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Nnamdi Kanu: Why Buhari Disappointed Ndigbo Again

By
The Source
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Gideon Njoku

“A source told this medium that Buhari was shattered by the brutal murder and beheading of the Soldier-couple and the indecent treatment of their corpses in Imo State which the Army quickly laid on the door step of IPOB/ESN, and therefore, made up his mind not to entertain any plea for Kanu’s release

Speculations have been rife over why President Muhammadu Buhari dashed the hopes of the Igbo on Friday, May 5, 2022, when he failed to order the release of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu during his meeting with the cream of Igbo Leaders in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State. This medium gathered that the brutal murder of the soldier-couple a few days before Buhari’s visit hardened his heart over the request for Kanu’s release.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Federal Government since he was rearrested in Nairobi Kenya, in June 2021,  and brought back to Nigeria to face sundry allegations, including Terrorism and Treasonable felony.

Ever since then, the Igbo leadership, with Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the arrow head, has been appealing to President Buhari to release Kanu unconditionally to stem the tension in the South-east where Kanu hails from. It has even been suggested that the unprecedented insecurity in the Zone could become a thing of the past if Kanu is released as every criminal gang in the Zone now claims to be involved in the atrocities because of Kanu’s detention and trial.

The President had been told, a number of times, that Kanu’s case is better handled politically than legally.

Once when some Igbo Leaders led by a former Minister for Aviation in the First Republic, 94 -year old  Mbazulike Amaechi, went to the Presidential Villa to appeal to Buhari over Kanu, the President had raised their hopes that he would consider releasing him, difficult as it is, especially, when Mbazulike asked the President to release Kanu personally to him, as a favour before he, Mbazulike, dies.

Weeks after Buhari raised their hopes, he reneged and insisted it would be left for the Courts. That was when he went to Imo State on a working visit.

Since then, Buhari had played deaf to the appeals even when Ohanaeze Ndigbo visited and appealed again to him.

However, hopes were raised  on Buhari’s two-day visit to Ebonyi State on Thursday, May 4, 2022.

In a meeting with the President on Friday, the Igbo Leaders had appealed to the President again to release Kanu. But in response, he rejected.

Buhari publicly told Ndigbo, to their face, that Kanu’s trial would go full circle in the Courts.

Kanu was on bail and facing the charges against him when the Army inexplicably invaded his father’s Palace where he was, and forced him to flee to safety.

In a statement,   Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina quoted the President as telling the Leaders in response to the appeals that:

‘‘I have listened carefully to the various appeals from the elders to the traditional leaders regarding a wide range of options, and as I have said previously this matter remains in the full purview of the courts where it will be properly adjudicated.”

Adesina:  “President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abakiliki pledged that the Federal Government would deploy its strength to protect innocent and hardworking Nigerians from terrorists and those causing break down of law and order in the South East region.

“Speaking at a meeting with South-East leaders, during his two-day State visit to Ebonyi, the President expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region, reiterating his directive to security agencies to ‘‘flush out’’ those perpetrating violence in the land.

‘‘I must register my deep and grave concern with regards to the deteriorating state of security affairs in this region.

‘‘In the last 48 hours, I have been informed of the latest in the round of brutal actions carried out by gun-wielding terrorists, who prey on innocent and hardworking citizens, unfortunately, these barbaric acts were visited upon those who have committed their lives to protect their fellow citizens,’’

‘‘I have listened carefully to the various appeals from the elders to the traditional leaders regarding a wide range of options, and as I have said previously this matter remains in the full purview of the courts where it will be properly adjudicated.

‘‘My worry is for our hardworking and innocent civilians, for whom life is already tough and would like to earn a decent and honest living.

‘‘There are many that fit this profile and the Government owes them that obligation to protect lives and property.

‘‘I will once again repeat, no one has the right to carry an AK-47, and anyone seen in any part of the country doing so and is not a law enforcement officer is a threat to our peaceful coexistence and should be treated as such”

However sources told this medium that President Buhari may, indeed, have considered releasing Kanu, but that the escalation of the insecurity in the South-east in the past few weeks, especially, the brutal killing and beheading of two soldiers in Imo State on Saturday, April 30, 2022 put him off.

Said the source: “The President was shattered over the manner of the killing and beheading of the two soldiers who were a couple. And because the Army had attributed it to IPOB/ESN, the President saw no reason in granting the request for Kanu’s release.

“Added to that, the President is taken aback by the resumption of the razing of Police facilities and the killings of  security personnel on duty in the Zone, especially, in Anambra and Imo States. He has the strong belief that IPOB/ESN are masquerading as unknown gunmen.”

However, IPOB has strongly  denied any involvement in the violence in the South-east, including the killing and beheading of the soldier-couple, and other security personnel.

The group has, instead, put the blame on State actors.

2023: Nigeria Needs Anyim Now More Than Ever Before – Kogi PDP Delegates

By
The Source
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Anyim Pius Anyim

The situation presently in Nigeria is akin to what existed in the Nigerian Senate in 1999 before the assumption of office as its President by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The above was the summation of the interactive session between Anyim and delegates from Kogi state, May 5, at Ibro hotel, Abuja which included the two former governors of the state, Ahaji Ibrahim Idris and Capt Idris Wada.

The delegates commonly agreed that Nigeria is in a very precarious state and in dire need of a natural stabilizer like Anyim.

In his closing remarks, the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party,PDP in kogi state, Engr. Sam Uhotu, recalled the invaluable role Anyim brought to bear in the stability of the country democracy.

According to him, the nation’s upper chamber of the national Assembly was in a voyage of no destination until Anyim stepped in to chat a clear course for the National Assembly and indeed Nigerian democracy.

The Chairman stated that the Senate before Anyim was seating on a slippery ground of banana peels, throwing up different leaders of the chamber at an average of one president after the other in every six months until Anyim came to put a stop to that.

Uhotu reiterated that the situation in the Nigerian Senate when Anyim was divinely brought to the rescue is akin to the rudderless journey of the Nigerian nation now.

“If Anyim has offered himself to serve Nigeria again,” the PDP chairman advised, “Nigeria should consider him seriously.” The chairman further drew the attention of Nigerians to Anyim performance as the Secretary to government of the federation saying that it’s high time Nigeria took a serious look at the roles Anyim had played in his previous positions in government. He said as Secretary to government of the Federation, SGF under Goodluck Jonathan administration, Anyim has been variously described even by his own boss, Jonathan, as the engine room of that regime.

This, again, the Chairman stated, validates the fact that his magic in the Senate was not a fluke. It’s my belief that Anyim will perform same magic again if allowed to rule Nigeria as her president, the chairman claimed. Speaker after Speaker agreed with the opinion of their Chairman as they commonly resolved in unison to form a social contract with Anyim.

In addition to Anyim’s five star performances, Dr Mohammed Adah Shuibu,  a former Gubernatorial aspirant in Kogi state under the All Progressives Congress APC now a member of PDP, remarked that one sterling quality that stands Anyim out among others is his stainless records in all his services to Nigeria. Till date, Shuibu recalled, Anyim has remained blameless in all his services to Nigeria.

Echoing the views of the party chairman, Capt. Idris Wada, former Governor of kogi state, emphasized that the meeting with delegates only exposed the stuff Anyim is made of to those who never knew him before. Wada stated, that his knowledge of Anyim since his days as secretary to government of the federation is that “Anyim is a man of the people, a detribilised Nigerian and a great man.” Citing Anyim’s intervention in the affairs of Kogi, Wada explained that in 2012 when the state was enmeshed with floods, that Anyim as the SGF, quickly released N500m with just little effort to save the people of kogi state. He also stated that Anyim was instrumental to the flood chanalization work in the state which was initiated by his administration. He described Anyim not only as a leader with listening ears but one who backs up his promise with commitments. Sharing similar views with others, Wada repeated, “if there’s any other time Nigeria needs someone like Anyim, it’s now, because Anyim will give Nigeria qualitative leadership”, he concluded.

Meanwhile Anyim promised to make kogi state the most industrial hub in Nigeria if given the chance to rule. He told the delegates that the abundant mineral deposits in kogi distinguishes it among other states. The Steel mill at Ajaokuta, kogi state, Anyim promised, will be his priority on his assumption of office.

“My intention, he told the delegates, is to develop smart cities among the contiguous states surrounding the capital, such that the pressure on Abuja can   be reduced.” According to him, Steel not even oil will constitute one of the major drivers of the 4th industrial revolution. Anyim also told the delegates that he would not just replicate what Goodluck Jonathan administration did with women but will surpass it.

According to him, under Jonathan, a woman was a Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Under Jonathan, a woman was a Petroleum Minister, Aviation Minister etc.

“I will do more for women” he thundered. This is also as he stated that the youths will be given the opportunities they need to deploy the abundant energies they have. While he will rely on the advice of the elders, he assured that he would work with the youths to execute such advice.

The Commission for the disabled which has remained dormant, Anyim promised, he world make it to work, just as he assured he was going to improve on the achievements of the people Democratic party, PDP where dollars were N180, where Nigeria was reckoned as the fastest growing economy and where people were free to travel from Abuja to Kaduna etc.

Domestic Airlines Shut Down Operations

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

The flying Nigerian public is in trouble. Beginning Monday, May 9, 2022, Airline  Operators of Nigeria, will shut down their services.

In a statement on Monday signed by them, nine in all, they said they have had enough. They said they have sacrificed enough. They said they have endured enough, and can no longer cope with the outrageous cost of Aviation fuel which now goes for  N700 per litre.

With the shut down, Nigeria will literally grind to an end as businesses will be affected. Public and private businesses will grind to a halt.

Even though the Operators advised the public to make alternative arrangements for their travels, not many people will dare. The roads are unsafe. They are populated by terrorists  bandits, gunmen and all kinds of blood thirsty gangs.

Railway services are no better, especially, since the fatal attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound Train.

The statement reads :

“It is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)  have carried on deploying and subsidizing their services to our highly esteemed Nigerian flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs.”

“Overtime, aviation fuel price (JetA1) has risen from N190 per litre to N700 currently. No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period. While aviation fuel worldwide is said to cost about 40% of an airline’s operating cost globally, the present hike has shut up Nigeria’s operating cost to about 95%.

” In the face of this, airlines have engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, NNPC and Oil Marketers with the view to bringing the cost of JetA1 down which has currently made the unit cost per seat for a one hour flight in Nigeria today to an average of N120,000. The latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties.

“While AON appreciates the efforts of the current Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in Nigeria grows, unfortunately, the cost of aviation fuel has continued to rise unabated thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines.

“This is unsustainable and

the airlines can no longer absorb the pressure.

“To this end, therefore, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hereby wishes to regrettably inform the general public that member airlines will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday May 9, 2022 until further notice.”

“AON uses this medium to humbly state that we regret any inconveniences this very difficult decision might cause and appeal to travelers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements.”

The Statement was copied both the Aviation Minister and the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

2023: Former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole Joins Presidential Race, Picks N100m APC Forms

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Dimeji Bankole and his Receipt

By Akinwale Kasali

For a long time, little or nothing was heard about former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. Suddenly, he zoomed back.

The former Ogun State Governorship Aspirant under Action Democratic Party, ADP, who recently joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, has joined the bandwagon of the long list of aspirants vying to occupy Aso Rock, after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s term in the saddle.

Bankole has purchased the  expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC National Secretariat after paying N100million.

The Former Speaker Bankole is joining the Presidential race after, according to him, consulting with stakeholders across the country.

He officially registered as a member of the APC in March 2021.

Bankole’s entry into the Presidential race now increases the number of aspirants from the South-West region seeking to take over from President Buhari.

Only in the South West, over Seven aspirants have indicated interest. They include; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Ekiti State Governor; Kayode Fayemi, and Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Founding Overseer of Citadel Global Church.

Lagos 2023: Tinubu Quashes Speculation Over Sanwo-Olu; Endorses Him For Second Term

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Bola Tinubu Endorses Babajide Sanwoolu

By Akinwale Kasali

For weeks, the second term ambition of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo of Lagos was shrouded with uncertainty, with speculations rife that there may be a sudden change in his  earlier endorsement by the Governors Advisory Council, GAC.

But the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader and frontline Presidential Aspirant for the 2023 election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has quashed such speculation by openly endorsing Governor Sanwo Olu and his Deputy, Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat for second term.

Tinubu held both men by their hands;  raised them up, and endorsed  them  for another four years at the Lagos APC Stakeholders Meeting, during which all aspirants vying for elective positions in the State met with the former Governor at a declaration event held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos.

In attendance were Lagos House of Assembly Speaker, Rt.Hon.Mudashiru Obasa, Chairman APC Lagos, Chief Ojelabi and many others.

Speculation was rife that former Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, under former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration was tipped to replace the incumbent Deputy Governor, Kadiri Hamzat, but that has been vehemently debunked with the endorsement of both men today.

There had been reports that Tinubu had dumped Sanwo-Olu for another loyalist, Mustapha Olorunfemi, ahead of the May 23, 2022 governorship primary in the state.

Tinubu’s open endorsement has quashed the viral reports that Tinubu had abandoned Sanwo-Olu.

Before today’s endorsement, 85-year-old GAC  Member, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and APC chairman in Lagos, Cornelius Ojelabi, had openly given support to the ambition of Sanwo Olu, noting that Sanwo-Olu had GAC’s support to return to office.

The GAC, the highest decision-making organ of the party headed by Tinubu, had mid-April endorsed Sanwo-Olu for second term.

Responding to viral reports that Tinubu had rejected Sanwo-Olu just as he opposed former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the build-up to the 2019 Governorship election, Olusi  revealed that Tinubu had filled Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement form which would be transmitted to the party’s secretariat in the state before the May 23 Governorship Primary.

Olusi said, “All members of GAC are happy with Sanwo-Olu’s first term performance and we support his return for second term.

“A lot of our members have also filled a form endorsing Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid. Tinubu also signed the form. Any other thing is untrue.”

Following this speculations that Sanwo Olu won’t be given ticket for a second term, there were another speculation that former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was planning to run for the Governorship, and was on the verge of purchasing the APC form, but the Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation, Wale Oluwo, refuted the allegation.

He said, “The same way they heard about it was the same way we heard about it. The person that they said has been picked to replace Governor Sanwo-Olu is not from AMCO. He doesn’t work with us; we know him because he was in government and had been a PS (Permanent Secretary).”

When asked whether Ambode had purchased APC N50m form for the May 23, 2022 Governorship primary, Oluwo said, “No”.

On whether the ex-governor had any intention to do so, he said, “The organisation, AMCO, will announce it. The organisation has to meet and finalise things and announce.”

Reasons Why APC Delegates Should Vote For Tinubu – Tunji Abayomi

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Constitutional lawyer and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) Tunji Abayomi in continuation of his campaign for one of the party’s presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu listed some criteria which make him tower above other aspirants.

He stated that his decision to support the aspiration of Bola Tinubu was that he is a Party Man.

“He knows us, has interacted with us as a party man, worked with us on party aims and objectives, has made noticeable and sufficient sacrifices for the Party.

“Second, he has achieved, won regard through fruitful exercise of executive office as a Leader not as a subordinate.

“Third he has knowledge and capabilities especially as it relates to making Nigerians wealthy and generous enough to explore new ideas even from sources that may least be expected.

“He is articulate, sufficient in standing to represent us in any international engagement and a professional with high capacity for innovation, particularly in essential areas relating to the wealth of the Nation such as the oil, power and education sectors.

“Tinubu has a strong tendency to unite the peoples of Nigeria as a nationalist and not a regional, religious or ethnic bigot.

“He has a family that has been resident in Nigeria unlike other aspirants that jet in when there is opportunity for them to play politics.

“The former Lagos state Governor is a team player that inspires his co-servant leaders to constantly struggle for high ends of the Nation and has an uncommon intuition to constitute a great team to work for Nigeria.”

Abayomi, who has been in the forefront of Tinubu for President appealed to delegates of APC to decide and define the future for Nigerians through their votes to ensure that Asiwaju Tinubu emerges as APC presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

According to him,  if the APC and Nigerians give Ahmed Bola Tinubu the opportunity to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, he will change Nigeria’s story for good.

“These are the compelling criteria that guided our decision and because Bola Ahmed towered above all other competitors we chose to support his aspiration.”

The Constitutional Lawyer earlier in his Facebook page has advised that any aspirants that has anything to do with the present administration should not be allowed to succeed President Mohamadu Buhari.

Ondo: SDP Backs Agunloye, Says Now Viable Option To APC, PDP

By
Ayodele Oni
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Olu Agunloye

Ayodele Oni

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo state has for the first time, rose in defence of the party’s national secretary, warning those behind his blackmail to desist.

The SDP in the state also proudly declared that it is now a viable option for the electorate seeking an alternative to the misrule of the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

The Ondo state Chairman of the party, Stephen Adewale in a statement in Akure on Friday, disowned a meeting reportedly held by some expelled members of the party under the auspices of “South West SDP Stakeholders” in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Members at the Ibadan meeting had advised aspirants, that wish to contest on the platform of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections not to purchase expression and nomination forms yet.

But Adewale, in his reaction, wondered why those claiming to be members of the SDP would tell hopefuls not to fly the party’s flag.

The Chairman said that “We, therefore, take strong exceptions to the false innuendo being passed around by expelled members of our party.”

He pointed out that the party’s leadership in the national and the states, “remains united and solidly committed to the task of building the party as a viable choice for the people in the states seeking an alternative to the APC and PDP misrule.

“The party has never been more united than it is now, as new members join in significant numbers on a daily basis.

“Nigerians are beginning to regard the SDP as a viable option to the two major political parties that have ruled the country since 1999.”

The Chairman also took exception to the attack on the party’s national secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye by the expelled members at the Ibadan meeting.

Adewale declared that the party would not take kindly to the “attacks on our respected National Secretary’s personality, attempt to ruin the Social Democratic Party’s name and integrity on the altar of politics.

According to the chairman, ‘Sola Agboola, the expelled state Secretary of the party in Ondo state and his associates’ constant attacks on the character of our National Secretary and the integrity of our great party are unfounded, in bad faith, and obviously libellous.

“Their reckless and baseless allegations against the National Secretary is unfortunate and an insult to our Leader’s hard-earned reputation, which he has strongly maintained.

“As a two-time former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his age and achievements in the Nigerian politics and other walks of life set him out as a distinguished citizen of this great country.

“We further make it clear that the accusation of tyrannical leadership levelled by Dr. Olu Agunloye’s traducers are mere fabrications intended to smear and taint our noble leader and should be disregarded entirely.”

Ondo Community Gets Obaship Status After Decades Of Legal Tussle

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

After over a decade and prolonged legal tussle, the seat of Asin of Oka-Odo in Akoko area of Ondo state has been accorded obaship status on Grade C.

This is after 117 years of tussle as Sir Pius Omiyejola Akande was presented Staff and Instrument of Appointment as substantive traditional ruler.

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made history as he presented Instrument and Staff of Office to Sir Pius Omiyejola Akande as the substantive Asin of Oka-Odo in Akoko south west local government.

The Governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Rural Development, Babatunde Kolawole, disclosed that the battle for recognition of the obaship status of the Asin seat, started when a paramountcy and supremacy tussle ensued between the Olubaka and Asin and the paramouncy was conferred on the Olubaka.

According to him, the Asin Obaship status had been accorded recognition during the defunct Western region, but was jettisoned due to the fight over supremacy between the Olubaka and the Asin.

The Governor added that after a long legal battle that was decided at the Supreme Court, the State government was ordered to implement the recommendation of the 1979 Justice Ogunleye Commission of inquiry which conferred an obaship status on the Asin seat.

“The State Executive Council immediately swung into action and approved the recognition of the Obaship status on the Asin of Oka-Odo on Grade C on the 4th of March.”

He congratulated the people of Oka-Odo for this great achievement.

The  Governor charged the new Oba to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, be a father to all, limit his activities to his domain and make the development of Oka-Odo paramount in his pursuit.

He further enjoined the community to accord the monarch required cooperation, support and loyality needed to move the community forward.

Mr Akeredolu charged the oba to lend the government a helping hand in ensuring peace and security in his domain, while promising that government on its part, will continue to make life more meaningful and worthwhile for the people through the provision of basic social amenities and infrastructure.

In his address, the Chairman Akoko Southwest Local Government, Augustine Oloruntogbe appreciated the Governor for fulfiling his electioneering promise of recognising every chieftaincy stool that qualifies for recognition.

He appealed to the people to support the government as well as key into all its programmes, as a way of resiprocating its good gestures.

In his response, the Asin of Oka-Odo , Oba Pius Imiyejola Akande appreciated the Governor for fulfiling his promise to the people as well as counting Oka-Odo and consequently Akoko Southwest Local government, worthy of people oriented projects doting its landscape.

The monarch asked for more projects that will make life more meaningful for the people,  while pledging to live up to expectation, as well as foster peaceful coexistence with the people and other Obas in the Local Government.

ICYM: Buhari’s Supporters Demand Emefiele’s Resignation

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Fola James

The call for the resignation of Godwin Emefiele as Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor has become more intensified now that he has obtained the nomination form to contest the presidential election next year under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for N100 million.

No serving CBN Governor has been so politically partisan.

Few months ago, a group supporting President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria First Movement, NFM after blaming Emefiele for the nation’s economic woes, noted that he had put a “final nail in the country’s already doomed economy.”

The pro-Buhari group which said the economy has been wobbling since the re-appointment of Emefiele by the president, vowed to mobilise over 200 other pro-Buhari groups  against the apex bank governor if he failed to resign.

The group Coordinator, Augustine Richard in a statement said many Nigerians were disappointed with the tedious registration processes as part of the requirements for the e-naira.

Richard said Emefiele enjoyed the privilege of being the only CBN Governor to be re-appointed, in spite of this, the group pointed out, Emefiele has failed to use his position to turn the economy around, adding that the launch of the e-naira has prove this point.

NFM said, “the introduction and subsequent launch of the digital currency, eNaira, is perceived as the final nail in the country’s already doomed economy.

We are ready to champion the call for Emefiele’s removal by staging a one-week protest that could potentially cripple economic activities in Abuja. We’re also ready to mobilise over 200 other pro-Buhari groups across the globe in the ‘mother of all protests’ that would hold simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and London against the nation’s poor economic posture.

“Emiefele played a pivotal role in the collapse of the economy since his appointment as the CBN chief and before his arrival, the economy was said to be one of the fastest growing in the world. Shortly after his reappointment in 2019, Emefiele announced a five-year plan that targets double-digit growth in one of Africa’s largest economies.

“His approach to policy implementation, however, has left many in doubt, raising questions on how his key policy move, especially in the context of management of the exchange rate, benefits the economy, and the naira he sought to protect.”

The group further accused the CBN of rolling out various economic programmes which it said have no direct effects on the lives of Nigerians.

Richard further said in the statement that “on July 24, 2020, the CBN launched a series of non-intrant loan schemes under the AGSMEIS, MSMEDF, AADF and other loan schemes. The program attracted a lot of Nigerians, with millions of them seeking to join the program through all due process.

“For more than a year now, nothing has been done. The CBN under Emefile has shirked its primary responsibility of ensuring price stability and has embraced a more developmental role, in the hopes of naira stability.

“As confirmed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rt. Hon. James Faleke, the CBN has failed to submit its Audited Account to the Office of the Auditor General (OAGF) for review, from 2010 to date.

“According to Kalu Ajah, chief executive officer at AfriSwiss Capital Assets Management Limited in Abuja, the CBN has pursued a strong naira policy and had sought to dampen imports. Well, imports have not declined and the naira is far from strong. One wonders if the import restrictions on items and capital controls were necessary or if the CBN should have devalued the naira earlier. I will say Nigeria did not benefit from the capital controls regime.

“The regulatory bank’s aggressive lending policy has been called into question as well, causing some concerns over the bank chief’s stewardship of the banking sector. The CBN is forcing banks to lend, and penalising non-lenders. These are shareholders’ funds being deployed via fiat.

“In October last year, the Central Bank fined 12 banks, including Citibank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank N499 billion for failing to meet lending targets. It is another move that attracted criticism across the board,” he said.

Unprecedented: CBN Governor, Emefiele Joins Presidential Race, Picks APC Nomination Form

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Godwin Emefiele

By Ayodele Oni

Speculation is that Emefiele, from Delta State, is being prepared to eventually become Senate President Lawan’s running mate

In  an unprecedented situation in Nigeria, or any other country in the world, civilised or uncivilised, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Friday picked the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while still in office as CBN Governor.

By picking the forms, Emefiele has confirmed months of speculations that he would run in 2023.

Report from Abuja indicate that Emefiele picked his form at the office of Party’s  Organising Secretary, at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

The CBN Governor has been rumoured, without any confirmation, to be in the race for the APC ticket to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari since late 2021.

Apart from his posters which have adorned strategic places within Abuja and other parts of the country, there are several branded vehicles displaying his pictures.

Emefiele has not refuted or confirmed the reports, but said he was focusing on supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen the Nigerian economy.

In a veiled reference to the ongoing campaign by Friends of Godwin Emefiele, a political group,  urging him to give the Presidency a shot, and other associations mounting pressure on him, Emefiele in March, 2022, said he is more interested in helping President Muhammadu Buhari finish well.

In a tweet early early this year, the CBN Governor declared that “My focus at this time is a robust monetary policy and fighting inflation, which is now a global problem; building a strong financial system in an increasingly uncertain global economy.

“Development finance and supporting farmers and manufacturers in our self-sufficiency and import substitution drive, raising N15 trillion for InfraCo infrastructure financing, building a world-class International Financial Centre in Lagos, as well as support the @MBuhari administration to finish strong.”

Nobody knows when Emefiele registered as an APC member, but the consensus among many people is that it is unethical; that the Governor of the Central Bank should be apolitical.

A couple of weeks ago, there were strong hints that Emefiele had been asked to stop all his campaign plans and pull down all posters and withdraw all vehicles connected to the Presidential election.

But that now seems a ploy to divert attention from him.

A source told this magazine that Emefiele would eventually be a running mate to Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan who, is expected to pick his form before the last date for that.

Lawan’s would-be-entry into the race has been interpreted as a ploy by the by the North to deny the South of the 2023 Presidency. Until now, the understanding was that the APC had zoned its Presidential ticket to the South.

Senator Lawan, urbane, pleasant and cosmopolitan is from Yobe State.

Emefiele, appointed CBN Governor by President Goodluck Jonathan and reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, is from the Igbo speaking area of Delta State.

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