The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Nigeria’s economy could reach 2.5 percent in 2021 as incipient recovery in the economic activity takes root.
The Fund said in a statement after Staff Concludes Virtual visit with Nigeria that, inflation is also expected to remain elevated in 2021.
However, the IMF said that inflation rate may likely decelerate in the second half of the year to reach about 15.5 percent.
It hinged its projection on inflation around the likely positive impact of the removal of border controls and the elimination of base effects from elevated food price levels.
“The incipient recovery in economic activity is projected to take root and broaden among sectors, with GDP growth expected to reach 2.5 percent in 2021.
“Inflation is expected to remain elevated in 2021, but likely to decelerate in the second half of the year to reach about 15.5 percent, following the removal of border controls and the elimination of base effects from elevated food price levels,” the IMF wrote in the statement.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Nigeria’s economy is “recovering gradually” following the negative impact of COVID-19, but noted that the unemployment and inflation rates remain elevated.
The IMF team led by Jesmin Rahman held virtual meetings with the Nigerian authorities from June 1-8, 2021 to discuss recent economic, financial developments and outlook.
The team said recent exchange rate measures are encouraging, and further reforms are needed to achieve a fully unified and market-clearing exchange rate. The resurfacing of fuel subsidies is concerning, particularly in the context of low revenue mobilisation.
The cases were delayed largely because of the strike by judiciary workers who shut down courts in Nigeria for over two months.
The anti-graft agency, EFCC, has said it is set to file 800 new corruption cases in court.
The chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said this Thursday as part of the weekly briefing by Heads of MDAs to give an update on their performance in office. He addressed State House reporters in Abuja.
He said the cases to be filed will border on public corruption and cybercrime.
The cases were delayed largely because of the strike by judiciary workers who shut down courts in Nigeria for over two months and only recently suspended the strike.
At the event, Mr Bawa also vowed that former Abia governor Orji Kalu “will be prosecuted all over again.”
PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Kalu was set free by the Supreme Court on technicalities after being convicted of stealing billions of naira when he was Abia State Governor (1999-2007).
Without addressing the substance of the case, the Supreme Court ruled that the trial judge that found him guilty had been elevated to the appeal court and should not have ruled on the matter.
On Thursday, Mr Bawa gave an overview of his performance in office since assumption 100 days ago.
He said the commission on Wednesday secured a judgment against a former banker, Francis Atuche, who was sentenced to six years in jail for stealing N27 billion from the former Bank PHB while he was the managing director.
“This case was instituted on October 16, 2009, but judgment was only given yesterday. But we are determined to continue prosecuting no matter how long it takes,” he said.
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday sentenced the former Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu to 126 years imprisonment for stealing a N25.7 billion theft belonging to the bank.
The 3rd defendant, Anyanwu was sentenced to eighty-four years of the twenty seven counts amendment with which he was charged with.
The former bank chiefs were convicted by the court on 21 of the 27-count amended charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Presiding judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu in a judgement that lasted over 12- hours held that the EFCC successful proved its case against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge also held that the offences with which the convicts were charge can not be said to be mere professional negligence as claimed by them but criminal in nature.
The court further held that Atuche and Anyanwu abuse their powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors funds in danger.
The court also stated that the convicts corruptly took advantage of their positions to conferred on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to health of the bank.
The court, however, cleared Atuche’s wife of the charge of conspiracy and stealing.
Justices Okunnu held that the EFCC failed to linked her to the crime, stating that suspicion no matter how strong can not take the place of fact.
She held that it was not proven that she was aware of the source of the fund she received into her account from her husband and she had no powers to take any decision to influence the transaction.
The EFCC had alleged that between November 2007 and April 2008, the accused persons stole about N25.7bn belonging to the bank.
The anti-graft agency has claimed that out of the total N25.7bn allegedly stolen by the accused persons, EFCC claimed that they stole about N14.7bn by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.
The Commission had further told the court that the companies included Future View Securities, Extra Oil Limited, Resolution Trust and Investment Limited and Tradjek Nigeria Ltd.
The EFCC also alleged that about N11bn was stolen by the defendants and the said sum was used to purchase about 984,375,000 units of Bank PHB shares for themselves.
The said sum used for purchasing the shares, EFCC alleged, was described as loan to some companies including, Guesstrade Services, Sentron Trading, Montrax Investico, Claremount Management Ltd., Trenton Trade and others.
The anti-graft agency had closed its case against the defendants on March 4, 2013, after calling 12 witnesses, who gave oral evidence and issuing subpoenas to six other persons to present some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
In his allocutus before the court, the convict, Atuche prayed the court temper justice with mercy.
“I asked for mercy from my lord, I am a professional banker and never thought I will end my career this way. Please, I don’t want to go to jail. I have been remorseful in the last 10 years that we have been on this matter. Today will definitely be a turning point in my life,” he said.
The second convict, Anyawu in his plea for mercy asked the judge to show him mercy.
“I am very sorry my lord, I asked that you have mercy on me. I am a father of young kids who are not even teenagers yet.
After listening to the convicts, Justice Okunnu held that she has considered the plea of the convict, there must be consequences for wrongdoing and sentences are not just for punishment but also for deterrent.
“The convict stole from the bank and depositors and because of their action, tax payers money was used to bail out the bank.
She also ruled that the defendant should restitute the amount stolen from the bank. They are to pay back the sum of N25.7billion to the Federal government to replace the fund taken from the public coffers to bail out the bank.
The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigations into the alleged case of conspiracy and currency counterfeiting levelled against three suspects.
Veteran Cable News Network (CNN) reporter, Christiane Amanpour, on Monday, announced that she is undergoing a round of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
In a message to viewers, Amanpour said the past four weeks, during which she has not appeared on CNN’s international outlets, has been “a roller coaster” for her and announced her diagnosis.
“During that time, like millions of women around the world, I have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” she said. “I’ve had successful major surgery to remove it and I’m now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible long term prognosis.”
Amanpour, who is based in London, said she was grateful to have health insurance through work and “incredible doctors in a country underpinned by of course the brilliant NHS.”
“I’m telling you this in the interest of transparency,” she said. “But in truth really mostly as a shout out to early diagnosis. To urge women to educate themselves on this disease to get all the regular screenings and scans that you can, to always listen to your body, and of course, to ensure your legitimate medical concerns are not dismissed or diminished.”
Amanpour hosts the network’s flagship international affairs program. She has worked for the network since 1983.
Amanpour, 63, has been a longtime news figure at CNN, almost from its launch in the early 1980s. She worked there from 1983 to 2010, then left for a brief stint at ABC News, where she anchored This Week.
She returned to CNN in 2012. Bianna Golodryga has filled in for Amanpour on her CNN International show as she went through surgery and treatments.
The African Development Bank said on Monday it is returning to the Australian capital market with the launch of a 5.5-year $464 million Kangaroo social bond.
The development bank said the deal was led by Nomura (9716.T) and RBC Capital Markets.
It added that the second social bond, following a $3.1 billion 3-year issue launched last year to fight the coronavirus pandemic, will be used to improve access to electricity, water and sanitation, and other social programmes in the continent.
Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, is extremely bullish on the future of bitcoin in Nigeria.
He was reacting to an open letter by NFL star who is of Nigerian ancestry, Russell Okung.
Greetings President Muhammadu Buhari,
The hope of Nigeria lies within this generation. I am proudly a Nigerian descendant living in America and am a proponent of Bitcoin. I write to urge the Nigerian government to pursue economic independence and financial sovereignty by pursuing a national Bitcoin standard. Soon every nation will be faced with this decision, but those who seize the present moment proactively as we have just witnessed in El Salvador, will enjoy significant advantages globally for generations to come.
It is no secret that the current global economic environment is worrisome and unsustainable. Sadly, the fate of the Nigerian economy is in the hands of global central bankers who do not represent the best interests of the Nigerian people. Despite the challenges we face, the resilience of Nigerians continues to inspire. The Nigerian society enjoys more favorable conditions than many of its neighbors. However, even greater opportunity awaits with the adoption of national action in favor of a Bitcoin standard.
The tone of this letter is meant to convey urgency both in terms of the forthcoming economic despair and the limited window to act on this opportunity with fierce boldness and strong leadership. While the challenges of COVID-19 and increased global unrest continue to instill fear in the hearts and minds of citizens everywhere, Nigerians can claim international greatness by rising to the occasion that our unique times require.
Nations such as Iran, Russia, China and Kenya have been reportedly mining or otherwise utilizing bitcoin, often as a means to circumvent U.S. sanctions which prevent them from full participation in the global financial system. Other nations like Barbados, Singapore and Malta have moved to become “bitcoin friendly” in an effort to attract wealth and human capital through migration. And this week, El Salvador became the world’s first nation to require merchants to accept bitcoin as legal tender. I’m proposing an equally aggressive approach to national Bitcoin adoption which would significantly bolster every sector of the Nigerian economy and revitalize the spirit of every Nigerian domestically and abroad.
Bitcoin is not controlled, managed or operated by any single entity. It is an innovation that will surpass the automobile or the internet in terms of its impact on humanity. Nigeria does not need to ask for permission from any other nation nor acquire a license nor secure a trade agreement from any corporation to reshape its economy with Bitcoin. All that is required is a vision for a new future and an allocation of its own national resources to pursue a Bitcoin standard.
The primary reason for urgently pursuing and executing a national plan for adoption is the finite supply of bitcoin. There will only ever be 21 million bitcoin in circulation. This hard cap on the supply makes bitcoin even more verifiably finite than gold. As this simple yet unique property of scarcity becomes more widely understood, the economic laws of supply and demand will create a global frenzy to acquire as much bitcoin as possible, before it’s too late. This momentum for acquiring bitcoin is already underway throughout the world and it is rapidly accelerating. In recent months, continued economic turmoil and uncertainty has created increased curiosity in bitcoin.
Multiple institutional investors have announced sizable bitcoin allocations in their portfolios, some citing it as a hedge against a weakening U.S. dollar.
The Nigerian government, along with every other government in the world, has a once in a generation opportunity to claim global prominence by rising to the occasion. Many other politicians in Latin America have signalled their intention to pursue similar moves as El Salvador. In leading the next global financial shift, Nigeria can create prosperity for its citizens in a manner that requires no bloodshed, no election and no resistance. Such a proposition may seem too good to be true, and these ambitions certainly require thorough investigation, scrutiny and debate. Conversely, a delay in pursuing a national plan for bitcoin adoption will risk a scenario where Nigeria is left behind and its citizens excluded from the possibility of significant wealth creation and preservation. As world leaders become more aware of the chance to make history, pursuit of bitcoin will be widespread. We offer our full support, a willingness to voluntarily consult and commitment to activate every resource available to us in order to see Nigeria pursue a Bitcoin standard.
Several groups have announced their intentions to protest nationwide on June 12, Democracy Day.
Police presence and response can be expected nationwide, including in Abuja where Government events are scheduled to celebrate the national holiday and in Lagos where simultaneous protests are planned.
The likely locations for the protests in Abuja will be at Unity Fountain (Hilton Hotel area), Wuse, Berger Roundabout, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Airport Road, and British Circle. In Lagos, the likely locations for protests will be Lekki Toll Gate and Gani Fawehinmi Park. Calls for the protests suggest they may begin as early as 07:00 a.m.
Actions to Take:
· Avoid the areas of the demonstrations.
· Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
The man who slapped French President Emmanuel Macron in the face on Monday has been jailed.
Damien Tarel, 28, appeared in court in Valence charged with violence against a person invested with public authority. He was jailed for four months and given an additional 14-month suspended sentence. He was also banned from ever holding public office and from owning weapons for five years.
According to AFP, Tarel identified himself in court as a right-wing “patriot” and a member of the Yellow Jackets protest movement and appeared in court wearing the same green T-shirt he wore on the day of his arrest.
Asked why he had attacked the president when Macron was on a visit to the southeastern town of Tain-l’Hermitage, Tarel said he had thought about throwing an egg or cream tart, but insisted he had not considered slapping Macron and acted on impulse.
“When I saw his friendly, lying look, which sought me out as a voter, I was filled with disgust,” he was reported as saying to the court.
Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna state, has disowned an account passed off as his on Koo, an Indian microblogging platform.
"The Kaduna State Government has disowned an account that is passing off as Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Koo, an app that recently debuted in Nigeria,” the statement said.
“Malam El-Rufai has not signed on to Koo. As such, any account currently on that app purporting to be him is fake and should be treated as such.
“The general public is advised to kindly disregard the impostor with the Koo handle @nelrufai and account name, Nasir El-rufai.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) as “a dot in a circle,” saying the group is isolated in its call for secession.
The president said this in an interview with Arise TV broadcast on Thursday.
Buhari said he has been assured by “the elderly people” and “the youths” from the south-south part of the country that region has no intention of seceding.
He said IPOB will not have “access to anywhere” even if they eventually secede from the country.
The president then reiterated his statement that IPOB members will treated in the “language that they understand”.
“I was encouraged by what I heard, nobody told me. Two statements from the south south: one by the elderly people, they said this time around there would be no (secession). And again the youth made the same statement; such encouragement,” Buhari said.
“So that IPOB is just like a dot in a circle. Even if they want to exit, they’ll have no access to anywhere. And the way they are spread all over the country, having businesses and properties. I don’t think IPOB knows what they are talking about.”
“In any case, we say we’ll talk to them in the language that they understand. We’ll organise the police and the military to pursue them.”
IPOB has been agitating for the secession of the south-east. They recently took up arms against the country, attacking security formations and public property.
El Salvador has become the first country in the world to formally adopt Bitcoin as legal tender after President Nayib Bukele said Congress approved his landmark proposal.
Latin America’s youngest president, who’s known to break from norms, said on Twitter lawmakers approved the legislation by a “supermajority.”
The 39-year-old leader has previously said that Bitcoin could boost the economy, help counter El Salvador’s low banking penetration rate and facilitate faster transfers for $6 billion of remittances a year.
The high-stakes plan to ramp up usage of the volatile currency adds to the bull case, just as the token struggles to recover from last month’s dramatic rout.
The #BitcoinLaw has been approved by a supermajority in the Salvadoran Congress.
The #BitcoinLaw has just been approved by a supermajority in the Salvadoran Congress
El Salvador’s central bank President Douglas Rodriguez said in an interview with state TV on Tuesday that Bitcoin is already used in the country and “it’s not something people need to be afraid of,” while adding it won’t replace the U.S. dollar.
Bitcoin has plunged from a mid-April record of almost $65,000, hurt in part by billionaire Elon Musk’s criticism of the amount of energy needed by the servers underpinning it.
Harsher regulatory scrutiny in places such as China has also soured sentiment, and the idea that more mainstream investors will warm to it has taken a knock. But the Bitcoin faithful say these are temporary setbacks and that the virtual currency’s role will expand.
Bitcoin climbed 3% to about $34,686 as of 12:25 p.m. in London on Wednesday, reversing earlier losses. The wider Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index increased 2.4%.
The Associated Press said at the time it had operated from the building for 15 years, and had no indication that Hamas was present there. Israel gave civilians in the building advance warning of the strike and as a result, no civilian was harmed, the military said in a separate statement.
Yesterday, I visited the @AP HQ in New York to explain to top executives that the building housing their Gaza operation was being used by Hamas terrorists trying to jam the Iron Dome - that is why it was prioritize by the IDF during last month’s operation.
AP is one of the most important news agencies in the world and Israel does not suspect its employees were aware a covert Hamas unit was using the building in this way.
Israel did everything to ensure no employee or civilians was hurt during this operation. In contrast, Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization that purposely places its terror machine in civilian areas, including in buildings being used by international media outlets.
I reaffirmed that Israel upholds the importance of press freedom and strives to ensure the safety of journalists wherever they are reporting. Israel is willing to assist AP in rebuilding its offices and operations in Gaza.
The house of representatives has summoned Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, over the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.
At its sitting on Tuesday, the house mandated its committees on communication, justice, information and culture, and national security and intelligence to immediately commence an investigation into the suspension of the microblogging site.
Major General Obi Abel Umahi (rtd) has resigned as the chairman of the South East Security Committee which was formed on August 31, 2019
Umahi tendered his resignation in a letter dated June 4, 2021, entitled: “Resignation As Chairman South east Security Committee – Ebubeagu” and addressed to chairman of the South East Governor’s Forum.
Part of the letter which reads: “Since this Security Committee was formed, we deliberated and agreed on ways to raise security consciousness down to the community level in Igbo land, mode of operations, logistics and some types of equipment required, such as drones, vehicles etc.
We also crafted the Concept of SE Security.
Additionally, I chaired a 21-man Committee set up to draft a legal framework for the SE Security outfit. The committee was composed of members of SE Security committee, the Attorney generals of the five Se States and some prominent Igbo sons and daughters. The 21-man Legal Framework Committee was funded to completion by the Governor of Ebonyi State.
“On 11th April, 2021, SE Governors announced the formation of EBUBEAGU at Owerri. Subsequently, the draft legal framework produced by the 21-man Committee was reviewed by SE Security Committee members and the Attorney Generals of the five Se States to suit South East Ebubeagu Security outfit
The SE Security Committee thoroughly prepared and submitted the modalities, including the structure, for the take-off of EBUBEAGU to the Governors’ Forum during the security of South East Governors’ Forum, attended by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and some other Igbo leaders a request that EBUBEAGU should be jointly rolled out as a matter of urgency and also funded by the Government of the five SE States. From inception to date, SE Security Committee was never funded at all in any capacity and not even an office space was provided.
At this juncture that EBUBEAGU will soon come fully on-stream, I respectfully request that Your Excellencies kindly permit me to resign my appointment as the chairman, SE Security Committee. in the spirit of my love to serve Ndigbo, i can assure you that i will always be available to advice on the success of EBUBEAGU at no cost, just as i served as the Chairman of South East Security Committee from 31 August 2019 till date at no cost directly or indirectly to the five South East State Government, groups and individual. I highly appreciate Your Excellencies for the opportunity you gave me to serve Ndigbo.
“Please be assured of my loyalty, respect and accept my highest regards of your esteemed considerations.” The letter was copied to Amb. (Prof) George Obiozor, president general, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and director general, South East Governors’ Forum.
The parents of the students of the Federal College of Mechanisation, Afaka have lamented that 30 days after the release of their children, most of them are exhibiting abnormal psychological behaviours.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Parents Forum, Abdullahi Usman, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the parents had hope that the children would undergo thorough psychological tests and rehabilitation process that would eventually help with their total recovery, alleging that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the institute have abandoned them to their fate.
The statement read in part: “The parents resolved to pursue compensation so that they would be able to treat their traumatized children.
“The release of the students ignited hopes that they would immediately be made to go through the very necessary medical check-up to ensure their soundness of health, especially to heal them of all terror-inflicted trauma that could negatively affect their normal living.
“The parents of the students had expected the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) to immediately set a process in motion for such necessary checkup and compensation to assuage all negative effects of terror they and the children severely suffered.
“We, the parents, have received no inkling of hope from the Ministry or Institute for any compensation over the psychological damage inflicted on the children during their 56-day encounter with terror.
“We wish to stress that consequent upon the foregoing, most of the children have not been living their normal lives since their release by the abductors. Yet, the Ministry and the Institute seem insensitive to their plight and indifferent to their trauma.
“Accordingly, we, parents of the released students, hereby categorically demand immediate compensation from the Ministry and the Institute to enable us to treat them of their trauma.
“We are resolute in our resolve to bark and bite in our pursuit of compensation for our children, whose abduction was for no fault of their own, from whatever authority responsible for such compensation.
“We will go to every extent, using every legal instrument available to us – bonafide and law-abiding citizens of this country – to get what we believe our children deserve to facilitate their return to normal life,” the statement declared.
Suspected hoodlums operating as “unknown gunmen ” early hours of Sunday attacked and set ablaze houses belonging to Imo state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, at his hometown Ubulu in Oru West local government area of Imo state.
Vanguard was told in Owerri, that the incident happened at about 2am.
It was gathered that the hoodlums put fire in the building after shooting sporadically in and around the village causing panic and forced villagers to scamper for safety.
However, When Vanguard called the Imo state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Decalan Emelumba, he confirmed it and said that no live was lost.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has reacted to the Presidency’s allegation of stockpiling arms.
IPOB’s National Publicity Secretary, Emma Power said the group produces its arms locally.
Powerful made the remark while denying the allegation of stockpiling arms and bombs.
In a chat, Powerful said: “We are not stockpiling any arms anywhere.
“Fulani government of Nigeria can rant and propagate falsehood against IPOB, we don’t buy arms we produce arms we are going to use locally; and we made it clear to them that 1967 and 1970 are not the same thing with 2021.
“Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu prophecied that they will kill us and we’ll kill them at the end Biafra nation will come.
“There is no false information and state-sponsored propaganda that can stop or change our resolve to restore Biafra freedom from Nigeria. What they did to our fathers, this present generation of Biafra will surprise them heavily.”
President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu had accused IPOB of stockpiling arms and bombs.
Shehu had made the mixed reactions that followed Twitter’s decision to delete Buhari’s offensive tweet.
The wife of Kano State Governor Dr Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is planning to contest for Senate in Jigawa North East Senatorial District.
A source close to the first lady confirmed this to POLITICS DIGEST that the University Lecturer who hails from Malam Madori in Jigawa State is planning for the contest.
The source said that plans ahead of the aspiration of Dr Hafsat have gone far as she started consultation with stakeholders, youth, women groups and civil society organisations in the area.
“It is true that Goggo is aspiring for the senate position only that she didn’t reveal it to the public but she will do so in the soonest i know”. A source who confided anonymity to this paper said.
The first lady have been supporting the area with projects, distribution of writing materials to students and drilling of boreholes.
Another indication that she has a political interest in the senatorial district, this paper learnt.
Some of Dr Hafsat Ganduje projects in her hometown in Jigawa
It would be recalled that during the revalidation exercise of APC membership, Dr Hafsat Ganduje popularly known as Goggo participated in the exercise in her hometown of Malam Madori not in Kano even though the presentation of her membership card was done at Kano by party officials who came all the way from Jigawa to Kano Government House.
Dr Hafsat Ganduje after revalidating her membership of APC
Hafsat Ganduje is one of the powerful first ladies in the country, she decides like a governor in the state, she orders for appointment and sack of political appointees that are not loyal to her.
Her active involvement in government activities in Kano has been condemned by activists and politicians in the state.
She is to contest against the incumbent Senator from the area Barr. Ibrahim Hassan Hadeija, a two term Deputy Governor in the state.
Barr. Ibrahim Hassan Hadeija, the Senator representing Jigawa North- West
POLITICS DIGEST reliably gathered that some family members of Ganduje will contest in 2023 election in order to become politically relevant after leaving Kano Government House.
While Hafsat Ganduje(Goggo) is going for Senate in Jigawa her home state, Abba Ganduje, the 4th son of the family is going for House of Representatives in Dawakin-Tofa, Tofa and Rimingado Federal Constituency in Kano.
Though, there was a clash between Abba and Abdulaziz his brother who also plans to contest for the seat, this paper learnt that Abdulaziz was asked to contest for such seat in Nassarawa Constituency where he is residing by the father.
Balaraba Ganduje who is at loggerhead with her siblings and parents few months to election may contest for House of Representatives in Nasarawa Constituency and her father the incumbent governor Abdullahi Ganduje is going for Senate in Kano North.
Balaraba who plays a significant role in her father’s first term was kept aside because of some family issues and Amina Ganduje her sister, a medical practitioner started to play the role of Balaraba in his second term.
Dr Amina Ganduje is behind the appointment of two commissioners in her father’s cabinet, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso who is the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa who is the Commissioner for Health and the Director General of the State Agency for the Control of Aids Dr Yushau Sabitu Shanono.
She is seen as the most powerful in this government after her mother even though she’s currently having a battle with her brother Abba Ganduje, the young man that’s behind the emergence of more than ten local government Chairmen in Kano.
Heard the news of Buhari's ban on Twitter an hour or so after sending off TO SHOCK AND AWE to the print media. Kindly add my total lack of surprise at this petulant gesture, unbecoming of a democratically elected president.
If Buhari has a problem with Twitter, he is advised to sort it out between them personally, the way Donald Trump did, not rope in the right to free expression of the Nigerian citizen as collateral damage.
In any case, this is a technical problem Nigerians should be able to work their way around. The field of free expression remains wide open, free of any dictatorial spasms!
Heard the news of Buhari's ban on Twitter an hour or so after sending off TO SHOCK AND AWE to the print media. Kindly add my total lack of surprise at this petulant gesture, unbecoming of a democratically elected president.
If Buhari has a problem with Twitter, he is advised to sort it out between them personally, the way Donald Trump did, not rope in the right to free expression of the Nigerian citizen as collateral damage. In any case, this is a technical problem Nigerians should be able to work their way around. The field of free expression remains wide open, free of any dictatorial spasms! Wole SOYINKA
He also seized the opportunity to introduce the new COO of Crowwe app, Anya Ifunanya.
Garba said on January 15, 2021 that he was stepping down to allow one without political leaning to take charge of the daily operations of the company.
Hello All, this introducing myself as the new COO of Crowwe. I want to appreciate those you who have joined @ and also reach out to those who have not. My team and I will be available to respond to all your concerns and questions. Looking forward to a new start. ❤️
We welcome, @AnyaIfunanya, our Crowwe COO Onboard!
Garba has insisted that "Crowwe is the first Nigerian multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app. it has a wide range of functions and can be said to be an app that does everything. It is compatible with both web, Android and iOS devices."
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, says Nigeria has already broken up spiritually and if some drastic actions are not taken, the physical manifestation of the break up will soon become evident.
Mailafia, who stressed that he believes in one indivisible Nigeria, spoke on Friday while featuring on a PUNCH Live interview programme.
The Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the last election also said there was no contest in the fact that Nigeria has been a failed state for over five years.
There have been agitations in Southern Nigeria with some persons clamouring for Yoruba Nation, Biafra Republic, amongst other typologies and nomenclature used by secessionists.
Some of the secessionists have cited the growing insecurity, worsening economy, discrimination, ethnic prejudice, lack of justice, fairness and equity, especially in the distribution of resources, appointments into high government offices, amongst others, as reasons for wanting a nation of their own.
When asked on Friday of his view on the secessionists’ calls in the country, Mailafia said, “Do you want a honest answer or do you want a political answer? The honest answer is that the country is already broken up spiritually.
“Talk to any Nigerian. Do Nigerians feel that they are part of the same country right now? We have become strangers to each other.
“It is just like marriages. People start fighting each other and the other one doesn’t see anything good in the other. The divorce only comes much later but, in the spirit, you would have divorced a long time ago before the ramshackle marriage ends up in the court where they sign papers for divorce.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, as his Special Envoy to Chad and the Lake Chad Basin Region.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha who disclosed this in a statement Monday in Abuja said the appointment is of a “Cabinet Rank Status”.
The statement reads; “President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, as his Special Envoy with Cabinet Rank Status, to Chad and the Lake Chad Basin Region.
“This appointment of a Special Envoy by the President is also in consonance with the resolution of the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Member Countries, on the situation in Chad on the 25th of May, 2021.
“The Special Envoy will amongst others: Monitor developments in Chad and the Lake Chad Basin Region; aid reconciliation and seamless progress towards return to democratic rule at the end of the current Transitional Military Council’s rule; Collaborate with member Countries and partners in the region with similar initiatives to restore stability, promote peace and, security; and, Promote any other initiative ancillary to the restoration of peace and security in Chad, the North East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Region.
“President Buhari has by this appointment demonstrated the determination of Nigeria to lead regional security efforts that will stabilize the Lake Chad Basin Region, bring peace to Chad and ultimately eliminate the Boko Haram Insurgency in the North East zone of Nigeria.
“This is also a fulfillment of the President’s promise to General Mahamat Deby Itno, the President of the Transitional Military Council of Chad, to support a seamless progress towards return to democratic rule, when he visited Nigeria in May, 2021
“The Special Envoy, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe is an accomplished multi-lingual diplomat, who had at various times served the nation as Federal Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Constituent Assembly, Cabinet Minister and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He had also participated in previous Nigeria-led Chadian reconciliation talks (Kano 1 & II as well as Lagos 1 & II)”.
The Chief Provost of Nigerian Immigration Service, Imo State Command, Okiemute Mrere, has been assassinated.
Mrere was murdered on Saturday night on Owerri- Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, our correspondent learnt on Monday.
A senior officer of NIS, who confirmed to our correspondent, said the slain officer’s corpse was discovered in a bush on Sunday morning.
Mrere was riding a Hilux van belonging to NIS when he was allegedly waylaid, shot and killed.
The source told our correspondent that the assailants did not take the victim’s service pistol as it was found on him when his corpse was discovered, the next day.
The official Hilux van that he was riding when he was attacked was riddled with bullet holes, our correspondent learnt.
The source said, “The chief provost of Nigerian Immigration Service, Imo State Command, Okiemute Mrere, has been assassinated. He was killed on Saturday night. He was riding in his official Hilux van when he was attacked, shot and killed.
“His corpse was discovered the next day which was on Sunday morning. Nothing was taken from him, not even his service pistol. His vehicle was riddled in bullets holes. The command is quiet. There is panic as officers are dumbfounded by this tragic development.”
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Winifred Ogu, refused to take several calls put to her telephone by our correspondent.
She had yet to respond to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report but a senior officer who preferred anonymity confirmed the murder to our correspondent.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, told our correspondent on Monday morning that, “I do not have the brief”.
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