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Update: LASG Rescinds Decision On Eid-Il-Fitri Holiday, Conforms With FG’s Directives

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Sequel to the earlier circular by the Lagos State Government on the Eid-Il-Fitri and May Day Celebration on the Thursday 5th May, 2022, resumption of activities in the State, it has rescinded its decision and conformed with the Federal Government directives on the Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd May, 2022 holiday.

The Lagos State Government has now announced a new date for the Id-El Fitr holiday, canceling the earlier one it circulated.

According to Circular No 23 issued by the State’s Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the holiday is now effective Monday and Tuesday, only.

The new announcement supersedes the earlier announcement via circular no 18 which gave Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the May Day and Id-El Fitr holidays.

The new announcement now brings the State in conformity with the Federal Government which had earlier announced Monday and Tuesday.

To mark the May Day, the State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu, has approved a March past of the various Trade Unions in the State on Sunday at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

‘’Whilst wishing all Public Servants, especially our Muslim Brothers and Sisters who observed fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan, a wonderful celebration, members of Staff are enjoined to stay safe during both celebrations

‘‘Public Servants in the State are therefore to disregard the resumption date stated in CIRCULAR NO 018 of 27th April, 2022 and note that work resumes on Wednesday, 4th May, 2022 at 8:00am prompt’’, the Head of Service added.

In a Press Statement by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Education, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), notifies all public and private schools in the state to observe Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd of May as public holiday as declared by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Director General, OEQA, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni enjoined all proprietors and school administrators to ensure that students resume on Wednesday 4th May, 2022 and disregard Thursday 5th May, 2022 as previously embedded in the Lagos State Harmonized Academic Calendar 2021/2022 session.

While wishing parents, proprietors, teachers and students a happy holiday, the Director General enjoined students to continue to shun all forms of social vices during the ID-EL-FITR and May Day celebrations and parents should monitor the activities of their wards at home.

Fayemi, Another Tinubu’s Political Godson Challenges Him

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

The number of the political godsons  of the Lagos State strongman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, abandoning him, is increasing. They are exerting their independence from his political empire, and charting their own course.

The urbane Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has just thrown his hat into the Presidential ring, come 2023. Fayemi has, for months, been consulting on the viability of his aspiration.

On May 4, 2022, Fayemi will declare his ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Venue is the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

He has termed his declaration UNFOLDING THE AGENDA

Fayemi is believed to have been, strongly, backed by Tinubu during his first term as Governor. He was, however, defeated by PDP’s Ayo Fayose in his second term bid. But he made a come-back in 2019 when he roundly defeated the candidate of the PDP, sponsored by Fayose.

Speculations are that he did not quite have Tinubu’s backing for his second term, and since then, their relationship has gradually become weak.

Fayose is the third Tinubu’s political godson who has openly challenged him. The first was the Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who pleaded God’s wrath upon Tinubu.

The second was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who declared interest in the 2023 Presidential election after Tinubu had declared his own interest in same office.\

And, now, Fayemi.

There is no doubt that these declarations will have an effect on the number of delegates Tinubu thought he had in the bag.

For the records, Fayemi is the Chairman of the influential Nigeria Governors Forum. If his colleagues, especially, in the  APC  back him, he could make more impact than expected at the APC Presidential Primary.

Ekiti: President Buhari Anoints APC Candidate For June Gov Election

By
Ayodele Oni
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Oyebanji and Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the Ekiti State June election, Biodun Abayomi, has received the nod of President Mohamadu Buhari to carry the flag of the Party at the election.

Abayomi, was received at the State House in Abuja on Friday, where he was officially presented with the flag of APC signifying his endorsement for the June election.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adesina, stated that President Buhari  declared that “You have my best wishes.

“You have served Ekiti State in many capacities, including as Chief of Staff, Commissioner, and Secretary to the State Government. Being Governor will just be continuity of service. I honestly wish you the best of luck.”

With those words, President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House, Abuja, presented the party’s flag to Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the gubernatorial election, scheduled for June 18, 2022.

The candidate was led to the President by National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

The National Chairman said APC was planning to win the contest, “by the grace of God,” adding that it was the reason the candidate was being presented for presidential blessings.

Governor Fayemi said Oyebanji had been involved in governance in Ekiti in the past 20 years, and has acquitted himself creditably.

Breaking: Governor Sanwo- Olu Extends Public Holiday To Wednesday

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Contrary to the declaration by the Federal Government that there would be Public Holidays on 2nd and 3rd May, 2022, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has extended the holiday till Wednesday, 4th May 2022.

That will, effectively, shut down Government activities in the state till next Thursday.

While the Federal Government declared Monday and Tuesday to mark the Eid-el-Fitri, Sanwo-Olu has decided to give workers an additional day, 4th May to mark Workers Day.

Workers Day this year, which is May 1, 2022, coincided with the Eid-el-Fitri, which was why the Federal Government did not declare a separate holiday.

But Lagos has chosen a different path.

According to a statement by Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the Head of Service, “Governor Sanwo-Olu declared Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd, and Wednesday 4th of May, 2022 as Public holidays to mark the 2022 International Workers’ Day and Id-El-Fitr Celebrations.

“Work resumes on Thursday, 5th May, 2022 at 8:00am.”

This extension, however, does not affect Federal Government and Private concerns. Financial institutions, unless Lagos State owned, are not expected to be affected either.

Update: LASG Rescinds Decision On Eid-Il-Fitri Holiday, Conforms With FG’s Directives

2023: Embattled Minister Nwajiuba Says N100m For APC Presidential Forms A Gift, Not His Money

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Emeka Nwajiuba

By Adesina Soyooye

Embattled Minister of State for  Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has explained that he did not purchase the Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms with his money.

His party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, had shocked not a few  Nigerians when it slammed a tag of N100m on the Presidential forms for interested aspirants.

Nwajiuba, a lawyer, in a race that is gradually becoming a joke and an all-comers affair, was a surprise entrant. But he has come under  attack by Nigerians who wondered how he got the huge amount  of money “to waste.” His critics were equally stunned that he could do that when University students have been home for 75 days, and counting, because their Lecturers are on strike over the inability of Government to pay their dues.

But the Minister, while officially joining the  Presidential race on Wednesday,  said the N100 million forms were purchased for him by a group he identified as “Project Nigeria Group.”

He made the explanation when he accepted the forms at a reception in his honour  by the group in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the group gathered  “resources from every part of the country” to purchase the forms for him.

Accenting the forms, Nwajiuba said:

“I now solemnly accept to run for us all, and bear our Party’s Flag into the elections and become our next President.

 

“I do this recognizing that in the last sec years, President Muhammadu Buhari has performed extraordinary feats in ensuring that our progressive ideas have been established; physical infrastructure of every type, and inclusive policies reaching out to our poor and less privileged. As we strive to uplift Nigeria and Nigerians into a developed State.

“A lot still is outstanding and needs to be done. Many of our citizens are still outside, hungry, and unemployed. Many more are threatened by unwarranted and unnecessary internal security and economic challenges.

“Our calling today invites me to  take up a work path that builds on the solid foundations that have been laid thus far. Provide different paradigms for new challenges and provide the platform for a vista that accommodates subject experts to pull together forces to meet our nation’s challenges.

“I, therefore, invite our dear party and its great men and women, to forge that trust in me, as their new symbol of unity, growth, and regeneration as we step into the future with renewed zeal and optimism.”

Nwajiuba, a former member of the House of Representatives is from Imo State. He becomes the second APC member from the State to declare his ambition to succeed Buhari in 2023. The first was Senator Rochas Okorocha, a former Governor of the State.

Gov Abiodun Threatens Legal Action, Says He Never Admitted Committing Any Crime

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has threatened to sue Media Houses which carried the story that he admitted to committing crime while he lived in the United States of America.

The Governor has been in the eyes of the storm after an online medium published, with documents, his alleged involvement in forgery and credit card fraud while in the US.

A concerned APC member/group had, based on the allegations, written a petition to the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, against allowing the Governor to fly the Party’s Governorship flag in 2023, arguing that with Abiodun’s alleged criminal background, he would be disqualified even after victory. The petition alleged that the Governor is a convict.

In response to the letter, the Governor had, through the legal firm of Afe Babalola, denied being a convinct. He said he was never convicted for such crimes in the USA. He, however, did not deny being involved in such  incidents, and asked that he be not disqualified for that.

In any case he argued that even if, without conceding, he was convicted, it has gone beyond 10 years.

In a statement signed on his behalf by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy,  Alhaji Waheed Odusile, the Governor said it was Babalola’s letter that was being twisted to suit a purpose by, especially, online publications, and threatened to take legal actions against such publications.

The statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to a story with a misleading caption in some online newspapers.

“To say this story is fallacious is to say the least. It is an admission to the fact that the journalism profession, which we still hold as noble has been thrown to the dogs.

“Journalists are expected to fact check their information before going to the press.

This particular story was purportedly from a letter written by Afe Babalola & Co, to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a response to a petition written by a political mercenary.

“Nowhere in the letter written by the Afe Babalola & Co. was there any admission by Prince Dapo Abiodun to have admitted to committing any crime.

The letter written by the governor’s lawyers was twisted and presented to suit a particular purpose best known to those that authored / sponsored it .

“It should, however, be noted that their obvious game plan is to discredit the governor and get through the backdoor, what they could not get through the ballot.

Prince Dapo Abiodun is unperturbed by this machination. Just like they failed in 2019, they will also fail this time around.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be noted that Prince Dapo Abiodun did not admit ever being convicted of any crime.

“While we enjoined journalists to comply strictly to the ethics of their profession, we shall however not hesitate to take appropriate legal step against the purveyors of this blatant falsehood.”

Abiodun has since, according to him, been gifted with the sum of N50m by his supporters to purchase the 2023 Governorship forms.

Atiku Vows To Defeat APC With 11m Votes; Says Ministers No Longer Take Order From Buhari

By
James Orji
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By James Orji

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has mapped out his strategy to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in next year’s presidential election if given the ticket by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The presidential race is gradually reaching a boiling point as many presidential hopefuls in the PDP have now thrown their hats in the ring. But for Atiku, he has already devised a plan to defeat the APC with 11 million votes.

The former Nigerian number two secured more than 11 million votes in the 2019 presidential election, which fell short of defeating the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

But speaking to the PDP National Working Committee in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku who is contesting the presidency for the fourth time said he’s the best among the aspirants to lead the party to victory in 2023.

Apart from him other presidential hopefuls are; Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Bala Muhammed of Bauchi, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state.

Others are Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF amongst, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, amongst others.

Atiku however promised to snatch victory from the ruling party, adding that he deserved to be granted the right of first refusal for the 2023 ticket.

He urged the PDP leadership to allow a level playing field for all aspirants to test their popularity among Nigerians, a veiled response to a recently botched arrangement by some Northern leaders who said they have picked Saraki and Mohammed as the region’s consensus Candidates.

“….I dare say Mr. Chairman, I am the best candidate. Under normal circumstances Mr. Chairman, this is a guy who already has 11 million votes in his kitty. And I think, as a party, you should give me the right of first refusal but we are in a democracy,” Atiku said.

“All that I can urge you to do is to make sure that the way you have started, you also conclude the way you have started by being very fair, very credible, giving every contestant the opportunity to face the electorate.”

He said the country required a Commander-in-Chief who can secure the country from terrorists and other criminals, noting that President Buhari has failed in that direction.  He added that Buhari’s ministers and aides no longer carry out orders from him.

According to him, “About two months ago, I was on a visit to Niger State and I decided to pay a courtesy call to the governor.

“The governor told me, Sir, we have about 12 local governments, which are under the control of bandits. We don’t know how to conduct elections in those local governments. And I went to the President, I said, Mr. President, we need more policemen and the President said how can I give you more policemen when the inspector general of police and the police service commission is in court on who will recruit policemen?’

“I cannot be that kind of President. And that is where we are today. We cannot recruit policemen because the two agencies are in court and we have a president who cannot bring under control his own heads of departments, not even ministers?”

Zenith Bank Expands Market Share, Gross Earnings Grows By 22 Per cent

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

 By Tosin Olatokunbo 

Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31st March 2022, with an impeccable growth of 22 per cent in Gross Earnings from N157.3 billion reported in Q1 2021 to N191.5 billion in Q1 2022.

From the unaudited statement of account presented to the Nigerian Exchange , NGX on Thursday, 28th April 2022, the strong double-digit growth in the topline culminated in an increase in the bottom line, as the Group recorded an 11 per cent Year-on-Year, YoY increase in profit before tax, growing from N61.02 billion in Q1 2021 to N67.99 billion in Q1 2022.

Profit after tax also grew by 10 per cent, from N53.06 billion to N58.19 billion over the same period. The growth in the topline arose from both interest income and non-interest income. Interest income grew by 25 per cent, from N101.12 billion in Q1 2021 to N126.38 billion in Q1 2022, while non-interest income grew by 12 per cent, from N51.20 billion to N57.23 billion.

The growth in interest income and non-interest income arose from the combined effects of an improvement in interest income on loans and advances (as risk assets continue to grow and pricing is gradually improving) and an improvement in non-interest income as the Bank continues to deploy its retail strategy, thereby acquiring more customers and expanding its electronic banking income from the increased volume of transactions across all its channels.

Total assets grew by nine per cent from N9.45 trillion to N10.32 trillion in 2022, mainly driven by growth in customers’ deposits. Customer deposits grew by 12 per cent, from N6.47 trillion in December 2021 to N7.25 trillion in March 2022. Savings account balance, which is solely retail grew by over N68 billion and is a validation of the robust customer acquisition strategy and versatile electronic platforms and digital channels.

Loans and advances also grew by six per cent, from N3.5 trillion in December 2021 to N3.7 trillion in March 2022, boosting the Group’s interest income and displaying the Group’s appetite for high-yielding risk assets creation. This development also helped to boost the net interest margin (NIM), as it improved from 6.0 per cent in March 2021 to 7.3 per cent in the current period, while the capital adequacy ratio improved slightly from 21.1 per cent to 22.1 per cent.

Going into the remainder of 2022, the Group will continue to focus on sustainable growth across all its business segments and deploy technology platforms and digital assets intuitively to serve its various customers’ needs to deliver enhanced returns to its stakeholders.

Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has earned the brand numerous awards, including being voted as Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2021, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020, and Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa 2020 and 2021 by the Ethical Boardroom. Also, the Bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the “2021 Top 1000 World Banks” Ranking by The Banker Magazine and the Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions, BOFI Awards 2020 and 2021.

Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility, SERAS Awards 2021, carting home the awards for “Best Company in Reporting and Transparency”, “Best Company in Infrastructure Development”, “Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment”, and the coveted “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.

 

 

I Did Not Ask Senate To Remove Any Section Of Electoral Act – Buhari Tells Federal High Court

By
Ayodele Oni
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he did not order the Senate to remove the contentious section 84 (12) from the amended Electoral Act 2022.

Contrary to the claims of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit instituted against him and 12 others on the Electoral Act, Buhari said that he only expressed reservations and concerns in respect of the aspect of the Electoral Act.

The President’s position was contained in a counter affidavit filed at the Federal High Court at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

In the joint counter affidavit by Buhari and Malami to debunk PDP’S claims, the AGF explained that Buhari on February 25, 2022  gave proper, full and unconditional assent to the amended Electoral Act.

The counter affidavit by the President and Malami was filed on their authority by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),  Oladipupo Okpeseyi and deposed to by Abimbola Akintola, a legal practitioner.

Buhari and Malami averred that the claims of PDP in the suit against them on the Electoral Act are totally false and replete with gross untruths aimed at misleading the court to give judgment against them.

The counter affidavit read in part “The assent of the 1st defendant (Buhari)  to the Electoral Bill given on February 25, 2022 was proper, full and unconditional.

“The 1st defendant (Buhari)  assented to the Electoral Bill 2022  on February 25 but did not give conditions or directives to the National Assembly in the manner erroneously deposed to by the plaintiff (PDP).

” At no time did the 1st defendant (Buhari) give any directive to the management or leadership of the National Assembly as regards the removal of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022; from the Act.

“Prior to assenting to the Electoral Bill 2022, the 1st defendant (Buhari) merely expressed his observations and concerns about the constraints of section 84 (12)  of the Bill on serving public office holders and political appointees, but gave his assent to avoid further delay as time was of essence.

“That the 1st defendant (Buhari)  merely expressed his views not only to the National Assembly but to the entire nation as regards the inconsistency of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act with other provisions of the Constitution.

“On March 8, 2022, 1st defendant (Buhari) officially wrote Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker to express his concerns about section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act and formally requested for amendment to be effected on the section so as to eliminate area of infraction with the Constitution.

“That I am aware that the National Assembly neither accepted not acted on the opinion or suggestion of Buhari.

“In this instance, 1st and 2nd defendant, (Buhari and Malami) truly and firmly believe that section 84 (12)  of the Electoral Act disenfranchises and discriminates against Nigerians in public service or public office holders who are political appointees and prevent them from engaging in the electoral process in exercise of their inalienable rights in a participatory democracy.

“That Buhari and Malami have never taken it upon themselves to declare section 84 (12)  or any provisions of the Electoral Act unconstitutional as such is beyond their constitutional power.

“Besides, Buhari and Malami claimed that a Federal High Court in Abia State had in March through a judgement by Justice Evelyn Anyadike struck down the section and ordered that it be deleted forthwith for being inconsistent with the Constitution.”

The two defendants said that both the National Assembly and PDP have since appealed the judgment adding that it is only the Court of Appeal that can restore the section into the Electoral Act and not any high court.

Insisting that the PDP suit has become academic and constituted abuse of court process on the strength of the pending Court of Appeal matter, Buhari and Malami asked the court to dismiss the PDP suit.

They argued that PDP should not be allowed to take over the functions of the National Assembly since it has no power to amend or enact law.

Hearing in the suit had been fixed for May 16 by Justice Ekwo.

Senator Oduah Dumps APC, Returns To PDP

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Stella Oduah, representing Anambra North Senatorial District, has officially dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and returned to her former Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Oduah announced her defection from the APC to the PDP, Wednesday, April 28th, 2022, after facing a screening committee at the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP.

The former Aviation Minister successfully underwent the screening exercise, and with her supposed achievements recorded as a Senator under the PDP before cross- carpeting to the APC, her return to the PDP is expected to boost the party’s chances at the polls in 2023.

She dumped the PDP eight months ago, specifically in August 2021.

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