“Any further move against Fubara by Wike will be met with destruction of oil facilities.”
A new Niger Delta Militant Group has threatened hell on Earth for the Nigerian Government if it dares allow the any fund accruals to Local Government Councils in Rivers State to be withheld.
There are fears that a Court action allegedly instituted by an anti- Governor Siminalayi Fubara Group could stop the allocation of funds to the LGA Councils.
The Group described the LGA Election recently held and won by the Action Peoples Party, APP, as null and void.
But q new Niger Delta militia group, the Niger Delta Development Force, has warned that hell will descend on it if the LGA allocations are withheld in any form for any reason. It said it would ground Nigeria’s economy by bombing oil installations in the Niger Delta.
On assumption that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, is behind the plot, the Group asked President Bola Tinubu to call his Minister to call his Minister to order over his alleged insistent on undermining the Government of Fubara.
The Group’s statement signed by its Spokesperson, Justin
Justin Alabraba, said it is angry over an alleged plan by Wike use “a friendly judge to secure a ruling in his favour, which would stop local government allocations to the State.”
The statement reads in part: , “Our members will not hesitate to shut down oil installations if any Judge in Abuja issues a pronouncement that financially incapacitates local governments in Rivers State, preventing them from fulfilling their duty to the people.
“We will act immediately. It will be a swift response, and we will shut down major oil installations in the Niger Delta.
“If President Bola Tinubu allows Wike to disrupt governance in the local governments of Rivers State, we will also disrupt governance at all levels.
“We cannot continue to suffer while other parts of Nigeria prosper. Wike must leave Fubara alone.
“For months now, Wike has continued to insult and intimidate Governor Fubara, wielding his federal influence. We won’t tolerate that anymore.
“Any further move against Fubara by Wike will be met with the destruction of oil installations. Since Tinubu seems intent on turning a blind eye, let us all face the consequences together. Rivers State does not belong to Wike, and he cannot conclude his eight-year term without harassing those who helped him get there while now seeking to disturb his successor.
“We will bomb and continue to destroy oil installations. This is not a threat; it is a promise. Enough is enough. Wike and Tinubu cannot take us for granted any longer.”
The Enugu State Government on Monday October 28, 2024, informed that it has offered the children of slain Enugu Ogene artiste, Okezie Chikezie Nwanmba, scholarships up to the University level.
The Source reports that Nwamba, popular as Igbo Jah was killed on Friday October 25, by a Police Operative attached to the Tactical Squad of the State Police Command.
Bullet shots from the gun of Inspector Ozonwanji Joseph allegedly killed the reowned Ogene music exponent during his private, but friendly visit to the operational base of the Squad in the coal city.
The suspect is currently undergoing orderly room trial ,following the conclusion of preliminary investigations into the incident according to the Police.
Both the Enugu Police Command and the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, have stated their resolve at ensuring that justice is served in the matter.
The Scholarship announcement, is coming just less than 24 hours ,after the family of the fallen musician had appealed for Government’s assistance in training the three children left behind by Igbo Jah.
While speaking during a condolence visit by the Enugu State Government to the bereaved family on Sunday October 27, elder brother of the Ogene music icon, Chief Joseph Mba, solicited Government assistance in the welfare and education of the children of the late Igbo Jah.
” We are also counting on the Government to help in the welfare and education of his children and family- two boys ,one girl and, of course, his wife”, Chief Mba stated.
Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, who led a Government delegation on the visit, said they came to convey the Governor’s condolences to the family.
“We have come on behalf of His Excellency , Peter Mbah, to express our heartfelt condolences on the brutal loss of your son, your brother and our brother.
“The Governor has sent us to share in your profound grief and assure you that we will ensure justice is served” the SSG said.
The State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs,and Social Development Ngozi Enih ,who disclosed the scholarship award during a visit to the bereaved family, also stated that Government has offered to take care of the welfare of the family of the deceased musician.
Meanwhile ,the state Government has described those canvassing a sit-at-home on Tuesday,in protest against the unfortunate incident as enemies of the Enugu State and the South East region at large.
It will be recalled that the self acclaimed leader of the break away faction of the Indigenous peoples of Biafra IPOB, Finland- based Simon Ekpa, had, on Saturday, called for a sit-at-home on Tuesday, October 29, to protest the killing of Igbo Jah.
In a statement issued by SSG Prof Onyia, the Enugu state Government urged residents to ignore the order which it described as illegal, and mischievous.
It called on the people to go about their lawful activities, assuring that Government is working in concert with all relevant bodies to ensure that the killers of the musician face the full weight of the law.
” Our attention has been drawn to reports making the rounds on the social media to the effect that some criminals and faceless non-state actors have declared sit-at-home on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 purportedly to protest the unfortunate killing of the popular Ogene Musician, Okezie Mba aka. Igbo Jah, by a Police officer on Friday.
“The Enugu State Government once again reinstates its condemnation of the killing as abominable, unacceptable,and totally against the values we hold dear most especially the sanctity of human life.
“Indeed, His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, spared no time in ordering a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances of the killing with a view to bringing the perpetrators to Justice,
“Already ,the culprit has been identified and in custody .” Prof Onyia noted.
Northern States Governors’ Forum, (NSGF) has moved to put an end to total blackout in the region.
Report indicate that states in the zone have been in total blackout for the second week running, paralyzing commercial activities.
Power Distribution Company handling electricity distribution to the area has blamed the problem on unending vandalization and activities of bandits which prevented engineers to clear the problem.
NSGF Chairman, Inuwa Yahaya has rallied other governors, and traditional rulers for urgent discussion on the power outage, and other regional challenges.
Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, ( Press Affairs) confirmed in Gombe that Governor Yahaya, has convened a joint meeting involving Northern Governors and Traditional Rulers to address the ongoing blackout in the northern region and other critical challenges affecting the zone
According to him, other issues which are expected to be discussed at the meeting, to be held in Kaduna, include security concerns, economic issues, and sustainable development priorities.
He pointed out that the NSGF, under the leadership of Governor Yahaya is focused on charting a unified agenda to enhance regional cooperation and development, leveraging the North’s resources to promote long-term development.
“Governor Inuwa Yahaya has been engaging with stakeholders across multiple sectors to implement actionable strategies for addressing security concerns, which are disrupting agricultural productivity and driving up food prices in the region.”
The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 General Elections, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Monday October 28, 2024 lamented the excruciating effects the continued power outages in most parts of the Northern region are exacting on the people and the economy.
This is just as he called on business owners to consider alternative sources of power supplies outside the choice presented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria,TCN.
The Source reports that for over two weeks, most parts of the North, especially the North West region has been in darkness.
The authorities of the TCN have blamed the situation on the damage wreaked on some of its facilities by vandals; particularly the Shiroro-Kaduna power-line.
They also complained that the serious security challenges posed by banditry and other criminal elements have continued to make it difficult for them to carry out the needed maintenance works.
The situation has not only thrown up challenges within the economic front, but appears to have exacerbated the security problems facing the region.
Only last week, the Northern Senators Forum expressed deep concern over the power outages, noting that it has the potentials to worsen the already hard economic situation being faced by the people.
Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum called on the authorities, including the TCN to urgently rectify the problems so as to prevent the poor security situations in the region from spiraling out of control.
Commenting on his official site, Senator Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State ,the commercial nerve centre of the North, and one of the most affected States by the power outage, noted that the situation has been worsened by the skyrocketing prices of Petroleum products in the country.
” It is very disheartening that many parts of Northern Nigeria are in total darkness today due to vandalism on the important 330kmv Shiroro-Kaduna power line that supplies the States of Kano and Kaduna and another line that supplies Bauchi, Gombe, and other parts of the North East.
“This situation has been further compounded by the high cost of petrol and diesel in Nigeria which has further plunged homes into darkness and forced factories to close down.
“That the crisis this time, has taken too long to be addressed underscores the huge deficit of the capacity our power sector has in order to address large scale problems ,and this must be addressed to avoid any future disruption.
“It is about time we looked into alternative power sources to address our energy needs and we need to exploit the abundant resources available to this country.
“I wish to encourage all State Governments and private investors to invest in alternative electricity sources just like we did in Kano by installing two turbines in the Challawa and Tiga Dams in order to reduce the reliance on our inadequate and aged energy sources”, Kwankwaso stated.
The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has disclosed its readiness to phase out wooden boats on inland waterways.
The move, according to NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, is to make Water Transportation more viable, accident free and convenient for passengers and users alike.
Speaking at an interactive session with Editors, Oyebamiji said the session with the Media focused largely on the safety of the waterways and expansion of water travels.
He added that wooden boats constituted over 90 per cent of boats on the waterways, leading to the planned move of phasing them out on the Inland Waterways.
Speaking further, Oyebamiji said that the Wooden Boats accounted for the majority of accidents on the waterways nationwide.
He said this was largely because they had no regard for operational rules which include not travelling at night, overloading and failure to use life jackets by both operators and passengers.
He said: “Travelling at night is a criminal offence. Most of them have no light at all. Overloading is also an issue. And the boats are piloted by people of the lowest education in Nigeria.”
On how to resolve the issue in the short term, Oyebamiji said NIWA had consciously increased the number of its Marshals at jetties from 80 to 350 to cover the entire country.
He said, at least, two marshals were at jetties per time daily, observing morning and night shifts, revealing that the agency has embarked on a rigorous campaign at the jetties and via the media.
He said the campaign is done in both English and the local languages of the communities covered.
The NIWA boss said the campaign focused on enlightening the boat operators and passengers on the ills of night travel, overloading, and not using life jacket, among others.
He, however, said the long term goal was to phase out wooden boats from operation, which is why the agency is liaising with the Presidency and Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, headed by Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, to achieve its aim.
He equally said, for now, more patrol boats would be deployed by the agency to monitor operators in line with the NIWA Code, adding that the Nigerian Navy was also assisting in this regard.
He added: “A lot of people bring God into this matter of safety on waterways when we are the problems ourselves.
“Our characters and our behaviours are the great determinants here. We will continue to push by applying education, enlightenment, and sanction, where needed, until we have zero fatalities on our waterways.’’
A new pan-Nigeria political coalition, Save Democracy Mega Alliance 2027 (SDMA’27) has announced an ambitious plan to rally the country’s pro-democracy movements, opposition political parties, ethnic nationalities’ social-cultural organizations, organized labour, leaders of the country’s religious blocs and consenting thought leaders of all walks to demand amendment of the Nigerian constitution in two critical fronts.
According to the body, these demands are “the non-negotiable removal of the powers of the president and state governors to appoint the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), state electoral commissions and heads of the Nigerian judiciary at national and state levels respectively.
The alliance stated that those powers should be vested on a new body of non-partisan, integrity tested Nigerians whose selection and appointment process should be determined by “sacrosanct and inviolate character criteria that are beyond reproach.”
Addressing journalists in a pre-launch briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital at the weekend, the national spokesman of the movement, Comrade Tony Akeni Le Moin, a political activist, civil rights crusader and veteran journalist who is also a founding co-convener of the movement, disclosed that the coalition shall be formally launched in all states of the federation and climax with a boot camp grand finale in Abuja on dates to be scheduled in the coming months.
Probes by journalists and documents sighted revealed that eminent Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, leadership of leading pro-democracy organizations and activists in different parts of the country have received and endorsed the two-prong advocacy of SDMA’27. One of them, Prof. Pat Utomi, an eminent professor of political economy and management luminary, hailed the goals of the alliance as “the next best thing to happen to Nigeria after the return to civil rule in 1999.”
According to Prof. Utomi, “Amending the Nigerian constitution to divest the powers of the president on appointment of INEC chairman and commissioners by insulating the commission from the influences of the executive arm was one of the cardinal recommendations of the Justice Uwais electoral reforms report. The same amendment should apply to the Nigerian judiciary which is vested with the function of post-election matters and adjudication. Transferring those powers to a clearly neutral apolitical body of statesmen is long overdue. This campaign is coming behind time given our traumatic experiences of fraudulent conduct of elections by INEC and equally fraudulent election tribunal verdicts. But now that the idea is here at last, every Nigerian who desires true progress for our country should see the project as a national emergency. The boots of democrats, irrespective of their political backgrounds, should be on ground to mobilize for and demand these amendments from the present rulers of Nigeria until the goal is attained.” Prof. Utomi said.
One of the documents of the SDMA sighted by the media, bearing its mission content which has been high-praised by pro-democracy luminaries of the country who have signed into the campaign, gave a three-fold outline of the group’s roadmap.
According to the document, SDMA was out “To coordinate nationwide consensus building efforts integrating Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities, virile opposition political parties, labour and civil society networks, interfaith leaders of thought, pro-democracy movements and progressive Nigeria diaspora concerns into one cohesive national demand action front to pragmatically engage the present leadership of Nigeria.”
It further said it was the group’s goal “To galvanize and have the above collective convoke and undertake a National Confab which will drive actions to compel the National and State Assemblies of Nigeria to amend Nigeria’s Constitution entailing, above other subjects, the following categorical demand: removal of the powers of the President and State Governors to appoint INEC and Judicial Bodies at federal and state levels respectively, transferring those powers to a new, truly independent body of eminent, integrity tested, certified politically non-partisan Nigerians.”
Thirdly, the statement said the alliance shall “pursue with unrelenting vigour and uncompromising determination the above objectives to victory within the shortest practical time and at all cost to the vision bearers of the cause, including imprisonment and the ultimate price of life, so that Nigeria may have, at last, an excellent, corruption-free or corruption minimized country under a new order of conscientious, committed, compassionate and capable nation building leadership.”
The statement continued, “It is our studied view that to save Nigeria from her current catastrophes of daily increasing social-economic turmoil, pandemic poverty and insecurity, fatal future mortgaging foreign debts obtained for consumption and looting, and our beleaguered democracy from total and irretrievable state capture is now a task that should not be postponed a day farther.
“Assuredly and sadly, the election results of 2027 have already been decided by the APC Federal Government of the day in favour of itself. Doing the same opposition campaigns the same way and expecting different results in 2027 should be out of our reckoning. We aver that in the absence of a successful pursuit and attainment of our above designed counter-cause to their predetermined fait accompli, all labours, funding sacrifices of citizens and blueprints to take power back from the current locust leadership of Nigeria, no matter how well-meaning and superlative, shall amount to monumental failure and another menu of lamentations. Thus, the earlier we begin the counter-measures of organized and legitimate resistance advised in the SDMA’27 roadmap, the better and brighter our hopes of reversing Nigeria’s obliterating leadership calamity in 2027.”
Explaining further, the SDMA’27 document stated, “The preemptive wisdom in the words of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. herein ring true and imperative. ‘Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.”‘
“King’s prescription above is corroborated by three parcels of wisdom in Islam critical to our mission. They demand practical actions in line with our SDMA’27 roadmap and are germaine for the consideration of every patriotic and reasonable Nigerian. The first is by the Prophet Muhammed himself found in Hadith 32: ‘One day of justice by a just ruler is better than the continual worship of sixty years.’ This is reinforced by the Hadith that ‘The man most beloved and closest to Allah is the just leader, and the man who is most hateful and contemptible in the sight of Allah is the unjust leader.’ The second is found in the famous quote of al-Imam al-Ghazali, which states: ‘There is no act of religious worship greater to God than just governance.’ Finally, Saidina Abu Bakar as-Siddiq, on his appointment as the First Caliph after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), told the multitude in what would have been called ‘inaugural speech’ in today’s realpolitik: O people, I have been elected as your leader although I am not the best among you. If I am in the right, then help me. And if I am in the wrong, then set me right. Truthfulness means fulfilling the trust; while disregard for truth is tantamount to treachery.'”
The SDMA document exhorted and rallied Nigerians to the cause stating: “Even if God might intervene to save Nigeria with some unforeseen colossal miracle en route 2027, he will use men to manifest it. Let us avail and position ourselves to be that breed of men tailormade and ready for his use, providence and purpose,” the document concluded.
The Presidency, on Sunday, October 27, gave a weird reason why neither the Police nor Operatives of the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC can, for now, arrest the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Bello is wanted by the EFCC for alleged sundry issues bordering on corruption to the tune of over N80b. But it has been impossible to get the former Governor to answer to the charges because he has, since he left office, refused to go to the EFCC office or answer to Court summons.
Both the EFCC and the Court have summoned Bello a number of times. But for the number of times he was summoned, he refused to show up. All the assurances his legal team made to the effect that he would show up were in vain.
But a few weeks back, the unbelievable happened. Bello, after months of playing hide and seek with the EFCC showed up at the Commission’s Headquarters to answer to its invitation. But to everybody’s shock and confusion, the EFCC let Bello leave – neither arresting nor questioning him. Reason, according to them: Bello came in the company of Kogi State Governor, Usman Idodo, in a convoy of SUV’s.
While not a few Nigerians were still in shock, same evening of same day that the EFCC let Bello walk out of their premises free, Operatives of the Commission stormed the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in pursuit of Bello. They were there to arrest him they said. A few gunshots were fired, but Bello was nowhere to be seen, and the Operatives, in any case, could not break into the Governor’s Lodge.
Before this incident, months ago, the EFCC had stormed Bello’s Abuja residence to arrest him. After a standoff that lasted hours, Governor Ododo drove in and spirited Bello away, leaving the Operatives to leak their wounds.
While Nigerians were wondering how come Bello became more powerful than the law, and all other of his colleagues who had answered to both EFCC and Court summons, the Presidency, on Sunday, told Nigerians why Bello cannot be apprehended by Security Operatives.
Bayo Onanuga, Presidential Adviser, Information and Strategy, speaking on Channels Television in an interview with Laolu Akande, described Bello’s case as “complicated”. He said that Bello is under the umbrella of Ododo, the Governor of Kogi State who enjoys immunity. Meaning that Ododo’s immunity is extended to Bello. Meaning that for as long as Bello attaches himself to Ododo, or takes up residence at Government House Lokoja, or any of Ododo’s Lodges or residences, he is as free as air.
Onanuga: “I think it’s a bit complicated. The EFCC is an agency of the Federal Government, and it wants to arrest Yahaya Bello. Yahaya Bello is hiding under the agbada (flowing robe) of the governor of Kogi State, his (Bello’s) successor, who happens to enjoy immunity.
“That’s the problem because if he (Bello) stays inside Governor Ododo’s house, the police cannot do anything because they will be violating that immunity that the man enjoys.
“It’s like a diplomat enjoying certain immunity, you cannot do anything about it. You remember in the UK when they were looking for the Wikileaks man and he went to hide in one embassy in Britain, there was nothing they (security agents) could do, they left him there. I think he later came out and they arrested him.
“It’s the same thing. Ododo enjoys immunity. Yahaya Bello is believed to be hiding there. They cannot storm the place and say they want to arrest him. That’s the problem of the EFCC, and the police cannot help the EFCC.”
A SPARK OF TINUBU LIGHT:
Upfront: this column had long given up on President Bola Tinubu. This Column, Expresso, had long determined that nothing of much value will be achieved by his administration even if he ruled for 50 years. The weekly presidency watch was disabled by the sheer ineptitude of the Presidency. We found ourselves repeating same negativism arising from poor leadership; we searched in vain to find something worthy of commendation; just anything. Nothing. The Tinubu presidency kept flailing and failing.
Even the much hullabalooed cabinet reshuffle was as anticlimactic as a case of premature ejaculation. This column foresaw that and was never expectant (more on the reshuffle later).
So what’s this spark of light from Tinubu? There was a bit of difficulty recharging the satellite tv subscription so one was incommoded to watching the news on our super-boring, free-to-air Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) last Thursday. There he was, our president working on his new brainwave, the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development.
The occasion was a Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms in Nigeria, hosted at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
For once since his inauguration, indeed, for once in a long while, one saw Tinubu make sense in an address. Remember he’s become a master of mish-mash in recent years being aged and ailing. The one who gave us the ultimate presidential gibberish: balablu, blu blu and bulaba (this will yet get into the dictionary of new words).
LIVESTOCK REFORM TO THE RESCUE?
And there he was, addressing the agric audience, charging them on the vision of the livestock reform and admonishing them as to why in all the cattle rearing we are engaged in, we still spend about (N?)1.5 billion daily on import of food; he wondered why we didn’t see the inherent investment opportunities like the cold rooms and why a country of over 200 million people with vast land mass cannot serve our children one pint of milk per day in the classroom.
He promised to give it all it takes to bring value to our (livestock) economy. This is quite profound, if you know.
Expresso has determined that Tinubu’s setting up of Livestock Committee in July to review this critical sector of Nigeria’s economy is the most important action ( let’s call it reform, they love the word) he has taken so far in his presidency.
Making Prof Attahiru Jega, a man of notable integrity and competence, the co-chairman is a masterstroke. Global market value of farmed animals is about $3 trillion. Nigeria has the potential to bite a good chunk of it.
HITTIG AT THE SOUL OF NIGERIA’S INSECURITY:
Though Nigeria’s livestock economy may pale beside her oil and gas but it’s far more important and strategic today for the following reasons. First, getting our livestock right would solve to a large extent, the insecurity problems in Nigeria. Huge, state-sponsored swathes of integrated ranches in states like Niger, Bornu , Kano, Katsina, Taraba and Plateau for instance, would be models in modern animal husbandry business. These would be privatised a couple of years down the line.
The ugly sight of cattle on our highways, inner cities, school grounds and farmlands would begin to reduce. Rustling, which is the fare of bandits would vastly diminish.
The livestock value chain is vast and pivotal. Two years down the line, a huge, revitalising impact would begin to refresh the economy. Jobs, veterinary inputs and personnel, transportation, cold room, beef, leather, dairy products, all these and more would immediately energise the economy.
TACKLING ACUTE
MALNUTRITION WITH MILK: Milk production wouldn’t only save Nigeria billions of dollars in foreign exchange, it will immediately impact on millions of our infants dying of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) as the president alluded to. Currently, about two million infants in Northern Nigeria are suffering from SAM. Half of this (one million), happened in the last one year under Tinubu’s watch. So one pint of milk daily and other dairy products would effectively keep this malaise at bay.
You see why this column is elated for once since President Tinubu took office. This is the only project Tinubu has initiated so far that makes a bit of sense. If he succeeds with this, if by end of 2026, we have nary half a dozen integration ranches functional and running well, this column would forgive him everything.
For now, we are glad we finally found something to cheer after over one and half years of Tinubu’s regime.
President Bola Tinubu
Yes, we are not unmindful of the fact that all this could happen under the Livestock Department of the Ministry of Agriculture (if it weren’t comatose). We are not unmindful of the cheap political gains probably undergirding all this, yet we pray that the livestock master plan would succeed; would move swiftly from conference rooms and drawing boards to terra firma in a radical and revolutionary manner. Can Prof Jega pull this Tinubu chestnut out of the fire? It bloody tough work, but it’s not impossible.
CABINET RESHUFFLE: MOTIONING AND MOTIONING:
The so-called rejig of his team by the President is yet another pointer that Tinubu has not an aorta of capacity to lead Nigeria today. What happened was mere motion without even one step forward.
Imagine dropping five ministers and adding on seven. And we are supposed to be cutting cost of governance. Imagine Tinubu still clinging to the petroleum portfolio. That’s like being on top of your spouse and doing nothing… like a deadweight! To think that oil and gas is the most important sector of the economy. Nothing has happened in Nigeria’s huge petroleum sector under Tinubu except deals; the most confounding of deals we ever knew.
The so-called new ministers are same of same. The president is still prioritising political settlements and ethnic considerations over competence and capacity.
He appears like a man enjoying the game of musical chairs; he’s not bothered by the strident shouts of hunger out there, he’s not making changes to deal with urgent issues facing the country. He has reshuffled his cabinet for the fun of it. Otherwise, the Economic team should be the first to go. Many of them are like fish out of water.
FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF ODUA LAND:
One won’t be surprised if FEC meetings are conducted in Yoruba language. That’s how illiterate things have become.
If one were Yoruba today, I would cover my face in shame. In trying to favour his clique, Tinubu has given Yoruba a bad name as untutored tribalists and arc-bigots. It’s so bad it stinks.
With this reshuffle, Tinubu has railroaded everything good in the federal cabinet to his cronies who happen to be Yoruba and worse, who happen to be largely incompetent.
Igbo is worst hit of course. Tinubu is unabashed in bashing and trampling Ndigbo. Igbo have progressed from Hurricane Buhari to Hurricane Tinubu. Inequity against Igbo has become a fun sport.
Even the crumbs handed to Igbo by way of Commerce and Industry Ministry was snatched and pressed down into the overflowing bag of Yoruba portfolios. The occupant, one of the few thinking heads in the cabinet, Doris Uzoka-Anite was demoted to a junior minister under Finance Ministry held by Yoruba. As my people would say, ‘nakwa echecki’.
UMAHI AS CRAZED BARTIMAEUS:
The only portfolio ostensibly left for the entire Igbo out of about 50 is the Works Ministry. Held by Mr Dave Umahi, but it could just as well be taken that Igbo has nothing because Umahi presents as some sort of a Bartimaeus of the crazed kind. You know the story of the biblical blind Bartimaeus who hollers unrestrainedly until Jesus hears him and gives him back his sight…
The same way Umahi is a rabid proselyte of Tinubu. Umahi represents Tinubu and Tinubu alone. Not himself, not Igbo, not Nigerians, but Tinubu, big and small. He would seemingly do only Tinubu’s bidding and even the one he didn’t bid him. So Umahi is an advantage to the Tinubu clan and a loss to Ndigbo and Nigerians.
But the crux is that Tinubu didn’t set up a cabinet to lead Nigeria to Eldorado. The reshuffle, therefore, makes no difference to Nigeria and Nigerians.
LASTLINE:
Another opportunity missed. Sad.
Osuji was editor at The Guardian, THISDAY and NewAge. He was also editorial board member at the The Nation #voiceofreason FEEDBACK: [email protected]
FBN Holdings Plc the parent company of First Bank Nigeria Limited has announced the Rights Issue offering of 5,982,548,799 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N25.00 per share to its existing shareholders on the basis of one (1) new ordinary share for every (6) ordinary shares.
The signing ceremony for the rights Issue offer was done at the weekend in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, directive to commercial banks and Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, in the country to recapitalise before 31 March 2026.
According to the holding company, in a statement, the Offer is part of the Company’s plan to recapitalize its commercial banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, (“Firstbank” or “the bank”) with a view towards increasing the bank’s capacity for business development and growth.
Instructively, the company said, the bank will utilise the fresh capital to extend business to its Wholesale and Retail business segments; further enhance its automation and digital banking offerings as well as its African expansion plans.
Speaking on the Rights Issue, the Chairman FBNHoldings, Femi Otedola, encouraged shareholders to support the aspirations of the company by taking up rights thereby strengthening the company and in particular the bank for growth and improved performance that will deliver significantly enhanced Total Shareholders’ Return (TSR) in the medium term and return the bank to its rightful place in the league of Financial Institutions.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Group Managing Director, GMD, Nnamdi Okonkwo said that ‘the rights issue gives the Shareholders the opportunity to retain the relative holding in the company while providing the required Capital buffers to maximize business opportunities in the economies where we operate.
The financial giant further stated that its shareholders had at its 11th Annual General Meeting, AGM, held on August 15, 2023, unanimously supported the Rights Issue.
Printed copies of the Participation Form can be downloaded via the company’s website, FirstBank branches and the offices of the Issuing Houses, website of Meristem Registrars during the Offer Period. The application can also be made via FirstMobile platform.
All the existing shareholders are advised to study the Rights Circular carefully, and, if in doubt, consult their Stockbrokers, Portfolio Manager, Solicitor, Banker, Accountant or any trusted professional adviser for guidance before subscribing to the Rights Issue
The decision to ban beggars in the nation’s capital Abuja by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike is not targeted at northerners.
This position was taken by the Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence, in a statement it issued on Sunday.
The statement signed by its chairman Mark Ogah Okpanachi, and Secretary Haruna Bature, respectively, therefore appealed to northern religious, political and traditional leaders to stop attacking the minister for taking a bold action to rid the FTC of miscreants.
The group said begging in Abuja, which cut across all ethnic nationalities in the country has become a big time business which must not be encouraged, apart from the fact that it posed security threats to the nation’s capital.
The group said Wike should be applauded for taking a decisive action to clean up the city, stressing that the act was not “intended to hurt or malign any particular group of individuals in the society”
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence has been drawn to recent attacks by a cross-section of Muslim Clerics on the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T.), Abuja, following the disbandment of beggars in Abuja.
“The Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence wishes to observe that begging in the F.C.T. has turned out to be a lucrative but embarrassing trade which cuts across all ethnic divides of our Nation.
“The decision by the Hon. Minister of the F.C.T. to get rid of beggars in Abuja is, therefore, a plausible development that will enhance the security, status and decency standards within and around the Federal Capital Territory and should therefore not be seen as an act intended to hurt or malign any particular group of individuals in the society.”
Six days ago, the minister announced a crack down on street begging saying “Abuja is turning into a beggar city.”
“If you know you have a sister or brother who is a beggar, please, from next week, we’ll carry them. We’ll take them out,’ Wike warned.
Meanwhile, the beggars have replied the minister saying they did not deliberately chose to beg, that the economic situation in the country should be blamed.
