With Two International Appointments in Two Months, Okonjo-Iweala Advocates For Economic Restructuring.

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April 25, 2020

By Uche Mbah
Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, has advocated economic restructuring for Nigeria in the wake of distress in the oil sector. Both the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and World Health Organisation, WHO has recently honored her.
The latest appointment was by the WHO, who has appointed her as Special Envoy overseeing access to COVID-19 tools across the globe. She shares the role with Sir Andrew Witty, a business expert.
“I would especially like to thank Sir Andrew Witty and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala for agreeing to act as the Special Envoys for the ACT Accelerator,” WHO’s DG, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced at the launching on Friday in a teleconference attended by journalists and stakeholders in line with the social distancing occasioned by COVID 19.

“The Act accelerator seems to bring together the combined power of several organizations to work with speed and scale.
“Today, WHO is proud to be uniting with many partners to launch the Acess to Covid-19 Tools (Act) accelerator,” he said.
A month earlier, he was appointed by the IMF as a member of their economic advisory group.
In a recent interview with Channels television, the former World Bank Vice President said African nations must do economic restructuring in the wake of the crash in crude oil prices.
She called on Nigeria to look into the tourism, and creative sectors, among others, to shore up revenue.

“There will be business cycles with commodity prices. What you also need to do is make the economy less dependent on these commodities,” she said.

According to her, learning how to task these sources of revenue should be a long-term plan.

“And that is why in the long term, there should be the restructuring of the economy so that you have other sources that can create revenue,” she said.

Imo Judge’s Sack: PDP Chieftain Says Okorocha Embarrassed The State, Holds Him Responsible

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The Source

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April 25, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

The embarrassing sack, on Friday, of the Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, Hon Justice Francis Abosi, has been reduced to a bitter political issue in the state.

The National Judicial Council, NJC, had, on Friday, after its 91st meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, announced the immediate suspension from office, of Justice Abosi for age falsification. The Judge, the NJC said, falsified his year of birth from 1950 to 1958. The Council, recommended his compulsory retirement to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, asking the Governor to deduct the salaries Abosi earned from 2015, when he ought to have been retired, to date.

Mr Soji Oye, NJC’s Director of Communications, announced Abosi’s fate in a press release.

Not a few Imolites are embarrassed by Abosi’s sack from the Judiciary. A top lawyer in the state told this magazine that Abosi was a good Judge, and added that he couldn’t understand why, and how, he got involved in the mess that got him into trouble.

“Somebody must have written a petition against him. And it must be from within the ranks of Their Lordships,” he offered in a depressing voice.

He regretted that all Justice Abosi’s years in the Judiciary ended this disgracefully.

But individuals in the ruling APC and the main opposition, PDP, are blaming two past Governors for the sad situation.

Problem started when an APC Chieftain, Hon Canice Ezenna, on his Facebook wall, blamed the immediate past Governor of the state, The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, for appointing Abosi to the high profile office of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal. He gave the impression that Ihedioha did not do his homework well, otherwise, he could not have appointed him. He also accused the former Governor of vindictiveness for removing the former office holder, Hon Justice Anwuka, and appointing Abosi. He was, almost, celebrating Abosi’s fall.

But an avalanche of criticisms has followed his post, and especially, his allegation of vindictiveness against ihedioha. The blame is, instead, being laid at the former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The question being asked is: “How was Ihedioha to know about the age falsification if it was not brought to his notice?

What Ihedioha did, it is being explained, was to correct an injustice.

He appointed the most senior Judge – Abosi – to the position. That is the unwritten law in the judiciary. The most senior Judge is appointed as head, unless there is any compelling reason not to do so.

The story is that Okorocha failed to do that. He failed to appoint Abosi, the most senior Judge, to the position. Instead, he appointed Abosi’s junior, Hon. Justice Anwuka, to the office.

Here, not a few people think, was why.

Both Okorocha and Anwuka are in-laws. The former Governor’s daughter is married to Justice Anwuka’s son.

Not a few, especially, in the Judiciary, felt that an injustice was done against Abosi by Okorocha. When Ihedioha took office, therefore, and the injustice was pointed out to him, all he did was to correct it by removing Anwuka, and appointing Abosi to the position.

Replying Hon. Ezenna, a PDP Chieftain, and Lawyer, Barr. GOC Ihejiagwa, asked him to not “politicize this ugly situation which has brought embarrassment to all of us in Imo State irrespective of party affiliation.”

Ihejiagwa explained that: “The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha did not do anything wrong by appointing Justice Abosi Acting President of Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, and could not have known that Hon. Justice Abosi falsified his age and was due to have retired since 2015 going by the findings of NJC.

Driving the point home, he accused Ezenna of being economical with the truth.

He said to Ezenna:

“Contrary to your accusation that Rt. Hon. Emeka was vindictive by removing Hon. Justice Anwuka as Acting President of CCA, it was Rochas ( Okorocha) that caused the mess which Ihedioha only corrected.

“In the Judiciary, we honour seniority very jealously.

“The fact was that when the former President of CCA died, Justice Abosi was the most senior Judge, next in line. But because Prof. Anwuka (Justice Anwuka’s Husband, and former Minister of State, Education) was in the kitchen cabinet of Rochas, Rochas disregarded and abused the age long principle of seniority in the judiciary, and appointed Justice Anwuka the wife of Prof. Anwuka as acting President of CCA.

“Have you asked yourself why did Rochas not confirm Justice Anwuka as the substantive President of CCA despite that she acted for years before Rochas left as Governor?

“Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, upon assumption of office as Governor, merely corrected the anomaly and injustice by appointing Justice Abosi as proper acting President of CCA.

“It is very unfortunate that it turned out that Hon. Justice Abosi had skeleton in his cupboard by falsifying his age, but please don’t politicize against the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who restored sanity to the judiciary after the Rochas Holocaust on the entire judiciary.”

The buck now stops on the table of Governor Uzodinma to, hopefully, appoint the right Judge to the position.

Breaking: Gov. Obaseki’s Chief Of Staff Quits

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April 25, 2020

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By Gideon Njoku

For Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, these are not great times. The political-crisis breather he thought the birth of Coronavirus in Nigeria gave him has been shattered.

For more than one year, he and his former political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo Governor, and now National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have been in a dangerous battle for the soul of the party in the state.

It was so bad that Oshiomhole was suspended from the party. It took a Court judgement and the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari and some party leaders, to save his neck.

The outbreak of COVID-19, suspended the battle between the two former allies.

But now, the Governor is facing an unexpected battle from another front.

He has been hit below the belt.

His Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, has resigned from office. It is not yet known for how long things soured between the two men, but Akerele is alleging sidelining by the Government.

Ordinarily, a Governor’s Chief of Staff should be his closest aide, but it seems different between Obaseki and Akerele. Akerele, it is alleged, was an outsider.

In his resignation letter, dated April 25, 2020, Akerele said: “My decision to exit the Government is based on administrative and governance grounds”

An indigene of Igarra, Akoko-Edo LGA, Obaseki, appointed Akerele his CoS on November 14, 2016.

The Governor’s loss is, definitely, Oshiomhole’s gain. Your enemy’s enemy is your friend, a saying goes.

However, if Obaseki had been sidelining him, as alleged, to him then, Akerele’s resignation would seem like good riddance to bad rubbish.

COVID 19 Palliatives: Oyo Slams FG Over Poisonous Rice

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Bayo Bernard

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April 25, 2020

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By Fola James

On Monday April 20, there was jubilation among the Oyo state government and its people that the state’s share of the 150 trucks of rice the federal government directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to share to all the 36 states and FCT as palliatives to cushion the effects of the corona virus pandemic on the economy, have finally arrived.

Officials of the state government who received the items were: Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agricbusiness, Debo Akande, Commissioners for Agriculture, Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle, Special Duties, Bayo Lawal, Youths and Sports, Seun Fakorede, Women Affairs, and Social Inclusion, Faosat Sanni and Local Government and Chieftancy Matters, Funmilayo Orisadeyi.

But few days after the state got 1,800 bags of rice from the federal government, it has rejected same on the basis that they were expired rice, unfit for consumption.

The Seyi Makinde-led government said it will not distribute expired rice to be consumed by his people.

The 1, 800 bags of rice were among 6,000 bags shared to Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states as palliatives against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While handing the items to the state government, Helen Ngozi, the Area Controller, Oyo and Osun command, said the gesture was in fulfillment of the federal government’s directive to the management of the NCS to send palliatives to all states in the country to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic o.

She said all the 6,000 bags of rice were good for consumption, saying the customs would never mix expired rice with good ones.

“Each of the four states with the exception of Ondo will receive 1,800 bags of parboiled rice, while Ondo will get 600 bags.,”

She stated that Ondo State would get the remaining shortfall of 1,200 bags from Lagos office of the customs.

Governor Seyi Makinde — Makinde: Rejects ‘Bad’ Rice For His People

But it doesn’t seem the state government was swayed by her explanation that the bags of rice are still in good condition.

The committee set up by the state government, on a visit to the warehouse where the items were stored expressed its disaffection, insisting that they had been infested with weevil and were therefore unfit for human consumption.

The Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on Agri- Business Akande said the quality control inspection carried out by the state has failed to satisfy the items for consumption.

It was on this basis that the state government rejected the items, Akande said.

He stated that, “We received these items from the Federal Government via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and we brought them to the warehouse and it was in the process of further inspection that we discovered that almost all the rice has been infested with weevils and some other materials and on that basis we formed a committee to re-inspect it again and so that can be definitely sure of what we have received”.

Akande said the bags f rice are not in good condition and it’s the responsibility of the state government to make sure that its people are in good health.

“We think this is not definitely in the position for consumption for human beings at this point in time and at such the materials cannot be distributed as parts of palliatives within the state.

We don’t want to start providing solution to a problem and then start creating another problem. We have inspected it and done a random selection and we have seen that similar things apply across board.

He appealed to the federal government to replace the items for the benefit of the people of the state.

Meanwhile, the magazine recalls that the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS had severally claimed that many seized bags of rice, kept in the Service’s warehouses have expired and unfit for human consumption.

The Source, however has not confirmed whether the expired ones were donated to Oyo state.

Fourth Mainland Bridge: LASG Picks W/Bank Blacklisted Chinese Firm

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Bayo Bernard

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April 25, 2020

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By Fola James

CCECC Nigeria Limited, a Chinese construction company blacklisted by the World Bank for sharp practices is among other construction firms from the Peoples’ Republic of China that the Lagos State government has shortlisted for the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge.

The state government announced yesterday that 10 construction firms have been picked among companies that indicate interest in the contract, to be built on the Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement.

Apart from the CCECC, others are CGGC-CGC Joint Venture; China Harbour Engineering Company Limited; China State Construction Engineering Corporation Nigeria Limited; IC ICTAS Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. and Ingenieros Consultores, S.A., through Makais Energy.

They also include Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Mota-Engil and CCCC Consortium; Mutual Commitment Company Limited and Power Construction Corporation of China.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu — Sanwo-Olu: His Govt To Construct the Bridge

”Following the issuance of request for qualification to the 32 shortlisted and eligible respondents to the expression of interest, we are pleased to announce that the Lagos State Government has received a total of 10 responses to the request for qualification (the applications) from the applicants,” the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government said yesterday in a statement.

Some of the companies will later qualify for the selection and bidding process, the government said.

Recall that CCECC and other five Chinese firms were in August 2019 barred by the World Bank from handling any of its project.

The companies were described as corrupt after violating the bank’s fraud and corruption policy.

The Bank, consequently, debarred and declared the firms ineligible to be awarded any World Bank-financed contracts for at least a year, between June 4, 2019 and March 3, 2020.

The CCECC is one of the many Chinese construction companies that have been awarded choice, multi-billion naira contracts by many state governments, including Lagos and federal government.

The contracts span railway and road construction across the country.

The companies have been trenchantly criticized for bribing government officials to get such contracts.

In some cases, they have performed shoddy jobs, while some contracts awarded to them have been abandoned midway to the projects.

Premium Times had in a 2018 report, detailed how CCECC was enmeshed in a scholarship award scam alongside some senior government officials, including ministers

Some government officials involved in the scam were the then Minister of State for Education, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Jigawa State Governor, Minister of Transportation, and the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidential Villa.

Ebonyi Media Ban: NGIJ Demands Comprehensive Investigation By NUJ, NGE of Gov. Umahi’s Allegation

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The Source

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April 25, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, has weighed-in on the face-off between journalists and Ebonyi State government, urging stakeholders to intervene and resolve the brewing crisis, from further escalation.

Governor Dave Umahi had in an unprecedented action, banned two Journalists from two media houses, The Sun and the Vanguard, for life, from entering the Government House and all government facilities in the state. His action was greeted by stinging response from both the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE.

But lsrael Bolaji, NGIJ’s Vice President, Information& Strategy, in a statement, said the Guild specifically calls NUJ, the NGE and other media stakeholders in the country to investigate allegations of deliberate peddling of falsehood and creation of public panic levelled against Ebonyi State correspondents of The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, by the State governor, with a view to resolving the imbroglio.

Following the arrest and release of both journalists in separate instances within a week, Ebonyi State governor, had on Wednesday banned the two correspondents, from entering Government house and Government facilities in the State for life during a statewide live broadcast aired on the State’s Television and Radio stations.

The governor who expressed disappointment in the state NUJ officials also warned: ‘Ebonyi people are very angry with the press and let me warn that I won’t be able to control them or know when they unleash mayhem on you if you continue to write to create panic in the State.’

The NGIJ counselled that, ‘As much as the indisputable role of Journalists as partners and critical stakeholders in nation-building is sacrosanct, the profession upholds the highest level of ethics and standards and expects every practitioner to be responsible.’

“As far as we are concerned, journalists must be free to carry out their duty without any fear or hindrance anywhere within the nation. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as many other international Charters, guarantee that.

“The State government needs the media to continue to act as a watchdog and sensitise the public; that must be continuously done with the highest level of integrity, professionalism and fairness.

“However, if established, the persistent publication of falsehood, inaccuracies and misleading information amounts to libel, which is criminal and totally frowned upon by the NGIJ. Such has no place in professional journalism.”

The assertion by the governor to the effect of “Withdrawing the allowance of the leadership of the NUJ in his state for failure to call the boys to order” is of great ethical concern and must be investigated, the NGIF said.

Also, the NGIJ noted, with great concern, the “peace meeting” between the Ebonyi Correspondents Chapel and the State Commissioner for Information, where the NUJ pledged ” developmental Journalism”. The Guild is of the opinion that the meeting should not have been facilitated without the leadership of the National NUJ and the NGE.

“We call on our highly respected veterans and officials of the media bodies to establish the underlying issues, resolve amicably and assure that Ebonyi State, and indeed, the entire nation, remains safe for all journalists to contribute their quota to national development”, the statement concluded.

Why I Quit The Super Eagles – Vincent Enyeama

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The Source

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April 25, 2020

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…Says He Has Forgiven Sunday Oliseh

…Rejected Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs offer

By Akinwale Kasali

After five years of parting ways with National team, the Super Eagles, the nation’s Safe Hand in between the poles, Vincent Enyeama, has finally opened up on the main reasons he quit.

When the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, parted ways with Super Eagles Coach, Late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, after the team’s failure to defend its 2013 African Cup of Nations triumph in South Africa, having been booted out in the Qualification series for 2015 AFCON tournament in Equaitorial Guinea, Keshi was sacked.

His sack paved the way for former Super Eagles Captain, Sunday Oliseh, to come on board as the new gaffer.

Oliseh’s first outing for the Super Eagles as Coach was an away 2017 AFCON qualification match against Southern African country, Tanzania in Dares Salam, during which he gave call-ups to Izunna Ugochukwu, Carl Ikeme, Moses Simon, Dele Alampasu recalling Haruna Lukman and the likes.

Enyeama wasn’t called, with Oliseh claiming Enyeama’s time was gradually coming to an end.

He collected the Captain armsband from Enyeama to Ahmed Musa, to the disappointment of Enyeama who queried such action.

There was a face-off between Enyeama and Oliseh in Belgium during the friendly matches between Cote d’ Ivoire and Cameroon, over certain decisions of Coach Oliseh, which was targeted at ridiculing Enyeama, with the NFF interfering.

But, that was the last straw that broke the Camel’s back, as Enyeama announced his retirement from International Football, having recorded over 100 Caps for the Super Eagles.

Enyeama has, however, said that he has ‘nothing’ against former coach Oliseh despite the row which led to his exit from the Super Eagles.

The stripping of former Lille goalie of his Captain’s armband by Oliseh after he took charge, to Ahmed Musa, really got the 2013 AFCON winning goalkeeper annoyed, intimidated and disappointed.

The decision abruptly ended the international career spanning 13 years.

“I have nothing against Oliseh. What happened in the past is in the past,” Enyeama told Super Eagles media in a live Instagram chat.

Enyeama disclosed that he rejected offers from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur because he was seeking regular playing time.

According to Enyeama, both Premier League clubs wanted him as a second choice goalkeeper.

The 37-year-old said he was keen on having regular playing time, and his snub made Arsenal to sign goalkeeper, David Ospina, who joined Napoli permanently last year after impressing on loan.

“Arsenal wanted me as a second choice, but I was not interested,” Enyeama told ESPN.

“I also had an offer from Tottenham Hotspur that wanted me as a second choice, and I was not interested.

“It was after the 2006 AFCON and then again around the 2014 FIFA World Cup. When I turned them down, Arsenal now went on to sign David Ospina.

“For me, I was at the stage where I preferred playing even if it was for one of the smallest clubs.

“That’s what the agents that were involved told me, that Arsene Wenger wanted me at Arsenal, but he is not so sure because of my height and things like that.

“People have their choices, and I respect their choices,” he said.

Covid-19 Vaccine Will Be Ready In Two Years, Says Bill Gates

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Uche Mbah

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April 25, 2020

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By Uche Mbah
The philanthropic founder and former boss of Microsoft Incorporated, William Gates, has said that his much-publicised vaccine is expected to be ready within the next two years at the latest, favouring eighteen months as the possible time for it to be ready.
There have been serious controversies over the vaccine for COVID 19 as planned by Gates and associates, with many fearing that it is meant for population control instead of prevention of disease.
In general terms, it takes about five years to get a universally accepted vaccine. There are many stages, which includes the isolation of causative agents, finding what works, testing on lower animals, moving on to mammals and finally being tested on humans. This takes an average of five years.
Speaking on MBC show Friday, Gates expressed hope of an earlier readiness.
“Because of all the incredibly negative effects, the sooner the better”, he said.

“The best scientists [are] working hard on this.

“In fact, in the last few weeks, I’ve seen signs that we may get to the optimistic side of that time projection”.
“I wish it had come, you know, five or 10 years later, then governments might have done the preparation to move quickly as a few governments did,” Gates said.

“Many countries decided that at the national level, they would orchestrate the testing” for the virus, he said.

“That hasn’t happened in the United States. It might not happen. But, you know, the access to tests is just, you know, chaotic.”
Gates has predicted the coming of the virus since 2015, a situation that aroused the curiosity of conspiracy theorists who believe he must have insider information of a lab-produced virus.
There have been heated debates on social media about the motive behind the vaccine, particularly when it is said to be tied to the implantation of microchips on peoples right hand. Gates have been said to be obsessed with overpopulation in the world, and desperately wants fewer people on earth.

Imo: NJC Sacks Ag. President, Court Of Appeal

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The Source

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April 24, 2020

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By Gideon Njoku

Imo State has lost its Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Francis Abosi, to age falsification.

The National Judicial Council, NJC, at its 91st meeting, held in Wednesday and Thursday, ordered his immediate suspension from office.

He was found guilty of falsifying the year of his birth from 1950 to 1958. The falsification of ones year of birth, an offence common in Nigeria, is taken very seriously by the Judiciary.

Announcing the decision to sack Justice Abosi, Mr Soji Oye, NJC’s Director of Communications, said in suspending him, the NJC not only asked Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to compulsorily retire him, but to also deduct the salaries he had earned since 2015, the rightful year of his retirement. Meaning: Justice Abosi would refund about right years in salaries earned.

Said Oye in the statement: “Findings showed that he was to have retired in 2015 when he clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

“Council decided to recommend for his compulsory retirement to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, and to also deduct the salaries he had earned from November 2015 to date from his retirement benefit.”

To also lose his job is Hon Justice Aliyu Musa Liman of the Bauchi High Court for misconduct.

The NJC said Liman failed to deliver judgement, for four years, in suit No BA/100/2010, between Abubakar Isa and Sheik Tahir Usman Bauchi, within the law stipulated time of three months.

The NJC, therefore, asked Governor Bala Mohammed to retire him compulsorily.

The meeting of the Council held online and was chaired by the Chief Justice of Federation, Hon. Justice Mohammad Tanko.

Fani-Kayode Slams ECOWAS On Buhari’s Appointment

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The Source

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April 24, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Minister for Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has taken a swipe on Presidents and Heads of State of West African countries under the aegis of ECOWAS for appointing Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari as the champion of COVID-19 Response in the sub-region.

In faulting the appointment, Fani-Kayode said it was one of the greatest mistakes made by the ECOWAS Presidents.

ECOWAS leaders had, on Thursday, appointed Buhari Champion of the COVID-19 Response at an extraordinary summit held by video conferencing.

The ECOWAS leaders, during the conference, commended Nigeria’s approach to fighting the coronavirus disease.

According to the leaders, other Presidents would be available to support President Buhari in the fight against the virus.

But Fani-Kayode said appointing President Buhari, who could barely manage himself, as the Champion of COVID-19 response, was a great mistake.

On his official Twitter handle, he tweeted: “The greatest mistake that the ECOWAS leaders have made is to appoint @MBuhari as the leader of the fight against Covid 19. This is a cataclysmic error which they will deeply regret. He can barely manage himself & now you ask him to manage a sub-region of 400 million people?