The hope of Nigerians, mostly Africans is presently dangling like a pendulum, and could be dashed following the statement of President Donald Trump of the United State of America, who said that been born in the US no longer qualifies one as a citizen.
It has become a norm and culture for a rich and average Nigerian, who prefer to give birth in US, for their kids to automatcially become citizens of ‘God’s Own Country’, as the US is called.
Trump plans to abolish the right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States — guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution — with an executive order.
While Trump asserts that he can change the provision with such an order, that is far from certain: there is a set process for modifying the constitution, which does not include presidential decree.
“I was always told that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” Trump said in an interview with Axios. “Now they’re saying I can do it just with an executive order.”
“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby and the person is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous and it has to end,” he said.
Trump said he had spoken to legal counsel about it and that the change is in the works.
“It’s in the process, it’ll happen — with an executive order.”
Prominent Nigerians are trooping to Atiku’s Dubai office for consultations and political jobbing with the hope of positioning themselves for the post-2019 presidental election appointments. Others are party leaders who are there on consultations on the modalities ogf the 2019 prsidential eletions.Many are using the opportunities of the lesser Hajj for political meetings also in Saudi Arabia. This magazine gathered that leading figures of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have converted the office of Atiku into the new Mecca. Besides, aggrieved party, ethnic and religious groups are trooping to Dubai to get the ear of the one that many believe will eventually unseat the incumbent Muammadu Buhari.
It will be recalled that shortly after the 2015 elections, Atiku left for Dubai where he had acquired an office, fuelling speculations that he was there to upstage the newly sworn in President Buhari. But Atiku denied the allegation, insisting he was there for medical treatment, citing physiotherapy for a knee injury as the reason.
This time, he has stayed more in his Dubai Office than he has stayed in Nigeria. Shortly after his emerging the PDP flagbearer, he left for Dubai, and since then has been shuttling between Nigeria and Dubai.
Latest among his visitors are former Niger Delta Warlord, Government Ekpemukpolo, also known as Tompolo, who was there to bridge the long-lasting rivalry between him and the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex Agiators, NCNDEA, Esghanekpe Isreal, also known as Akpodoro. Akpodoro was said to have been close to President Mohammadu Buhari, and was a point man for the presidency on Militancy affairs. With the meeting of both parties in Dubai, Atiku appeared to have reconciled them into unity of purpose in his bid to make serious political inroute in the Niger Delta. Prior to this, there has been an elaborate meeting at Ughelli, Delta state to deliberate on the political interests of the zone.
Besides this, a select group of Igbo leaders are said to have also headed for Dubai on the thorny issue of Atiku’s term limit. Many were made to understand that Atiku has decided to do a single term, after which he will hand over to the South east. That seemed to be the position until he became the PDP flag bearer, and, according to sources, he has been silent on the issue. They are also expected to present the issue of Ike Ekwermmadu, who, was said to have been worried that with the Obi Vice presidency, the possibility of Deputy Senate Presidency in the incoming adfministration is at best slim, though calls from the party Chairman, Uche Secondus apeeared to have calmed him.
His alleged meetings with the presidency has rattled his supporters and sent conspiracy theorists into overdrive. The Igbo leaders are expected to also discuss the sudden reappearance of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Biafran Separatist movement. Kanu has reappeared in the scene spitting fire and brimstone, claiming that the Isreali secret service helped him to escape. Aparantly chided by Isreali Government, he changed his story in subsequent broadcast saying his famlly smuggled him out of his house during operation Python Dance when, Acording to him, the Nigerian Military came to kill him.But the most serious issue is Kanu’s Claim that the current president is an impostor from Sudan, and that the PDP flag bearer is aware . This, according to those in the know, needed to be watered down for Atiku, and a unified reaction taken by both the party and the region. It will be recalled that Peter Obi, a former Governor and PDP Vice presidential Candidate, is said to be sympathetic to the cause of the Indegenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, though he is said to be uncomfortable with Nnamdi Kanu methodology.
Atiku is also using the Dubai Office to reach out to foreign dignitories. Representative of the Emirate Family were said to have visited him in Dubai in growing international recognition and solidarity.Only recently, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Wellby, visited him in Abuja. The Archbishop was said to have been a longstanding Buhari ally, who usually visits him whenever he finds himself in London.
There has been global predictions that the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari is on its last lap. The most recent salvo has ben from the Economist Magazine, arguably the voice of the shadow government of the world. It is said to be the mouth piece of he European Union, and that it usually encapsulated the official position of the Union.
The Atiku Campaign Apparatus is said to be in top gear waitng for the November deadline for Campaigns to begin.
Monday, October 29, 2018, Lagosians are seen stranded at the bus stops waiting for vehicles to take them to their destinations. Unfortunately, most of these vehicles are off the roads. Reason? The Lagos State government has, again, embarked on sanitising Lagos roads, a decision that has become a yearly ritual. This is because the lawless traffic situation returns no sooner the operation ends. Will this year’s own which kick-starts today be any different? Will it mark the beginning of a new sanitised Lagos traffic system?
The Lagos State Police Command has started a joint operation tagged “ Operation Velvet/Operation Restore Sanity on Lagos Roads with other agencies to tackle gridlock and restore sanity on roads in the state.
While addressing stakeholders in Ikeja, the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Edgal Imohimi, said lawlessness of some motorists, among other factors, propelled the command to make the move to restore orderliness.
According to him: “The impunity with which the Lagos State Road Traffic Law is being disobeyed in the state should concern every Lagosian because there is nowhere in the world that lawlessness is allowed.
“The Lagos traffic law must be obeyed; those who engage in commercial driving without the required documents, those who drive against traffic, those that use dedicated BRT lanes and other illegal activities will no longer be allowed to go scot-free.
“The operation will commence on Monday, October 29, and end on Saturday, November 3, 2018.”
The CP urged stakeholders and transport unions to ensure strict compliance to the state traffic law, stating that a mobile court has been attached to each team comprising operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for quick dispensation of justice. He added that enforcement would commence at 6am and end 6pm daily.
The Magazine’s findings reveal that Lagosians are rather unperturbed on the annual sanitisation which has not solved the dreaded Lagos traffic problem.
To Olaniyi Okeowo, a commercial bus driver: “ I don’t see anything new in what they want to do to really deal with this hell of a traffic situation in the state. Unless they have added ‘Hypo’ to the ‘Izal’ and ‘Dettol’ they have been using, the result will still be short-lived.
“ Will the policemen to enforce the laws to tame the lawlessness on Lagos roads be different from the ones that have encouraged it in the past? Will officers of those other agencies-LASTMA, FRSC, NSDC be the same? If so, I can only say God Dey.”
Kelvin Okure, an Importer sees it as a means of punishing some helpless Nigerians. “ If they want to sanitise Lagos roads, why not do something worthy about the Oshodi-Apapa gridlock of hell.
“ Are the commercial bus drivers the only culprits? What about the traffic officers, some of who own the buses, and who encourage their lawlessness? What about the tanker drivers and their untouchable owners? I hope somebody does not just want to score cheap political point?,” he asked.
Okeowo regretted that this is another way of raising short term fund for government because many vehicles will be impounded, and some innocent victims will as usual be extorted of their money or be jailed.
In the recent past, the state incorporated about six thousand spy police into its traffic management team to ease the traffic situation and make Lagosians spend less time in traffic.
According to Imohimi: “The importance of the supernumerary police called ‘spy police’ is to take care of the shortfall of manpower in the police and also assist in security at private organisations.
“ I felt we are not using the spy police optimally. Yes they are doing well at their various organisations but at this trying time, they will be integrated into the traffic management structure of the state.
“First of all, I intend to partner with you for integrated traffic control in the state.
“Though, we have the police traffic officers and the state controlled traffic officers but you will agree with me that Lagos is expanding so there is need for more hands.
“I want a state where we hardly have traffic issues and cases of people disobeying traffic laws.
“I will rather use the spy trained by the police than allow quasi agents take over traffic management in the state, especially on weekends when there are activities.
“I have directed that the 6,000 spy policemen be integrated into the traffic architecture because they cover the length and breadth of the state.” he said.
With the situation of things, Okeowo added that it was a failure because it was not able to spy the root causes of the state hellish gridlock to resolve it. “ Only time will tell if this one will impact on Lagos,” he added.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, says that 6,000 spy police will be incorporated into traffic management in the state.
Imohimi said this while addressing the spy police at the Police Training School, Ikeja, on Saturday.
He noted that he wanted a state where members of the public would spend less time in traffic.
He said that the spy police had not been optimally utilized as he intended to incorporate them into the integrated traffic management of the state to take care of the shortfall of manpower in the police.
“The importance of the supernumerary police called ‘spy police’ is to take care of the shortfall of manpower in the police and also assist in security at private organisations.
“ I felt we are not using the spy police optimally. Yes they are doing well at their various organisations but at this trying time, they will be integrated into the traffic management structure of the state.
“First of all, I intend to partner with you for integrated traffic control in the state.
“Though, we have the police traffic officers and the state controlled traffic officers but you will agree with me that Lagos is expanding so there is need for more hands.
“I want a state where we hardly have traffic issues and cases of people disobeying traffic laws.
“I will rather use the spy trained by the police than allow quasi agents take over traffic management in the state, especially on weekends when there are activities.
“I have directed that the 6,000 spy policemen be integrated into the traffic architecture because they cover the length and breadth of the state.” he said.
The CP further enjoined members of the public to give the spy police the needed support in carrying out their duties.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) have threatened to resume strike action on November 6, if the Federal Government fails to heed the demands of Nigerian workers for increase in minimum wage. According to the trio of NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama; and ULC President, Joe Ajaero, the unions decried the Federal Government’s decision to implement a ‘no work, no pay’ policy. The organised labour had insisted that the Federal Government should rather implement a ‘no pay, no work’ policy just as it would criminalise the non-payment of salaries by employers.
No doubt, the essence of national minimum wage is to protect the right of the worker to earn a decent standard of living and also a means of promoting fair distribution of income and wealth. The minimum wage is usually adjusted through a continuous process of comparing the purchasing power of minimum wages in relation to different baskets and across the regions within the fiscal regime.
It would be recalled that in September, NLC declared a nationwide strike over the stalled process of providing a new national minimum wage, but the strike was hurriedly suspended after a few days because an agreement was reached to resume negotiations by reconvening the tripartite committee set up to find a lasting solution to the problem. The 30-member tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee was set up by the Federal Government, to negotiate a new wage for workers by reviewing the current one and recommending another that takes care of the current conditions of living in the country.
Unfortunately, the Federal Government could not get the nod of state governors to present a proposal for an acceptable minimum wage to the committee, leading to the lock-jam. Workers had initially demanded for N56,000 as the new minimum wage, now reduced to N30,000 while the Federal Government and state governments are offering N24,000 and N20,000, respectively. State governors are insisting that they should be allowed to set their own minimum wage, as many of the states were hardly able to pay the subsisting one. Labour unions are saddened that state governors could work against the N30,000 minimum wage while still expecting workers to vote for them under the current political dispensation.
The process of implementing a new national minimum wage had always become problematic in the country over the years. In other climes, national minimum wages are fixed alongside those set by subnational governments. The assumption is that because of the peculiarities of federating states, there is likely to be minimum wage differentials across regions. This is in tandem with the line of arguments of the governors that seem to be critical of the payment of the new wage. Should workers bear the brunt of this failure to reconcile positions?
In Nigeria, the series of criticisms and objections had made wage adjustments and minimum wages discourse to be politicised. The truth is that many workers are of the opinion that labour agitations in Nigeria have been heavily politicised to the extent that union leadership appeared to have lost direction and are only interested in getting undue attention, cutting corners and short-changing the system for their personal gains. It is for these reasons that labour leaders at times get serious knocks from their members for allegedly being unfaithful. Cabinet ministers and government officials overseeing labour matters in the country have equally been accused of taking sides and compounding the problem.
The issue of new wage negotiations would have been over by now, if government had been consistent while our labour leaders are tactical and focused like some of their predecessors of old that sacrificed their personnel comfort and interests in their campaign for get better package for workers. To put an end to the persistent unrest, the Federal Government should stop foot-dragging and playing antics that would further delay the implementation of a new wage regime for the many starved Nigerian workers.
Come to think of it; can N18,000 adequately feed, clothe and cater for an adult working in our country today? The answer is simply ‘no’. The devaluation of the Naira, increase in the price of petroleum products and inflation have rendered the income of an average worker useless. Many workers in the country are perpetual debtors because of their weak purchasing power. They often rely on loans to get basic needs for themselves that should ordinarily be provided for by the state. That is why many of them are not financially stable. Many of them are just working; they have nothing to show for it because of the bad shape of the economy. To make government perform its constitutional duties to the citizens, a number of fiscal rejuvenation initiatives have to be embraced almost immediately.
To begin with, the pattern of public expenditure that is not prudent and wasteful should be jettisoned. They include misplaced priorities and white-elephant projects that have no direct impact and bearing on the people. Many states across the federation are guilty of this, as they continue to embark on borrowing spree. Not only that, many workers are being retrenched in the face of the harsh economy and pervading acute unemployment in the land. There is need for more pragmatism in our disposition to public finance. Nigeria is a blessed country such that with adequate planning and fiscal discipline, it should be able to comfortable stand tall among leading industrial giants.
Federal, state and local governments should look inward and realistically manage their bureaucracies for better service delivery without increasing costs. They should undertake radical reforms hinged on public expenditure template such that elected officials and political appointees would no longer live big at public expense bearing in mind that we all go to the same market. Public funds should be allocated and spent on social services and critical infrastructure while leaving business ventures to the private capital in the form of public-private partnership. Senior citizens and pensioners should be accorded great priority by paying their entitlements on a regular basis. More focus should be placed on reducing public debt, overhauling the taxation system to make taxes the main source of public revenues and getting more informal sector operators to pay correct taxes by dragging them into the tax net. More importantly, the labour minister should be unbiased, perform his duties objectively and stop fuelling the impasse.
Standard practice in federal systems supports minimum wage legislation by the different tiers, though none should be lower than the federal rate. Nigeria could adopt what is obtained in other developed countries by separating minimum wage from general salary review and allow federating states to set their own pay based on capacities and capabilities. As an enlarged meeting of stakeholders holds on the matter, the nation cannot afford to witness another strike at this crucial time when the nation is still battling with ripple effects of economic recession. Therefore, the government should urgently do the needful by engaging the workers in sincere dialogue and negotiation that would pave way for the actual implementation of a living new minimum wage for our workers.
Tony Anenih, a former minister of works under President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, of the People’s Democratic party, PDP, may have had a premonition of his death on his 85th birthday celebration at Abuja on Saturday, August 4, 2018. This is evident going by the way he spoke to dignitaries on the occasion.
Anenih had complained about his degenerating health, stressing that the 85th birthday celebration became necessary because” his health and current state of mind” caused by the death of his first wife, Patricia and his son, Eugene Anenih, who incidentally was the Chief Executive Officer,, of Nova Finance and Securities Ltd, one of the Companies in the NOVA group, in” quick succession”.
Signs for his death started about two weeks ago, when the former minister was said to have sustained injury why taking his bath. He was said to have been rushed to the prestigeous Ceda Crest Hospital at Abuja, because of the injury and shock for treatment. The family may not haveconsidered it a major injury to fly him abroad for proper medication. He never survived it in the Abuja Hospital as he died on Sunday, October 28, 2018.The Independent Newspaper, which broke the News was said to have linked the source of their story to Akin , one of his sons.
Prior to his death, he was said to have survived an eight hour heart surgery which was carried out in a United Kingdom, UK, Hospital, in 2016. There were rumours then that he had died but that was how far the rumour mongers could go as he emerged stronger and healthy.
Many believe that the Edo state born politician, who retired from active politics about two years ago lived a fulfilled life. He started his professional career as a police officer, in 1951 and rose through the ladder to the enviable rank of Commissioner of Police before his retirement in 1980.
His interest in politics may have started when he served as a police Orderly to Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first Governor General and the then leader of the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun, NCNC, between October 1st, 1960 and 1966. He may have parted way with the” great Zik of Africa”, who was the leader of the then defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, as he pitched tent with the then President Shehu Sagari led National Party of Nigeria, NPN.
He was elected the old Bendel state Chairman of the party in the state, a position he held between 1981 and 1983. within the short period, he served as the party Chairman in the state, he facilitated the election of Samuel Ogbemudia, as the elected governor of the state in 1983. He was ,however, forced to quit the position on December31, 1983, following the military Coup that brought the then Major Genera l Muhammadu Buhari, and who incidentally is the country’s current President, elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in 2015. His phenomenal rise in politics saw him as the National Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, from 1992 and 1993, and assisted in the election of late M.K.O. Abiola as the country’s elected President, which was annulled by the then military President ,Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, a retired Army General.
The return of the country into Democratic governance in 1999, saw Anenih playing a key role in the new political dispensation. He was amember of the Late Musa Yar’Adua, sponsored People’s Democratic movement, PDM, which was inherited by Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President and now Presidential Candidate of the PDP. He was said to have transferred to the PDP, like other big wigs of the party , on the advice of Atiku, who had already defected by virtue of being a serving Vice President in a PDP government. The Edo state born politician, regarded in political circles, as ”Mr. Fix it”. was said to have master minded the April 26, 2002, declaration of Obasanjo at the International Conference center, as the Presidential Candidate of the party against the more popular Candidate, late Alex EEkwueme, and who incidentally was a former Vice President in the second Republic and a founding member of the Party.
It would be recalled that the former police Commissioner, turned politician, was said to have served as the deputy national coordinator of the Olusegun Obasanjo Campaign Organisation in the 1999 and 2003 elections. He made Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, a safe region for Obasanjo . He was said to have single handedly installed two PDP governors in the state.
It is not surprising why his death is mourned across the political divide in the country. Buhari, who had commiserated with the Edo state government and the PDP, in general, on the passing of their illustrious son and former Chairman of the party BOT, described him ”asa frontline figure in the annals of Nigeria political history”. The President noted that ” across the political spectrum of the country, Chief Anenih was known for his strong views on issues pertaining to the unity and stability of the nation”. He prayed ”Almighty God to grant his Soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn the Octogenarian”. femi Adesina, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Madia and Publicity said that much in a Statement.
Bukola Sarki, the Senate President said the late PDP Chieftain would be ”dearly missed”. In a Statement, Saraki described the late Anenih ”as a consummate leader and Statesman who played several defining roles throughout Nigeria’s Democracy”, noting that” he will be remembered for his great patriotism and insight into national issues”.
Uche Secondus, National Chairman, of the PDP, said the late Anenih ”lived a fulfilled life”’. In a voice laden with emotion, Secondus regretted that his death had robbed the party and the nation ”another experienced man whose love for the country was beyond description”. The nation will miss the politician, he said. He disclosed that the” party would immortalise him” but how soon that would be remain to be seen.
Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the National leader of the APC, who could not hide his feelings over the late Anenih, described him as a ”leader who was absolutely committed to the unity and cohesion of the country”. The APC National leader disclosed that the late politician worked for the upliftment of Uromi, his home town and Edo state, as he worked for the ”growth and development of Nigeria”. ”He gave so much to party politics and Democracy in the country”, Tinubu said.
Iyon Josephine Anenih, a Lawyer and a widow of the late politician was full of tears as she could not talk to Journalists.
Big lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has continued to keep its word with shareholders and over four million customers across Nigeria by remaining strong and profitable ahead of competitors.
The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs friendly bank posted an impressive financial performance for the 3rd Quarter of the year.
The bank, analysts insist is now on course of finishing strong in the 2018 financial year.
According to the 9-months results for the period ended September 30, 2018, released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the Nnamdi Okonkwo led new generation bank showed a double-digit growth in revenues and profitability.
Further details from NSE indicate Gross Earnings grew by 6.9% to N139.0 billion from N130.1 billion reported in the same period in 2017, while profit-before-tax soared by 23.6% from N16.2 billion to N20.1 billion.
Other indices show impressive performance as total assets grew by 21.9 % to N1,680.8 billion from N1,379.2 billion in the same period last year.
Total deposits; a measure of customer confidence, increased by 27.3 % to close at N986.8 billion from N775.3 billion in 2017.
The managing Director of the bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo said his management employed deliberate for positive results.
“We are delighted with our 9 months financial performance with the continuing execution of our medium-term strategy which has further yielded positive results, leading to impressive growth across key performance indices including profitability, total deposits and balance sheet size etc, Okonkwo said”
He explained further that the bank has continued to grow its market share driven by significant traction in its chosen business segments such as Corporate, Commercial, SME and digitally led Retail Banking.
“Gross earnings increased y-o-y by 6.9 per cent to close at N139.0 billion primarily driven by the growth in earning assets by 19.2 per cent which led to a 9.1 per cent increase in interest income to N120.4 billion”, he said.
The management said the competitive edge the bank enjoys was made possible by huge investments in customer friendly digital products.
This has paid off considering that savings deposits increased by 12.9 per cent to N201.7 billion, leading to double-digit savings growth for the fifth consecutive year, while low cost deposits, now account for 73.6 per cent of total deposits.
Within this period also, the digital banking push has resulted in over 40 percent customers’ enrollment on the mobile/internet banking products including over 80 percent of total transactions on digital platforms.
The Bank’s expenses grew by 6.5 per cent to N50.6 billion due to increased technology investment and higher AMCON Charges, while cost to income ratio remained relatively stable at 68.4 per cent compared to 67.5 per cent in the 2017FY.
Non-performing Loans (NPLs) Ratio improved to 6.0 per cent from 6.4 percent in the 2017FY despite a 3.4 per cent growth in the absolute NPL numbers with the NPL coverage ratio at 109.9 percent.
Other regulatory ratios remained above the required thresholds with Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 17.0 per cent and Liquidity Ratio at 38.3 per cent, the bank said.
As part of effort to provide a seamless service to its teaming customers across Nigeria, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, leading financial service provider, has opened a new branch in Nassarawa state.
The new ultra-modern branch, according to the Adam Nuhu led bank is convenience and comfort in one piece and will service customers around Mararaba-Karu, a satellite settlement town in Nasarawa State, Abuja environs and Nyanya.
Apart from the experienced financial experts at the branch, it is equipped with unique physical and technological infrastructures that will ensure convenient transactions and sundry financial service delivery to customers in a relaxed environment, the bank said.
The branch was commissioned at an impressive ceremony on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. This brings to three the number of FCMB branches in the state. The lender now has 205 branches spread across the country.
According to the management of the bank, the development is in line with FCMB’s strategic expansion approach and commitment towards bringing banking services directly to the door steps of its existing and potential customers.
While commissioning the new branch, the managing director of FCMB, Adam Nuru said, ‘’this is due to the importance of this area, not just as a residential hub, but as a major gateway to other strategic places in Nasarawa state.
Though, most of our customers prefer to carry out transactions from wherever they are, using our alternate channels such as FCMBMobile, FCMBOnline, USSD code and ATMs spread widely across Nigeria, some customers still prefer human interaction when banking.
This additional customer touch point will further boost our commitment in providing customers with simple, helpful and reliable banking services, in a conducive and convenient environment’’.
Also speaking, the Divisional Head, Service Management & Technology, Oluwakayode Adigun, re-iterated the Bank’s commitment to strategically grow its network to meet the individual and business aspirations of its growing customer base across segments.
He disclosed that, “the new Karu branch, just like other branches of FCMB across Nigeria, brings with it something special in terms of structure, aesthetics and above all, the excellent customer experience to be provided by our excellent team of professionals. While we strategically pursue our digital agenda as a forward looking financial services operator, we will continue to support the financial inclusion vision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN where every customer is adequately served on any channel in which such services are provided to meet their respective lifestyles and needs’’.
The deputy governor of the state, Silas Agara, had earlier commended FCMB for its commitment to national development by providing support to the private and public sectors. According to him, “we are excited that FCMB has expanded its footprint in Nasarawa State and confident that this will go a long way to boost economic activities in our state.. With the opening of a branch in Karu town, the relationship will be taken to greater heights. On our part, we will support the Bank as much as we can”.
FCMB’s robust suite of financial solutions and award-winning service culture has continued to enhance its status as a leader in the Nigerian banking industry, the management said.
The bank has recently bagged some laurels including the Excellence in Retail Banking award, 3rd most customer-focused bank in retail banking by KPMG, a leading international rating firm, in the 2018 Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey, BICSS.
Nigeria may lose the contributions of one of its celebrated Senators when a new National Assembly wil be, all things being equal, inaugurated in June 2019.
Senator Shehu Sani, Kaduna Central, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Pint-sized, but lion-hearted, Sani is, without a doubt, one of the most courageous and effective Senators in the current NASS. He does not suffer fools gladly. He has the right words for every situation. He is not one of the deaf and dumb Senators. He is not one of the absentee Senators. He is not one of the bench-warmers. He is not one of those who sleep through debates and discussions. He is a robust participant. His criticisms cut across partisan lines. He does no cover-ups. If there is any Senator whose carriage and contributions to National issues compare, almost, to what we watch Senators do in the United States of America, USA, then it is Senator Shehu Sani. He is not only charismatic, he has the language, and he speaks truth to power. It was the Shehu-Sani led Senate panel which saw the powerful former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal, out of office. And it was Shehu Sani who told us that the Federal Government uses deodorant on their political friends and insecticide on their political enemies when both commit the same offence. Sani has a way of playing with words. But it is this courageous Senator that we are likely to lose come 2019.
Like many Nigerians, I knew Shehu Sani long before I met him physically. A well known civil rights activist, his reputation goes before his name, and speaks for him. So, I have been a long time admirer of the Senator. My admiration of him doubled during the Sani Abacha regime when he was, like many innocent Nigerians, sent to jail. But I met him physically for the first time in 2008.
Senator Sanni Shehu.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had nominated both of us, and five others, to the Board of the Police Service Commission, PSC. Led by the no-nonsense DIG (rtd) Parry Osayande, who was nominated as the Chairman, we had appeared before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs for screening, Its Chairman, then, was the suave Senator David Mark. The committee members invited each nominee, one after the other, for screening. And Sani and I were the last to be invited. He went in before me. The screening seemed smooth from what our other colleagues who went in before us told us. But I began to worry about the length of time Sani was spending with the Senators. He came out after, almost, 90 minutes and, even though he was smiling, he told us he was not sure he would be recommended to the whole Senate for confirmation. Reason: “Mostly likely because of my comments as an activist”, he quipped. He was still explaining what went on behind closed doors when I was called in. Like Sani, I was also kept for a long time – about an hour – but I had fun talking with them. Our other colleagues spent less than 15 minutes each. Even Osayande, the Chairman- nominee, was with the committee for just about 45 minutes. So, when a worried Osayande and our other colleagues, based on what Sani had told them, asked me how I fared, I simply said: Well, I had fun talking with them. It is now their prerogative to recommend me for confirmation or not. But having stayed with the Committee members for, almost, as long as Sani, I was not quite sure of my own fate. But it turned out I was luckier than him. I was recommended, along with others to the whole Senate for confirmation. Sani was not. Unperturbed, he was to say:”I told you people so.” I was sad.
I was looking forward to his rich contribution at the PSC even though his replacement, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, was as good as the best. So, you can imagine my joy when Sani was, a couple of years later, elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic. I said to myself: This is the irony of life. So Sani will now be of the same statusand, addressed as distinguished like those who had rejected him as a member of the PSC. And boy! From day one at the Senate, he shone like a million stars. The brightest was during the Babachir Lawal incident.
But we may likely miss this brilliant mind come June 2019. On Saturday, October 20, Shehu Sani resigned his membership of his party, the APC.
In a letter he addressed to the APC Chairman, Ward 6, Tudun Wada North, Kaduna state, Sani wrote: “I present to you my highest compliments and wish, by this communication to formally offer you my resignation from the APC.
“I had joined the APC and remained with it against all odds in the belief that it will constitute a veritable platform for the realisation of those democratic ideals which I hold very dear.
“I joined in the belief that honour and integrity will be the ultimate ethos of the party, and most importantly, that internal democracy will always be the norm.
“Only posterity can affirm the extent to which the APC has committed to, and reflected these values.
“As I exit the APC at this point in time, I wish to formally thank the party for availing me the platform upon which I am currently serving the country.”
The questions are: How did a street-wise Senator, like Sani, descend to this unfortunate level? How did he allow himself to be swallowed by a python? How did he leave things until they became, well, late?
Sani’s problems with his state governor, a once good friend of his, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, are well documented. Both have contempt for each other. They abuse each other, publicly, to an obscene level. It got to a point the Kaduna state Police Command invited the Senator for interrogation over a case of alleged murder. Once, he was also suspended by the Kaduna APC. The national body rescued him. Sani, along with the other two Kaduna Senators see El-Rufai as a dictator, and Sani, in particular, does not think the governor has any human feelings. It could be an ego problem between the two of them, but the situation kept deteriorating. It was the three Senators – Sani Suleiman Hunkuyi and Danjuma Laah – who, at the Senate, shot down a World Bank loan for Kaduna state which El-Rufai said his state badly needed. So, he declared the Senators enemies of Kaduna people. He bulldozed, without a thought, Senator Hunkuyi’s house in Kaduna GRA. He had threatened them that they would never go back to the Senate. Everybody knew only a miracle could give Sani and Hunkayi tickets to go back to the Senate under the APC banner. Nigeria is a country like no other. Governors call the shots. Power is in their hands, not in the hands of the people. The only exception is Lagos state where power resides in the hands of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governor, not in the hands of an incumbent governor, or anybody else. Ask Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who has been thrown into the desert, and now weilds no power at all. A couple of days ago, amidst rumours that Ambode would be impeached, the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashuri Obasa, said, in a condescending manner, that Ambode’s impeachment or non impeachment would depend on how he, (Ambode) behaves himself! But I digress.
I was talking about Shehu Sani & Co. So, it is not like Sani was unaware of his vulnerable situation. Of the two APC Kaduna Senators, and all the aggrieved Senators in N-APC, Sani was the most vocal in his criticism of both el-Rufai and the APC. He was the one giving updates on their likely exit from the APC. When the loquacious Adams Oshiomhole was endorsed as the APC National Chairman, and began reconciliatory moves, it was Sani who told Nigerians that the move was a little too late in the day to change their minds. Once, he said they would make their next move public within two weeks. At another time, he said it was a matter of days before they would leave the APC. He was the spokesperson so to say and, he never hid it. People were expectant.
But Sani was just talking. He never believed in what he was saying. He just led others on with his “hot” words and threats. It was a bark without a bite. When his colleague – APC Senator in Kaduna quit the party, Sani sat tight. When the others from the N-APC, including Senate President Bukola Saraki quit, Sani sat tight in the APC, and became a regular at the Villa. When the President invites APC NASS members to a meeting, Sani would be the star attraction. And, not a few people wondered.
If he didn’t want to leave, they asked, why was he the most vocal? Why was he the spokesperson? Why was he the face of the rebellion? Why was he leading others on? Truth is: Nobody, but Sani, knows what happened; or what promises the APC made to him; what assurances they gave him to stop him from walking the talk. What was known, however, is that El-Rufai was out to humiliate him out of the Senate.
To achieve that, the governor asked his Political Adviser, Uba Sani, to confront Shehu Sani for the Kaduna Central Senatorial ticket and backed him with all his gubernatorial might. But, it turned out that one of the promises the leadership of the APC made to Sani was an automatic ticket to the Senate. He was given, or so it seemed. And Sani relaxed. Big mistake. He didn’t factor in the El-Rufai power in the APC, especially, in the Villa. The guy weilds plenty of power. So, while the leadership of the APC gave Sani this automatic ticket, El-Rufai dismissed it as null and void. He pulled his weight, and pulled at strings, and soon, a date was set for the primary of Kaduna Central Senatorial district. Shehu Sani, flaunting an empty automatic ticket, refused to take part in the primary. And Uba Sani effortlessly won.
When Shehu Sani complained, and went to the APC Appeals Panel, the party calmed him down, and told him not to worry, that his name would be submitted to the INEC. Even the Appeal panel sustained his petition. But that was high-wired politics at its climax. They played him around. When INEC published the names of APC Senatorial candidates , Shehu Sani was missing. His name was never submitted. In his place, conspicuously displayed, was Uba Sani’s name. And they had a good laugh at Shehu Sani.
That was when it dawned on him that he has been out-smarted; that he has been used as a pawn in a game of chess; that activism is different from politics. That was when he resigned. When it was a little too late. And his former APC colleagues are laughing at him. They say he wanted to be clever by half; that he wanted to play the good boy. Unfortunately, there is no good boy in politics. It is a dangerous game of dog eats dog. It is a shark infested river. And it can be brutal, very brutal. Mercifully, none of them has publicly accused him of betrayal. They are diplomatically avoiding that word, betrayal. But they chuckle.
And I am sad for him. He has joined the PRP. I don’t know how much clout the PRP has in Kaduna Central. It touts itself as the party of the Talakwas – the common man, the down-trodden. But I bet El-Rufai would throw in everything to make him lose. How Shehu Sani thought that the APC would prefer him to El-Rufai, a sitting governor that controls a budget, controls the grassroot, that not a few people think has the ears of the President, is baffling. How Shehu Sani thought that the APC would forget a few of the things he had said about the President and the party, give him the ticket, and hurt El-Rufai in the process, is the height of naivity.
What the APC gave him is the Aisha Alhassan Treatment. As the Minister for Women Affairs, you remember, Alhassan had said he would support the Presidency of Atiku Abubakar instead of that of his boss, President Buhari, in 2019, if Atiku declared interest. She said she would quit and follow Atiku. Like Sani, Alhassan did not walk the talk when Atiku showed interest in the Presidency. She developed cold feet. Surprisingly, the President left her in his cabinet, and never said a word. He just bidded his time. And it presented itself when Alhassan said she wanted to contest for the Taraba Governorship seat under the APC. The President, patient old fellow, gave her his blessings. I don’t know if he had a good laugh behind her back. Perhaps.
But when Alhassan appeared before the screening committee, the rug was pulled from under her feet. She was disqualified, and dismissed as a disloyal party member, short of saying she is not to be trusted . She was humiliated. With no choice left, she quit from the President’s cabinet and resigned her membership of the APC. She found solace in one of those other parties with her loyalist. The President who gave her his blessings raised no finger. Instead, he quickly accepted her resignation letter from his cabinet. Good riddance to bad rubbish, he must have said to himself. But, hell hath no fury than a woman scorned, wrote William Shakespear. So, Alhassan sent her supporters to the Taraba APC headquarters which she used her money to furnish, and stripped the place bare. Not even the carpet was spared.
I don’t know what Shehu Sani would strip the Kaduna APC of. Truth, however, is that nobody is shedding a tear for him. The chorus, instead, from everywhere is: Serves him right. Next time, he will not lead others, and abandon them mid-way. That’s what they are saying. But I am reluctant to write him off. His greatest weapon is the people. He may just have the last laugh if he goes ahead to win the Kaduna Central Senatorial election in 2019 under the PRP. That will be the day
The recent killings of “innocent ” Nigerians-if President Buhari is to be quoted-has received far less attention than it deserves from the media, Politicians and international community. This appears surprising, and has given rise to a spiders web of conspiracy theories which may or may not be provable.
In recent times, Kaduna, the fiefdom of the former head of Bureau of Public Enterprises, Nasir- el-Rufai, has been boiling, but the ruling party has been more preoccupied with power tussle and political snake and ladder games to effectively take note. At the last count, over a hundred people have lost their lives in the killing fields that Kaduna has become. Last February, over ten people were killed, arrests were made but unfortunately nothing appears to have come out of it. The Dave Umahi Panel that was to look into the issue within two weeks accepted their mandate. Since then, nothing has been heard of their recommendations and white papers.
Accounts abound of how killings are being perpetrated by Christians and Muslims alike in there areas of numerical strength, though the cause of the crisis is being pinned to traditional animosities that dovetailed into religious differences. All these despite Police and military presence.
The government has gone under severe criticisms for sending Pythons and crocodiles to the south – a euphemism for military combat operations being tested in peace time-while treating the crisis in the north with kid gloves.
Interestingly, with the advent of politics leading towards 2019 elections, there appeared to have been a lull in the incessant attacks on hapless Nigerians, particularly at the period when most of them were having their party primaries, and Ekiti and Osun states were having their governorship elections. Suddenly there was an upsurge of violence, fueling conspiracy theories of politicians being behind the killings. “The prominence given to the abduction of the Chibok girls, for example, was not given to the Dapchi girls”, a PDP chieftain told this Magazine last week.
True. Even Leah Shuaibu, the Christian girl that was left of the Dapchi girls seem to have been forgotten. Reports of killings of even Aids workers are only making momentary headlines.
This situation is being cashed in on by the opposition Peoples democratic party, PDP, who sees the issue from the perspective of the ruling party’s inability to handle the security situation in the country, which, incidentally was one of their cardinal campaign promise.
The opposition allegation is that the security apparatus was concentrated in the hands of only one ethnic group. In fact, a motion was moved earlier this week challenging the exclusion of the South east from the security decision of the country, but was shut down mostly by Northern Senators. Currently, there is operation crocodile smile in the Niger Delta that is not restive, but police is sent to volatile areas in the North.
The Federal Government kept changing their Narrative on the Herdsmen. First, they are spillover from Libyan Crisis. then they are Fellow Nigerians that must be allowed in the system. then they are part of ISIS in the Sahel region. This has fueled speculations of an ethnic cleansing Agenda by the government, with colonies in sight. Sources from Plateau state indicated that cattle rearers take over the lands vacated by those at the internal Displaced camps.
Whatever be the case, government has to do more to convince the populace that they are sincere in their quest for a violent free Nigeria. if that is not done, it may not augur well for them, particularly as this is an election year.
A member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of All Progressives Congress, APC has told The Source that it will be miracle if the embattled National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole survives the plot against him.
Contrary to Oshiomhole’s assertion that only two governors are against him, the NWC member revealed that about 15 APC governors and several National Assembly members belonging to the party have made up their minds on the immediate past Edo state Governor and in the coming days will meet to select his replacement.
Another party source comfirmed that former Governor of Cross River State, Clement Ebri is the choice of majority of the Governors while some others, including some National Assembly members who want Edo state to still retain the plum party position, are considering a Professor of Law and former governor of the state, Oserinmen Osunbor for the position.
Former Bayelsa state Governor, Timipre Sylva has also been mentioned as Oshiomhole’s likely sucessor.APC elements backing Sylva argue that his emergence as APC National Chairman will go a long way in attracting votes to the party from the Bayelsa/ Rivers axis.It was equally argued that Sylva as APC National Chairman will counterbalance whatever influence the Rivers state born Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus,wields in both states.
According to multiple sources close to the presidency, while President Muhammadu Buhari is not expressly canvassing for Oshiomhole’s removal he is not also sticking out his neck to fight for him. “I can tell you that Oshiomhole is an orphan in this fight. He wants the President to come out and openly fight his cause but the President is maintaining a dignified neutrality; whichever way the unfolding event in the party turns, he will accept. Don’t forget that the President’s wife has also voiced her displeasure with Oshiomhole “, one of the sources said.
It has been learnt that the APC National Chairman’s end will come during an expanded National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party which is coming up soon where a vote of no confidence will be passed against him after which he will be forced to tender his resignation.
Buhari: Maintains neutrality
Oshiomhole who came on board four months ago ran into stormy waters following rancorous APC primaries across the 36 states of the federation. Many aggrieved party chieftains, including wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, Governors, National Assembly members among others accuse him of impunity. They alleged Oshiomhole is dictatorial in his approach to party administration and warn that unless he is shown the exit door, he will lead the party to a humiliating defeat in 2019.
Zamfara, Ondo and Ogun state Governors are particularly furious over the manner Oshiomhole handled APC primaries in their states. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state said Oshiomhole is leading the party to doom while his Ogun counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun accuse the embattled APC National Chairman of conniving with the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and ex-Ogun state governor, Segun Osoba to impose governorship candidate on APC in the state.
On his part, Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari rue that Oshiomhole’s dictatorial tendencies were the reason APC in the State has been shut out of the 2019 governorship election by INEC because of its inability to select a candidate before the deadline set by the electoral umpire.
However, not all anti-Oshiomhole elements in the APC want his exit on the account of his alleged mishandling of the party’s primaries.This category of members believe the former Labour leader lacks the competence, temperament and decorum to lead the party. They are worried that with Oshiomhole as party Chairman, the 2019 elections will be walk over for the PDP.
