₦airaland Forum

Georgry:
Not at all, I am too intelligent to follow a Nigerian party without any iota of ideology blindly, i supported PDP 4 years ago with Oshiomole was playing God father on Obaseki, but 4 years later and Erosion wan carry us for Edo state without any action being taken by the government, the whole of Auchi have only one Bridge at Inumoru street that was constructed by Oshiomole more than 8 years ago, just one hour rain and everywhere will be like a swimming pool, you will see cars all strucked in the middle of the road after a little rain, he's been there for 8 years and he's done nothing about it, bad roads all over the state, inside Benin I saw an heavily pregnant woman in a Keke on a bad road, the way she was waving up and down I pity her, but what you all know how to do is APC vs PDP vs Labour Party, that's pathetic.

Georgry:
I don't care bro, but I reside here and do my businesses here, you can't be in any other place and be telling me what's happening in Edo state because you support PDP, them ddy pay una for this level?

Georgry:
Are you in Edo state? If not just stfu.

Gbogbowa:
You are right brother everything Tinubu supported directly or indirectly against Jonathan will also be carried out against him. Whatever a man soweth he will reap

WALE Edun indulged in some chest beating recently that resulted in headlines assuring Nigerians that the country’s economy has been revamped. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy’s job is tough. Still, he will have more difficulty convincing fellow citizens that things are better since the Bola Tinubu administration took office in May 2023.

After the Federal Executive Council meeting on June 26, the minister justified his claims with figures concerning the country’s debt stock, which declined by 15 per cent in dollar terms and should improve Nigeria’s ratings and give confidence to investors. However, domestic debt rose 25 per cent in naira terms due to exchange rate movements and fresh borrowings of N8 trillion.

One important point made was the securitisation of the controversial Ways and Means advances and that the government has so far refrained from seeking funding from the Central Bank to settle external debt service obligations, fund share capital cash calls, or pay salaries.

Edun reported improvements in revenue collection and expenditure controls due to the deployment of new technologies and the collection of operating surpluses of revenue-generating agencies by law under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The minister admitted that the improvements outlined were a matter of perception. For him, “If we want to be positive, all we will say is that the glass is half full, we are halfway there. If not, we can be negative and try and say the glass is half empty.”

For the ordinary Nigerian, there is no glass. It is the way of politics and politicians to make promises when seeking office only to fall short or struggle to deliver when they land in the saddle.

Nigerians are disappointed by the performance of the Tinubu administration despite the high level of goodwill that heralded its inception. It inherited a battered economy from an incompetent predecessor, but Tinubu vowed not to make excuses.

While the government would be right in taking steps to correct the anomalies of the past, citizens cannot afford to wait forever to feel the impact. The removal of petrol and electricity subsidies and the devaluation of the naira continue to take a devastating toll on businesses, lives, and livelihoods.

Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 after subsidy removal up from 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter.

Food inflation has topped 40 per cent since March and headline inflation rose to 33.95 per cent in May up from 33.65 per cent in April.

Prices of staples have risen by an average of 200 per cent within the past year. The World Bank projects that the poverty rate in Nigeria will climb to 40 per cent by the end of 2024.

Companies have been hit hard. The CBN hiked the basic interest rate by 775 basis points over the past year to tame inflation without avail. Several multinationals have shut down and international oil companies have scaled down operations due to high operational losses.

Nigerians are not having a good time and is not the time for self-adulation.

The government must stop giving the impression that it has excess funds created by naira devaluation with lavish spending that seems unabating despite public outcry. The government remains large, unwieldy, and expensive.


The Senate has said it would approve a new presidential jet if requested. These are some reasons why organised labour finds it difficult to agree with the government on the new national minimum wage.

Tinubu has rolled out the National Construction and Household Support Programme to cover all geo-political zones. Under the plan, which will cost N1 trillion, the government will prioritise the construction of major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar, Lagos-Sokoto highways and the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line as well as the Ibadan-Abuja section of the Lagos-Kano railway. The projects are touted to help the agricultural and agro-industrial zones, but funding plans are vague.

About 100,000 families from each of the 36 states will get cash handouts of N50,000 for three months to help with the cost-of-living woes. These are reactionary moves and the criteria for cash handouts are not clear. Previous disbursements have been smeared with corruption.

Revamping the country’s finances and economy requires firm and targeted measures such as improving security for any meaningful boost in agricultural production and stopping oil theft. Farming has become a dangerous occupation with thousands of farmers abandoning their farms due to banditry.

They are forced to pay up to N4 million to plant or harvest crops with the option of death, a huge disincentive to farmers. Nigeria loses about 400,000 barrels per day to theft. This is more than $12.7 billion or N19 trillion a year. Nigeria can no longer afford this.

Small and medium enterprises form the bedrock of any economy but have also been badly impacted by lower purchasing power, high cost of credit, high energy cost, infrastructure deficit, and multiple taxes. The N150 billion set aside for SMEs and manufacturers by this administration is highly inadequate.

More relief and incentives should come with tariffs and tax cuts to stimulate activity. The tax and fiscal reforms targeted at business growth have been unduly delayed. There seems to be too much focus on revenue drive rather than strengthening wealth creators who can be taxed.

The Chinese economic revolution was built on the back of SMEs driven by deliberate government policies and actions. In China, SMEs play a key role in maintaining economic dynamism and social stability and boosting innovation and entrepreneurship. SMEs contribute approximately 50 per cent of tax revenue, 60 per cent of GDP, 70 per cent of technological innovation, and 80 per cent of urban employment. SMEs created 75 per cent of incremental industrial output values in China since the 1990s and have dominated various industrial sectors ranging from food, paper making and printing, garment, wood and furniture, and the plastics industry.

For this and other sectors to thrive and create jobs, the Tinubu administration must address the power sector crisis by investing in and recalibrating the national grid. It is incongruous that Nigeria has an installed capacity of 14,000 megawatts and was only able to generate 5,000MW for the first time in three years in May due to a failure to upgrade transmission capacity resulting in frequent grid collapses. Dangote Industries and its subsidiaries alone generate 1,500MW for internal consumption.

The Federal Government can follow India’s example by driving massive investment in the telecoms sector due to its linkages across other sectors. This is vital for economic growth, innovation, and productivity. Experts have established that telecoms have forward and backward linkages with education, banking, manufacturing, transportation, retail and commerce, healthcare, aviation, and services, facilitating efficiency, product design and innovation, safety, and access to remote services.

The spillover effects of huge investments in telecoms have propelled India to the fastest growing large economy at 7.3 per cent, driven a 75 per cent rise in per capita income to $2,730 over the last 10 years, pushed IT exports to $178 billion and remittances to $109 billion.

Tinubu set a target to grow the economy to $1 trillion by 2030, with a projected average yearly growth rate of 7.0 and 8.0 per cent. Nigeria’s GDP growth slowed to 2.98 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 3.5 per cent in the previous quarter. This underperforms sub-Saharan African peers such as Ghana and Kenya. Huge investments in infrastructure, power, oil and gas, technology, and the service economy are required to make this a reality.

Nigerians deserve better as democratic governance marks 25 uninterrupted years. Tinubu should do more to build confidence and reverse the current atmosphere of despair.

heysquare:
I don't know why you people won't stop mentioning how Tinubu against Jonathan reelection when both Tinubu and Jonathan are still best padi till tomorrow. Millions of El Rufai can't stop Tinubu take note of that especially if he suddenly have support of those of his haters in the past. Won ma lule! ( They will all fall) Like that of 2023

Georgry:
You no dey Edo state but you dey choose between pdp and APC because of politics, Obaseki is easily the most hated governor in Edo state, in fact since rain fall day before yesterday everywhere still full with water now.

alanto:
You just dey copy paste. Where was Obaseki where anwo started paying 70k?
After the Edo coming election we'll know if the state can sustain the 70k

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the bomb attack in Borno State, asking the Federal Government not to allow the North East slide back into theater of terrorism.

Atiku in a post on his Verified Facebook page asked the present administration to live up to expectation, accusing government of lacklustre posture in holding firmly to the frontline in the gains made by security operatives.

Atiku said it is a sad development that the “ugly incidents of terrorism are resurfacing and, indeed, metastasising in the North-East.”

According to him, “The reported attack by suicide bombers at a wedding reception, funeral procession, and a hospital on Saturday stands condemned.

“It is unfortunate that much of the pushback that had been achieved against the Boko Haram terror sect are being cancelled, owing mainly to the government’s lacklustre posture to hold firmly on the frontline.

“It is thus important to call on the federal authorities to wake up to their responsibility and to make sure that the North-East does not slide back into a theatre of terrorism and extreme violence.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate in the last election also expressed condolences to the families of victims of these attacks, saying, “it is my prayer that God grants a peaceful repose to the souls of the departed.”

phemray:
Who is Peter OBI in Lagos state if the churches and Christians didn't decided to waste Thier votes as a result of Muslim Muslim before they later realized it's gbajue. Religion is never important than competence. But you saw the governorship result gap.

bixton:
You succeeded in writing a ove letter to a lost old gf.
If the North brings a Northern candidate, that is their cup of tea. They will have to rule the North.
The South will do a complete 2 tenure of 8 years. We all know that PO and the LP will not allign with North for any position other than the No. 1 office and the North won't be agreeing to such.

phemray:
Very funny. It's only because you can't really understand that Jagaban is a grassroot person. his style, he will not talk but his results soon will speak for him at the grassroot with massive love. The underground works ( undergoing legislation) is massive and the results will be loud and massively aploaded . For El-rufai and co. They are all working for him, just watch.

Alliswell248:
Too much hero beer courtesy of the agulu man is disturbing you.

U would be alright.

tunjilana:
You all dont learn. Buhari, a northerner got us here, Tinubu is only facing a deep mess that started in the Buhari regime, our currency collapse by almost 300% from 190 to 745. Yet these ones here will come back again, scatter things further and when it rotates back to the south, it will be another clamor to chase him out.

Redhot111:
You mean Tinubu was dobaleing for democracy

CrushObituaries:
No man born out of woman can unseat Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not even bitter grievingory OBItuary born out of evil spirit

The meeting between former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Thursday sparked fresh speculations that some northern political bigwigs are plotting a coalition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.

While it wasn’t unusual to see El-Rufai and Kwankwaso together, preceding events, which had seen many northern political heavyweights turn the Daura home of former President Muhammadu Buhari into a sort of Mecca, have raised eyebrows among political observers.

It would be recalled that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accompanied by former governors of Sokoto and Adamawa states, Senator Aminu Tambuwal and Jibrilla Bindow, paid a visit to Buhari, which was tagged a Sallah homage. Twenty-four hours after Atiku’s visit, El-Rufai also visited the former president, while a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, visited a few hours later.

Reacting to this, Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, criticised it as an attempt to revive Buhari’s political influence and mobilise support for the 2027 presidential election, cautioning against stirring Arewa sentiment without regard for the potential chaos it could cause.

Analysts believe that with both El-Rufai and Kwankwaso currently having grievances with the President Tinubu-led government, their meeting may be part of a strategic scheme to rally around a formidable candidate to unseat the president in 2027.

While President Tinubu has reportedly made overtures to woo Kwankwaso to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the former Kano governor’s political enmity with his successor and current national chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is said to be among the obstacles.

It’s believed that Kwankwaso still harbours some misgivings towards President Tinubu over what those close to him called a betrayal of trust. After the 2023 presidential election, it was widely reported that Tinubu had offered Kwankwaso a ministerial position, but this did not materialise when the list was announced.

His recent ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involving an alleged N2.5 billion pension fraud and campaign finances, has further complicated their relationship.

The situation is similar with El-Rufai, who many believe was dealt a more embarrassing blow after he was nominated by the president for a cabinet position, but a last-minute security report led to his non-clearance by the National Assembly. His loyalists believe the president might have orchestrated the “embarrassment” to diminish the former Kaduna governor’s political clout.

EL-Rufai’s recent ordeal with his anointed successor, Governor Uba Sani, which has seen the state Assembly indict him in an alleged N432 billion misappropriation of state funds during his tenure from 2015 to 2023, adds to his troubles.

Before his meeting with Kwankwaso on Thursday, El-Rufai had been in the news over 2027 speculations recently. His meeting with some political leaders across different parties in March had fuelled speculations about his future political plans. He had earlier met with the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Musa Gabam, and had another meeting at the Abuja residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, a chieftain of the SDP, and other party leaders.

Also present were Senator Teslim Folarin, the APC gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2023 general elections, and Senator Nazif Suleiman, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Bauchi State, as well as Alhaji Aminu DanAgundi, a political heavyweight and kingmaker in Kano State. The meeting at Senator Gada’s home came a few days after El-Rufai hosted a gathering at his Abuja residence, which included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam (a chieftain of the APC), Shehu Musa Gabam, and others, for a Ramadan iftar (the breaking of fast).

Some analysts believe that with President Tinubu’s desire to consolidate power before 2027, some aggrieved politicians may be using these meetings to stir the hornet’s nest, while others suggest the president may be wary of taking them lightly, considering how similar meetings led to the formation of the APC in 2014, ending the PDP’s 16-year uninterrupted rule.

Those in the latter category believe that the moves by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to lead a charge for a coalition ahead of the 2027 polls may serve as a launch pad for a major political upset.

Kwankwaso’s meeting with El-Rufai, a rescue mission, says political ally

Meanwhile, Hashimu Dungurawa, the chairman of the NNPP in Kano State and a close ally of Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, said the recent meeting between El-Rufai and Kwankwaso was a brotherly reunion of two progressive politicians.

Commenting on a possible political alliance between the two, Dungurawa said it was too early to tell but admitted that the two are progressive politicians on a rescue mission.

He said, “Their target is to rescue the Northwest, rescue the northern part, and, by extension, rescue Nigeria.”

He noted that it was evident from their performances in various offices that both leaders have the people at heart and have many things in common, including integrity and the experience to lead the country to El Dorado.

The visit to El-Rufai, he said, is a testimony that northern political leaders are together and will collaborate to rescue Nigeria.

Commenting on the probe of Kwankwaso over the NNPP’s campaign funds by the EFCC, Dungurawa said those who brought the matter to the anti-graft agency have been expelled from the NNPP.

He said they were being used by political opponents to distract Kwankwaso, who is determined to sanitise the system to make it work for the people.

The chairman said no amount of blackmail will frustrate Kwankwaso, whose rising political profile is causing fear among his opponents.

Efforts to get a comment from the media aide to El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, on the agenda of the meeting between his principal and Kwankwaso were not successful. Also, Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, was also unavailable.

NyamiriSlayer:
You must be eebow

KushLyon:
How is it insensitive? People hate hearing the truth and what she said is the gospel truth; we are too patient