In his words, the NBC is notorious for its corruption.

Governor Wike made this assertion in a State broadcast to the people of Rivers State in the wake of the State’s victory at the Supreme Court against Imo State over 17 disputed Akiri and Mbede Oil Wells.

The two States had been in Court over the ownership of the Oil Wells, but on Friday, May 6, the Supreme Court ceded the Oil Wells to Rivers  State.

While tracing the origin of the dispute, Wike put the blame on former Governor of Imo State, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who he accused of discarding the gentleman agreement between the two States to share the Oil Wells 50 per cent apiece, and the NBC. He said the agreement to share 50-50 was reached between the former Governors of the two States, Dr Peter Odili of Rivers Stare and Chief Achike Udenwa of Imo State.

That, Wike said, subsisted until Ihedioha came, discarded the arrangement, and “surreptitiously” wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari that the Oil Wells belongs to Imo State alone, and asked that Rivers State returns the sum of N15b which it already collected,  based on the gentleman agreement, to Imo State.

The President, Wike said, approved that the Oil Wells were Imo State’s, prompting him, Wike, to head to the Courts.

He said it was the delay by the NBC in marking out the boundary between the two States that caused the trouble because it chose to scandously connive with Imo State instead of doing its job which was simple: Mark out the boundary between the two States.

“We also deplore the collusive actions of the NBC which, unfortunately, has become notorious as one of the most corrupt National Agencies, which has functioned more in causing confusion than resolving boundary disputes.”

Rivers State’s victory notwithstanding, Wike said:

“It bears repeating that the quest to defend our ownership rights through the Courts over the Akiri and Mbede oil wells was not intended to claim victory over Imo or any other State.

“We are open to further discussions with the Government of Imo State on the best way forward without prejudice to the outcome of today’s judgment.”

Ironically, some people in Imo State are celebrating the victory of Rivers State over Imo State, thinking it is a victory over Uzodimma, who, incidentally, had no hand in the case, but continued with a case he inherited.

Suspension Of Flights: Ibom Air Opts Out, To Continue Operations

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Ibom Air

By Adesina Soyooye

The Management of Ibom Air has caused a major crack within the ranks of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON. The Airline said it is not part of those shutting down their operations on Monday May 9, 2022.

The AON had on Friday, May 6, issued a statement withdrawing the services of their Airline as from Monday, May 9, due to the high cost of Aviation fuel.

The cost of Aviation fuel, the statement said, has overtime, risen from N190 per litre to N700 per litre. In the statement copied the  Minister for Aviation and the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the AON said its members could no longer cope, as they were operating at a loss, and so have decided to shut down operations on Monday May 9, 2022.

But Ibom Air, in a statement said that while it “acknowledges the existential threat that these runaway fuel price increases pose for the Air Transport industry, volunteering to stop operations would rather  exacerbate an already bad situation.”

Among other reasons the Airline noted: “Ibom Air has financial obligations to suppliers, financiers and staff, which depend on uninterrupted flow of revenue to service. More importantly is the fact that having been paid by customers in advance for flight bookings, we are bound by contract to deliver the services already paid for to avoid exposing the Airline to the risk of avoidable litigation.”

Following is the full text of the statement by Ibom Air for opting out of AON’s decision.

Public statement on flights Cessation on Monday 09 May 2022

“Ibom Airlines Limited (Ibom Air) has been inundated with inquiries about what will happen on Monday 09 May, 2022, following the public statement issued by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Executive, on Friday 06 May, 2022 and it has become necessary for us to make the following clarifications:

“1. Ibom Air acknowledges the existential threat that these runaway fuel price increases pose for the air transport industry in Nigeria. We agree that this out-of-control situation is simply unsustainable. However, every airline has its unique business model and pressures. We believe that in spite of the escalating fuel prices, airlines volunteering to stop operations would rather exacerbate an already bad situation.

“2. Ibom Air has financial obligations to suppliers, financiers and staff, which depend on uninterrupted flow of revenue to service. More importantly is the fact that having been paid by customers in advance for flight bookings we are bound by contract to deliver the services already paid for, to avoid exposing the airline to the risk of avoidable litigation.

“3.  Apart from the above factors, Ibom Air is currently the only airline serving Akwa Ibom State directly and as such, any voluntary stoppage of operations would completely cut off access by air into and out of the State. Such action would be directly in conflict with and detrimental to the interest of our shareholder.

“4. In view of the foregoing facts, Ibom Air had respectfully disagreed with the decision of AON to suspend flight operations on Monday 09 May 2022. Ibom Air cannot in the circumstance volunteer to stop operating and will continue normal operations on Monday 09 May 2022 and beyond. Ibom Air’s inclusion as “signatory” to the statement released by AON must have derived from its active and committed membership of the AON

“5. The above notwithstanding, we identify very strongly with our AON colleagues and will participate in every effort to resolve this frightening situation as soon as possible in the interest of our business, our customers, our stakeholders and our country.

“6. We thank our customers for their continued patronage and we thank the AON for our collective efforts to secure a sustainable fuel pricing regime for the airlines.”

The statement was signed by the management of the Airline

Ibom Air is owned by  Akwa Ibom State.

APC Presidential Form: PDP Demands Emefiele’s Arrest, Prosecution

By
The Source
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0
Godwin Emefiele

By Gideon Njoku

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded for the arrest and prosecution of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele, allegedly, purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress, APC, after paying the mandatory N100m.

For allegedly doing that, the PDP has demanded the immediate resignation of the CBN Governor from office. It also demanded Emefiele’s arrest and prosecution for alleged abuse of office and financial impropriety.

These demands were made at a Press Conference addressed by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

The party noted, after quoting the relevant portions of the CBN Act and the Public Service Rules that: “Emefiele’s involvement in politics without resigning as CBN Governor, therefore, amounts to gross misconduct in contravention of Section 112 (2)(c) of the CBN Act.”

The Party also pointed out Emefiele’s failures in office as CBN Governor but said that instead of being remorseful, he had the courage to seek for the office of the President.

PDP: “It is provocative that instead of being remorseful, Mr Emefiele is even insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians by seeking the office of the President while still holding office as CBN Governor.”

But Emefiele, in a post on his Twitter page on Saturday  said the forms were purchased for him by grateful farmers but that he has rejected the forms. He said he would purchase the forms himself, with his “hard-earned money in banking leadership since the past 35 years. He acknowledged the pressures on him to run for the office of the President, but said he would make up his mind either to run or not in the next few days.

Following, however, is the full text of PDP’s Press Conference.

“You will recall that on March 25, 2022, our Party alerted the nation when we got intelligence that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele was being promoted by the Presidency as Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.

“At that time, we drew the attention of Nigerians to the provisions of the CBN Act 2007 and particularly referenced Section 9 which provides that “the Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the bank and while holding office, shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation, whether remunerated or not…”

“This provision is clear in demanding that 100 percent of the time and expertise of the CBN Governor and Deputy Governors shall be dedicated to the service of the CBN. This is because the CBN is critical to the integrity and stability of our economy.

“Furthermore, Section 030422 of the Public Service Rule states that no public officer shall (a) “hold any office, paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary, in any political organization”, (b) offer himself/herself or nominate anyone else as a candidate for any elective public office…”, (c) “indicate publicly his support of or opposition to any party, candidate or policy and (d) “engage in canvassing in support of political candidates” unless such officer resigns his appointment.

“Importantly, Section 030502 (g) of the Rule lists “engaging in partisan political activities’ as SERIOUS ACT OF MISCONDUCT.

“Emefiele’s involvement in politics without resigning as CBN Governor therefore amounts to gross misconduct in contravention of Section 11 2 (2)(c) of the CBN Act.

“Now that Mr. Emefiele has joined politics and reportedly obtained the N100 million Presidential aspirant form from the APC, he cannot continue to resume at the CBN which is the commonwealth of our nation.

“By this Mr. Emefiele has become a clear and present danger to the health, integrity and reputation of the CBN and our nation’s financial sector. His continued stay as CBN Governor will further destroy investors’ confidence in the integrity of our nation’s financial regulatory Institution.

“Mr. Emefiele’s involvement in partisan politics while still holding office as CBN Governor underpins the impunity, lawlessness and recklessness of the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration. It further confirms that the CBN under Emefiele has all along been the finance department of the APC.

“It is now evident that the summersault of the economy under Mr. Emefiele as CBN Governor has been influenced by a personal partisan interest for which the CBN under his watch allegedly allowed multiple leakages in our financial regulations through discriminatory exchange rate policies and nebulous subsidies to funnel billons of naira to political lackies to fund a presidential ambition.

“This also explains why under Emefiele, the CBN which is supposed to be the bankers’ bank continues to engage in fraudulent retail banking services under ill-defined economic intervention programmes to plunder the treasury.

“The tsunamic macro-economic and fiscal policies of the CBN under Emefiele brought untold hardship to the productive and service sectors of our nation’s economy with consequential negative effect on the lives of our citizens.

“It is provocative that instead of being remorseful, Mr. Emefiele is even insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians by seeking the office of the President while still holding office as CBN Governor.

“The PDP points to reports in the public space of how Emefiele’s agents through corrupt practices, including manipulation of exchange rate, allegedly amassed sum close to $1 billion dollar which is already being deployed by the purchase of hundreds of Emefiele branded campaign vehicles in the colours of the APC in furtherance of a lavish Presidential campaign.

“The direct consequences of such atrocious regime in the CBN under Emefiele is the collapse of our naira from N197 to N600 to a dollar, the crippling of our productive sector, multiple economic recession, increased poverty, inflation and unemployment rates, high costs of living and excruciating hardship to our citizens.

“It is indeed saddening that President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised zero tolerance for corruption will enable, encourage and condone such atrocious regime in the CBN where our economy is opened to fraudulent pillaging to promote a political ambition.

“Our Party stands with Nigerians in demanding the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of Mr. Emefiele by security and anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial malfeasance and abuse of office in the CBN under his watch.

“As Nigerians we are determined to confront this evil. We wish Mr. Emefiele well in his new found but ill-fated political vocation but we demand that he must be brought to account for the activities that he undertook, supervised and superintended over the years that he has been at the helm of affairs at the CBN and for which our economy is in comatose.

“The PDP calls on all Nigerians; the Civil Society, Students, Organized Labour, the Media and all lovers of good governance to rise up as the PDP takes drastic actions in leading the charge to defend the integrity of the CBN, Rule of Law and ensure that those who brought our economy to its knees face the wrath of the law.”

Emefiele, from Delta State, was appointed CBN Governor by President Goodluck Jonathan and was reappointed for a second term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Campaign For Democracy Canvasses Adherence To Rotational President

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Aso Rock

By Ayodele Oni

The Campaign for Democracy, (CD) has joined in the call for rotational presidency saying it is evil, undemocratic and unjust, if presidency is allowed to remain in the North.

CD in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, in Akure, Ondo state, stated that any attempt by the north to remain in power beyond 2023 may lead to disintegration.

The group pointed out that “It is a conspiracy against the South by the North for the two major parties, PDP and APC to project fielding Northern candidates in 2023.

“CD is of the view that if we all come out, make our positions known on who should be the next president, it is possible that we will save Nigeria from the hands of the evil ones.

“They have seized control of power and have, negatively, used it against the citizens since 1999, when the country returned to democratic rule.

“It is evil, undemocratic and unjust if we fold our hands and allow presidency to go back to the North.

“We should not just stand aloof, we need to act to save the nation from disintegration.”

CD pointed out that this is a calculation of underestimation on the part of the North to attempt to take advantage of the South.

It urged the South West governors to impress on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider zoning presidency to the south ahead of the 2023 polls.

The group also called on PDP leaders to pick their candidate from the South, stressing that “it is a pandora box yet to be unlocked if the two leading parties fail to allow other ethnic nationalities to produce the president at their due time.

“It will coast the country into yet another crisis that may sink the entire nation.”

CD added that anyone in his right senses should know that  jetisoning power shift to the South is a direct invitation to serious civil strife that may lead to outright balkanization of the country.

“Our Politicians should reminisence on the past political events, how political and religious intolerance and impatience has caused our illustrious sons and daughters their early death.

“It is on record that political, religious and ethnic chauvinism accelerated the death of Chief MKO Abiola, General Sani Abacha, Rear Admiral Elegbede, Alhaja Suliat, Mrs Kudirat Abiola and a host of other prominent Nigerians who were massacred between 1993 and 1999.

“Therefore, we draw the line by sounding another warning to the politicians to play the chess game with all sense of maturity and patriotism so that Nigeria will not be returned to another evil days of the military rule, because democracy can only be enduring if its managers are fair to one another, to their conscience and to the nation.”

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