₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Wednesday declared that subsidy on power amounting to about N600bn during some period had now been stopped by the Federal Government.

It also revealed that electricity tariffs were raised in February this year, and was quick to, however, state that the tariff payable by some customers in the franchise area of one of the distribution companies was reduced.

This came as power generation companies condemned the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company, stating that the NBET was failing in its obligations in terms of payment for power generated by the Gencos.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on the challenges in the power sector and other issues, the Chairman, NERC, Sanusi Garba, stated that subsidy on electricity was a policy issue of the Federal Government that had to be halted.

He said, “The role of the commission is to make a determination of the rates that consumers should pay. So we strike a balance between consumers and investors.

“Now subsidy is a policy issue determined by the government. The government will decide that the rates calculated or agreed by the regulator may at this time not be passed on to consumers. It has happened many times.

“In the past four, five years the level of subsidy has gradually been reduced, because you cannot run the electricity market on life support and say that investors cannot get their return on investment until government steps in to provide the required funding.”

Garba added, “So that policy decision (stopping electricity subsidy) is as announced by the Minister of Finance. The subsidies have been, at one time as high as N600bn a year, and gradually coming down to about N30bn or so this year.”

On concerns about the rise in electricity tariffs, the NERC boss stated that the adjustment was made in February this year following some economic fundamentals considered by the commission.

“What happened on February 1, 2022, is a minor review of tariff. It is very clear on our website that every six months we will adjust rates to take care of the foreign exchange component of cost and also inflation,” he stated.

Garba described the tariff adjustment as absolutely straightforward, stressing that the distribution companies were meant to inform their customers of the changes.

On the recent blackouts and repeated collapse of the national electricity grid, the NERC chairman said the rupturing of gas pipelines by vandals and routine maintenance works on some power plants contributed to the instability of the country’s power system.

This was further buttressed by the Federal Ministry of Power in a statement issued in Abuja the media aide to the power minister, Sanusi Isa, where it stated that the national grid suffered double system collapse within two days due to so many factors

“The current energy crisis confronting some key sectors of the economy also contributed to the problems we are facing now in the power sector,” the statement read in part.

It added, “We are where we are today also because of the increasing vandalism of pipelines that also supply gas to the power plants.

“This too is being resolved in collaboration with the relevant agencies. The NNPC and other gas suppliers are working relentlessly to restore gas supply for optimum power supply.”

statement issued in Abuja the media aide to the power minister, Sanusi Isa, where it stated that the national grid suffered double system collapse within two days due to so many factors

“The current energy crisis confronting some key sectors of the economy also contributed to the problems we are facing now in the power sector,” the statement read in part.


It added, “We are where we are today also because of the increasing vandalism of pipelines that also supply gas to the power plants.

“This too is being resolved in collaboration with the relevant agencies. The NNPC and other gas suppliers are working relentlessly to restore gas supply for optimum power supply.”

The ministry said the Federal Government was doing everything possible through the relevant security agencies to stop the vandalism of pipelines.

“Routine maintenance of power generating plants had also contributed to the current power outages we are experiencing,” it stated.

The power ministry added, “These challenges do not in any way indicate that the ongoing rehabilitation of the national grid by the government is not yielding results.”

This came as the Gencos, through their umbrella body, Association of Power Generation Companies, declared on Wednesday that the NBET was failing in its obligations in terms of payments for power supplied to the grid by Gencos.

The NBET had in a statement on March 13, 2022, stated that it was making payments to Gencos as and when due and had never defaulted on any payment cycle to date.

The ministry said the Federal Government was doing everything possible through the relevant security agencies to stop the vandalism of pipelines.

“Routine maintenance of power generating plants had also contributed to the current power outages we are experiencing,” it stated.

The power ministry added, “These challenges do not in any way indicate that the ongoing rehabilitation of the national grid by the government is not yielding results.”

This came as the Gencos, through their umbrella body, Association of Power Generation Companies, declared on Wednesday that the NBET was failing in its obligations in terms of payments for power supplied to the grid by Gencos.

The NBET had in a statement on March 13, 2022, stated that it was making payments to Gencos as and when due and had never defaulted on any payment cycle to date.

Hussein Lawal, a native of Durun, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State, Wednesday began trekking from Abuja to Lagos to show support for the presidential bid of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Lawal, 30, addressed newsmen before he embarked on the journey from Abuja City Gate.

He was holding a small bag with Tinubu’s picture with the inscription: ‘For continuity. 2023 Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the sure answer and sure replacement for Baba.’

He said, “I want to sacrifice for the Nigerian youths by trekking from Abuja to Lagos to go and beg Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to contest and be Nigerian leader after President Buhari.

“If it’s money, he has made money. He needs to be the president to transform Nigeria. He needs that power to transform the Nigerian youths that have long been suffering under various leaderships.

“So, from the City Gate in Abuja, I’d be leaving for Lagos to terminate the journey at Tafawa Balewa Square.”

The Governor of Niger state, Abubakar Bello, is currently meeting with the members of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national secretariat of the party.

The meeting has in attendance nine out of the twelve members of the Caretaker Committee of the party.

The secretary of the party, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, is also at the meeting.

THISDAY had earlier reported that there was palpable tension at the headquarters of the APC as personnel of the Nigeria Police Force had taken over the Secretariat of the party.

The police numbering about 70 came with 10 vehicles and condoned off the secretariat of the party at Blantyre street to prevent any breakdown of law and order.


The police cordoned off the secretariat as early as 8am on Monday.

Recall that THISDAY had exclusively reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the removal of the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party and appointed his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello.

A faction of the APC governors was alleged to have complained bitterly to the president that Buni was not inclined to hold the convention as rescheduled, because there were no preparations on the ground to indicate so.

An Onitsha-based businessman, Chikamso Ugoh, has revealed how he and two other passengers were rescued from suspected kidnappers at the River Niger bridgehead in Anambra State.

Recall that a group of kidnappers had reportedly been intercepted along the bridgehead in Onitsha by some security agents.

Although the Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, said his office did not receive such a report, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who did not want to be mentioned, said, “Yes, the incident happened two days ago (Thursday). The vehicle had loaded at Upper Iweka but only three people were authentic passengers among the 14 passengers on board.

“So, as the kidnappers were trying to divert the vehicle to another direction, a naval officer, who was among the passengers in the vehicle, based on intelligence, signalled to his people on the bridge, who chased after the vehicle and intercepted them. The kidnappers were forced out and ordered to lie down by the roadside and thereafter were taken to the Army barracks, Onitsha.”[code]

But narrating his experience to Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, Ugoh said he was one of the three lucky passengers who escaped, adding that it was the “sheer bravery and intelligence” of the naval officer, who was also in the vehicle, that saved him and the other victims from being abducted.

He said, “At the point I boarded the vehicle at Upper Iweka heading to Asaba, only two seats were vacant. I sat on one of the seats and shortly after, another person came and occupied the remaining one. But shortly, after the vehicle took off and on getting to the River Niger bridgehead, some of the people in the vehicle told us to start making calls because we had been kidnapped, while the driver of the vehicle was making a detour to another direction different from where we were originally going.

“Luckily, one of us who boarded the vehicle was a naval officer, but he was not in uniform. I don’t know how he communicated with some of the military officers along the road, and they chased the vehicle and intercepted it. They ordered the kidnappers to lie face-up by the roadside.

“What still baffles me is that, among the kidnappers, were women and some aged men, people that you would, ordinarily, not suspect. In fact, it is unbelievable. People should be extremely careful about the bus they board these days. I am still in shock and also thanking God for saving us.”

Faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to Senator Ademola Adeleke have described an Osun State High Court injunction nullifying the delegate congress of the party as ineffective.

A State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Jesa had on Thursday, nullified the ward congress held by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state ahead of it governorship primary election.

The court, presided over by Justice A. Aderigbigbe while ruling on an experte motion brought before it by some elected ward chairmen of the party, said the ward congress held by the Soji Adagunodo-led State working Committee on September 25, 2021, is the only valid congress, hence, the delegates elected from the congress are eligible to vote at the party’s primary on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Oluwabamiji, while speaking with newsmen on the matter, said the exercise is an abuse of court process, saying the court, contrary to it power, is meddling in party affairs.

“Such injunction does not hold water, as far as we are concerned. We have a Supreme Court declaration that court can not dabble into the affair of political party. We know that some elements in the party are trying to carry out hatchet job for APC.

“We have already move ahead of their antics. The national body of our party will react to that. We will handle it and react appropriately.

“We are going ahead with our primaries on Tuesday. I can only advise the national body of our party which conduct delegate congress, including the one in question to be firm with it decision. The party leadership in Osun does not manufacture delegates. The national body will come with the appropriate list”, said Oluwabamiji.

He added that the Appellate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State had already adjudicated over the matter, nullifying the congress held by the former party chairman.

He said the National leadership will react on the matter appropriately, but added that the party will go ahead with it primary election on Tuesday as scheduled.

National Convention: APC rubbishes consensus arrangement, names Kwara gov as zoning c’ttee chair

March 3, 2022

•I’m ready to step down if… —Modu Sheriff
•No agreement on zoning —Mustapha

By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

Speculations that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, had agreed on a zoning formula and that President Muhammadu Buhari had settled for a candidate to become the national chairman of the party were rubbished, yesterday, by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, which raised a committee to come up with a zoning formula.

National Secretary of the CECPC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement announced Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as chairman of the committee.

With Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege as deputy chairman; and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke as secretary, members of the committee include Prof. Etim Nyong, Dr. MB Shehu, Mustapha Salihu, Senator Teslim Folarin and Alhaji Sadeeq Sami.

The Committee is expected to submit its report on March 7, 2022.

Although the terms of reference of the committee were not immediately listed, Vanguard gathered that the CECPC will avail the committee of all necessary details as soon as possible.

A top party source said the committee is essentially to work out a zoning formula which would be looked into by the CECPC for possible adoption.

The development effectively neutralises reports credited to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on the party’s zoning formula as the CECPC has now taken ownership of the process.

It also put paid to speculations that President Buhari might have endorsed a former Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State, as a consensus national chairmanship candidate.

Sheriff pledges to abide by Buhari’s decision

Meanwhile, amid claims that President Buhari might have endorsed one of the 12 national chairmanship aspirants of the APC ahead of its March 26 national convention, one of the aspirants and former Governor Ali Sheriff of Borno State, has pledged to abide by any such decision.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, Sheriff who dismissed reports of any endorsement said while he remained in the race, he would not however go against any decision taken by President Buhari as the leader of the party.

He said: “Of late, I have been inundated by insinuations and rumours that President Buhari has zoned and endorsed a candidate for this all important position in our party’s leadership.

“It has become very pertinent and exigent to address these concerns. First, I am not aware of any official statement or position by Mr. President on endorsement of any particular candidate and/or zoning of the chairmanship position of our great party.

“Mr. President and indeed the Party are yet to issue a formal statement on these issues. I am in the race for the National Chairmanship position of our party APC because of my strength of character, capacity and competence. My intentions are clear and explicitly for public good rather than self-interest.

“As a loyal party member, I will abide by decisions of Mr. President at any time he makes an official decision on zoning or endorsement of any particular candidate. I have unequivocal confidence in Mr. President’s capacity to make the right choice for the growth of our party. I am totally committed to work with anyone/everyone to reposition our party towards actualizing resounding victory in 2023 general elections and beyond.”

Another chairmanship aspirant, Mallam Saliu Mustapha also dismissed reports of any agreement on consensus candidacy.

Speaking through his Media aide, Dapo Okubanjo, the aspirant said he “is a core party man so he expects that once a decision is taken on a matter as important as that of a consensus candidate, it will be passed on by the party leadership through official channels.

“And until that is done, he believes that the race is still open to all contenders who showed interest in being the next National Chairman of the APC.”

There were strong indications last night that the feud between the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, might be over earlier than it could be imagined.

Highly placed sources privy to the reconciliation efforts revealed that concerned stakeholders in Yorubaland, the ruling party and some influential leaders of thought in Nigeria have waded in and are already exploring ways to broker a truce between the two erstwhile good friends.

According to the source, who was in the know of the reconciliation and peace initiative, of concern in particular to the peacemakers were the implications for the victory of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the upcoming governorship election in Osun State and of course the overall best interest of the Yoruba race ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“I can say authoritatively that reconciliation efforts to close the rank between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola are underway, and already beginning to yield positive results. I am confident that sooner than expected, the two APC chieftains will embrace each other and continue to work together as brothers,” the source said.

The source added that to underline how important the peace movement has become, the concerned stakeholders have given the reconciliation of Tinubu and Aregbesola top priority.

“The truce is being arranged to ensure that the matter is put to rest as fast as possible in the overall interest of the Yoruba people and the APC victory in the forthcoming Osun governorship election. It is a top priority, and there is no doubt that the reconciliation will pacify the aggrieved parties,” the source added.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s stance of winning the 2023 PDP presidential ticket as a nostalgic belief, adding that Igbos will dump PDP in 2023 if Atiku wins the presidential ticket.

According to Ohanaeze, Atiku’s statement has painted him as a desperate politician swimming against the political currents and tides of the moment.

The Igbo apex group stated this in a statement signed by its Secretary-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and made available to newsmen on Monday.

The group also lauded the middle belt and southern leaders for supporting an Igbo president come 2023.

The statement reads: “Atiku has misread the mood of the nation ahead of 2023, and this miscalculation may retire him from partisan politics in 2023.

“Atiku has the constitutional right to aspire for the office of President in 2023, but one had expected him not to rock the boat now that the odds are against him based on his age and his region. 

“He should not fight dirty or appear desperate for the presidency. Rather it’s time for him to voluntarily quit partisan politics and take his rightful place in history as an elder statesman without being dishonoured and disgraced.

“Ndigbo had expected that Atiku Abubakar should support a younger person for 2023, especially after the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike openly denounced Atiku’s proposal for him to be his running mate in 2023.

“This is enough message and signal to him that 2023 is exclusively reserved for a Southern president, and Atiku should search his conscience and support an Igbo in the PDP primaries to avert a disgraceful end of his political career.

“The Southern Nigerian leaders and governors have vowed that it’s unhealthy for another northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

“In 2019, Ndigbo showed enough loyalty to the PDP and Atiku Abubakar, and the present predicaments and penalties facing the Southeast today was the 2019 Igbo support given to Atiku and PDP. 

“But in 2023, Igbos will dump PDP if Atiku wins the PDP ticket.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo in alliance with other ethnic groups will ensure that any political party that refuses to zone their presidential ticket to the South will suffer in the 2023 presidential election.”

The Ohanaeze added that “any promotion of northern continuation after eight years of President Buhari from any individual is callous, voracious and selfish.”

The Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said the comment by the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, that he would always clinch the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, meant taking delegates of the party for granted.

Wike also has said the outcome of the PDP presidential primaries would shock Nigerians, noting that whoever emerges of all the aspirants should rest assured that the entire party would rally around and make sure that he wins the 2023 presidential election.

Wike, while speaking in Port Harcourt on Sunday, said the comment by former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar that he will always clinch the party could amount to taking convention delegates for granted.

According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike said: “I didn’t expect him frankly speaking to say that he will always take the ticket of the party. That is going too far and taking the delegates for granted.”

He said he is committed to doing anything that will ensure PDP returns to power in 2023, and begin once again the process of rebuilding the nation after years of All Progressives Congress (APC) poor governance.

The Rivers State governor, who urged PDP members to resist making divisive utterances, declared that the outcome of the party’s presidential election will shock many.

He said: “People should watch, there will be a shock as far as PDP convention is concerned. People should watch what is going to happen. People like to underrate so many persons and it is not good in politics.”

Speaking on the timetable just released by the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) timetable over the weekend, Governor Wike expressed confidence that the National Executive Committee (NWC) of the PDP will ensure the party abides by the timetable.

“We are a law-abiding party. The party will soon meet, the NEC will meet and find the way forward on how we will put our house in order and make sure we religiously follow the timetable of INEC without violating any provision of the law and guidelines that INEC may have produced,” he said.

The Governor commended PDP leadership in Plateau, Cross River and Ondo State for the sterling performance of the party in Saturday’s bye-election, attributed the victory of the PDP in the Jos North/Bassa federal constituency in Plateau State to the recent decision of the former Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Senator Jeremiah Useni to set aside their differences and work for the interest of the party.

He also lauded the PDP for winning the Akpabuyo State Constituency bye-election in Cross River State, irrespective of the violence unleashed by the APC government in the State.

Some Nigerians, who are currently trapped in Ukraine as a result of the crisis with Russia, have ruled out the option of returning to the country.

Speaking with Daily Trust via telephone, they expressed cynicism about the federal government’s promise to evacuate willing Nigerians from the war-torn country following Russia’s invasion.

The House of Representatives in a resolution on Thursday called for the immediate evacuation of Nigerians, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, said the process will commence once airports in the country were open.

But Edidiong Cyprian, a Nigerian who has lived in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, for many years, described the promise as unrealistic due to past unfulfilled promises of evacuation.

“I was here in 2013 during a similar crisis when they promised to evacuate Nigerians and they never did,” he said.

“So, this is the attitude of every Nigerian in Ukraine that they will promise and not fulfill.”

Cyprian described the circular from the Nigerian embassy calling on Nigerians to be responsible for their protection and safety as appalling when “other countries are making provisions on how to evacuate the citizens, providing phone lines to call, shelter and aids to their people and the Nigerian government is telling us ‘You are on your own’.”

“Let’s tell ourselves the truth, there is no airspace, America evacuated her citizens a long time ago, and other countries.

“Now Russian troops are all over Ukraine already. We rely on the prayer of Nigerian pastors and bishops to save us from this. The Nigerian embassy here they doesn’t want to hear the truth.”

Treasure Chinenye Bellgam, a medical student in Kyiv, said the government’s gesture is good but, “I am a believer in Christ Jesus and I have to ask God for direction whether to return to Nigeria or not,” she said.

“But most Nigerians who are here on hustle are not willing to leave, they prefer to die here. It’s like after God has lifted you one step higher, you want to go two steps backward, it’s like being demoted.

“But you need a lot of humility to go back because some people sold lands, cars, and the rest to come here and they have amazing stories.”

Similarly, Julius, a Nigerian living in Kyiv, said the announcement to evacuate Nigerians is a good idea but will not be heeded by Nigerians in that country.

“Considering the economy of Nigerians, I think a lot of people would look for the safest place here than returning to Nigeria,” he said.

“They should do it (supply of aircraft) so that it becomes a choice for those who would want to stay back or those who want to return.”

He said the situation escalated in the capital city on Thursday with crazy queues of malls as a lot of people move to stock up on provisions.

24 February 2022

The member respresenting Ikwo/Ezza federal constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has rescued 17 teenagers of Ebonyi origin, who were trafficked to Ogun State for menial jobs and prostitution.

The trafficked teenage victims hail from different villages in the Ikwo and Ezza South Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

Handing over the trafficked victims to the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ogah said the victims were lured and trafficked to Agbara in Ogun State where they were forced into various hard labour such as hawking, prostitution and drugs peddling.

Ogah, however, gave scholarships to some of them who indicated interest to go back to school while others that wanted to learn skills were also enrolled for skill acquisition free of charge.

The lawmaker also presented an undisclosed amount of money to the victims for their sustenance, stating that all those involved in the trafficking of the teenagers will not go unpunished.

He said, “I got the news of child trafficking of Ebonyians in Ogun State, and when I learned of it, I alerted the Ikwo Town Union in Lagos State. They abandoned their businesses and mobilised to Ogun State which they spent up to two weeks to locate the children.

“These children are from Ikwo, Ezza South, and other parts of Ebonyi State. Based on the foundation that the governor has laid, it is our duty to contribute our quota to make sure we care for the welfare of our people.

While some students name Mathematics as their worst subject, 2020/2021 University of Ibadan, UI, graduate, Oyedeji Temitope Victor, finished as the best student in the Department of Mathematics with a CGPA of 3.87/4.00.

The honour student also bagged 41 awards, including National Outstanding Mathematics Student of the Year SNE Award, Best Graduating Student in Faculty of Science, Best Graduating Student in Mathematics, JCI FOPA Award for the Most Outstanding Student in Academics, Best Sportsman of the Year, NDMSS UI.

While recalling how the journey to academic stardom started, Temitope said: “When I came into the University of Ibadan 2017, that was the same year my brother Oyedeji Timilehin graduated from the University of Ilorin.

“He graduated top of his class and in the faculty and that was the first and one of the important motivations that I had. I remembered my dad telling me I must beat his grades and records and I was laughing to myself because it looked quite impossible to me. But it inspired me to always be the best. Thank God I did.

“Aside from being a focused student, I was actively involved in the Department and faculty’s football team. I taught pre-university and 100 level tutorials.
“One of my biggest challenges as a student was being a student. Sitting through the conventional lectures was sometimes difficult.

“My mind and body were always going, and I couldn’t wait to get out of my seat, move around, share my thoughts, and interact with my peers. I handled it by focusing all my energy on my listening and note-taking.


“In my first year, it wasn’t really easy to adapt to the new environment and there were lots of intimidations everywhere. In the subsequent years, the volume of work, time management and trying to balance all was challenging.”
Talking about other things that prepared him for the excellent performance, he said: “I understood what works for me. I don’t really spend many hours reading because I will get distracted.

“I only need to get the concept of the course/material and I have just little work to do thereafter. But the key thing was that I was able to balance everything. I made sure that I am about 95% satisfied before going for any exam or test.
“I also try not to read irrelevant materials aside from notes and textbooks and I understood my lecturers and what they want.

“Growing up in a very competitive environment has always taught me to strive to be at the pinnacle of my abilities, while also assisting those around me. This conviction has been the foundation for my attitude towards my academics, work and personal life.
“It has enabled me to strive for excellence in all I do, which has been reflected in my accomplishments thus far.”
He hinted that he looks forward to pursuing a master’s degree in the field of differential equations.”

South South Leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has said it would be erroneous for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, to authorise zoning of 2023 governorship at the next caucus meeting in Asaba.

Clark, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, asserted: “It will be wrong for Delta PDP to ratify zoning at their next caucus meeting. Any decision to zone must be discussed first before you say it is your turn. Why are they putting the cart before the horse?

“If they know every zone has violated senatorial zoning in the state, let us sit down and say now that all the three senatorial zones have got it, which of the zones should now have it. That is how it should be done.

“After Delta Central senatorial district, it will come to this or after Delta South senatorial district, it will come to this and after Delta North senatorial district, it will come to that. Or you can say, okay, like osusu (traditional money collection system), now that we have finished this round, let the North start. It does not mean that if Governor Ifeanyi Okowa goes, it cannot start from the North again. If it is by osusu way that is way it should happen?

“Was there any meeting when it was decided that Urhobos should start the rotation on senatorial basis or Urhobos are using their majority in the PDP caucus and knowledge to want to impose their wish on other Deltans.

“If it is so, what are we in the South-South part of the country generally fighting the North for? We are saying that they cannot use their population and education to oppress the minority.

“What the Ijaws are saying is that we are in minority, our area is peculiar to other areas. The Urhobos have only the Urhobos in Delta Central, the Aniomas have only the Igbo-speaking people in Delta North, but in Delta South, you have the Isokos, the Ijaws and the Itsekiris and for anybody to say that you cannot zone, according to ethnicity, can you do anything in Delta state without saying that you are doing it on ethnicity.

“So if you saying that cultural dance troupes should be invited, are you going to invite only Itsekiri dancers from Delta South, leave Ijaw and Isoko and you take Urhobo, take Anioma, will it work in the state? So every situation requires a particular solution, we have five ethnic nationalities in the state. Everything has been done on that, not based on senatorial zones. So if three of them have got it, other two are saying that we want to have it,” he said.

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members in Osun State on Thursday, stormed the party secretariat in Osogbo to protest against alleged interference of Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde in the party affairs.

A High Court in the state had on Wednesday reaffirmed Soji Adagunodo as the authentic Chairman of the party, thereby putting on hold the party’s scheduled delegate congress, earlier scheduled to hold on Wednesday.

The party members from across the wards in the state stormed the Biker area of the state capital, where the Secretariat was located armed placards with various inscriptions, such as “Osun is not an appendage of Oyo”, “Seyi Makinde, please keep off”, PDP Govs, we love and respect you”, “Ademola Adeleke is our man”, among others.[/b]

Addressing journalists, the leader of the protesters, Dr Lere Oyewumi, said Governor Seyi Makinde and his counterpart from Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri were behind the party’s recent crisis.

“We can feel the hand of Governor Seyi on what happened yesterday, (Wednesday). The way he is acting to us seems he is not interested in our progress, as a governor who is close to us, he is supposed to be helping us but he is not.

“Wednesday is supposed to be our congress and they had already appointed 93 persons to conduct the congress across the local government in Osun State. The five-man committee had arrived in Osun State, only to invite us in the afternoon to tell us they can’t continue with the congress because they receive a court injunction.

“We linked up with Abuja, we find out that it was a lie l that the NWC did not order for the cancellation of the congress. Later the day we learnt that Abuja stakeholders had met and postponed the congress officially.

“Our demand is that none of the five persons they sent here yesterday should come. If we see their faces here on. Sunday, they may not live to tell the story. Because this thing affects our lives. We know what we have been facing in the state for the past 12 years”, he said.

February 16, 2022

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum( AYCF) has condemned the alleged gruesome murder of 8 Northerners and injuring several others in Abia state.

Alhaji Yerima shettima, National President of the AYCF, said as a group, they are still deeply concerned about the murder of Northerners resident in Abia, who are doing legitimate business.”

“We are also deeply touched by the report of scores of others sustaining various degrees of injury and have now been hospitalized.

Pursuant to this development, we in the AYCF, wish to state as follows:”

‘We condemn in totality this dastardly attack on innocent citizens from the North trading to earn a living.”

“We welcome the prompt response of security agencies and the Abia State Government for going after the killers and rushing the injured ones to the hospital.”

“We urge the Abia State Government to pursue its promise to bring the killers to book, in the spirit of national unity and stability. “

“The AYCF will be following closely the efforts of Abia State Government to fulfil its promise of providing compensation for the families and survivors of the attack”

“We pray this should be last bad news we would hear about innocent Northern traders, from not just Abia but the entire Southeast, in the spirit of national unity and stability,” he said.

Permutations for the 2023 presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were being reshaped at the weekend with the confirmation of the entry of Governor Nyesom Wike into the contest.

The entry of the governor it was gathered is also reshaping the outlook for the party’s 2019 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his difficult task of bringing the PDP governors to back him.

The battle between Atiku and Wike, it was learnt, was now shifting to non-PDP controlled states as the two men and others in the race battle for delegates from those states which remarkably, constitute the majority of the states.

However, Wike’s emergence it was learnt, did not mean that the governors were queuing behind him.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that besides Wike, Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was also weighing in on his chances. Okowa, who it was gathered was earlier pooh-poohing suggestions of a 2023 presidential run, was now reconsidering his options.

Aspirants who have so far declared interest in the PDP 2023 presidential ticket include Governor Bala Mohammed, (Bauchi), Governor Aminu Tambuwal, (Sokoto) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and . Sam Ohabunwa.

Sources egging the Rivers State governor into the race confirmed that in the days ahead National Assembly members and other key s stakeholders who have in the past been quietly courted in support of the ambition would come out.

Governor Wike’s entry according to sources makes him one of the leading aspirants and presents about the most formidable challenge to Atiku.

The Rivers State governor, it was learnt, has been able to convince at least four Southern governors to back his aspiration with the Edo State governor and Delta State governors among those yet to identify with him. Governor Godwin Obaseki is enmeshed in internal politics within Edo State with a fight for the structure with Wike’s close associate, Chief Dan Orbih.

Governor Okowa is also said not to have committed to the Wike project as he is said to be also considering his own chances. Saturday Vanguard had earlier reported a push from party activists for Okowa to enter the race on the fact of him bringing a South-South-Southeast coalition into play as a winning strategy.

Sources embedded in the Wike drive told Saturday Vanguard at the weekend that the governor would use his accomplishments in office in Rivers State as a winning strategy for a leader of Nigeria. The source was dismissive of insinuations that Wike would be difficult to sell on account of his outspokenness.

“What you journalists and those elites don’t like is what the people like about him. He speaks the mind of the people and he has done so much in terms of projects for the people to see and that is the credential we are brining to the contest.

“Mr. Projects is the man to beat,” the close political associate of the Rivers governor said on the basis of strict confidentiality.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the Wike project may have become a serious threat to Atiku upon the support he is said to be getting from a serving governor coordinating the Southwest and also from former Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“With the two of them, you can be sure that the Southwest is Wike’s for the taking,” the source said as he also pointed at the support from at least three other Southern governors behind Wike.

A source close to Okowa while also confirming that Wike was now a potential rival was, however, ambiguous on the inclinations of the Delta State governor whose political options are also being shadowed by many permutations on those who want to succeed him.

The Wike camp was quick to confirm yesterday that Okowa and Governor Obaseki from the Old Bendel Camp were two governors in the South not to identify yet with the 2023 aspiration of the Rivers Governor.

Saturday Vanguard reports that Wike has in recent days undertaken a circuit of some states under the guise of building up the party.

In Kaduna State earlier this week when he visited Senator Ahmed Makarfi the Rivers State governor was quick to say that the visit was not political but a personal one to cheer up the former PDP national chairman who was said to have recently recovered from an illness. However, Wike who has been travelling with top level associates including senators was also said to have cheered up his political hopes along the way.

Following Kaduna he was also in Jos where he was said to have reconciled former Governor Jonah Jang and Senator Jerry Useni two non-PDP controlled states.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that with the PDP governors with the notable exception of Obaseki in Edo State in firm control of their states’ delegates that the battle between Atiku and the governors in the race have now shifted to the 22 states without PDP governors.

I used 4billion of Lagos state money - Tinubu 2011

This was when pdp was in power
This is the person you expect me to vote in 2023??

Is this ur Jagaban? pic.twitter.com/XYrcfiwW2P

— Jide🤭 (@Jidejay_) December 13, 2021

“We are stuck where we are now because we live in a materialistic world where all attention is only given to men with deep pockets while we ignore we ignore men with deep thoughts”. 2023 as they come and evaporate so quickly !

Three weeks ago you would think the election had been decided when Jagaban of Corruption, Bola Tinubu“declared” his intention to run but soon as he discovered that his ambition was Dead on Arrival he took his ambulance and fled to London!

Then #MinimeBuhari showed up, I am referring to the cowardly VP Professor Yemi Osinbajo and you would think he’d won the election but soon as he was challenged about his currrnt abysmal assignment, hope began to fade for the law professor who constantly claimed his hands are tied.

It is now, the turn of the #Chinese Pandora PaPer man, Peter Obi! Ah, he’s gonna open a Gofundme me to finance his campaign after all the funds looted from Anambra during his tenure as Governor! This too is dead upon discovery just as transparent dodo!

We truth is that we’ve change course, no more hanging our patrimony to deceitful, decrepit conmen that ruined Nigeria. We are not apologetic about it. The organic structures have taken over from the criminal transactional structures of the terminators. #WeCantContinueLikeThis #RevolutionNow #TakeItBack

• Says north has ruled 45 of Nigeria's 61 years

By Leon Usigbe - Abuja On Feb 2, 2022

Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Chief Edwin Clark, has reminded former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of the roles they played to prevent the re-election of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for allegedly violating zoning principle in 2015, advising them not to run for the 2023 ticket in the interest of national unity.

In a statement he made available to the media in Abuja, on Tuesday, the elder statesman told them that after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, no northerner should be seeking to be president, noting that the region has already ruled Nigeria for 45 out of its 61 years as a nation in both civilian and military dispensations.

He said the three prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other northern politicians who are contemplating contesting the 2023 presidential election should abandon their plans, saying that to continue with ambitions is to invite chaos.

Clark noted: “Firstly, I wish to use this medium to advise my most respected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftains in the persons of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, and other PDP aspirants from the north, that in the interest of maintaining the unity of this country to which they have contributed so much, to re-consider their desire of wanting to contest for the Presidential election in 2023, because both by the PDP Constitution and by convention, it is now the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the President of Nigeria, in 2023, after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years.

“To do otherwise is to invite chaos, which will lead to the disintegration of our dear country.”

Going into history, the foremost Ijaw nationalist recalled that Nigeria had practised zoning since the pre-independence era, which saw political posts shared among the regions.

He explained: “Zoning has been practised in the nation’s policy even before Independence, when Tafawa Balewa, in 1954, was the Prime Minister, Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Governor-General. Zoning of political offices, particularly the Presidency of the country, is the best antidote to the breakup of Nigeria, and the panacea for peace and unity of the country.

“One of the reasons why the north opposed Chief Anthony Enahoro’s motion for independence in 1953, was that they felt they were not equal to the South in education; that they were not in a position to produce proportional candidates who will run an independent government with the south because, at that time, they had only about 4 graduates. They subsequently walked out of the Parliament, went back to the north, and swore never to return to Lagos again. That was what led to the Constitutional Conferences held both at the Lancaster House in London and at Ibadan, Nigeria, purposely to keep Nigeria one. The impression was that no one group or section of the country should dominate the government of Nigeria at the expense of other parts of the country.”

Clark pointed out that as a result of zoning consideration, northerners did not want Jonathan to contest the 2011 election even though it was within his constitutional right to do so.

He explained: “Because of this zoning consideration, northerners did not want him to continue and contest the election in 2011. They objected to his appointment as Acting President of the country. I remember, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, the father of Dr. (Sheikh) Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, came to my house and pleaded with me to ask Dr Jonathan to step down for a northerner because it was the turn of the north. That Dr Jonathan should, in fact, be a Vice President to another northerner who should take the place of Dr Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and that when the north had finished, then Dr Jonathan could come back and become the President of the country.

“My response to him was that that will be against the Constitution of Nigeria, which provides that when the Office of the President becomes vacant either by death, or by illness, or any other occurrence, the Vice President shall take over, under Section 15 of the Nigerian Constitution.

“The opposition against Dr Jonathan was from various quarters; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr Bukola Saraki were major parts of that opposition, which was carried through the 2015 Presidential elections.

“Though it was his constitutional right to re-contest in 2015, to complete the eight years, as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Dr Jonathan’s succeeding late Dr Yar’Adua, did not obliterate his right to seek a second term.”

Clark added: “Nevertheless, the northerners still felt Dr Jonathan should not contest the 2015 election because it was their turn. Hence most of the northerner leaders, including Governors and politicians from the PDP decided to support  Muhammadu Buhari and even contributed funds to his campaign, including the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr Bukola Saraki.

“Most PDP leaders, from the north, who collected campaign money from the party did not use the money for the purpose. There were only a few exceptions among the northern leaders of the PDP. That was why I said that it was ‘PDP that defeated PDP in the 2015 Presidential election.”

The SMBLF leader also observed that both the PDP and the APC have been applying the north-south zoning principle, stating: “It is instructive that the nation’s two main parties, the APC and the PDP, have been religiously, following the zoning and rotation system between the north and the south.

“By 2023, the north would have ruled for another eight years. It is, therefore, rational and right, to insist that the Presidency should rotate to the south. It does not matter whether the presidency has been produced from the APC or the PDP since 2015.

“To which sub-region the presidency should be further zoned to in the south, is a different matter entirely. At the appropriate time, we will decide as to which area, section or region of the three regions of South-East, South-South and South-West, should have it.

“It must be understood that the north has had the Presidency for about 45 years of our nation’s history as an independent country.”

While listing the former Nigerian leaders and the period they spent in office, Clark stated: “As I have said earlier, I have observed with dismay, that some of my respected friends, especially, the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the distinguished former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan for contesting the Presidential elections because they felt it was the turn of the North, are now wanting to contest for the presidency under the PDP in 2023.

“They are already campaigning through the length and breadth of the country, even after a northerner will be having a straight 8 years, come May 2023. Is it no longer not a negation of the ‘zoning agreement,’ for which former President Goodluck Jonathan was castigated? Is it no longer threatening the unity and survival of the country? As the intention of these and others who may follow will be going against the zoning system of the PDP. It may even be the deciding factor for the PDP, whether to be or not to be.”

“The recent resolution by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum that the presidency should be zoned to the south and that those who refuse to heed to our plea/decision, should not count on our support, is wholly supported by me, as the leader.”

He further said: “The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, under the zoning arrangement, contested the PDP Presidential Primaries in 2019, with other northern presidential aspirants, like the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State, former Senate President David Mark, former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makafi, former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN and Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

“There was no single southern candidate that contested with them. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won overwhelmingly with about 3000 votes. We all supported him. Unfortunately, he lost in the general election. All that is now history.

“The issue of 2nd term for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar does not arise, because he did not win the presidential election in 2019. He is, therefore, not entitled for a second term, which is only meant for a sitting president serving the first tenure. As a result, power has to return to the south. The same also applies to my respected former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

“However, I am very happy to note that there are still some patriotic Nigerians from the North, who believe in the unity of Nigeria and are advocating for the return of power to the South in 2023. Among these patriotic Nigerians from the north are Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, and my life long friend, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, who is now 96 years old, while I am 94 years old. We both have seen it all in Nigerian politics.”

PDP ZONING BATTLE ESCALATES: Wike, Emmanuel, Anyim confront Atiku, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Saraki

These are testy times for the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as it navigates the bumpy road to the 2023 general elections. After a seemingly successful national elective convention, the main opposition party now has a choice to make on which of the zones gets its presidential ticket.

As noted by many PDP chieftains in oral submissions and book accounts, the party was largely to blame for the fate that befell it when it lost power at the centre in 2015 to then-hurriedly formed All Progressives Congress, APC. In what appeared a semblance of the Federal Character Principle, the PDP enshrined zoning and rotation of national offices in its Constitution at inception in 1998, to give a sense of belonging to its members, South and North of the divide.

This explained why at the expiration of the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the party looked up North to settle for former Katsina state governor, Umaru Yar’Adua who, though won the 2007 presidential poll, succumbed to the cold hands of death in 2010.

Arguments reached fever pitch when prominent northerners felt Goodluck Jonathan, then-Vice President, ought to have simply completed that tenure and quit the stage for a northerner to complete the four years left for the region. Jonathan, backed by Obasanjo and a handful of northern politicians, emerged the PDP flag bearer for 2011 and went to head to win convincingly, beating Muhammadu Buhari of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.

However, Jonathan’s insistence on trying his luck in 2015 backfired and the party, which once boasted of having the capacity and nationwide acceptance to remain in the helm for 60 years, has been told to be guided as skeletal preparations for the next general elections begin in earnest.

In the past few months, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed of Sokoto and Bauchi states as well as former Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Bukola Saraki (Kwara), all northerners, have gone the whole distance to leave no one in doubt of their interest in the PDP presidential ticket. Their position comes against the backdrop of the clamour for the successor of Buhari to emerge from the South and the body language of APC, in fact, favours the argument. To Atiku, Tambuwal, Mohammed, Kwankwaso and Saraki, PDP should head in the opposite direction in search of its flag bearer.

This has not gone down well with Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) as well as Senator Pius Anyim, Mr Dele Momodu and Sam Ohuabunwa who argue that, regardless of party affiliations, no Nigerian with love for motherland should root for another northerner to remain in the saddle after Buhari complete his second term in 2023.

The two governors, arguably the most vocal anti-northern presidential candidate in 2023, Sunday Vanguard, are oiling their political machinery preparatory to making an official declaration before the end of March this year. Wike, this medium gathered, has reached out to Tambuwal, whom he supported at the 2018 presidential primary in Port Harcourt, to accept to be his running mate while the Akwa Ibom governor is believed to have met with some eminent Nigerians on his planned declaration.

It thus appears that Atiku, Tambuwal and Mohammed have a long distance to walk to the PDP ticket as opposed to northern candidacy has continued to grow within the party in the past couple of months. Of the northern presidential contenders, Atiku has the stiffest opposition as the immediate past National Working Committee, NWC, left no one in doubt where it stood in future elections.

Addressing a youth conference in March 2021, then-National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, made it clear the party won’t be looking in the direction of old men in 2023, saying,

“The future of our country lies in the hands of the youth, it can’t be otherwise.

“You are aware that the APC is a conglomerate of the old generation.

“You can see them, 80 years, 90 years, they are still in government. When will the youth take over?” Political pundits believe that remark was targeted at Atiku who turns 76 in November this year.

Secondus’ successor, Iyorchia Ayu, has not deviated from the same narrative since he took over in December 2021.

A few days ago, a former Edo State Commissioner of Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who openly identified with Atiku in 2019, moved against the former Vice President, counselling him to consider retirement having been on the political scene for over three decades. According to Afegbua, Atiku must resist the temptation to contest the highest elective office in 2023 as doing so would make him wear the tag of a professional presidential aspirant. Not a few believe an unnamed governor is a force pushing the ex-Commissioner in his new anti-North PDP presidential quest.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, who did not want his name in print, noted that zoning the presidency is not going to be an easy task.

“The best option is to throw the race open to the South and North and whoever emerges at the convention will take the day,” he said, adding, however: “The argument of the pro-South school of thought is very valid. The South should be supported to produce our presidential candidate but, you know, it is very difficult convincing those who are bent on contesting to think otherwise.

“The onus is on Ayu and his team to prove to all and sundry that they have what it takes to unite the party, make a decision and stand by it. I pray this issue of zoning or the lack of it does not tear us apart ahead of the 2023”.

So far, the leadership of the party has kept its peace on the issue of zoning, insisting it would make a categorical statement when the time comes.

Published on January 24, 2022

By Ishola Oludare

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Showunmi, has lashed those hammering on the ‘Not Too Young To Run Act’ to stop the participation of the elderly in politics, saying the likes of Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu are not too old to rule Nigeria.

Showunmi claims the ‘Not Too Young To Run Law’ does not mean the elderly must die, stressing that the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, is in his 70s.

DAILY POST reports that, while the former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu has declared his ambition to run for the 2023 presidency; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the candidate of the PDP in 2019, is still consulting.

But, there have been calls from Nigerians that the likes of Tinubu and Atiku should leave the political stage because of their ages.

In a statement made available to DAILY POST in Abeokuta on Monday, Showunmi recalled that “When President Buhari signed the Not Too Young To Run bill on 31st of May 2018, it was a welcome development as it lowered the age to give more access to those wanting to contest. I do not see any clause in it that says age is now a disease or an impediment to anyone aspiring to be anything in our country, Nigeria.”

The Ogun governorship aspirant said he had listened and watched with nauseating amusement, the fixation on age as the only parameter, especially to the high office of the presidency, “under some silly assumption that the presidency of Nigeria is a stone quarry where the occupant is expected to use Stone Age Tools to chip mountains into chips for building.”

His words: “Hello friends, get busy and come to the table with ideas and snap out of these bully tactics directed at the elderly. No one, and I repeat, no one, is stopping anybody from aspiring for any office of their liking. We do not have an age ceiling on eligibility to contest.

“I have seen wet trees die while the dry ones live much longer, the mortality experience of humans does not justify this lazy frenzy. Do the young not die just as much as the elders? Do the infirmities of health not affect all humans? I don’t get it.

“Thankfully each and everyone that is qualified is free to aspire. The reality of what the contest demands will manage the garrulousness of infantile lackeys of the kindergarten wannabes.

“So it is Waziri Atiku Abubakar or Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that these lots are hoping to bully of their ambitions with the screaming and shouting about age.

“Shall we not examine their scorecards on the assignments and opportunities granted them.

“We know those younger leaders that can bring something to the table, and we know the unstable over-ambitious office seekers who are simply deceiving themselves. Time will tell.

"Their story is like that of the leach that wants to kill the dog it feeds on, forgetting that once the dog dies, the leach will cease to exist.

“If Atiku Abubakar is often in the news while the consultation is still ongoing, I tell you again he will be one of the issues in the build-up to 2023.

“When nations are looking for leadership in a democracy, they look for who can get the job done. In our case, the demand is more, for we will be on a fool’s gambit to think the challenges the country faces is child’s play.”

Showunmi listed some of the challenges to include, the structure of the federation; high stake international renegotiation of debt obligations; putting together a team that accommodates the nation’s diversity as well as security.

January 24, 2022

Ahead February 26 national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has on Sunday evening paid a solidarity visit to a leading national chairmanship aspirant of the party, Senator Sani Musa.

Kalu who is also a presidential aspirant in the governing APC said he was at the Maitama residence of the Senate Service Committee Chairman on a solidarity visit.

The recuperating chairmanship aspirant just returned from a medical trip abroad.

Kalu praised the chairmanship aspirant for being very proactive and in pursuance of ways to move the APC to electoral victories in all elections.

The former Abia governor however informed the Senator of his preparedness to aspire for the Presidency of the country if the party zoned it to the South.

The two leaders discussed ways of improving the fortunes of the party, how to ensure a rancour-free forthcoming national convention of the party and agreed to work together for the electoral success of the APC at all levels in future elections.

Senator Sani Musa expressed gratitude to the Chief Whip for deeming it fit to visit and check on him after his treatment.

He thanked Senator Kalu for his humility and sense of leadership.

•Amaechi, Achebe, INC, others speak

By Chimobi Nwaiwu & Chinonso Alozie

South-East will not accept vice-presidential slots from any political party in the 2023 presidential race, prominent Igbo leaders have told Sunday Vanguard.

They also warned Igbo governors and other prominent politicians in All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to resist any pressure to be the running mate of any candidate in the presidential election.

The admonition followed claims that some politicians of South-East extraction, especially governors, are positioning for the vice-presidential slot instead of pushing hard for the Igbo presidency.

At the moment, five people from the zone have declared for the presidency while others expressed interest but are yet to formally declare.

Those who have formally made their intention known include Ebonyi State governor, Chief Dave Umahi, former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, ex-Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Sam Ohuabunwa, and Nollywood actor, Mr Yule Edochie.

Others interested in the race are Sen Orji Kalu and Sen Rochas Okorocha.

Apart from them, some other South-East governors are believed to be interested in running for Vice President.

In fact, their positions on happenings in the zone had long been interpreted to have been informed by their ambitions.

Cautioning the presidential hopefuls against settling for less in the interest of the South-East, Igbo leaders told Sunday Vanguard that current deep-seated mistrust among Nigerians can only be addressed by the Igbo presidency.

Prominent among those who spoke was the First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, who called on APC and PDP to present people of Igbo extraction as presidential candidates.

According to him, the office of the Vice President of Nigeria should not be an option any politician from the South-East should be interested in.

Amaechi added that he does not expect any serious politician from the South-East to accept the offer of being the Vice President of Nigeria.

Vice President

His words: “For me, the office of the Vice President of Nigeria should not be the only option for the people of South East. It should not be the only option and it should not be the first option.

“What I want for the South East which has been so marginalized and so badly treated in Nigeria is the chance to be the next President of Nigeria, to bring about peace, to bring total reconciliation to Nigeria and togetherness in the country.

“President of Nigeria from the South-East is also going to restore peace, tranquillity and confidence in Nigeria. That is my first choice and priority.

“There are many prominent Igbo who can be president of Nigeria and even president of the United Nations. But there can only be one president.

“I called a meeting of Ndigbo on May 29, 2021, in my house, particularly the leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was a joint meeting at my house. It was attended by people of South-East origin. I told them that the only way to get the office of the president is for the two political parties to nominate their candidates from the South- East.

Party

“As far as I am concerned, any South-East person who will be president, whether he is from APC or PDP, or whatever party they like, is acceptable to me. I don’t care about the party the person belongs to. What I am after is for a South-East person to become the president of the country.

“There are so many Igbo who can be president but there can only be one President. I am not happy with what am seeing. Already, there are so many indications of people who want to be president and if they go to their various political parties and say that they want to be president, they are likely not going to have any chance.

It is not a pleasant situation but I am working also to see how the number will be pruned. Let them come, they are still coming up. When they all come out, we will see how the number will be pruned.

“As I earlier said, Vice President is not the first choice for the South-East. That is my position. Office of the President is my first choice and that is what any serious South-East politician should aim at and go for. If there is nothing else, then anybody can start thinking of considering the office of the Vice President. It is not good for the people of South-East.”

Contributions

On its part, Igbo National Council, INC, said the South East region deserves to produce the President of the country and not a vice presidential slot.

INC, President, Chilos Godsent, said giving the zone the presidency would help in making Igbo have a sense of belonging.

He said the region has contributed more than other regions to the growth of the country.

His words: “It is morally and politically right to give the South-East the presidential slot. All the major political parties should consider this.

“If they allow the South-East region to produce Nigeria’s president it will give the South-East a sense of belonging. “This will end bias against Ndigbo. There is a need to include the South-East zone in the political system of the country.

“This is because the South-East has made more contributions to the development of Nigeria more than any other region.”

Electorate

However, a London based civil rights activist and National President of Human Dignity Restoration Association, HDRA, Mr Jude Achebe, said the South-East should be allowed to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor for Nigeria to move forward.

His words: “We wish to encourage Nigerian electorate that the election of an Igbo man to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari will be the best thing to happen to Nigeria. The office of Vice President is not an option to be accepted. We are qualified more than anyone else to be president in Nigeria.

“The Igbo man, if elected, will use his God-given ingenuity to take Nigeria to the next level. A Nigerian president of Igbo extraction will change the narrative about Nigeria for good. The Igbo man will see everyone as his own.

“In this digital era, Igbo man being a natural investor and industrialist will work to improve the power supply in the country and make our country great. He will create opportunities for millions of our youths who have taken to restiveness.

Decay

“If we must retrieve Nigeria from the present state of decay and backwardness, we must shun fronting our religion and ethnic cleavages in whatever we are doing.

“We, therefore, challenge Nigerians to elect the Igbo man as the President of Nigeria and not Vice President. We promise Nigerians that they will not regret doing it.”

Also, the President of Igbo Academic Forum, IAF, Mazi Damian Udemba, warned South-East governors against settling for the vice-presidential slot, saying it is either the presidency or nothing.

He said:” For how long shall we continue to play second fiddle? The Igbo like any other person deserves the number one slot.

Did we offend anyone politically in this country? What would have been the fate of Nigeria without Ndigbo? Our politicians should be decisive and courageous on this. I am calling on South-East governors in APC and PDP to reject any offer to serve as someone’s running mate. They should run with us. Enough is enough.”

Proxy war among contenders for the 2023 presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gathering steam, it was learnt yesterday.

Those who have signified interest for the opposition party’s slot include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate presidents Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki, governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Others are: former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; industrialist Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Ovation magazine publisher Dele Momodu.

Atiku’s former aide and political associate Segun Sowunmi fired the first salvo in his letter to the PDP Governors Forum last week, asking the party to reject “kindergarten president and commander-in-chief.

Sowunmi’s letter was viewed as a veiled reference to younger contenders in the race against 75-year-old Atiku, who he described as “highly experienced”.

The letter reads in part: “Everyone wants to be President after Buhari but not everyone can do the work that a post-Buhari President will be called upon to do. Presidential powers and privileges mean nothing if the prerequisite experience is absent. We cannot jump from frying pan to fire.”

Spokesman of a group within the PDP, Dr. Rufus Omeire, defended the young elements jostling for the PDP ticket.

He queried Atiku’s political relevance above other aspirants.

Writing under the eagis of the PDP Action 2023, Omeire questioned Sowunmi’s classification of Atiku as an “experienced” politician, stating that the forever vice president only played subordinate roles in public offices he held in the past.

Omeire stated: “With respect to relevant experience for the top job, let us x-ray the candidates. Atiku Abubakar’s public sector experience consists of Deputy Director of Customs, a subordinate position.

“He never became chief executive of Customs and Excise Department. The buck never for one day stopped on his table in the Customs Service.

“He became vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a highly exalted office, but he was never a chief executive. He only carried out instructions of his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“He never had the experience of a Chief Executive. The buck never stopped at his table. The President could accept or reject his recommendations.

“He didn’t have relevant direct experience of the top job. So wherein lies the famed experience of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar? He clearly doesn’t have the requisite public sector experience.

“Other aspirants seem to have better public sector experience; some have solid private sector experience as Chief Executives.

“Tambuwal, Saraki and Anyim headed Houses of the Legislature at the federal level as chief executives. The buck stopped on their tables as Speaker and Presidents of the Senate.

“Tambuwal, Bala Mohammed, Wike and Saraki have relevant executive experience as governors. They have seen it all from the executive point of view.

“They took decisions at the executive level in their states and have direct and first – hand experience in formulation and execution of government policies.”

Throwing more jabs, Omeire recalled how Atiku’s numerous defection from the PDP to other parties in the past and “abandoned ship mid sea” after he lost the 2019 election.

“Sowunmi should find other grounds to market Atiku, his boss, rather than flouting his old age and …relevant experience.

“He should further desist from these unnecessary insults on other aspirants whom Alhaji Atiku might have to support after the primaries.”

2023: Any party that fails to zone its Presidential ticket to South won’t get vote from us – Southern, Middle Belt Leaders

January 20, 2022

By Henry Umoru

LEADERS of thought, elder statesmen from four of the six geo-political zones of the country, under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, Thursday said that any party that fails to zone its Presidential ticket to the South will not get votes from the zones.

The Forum lampooned those they tagged “Anti- Zoning Propagonists”, noting that anyone who is opposing the zoning of presidency to the South in 2023 is an enemy of the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), comprising Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum and Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF described those persons as unpatriotic and parochial, stressing that they do not only hate the country but barefacedly fanning the embers of dissent and disunity, capable of exacerbating crisis in the country.

The leaders have reiterated their stand that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and other political parties ahead of 2023 Presidential election should zone their Presidential tickets to the South and vowed that any political party that refuses to adhere to the existing zoning and rotation protocol should not count on their support.

According to them, the choice of the South to produce the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari became imperative because the northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the Office of the Presidency of the country for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023.

The statement was signed by South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark as the Chairman of the groups and leader of PANDEF; Chief Ayo Adebanjo for Afenifere as the leader; Professor George Obiozor for Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the President- General and Dr. Pogu Bitrus for Middle Belt Forum as the National President.

‘If Osinbajo were president, #EndSARS uprising wouldn’t have happened’ — group endorses VP for 2023

AUTHOR: Chidi Chima

JANUARY 18, 2022

The EndSARS uprising would not have seen the light of the day if Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo‘s handling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was not derailed, a group endorsing the VP for the 2023 presidency has said.

The group, known as IdentifytheRightLeader, recently published a 120-page impact assessment report on the vice-president, detailing his activities as former acting president of Nigeria and former attorney general of Lagos state.

According to the report, the EndSARS protests which swept through the nation in October 2020 would not have happened if Osinbajo’s plan to overhaul SARS did not die down when President Buhari returned to the country.

“The EndSars uprising would not have seen the light of the day if issues concerning human rights abuses from the SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) unit of the Nigerian Police Force had not been handled with kids’ gloves,” the group said.

October 2018, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as Acting President, had ordered the overhaul of the controversial police unit following allegations of human rights violations, as he had directed then Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to review the operations of the SARS.

“However, the clamour died down when the substantive President, Muhammadu Buhari, re-assumed duties after a temporary absence. The SARS unit continued with their highhandedness and human rights violations as a result of this seeming dissonance in bureaucracy, which for some Nigerians represented a lack of empathy for the Nigerian populace.”


OSINBAJO’S AMBITION NOT PERSONAL

The group said Osinbajo was one Nigerian leader who in the darkest days of the protest “apologized to Nigerians, saying, ‘We are sorry'”.

They added that Osinbajo’s stance “could have averted the bloodbath that occurred on the 20th of October 2020” if adopted by “our political elites”.

“Nigeria’s Vice President, matched words with action when he absorbed the EndSars uprising as an economic issue to be addressed under the National Economic Council (NEC), which he chairs,” the report added.

Osinbajo-led NEC “mobilized the Governors of all 36 States and the FCT to set up judicial panels to address human rights abuses that were perpetuated against Nigerians and ensure justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units”.

“One thing is clear: throughout his public service career, Prof Osinbajo has sought to identify current and impending problems in society and propose solutions to them by way of public policy.

“In spite of having to navigate through the labyrinth of politics and government, Osinbajo has always made the impact of his proposed policies his focal point.

“Throughout his public service life, whether as a lecturer, attorney general, vice president, or acting president, Prof. Osinbajo has demonstrated uncommon virtues, morals, and dedication to the Nigerian State.

“His ambitions are not personal, rather they are for the common good.”

The report went on to chronicle Osinbajo’s years in public service and what it [the group] considered to be the achievements of the professor of law.

The vice-president is yet to formally declare his interest in the office of the president.

Among those struggling to make ends meet in the country is Sodiq Akinwunmi who moved to the UAE six years ago. He got what he described as a good offer from another company and threw in the towel in his previous firm. He narrated, “I resigned from my previous company because I got a good offer from another company. My new employer asked me to provide police clearance which I did but work permit was denied.’’

The case of another distraught Nigerian in the country identified only as Chukwuebuka is similar to Joseph’s. He not only has two siblings to cater to their university education but is also responsible for his mother’s upkeep. He arrived in the UAE four years ago and worked at a firm for three years and six months before another company offered him employment.

Chukwuebuka, who intermittently paused as he narrated his ordeal in the country, said, “I resigned to join the new company. It was during the process for my work permit that I realised that Nigerians were being denied work permits either renewal or fresh application. The company tried more than once and it was rejected.’’

He added that since then he had been struggling to survive without work, stating that he had to renew his visa every three months to legally stay in the country. He noted, “I borrow money from friends in Nigeria to survive. I don’t have a father. I have a wife, a two-year-old daughter, my mum and two siblings in the university to cater for. I no longer have the financial strength to take care of these loved ones because of the lingering problem. We call on the Nigeria government to intervene in the matter. We are suffering and stranded.’’

All that Chika Christian desired at the moment was for the issue to end so that he could get a permit to work in a school which employed him in September last year.

Christian said the school’s efforts to get him a work permit were abortive after he was offered a job when he left a maintenance firm he worked with for six months.

The Nigerian national who’s apparently disturbed over the development stated that he arrived in the UAE January, 2021.

He said, “I am a trained teacher in Nigeria. I worked for six months at the former company and left as a support assistant. My new employment was with a school and the authorities processed a work permit for me without success. They said the labour ministry didn’t grant it. After working for six months, one is allowed to seek another job. I want the Nigerian government to step into the issue. Most Nigerians in the UAE are responsible and law-abiding. We are good ambassadors of our country and we reside legitimately in the UAE.”

Issue shrouded in obscurity
Amid the mounting chagrin among the affected Nigerians, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, declared that no official communication on work permits issuance for Nigerians living and working in his country.

Taffaq’s disclosure emanated during the visit of the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to the Embassy in Abuja, in August, last year. He noted that he read about the ban on social media, adding that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.”

At the time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the UAE was still issuing Direct Employment Visas to Nigerians living in the country. It noted then that several work permits were renewed, adding that new applications for work permits were not granted.

But in an interview with our correspondent, a Dubai-based activist, Tosin Fadoju, said to the best of his knowledge, the issue had been on for over six months, stating that it had been a bad experience for Nigerians in the UAE.

Fadoju added that affected Nigerians were living from hand to mouth and borrowing to keep body and soul together.

He said, “The inability to renew work permits for Nigerians has thrown many of our brothers and sisters in a dilemma. People are depressed and adults crying on the phone when they call for help. It’s devastating and makes me feel bad as well seeing my compatriots in that situation. We have been to the appropriate authorities in the UAE and they told us to go to our embassy or consulate that the decision was an order from above. The most painful and annoying thing is that the consulate doesn’t even have a proper knowledge about the work permit and instead of them to learn and know the difference, we were labelled liars that there is nothing wrong with work permits for Nigerians. Officials of the consulate were always on the defensive and exhibited intimidating attitude to silence some of us championing the cause such as threatening to arrest us with police.’’

He also accused the Nigerian consulate of urging them to keep the matter off the media radar.

Fadoju added, “It’s nothing but the truth that our brothers and sisters are out of work. Some of them are afraid to speak up. Some of them don’t even know who to turn to for help. People are just hoping that the ban will be lifted. The matter has lingered for six months and counting. It is a shame that the Nigerian authorities in the UAE aren’t attending to the cries of the citizens living in the country. This matter has been politicised as a matter of fact.’’

Exuding anger over assumed politics on the matter, Fadoju said he had decided not to allow his fellow countrymen to continue suffering in silence. He said, “We have recorded seven deaths of our citizens over this issue. Depression was responsible for the deaths. We will not rest until we get justice and adequate welfare for our fellow citizens.’’

Last week, a group championing the cause, TakeItBack, pushed the narrative further to public space by drawing the attention of the Nigerian embassy and consulate in the UAE to the matter.

In a release by its Director of Political Affairs and the Director of Mobilisation, Sanyaolu Juwon and Gbola Owoborode respectively, the group noted that it instructed its lawyer, Tope Temokun, to petition the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

It stated that the petition was also submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abuja.

The statement indicated, “Upon submitting the petition at the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE, Mohammed Dansanta Rimi, and other cabinet members of the embassy, met with our comrades in a discussion that lasted two hours, acknowledged the problem, and promised to do something about it. This was the same embassy that had been denying this ugly incident since June, 2021. While we will not take their word for it, we will continue to intensify pressure. We want to use this moment to reiterate that indeed, when we fight, we may win. But if we don’t, we have already lost.’’

Nigerian embassy in the UAE evasive
Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE, Rimi, were futile. He refused to comment on the matter. When he was sent messages on his WhatsApp number to state what the embassy was doing to address the protracted issue, the texts were marked as read but he refused to comment.

Two messages were sent to his WhatsApp number on January 3, 2022, he read them but neither acknowledged nor responded to them. On January 11, 2022, a reminder was sent as the app showed he was online. Immediately he read the message, he went offline after he swiftly removed his displayed picture profile which showed him comfortably decked in voluminous attire (agbada).

Contacted via its website, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, formerly the country’s Ministry of Labour until it was renamed in 2016, said one of its representatives would contact our correspondent on his enquiry. It had yet to do so when this report was filed. The case number was CAS-5520238-C5K4R9, logged in on 11/1/2022 at 10:10pm. A reminder was sent on Thursday but not acknowledged as of press time. Also, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, Aisha Belharfia, couldn’t be reached for her comments on the matter.

Besides, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Francisca Omayuli, when contacted to comment on efforts to resolve the issue said, “The ministry has engaged extensively with officials of the United Arab Emirates on the non-renewal of visas and resident permits of Nigerian nationals residing in the country. UAE authorities have assured Nigeria that the suspension on the renewal of visas and work permits for unskilled and unprofessional migrant workers is a policy of the government aimed at boosting the country’s economic prospects, and not an act targeted against Nigerians. The UAE supposedly lifted the ban on renewal of visas and work permits in October 2021, but strictly for immigrants that meet specific category of labour requirements.’’

Also, the ministry’s Director, Consular Affairs, Mr Bolaji Akinremi, reacting to Sunday PUNCH’s enquiry on the issue, said, “This matter is receiving serious attention and engagement between our Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the UAE authorities. Soon the positive effect of these diplomatic efforts will manifest.’’

Reacting, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said both the country’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai were handling the matter.

She said in a text message sent to our correspondent, “The Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the mission in Dub issue.[/quoteAmong those struggling to make ends meet in the country is Sodiq Akinwunmi who moved to the UAE six years ago. He got what he described as a good offer from another company and threw in the towel in his previous firm. He narrated, “I resigned from my previous company because I got a good offer from another company. My new employer asked me to provide police clearance which I did but work permit was denied.’’

The case of another distraught Nigerian in the country identified only as Chukwuebuka is similar to Joseph’s. He not only has two siblings to cater to their university education but is also responsible for his mother’s upkeep. He arrived in the UAE four years ago and worked at a firm for three years and six months before another company offered him employment.

Chukwuebuka, who intermittently paused as he narrated his ordeal in the country, said, “I resigned to join the new company. It was during the process for my work permit that I realised that Nigerians were being denied work permits either renewal or fresh application. The company tried more than once and it was rejected.’’

He added that since then he had been struggling to survive without work, stating that he had to renew his visa every three months to legally stay in the country. He noted, “I borrow money from friends in Nigeria to survive. I don’t have a father. I have a wife, a two-year-old daughter, my mum and two siblings in the university to cater for. I no longer have the financial strength to take care of these loved ones because of the lingering problem. We call on the Nigeria government to intervene in the matter. We are suffering and stranded.’’

All that Chika Christian desired at the moment was for the issue to end so that he could get a permit to work in a school which employed him in September last year.

Christian said the school’s efforts to get him a work permit were abortive after he was offered a job when he left a maintenance firm he worked with for six months.

The Nigerian national who’s apparently disturbed over the development stated that he arrived in the UAE January, 2021.

He said, “I am a trained teacher in Nigeria. I worked for six months at the former company and left as a support assistant. My new employment was with a school and the authorities processed a work permit for me without success. They said the labour ministry didn’t grant it. After working for six months, one is allowed to seek another job. I want the Nigerian government to step into the issue. Most Nigerians in the UAE are responsible and law-abiding. We are good ambassadors of our country and we reside legitimately in the UAE.”

Issue shrouded in obscurity
Amid the mounting chagrin among the affected Nigerians, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, declared that no official communication on work permits issuance for Nigerians living and working in his country.

Taffaq’s disclosure emanated during the visit of the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to the Embassy in Abuja, in August, last year. He noted that he read about the ban on social media, adding that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.”

At the time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the UAE was still issuing Direct Employment Visas to Nigerians living in the country. It noted then that several work permits were renewed, adding that new applications for work permits were not granted.

But in an interview with our correspondent, a Dubai-based activist, Tosin Fadoju, said to the best of his knowledge, the issue had been on for over six months, stating that it had been a bad experience for Nigerians in the UAE.

Fadoju added that affected Nigerians were living from hand to mouth and borrowing to keep body and soul together.

He said, “The inability to renew work permits for Nigerians has thrown many of our brothers and sisters in a dilemma. People are depressed and adults crying on the phone when they call for help. It’s devastating and makes me feel bad as well seeing my compatriots in that situation. We have been to the appropriate authorities in the UAE and they told us to go to our embassy or consulate that the decision was an order from above. The most painful and annoying thing is that the consulate doesn’t even have a proper knowledge about the work permit and instead of them to learn and know the difference, we were labelled liars that there is nothing wrong with work permits for Nigerians. Officials of the consulate were always on the defensive and exhibited intimidating attitude to silence some of us championing the cause such as threatening to arrest us with police.’’

He also accused the Nigerian consulate of urging them to keep the matter off the media radar.

Fadoju added, “It’s nothing but the truth that our brothers and sisters are out of work. Some of them are afraid to speak up. Some of them don’t even know who to turn to for help. People are just hoping that the ban will be lifted. The matter has lingered for six months and counting. It is a shame that the Nigerian authorities in the UAE aren’t attending to the cries of the citizens living in the country. This matter has been politicised as a matter of fact.’’

Exuding anger over assumed politics on the matter, Fadoju said he had decided not to allow his fellow countrymen to continue suffering in silence. He said, “We have recorded seven deaths of our citizens over this issue. Depression was responsible for the deaths. We will not rest until we get justice and adequate welfare for our fellow citizens.’’

Last week, a group championing the cause, TakeItBack, pushed the narrative further to public space by drawing the attention of the Nigerian embassy and consulate in the UAE to the matter.

In a release by its Director of Political Affairs and the Director of Mobilisation, Sanyaolu Juwon and Gbola Owoborode respectively, the group noted that it instructed its lawyer, Tope Temokun, to petition the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

It stated that the petition was also submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abuja.

The statement indicated, “Upon submitting the petition at the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE, Mohammed Dansanta Rimi, and other cabinet members of the embassy, met with our comrades in a discussion that lasted two hours, acknowledged the problem, and promised to do something about it. This was the same embassy that had been denying this ugly incident since June, 2021. While we will not take their word for it, we will continue to intensify pressure. We want to use this moment to reiterate that indeed, when we fight, we may win. But if we don’t, we have already lost.’’

Nigerian embassy in the UAE evasive
Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE, Rimi, were futile. He refused to comment on the matter. When he was sent messages on his WhatsApp number to state what the embassy was doing to address the protracted issue, the texts were marked as read but he refused to comment.

Two messages were sent to his WhatsApp number on January 3, 2022, he read them but neither acknowledged nor responded to them. On January 11, 2022, a reminder was sent as the app showed he was online. Immediately he read the message, he went offline after he swiftly removed his displayed picture profile which showed him comfortably decked in voluminous attire (agbada).

Contacted via its website, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, formerly the country’s Ministry of Labour until it was renamed in 2016, said one of its representatives would contact our correspondent on his enquiry. It had yet to do so when this report was filed. The case number was CAS-5520238-C5K4R9, logged in on 11/1/2022 at 10:10pm. A reminder was sent on Thursday but not acknowledged as of press time. Also, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs, Aisha Belharfia, couldn’t be reached for her comments on the matter.

Besides, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Francisca Omayuli, when contacted to comment on efforts to resolve the issue said, “The ministry has engaged extensively with officials of the United Arab Emirates on the non-renewal of visas and resident permits of Nigerian nationals residing in the country. UAE authorities have assured Nigeria that the suspension on the renewal of visas and work permits for unskilled and unprofessional migrant workers is a policy of the government aimed at boosting the country’s economic prospects, and not an act targeted against Nigerians. The UAE supposedly lifted the ban on renewal of visas and work permits in October 2021, but strictly for immigrants that meet specific category of labour requirements.’’

Also, the ministry’s Director, Consular Affairs, Mr Bolaji Akinremi, reacting to Sunday PUNCH’s enquiry on the issue, said, “This matter is receiving serious attention and engagement between our Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the UAE authorities. Soon the positive effect of these diplomatic efforts will manifest.’’

Reacting, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said both the country’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai were handling the matter.

She said in a text message sent to our correspondent, “The Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the mission in Dubai are on the

Nigerians denied work permits in the UAE frustrated, stranded, borrow money to survive

GBENGA ADENIJI examines the angst of many Nigerians arising from nonrenewal of their Direct Employment Visas otherwise known as work permits in the United Arab Emirates

Soft-spoken Olanrewaju Akingbemisilu’s looks were etched in discontent recalling the challenges associated with attempts to renew his Direct Employment Visa (work permit) in the United Arab Emirates for seven months. Some years ago, his expectations were high when economic woes, gloom, unemployment among other wearisome realities joined forces to make him seek succour outside Nigeria.

It’s thus a rigid choice to resist the urge to live and work in the Western Asian country when the opportunity came on a silver platter.

Armed with a certificate in civil engineering and modest savings in naira converted to Dirham, Akingbemisilu hoped for a new beginning in the UAE as the plane in 2018 taxied through the runaway in one of Nigeria’s international airports and its blades sliced the skies en route to Western Asia. His dream was falling into place after he got a job a year later upon arriving in the Gulf Tiger. He focused on his job until the UAE government ceased issuance of work permits to Nigerians in the country over indistinct reasons.

Speaking with our correspondent in a voice echoing helplessness, Akingbemisilu narrated the episode which has thrown him and other compatriots into distress.

He said, “I am a certified civil engineer from Nigeria. I got to the UAE in 2018 and in 2019 joined a firm, Adnoc Drilling Offshore. Within two years, I engaged myself in many courses to build a career in the field despite the courses being expensive. I tried to get the certification to improve my skills and increase chances of promotion.

“The courses are bosiet, advanced fire fighting, helicopter landing officer, h2s, banksmen, ringing and slinging, work atight among others. I personally funded those courses. My contract with the company expired on July 27, 2021. In the process of signing a new contract to reap the career-building courses I invested in, I was told that issuance of working permits for Nigerians was on hold. The company told me to continue working as they would reapply. They did many times until they confirmed that the UAE had placed a ban on work permits for Nigerians. I contacted the Dubai Ministry of Labour through its Twitter page in July and it said the ministry didn’t restrict work permits.’’

He stated that he thought the issue would be resolved in no time until it spanned seven months and counting, adding that the contract was eventually terminated and the company contacted him a few months later to know if the matter had been resolved.

Akingbemisilu added, “When I told them it was still a pending issue, they moved on. Since then, things have been difficult. I can’t feed myself anymore or pay rent. My tourist visa expires next week and I don’t have money to renew it. I cannot return to Nigeria now because I don’t have money to pay for the flight. I can’t take care of my family back home, my aged mother and others. I am stranded here as I don’t know what to do. The Nigerian government should come to our aid to resolve the issue.’’

Akingbemisilu is not the only Nigerian migrant facing hard times in the UAE.

Last year, over 500 Nigerians lost their jobs and were stranded for months after the Western Asian country halted granting or renewing Direct Employment Visa to them. It was gathered that the Nigerians realised the situation upon securing another jobs, their new employers applied for work permits for them or when they applied for fresh work permits. Unable to bear the ensuing despondency, some of them returned to Nigeria since they committed no crime in their host country, while others stayed, hoping that the decision would be rescinded.

The unemployment situation in Nigeria is worrisome with the National Bureau of Statistics disclosing that the country’s unemployment rate rose from 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020 to 33.3 per cent in Q4 2020. This indicated that within three to six months, over 1.4 million more people became unemployed. The mess has made many youths to flee the country for pastures new.

The allure of the UAE includes its cultures and traditions striking in its seven emirates namely; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain and Fujairah. There are an impressive number of expatriates in the country. Last year, the country was ranked 18th out of 59 countries surveyed suitable for expatriates to work and live according to a study by Expat Insider 2021.

More distressing tales
Another Nigerian caught in the web of the lingering matter is Johnson Joseph who started living in the UAE five years ago. He spent four years and three months in his previous firm before applying for another job with a new company.

He told our correspondent in a disturbed mood exposing dissatisfaction that he resigned to join the new company, stating that when the company applied for a work permit on his behalf, it was rejected several times.

Joseph said, “I learnt that Nigerians are being restricted from getting work permits. Since then I have been suffering and struggling to survive without work. To be able to stay legally in the UAE, I have to get a new visit visa every three months and it’s an expensive venture. I now have to borrow money from people in Nigeria to survive here. I have my mother to take care of and five siblings in the university who depend on me for their upkeep and schooling. I can’t support them because of the problem. We call on the Nigerian government to intervene in the matter. Nigerians are suffering and stranded.’’

For Olabisi Kazeem, the nightmare started in June 2021, when she got a new job and resigned from her previous company. Kazeem noted that it was a bad experience for her when in the first week of July, 2021, having left her former company, she contacted her new employer who processed her work permit and sent her evidence that they were unable to process the document in Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital.

She further said that the firm reapplied on her behalf at its Dubai branch and got the same response because “work permits for Nigerians were being restricted.’’

Kazeem stated that since then everything had been put on hold, particularly efforts to advance her career and work to make things easy for her. She added, “We went to the Nigerian embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai but nothing was done. Since July last year till now, I have been jobless, homeless and I don’t eat good food. I eat what I see anytime. I have my family in Nigeria who I cannot take care of anymore. I am appealing to the Nigerian government to look into the issue because many are dying as they could not withstand the problem.’’

Urgent help is what Nkechi Achalu desires to get out of depression which the wearisome issue threw her into. She expressed displeasure over the matter while speaking with our correspondent, saying, “The ban on the issuance of work permits to Nigerians by the UAE has affected me badly and even put me in depression due to lack of income.’’

She also expressed sadness over her loss of job due to the development, adding, “I started working with Gems Founder’s School in August 2021. I loved my job and the environment but unfortunately I lost the job in October 2021 due to the inability to successfully process my visa. I have been living from hand to mouth with the support of my parents in Nigeria. This should not be so. I have extended my visa thrice and the cost is draining. It is disheartening that our government is quiet when its citizens are languishing in the UAE. I urge the Nigerian government to act fast to restore our dignity.’’

Azeez Akogun had worked in two firms in the UAE since 2017 until the work permit conundrum threatened to truncate the abundant hope the country held for him.

In a measured manner, Akogun said he had worked in two different companies as a technician, adding that on June 16, 2021, he got a job offer in a company called Al Masaood. He said, “I submitted a resignation letter to my former employer on June 19, 2021, because the new company said they wanted me to start immediately I resigned from my former office. But surprisingly, I got a cancelled visa on June 22, 2021. The new company applied for my new work permit on June 27, 2021. I awaited approval until July 8, 2021, when the human resources manager called to tell me to approach my embassy because there was a restriction of work permit on Nigerian passport holders. They reapplied thrice for me and each application was rejected.’’

Unable to bear the burden of the situation, on July 11, 2021, Akogun said he visited the Nigerian embassy in Abu Dhabi to explain his predicament unknown to him that he was not the only Nigerian in the quagmire.

He noted, “I was asked to write my full name, phone number, old and new companies’ names. I did and left the premises. I returned there on July 15, 2021, for an update and was told that they were working on it. The information I got was that they had written to the UAE government.’’

Akogun further said that after a week, he returned to the embassy and got the same response the many times he visited.

He said, “The issue affects applications for both work permit renewal and fresh one. We are facing difficulties till date. My wife joined me in the UAE on December 2, 2020 and she kept searching for a job and eventually got one on June 27. The company applied for a work permit on her behalf. However, the same case of work permit rejection was recorded. Since then, I have been doing visa renewal for both of us to stay in the UAE legitimately and we keep hoping that the Nigerian government will intervene in the matter.’’

He disclosed that they visited the Nigerian embassy last year where a top official they met told them that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), would attend the Dubai Expo 2020 and address issues relating to flight restriction, work permit and bilateral relations.

Akogun stated, “We were happy that the issue would be resolved but it was saddening that nothing like that was discussed. The issue still remained the same. Nothing was done and no mention of our plight. Since June last year till now my life has been in a nasty state. My wife and I in the UAE have been in a tough situation. I am the family breadwinner and the first son of my parents. I have two children. They, my siblings and everyone look up to me.’’

He said that people back home didn’t know what he was going through as he couldn’t feed himself and wife, adding that he borrowed money from friends to renew his wife’s visa every three months.

“I can’t send money home. My parents’ house rent will expire by February 1 and I am to pay N350,000. My children’s school fees are also there. My life has been in frustration since June last year. I appeal to both the UAE and Nigeria to hold a dialogue and resolve whatever the matter is. They should consider the families of Nigerians in the UAE who have died since this issue started. They should think about those who had returned to Nigeria due to inability to feed, make visa renewal and pay rent in the UAE. They should also consider those still in the country and undergoing harrowing times. We will appreciate immediate intervention from the Nigerian government,’’ he said dismally, resigning weakly to fate.

PAN Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Afenifere and Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), weekend, took up Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over his claim that nothing, including ethnicity, religion and class, could separate the country.

Osinbajo had been quoted at the wedding ceremony of Fatima, daughter of the Minster of Education, Adamu Adamu, held in Bauchi State, as saying, “This is one occasion where you will find that our country is truly a united country and that nothing can separate this country, not ethnicity or religion or class.

“There is nothing that can separate this country. In fact, this is excellent evidence of the fact that this country is united”.

PANDEF, speaking through the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, said, “Certainly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was merely trying to delight his hosts and the audience at the wedding ceremony in Bauchi.

“He probably was attempting to be politically correct and that could be the only rational portrayal of his statement because he knows that Nigeria can indeed disintegrate.

“Beyond ethnicity and religion, several other issues could cause the break-up of Nigeria and indeed any other country.

“And nobody should be under any illusion that the unity of this country can be sustained if those saddled with running the affairs of the country perpetuate the kind of discriminatory biases, nepotism, bad public policies, political exploitation and the awful disservices to citizens being witnessed.

“Political leaders, today, like never before, are sowing the seeds of disintegration and separation. A situation where a section of the country is preferred over others, without even chances for citizens to participate in political and economic opportunities in the country, is incongruous and conflicting.

“The level of disaffection in the country is alarming, a good majority of citizens feel alienated and are disenchanted. “What is going in the country indicates that this country only belongs to all Nigerians superficially, while, in the actual sense, the country belongs to only a few.

“Otherwise, how would anyone fathom the thought that after eight years of a northern presidency, under President Muhammadu Buhari, another northerner should be talking about emerging as President of Nigeria in 2023?

“Let us learn from history, many countries in the world have disintegrated or broken up due to one reason or the other.

“Ours will not be first or the last. Let us restructure Nigeria to attain a truly federal and egalitarian country; it’s the only possibility”.

Aspiration

Afenifere, on its part, described the Osinbajo statement as an aspiration.

Abagun Kole Omololu, National Organising Secretary of the Yoruba influential group, said the statement was not necessarily a reflection of where we are.

“But, as with all aspirations, we must work to accomplish it. Otherwise, we may fall short”, Omololu said.

“The APC government, led by Gen. Buhari, has, through its actions and policies, divided Nigeria in such a way that only a visionary next President can unite us.

“He must do away with the fake military imposed unitary constitution masquerading as federal constitution.

“Our founding fathers agreed on the basis of how to be called a Nigerian, but the military junta came and threw away the agreement without our consent.

“To achieve this aspiration, the Vice President, as a person, must stand on the side of the truth.

“Arrogance of power has destroyed Nigeria. Naked stealing, corruption of unimaginable proportion, gross incompetence in the management of the nation affairs, ungoverned territory, crime and insecurity, breakdown of law and order and unhappy and disillusioned citizens, especially the youths, has further disunited us”.

Unity

Also reacting, Secretary-General of YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide, observed that good governance and people-centered governance are the only things that can perpetually preserve the unity of the country.

Olajide noted that if anybody is interested in the unity of the country, such a person must be ready to govern with fairness and equity.

He said: “Such person must do justice to the distribution of natural resources of the country. And no group must consider itself superior to others.

“Good governance, people-centered governance is the only thing that can perpetually preserve the unity of the country.”

In his contribution, National President, Agbajowo Advocacy for Yoruba People’s Right (AAYPR), Otunba Muyideen Olamoyegun, commended Osinbajo for defending the country’s unity.

Olamoyegun explained that the Buhari administration has tried to ensure that the country remained one in terms of religion and ethnicity.

Speaking in the same vein, a member of Ekiti State Council of Elders, Chief Fredrick Ajayi, explained that Nigeria will never separate or divide on the basis of religion.

***It's a lifelong ambition, I've the capacity

January 10, 2022


By Johnbosco Agbakwuru – Abuja

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Monday said that he has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his ambition to contest for the position of president in 2023.

Asiwaju Tinubu said it was a lifelong ambition and that he has the confidence, the vision and the capacity to build on the vision of President Buhari.

The APC national leader disclosed this to State House correspondents after meeting behind closed-doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he was at the State House to see the President on general issues concerning Nigeria including some of the concerns in the APC as well as security issues.

Asked whether he has informed President Buhari of his ambition to contest for the President in 2023, he said, “I have informed the President of my ambition but I have not informed Nigerians yet, I am still consulting.”

On what was the response of President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu said that the President as a democrat did not ask him to stop from contesting.

January 7, 2022

By Godwin Oritse

THE promoters of the Lekki Deep Seaport yesterday said that the port project will be delivered on schedule as construction works reaches 80 percent, a development that will change the face of port operation in Nigeria.

In a month progress report released by the Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited also said that it was confident that with the continued support of its stakeholders, the project is on track for the commencement of port operation in the next few months.

According to the firm, “Dredging and reclamation works is now 89.93 percent completed.

“Quay wall is now 85.65 percent completed. The Breakwater is now 79.66 percent completed.

“For landside infrastructure, works done is now 67.82 percent completed, bringing total works carried out on the project as at Thursday, 6th of January 2022 to 79.68 percent completion stage.”

Spread over 90 hectares of land in the heart of the Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Port is situated just 65 km east of Lagos city.

The western boundary of the site lies east of Magbon Segun Village while the eastern margin lies west of Itoke Village. The Atlantic Ocean forms the southern boundary of the site and is bounded on the North by the Old Ibeju-Lekki Road between Eleko and Akodo.

The major roads and highways around the Port include: Old Ibeju-Lekki Road, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Ikorodu-Itoikin-Ijebu-Ode Road, Itoikin-Epe Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

In addition to this existing network, a number of new key road and bridge projects and expansion of existing highways are currently being developed, connecting Lekki Port further into the hinterlands.