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Owo Attack: We Bleed, Says Mrs Akeredolu; Leads Women Groups On ‘Walk For Justice’

By
The Source
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Betty Akeredolu and Her Group

 Women Groups in Nigeria have demanded a total re-engineering of the Security architecture in the County.

In expressing their dissatisfaction, pains, and demands for justice over the massacre of worshippers at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, the women groups across Nigeria, led by the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, on Wednesday, June 15, jointly cried for justice for the victims. They, also demanded a stop to such evil occurrence in Nigeria.

Speaking, the First Lady of Ondo State, who led Women groups in collaboration with Womanifesto, on a solidarity walk to the Governor’s office, described the gathering as painful, saying that it was a way for Mothers to express their grief and demand justice.

A statement by Mary Agidi,  Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, First Lady’s Office, quoted the First Lady as saying: “A painful and doleful gathering this is; one that I truly wish we do not have to make, but which we are constrained to do because the carnage of Sunday June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa street, Owo, put a bad razor on that bond that binds us to our own, hence we bleed.

“In mourning, we have chosen this way to express our grief, to say our sense of huge personal loss, and to demand that the beasts who frittered away the vast labour of mothers by slaughtering and maiming our own be made to answer for this heinous act.”

She stated that the condolence walk was also to identify with mothers who lost children and husbands to the incident and to tell the Governor that women are solidly behind him as he continues to prioritise the protection of lives of residents.

The First Lady who commended the great display of concern, compassion and courage by the Governor as a leader  prayed for the repose of the lost souls, strength for the affected families, quick recovery for the injured and unbridled peace for the State.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Mrs. Adebunmi Osadahun, while expressing how devastated women were about the sad incident, said women were proud of Governor Akeredolu’s steadfastness among his colleagues in Nigeria when it comes to security issue.

She noted that the horrendous act wasn’t just a crime against humanity but sin against God, that women groups deemed it proper to show solidarity as mothers and appealed to the Olowo of Owo and all Yoruba leaders to rise to the challenge and do something in defence of the people they’re leading.

The Convener of Womanifesto group, Dr. Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi who presented a statement of demands signed by about 500 women groups in Nigeria to the Governor, said all they wanted was justice for the victims, saying enough is enough of these cruel acts against our people.

Akinyode-Afolabi who affirmed that Governor Akeredolu has a distinct voice on security in Nigeria, called for the reengineering of the security architecture of the country, noting that until it’s done we can’t have peace.

She charged President Muhammad Buhari to take steps beyond mere condemnation of these cruel acts and provide a comprehensive restructuring of the security architecture through National discourse.

She reeled out the women groups’ demands to include the publication of the identities of the victims and memorial for the dead, and an explicit investigation that will lead to the arrest of the culprits.

Other demands include constant updates about the state of security of the nation, while calling on UN to support the country in respect of the insecurity situation, and announced July 5th ultimatum to get responses to their demands.

In his response, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ordered that a website containing the list of the victims should be created before the burial mass, while commending the women for doing a yeoman’s job.

The women groups were later led to Olowo’s Palace by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Seun Aiyedatiwa, where HRM Oba Gbadegesi Ogunoye described the perpetrators of the dastardly act as beasts in human form.

He commended the women organisations for the move to call on the President to secure citizens’ lives at all cost, as he advocated federalism as a solution to the nation’s insecurity woes.

They ended the solidarity event at FMC Owo, where they checked on those undergoing treatment.

PDP Says Atiku Has No Running Mate Yet; Denies Endorsing Wike

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked the viral story that it has endorsed the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as its Vice Presidential candidate against 2023.

In a statement on Wednesday following the Wike story, the National Publicity Secretary of

PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said there is nothing like that. He said that it was at best, speculative.

The PDP spokesman maintained that its   Selection Committee, had Tuesday, met to fulfill its mandate of recommending a running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and had made no recommendations yet.

Another report had it that Wike has the ears of  members of the Committee to facilitate his emergence over another serving Governor Okowa of Delta state. But the Rivers State Governor, who was a Presidential aspirant, had vehemently insisted, all through his campaign to be the Candidate, that he would never accept the position of a Vice Presidential candidate.

Speaking on the development in Abuja, Wednesday, Ologunagba said reports in the media that the PDP has picked Wike could only be in the realm of rumour.

He said the National Working Committee is currently looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best Vice Presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.

“We have a process as a party, because we are organic. We follow through the processes. We recognize the importance of participatory democracy, ensuring that every stakeholder and organ of the party is involved in our decision-making process.

“This is the beginning of the process, consideration and advisory body need to get to the level where, in consultation with the presidential candidate, they will deliberate on who is most suitable.

“That process is ongoing, so any report of a particular candidate at this point is probably premature.”

Ologunagba, who emphasized that PDP has kickstarted its process, informed that the NWC will meet, saying that it is expected that the advisory board will be considered.

“We do our things in processes, the process doesn’t just come like you press a computer and get an answer.

“We follow the process, because human elements are involved, with interests and concerns. We have considered all interests of the country, particularly in terms of unity and capacity.”

How FG Borrowed To Pay Federal Workers- AGoF

By
James Orji
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

By James Orji

The acting Accountant General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has disclosed that the federal government has bee borrowing to pay workers salary. He did not disclose how much the government has borrowed to pay its workforce.

Nwabuoku, was last month appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to supervise the Office following the suspension of former AGF, Ahmed Idris for allegedly stealing over N80 billion belonging to the government.

The Debt Management Office, DMO has recently, revealed, that the federal government total debt totaled over N41 trillion by the end of April this year.

The Debt Office also revealed on Monday that administration has borrowed over N19 trillion from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN through the Ways and Means, W&M window.

The President Buhari’s administration has complained of paucity of funds, insisting that it will continue to borrow to fund critical infrastructure in the country.

As part of the plan, the administration, has included over N6 trillion in the 2020 Budget for deficit financing.

The AGoF spoke yesterday at a retreat organised by the office for members of the technical sub-committee on cash management, TSCM in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said there is need for government to borrow in the face of rising expenditure, particularly in the areas of security and social needs of Nigerians.

The AGoF said the federal government “have to borrow” to augment payment of salaries and wages.

This shows we are in very difficult times. Government income is highly challenged. The theme and objective of the retreat couldn’t have been better captioned, given the fiscal challenges at the moment.

“Records available indicate that due to dwindling revenues, the treasury had to resort to other sources to augment the payment of federal government public servants.

“There is an increase in government expenditure due to increasing security challenges and social needs of the citizenry.”

He advised the Buhari administration to embark on revenue drive through export promotion.

“Therefore, we must all, at this retreat, strive towards identifying the challenges to revenue generation and other means of enhancing inflow into federal government cash box; ensuring the cutting down the cost of governance in the most acceptable way and ensuring synergy amongst and within stakeholders in the sub-committee,” he said.

Tinubu’s Wife, Remy, Will Be De Facto Deputy President – Orji Kalu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

If the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is elected the President of Nigeria in 2023, he and his wife, Senator Remy Tinubu will govern Nigeria together irrespective of who the  Vice President is. His wife will be the “de facto Deputy President.”

This elevation of Mrs Tinubu to the office of the Deputy President if her husband becomes the President, was made by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State.

He said this when he spoke to Reporters at the National Assembly in support of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the APC.

Many people, especially, Christians, are against a Muslim-Muslim ticket because of the polarisation of religion in the country. The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has strongly warned against such a ticket. It said it portends danger.

But Kalu pointed out that such fears should not be entertained as Tinubu’s wife, who is a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, will be Nigeria’s de facto Deputy President.

He posited that APC would be politically naive to pick a Christian minority in the North to run with Tinubu, a Muslim minority in the South. It will be tough for two minorities to win the 2023 Presidential election for the APC Kalu insisted.

Mrs Tinubu, politically-savvy, is a third-time Senator. She is an Itshekiri from Delta State.

APC Mulls Zulum For Muslim-Muslim Ticket With Tinubu; Uzodinma, Nothing Wrong With It

By
James Orji
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By James Orji

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state is one of the favourites of the three Vice Presidential nominees for All Progressives Congress,  APC Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to Daily Trust.

The other two nominees are Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, a former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly and  Amina Mohammed, a former Minister under both former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari. She us currently the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, UN. The three of them are Muslims.

Tinubu, a Muslim,  a former Governor of Lagos state recently beat his closest rivals to emerge the ruling party’s flagbearer, at the APC Special National Convention in Abuja.

Since he won, efforts are been made by the leadership of the party to select a running mate for him, to beat the June 17 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for political parties to submit the names of their Vice Presidential nominees.

On Monday, Governors elected on the platform of the party met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the issue. Even though it was not clear whether they have agreed on a candidate to run with Tinubu in next year’s Presidential election or not.

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state had told reporters after the meeting that the party will not impose any running mate on Tinubu, who he said is free to pick the party’s presidential candidate.

He had, also, earlier said there is nothing wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Daily Trust, however, quoted sources in the ruling party as saying that a chieftain of the party and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF Babagana Kingibe has suggested the three names to Tinubu for consideration.

Recall that Kingibe, the Vice-Presidential candidate to the late Chief MKO Abiola in the botched June 12, 1993,  Presidential election, was visited by the APC Presidential candidate, last week as part of his fence mending consultations with major party stakeholders across the country.

The magazine has yet to confirm whether Tinubu has agreed to pick any of the three nominees, but it was learnt that other strong politicians, particularly APC Governors are lobbying seriously for the exalted post as well.

Other sources in the party also mentioned that the situation is causing serious confusion in the party, particularly following apprehension that the ruling party could present a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket to INEC by the end of the week to beat the deadline set by the electoral umpire.

Many Nigerians have warned the party against a Muslim-Muslim ticket because of the religious plurality of the country.

Doing so, critics say, will further enlarge the gulf of religious differences, and probably set the country on a fresh religious crisis.

For instance, a chieftain of the party and former SGF, Babachir Lawal had warned his party to jettison any attempt to select a Muslim running mate for Tinubu.

Lawal, a close ally of Tinubu said a Muslim-Muslim ticket will further polarize the country along religious lines.

Lwal said, “I don’t think the choice of a running mate for the APC presidential candidate should be a problem because the constitution is clear about the principle of federal character that no group should dominate because such will not promote unity.

“So, for fairness and justice, since Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of APC is a Muslim from the Southern part, he should pick a Christian from the Northern part of the country as his running mate.

”A Muslim-Muslim ticket will not augur well for the unity of the country because the Christians in the Northern part may feel marginalised and it is also not good for our democracy.”

Lagos Tops List Of Highly Indebted States With N780b Debt

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Debt Management Office, DMO, has revealed that Lagos State tops the list of debtors among the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.  Lagos owes a staggering total debt stock of N780 billion.

As Nigeria’s biggest economy and Africa’s fifth, successive administrations in the state have borrowed largely to fund critical infrastructure, even though the state generates more revenue than other states.

According to the DMO, the domestic debt stock of the 36 states in Nigeria, including the FCT, rose to N4.84 trillion in the first quarter of 2022.  Lagos is on top with 16 per cent of the total debt stocks.

The Centre of Excellence as the state is called,  is closely followed by Ogun and Rivers States  which have a combined debt of N450 billion representing close to 10 per cent of debts owed by all the States.

According to the figure provided by the DMO, Imo State recorded a domestic debt stock of N204.61 billion, while Akwa Ibom recorded a domestic debt of N203.11 billion.

Others include Delta (N163.48 billion), Cross River (N158.93 billion), Plateau (N152.1 billion), Bayelsa (N151.41 billion), and Oyo State (N141.19 billion).

The Domestic Debt Stock of Lagos State surged by N273.1 billion from N507.38 billion recorded as of March 2021 to N780.48 billion in March 2022. Ogun State increased its debt stock from N156.34 billion to N241.98 billion in the same period.

Earlier in the week, the DMO had revealed that the Federal Government’s total debt has risen to over N41 trillion.

Combined with debt owed by the 36 states in the Federation and FCT, the nation’s total debt currently stands at over N45 trillion.

In a statement released last week, the DMO said the sudden increase in Federal Government’s debt was spurred by the need to finance the 2022 Budget Deficit, the $1.25 billion eurobond issued in March 2022, and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.

“The total public debt stock as at March 31, 2022, was N41.60tn or $100.07 billion.

“The amount represents the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the thirty-six state governments, and the FCT.

“The comparative figures for December 31, 2021, were N39.56tn or $95.78billion,” DMO said.

VP Candidate: Atiku Did Not Consult Party In Choice Of Peter Obi In 2019 – Ayu

By
The Source
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Iyorchia Ayu and Atiku Abubakar

By Gideon Njoku

The National  Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has given an insight into the Party’s relationship with its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in 2019.

Ayu said Atiku was on his own in his choice of his running mate then.He said Atiku did not consult widely before his choice, and so the Party had no hand in Atiku’s choice of his running mate then.

Ayu disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, while  addressing members of the PDP consultative Committee given the job to assist Atiku in the choice of his running mate against the 2023 Presidential election.

In 2019, Atiku, as is the case now, was the Presidential candidate of the PDP. Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State was his running mate.

However, in the race against 2023, Obi a former Presidential aspirant under the PDP, suddenly resigned from the Party and joined the Labour Party, LP.  Since then, Obi and the almost moribund LP have spread like wild fire in a harmattan season, attracting millions of youths nationwide. Obi had since become the flagbearer of the LP.

But speaking on the choice of Obi in 2019 as Atiku’s running mate, Ayu, short of saying it was a mistake, said the Party was not consulted then by Atiku, unlike now.

Ayu: “Our Presidential candidate, this time, has decided to carry everybody along  unlike 2019 when he didn’t consult widely  in his choice of running mate.”

The National Chairman assured that the PDP would announce Atiku’s running mate within the next 48 hours.

A couple of names have been bandied around as Atiku’s running mate.

On Monday, the news went viral, almost, that the former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has been chosen as Atiku’s running mate on the recommendation of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who it was said,  rejected the offer.

While a confirmation or otherwise was being awaited, on Tuesday, Wike’s name surfaced as Atiku’s running mate. A number of online platforms and a couple of  conventional media carried the story. They said Wike was given the position on the recommendation of the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal who is, also, the Chairman of PDP’s Governors Forum.

Recall that at the Presidential Primary of the Party in Abuja in May, Tambuwal, who like Atiku and Wike, was a Presidential aspirant, stepped down and directed his supporters to vote for Atiku.

Atiku beat Wike to  a respectable second place. Wike felt betrayed by Tambuwal who he had fully backed in 2018 against Atiku at the Presidential Primary held in Porthacourt.

Atiku won the Primary but was defeated in the main election by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Other names being speculated include Delta and Akwa Ibom State Governors, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Udom Emmanuel. The name of a former Governor of Imo State, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, also was speculated at a time.

Osun 2022: “Governor Oyetola Failed, Performed Below Expectations” – The Osun Progressives

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Adelowo Adebiyi

By Akinwale Kasali

Accord Party Berates Administration

Chairman, The Osun Progressives, TOP, Adelowo Adebiyi, has labeled the Governor Gboyega Oyetola administration a failure. He accused the Governor of performing below expectations and not leveraging on the good works of his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebsola.

In a chat with the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, during its ongoing Governance Assessment Tour in the State, Adebiyi said it is disheartening to see that Governor Oyetola who was the Chief of Staff to the current Minister of Interior while he was in the saddle, failed to build on the legacies of Aregbesola.

He said the Governor, who is seeking re-election for a second term, failed to carry major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state who are loyal to Aregbesola along in governance, prompting the Osun Progressives to queue behind Moshood Adeoti to succeed the incumbent Governor.

He revealed that the recent APC Governorship primary in the state which made Governor Oyetola the APC candidate in the forthcoming Osun gubernatorial election is already a subject of litigation in the state High Court.

In his words, “Governor Oyetola has performed below expectations, I believe this government should have built on the achievements of the past administration rather than trying to destroy the legacies of the past government which incidentally is of the same party.

“For example, rather than embarking on a massive food production in the State, the government is busy sharing food to the people every month. How sustainable is that?

“He believes he can do it alone. I appreciate Chief Bisi Akande who has made move for a reconciliation meeting with the warring parties, especially between Governor Oyetola and Aregbesola, but Governor Oyetola failed to show up at the reconciliation meeting in Abuja”.

“The APC has been in power in the State for the past 12 Years, and for eight years it performed brilliantly in terms of infrastructure and people oriented policies, but the past three and half years under Oyetola has been appalling.

“Instead of the Governor to invite investors to develop the State by creating an enabling environment and eradicating poverty in the state, he is busy fighting with Aregbesola and those who he perceives to be close to him”, he said.

Adebiyi added that the policy formulation of the present government is not in line with the needs of Osun people.

“The State economy is in dire need of resuscitation, sadly, the state of Osun is not benefiting from the anchors borrowers initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, which targets massive food production for states across the country”, he noted.

The former APC Chairman in the state said Governor Oyetola is owing pensioners who has served the State for several years and ought to be enjoying the dividends of their service, but are wallowing in penury due to the insensitivity of the Governor to their plight.

“It is really pathetic for the Osun State Pensioners to be going through this hardship under Governor Oyetola. If the Governor needs to source for loan to pay these Pensioners he should do so and stop impoverishing the people”, he added.

Elder Adebiyi however advised that for the sake of the All Progressive Congress in Osun State, there is a need for the governor and Ogbeni Aregbesola to close ranks and find lasting solution to the lingering disagreement in the party before the forthcoming election in the state.

In the same vein, the Secretary of the Accord Party in the State, Alhaji Nasiru Bolarinwa berated Governor Oyetola’s administration, stressing that for the past three years in the saddle, the only thing he has done that is visible is the newly constructed Olaiya bridge in the State.

He added that the governor failed in fulfilling his promise of a free education for the pupils of Osun state, which he said has increased the number of out of school children in the state.

However, when the NGIJ team visited the APC Secretariat in the State to speak with the Party leadership, the team was kept waiting for more than an hour before the team left for another pending engagement.

Abducted Anglican Bishop, Wife Released

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Adeyinka Aderogbo

By Adesina Soyooye

Abducted Bishop of Jebba Diocese, Anglican Communion, His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Adeyinka Aderogbo, and his wife have been released.

Released too is their driver. They were abducted along the Ogbomoso/Oyo Road on Sunday, June 12, 2022, on  their way to Yewa Diocese on Episcopal duties.

The Bishop’s Chaplain  who was with them said he escaped being abducted because he wore a black Cassock, and lay flat on his belly when the abductors struck and took away the Bishop, his wife and driver into the deep forest.

According to the Chaplain, the vehicle they were traveling in developed a fault on the way, close to Oyo. His Bishop called the Bishop of Oyo for help. But before help could come, their abductors suddenly emerged from the forest and abducted them.

The good news of their release was broken by His Lordship, the Bishop of Omo Akran Diocese, Festus Sobanke.

It is not yet known the circumstances behind their release and if any ransom was paid. But on the day they were abducted, the hoodlums had demanded for the sum of N50m.

EFCC, NDLEA Synergize On Financial Crime, Drug War

By
Ayodele Oni
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EFCC and NDLEA Logo

By Ayodele Oni

The war against financial crimes and drugs received a boost as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), expressed readiness to foster relationship in combating money laundering and drug related crimes.

The synergy between the two Federal Government agencies received a boost on Tuesday, when the Kwara State Commander of the NDLEA, Ibrahim Saidu, led his Management Team on a courtesy visit to the Ilorin Zonal Commander of the EFCC,  Michael Nzekwe.

Explaining the purpose of the visit, Mr. Saidu said it was to strengthen ties and help the two agencies deliver on their mandates.

“We are delighted to be here today. We have a lot to do together. The two agencies are mutually engaged in the business of securing Nigeria against fraud and I have told my officers not to be after drug related offences only, but to also be watchful and report evidence of money laundering to the EFCC.

“Not long ago, we had some of our officers trained at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja. That is part of the synergy that we are talking about. We are currently building the capacity of our men on money laundering, while boosting their competence in tackling drug related offences.”

The NDLEA boss used the occasion to inform his EFCC counterpart of the recently launched War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), by President Muhammadu Buhari and called for support of the Commission in intensifying the campaign.

He also pledged his agency’s support for the EFCC, saying his officers were prepared to offer training assistance to the Commission’s staff at the Ilorin Zonal Command on the dangers of drug abuse and drug peddling.

Responding, Nzekwe noted that the two agencies have more areas of convergence in their respective statutory mandates, especially terrorism financing and money laundering.

The Zonal Commander disclosed that synergy and collaboration are critical in its fight against economic and financial crimes adding that the Ilorin Command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that corruption is reduced to the barest minimum in the three States under its control.

“As brothers in the service of our Fatherland, we need to work together to ensure a well secured Nigeria because without Nigeria, there will neither be EFCC nor NDLEA.

“We should not get lost in the crowd. We need to be in contact from time to time to share ideas on how we can reduce drug abuse and other forms of criminality to the barest minimum.”

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