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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, has blamed the worsening insecurity, economic hardship, high cost of food, and unemployment rate on President Bola Tinubu’s policies.


PDP NEC expressed concern over the act of terrorism, violence and mindless killings under Tinubu’s administration.

These were part of the resolutions reached during the former ruling party’s 98th NEC meeting held at its National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.


A communique issued at the end of the meeting reads partly: “NEC expresses concern over the ill-implemented policies of the insensitive APC administration, leading to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country.

“NEC expresses serious apprehensions over the spate of acts of terrorism and violence including the escalated cases of mindless killings, mass abduction of innocent Nigerians and marauding of communities in various parts of the country.

“NEC condemns the insensitivity, nonchalance, incompetence and arrogance in failure of the APC administration which continues to conduct itself in a manner that shows that it has no iota of interest or commitment towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.”

The Nigerian Navy (NN) said on Wednesday that it has arrested a total of 75 stowaways who attempted to travel out of the country through criminal and unconventional ways of hiding under the rudder of cargo ships sailing out of the nation’s waters.

While decrying the menace, the Navy warned of the dangers of attempting to travel as a stowaway which include severe legal consequences and significant health risks such as negative effects of harsh weather conditions, lack of food and water, injuries and even death.

Director of Naval Information, Commodore A Adams-Aliu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, noting that the force is concerned by the upsurge in cases of stowaways in Nigerian waters.

He said, “For clarity, the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) defines a stowaway as someone who is secreted on a ship, or in cargo without the consent of the shipowners or the master or any other responsible person.

“Migration as a stowaway is illegal, dangerous and is considered a security threat to ship-owners.

“In line with the strategic directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the NN deployed advanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) equipment to vector Quick Response Teams (QRT) to all parts of Nigeria’s territorial waters.

“Consequently, the NN apprehended about 75 stowaways from August 2023 to April 2024.

Specifically, the details of stowaways extracted by the NN between August 2023 and April 2024 are shown in a table seen by Vanguard.

August 2023, Vessel, MSC MARTHA, 5 Stowaways apprehended in Lagos Channel, September 2023, Vessel Charminar Panama, 8 stowaways arrested at Lagos Fairway Buoy, October 2023, Vessel, Gwangzhou Highway Panama, 11 stowaways arrested at Lagos Channel, November 2023, Vessel, NATAL, 8 stowaways arrested at Lagos Fairway Buoy

In December 2023, Container Vessel Teme, 4 stowaways arrested at Lagos Channel, December 2023, Vessel, Grande Guinea, 2 stowaways arrested at Lagos Fairway Buoy, December 2023

MT UOG CONSTANTINE, 14 stowawys arrested at Lagos Channel

In January 2024, Vessel, MT FRONT ALTIERS, 3 stowaways arrested at Lagos Fairway Buoy, February 2024, Vessel MT CHIP, 4 stowaways arrested at Lagos Channel, March 2024, Vessel, MT Advantage Love, 3 stowaways arrested at Lagos Channel, March 2024, Vessel, MT Lysias Valleta, 9 stowaways arrested at Lagos Fairway Buoy and April 2024, Vessel MT PRINCESS ERIN, 4 stowaways arrested at Lagos Channel bringing the total to 75 between August 2023 – April 2024.

Commodore Adams-Aliu continued, “During the operations, the QRT carefully extracted the stowaways who had concealed themselves inside the rudder compartment of the vessels.

“All apprehended stowaways were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in accordance with the established protocols for further necessary action.

“The NN wishes to enlighten the general public on the dangers of attempting to travel as a stowaway.

“These include severe legal consequences and significant health risks such as negative effects of harsh weather conditions, lack of food and water, injuries and even death.

“Hence, the NN uses this opportunity to discourage Nigerian youths from embarking on such misadventures.”

The Federal Government said the Nigerian economy is moving in the right direction as policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have started slowing down food inflation.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday.

The finance minister spoken from Washington DC where he is attending the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.

Edun said himself and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, are in Washington DC to showcase the progress made so far in the Nigerian economy.

He said, “The Economic Team of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is here to showcase the progress so far of his bold, courageous and strategic reforms of the Nigerian economy in order to get it stabilise and get investment in to get it growing again.

“We’ve all seen what has happened in terms of stabilising the exchange rate and inflation which is headed in the right direction.

“If you look closely at the numbers that came out yesterday (Monday), you will see that there is a slowing of the rate of increase of food inflation, things are moving in the right direction, government revenues are up, even oil revenues are up but not as much as we will like.”

Recall that prices of food and basic commodities have been on the rise in the last weeks, as Nigerians witness toughest economic crises sparked by policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

On Monday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that the food inflation rate in March 2024 stood at 3.62%, showing a decline of 0.17% from February 2024, when it was 3.79%.

But the report showed that for year-on-year, food inflation reached 40.01% in March 2024, marking an increase of 15.56 percentage points from 24.45% in March 2023.

The NBS said Nigeria’s inflation rate jumped to 33.20% in March 2024 compared to February 2024 headline inflation rate which was 31.70%.

The inflation for March 2024 was largely driven by increase in food such as garri, millet, yam, bread coupled with energy and housing costs.

The inflation report by the NBS followed the hike of Nigeria’s interest rate from 22.75% to 24.75% by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the apex bank.

But, the March inflation rate was released at a time when measures by the apex bank to strengthen the naira against foreign exchange have seen some positive results.


The naira has appreciated against the dollar in recent weeks, gaining over 40%, from about N1,900/$ to about N1,100/$1 now.

Meanwhile, as the naira rebounds, Nigerians expect significant reduction in the prices of food and basic commodities but this hasn’t been the case with cost of living still high.

The Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has announced new corruption charges and maladministration against an exGovernor Abdullahi Ganduje.

According to the commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, investigations uncovered the diversion of N51.3 billion from local government funds to unauthorized individuals during Ganduje’s tenure.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday, Magaji alleged that the Ganduje administration withdrew N1 billion monthly from state coffers before its tenure ended in May 2023, purportedly for road renovation, but diverted to Bureau de Change operators instead.

He also cited a case involving N4 billion transferred to an agricultural company from Kano’s consolidated revenue account.



“What is happening now is a tip of the iceberg. As I am talking to you, we are investigating a case whereby N51.3bn local government funds were directly taken from the government coffers (and) sent to other individuals, and we traced it to people.

“We have filed a series of cases. We have a case whereby N1bn in April last year (2023) was removed from government coffers under the allocation of renovating 30 roads in the metropolis, and it was taken away and sent to Bureau de Change.

“We have a case of N4bn whereby it was sent from the consolidated revenue account of Kano State to an agricultural company. All these cases are before the court,” he said.

The state government has said it will arraign Ganduje, alongside his wife and son, for money laundering, later this week.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has not cleared anyone involved in the ongoing probe of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, which led to the suspension of Betta Edu, the minister.

In January, President Bola Tinubu had ordered the suspension of Edu and Halima Shehu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Authority (NSIPA).

The president had ordered the anti-graft agencies to go after the individuals and their agencies so as to get to the root of the matter.

Many Nigerians had complained that no update had been given on the probe months after the president’s order.

However, in the March edition of the agency’s monthly e-Magazine titled: EFCC Alert, Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the anti-graft commission, had said N30 billion had been recovered from the probe while 50 bank were under probe.

But on Sunday, spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, clarified that its investigations that yielded recovery of N30bn was not about individuals but about the intricate web of fraudulent practices in the system.

The anti-graft agency also revealed that the recovered sum was part of the fraudulent dealings involving COVID-19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot that was released to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development.

While disclosing this to journalists in Abuja, he explained that the fund was released by the Federal Government to execute its poverty alleviation mandate.

Oyewale, who further clarified that the officials of Humanitarian ministry, including Edu, who were invited by the commission as part of the probe have not been cleared by the anti-graft agency.

“The EFCC has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“At the outset of investigations, past and suspended officials of the Humanitarian Ministry were invited by the Commission and investigations into the alleged fraud involving them have yielded the recovery of N32.7billion and $445,000 so far.

“Discreet investigations by the EFCC have opened other fraudulent dealings involving Covid -19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot released to the Ministry by the Federal Government to execute its poverty alleviation mandate.

“Investigations have also linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the Ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance. It is instructive to stress that the Commission’s investigations are not about individuals.

“The EFCC is investigating a system and intricate web of fraudulent practices. Banks involved in the alleged fraud are being investigated. Managing Directors of the indicted banks have made useful statements to investigators digging into the infractions.

“Additionally, the EFCC has not cleared anyone allegedly involved in the fraud. Investigations are ongoing and advancing steadily. The public is enjoined to ignore any claim to the contrary,” Oyewale said.

Amid the battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between the camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubukar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, there are indications that the governors elected on the party’s platform are actually warming up to seize control of the party’s structures, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

The party has scheduled its National Executive Committee meeting for Thursday, April 18. THISDAY gathered that the governors, who are the major financiers of the party are spoiling for a showdown with the two party’s chieftains. A source close to the PDP Governors’ Forum, who is privy to the development, told THISDAY that the governors believe that they deserve to control the party due to their enormous contributions to the running of the party.

“What is Wike and Atiku contributing to the day-to-day running of the party? he queried. The source added: “You watch out what will happen on the day of the NEC meeting; he who pays the piper will dictate the tune of the music that day,” he added.THISDAY gathered that the governors are holding a series of meetings ahead of the NEC meeting to decide the fate of the party.

Another source close to the PDP Governors’ Forum said: “The governors have their own plans, and will not allow Atiku or Wike to control the party. The PDP governors would be holding their meetings from Tuesday and Wednesday and thereafter come up with their own position. “We are a party in opposition; the governors are our collegiate leaders, unlike when PDP was in power and the President is the leader of the party. So, no single person can control the party,” the source stated

THISDAY gathered that the first meeting of the governors comes up on Wednesday. “No matter the position or alignment of the National Working Committee (NWC), it would be difficult for them to execute any plan without the full cooperation of the governors because they fund the day- to- day running of the party.“The governors maintain and service the party structures in the states as the leaders of the party. It would be absolutely difficult for them to remain on the sidelines and allow Atiku and Wike to control the party structures at the states and at the centre.“These governors are politicians and have interests to protect.


“For instance, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Moammed has presidential ambition and this is common knowledge; therefore, he is not expected to fold his hands and allow Wike and Atiku to determine his fate“There are other governors who will be concluding their second term in office as governors; they have other political interests and therefore it cannot be said that Atiku and Wike would be alwed to control the structures.

“Look at what is happening in Rivers State; do you think that Governor Simi Fubara will just look and Wike to control the party in the state?“Already, what is happening in the state will happen at the national level. So, it is not fair to say that Wike and Atiku will have the control of the party,” the source explained.

Meanwhile, a new twist has emerged in the race to replace the suspended National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as his planned replacement may be an exercise in futility unless the suspended national chairman voluntarily resigns or withdraws the appeal he instituted in the courts.Lawyers in the PDP told THISDAY that it is a common knowledge that no action can be taken on any action pending at any of the courts, be it appeal or at the Supreme Court.Court Adjourns to April 16 on Motions to Stop Secondus, Omehia


Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 16 for the hearing of a suit seeking to stop former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, from participating in the party’s NEC meeting.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, also fixed the same date in a separate suit filed to bar former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia, from attending the PDP’s NEC meeting pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, says the United States of America and the United Kingdom owe the world the responsibility for peace in the Middle East.


Onanuga said the duo should ensure that the Israeli response to Iranian drones and missiles is not disproportionate.

His statement is contained in a post on his X handle on Sunday.


He said the view is his personal opinion and doesn’t come from the Presidency, where he serves.

DAILY POST reported that Israel witnessed an unprecedented air attack from Iran on Saturday, being a retaliation against the Israeli attack on its consul in Syria.

Israelis breathed easier in the early hours of Sunday after an unprecedented air attack from Iranian drones and missiles largely fizzled in the face of the Jewish state’s powerful air defenses with assistance from the U.S. military and other allies.


However, Onanuga says the conflict could degenerate, urging the UK, and the US to mediate.

According to him, there is a need for caution all round, adding that, with Gaza yet unresolved, the world does not want another war in the Middle East.

He said: “United States of America and the UK owe the world the responsibility for peace in the Middle East by ensuring that Israeli response to Iranian drones and missiles is not disproportionate. Israel first drew blood by attacking the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing some Iranian military officials. Iran promised some retaliation against Israel which it did Saturday by raining drones and missiles in Israeli direction. Many of them were intercepted. Times of Israel has reported one injury.


“Iran said it has concluded its retaliation to Israel’s first attack. But Israel is planning a massive response. With Jordan, Syria and other countries closing their airspace, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani threatened a firm response to any country that “opens its airspace or territory for attacks on Iran by Israel”. This conflict can degenerate.

“The UK, USA should mediate. There is need for caution all round. With Gaza yet unresolved, the world does not want another war in the Middle East.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Aisha Galadima, one of the political associates of the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in Kaduna.

Galadima’s arrest, it was gathered followed a post on her Facebook page, criticising the incumbent Governor of the state, Senator Uba Sani.

It would be recalled that Governor Sani recently disclosed the heavy debt burden left behind by his predecessor.

The female politician was picked up by the operatives from her Kaduna Tudun Wada residence on Sunday afternoon.

One of Aisha Galadima’s brothers confirmed the arrest in a telephone conversation with an online platform.

“Aisha has just been arrested by DSS at her Tudun Wada residence in Kaduna,” the unamed brother told the online newspaper.

Efforts to confirm the arrest from the DSS was not successful as at the time of filing this report.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, has disclosed that the revenues of government-owned enterprises, ministries, departments and agencies increased to N835.70bn in February.

This figure indicates a growth of N681.45bn or 441.78 per cent from N154.25bn MDAs remitted in the same period of 2022.

The minister stated this during a presentation titled “Reconstructing the Economy for Growth, Investment and Climate Resilience Development,” delivered at the Lagos Business School Breakfast Club, which was obtained by our correspondent.

Edun said the government had automated a two-time daily sweep of 50 per cent of MDAs and GOEs internally generated revenue since January 2, 2024, leading to more remitted earnings.

“There is an increasing revenue contribution of MDAs and GOEs, growing from 154.25 in February 2023 to 835.70bn in February 2024 through an automated two-times daily sweep of 50 per cent of MDAs and GOEs IGR since January 2, 2024,” he stated.

Recall that in December 2023, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance, directed all MDAs to remit 100 per cent of their internally generated revenue to the Sub-Recurrent Account, which is a sub-component of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The government stated in a circular that the directive was to improve revenue generation, fiscal discipline, accountability, and transparency in the management of government financial resources and prevent waste and inefficiencies.

“All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that are fully funded through the annual Federal Government budget (receiving personnel, overhead, and capital allocation) and on the schedule of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and any addition by the Federal Ministry of Finance should remit 100 per cent of their internally generated revenue to the Sub-Recurrent Account, which is a sub-component of the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” the circular read.

The finance minister emphasised that augmenting revenues was a crucial aspect of a comprehensive execution strategy aimed at achieving a 78 per cent year-on-year rise in budgeted revenue for 2024.

He underscored the importance of implementing an upgraded government revenue assurance model, adding that the target was to reduce the budget deficit from 6.1 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 3.9 per cent.

“We have set out a robust execution plan for a 78 per cent y-o-y increase in budgeted revenue in 2024, but implementing enhanced the government’s revenue assurance model is critical with a target budget deficit of 3.9 per cent of GDP from 6.1 per cent in 2023.”

Edun underscored the government’s strategy of increasing the pricing of government securities, which had successfully attracted dollar inflows but at a higher cost to the government.

He further stated that the government had revamped the process for the commencement of 2024 capital expenditure payments by MDAs and GOEs through direct payments to contractors and employed prudent measures to minimise redundancy and reduce leakages through digitisation.

He said, “We have taken prudent expenditure measures by minimising unnecessary redundancy, reducing leakages through digitisation and eliminating inefficiencies. There is also a revamped process for the commencement of 2024 capital expenditure payments for MDAs and GOEs, which is through direct payments to contractors while promoting a government-wide cost curtailment culture across all MDAs & GOEs.”

Outrage, yesterday greeted the Federal Government’s proposal to charge N3,000 on average per toll gate when the Lagos-Calabar coastal road is completed.


Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, confirmed the figure, yesterday when he was featured on a programme on Channels Television.

Among those who kicked against the move and other details of the road, yesterday were the 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; the Labour Party, LP; Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP; the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF; and transport operators, among others.

Umahi said: “Let me leave out the infrastructure along the corridor. Let me just concentrate on the tolls and I put 50,000 vehicles as an average passage on these toll points per day,” Umahi said on the breakfast show.

“I put N3,000 as an average cost. N3,000 because the cars could be like N1,500, and the big trucks could be like N5,000. “So, we put an average. In 15 years, you make back the money,” he said, dismissing calls that the cost budgeted for the road was high.

According to him, there will be security at the toll gates and some facilities like filling stations.

“At every point of tolling, we also have toll station where we have a kind of relief activities — restaurants, filling stations, parking lots, and so on and so forth. So, people will now have confidence. In these sections, we intend to put CCTV all through,” Umahi said.

Landmark property’ll be intact, no job’ll be lost

The Minister of Works also said the property of Landmark Beach Resort will not be demolished for the 700-kilometre coastal road project, adding that no jobs will be lost.


His words: “I was at Landmark, yesterday (Wednesday), to see what was going on. Despite claims that 12,000 jobs will be lost, I told Landmark that no jobs will be lost by what we’re doing. What could be lost is the shoreline and the people that go to play at the shoreline. His facilities will be intact because we reduced the corridor by 50 metres.

“I saw that there’s no permanent structure other than a few shanties along the shoreline that are affected. I told him that no job will be lost, and he agreed with me.”

Land ownership

On ownership of the shoreline, the minister said: “Who owns the land is not supposed to be my problem but the Federal Government by the Waterways Act and the recent Supreme Court judgement, gave the right of ownership of the shoreline to FG, 250 metres from the point of the shoreline, which means it belongs to FG.

“However, we’re interested here because it’s an investment, and we’re happy with it. We are taking 50 metres of that shoreline, and it’s irrevocable. I also told him if he’s interested in the waterways, he should create one on top.”

Recall that the Lagos State Government had issued a notice of demolition of the $200 million Landmark Beach Resort, saying the property obstructs the planned route of the coastal road project.


Proprietor of Landamark Beach Resort, Paul Onwuanibe, in an interview with CNN, said he was given a notice to vacate his multimillion-dollar beach resort within seven days for its impending demolition.

According to him, the Landmark property accommodates more than 80 businesses and sustains over 4,000 jobs directly.
He claimed that the company contributes more than N2 billion in taxes each year.

The beach resort, regarded as one of the top-tier tourism spots in Nigeria, received about a million local and foreign visitors last year.

Onwuanibe explained he purchased the land in 2007, well before the coastal highway plans were formulated, and was left with mixed feelings after the demolition notice arrived, also prompting him to claim compensation.

FG will pay compensation to property owners
However, the Works Minister said his ministry will pay compensation to owners whose property fall within the Right of Way of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.


The Minister who made this known at a press conference/stakeholders’ meeting at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos after the inspection of the Phase One, Section One of the roadproject beginning at Kuramo beach beside Eko Hotel & Suites, said emphatically that shanty owners along the corridor will not be paid compensation, just as economic tree owners will equally not be paid compensation.

According to Umahi, “Right of Way belongs to the Federal Government. By Right of Way, it means 250 metres from the shoreline belongs to the Federal Government, and if your property is 100 metres away from the shoreline, the property does not fall within the Right of Way. But if your property is on another person’s land, compensation is not expected to be paid.

“However, President Bola Tinubu, because he does not want people to go through pains, has said property owners affected by the coastal road project should all be compensated. But shanty owners will not be paid compensation, just as economic tree owners on the coastal corridor will not be paid compensation.”

Any toll above N300 unacceptable – CUPP

Rejecting the N3,000 proposed toll, the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, said any toll above N300 will further worsen the suffering of the citizenry.

CUPP General Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, in a chat with Vanguard, lamented that “a dark cloud is hovering over the road project because it lacks transparency and due process, contract awarded without proper oversight and competitive bidding process; and cost of building the road per kilometre is outrageous and unacceptable.”


He continued: “We are all already worried that due process was not followed in both the selection and award of the contract for the project. The intention of the Federal Government that vehicles will pay an average of N3,000 per toll gate is not acceptable and should be rejected by all Nigerian citizens as this will further increase the burden on the suffering masses of our country. Anything above N300 will create a lot of hardship.

“We all know that there are institutions and bodies, agencies that are created by law to take care of matters of this nature, ranging from the Federal Executive Council, which sits to consider the economic imperative of this kind of gigantic project, the National Assembly which has been constitutionally mandated to appropriate the funds, Bureau of Public Procurement which looks at the entities that will execute the contract without the Federal Government spending way above and beyond what the project would ordinarily have cost, etc.

“In constitutional democracies, funds are not arbitrarily expended without authorisation of the legislative arm, which controls the purse of the nation and the president ought not to have given out a trillion naira plus to his friends without authorisation.

“But in the event that the coastal highway is a build, operate, and transfer project, due process must also be followed with the aforementioned institutions and agencies put in the know with their input taken into consideration.”
He urged the National Assembly to investigate the contract and funds expended on the project.

It’s a highway to fraud, waste – Atiku

Presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, condemned FG’s claims that the road will tentatively cost N15.6 trillion, which he described as wasteful and a highway to fraud.


In a statement by his Media Office, Atiku equally knocked Umahi for altering the initial plan of the project after Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech had been awarded the contract without any competitive bidding.

He said: “Umahi had announced that the project will be fully funded by Hitech, and based on this, there was no competitive bidding. He (Umahi) then turned around to say that Hitech could only raise just 6% of the money for the pilot phase. This smacks of deceit.”

According to the statement, Umahi had during his media rounds at select TV stations on Thursday said the road project will cost N15.6 trillion ($13bn at an exchange rate of N1,200/$1) while the rail which will pass through the road will be costed separately. The minister had also said the project would not be PPP, but the government would be providing 15%-30% counterpart financing.

Responding to Umahi’s revelation, Atiku said the tentative cost is the equivalent of the total budget of all 36 states of the federation combined.

He said: “The total budget of all 36 states of the federation for 2024 stands at about N14 trillion. If you add that of the FCT, the entire budget of all sub-nationals is N15.91 trillion. This is scandalous. Worse still, they have already awarded the contract but are still not sure of the level of the counterpart funding component of the Federal Government!


“Umahi had said in September 2023 that Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech had the money to construct the highway and that it would be PPP. Hitech was to build, operate, and transfer back to the government after years of tolling.

“It was reported by every media organization, including those owned by Tinubu. It was based on this proposal that Hitech was picked. Why did Umahi then turn around to claim that it was not to be a PPP but that the government would pay 15%-30%?”

The former Vice President noted that in the 2024 budget, the project was captured as the Lagos-Port Harcourt coastal highway and was put at a cost of N500m.

“Although the National Assembly approved N500m for the project this year, the Tinubu administration has released N1.06tn. That is more than 200 times what is in the Appropriation Act. This is what happens when the National Assembly fails in its duties,” he added.

FG not tired of inflicting pains on Nigerians – LP

On its part, the Labour Party, LP, faulted plans by the Federal Government to toll the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC administration was clearly not tired of “inflicting pains, suffering and misery on ordinary Nigerians.


National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, said: said: “This administration’s policies have over the last one year been targeted at making the poor poorer and the rich richer at the expense of hardworking but poorly remunerated citizens.

“First, it was the poorly executed fuel subsidy removal policy without a buffer. While we are still trying to deal with the hardship imposed by all of this, government increased electricity tariffs. It is no longer news that this policy is largely responsible for the galloping inflation, rising poverty and the volatility of the Naira against major foreign currencies.
“Obviously not satisfied with the suffering this has inflicted on Nigerians, the Minister of Works just announced a decision to toll the 700 km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.

“Vehicles plying the road are expected to pay a whopping N3,000 per toll gate, per trip. If we may ask, how much is the national minimum wage? We can’t continue to run our economy like an exploitative business enterprise.”

Cost must be recovered, unwilling motorists should use alternative routes – APC scribe
However, National Secretary of the APC, Dr Ajibola Basiru justified plans to toll the highway and said those unwilling to pay the tolls to use alternative routes.

His words: “The 700km coastal road is capital intensive and there is what is called cost recovery which is a standard globally. You cannot embark on such a gigantic project without putting cost recovery in terms of infrastructure.


“Even in Lagos State here, there are measures put in place by the then Governor of Lagos State now the President Bola Tinubu to ensure cost recovery.

“Moreover, there are alternative routes, if you don’t want to pay the toll, you can ply alternative routes like Lagos-Ijebu-Ode-Benin route without paying a dime. But if you want to enjoy the super highway, then, you have to pay the toll.”

Luxury bus operators kick

Reacting, Managing Director of Ifesinachi Transport, Chief Emeka Mamah, said that the nine toll gates at N3,000 will amount to N27,000 on a single trip and passengers would have to bear the cost.

“We are talking about the electricity tariff and the government is coming up with more charges for the masses. Why should the masses be made to suffer so much? Why should the government give the contract to Chagoury who is a business partner of the president? Why can’t they give it to Julius Berger given its pedigree in construction in Nigeria?

“For a contract like this, Nigerians should have been carried along from the beginning. It is unfortunate that while Nigerians are crying over the hardship in the land, the Federal Government is planning to add more.”


The Managing Director of ABC Transport, Mr. Jude Nneji reserved his comment, saying he was yet to read details of the contract.

“I haven’t seen the details yet. I don’t comment on things that way until I have the details. But if we have a road that will reduce travel time by three to four hours or more, it would be quite commendable.”

Barr. Chris Ajugwe, an Onitsha-based human rights activist and legal adviser to one of the leading transport companies in Nigeria, commended the project and appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that adequate compensation is paid to anyone whose property is demolished as a result of the project.

Road may become highway of exploitation, fraud —NLC

Reacting, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, expressed fears that the road may eventually become a highway of fraud and exploitation among others, if the records are not immediately set straight.

He said: “The truth is that we know that nearly all projects in Nigeria suffer the same fate of over-invoicing. The total budgeted amount for the entire project has remained a mystery and one wonders whether this is how public expenditure ought to be handled. We believe that such a project ought not to be shrouded in mystery but should be open to public scrutiny.
“What is the point of initiating a project which is aimed at enriching the initiators at the expense of an already bleeding National treasury? Government needs to come clean with Nigerians and tell us the real cost of the road.


“Nobody is contesting the importance of such infrastructure but we insist that such infrastructure should not be at the expense of public accountability and trust. It is important to state that it is unfortunate that a government that sees tolling of social infrastructure as an achievement remains an aberration. “Most of those that today occupy the corridors of power never witnessed the tolling of the roads built by our founding fathers nor did they pay school fees. It is therefore unfortunate for the minister to sit down on national television to gloat over how much they will extort from Nigerians who are going to make use of such infrastructure.

“Has government thought of the implications of such tolls on the livelihood of the commuters who are going to make use of such road infrastructure? Has government thought of the fact that tolling that road may make nonsense of the fabled benefit of constructing it in the first place?”

FG planning to rip off N-Delta – Prof. Darah
The Chairman of the Pan Niger-Delta Forum, PANDEF, and a prominent South-South leader, Prof G. G. Darah, said the proposed Lagos-Calabar coastal road by the Federal Government was “intended to swindle and hoodwink the exploited people of the Niger Delta region.”

Speaking to Vanguard, he said: “President Tinubu deliberately introduced the project to divert resources away from the uncompleted East-West highway started over 15 years ago.”

“The Works Minister, David Umahi says every kilometre of the coastal road will cost N4 billion to build; the government should devote a similar budget to the completion of the East-West highway.


“A Calabar-Port-Harcourt-Effurun-Benin-Ore-Shagamu-Lagos railway is economically more viable to the nine states than the fabulous coastal road.

“The 2022 floods destroyed many sections of federal roads in the South-South zone. The Ministry of Works is yet to fund repairs on failed roads; the Warri-Benin highway is abandoned; and is not adequately funding the Benin-Auchi-Lokoja-Abuja dual carriage expansion.

“Instead of concentrating attention on these strategic highways, the Ministry is doing propaganda on a so-called coastal road.”

I doubt N3,000 per state toll gate —Prof. Muobogbare
A Niger Delta leader, and former Commissioner in Delta State, Prof Patrick Muoboghare, said, “Federal roads should be tolled for maintenance. I, however, doubt if it will be N3,000 per state gate. That could be for heavy duties.”

It will trigger an increase in transport fares, Omare, ex-IYC president
Former national president of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and legal practitioner, Eric Omare, asserted, “Considering the present state of government finances, the policy of a public-private partnership on a build-and-transfer basis is a good idea.”


“However, in implementing the policy, I think government needs to be sensitive to the economic realities in the country. Now, some transporters and vehicles may need to pass through the same road several times a day, and charging N3,000 at the toll gate on each occasion is excessive.

“It would lead to an increment in transport fees with consequential impact on the ordinary Nigerians. I advise government to reconsider the starting cost of N3,000.”

Mumakai: Nothing wrong with toll gate
“I support the return of toll gates across the length and breadth of the country, not only on the coastal road. They should use resources or funds generated from the toll gates to service/maintain the roads that are fast decaying,” stated prominent figure, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha.

“My honest appeal to the people, who will benefit from the road, is to cooperate and support government to ensure early completion. I must say kudos to the federal government and President Tinubu.

“Those who reside in historically neglected coastal areas will experience less suffering because of the road. I laud the president, even though he was not the initiator.”

A week after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased electricity tariff for Band A customers to N225 per kilowatt hour from N68, electricity distribution companies are finding it hard to sustain the 20-24 hour supply to their customers on the band.

It would be recalled that NERC had on April 3 increased the tariff for electricity customers that enjoyed a minimum of 20 hours electricity supply daily with the aim of attracting investment into the sector and freeing the government from the continuous payment of subsidy for rich customers.

But it was observed that one week after the increase, there has been a daily post of apologies by at least one DisCo or the other for not meeting the contractual agreement for supplying electricity to their customers as provided in the new Multi-Year Tariff Order, MYTO, April supplementary order.

Checks on the X profile of the 11 DisCos showed that since the tariff review, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution has made 10 apologies for its service shortfall to its Band A customers with the latest being yesterday, April 11.


The apology explained that the DisCo failed to meet its contractual service from the 9th and 10th of April affecting Amika, Oyigbo and Bristol Band A feeders.

It noted that the reason for poor service was a load shedding from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) as well as loss of supply from the Afam Generating plant.

The apology message promised to “Assiduously work with TCN to address these challenges and restore regular power supply to the affected areas promptly.

“We apologize for any inconveniences caused and appreciate your patience during this time.”


The same situation occurred with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) with the latest apology coming yesterday, with five cases of apology posted on its X handle.

The affected feeders are 7UP 11KV feeder, Joyceb/Tatcon 11kv feeder and Top Success 11kv feeder while blaming faults on the 33kV lines for the reduced service.

Kaduna Electric also made five apology posts in the past week with the latest being yesterday affecting its 33kv on airport road.

It blamed the TCN System load shedding (six hours) and five hours tripping from Kaduna Electric circuit.


Benin Electricity Distribution (BEDC) made six apology posts on its X handle with the latest being yesterday, it blamed Amukpe, Delta and Effurun feeders tripping and rainfall for the drop in electricity supply.

For Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), 20 out of its 44 feeders experienced low power supply ranging from one to three days during the day.

The latest was yesterday with 10 feeders affected; it blamed TCN and itself for the low supply.

Only two were reported on the X handle of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), the latest on April 10 affecting two feeders at New Wukari and Wukari feeders all blamed on loss of supply from TCN.


While the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) did not post an apology for not meeting agreed supply to its customers, a weekly report on the daily electricity supply to its feeders showed there were days the company did not provide the minimum of 20 hours supply to its band A customers. The report did not state the reason for the shortfall.

For Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), nine apology posts were made to various feeders on power outages they faced. The company blamed TCN and technical faults for the issues.


For Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), the company did not post any information on its power supply to customers under its franchise areas.

DisCos violate NERC’s order

It was observed that only Kaduna Electric provided a daily report on the electricity supplied to its Band A feeders, while KEDCO and EEDC provided information on the weekly report on their Band A feeders.

This nondisclosure violates the new order by NERC that requires the DisCos to publish a daily performance report on its feeders.


According to the order, “DisCos are obligated to publish daily on its website a rolling seven-day average daily hours of supply on each Band A feeder no later than 9am of the next day.”

The order also noted that “Where the DisCo fails to deliver on the committed level of service on a Band A Feeder for consecutive two days, the DisCo shall on the next day by 1am publish on its website an explanation of the reasons for the failure and update the affected customers on the timeline for restoration of service to the committed service level.”

It added that if “the DisCo fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply in accordance with applicable framework.”

Atiku has questioned Tinubu’s decision to award the Lagos-Calabar coastal road contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding.


The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, doubled down on his criticism of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project on Tuesday, as he challenged President Bola Tinubu to disclose the full cost of the highway project.

Atiku, in a statement, maintained that the Tinubu administration could not continue to keep silent on how much of public funds would be spent on the project at a time Nigeria was still facing dire economic challenges.

The former vice president had through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, questioned the Tinubu administration’s decision to award the coastal road contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding.

He had also wondered why the Tinubu administration released N1.06 trillion for the pilot phase or six per cent of the project, which begins at Eko Atlantic and was expected to terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

However, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had in response said Atiku allowed himself to be led into a blind alley by his “poorly informed aides” in his desperation to make the headlines.

Onanuga said contrary to Atiku’s suggestions, the coastal road project had been praised for how it would improve the quality of life of Nigerians and the economy of the nine coastal states it will pass through, particularly in the areas of agriculture and tourism.

Onanuga had alleged, “Seeking to be a kill-joy, Atiku Abubakar engaged in red-herring by raising ill-thought-out allegations that only exposed his inadequacies and those of his team in getting the basic facts on an issue he badly seeks to nail the government.”

But the latest statement by Atiku read in part, “The Tinubu administration cannot continue to respond to public inquiry with insults. They must come clean on this project because Nigerians deserve to know the truth. I, therefore, present six posers to the administration.

“How much is the total cost of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway?

“Why is the project being funded by the Nigerian government despite being a PPP? Why is the project taking off from Chagoury’s Eko Atlantic?

“Why is N1.06 trillion being spent on the pilot phase, which is just 47 kilometres?

“Why did the N1.06 trillion not get the approval of the National Assembly? Why wasn’t there a competitive bidding for the project?

“Finally, how did the Tinubu administration get the design as well as the right of way in just seven months, since it claims the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari never touched the project?”

Atiku asked the Tinubu administration to, in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act, respond to the questions line by line instead of taking the mundane route of “insulting their way out of every inquiry”

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has threatened to file a lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for defaming her personality.

Edu disclosed this in a letter sent to BBC Abuja and London offices by her counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN).

According to the letter, the suspended minister claimed that BBC reported that N30 billion was retrieved from her in the ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).


The lawyer alleged that the[b] publication which he described as false had dented the reputation of his client, Edu.
[/b]


[b]Ojukwu asked BBC to retract the article and tender a public apology to Edu over the matter within 48 hours, saying that, “Our client has suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article,” [/b]the letter read.

Edu is also demanding 50 million dollars from the UK-based media organisation as compensation, and threatened to take legal action against BBC.



The letter received by Vanguard read, “We represent Dr. Betta Edu, the Hon. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and we have her express instructions to write you in the terms thereunder.



“We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent article published by the BBC on its website: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-Africa (Last accessed on 9th April 2024 at 17:40 GMT) titled: “Betta Edu Probe: Nigeria Recover $24m in Poverty Minister Investigation- EFCC” with the byline “Nigeria Has Recovered 30bn Naira ($24m; £19m) as Part of an Ongoing Corruption probe Into a Suspended Minister, the Financial Watchdog Says”.

“The aforesaid article, which presents information purporting to relate to an ongoing corruption probe into the activities of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, is replete with innuendoes and insinuations which suggest that N30bn has been recovered in the course of the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from our client and that the 50 bank accounts connected with the recovered sums are linked to our client.

“Furthermore, your article proceeds to cast aspersion on our client by referencing her earlier suspension (to allow for unfettered investigations) in the following terms: “Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu was initially suspended in January over the alleged diversion of $640,000 of public money into a personal bank account.”


“First and foremost, the language used in describing our client’s purported involvement in the alleged corruption case suggests guilt without allowing for the presumption of innocence, which is fundamental in any fair and unbiased reporting. The reckless manner in which the article was crafted, without providing our client with the opportunity to respond to the allegations before its wide publication, is a clear breach of journalistic fairness and due process and demonstrates a complete disregard for journalistic integrity and professionalism.

“The headline, content, and tone of the article imply guilt on the part of our client, without any concrete evidence to substantiate such claims. This is a blatant attempt to tarnish our client’s reputation and undermine her credibility which she has earned over the course of her distinguished career in both private and public life.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our client has neither been indicted nor found culpable of any act of financial impropriety in relation to her stewardship of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry in Nigeria. It is also pertinent to emphasize that neither N30 billion nor any amount whatsoever has been traced to or recovered from our client’s bank accounts nor has any proceed of crime been traced or recovered from her to warrant the scurrilous article under reference.

“Suffice it to say that in the aftermath of the publication of this scandalous article (which the BBC caused to be disseminated to millions of persons across the globe), our client has been inundated by calls and messages from friends, associates expressing their shock and consternation. Our client has suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article.”

A large crowd welcomed “kidnap kingpin”, Hamisu Bala, better known as Wadume, to his hometown in Ibbi Taraba State, on Sunday.

Wadume, who was arrested by men of the Intelligence Response Team of Inspector-General of Police, in 2019, was released from Kuje Prison in Abuja, on Friday, according to sources.

Prison sources told Daily Trust that he had concluded his jail sentence which ran concurrently.

Daily Trust gathered that the convict was ferried into Ibbi through river Benue, where he was received by thousands of people, including youths and women.

A resident of Ibbi town, Musa Garba, said the town was at standstill for Wadume.

Garba said the elderly and youths trooped out to receive Wadume by the river side and from there he went through the town before retiring to his house.

Another resident simply identified as Nuhu said, “We are in festive mood as Wadume regained his freedom and now out of prison and now with us in in his home town Ibbi.”

Wadume addressing his people
Meanwhile, Wadumi has visited the Chief of Ibbi chiefdom, Alhaji Salihu Danbawuro, at his palace.

Wadume told the chief that he was at the palace to thank the chief and the entire people of his chiefdom.

He said through out his trial, the chief and his subjects stood firmly with him and prayed for his safety and good health while in prison.

The chief, Saliha Danbawuro, told Wadume that he and his subjects were happy that he is out of prison.

“I and the entire people of Ibbi chiefdom are happy that Hamisu Wadume is now back in Ibbi his home town.” the chief said.

Arrested by police, freed by soldiers

Controversy trailed his arrest in 2019 after the IRT team of the IGP squad that arrested him were attacked by soldiers while on their way to Abuja. The soldiers attached to Battalion 93, Ibbi-Takum road, led by Tijjani Balarabe, were reported to have set Wadume free and subsequently killed some of the officers who arrested him, on August 6, 2019,.

Three policemen and two civilians were killed during the incident, while five other police officers were injured.

The soldiers were questioned by a joint panel charged with probing the incident.

In his statement to the joint investigation panel, Balarabe reportedly confessed using a spoon to open the handcuffs.

Balarabe said he had interviewed one of the injured police officers after Ibrahim Muhammed, an army sergeant, shot at the tyres of one of the vehicles conveying the policemen.

“The guard commander of Gidan Waya told me that the locals arrested one of the suspects and he was with him at the checkpoint and he was having a police ID card; the suspect said he was a policeman from Abuja,” Balarabe was quoted to have said.

“Lt Yushau Saad brought him from Gidan Waya with the ID card. I interviewed him and he said they were sent from Abuja to arrest the alhaji (Wadume). We moved the injured policemen to the hospital and the DCO Wukari (ASP Aondona Iorbee) confirmed that they are policemen.

“When I arrived at the camp, my soldiers and ASP Iorbee and a civilian were removing handcuffs from the alhaji (Wadume). I entered my kitchen and picked a spoon to join them in removing the handcuffs.”

The army captain further explained that he took Wadume and his two sisters to his house while he went to Ibbi town with Saad to retrieve some rifles belonging to the IRT policemen. He said on returning, Wadume had disappeared.

But two weeks after he was freed illegally, Wadume was traced to a house he bought in Kano and rearrested.

Our correspondents, who visited the house located at Yan Dodo after the rearrest, were told that Wadume bought the house a few months before his rearrest.

One of his neighbours, who craved anonymity, said Wadume relocated to the house with some members of his family.

The neighbour said Wadume was captured along with a young man suspected to be his brother.

Conviction

A Federal High Court in Abuja later sentenced him to seven years in jail. Wadume was convicted and jailed for escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms. But the prosecution failed to prove the charges of kidnapping against him.

The judge, Binta Nyako, found Wadume guilty on counts 2 and 10 of the 13 charges preferred against him and six others by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

She also jailed four of Wadume’s co-defendants charged in the case of tampering with evidence, aiding and abetting, and unlawful possession of firearms. The five convicts include a police officer, Aliyu Dadje, a police inspector

The convicts were jailed in the judgement of the court delivered by Nyako,

Kuje jail break

Aftermath of Kuje jailbreak
When suspected Boko Haram militants raided Kuje Prison in 2022, it was reported that Wadume had escaped, but the prison authorities later set the record straight.


Known for charity in his hometown, Wadume contested for a seat in the Taraba State House of Assembly under the platform of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) in 2019.

He later defected from the YDP to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Like Wadume, Like Ibori

The reception Wadume got in his hometown is similar to that of former Governor James Ibori of Delta State. When, in 2017, Ibori returned home after serving 4-year jail term in a UK prison, a mammoth crowd welcomed him to Oghara, his hometown in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta.

Ibori, who was convicted by a British court on charges of money laundering, arrived at the Benin Airport in neighbouring Edo State aboard a chartered plane, IZYAIR, with registration number India Zulu Yanky (5NIZY), on February 4, 2017.

From Benin, he moved straight to his Oghara residence, which was besieged by supporters and political associates.

Hundreds of the well-wishers trekked around the town carrying leaves while some painted their faces with chalk jubilating. Similarly, musical stands were set up in various locations in the town as musicians entertained the crowd. It was a carnival of a sort, just as the situation was in Ibbi.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed not to rest until it unseat Julius Abure as national chairman of the Labour Party.

Disclosing this in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, said that despite the ‘illegal’ national convention that returned Abure to office, the union would never confer legitimacy or give recognition to his leadership.

He said, “Our position on this matter is clear and has not changed. Abure remains unknown to us. It is not a question of removal. As far as we know, he does not exist.”

The development is coming at a time when a group of retired workers under the aegis of Lagos Assembly of Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists also called for the resignation of the embattled national chairman of the party and the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, over their contentious leadership struggle.


The party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also seems to be at loggerheads with the leadership of the LP over the manner it conducted the convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, despite his plea for wider consultation.

The former Anambra governor had expressed his frustrations at an X (formerly Twitter) Space session organised by Parallel Facts last Friday night.

While explaining his absence at the national convention that got Julius Abure re-elected as the party’s national chairman, Obi told his audience that he didn’t attend the event because the party’s leadership failed to heed his appeal for wider consultation with relevant stakeholders before the exercise.


His speech has since set tongues wagging and further fuelled earlier speculations that the LP presidential candidate may have started shopping for a new platform despite being guaranteed the 2027 ticket at the convention.

But Upah said the issue of whether Obi should stay or leave the party should not be debated, saying the former governor was free to determine his destiny.

According to him, the NLC cannot stand in the way of the presidential candidate should he decide to defect to another political platform.

While describing him as an asset, the spokesman reiterated that the congress would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.

“The right of choice is available to Mr Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference. We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that,” he added.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia has come hard on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, advising him to reduce his propensity for power and greed and allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to do his work.

According to him, an undying inclination for power is tormenting Wike and serving him unstable moments.

Omehia made this assertion in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday in response to the live television interview which the former governor of Rivers State and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike hosted in Abuja recently.

DAILY POST reports that Wike had at the media parley, in Abuja, on Tuesday, described Uche Secondus, Sen George Sekibo and other PDP leaders in Rivers State as “expired politicians and buccaneers” owing to their support for Fubara.

Reacting, Omehia described Wike’s uncontrolled outbursts as product of a confused mind, saying Wike’s anger was that his ambition of a 3rd tenure has crashed and the people of Rivers State have realized that his quest for power is personal and not for the interest of Rivers State or the South-South at large as claimed.

“The FCT Minister thought that he would continue to control and abuse the resources and governance of the state but God, through the people, resisted the impeachment plot by his members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Wike is notorious for lying against anyone, anytime and disrespects elders at will, so there is no surprise about his outburst and criticism against innocent personalities in Rivers State.

“Wike speaks from both sides of his mouth, he says something today and denies it tomorrow like a clown. I am not a buccaneer and my capacity to contribute to the growth and development of my state and country is not impaired.

“I wonder why he is pained by our support for the Governor and the Federal Government under President Tinubu. Does he want us to perpetually be at political war with everybody, even long after elections are over and governance taken over? Is it not madness?” Omehia queried.

He noted that Wike’s excesses, inconsistencies and hallucinations had reached a shameful peak and advised him to face his job in Abuja as the state was not missing his presence and nuisance value.

LegendHero:
Yes I believe them. If power subsidy alone gulps over 3trillion, what the is left for other sector like defense, Agriculture, education, and etc? How much is Nigeria budget and how much is our revenue?

If I am the president, I’ll call a doubtable. Then tell you to choose one. Should we continue to pay the 3trillion and overlook other critical sectors? If Nigerians agree then subsidy should continue. No one should just come tomorrow and start complaining that there is no new road or etc.

KennethOkonkwo:
You better don't kill yourself

Tinubu is in Aso rock,You are on keyboard

LegendHero:
Nothing is wrong with it if government have the money.

LegendHero:
I clearly don’t get this argument.

In investor sense, where will it cost more to provide 24hrs of light? Nigeria or USA?

In USA, they have the infrastructure and bandwidth to carry the load and mitigate against wastage and etc.

Why electricity have been low in Nigeria is because the government is subsidizing it massively.

If people are not good with the new increase, then the best thing will be to protest to the government to return the subsidy back. Not comparing nonsense between the two markets.

CoronaVirusPro:
No election will be rigged!

His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) has already promised a free and fair election in 2027 and 2031.

ogododo:
“We note that in the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the tariff hike, NERC claimed that the hike affects only 12 per cent of electricity consumers who enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of electricity a day.

“The truth has become stark that this is stark lie. The hike, from data put out by the DISCOS, affects all electricity consumers,” he added.