The move by Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the State House of Assembly to get the Court’s nod to seal the impeachment of Philip Shaibu as Deputy Governor has again suffered a setback.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, dismissed the application for stay of execution brought before it by the State Government and the State House of Assembly against the reinstatement of Shaibu.
Dissatisfied with the application before it by the applicants, Justice James Omotosho said he could not grant the application as he had earlier given a judgement reinstating Philip Shaibu.
He, therefore, dismissed the application with a fine of N200,000 against the applicants.
Justice Omotosho had earlier, in July, 2024, reinstated Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, weeks after he was impeached by the State Assembly.
Justice Omotoso had declared the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.
The Court held that the said impeachment was in gross violation of the provisions of both sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.The judge held that the impeachment was in gross violation of the Constitution.
Aside from restoring Shaibu, the Court, also, ordered that his salaries and allowances should be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the Deputy Governor.
The Court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from stopping Shaibu from performing the functions of his office.
Justice Omotosho also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore his security details, which the IGP had complied with.
Ondo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to apply ‘Edo formular’ during the November Governorship Election in the State.
PDP reminded Ganduje that “Ondo State is not one of the States where the people can be intimidated or cowed. Our people are very enlightened and resilient.
“When the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) attempted to subvert the will of the people, the people proved to the Shagari government that, they were different. That tradition has not died.
“Besides, the present democratic dispensation in which he is a beneficiary was watered with the blood of many Nigerians. It is advisable Ganduje does not go down into oblivion as one of its Undertakers.”
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of PDP in the state, Kennedy Peretei added that “The entire world was not only embarrassed but ashamed of what Prof Mahmood Yakubu’s sham called Edo State Governorship Election held on Saturday, 21st September, 2024.
“While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police were yet to clear themselves of partisanship and complicity in the election, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who flew into Benin with a Police helicopter was gloating in Abuja, that Ondo and Anambra would receive the Edo treatment when Governorship elections hold in these States.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter believes that, most Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora are beginning to lose hope in our hard earned democracy, when major players like Ganduje openly allude to the fact that, their votes will not count as long as men like him hold influential positions.
“Ganduje’s vituperations were the surest confirmation that the election was rigged. Instead of being sober for subverting the will of the people, Ganduje robbed salt on injury by saying that his party intends to control all the five South Eastern States.
“Our party salutes the courage of the Edo State people for their remarkable performance in that election, in spite of INEC’s flagrant disobedience of their own rules. Everyone knows that, most of the results announced at State Collation Center were fabricated, as the figures were different from those uploaded into INEC Irev portal.
“The people of Edo State could never have elected a man who promised to bring “Insecurity to Edo State”. Let Ganduje first give the ‘Edo Treatment ” to his people in Kano State, where he was humiliated by a relatively unknown New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in last year’s Gubernatorial election.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has raised the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, to 27.25 percent.
Yemi Cardoso, the apex bank governor announced this on Tuesday during its Monetary Policy Committee, MPC meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The decision to raise the bench mark interest rate by 50 basic points however contradicted earlier prediction, by financial analysts, that the government-controlled bank would maintain last month’s rate of 26.75 percent.
Bloomberg, for instance, had in a report last week said the CBN was not likely to raise the rate further citing the recent fall in inflation in the country.
According to the United States of America, USA based media company, Nigeria’s inflation rate has fallen to a six-month low in August, making a new hike in the rate almost unnecessary.
Speaking on Tuesday, Cardoso stated that the decision to further hike the MPR was necessary to boost confidence in the economy, aside from assisting economic agents to plan for both the medium and long term basis, noting that the apex bank will continue to make efforts to control inflation in the country.
Cardoso stated that despite the fact that headline inflation trended downwards due to a moderation in food inflation, core inflation has remained elevated, driven primarily by rising energy prices.”
“The uptrend poses severe concerns to members as it clearly indicates the persistence of inflationary pressures. Members thus reiterated the need to work in close collaboration with the fiscal authority to address the current upward pressure on energy prices.
“The MPC noted the continued growth in money supply, recognising the need to curtail excess liquidity in the system as well as address foreign exchange demand pressures.”
Tapping from the victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo state governorship election, The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) has alerted the public to an alleged attempt by the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause crises ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
It described the Ondo PDP as too desperate for power and that it was determined to get it through coercion and violence.
The campaign body in a statement issued on Tuesday by its State Director of Information, Mr Kayode Fasua, said this was made evident by the state PDP’s reaction to the defeat of the party in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, by the All Progressives Congress.
It said the state PDP had been brimming with brimstone and fire, following the loss of in Edo, thus issuing panicky statements on self-imagined plan by the APC to rig the coming election in Ondo State.
“While it is within the right of the PDP handlers in Ondo State to sulk over the loss of their party in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, it is, however, absurd and ridiculous that the party in Ondo State could be contemplating war ahead of a governorship election that is still two months away.
“The expression issued by the PDP that ‘we thus sound a note of warning to those whose trade is the compromise of ballot that danger looms if they seek to tamper with our votes’, deserves to be investigated.
“That statement is not only preposterous but a clear signal that the PDP in Ondo State is plotting to unleash crises in its desperation for victory.”
The LACO-FSIC spokesman, however, tasked the opposition PDP to toe the decent path of issue-based campaigns, rather than engage in plots to cause mayhem in a society under the rule of law.
“Not a few people across the state have taken cognisance of how the PDP in Ondo State gambols around with thugs brandishing various weapons in the course of their campaigns, apparently hoping to sail through to victory without any news on what they intend for the transformation of our dear state.
“But as for Governor Aiyedatiwa, he has been going around supervising infrastructural projects and implementing human empowerment programmes, which have delayed the take-off of his campaigns.
“Certainly, the discerning and wise members of the public won’t fritter away a golden opportunity to stick to a performing governor, and go cast their votes for apparent brigands and joy killers.
“Not wanting to downplay the latest threats from the PDP, we thus urge appropriate security agencies to keep the party’s war-mongers on their watchlist.”
Detained Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, forced the Honourable Justice Binta Nyako, to recuse herself from his trial.
Nyako has been the Judge handling Kanu’s case for years.It was her lot to handle the case from the beginning, and she was the Judge who granted Kanu bail.
However, Kanu was forced to escape from the country and back to Britain, which citizen he is, when Soldiers inexplicably invaded his Country home while he was still enjoying his bail. A couple of fatalities, including that of a family dog, was recorded.
But in 2021, the Nigerian Government broke international protocols, and brought Kanu back from Nairobi, Kenya, where he was on a visit.
His trial before Nyako resumed. But since that 2021, all efforts to grant Kanu bail again has failed, and all judgements in his favour which endorsed his release have been disobeyed, including at least one ruling which discharged him of the charges he is facing.
However, on Tuesday, September 24, a frustrated Kanu jumped up from the dock while the trial was ongoing and asked his lead Counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, to sit down and allow him to talk. Protestations did nothing to stop him, eye witness accounts said.
With the microphone in hand, Kanu addressed the Court/the Judge. He strongly expressed no confidence in the Judge and her handling of the case, and asked her to recuse herself from his trial.
Inspite of the spirited efforts made by Government’s Lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, to stop Justice Nyako from recusing herself from case, the Judge stood her ground.
She recused herself.
The case file will now go back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Honourable Justice John Tsoho for reassignment to another Judge.
Kanu was returned to the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, where he has been since 2021.
The fear, however, is that a new Judge is likely to start afresh with the case.
This would have been laughable if it was not embarrassing; if it didn’t make Nigeria look, well, how does one put it without denigrating one’s country?, stupid and ridiculous before the World.
Tell me, how does anybody explain that for months, a man who, allegedly, ripped his poor State of the sum of over N80 billion is “doing guy on top of it?”; is making a ridicule of an anti- graft agency, and of the Courts?
He rubs his untouchable status in, has a good laugh, walks with an infectious swagger, thumbs his nose at the system, and arrogantly asks: “What can you do”?
This is the story of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. Bello the Emperor. The lion of Kogi. The guy who still owns Kogi Government House over one year after he left the seat. The political godfather of Governor Usman Ododo, his successor and godson who bows and grovels before him; the Governor who follows the lion like his Personal Assistant, just short of carrying his bag.
Between 2016 and 2024, Bello, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was the Governor of Kogi State. And what a Governor he was.
In fairness to him, a number of his subjects say he improved the lot of his State in the provision of infrastructure but he stained that by his tempestuous temperament. He bestrode the State like an Emperor. He was intolerant. Intoxicated with power. He dealth with whoever crossed his path. There was no borderline. Deputy Governor. Chief Judge. High profile Traditional Ruler. High profile politicians.
As Kogi State Governor, during the Covid 19 wahala, he disputed the once dreaded disease existed. He barred the vaccine in the State. It was a taboo to mention it. When a Federal Ministry of Health Committee (or whatever) visited Kogi for a sensitization exercise on COVID, he detained members of the Committee at Government House. When he released them, under pressure, he made sure that the sensitization program, for which they came, did not hold. Thugs, strongly alleged to be from Bello, stormed the venue of the exercise, a hospital environment, and reduced everybody to an Usain Bolt.
But that was not Bello’s most weird behavior. Check this out.
During the 2023 National Assembly Election, to stop Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, now a Senator, from winning, he blocked the road leading to her area with very high heaps of sand. He defended his crude action by saying it was for security reasons; that it was to stop thugs from assessing the area. When INEC declared his preferred candidate winner, the Courts saw through the charade and returned Akpoti-Uduaghan duly elected.
However, nothing beats all the above more than the unsavory dish Bello has been serving us these past few months.
This, as you know, started when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, invited Bello to its office for some clarifications on the finances of Kogi State under his watch. If you have been following events in the country since former President Olusegun Obasanjo established the EFCC, you would noticed that every former State Governor, almost, has come under the searchlight of the Commission. It has become so familiar that it is, almost, a crime to be a State Governor. It is like, from Government House, the next destination is EFCC.
Yahaya Bello
Here’s the ritual.
They are invited. They go. They get interrogated.
They get detained. They are arraigned before a Federal High Court. They are granted bail. And, “fiam”, they go on to live their lavish lifestyles. They become political godfathers. Or end up at the Senate. The irony: they take part in the screening and confirmation of any new EFCC boss. Ask the Commission’s former boss, Ibrahim Magu. But perhaps, the most interesting was that of the immediate past Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Just before the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle left office, Bawa was on his neck. He gave Matawalle notice of his imminent arrest once he leaves the Governor’s seat. Matawalle fought back, and heaped bribery allegations against Bawa. To cut the long story short, what Bawa wished on Matawalle soon became his lot. Bawa was sacked from office, detained for many months, while Matawalle was appointed a Minister to no less a Ministry than Defence!
But Emperor Bello refused to follow this path of former Governors. Following it, he felt, would strip him of his Emperor status.
So, to keep his ego, Bello decided to make a mockery of two very important institutions in our country – the Judiciary and the EFCC. Now, no thanks to him, not a few people are calling for the sack of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. They are calling for a total reorganization of EFCC, and they are holding the leadership of the anti-graft agency responsible for Nigeria’s current embarrassment.
Here’s why.
The EFCC had invited Bello soon after he left office as Governor to help clear some grey areas in the financial status of Kogi State under him. Bello ignored the invitation for as many times as it was extended. Instead, he had his eyes on the National Chairmanship of the APC, just after his aborted ambition of running for the Presidential seat of Nigeria. See, the Emperor seriously wanted to extend his kingdom from Kogi to the whole of Nigeria!
But I digress. I was talking about how and why Bello put us in this sorry situation, a situation where the World is looking at us with mouth open.
So, Bello refused to answer to the EFCC summons. Frustrated, after months of waiting, EFCC Operatives, in April, tracked him to his Abuja residence. They cased the house. But Bello refused to give himself up. Then, his “boy-boy”, Governor Ododo arrived, went into the house, and after conferring with Bello, Ododo spirited him away while the EFCC Operatives looked on helplessly. The Governor has immunity, and nobody could have stopped his car to arrest Bello.
Now, in more civilized countries, that should have marked the end of Ododo’s political journey, his Governorship. He would have been forced to resign as a Governor for helping a suspect evade the law. But not here. Instead, Ododo, allegedly, kept Bello in a safe house, to apparently, the knowledge of Ododo’s Security details.
Nobody saw Bello again. When the EFCC arraigned him before a Federal High Court, he refused to show up. For about three times, he shunned the Court even when his legal team assured the he would appear.
At a point, he asked that he be arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lokoja. He had a choice!
Before then, the EFCC Chairman had offered Bello a VIP treatment. He told Bello he would be allowed to drive into the EFCC Headquarters through the gate only he, the Chairman, uses. He offered that Bello’s interrogation would be on his (Chairman’s) floor.
Now, dear reader, compare the offers to the treatment given to former two-time Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano. Obiano’s picture, in boxers and singlet, while at the EFCC Headquarters, went viral on Social Media.
Yet Bello rejected the VIP treatment.
He went on to give another reason.
This time, he said an unnamed woman had so blackmailed him before the EFCC that he would just be locked up. Even when the Presidency urged him to surrender to the EFCC, Bello was not moved.
As this cat and mouse game continued, the EFCC declared Bello wanted. He became a fugitive in his own country. The lion was suddenly afraid of his own shadow. He disappeared. Nobody could trace him. This, also, put a question mark on the capabilities of Nigeria’s Security Agencies. How did Bello disappear just like that?, not a few people wondered.
Embarrassed,
the EFCC Boss took it personal, almost. Bello’s shenanigan was too much for him. He swore that even if it was the last thing he would do, he must arrest and prosecute Bello.
But days stretched to weeks, and weeks to months. No sign or sight of Bello. Hopes were lost. Perhaps, he is a good student of Professor Wole Soyinka, and fled the Country through the famous “NADECO way”. Or, perhaps, the late “Alams way” who, allegedly, dressed like a woman and escaped from London back to Bayelsa.
But this other Wednesday morning, Bello appeared. Dressed in white, he was resplendent. Clean. Relaxed. Fresh. Well fed. And he headed to the EFCC Headquarters.
Bello did not go quietly. He went with a lot of pomp. A convoy of SUVs was his choice of transportation. And in toe was Ododo, Kogi Governor, who also wore white to complement his forever-boss.
Both of them strolled in casually, hand-in-hand. Bello was bright and all smiles. He was not nervous. You would expect that one who had treated the EFCC like an irritable mosquito, one who has an N80b alleged fraudulent case hanging on his head, would look sober. But no. Bello walked in arrogantly; without a care in the world.
That’s when the unexpected happened. The inexplicable drama. The confusion. There are two sides to this embarrassing joke. But they tell the same unbelievable story. A story of shock. A story of disbelief. A story of wonderment. A story that, well, leave more questions than answers. ‘Was it juju?, many wondered’
According to Bello’s Media Office, its Principal, out of goodwill, and in consultation with his family and associates, decided to, finally, report to the EFCC. The statement said he reported because he had nothing to hide, no case to answer, and because he was a good citizen who has a lot of respect for the rule of law. Imagine. They had the temerity to say Bello has respect for the rule of law. This is a man who had scorned court judgments, summons, and EFCC’s invitations.
And lest I forget, we were, also, reminded that Bello was the first Governor to set up an anti-corruption agency in his State. Great. In any case, the bottomline: They said he was with the EFCC.
But before anybody could digest this Bello’s “goodwill”, the EFCC issued a statement that Bello was not in its custody. The statement never quite said whether he was at its headquarters or not. They said he was still a wanted man. Bello’s end responded with “perish the thought.” They said that Bello was at the EFCC’s office, but was asked to leave. He wrote no statement. He was asked no questions. He was just asked to go home.
As we were trying to make head or tail out of this drama, the EFCC confused us the more. They stormed Kogi State Governor’s Lodge Abuja in the night in search of Bello. They, allegedly, fired live bullets. What if the “boy-boy” Governor was hurt, or even killed. I thought Ododo, like all Governors, has immunity, and his lodge, therefore, off-limits. Now, the Kogi House of Assembly is alleging that by invading the Governor’s Lodge in search of Bello, and by, allegedly, firing gunshots, the EFCC was on an “assassination” mission! Not true, of course, but what if there was an accident?
The questions are: Was Yahaya Bello at the EFCC’s office? If so, why was he not arrested? Was he not the same man the Commission declared wanted?
The EFCC’s explanation as to why he was not arrested confounds.
Not putting its name to the explanation, but letting the Media, especially, the Social Media, run away with quoting “reliable sources”, the EFCC pleaded guilty of allowing somebody on its wanted list to walk away from them.
Here’s their explanation: That Bello arrived with Ododo in a convoy of SUVs; that the Governor has immunity; that the manner of Bello’s entry to its office was against protocol; that he breached protocol!
My God! Who does those? Who says those? How did Bello’s arrival with Ododo stop EFCC from taking him into custody? Does the Governor’s immunity extend to Bello? What stopped the EFCC from asking the Governor out of its premises while Bello is taken into custody? And, if the Governor offered to stay with his “Oga to continue his boy-boy job”, they should have offered him a chair or a mattress.
If Bello broke protocol, nothing stopped the EFCC from taking him back to the gate to observe the protocols, and walk from the gate back to the reception.
Protocol? When the Chair earlier offered Bello to drive in through a special gate, the gate meant for the Chair only, was that not a breach of protocol? When he phoned Bello to tell him his interrogation would be on his (Chairman’s) floor, was that not a breach of protocol?
I might be wrong. But my reading is that the EFCC was taken aback by Bello’s sudden appearance before it. The authorities were probably upset and embarrassed that Bello denied them the joy, the satisfaction of arresting him, particularly, after he outplayed them in their first attempt to arrest him in April? Would that be why EFCC Operatives invaded the Governor’s Lodge in the night of same day to arrest him? But, again, the fox outplayed them, he out-foxed them. Or, is there something the public is not being told? Is there something the public does not know? Is this a case of the more you look, the less you see? A high profile negotiated appearance for Bello, just for show? Who knows.
Whatever! Bello, the Emperor, the lion-the lion! You try ooo! As the “Gen Zs” in my house would tell me each time I complain about my health: “Nothing do you.”
The former National Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has declared that 2027 May never come into our political lives because the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, has murdered and buried democracy.
Reacting to the charade gubernatorial election last Saturday in Edo state which saw every rule turned upside down to deliver APC candidate at all cost, Prince Secondus said every indication shows clearly that the ruling party is on a mission to murder and bury democracy in Nigeria.
According to the former PDP boss what took place in Edo state last weekend was electoral fraud exhibited without any regard to the rule of law and respect for the voters.
From the results of all the off-circle elections conducted in IMO, Kogi, and Edo states, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is not showing any remorse for the show of shame they conducted in 2023 that threw Nigeria under the bus. And with the shameless boast of the APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje that they will apply the Edo template in other forthcoming off-cycle elections in Ondo and Anambra states, it’s very obvious that 2027 will not even come as the ruling party’s agenda is to create a one-party state by muzzling the opposition.
“The beauty of democracy is the opposing voices that help to check the ruling party but APC is set to ground Nigeria with their misrule yet won’t tolerate variance views.
“Nigeria’s democracy is sitting on the keg of gunpowder because of rigging. If the Edo Election stands it will be difficult to carry on elections in Nigeria going forward”
The election manipulation in Edo state was brazen and it started by harassing and arresting leaders of the opposition and compromising strategic players like the security agencies and electoral officials.
The World is watching the shame we bring to this beautiful form of government that other nations apply to stabilize and develop their countries.
Mohammed Marwa, Chairman, National Drugs And Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has reiterated the Agency’s commitment to disrupt the activities of Drug Cartels in the country.
Marwa said this as the NDLEA nabbed a 48-year old businessman, Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji, who was arrested and convicted barely 16 months for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine was arrested again.
He was intercepted again by Operatives of the NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, Lagos for importing 817 wraps of the same Class A drug weighing 19.40 kilograms with an estimated street value of Four Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Six Million Naira,(N4,656,000,000.00).
Ogbuji was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, on Wednesday 10th May 2023 upon arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.986kg.
He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court 12, Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023 and convicted on 13th July 2023.
Ogbuji was then sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00), which he paid and was set free.
The Court also ordered the forfeiture of the seized 1.986 kilograms cocaine, his international passport, 14 US dollars and 9000 Uganda shillings found on him at the time of his arrest.
Not done with crime, Ogbuji was again arrested at the Lagos airport on Wednesday 18th September 2024 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos.
The suspect had approached the joint examination table with a black travelling bag which was searched by an NDLEA operative who cleared the luggage.
In a dubious move, Ogbuji sneaked back to the carousel area to put inside the cleared bag a black backpack he left on the conveyor’s belt.
As he made his way out of the arrival hall, vigilant NDLEA officers intercepted him and subjected him to a second search.
It was then large wraps of excreted cocaine were found concealed inside the backpack hidden in the black travelling bag that was earlier found with the suspect.
A total of 817 pellets of cocaine excreted by many traffickers in Addis Ababa weighing 19.40kg belonging to different members of a drug cartel was recovered.
During interview with the suspect, he stated that he initially left the backpack containing the drug at the carousel area as a strategy to beat NDLEA operatives, adding that he never knew there could be a secondary search since he had presented his bag for search previously and nothing incriminating was found.
He claimed he had to procure a new international passport to continue his criminal trade.
Investigation reveals that Ogbuji is an unrepentant kingpin within the network of drug cartels operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria and others in the West African sub-region like
Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire.
In his reaction to the arrest of Ogbuji, NDLEA Boss, Marwa, commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for an excellent job done, adding that the seizure of such a large consignment of cocaine at the airport is a milestone that will send a strong message to the international drug cartels trying to find footholds in Nigeria.
He said the Agency will continue to work to disrupt the activities of drug cartels operating in the country.
The Abia State authorities on Monday, September 23, 2024, informed that it has concluded plans to start the payment of the N 70,000 new minimum wage to its workforce effective October.
The State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who announced this at the end of the State Executive Council meeting did not however, revealed the template to be used.
The Commissioner noted that the payment will be made to all categories of workers.
The Source reports that the Organized Labour and the Federal Government had negotiated and agreed on a N70,000 monthly minimum wage for workers across the country.
But most states, including Abia, had insisted on further negotiation to arrive at what they can conveniently pay in line with their resources.
The leadership of the Abia State Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, penultimate week, in the wake of the negotiation with the Government, insisted that for workers within grade level I and step I ,the payments of N70,000 minimum is non negotiable.
However, it said the NLC will be amenable to negotiating on issues relating to consequential adjustment .
The Federal Government had last week announced the conclusion of its own discussions on Consequential adjustment ,and has announced that the payment date for the new minimum wage for its workforce will be July 29, 2024.
Prince Kanu stated that the payment of the new minimum wage is in keeping with the administration’s commitment towards improving the welfare of workers in the state.
“Baring any unforseen circumstances ,the Abia state Government will commence the payment of the new minimum wage to its workers from October 2024.
“This is in part to underscore the Government’s commitment to the welfare of Abia workers and in fulfilment of the promise of his Excellency ,the Executive Governor of Abia state Dr Alex Otti, to Abia workers.
“The payment of this minimum wage is in line with the broader agenda .of the Federal Government and has been designed to cut across all categories of workers.”
But the leadership of the NLC in the State is yet to make public, the terms of its agreement with the Government concerning the template to be used.
As the Yorubas celebrate the Yoruba Unity Day, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, has renewed the call for a Yoruba Nation. He lamented the spate of killings of Yoruba, allegedly, by suspected Fulani Bandits and Herdsmen.
Akintoye stated that over 29,000 Yoruba have been murdered. He insists that alleged Fulani Bandits and Herdsmen’s heinous activities such as rape and destruction of farmlands are yet to abate.
The Professor of History emphasized that the ongoing threats to life and livelihood have made separation from Nigeria the only viable option for the Yoruba Nation.
He said: “The only viable and sustainable answer to all this horrible situation is to separate our Yoruba nation from Nigeria, and to establish our own country where we shall be able to exercise our sovereignty to provide security for our land and people, and where we shall be able to run our economy decently in the way that we Yoruba know.
“In the rural areas of our homeland, where probably the majority of our people live, the Fulani people who are determined to seize land for a homeland of their own, are daily killing our people, have killed a roughly estimated 29,000 of our people, are raping our women, kidnapping men, women and children, extorting millions of Naira in ransom for the kidnapped, destroying farms, food barns and villages.”
He also noted that he is not alone urging other Yoruba people to support the self determination struggle
He said, “We are seriously pushing for the separation of our Yoruba nation from Nigeria and the Nigerian disaster is different. Our perception of the Nigerian situation is not self-centred. It is not emotional. It is intellectually sound and realistic. And it is accepted by at least 80 per cent of all our Yoruba at home and in the Diaspora. Objectively, there is good reason to fear now that the Nigerian situation could destroy our Yoruba nation.
“Our kinsman who won election as President of Nigeria is being made to face ever-mounting harassment, including threats of military overthrow, threats of wholesale regional rebellion, and even a defiant declaration of war.” He added.
