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Imo-East 2023: Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Throws Hat In For Senate Seat

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The Source
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Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

By Charles Igbo

The race for the Imo East Senatorial seat, come 2023, has become more intense and interesting with the entrance of Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu, a woman who hardly needs any introduction, is the wife of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN.

By popular acclaim, she is the most prominent and, unarguably, the most effective First Lady in the 36 States of the Federation. She has name-recognition, and a special interest in women health issues and the girl-child education and well-being.

A native of Emebiam, Owerri-west Local Government Area of Imo State, it has long been speculated that with her many visits to Imo State (Owerri Zone), and her activities in the State, which have garnered her a couple of awards, including the prestigious “Ada Owere” and “Igolo Emeabiam 11”,  she would aspire to a Political office in the Zone.

On Thursday. March 24, Anyanwu-Akeredolu confirmed her ambition to the Owerri-,East Senatorial seat at a meeting she held at her Igolo Abiam Plaza located along Wetheral Road, Owerri Municipal.

One of the reasons she  decided to take this step, she disclosed, is her discomfort with the deterioration in the country. She said it is difficult for her to sit down and watch.

She decried the state of youths, their resort to drugs, especially, Mkpurumiri, and condemned the act of whipping them instead of rehabilitating them.

The Ondo First Lady also lamented the state of women, maternal mortality, and the girl-child education.

She urged women to step forward and contest to elective positions, and emphasised that “good people cannot continue to sit-by and watch while bad people continue to run the country aground.”

If Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu succeeds in her aspiration, she will be the second woman to represent Imo-east Senatorial District. The first was the very accomplished Journalist and two-term Senator,  Chris Anyanwu. She will, also be the second Governor’s wife to go to the Senate, the first being Mrs Oluremi Tinubu who is on her third term as a Senator.

Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu is not new to politics. Aside from being married to Politician, she had, unsuccessfully, contested for the seat of Owerri-west Federal Constituency years back.

This time, she will contest under the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC. It is not known, yet, who  she will face at the APC Primaries, but strong speculation is that it is likely to be Alex Mbata. There could be others.

In the PDP for the same seat,  it is a strong field of the incumbent Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Barrister Uche Onyeagucha, former Secretary to Imo State Government, former House of Representatives Member, and Dr Basil Maduka.

Islamic Group, MURIC Tackles RCCG On Political Structure

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The yet-to-be announced Presidential ambition of Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, is under threat following a stand of an Islamic Group, which is against any member of Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) succeeding President Mohamadu Buhari.

The RCCG leadership, recently, launched a political structure to advise and garner support for any member of the Church  seeking political office.

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), warned that any political party that picks any member of the RCCG is like Moses in the Bible that saw the promised land but never got there.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Friday, by the Chairman of MURIC, Bauchi State Chapter, Barrister Idrees Safiyanu Gambo.

According to him, “Since the RCCG has the effrontery to launch a national political structure, the rest of us have no option than to challenge this existential threat.

“We must work towards our survival before the RCCG tsunami threat sweeps Islam and other Christian denominations out of existence.

“It is very clear that the plan of our Redeemer friends is to eliminate other religions or turn their faithfuls into political slaves.

“The ugly experience of our Muslim brothers in Yorubaland where they are persecuted politically and marginalised economically despite their superior numerical strength is enough for us to know what is likely to happen if members of the RCCG take over the reins of power either in Aso Rock or in any state in the manner they are going about it at the moment.

“We, in the North, have been watching this ugly development with keen interest.

“In fact, it is unimaginable to expect the emergence of RCCG candidates as winners in Northern States and we will ensure that this does not happen now or any time in the future.

“We are not unaware of the ‘winner-takes-all’ mentality of the RCCG, but Northern Muslims will never expose their land to such obnoxious cultural invasion, as what we want is a society where everyone is treated equally.

“The RCCG declaration of a directorate of political affairs was met with great annoyance by us in the North and it has destroyed any goodwill Christian politicians enjoy here in the North.

“It is so bad that any Muslim who queues behind a redeemer is now considered a traitor to the cause of Islam and this is not what we want at this critical point in our nation.”

Barrister Gambo also warned Islamic organizations and Muslim communities against hobnobbing with any RCCG candidate, whether presidential or gubernatorial.

“Although MURIC will not support any political party against another during the coming general election, we warn Islamic organizations and Muslim communities against hobnobbing with any RCCG candidate, whether presidential or gubernatorial.

“While our interest lies in credible candidates who are most likely to benefit their states or the country as a whole, we frown upon attempts by the RCCG to turn the whole country into Redeemers territory.

“It had better not be. The RCCG plot is dangerous, provocative and contemptuous. Our warning to all political parties is: pick redeemer candidate, kiss Aso Rock goodbye.”

Deregistration of Parties: Supreme Court Upholds INEC

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Supreme Court, Friday, squashed the Appeal Court’s ruling which chided the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for deregistering political parties, thereby upholding INEC action.

INEC had scrapped 74 political parties they considered unviable two years ago because of their abysmal performances at the polls, having won no seats at the polls.

Later, the Advanced Congress of Democrats and 21 other parties took INEC to Court, demanding they reverse their decision.

The Court did not grant their plea, but on appeal by INEC, the Appeal Court ordered INEC to reverse its decision. The case ended up at the Supreme Court.

Justice Ejembi Eko, who read the judgment on behalf of his brother-Justices, Friday, set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court.

Justice Eko pointed out that the Appeal Court ruled without hearing from other parties involved in the matter. He said the Appellate Court raised the issue of fair hearing but did not apply it to the defendants.

The Apex Court, therefore, ruled that INEC’s decision is commendable and sustained.

MAAN Lauds Unity Bank’s Support For Maize Farmers

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Nigerian maize farmers under the auspices of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, MAAN have commended Nigeria’s agric-focused lender, Unity Bank Plc for their role in facilitating the financing of maize production by smallholder farmers in the country through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The President of MAAN, Dr Bello Abubakar gave the commendation while delivering an address at the official unveiling of 21 maize pyramids in Kaduna on Thursday.

Abubakar said Unity Bank has proved to be a trusted and reliable partner of Nigerian maize farmers in their journey to sustain sufficiency in maize production in the country.

“What we celebrate today would have been impossible without our finance partner, Unity Bank. The Bank has been a reliable partner in the journey and we shall continue to partner to greater heights,” Abubakar said.

Through Unity Bank’s strategic partnership with the maize farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the CBN, which focuses on commodities with significant concerns for foreign exchange, maize production output has risen to 11 million metric tons from 10.1 million metric tonnes in 2014.

As a major financial institution partner of the ABP, the Bank has facilitated the disbursement of billions of naira to no fewer than 4.52 million smallholder farmers across the various commodity value chains supported by the ABP, including to an additional 120,000 maize farmers in 2021 alone.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc, Oluwatomi Somefun said the Bank remains committed to its strategic partnership with maize farmers to support their capacity to sustain the sufficiency in maize production.

She said, “When we say that we are farmers’ best friends, we walk our talk. And I am glad that the association appreciates the invaluable support that we provide by facilitating the financing of their activities. As a Bank, we are driven by the overarching objectives of the federal government to drive food sufficiency, while creating the much-needed jobs for sustainable development.”

Represented by Usman Abdulkadir, Executive Director, Risk Management and Compliance, Somefun said the pyramids displayed is a reminder of the inherent possibilities in Nigeria’s agricultural value chains and a proof that with enough commitment, Nigeria could maximise its potential in agriculture through strategic initiatives such as the Anchor Borrowers Program,e.

Since its launch in 2015, the central bank has through the ABP programme, disbursed a total of ₦975.61 billion to over 4.52 million smallholder farmers, who have cultivated 21 commodities across the country for the procurement of inputs and cultivation of maize, rice, and wheat.

Maize is one of Nigeria’s most important staple foods, with about 60 per cent of the maize produced in Nigeria used for commercial activities including the production of poultry feeds and as a major ingredient in alcohol production.

$418m Debt: Court Rules In Favour Of FG

By
Uche Mbah
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President Buhari
President Buhari

By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that the Federal Government should continue to deduct  from State allocation, thereby dismissing the suit filed by the State Governors of the 36 states seeking to stop such deductions.

36 State Governors had filed a suit seeking to stop deductions of $418 million Paris Club refund debt.

But the Presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, Friday, ruled that the suit lacked merit. Besides, the Judge said, filling the case in the first place was an abuse of Court process and that the 36 Attorneys General do not have locus standi-that is to say they have no basis for filling the case in the first place.

The Counsel for the plaintiffs, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh (SAN), had requested the Court to stop the deduction of $418 million from their accounts. He had pleaded with the court to suspend the deductions untill the case is concluded, but the Judge refused.

More details later…

Ahead Ekiti Poll: Fayemi’s Aides Resign, Align With Segun Oni

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ahead of the June Governorship election in Ekiti state, two Aides of Governor Kayode Fayemi have resigned and decamped to the Social Democratic Party, (SDP).

They are Special Adviser to Governor on Internal Security,  Israel Adesokan known as Jaru and Olaiya Kupolati, Special Assistant on Electoral matters.

Jaru joined the party at ward A in his home town, Iyin Ekiti where he addressed other members and hoped that the party would record victory in the forthcoming election.

Kupolati announced his new party at his Iye Ekiti ward where he was received by stalwarts of SDP.

Former Governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni, who lost out in the primary contest of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), is the candidate of the SDP in the election.

Since he was picked by the SDP as the flagbearer, there has been mass exodus of members from the PDP and the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) to the SDP.

It was gathered that those teeming up with the SDP candidate are mainly supporters of aspirants that lost out in the APC and PDP primaries.

Chief Oni is seen as the third force in the politics of the state, especially to those politicians that are fed up with change of baton between APC and PDP in the affairs of the state since its creation in 1996.

The former Governor, immediately he lost out of the PDP primary, had met with leaders of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) in his bid to pick the party’s ticket before he settled for the SDP slot.

Former Governor Ayo Fayose has vowed to do everything possible to stall the victory of the SDP candidate declaring that “the outcome of June Governorship election in Ekiti state will send Segun Oni out of politics.”

He is reported to be working with Governor Fayemi to ensure that Chief Oni is roundly defeated during the election.

Sterling Bank Cleans Up Nigeria

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Sterling Bank Plc has carried out environmental cleaning exercises in 23 states across Nigeria as part of its commitment to create a cleaner and safer environment for the citizenry and aquatic life under its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR initiative known as Sterling Bank Environmental Makeover, STEM.

The clean up exercises involved cleaning of markets, roads and beaches to commemorate the World Recycling Day, which held recently in every country in the world.

The exercises were simultaneously held in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Abuja, Delta, Anambra, Edo, Abia, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Katsina and Lagos.

More than 1,000 participated in the clean-up exercises; including staff of Sterling Bank and volunteers. In Lagos, it was executed in partnership with the Oniru Kingdom, Rite Foods, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company, Bonnie Bio, Sterling One Foundation, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, African Clean Up Initiative and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA.

Speaking at the beach cleaning exercise at Oniru Beach, Lagos, Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director and CEO of Sterling Bank, said the bank embarked on cleaning exercises in 21 states out of the 24 states it is partnering with across the country.

The CEO who was represented by Tunde Adeola, Executive Director of Commercial and Institutional Banking at Sterling Bank remarked that, “We have been on this journey for more than 10 years. Every time, this happens, we have a cleaner and healthier environment.”

He said, “Sterling Bank is well positioned to do this,” adding that in the last two years, the bank has received recognition and awards for the initiative. According to him, Sterling Bank is also in the forefront of tourism in Lagos State.

Also speaking, Mojisola Bakare, General Manager, Corporate and Investment Banking with Sterling Bank said, “Sterling Bank is about impactful banking”, noting they believe that there is no way they will live on this earth without impacting on the environment, adding that for that reason, they have what is called the HEART of Sterling because they have strategically decided that they are going to impact specific areas of growth in the economy.

She said the HEART of Sterling stands for Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation, adding that the head office in Marina, Lagos is being fitted with solar panels and soon it will be sustainably powered by the sun.

“It is very important that we take responsibility for our actions on the environment and preserve its beauty to boost the local economy and attract foreign tourists, and by extension, foreign exchange into the country,” Bakare said.

Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism in Lagos State, Mrs. Uzamat Yussuf said, “We are aware that Lagos is a place of aquatic splendour.” She said, “If we have water that is not well protected and sustained, it is better we don’t have any of it at all and that is why it is important for us to sensitise the citizens of Lagos on the proper way to dispose wastes properly.

“When we do not dispose wastes properly, it becomes an issue for ourselves and the state at large because when the rain starts and all our drainages are blocked, then we continue to experience flooding. In developed countries, they sell their beaches to tourists and make huge money as well as increase level of employment for their people.”

Abia State Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Godswill Uwanoruo, commended the management and staff of Sterling Bank for the cleaning exercise which started in the state since 2015.

CBN: Naira Stabilises After Ban Of Forex Sale To BDCs

By
James Orji
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CBN Gov Emefiele

By James Orji

Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele says the Naira has remained stable since the ban of foreign exchange sale to bureau the change, BDCs in the country.

Emefiele spoke on Thursday during the CBN’s 32nd Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors on Thursday in Akure, Ondo.

Not many will agree with the apex bank on this but Emefiele said the situation has change since it stopped selling forex to BDCs last year after accusing some operators of supporting terrorism and criminality. The Emefiele-led government bank had also accused BDCs operators of making exorbitant margins as middlemen between the apex bank and forex buying public.

The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON said last year February that close to 50 members have been arrested by security operatives, over alleged unlawful foreign exchange transactions. More operators have since been arrested and are now being tried for terrorism and other criminal offences, the CBN said.

The apex bank said the clamp down on BDCs has yielded positive results as it has noticed a significant stability in the value of Naira to the Dollar, particularly at the Investors and Exporters Window, I&E.

The situation is quite different at the black market, close market watchers insist, where the national currency is now being exchanged for close to N584 per dollar since last week, while the naira and the US dollar exchange rate remained unchanged at N417 to the Dollar.

The Dollar was exchanged for N500 at the time the CBN took the decision to ban sale of forex to BDCs last July. The apex bank has since been selling directly to commercial banks on very strict conditions.

But the CBN Governor who was represented at the conference by Edward Adamu, Deputy Governor, said the decision to ban sale of forex to BDCs has really paid off.

Emefiele said, “As a result of our demand management policy, the naira has remained largely stable at the I & E window, particularly since the discontinuation of FX allocation to Bureau De Change operators along with the convergence between the CBN and NAFEX rates.

“Banks are now able to meet the demands of their customers seeking forex for SMEs, school fees, medical and PTAs,”

“The Central Bank of Nigeria had also sanctioned Bureau De Change (BDC) operators for illegal forex trading and discontinued the sale of forex to the Bureau operators in Nigeria.

“In addition, licensing of new BDCs was suspended. The CBN also introduced the ‘Naira 4 Dollar Scheme’ to encourage diaspora remittances.

“It is heartening to note that these policies are yielding positive results in terms of meeting genuine demand for foreign exchange and exchange rate stability,” the CBN Governor said

IGP In Last Minute Moves To Abort Planned Strike By Junior Officers

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nigeria Police

Ayodele Oni

Since the rumour of impending strike action by rank and file within the Nigeria Police filtered, efforts have been intensified by senior officers to abort the action.

Part of the moves is visits to the various police commands in the country by top echelon of the force to douse tension over the strike.

The Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has been visiting states to educate those behind the planned strike on the need the shelve the action.

The IG representative was in Ondo and Ekiti states which make up Zone 17 on Thursday, where AIG Okon, declared that there was no plan by policemen attached to the Zone to embark on  industrial action.

Mr Okon said in Akure, the Ondo state capital, when the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, visited the State Police Command as part of efforts to stop the planned strike action.

The AIG stated that policemen under his supervision would not abstain from work.

“Strike cannot happen in Zone 17. Policemen under Zone 17 cannot abstain from work. It is not contemplated here. There is no planned strike action here.”

In his reaction, the Inspector General of Police who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Southwest, Mr Babatunde Kokumo, advised against being found guilty of committing mutiny.

The IGP, who said the salary increase for police personnel was being processed, noted that efforts were on to exit the police from the current Contributory Pension Scheme.

“I want to assure that there shall be better salary soon. I want to caution that you don’t allow disgruntled elements to lure you into anything criminal.

“Do not get involved in things that will be inimical to your work, your profession. Many of those persons are faceless.

“They are looking for who to use as a scapegoat so that they will have the opportunity to laugh at you when you are in trouble.

“Do not be found guilty of committing mutiny. Do your jobs diligently. Eschew all unethical things. Do your jobs with diligence. Let there be heavy respect for the rights of the citizens.”

On his part, the Ondo state Police Commissioner, Mr Oyeyemi Oyediran, assured the IGP that policemen under his command rejected the strike action.

Ebonyi: INEC Dashes PDP Hope, Says Umahi Remains Gov

By
James Orji
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0

By James Orji

Governor Dave Umahi remains in office for now, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has said in response to his sack by an Abuja High court earlier this month. The electoral umpire was expected to withdraw the certificate of return it issued the governor in line with the judgement.

INEC decision comes barely 24 hours after Governor Umahi said he’s not bothered by the court’s judgement because he cannot be sued as governor due to his immunity.

The court had sacked Umah, his deputy Eric Igwe and 18 lawmakers of the state house of assembly for defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They have now appealed the judgement.

Thus, following the judgement, the PDP had appealed to INEC to issue a new certificate of return to its nominated candidates Iduma Igariwey as governor and Fred Udogwo as a deputy , respectively to replace Governor Umahi and his deputy.

But the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC has declared that it cannot act now until the Court of Appeal makes a judgment over the issue. According to the commission, it has received many conflicting court judgments on the issue, noting that it will not take any decision for now until the outcome of the appeals.

Festus Okoye, chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, said in a statement on Thursday that the decision to defer its action was reached at a management meeting yesterday.

INEC said, “It will be recalled that the commission met on Thursday, March 17, on the matter, decided to defer its deliberation on the Ebonyi cases,” the statement reads.

“The commission stepped down the listed memorandum to enable its legal services and clearance committee to study the new processes served on it in the light of the previously served ones and advise the commission comprehensively.

“Since then, the commission has been served yet more court processes on the same matter, bringing the total to 12.

“The commission deliberated extensively on these cases and decided to further suspend action on the defection of the governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State and sixteen members of the state house of assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the light of conflicting court judgments and court orders served on it from courts of coordinate jurisdictions.

“The commission also considers it prudent to stay action on the conflicting judgements and orders being aware of the pendency of appeals and motions for stay of execution of some of the judgements before various divisions of the court of appeal.”

Umahi had while visiting President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, said he’s not losing sleep over the matter.

“I’m not worried because, in the first place, there is no constitutional provision that says that the governor can be sued. So, I’m not suable, but a court judgment is a court judgment.

“I’m not interpreting it, but I can speak to the constitution and the constitution says that once you’re elected, you enjoy immunity.

“As Supreme Court says, votes cast in an election belong to the candidates. And that’s why you have qualifications of a candidate and not qualifications of a political party. So, I’m not worried,” Umahi said.

 

 

 

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