₦airaland Forum

By Israel Arogbonlo


Chief Akin Osuntokun, the Director-General of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, believed President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has reduced the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Osuntokun, in a recent interview with SATURDAY TRIBUNE, claimed his principal, Peter Obi stands a better chance to win the February 25 Presidential poll because of his wide acceptance by Nigerians, especially the young people who desired good governance.

According to him, “There are better hopes with Labour Party than there is with the others” adding that “anyone who supports our presidential ticket is doing himself or herself and the country a favour.

“There is no reason why anybody, whether you are in a rural area or urban area, should not desire progress and good government for your country, especially against the background of the poverty they have endured in the past seven years. The thing about the Buhari government is that he has made the choice clear.

“There are no longer any room for doubting, he has made it clear to rural and urban dwellers that APC is bad news. Of course, the same goes for Atiku. I’m sure you read the story of Ali Baba and the forty thieves. This is what has been going on in their camps. It is a tragedy of Nigeria that were these to be the only two parties contesting the election, what Nigerians would have been presented was ‘which evil is better or is less than the other?’ It is not something good, we have two evil incarnations.

“They could have presented Nigerians no option and the greatest evidence that leads to that is what they have said about one another in the past few weeks. It’s a way of God telling us that if you have any doubt about what these people represent’ here now is a piece of evidence for you not to behave like the Israelites who want to be going back to where they were suffering as a matter of the slightest obstacle.

“So, logically, those two people should be ruled out of the contest. Those are not the kinds of presidential tickets Nigerians should be looking forward to. It is only a masochist that will see the decay of those two tickets and what they say about one another and still believe and say he is looking forward to any of them becoming the president of Nigeria,” Osuntokun stated.

The Kano State government has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to postpone his visit to the state due to security reasons caused by the currency swap crisis.

The president was scheduled to visit the state between January 30 and 31, to commission some projects built by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration.

However, during an interactive session which feature scholars, legislators, political leaders and business community in the state, held in Government House on Friday, the decision to write the postpone the visit was taken.

According to a press statement by Malam Abba Anwar, the Chief press Secretary to Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the decision which was endorsed by critical stakeholders in the state is said to have been taken to avoid any unforeseen circumstance.

During the meeting with sections of citizens in the state, they accepted that, the decision was a unanimous one. As they all spoke in support of the letter sent to Presidency.

According to the report, two serving Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Barau Jibrin, 20 members of the state House of Representatives and 30 legislators from the State House of Assembly were amongst the groups that put their weight behind the governor.

The statement reads in parts: “Deeply concerned with the hardship caused by limited time given for halting use of old Naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and for security reasons, the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, reveals that the state resolved and wrote to Presidency that, the visit of the President to commission some projects be postponed.

“As we are waiting for this important visit, we found ourselves in this situation, which puts citizens into untold hardship. For security purpose we wrote to Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Kano be postponed.

"We got an acknowledgement copy of the letter. People are really suffering because of this policy.

“There are no banks in most of our rural communities. How these people get new Naira notes is of great concern. Just look at what is happening in our urban areas, people go and spend hours upon hours in banks. And without any assurances of getting the new notes.”

Even at Point of Sales (POS) according to the governor, one cannot transact with ease, hinting that, many of them closed shops due to uncertainty.

"Kano being a commercial hub must be heard loudly, insisting that, “This problem affects all of us. Therefore our voice must be heard in all nooks and crannies. We are a commercial hub. As such our position must be loud and clear.”

In Kano, according to him, the government calls leaders of all sections of people around, whenever situation like this arises.

Revealing that, “We invited scholars who were here yesterday. And today we are having this interactive sessions with you business community and our legislators.

"Governor Ganduje would take representatives from sections of the populace to go and see President Buhari and hear from them verbatim to revalidate the position of Kano people," as contained in the letter sent.

The passenger train was heading to Kaduna from Abuja on Friday when the accident occurred, SaharaReporters learnt.

Atrain plying the Abuja-Kaduna State route has reportedly derailed, forcing many passengers to be stranded.

The passenger train was heading to Kaduna from Abuja on Friday when the accident occurred, SaharaReporters learnt.

The Nigeria Railway Corporation is yet to confirm the incident.

This is coming a few days after a train plying the Warri-Itakpe route derailed in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.

The incident happened inside a Kogi State forest.

Several passengers were said to have abandoned the train for fear of being kidnapped.

On January 7, 2023, some gunmen kidnapped 20 passengers waiting to board a train at the train station in the Igueben Local Government Area of the Edo State.

By Abdullateef Aliyu


Less than a week after an Itakpe-Warri train derailed in Kogi, another train on Friday derailed in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, it was gathered, derailed at Kubwa on Friday afternoon leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

The immediate cause of the derailment was not known as of press time but many passengers were seen wondering around the derailed train.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria confirmed the incident.

However, he was just trying to obtain information on the incident.

It would be recalled that an Itakpe-Warri train had on Sunday derailed in a Kogi forest though the 143 passengers were safely evacuated.

The NRC later shut down the train service while repair work commenced immediately.

The Corporation said it suspected vandalism as the cause of the derailment while investigation is ongoing.

Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in Osun State came to a hurting halt on Friday as the Osun Election Petitions Tribunal sacked him from office. His stay in office lasted a mere 62 days!

While annulling the July 16 Osun governorship poll results, the tribunal held that the Independent National Electoral Commission did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Electoral Act as amended.

The PUNCH reports The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, the winner of the July 16 election.

The Returning Officer for the election and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, announced that Adeleke got a total of 403,371 votes, beating the incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, who garnered 375,027 votes in the keenly contested race.

In the election held across 3,763 polling units in the 30 local government areas in Osun, the PDP won 17 of the LGAs, while the APC recorded more votes in the remaining 13. The PDP won in Ede North, Ede South, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Egbedore, Odo Otin, Osogbo, Ila, Atakumosa West, Olorunda, Ilesa West, Obokun, Oriade, Orolu, Ife North, Irepodun, and Ejigbo LGAs.

The APC, on the other hand, won in Boripe, Ilesa East, Ayedire, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Ayedaade, Iwo, Olaoluwa, Isokan, Atakumosa East, Irewole, Ife South, and Ife East LGAs. Out of the 1,955,657 registered voters in the state, 1,479,595 Permanent Voter Cards were collected before the election.

The PUNCH reports that Adeleke’s victory raised the PDP-governed states’ tally to 14, with the ruling APC states dropping to 21.

But the hope of Adeleke, known for his dancing skills and fondly referred to as the ‘Dancing Senator’, was dashed on Friday after the tribunal annulled the result of the July 16 governorship poll.

While delivering a majority decision vote, Justice Tetsea Kume ruled that INEC did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He subsequently deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.

He directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issue another one to Oyetola who won a majority of the lawful votes.

City & Crime learnt that the leader of the bandits, who raided Azara, Janjala and Kadara communities in Kaduna State on December 12, 2022, and kidnapped 37 people, asked the relatives of the victims to return the old naira notes when they brought them for ransom payment.

Instead, he ordered for foodstuff, drugs and wine before freeing two nursing mothers and three men among the abducted 11 people from Azara community in Kachia LGA.

A relative to one of the victims, Haruna Shuaibu, confirmed the release of the two women and three men through a telephone chat with our reporter on Wednesday.

He explained that family members and relatives of the victims raised N5.3m for the bandits, but that money was rejected by their leader when he discovered that it was in old naira notes.

He said, “Last week the families and relatives of the victims struggled to raise the ransom. And upon taking the ransom to them, their leader rejected it, saying it was in old naira notes which would soon cease to be legal tender and ordered that the family should use the money to buy foodstuff and drugs for them.”

He further said that the relatives returned with the money and bought foodstuff, hard drugs and cartons of wine before some of them were set free on Saturday.

Shuaibu added that the remaining victims were still in captivity as the bandits had insisted on collecting new naira notes from their family members.

There was no response from the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command over the development.

With the launch of the National Domestic Card scheme, Afrigo, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will be coming up with a deadline for the existing card schemes in the country afterwhich they will no longer be eligible for domestic transactions.

Speaking at a virtual launch of the card scheme on Thursday, the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said: “all domestic transactions that are going to be conducted in Nigeria will have to be through the Nigerian domestic cards.”

Noting that the domestic card scheme avails the country “the sovereignty of our data” in addition to coming at a lower cost, Emefiele added that “at this time when foreign exchange challenges persist globally, it is important that we have this card to ensure that all card transactions, online transactions where you’re using cards will now effectively immediately begin to go on the Nigerian National Domestic system.

“At some point in the next few weeks, I’m sure that the CBN will come up with the cut-off. We will no longer pay dollars for those cards, for the charges on those cards.”

A female bank staff of Fina Trust MicroFinance Bank, Charity Edosa Omosirie, had a nasty experience in Lagos State after she went to recover loan from customers and she was attacked and stripped naked in public.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Okeimoye Street, Isheri Oshun area of Lagos, where Charity went to recover the loan from Ifeanyi Chidubem and Angela Israel before she was assaulted and disgraced publicly.

The suspects, Chidubem and Angela, have been arrested and charged before the Court for conspiracy and assault.

According to the Police, the defendants went to the bank, borrowed an undisclosed amount of money as loan and promised to pay back the loan at a particular period with certain conditions attached.

However, when the period given to them elapsed, they were unable to repay the money. The bank management then sent their staff, Charity, to recover the debt from them. But on getting there, the defendants reportedly grabbed, attacked and stripped her naked in public.

The matter was reported to the Police and they were arrested. They were subsequently charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence and they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence that brought them before the Court.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, granted them bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

However, they were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 31st January, 2023, for mention.

By Deji Lambo

https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/24225020/female-unizik-student.jpgThe victims hand; the vehicles

Some policemen attached to the Special Anti-Cult Unit of the Anambra State Police Command have been accused of breaking into a private hostel housing students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in a bid to arrest suspected fraudsters in Ifite, in the Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

PUNCH Metro gathered that during the invasion, which happened around 4am on Sunday, the policemen, who were said to be heavily armed, allegedly beat up an unclad female student.

A resident, who gave his name only as Benneth for security reasons, said the policemen brutalised some of the students when they denied knowing any fraudster.

Benneth said, “[b]The hostel is called Prince Godwin Lodge, and it is outside the school. What we gathered was that there had been robbery operations in the area. So, on Sunday, the students started to hear bangs on the gate and doors of the hostel.

“The undergraduates thought the people banging the door were armed robbers because of what happened in the past and they raised the alarm. It was when they entered after breaking the doors of some flats that the students realised that they were policemen as they wore jackets with the inscription of SPAC.

“The students said the policemen started harassing them and said they were looking for Yahoo boys. One of the students, a girl, said some of the policemen entered her room and threatened her to name the boys in the hostel doing Yahoo Yahoo (Internet fraud). The policemen beat her, took some of the students’ phones, laptops, and televisions and arrested some of them. But the girl was able to use her mobile phone to record them as they left the hostel with the students.”[/b]

Narrating her ordeal in a video clip recorded by some aggrieved students of the institution, the female student said the policemen beat her while she was naked.

She said, “They broke the door and came into my flat and ever since they broke the door, if we want to sleep, we usually use a chair to brace the door at the back. This is where they were beating me and I was naked.”

In the video, injury marks were seen on her hand.

Her room was also observed to be scattered as the cupboard was wide open.

The Public Relations Officer of the Student Union Government, UNIZIK, Ikechukwu Dikeojo, in a statement, described the action of the policemen as unprofessional.

Dikeojo said, “These unprofessional force men invaded our students’ lodges in the early hours of Sunday, January 22 around 4am with criminal intent. They harassed our students and forcefully collected their phones, laptops, money and other valuables.

“They even threatened to gang-rape one of our female students who raised the alarm upon noticing their plans towards her. Still, they took her phone, laptop, money and PS4 game. They forcefully broke students’ doors thereby gaining illegal entrance into the students’ rooms simply because they claimed they were searching for Internet fraudsters (Yahoo Boys) in Ifite.

“We Zikites are giving the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, 24 hours to call the SPAC to order and return all the phones, laptops, PS4 game, and money they forcefully collected from Zikites who reside in Prince Godwin lodge, Ifite, or face the full wrath and the anger of students as we will lead Zikites to block every entrance of this town if our demands are not met.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenganyia Anthony, said an investigation had commenced into the case, adding that Dikeojo had been informed to bring the victims to the command headquarters.

He said, “We are investigating this allegation; the PRO of the Student Union Government has yet to honour Anambra State police invitation to the command headquarters, Awka.

“He was invited to come on January 23, 2023, by 10am along with the victims of the alleged incident but up till now, we are still waiting. I can assure you the police command will get to the root of all this.”

Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has narrated how his campaign team was attacked in Katsina State.

Obi’s team that has been on a state-to-state tour touched down in Katsina on Monday.

Daily Trust had reported how the Presidential Candidate wooed voters and promised to tackle insecurity if elected.

In a statement issued on his behalf, Diran Onifade, Head of Media, Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council, said, that the attack on Obi and his campaign team is condemnable.

“Our candidate had met with women in a townhall and then held a hugely successful Rally at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium. However, on his way to the airport, hoodlums attacked the car our candidate was riding in with heavy stones from his drivers’ side causing substantial damage to the vehicle.

“To the glory of God, Mr Obi and other occupants of the car were unhurt. Subsequently another set of thugs also threw stones outside the stadium which damaged several vehicles including that of our official stage crew,” Onifade said.

According to him, the two incidents taken together make the team to suspect that the attacks may have been premeditated at the behest of desperate politicians who had been deluding themselves with the false claim that they had the northwest in their pockets, but are now shocked by the show of force of the “Obidient movement” in the region.

While commending the people of Katsina who came out en masse to support their campaign on Monday, he urged security agencies to investigate the attacks to forestall future occurrences.

The Delta State Governor Special Assistant on Media has narrated how his friend was scammed by his side chick in Asaba.

According to a post made on his Facebook page, Ossai said his friend got scammed of 25 million Naira by the said side chick.

He noted that his friend is heartbroken as a result of the money.

“Yesterday my friend narrated to me how he was scammed by his side chick.

He said they have been dating for a year now and the said lady claimed to be connected to property owners in Lagos.

“So 3 weeks ago, she advised him about getting land in Lagos.”

“After about 15 minutes, she convinced him and he ended up transferring 25 million Naira for the said land property in Lagos only to find out 2 weeks later that the side chick has relocated to Canada without purchasing the land for him.

“I just told him not to transfer the pains in his heart to his innocent wife and he should confess to his wife.”

Residents and traders across Kano, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra and Yobe states have continued to lament the impact of the unavailability of new naira notes as well as the challenges they are facing in getting their old naira notes into the banking system.

This is even as many businesses have closed up and markets are operating at a reduced capacity as the deadline for the collection of old naira notes draws nearer. Many of the business owners said they have not even sighted the new naira notes since its release with a reliable source informing Daily Trust that only about N200billion of new Naira notes were produced to cater for a system with about N3.1trillion in circulation, thereby making the new notes inaccessible to residents.

Residents in Gashua, Nguru, Gaidam and other local governments in Yobe State said they have been finding it difficult to get their old naira notes into the banking system as the few commercial banks in the area sometimes refused to open for collection of the old new notes from marketers in some of the LGAs.

Daily Trust gathered that many people were stranded at the banks premises with millions of old Naira and that some of them were chased out by the police officers guarding the banks.

Furthermore, in other places like Nguru LGA, shop owners have issued a deadline that they will stop collecting the old naira notes on 29th and 30th of this month, an incident that plunged people into a mad rush for food stuff.

In several local governments in Yobe State, many people were sighted patronising day-to-day useful items from provision stores in huge quantities with many of the shops now closing up due to the fear of whether they may not be able to deposit the old Naira notes in the bank within the required time.

A resident of Gashua, Nura Dalhatu, said the incident has led to rise in the prices of commodities while some major markets and shops have closed.

He added that some local government areas have no banks and have to come through Gashua and deposit millions of naira but they are now left with fear of whether they will be accepted or not.

“This morning (Sunday) we woke up to a tragic incident in this town as the major markets that operate within and outside these LGAs are all closed. This is as a result of fear of collecting the old Naira notes. You are not certain whether they can be deposited in banks. Like our market and the Gaidam market are one of the biggest cattle markets and people make huge sales running into hundreds of millions every week. But this time around we have to close.

“Even some shops inside the town are closing, which led us to buy a mudu of local rice at N2000, something that was normally sold at N1300. The consequences have already started,” he said.

He lamented that if the situation continues, many people, especially business owners will lose a lot, as people from villages have cash in their hands that are yet to be deposited.

“I know of people that come to these markets from Niger Republic, Kano, Jigawa, and other states. But today, (Sunday) they have not come. Imagine the millions we are going to lose today alone,” he said.

Umar Madu Bukar, a shop owner in Nguru LGA of the state said the fear of losing one’s capital forced many of them to issue the deadline, adding that he will stop collecting on Monday 30th January, 2023.

“Even this one I’m just taking risk, how can I deposit it within one day. The banks are congested and before you get your money deposited you have to spend the whole day there. So it is necessary and we have no option than to do that,” Bukar said.

Daily Trust equally gathered that residents are expressing fear as the situation has led to the price hike in almost all food stuffs.

In Kano, traders in several markets in the state including those at the popular Wapa Bureau de Change market have expressed fears over the impact of the fast approaching deadline set by the CBN on old Naira notes.


Business owners issue Jan 25 deadlines for collection of old notes

The traders, especially those at Wapa forex market said since last Monday, their clients have been refusing to accept the old Naira notes in exchange for foreign currency brought into the market.

Ali Adamu Jauro, a grains dealer in the popular Dawanau International Market, also said it has been announced throughout the market that traders should stop collecting the old naira notes from January 25. He said the alternative given to them is to switch to cashless banking (transfers) since the new notes are also not readily available.

Daily Trust reports that the situation is also similar in some villages in Plateau State where marketers have also issued a January 25 deadline for collection of the old notes and trading activities have suffered in the last few days. Yusuf Mairiga Shekarau, a POS operator in Yelwa community of Shendam LGA area of the state said he had stopped collecting the old naira notes as banks in Shendam have warned them not to collect them.

Shekarau said “We don’t have banks in our community. We always have to take the money to Shendam town where there are banks. The last time we went, they told us they would stop collecting the old naira notes from January 25th. They also said whoever comes with the money, they would have to take it to Jos where they have the main branches and deposit the money or take it to the central bank.”

In Jigawa State, marketers have also threatened to stop collecting the old naira notes from January 25 so as to be able to beat the January 31 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In Jigawa, Kaila Muhammad (Ka chanchanta), a rice dealer in Hadejia Market said what many of them, especially those from rural areas, were doing was receiving as many old notes as they can finish spending on other goods in the market. This, he said, is even as many traders have vowed to stop receiving the old notes from January 25.


Southern traders, farmers seek extension of deadline

Traders and farmers in Southern Nigeria have expressed displeasure over the non-availability of the redesigned naira notes.

A cross section of traders who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos sought for an extension of the January 31 deadline, noting that the redesigned notes are not in circulation despite assurance by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

“This is affecting us because most of us don’t keep money in the bank. What is the worth of what I am selling that I will be going to the bank? I buy what I need from the money I make from the sales of the previous day so why do I need to keep money in the bank?” noted Mrs Kadijat Abimbola, a pepper seller at Oke-Odo market in Lagos.

The Deputy Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State, Mr Shakin Agbayewa, said it is regrettable that the government has not recognised that micro, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the economy. He said the policy to redesign the Naira notes didn’t take into cognisance the implications on farmers and traders who don’t operate bank accounts.


Only 4 out of 17 LGAs have banks in Yobe – Gov Buni

Yobe State governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to give a special concession and alternatives to the people of the state against the 31st January dateline for change of Naira notes.

Governor Buni, in a statement by Mamman Mohammed, his DG, Press and Media Affairs, said the appeal became necessary due to lack of banking services in most parts of the state.

He explained that only four out of the 17 local government areas in the state have banks, making it difficult for people in the remaining 13 local government areas to access banking services.

“Some of the banks with branches in the local government areas closed the branches at the peak of the Boko Haram security challenge but are yet to reopen in spite of the improved security in the state.


CBN commence cash swap programme across LGAs

As part of efforts to facilitate the circulation of its new naira notes, the CBN has launched a cash swap programme across local government areas in Nigeria.

The apex bank made this known in a circular addressed to all DMBs, mobile money operators (MMOs), super agents and agents.

The apex bank said the cash swap programme is in partnership with super agents and deposit money banks (DMBs) at different parts of the country. Super agents refer to companies licensed by the CBN to recruit for the purpose of agency banking.

Meanwhile, the apex bank said, “The agent shall exchange a maximum of N10,000 per person. Amounts above N10,000 may be treated as a cash-in deposit into wallets or bank accounts in line with the cashless policy. BVN, NIN, or Voter’s card details of the customers should be captured as much as possible.

“To promote financial inclusion, this service is also available to anybody without a bank account. Agents may, on request, instantly open a wallet or account, leveraging the CBN Tiered KYC Framework. This will ensure that this category of the populace are able to exchange or deposit their cash seamlessly without taking unnecessary risk or incurring undue cost,” the bank said. Effort to get the CBN’s Director of Corporate Communication, Osita Nwanisobi to react to the allegation of some banks rejecting the old was not successful as his lines could not be reached as at press time.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu federal constituency of Delta state in the House Of Representatives, Francis Ejiroghene Waive is said to have begged the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa for a Toyota Land Cruiser (SUV) termed 'operational' car.

Okowa is also the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

SaharaReporters gathered that out of the 10 federal lawmakers in the state, the APC federal lawmaker, Waive, was denied the SUV operational vehicle while the remaining nine federal lawmakers had theirs delivered to them.

A Government House source disclosed that the governor's car gifts were delivered to nine members of the House of Representatives while the APC federal lawmaker, Waive was denied his.

"The contract for supply of the cars for the federal lawmakers was awarded to Governor Okowa's kinsman and member representing Ika federal constituency, Victor Nwakolo, and was paid in full.

“While the other nine members of the House of Representatives from Delta state had their Toyota Land Cruisers delivered to them, Waive of the APC was denied and his is being withheld. Again, we gathered, his is said to be parked at a residence of one of the governor’s associates in Abuja."

A leaked letter addressed to the state governor, signed by Waive, is titled "Non-Receipt Of My Car". In the letter dated December 19, 2022, and obtained by SaharaReporters, Waive begged the governor to consider him as one of the beneficiaries of the car gifts.

Waive, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power, who cried out for being denied the SUV, accused the governor of not responding to his calls and messages one month after receiving his letter. He lamented that of all 10 members of the House Of Representatives from the state, he is the only one yet to receive his Toyota Land Cruiser (SUV).

Waive's letter reads in part, “First, let me thank you sir for your magnanimity in upholding the tradition of our dear state in assisting members of the National Assembly with operational vehicles.

“In this 9th Assembly, you have been gracious in providing a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep to all other members of the house of representatives except myself the honorable member representing the entire people of Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu federal constituency in the house.

“Your Excellency, I believe overzealous aides are responsible for my exclusion. I bring this to your kind attention so that you can direct a more senior officer to reach me with mine. I have called your phone number a couple of times and sent a few text messages without any response.

“I understand the huge demand on your time first as our Governor and at this crucial time of electioneering campaigns. I thus decided to write hoping that this letter will come to your attention and you will use your good office to ensure I am not short-changed, oppressed or denied before your very eyes.”

Commenting on the issue, an aide to the state governor who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it has been the practice of the state government not to give operational cars to opposition federal lawmakers.

"If Waive wants that car, he should decamp to the PDP. If he does, he will get more than a car. He cannot be working in Shell and be collecting salaries from Chevron. if he needs a Jeep, let him decamp, simple,” the aide said.

Efforts to reach Waive on his mobile line were not successful as he did not answer calls from SaharaReporters. He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, says the article he authored on the chances of his predecessor, Peter Obi, was written for “history”.

Soludo spoke on Thursday in an interview on Channels Television.

In the article published on November 14, 2022, Soludo said Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), knows that “he can’t and won’t win” the 2023 presidential election.

He said the LP candidate is merely pinching votes from the stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the advantage of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The article stirred reactions on and off social media.

“Indeed, if I were Asiwaju Tinubu, I would even give Peter Obi money as someone heading one of the departments of his campaign because Obi is making Tinubu’s pathway to victory much easier by indirectly pulling down PDP. It is what it is!” Soludo had written.

During Thursday’s interview, the Anambra governor was asked whether he had changed his position on Obi’s chances in the forthcoming elections as detailed in the article.

Reacting, Soludo said the voters would decide who will win the presidential election, adding that he has a responsibility to campaign for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“Let’s be clear — APGA is contesting this election. APGA has a presidential candidate,” he said.

“You introduced me as the new national leader of APGA, I have a responsibility to campaign for my party — from head to bottom.

“We (APGA) are seriously contesting this election. About the permutations and chances of each candidate, I think the electorate will decide that in the coming days.”

On the chances of Obi in the election, Soludo said the LP candidate might win in Anambra, considering that he is from the state.

“In my piece, I made mentioned that I don’t see the pathway of LP victory. That is my prognosis,” he said.

“All I can say to you today is that, I will repeat, I said so in that piece, that I wish Peter Obi the best of luck.

“He is contesting as others. We (APGA) are also contesting in the same race. We have our own candidate, who is also the son of the soil, coincidentally from Anambra state as well and he will do his own bit to get his own vote.

“In the same piece, I even concluded that Peter Obi might win in Anambra state.

“About winning the overall election itself, quite frankly, my prognosis of the election itself, as to what was and what is, by that piece — in one sentence to summarise it — that piece I did not write it for today, I wrote it for history.”

Despite a directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to banks to load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with the redesigned naira notes, financial institutions in many states are still giving their customers the old notes, Daily Trust reports.

The CBN on Thursday asked the citizens to reject old naira notes from commercial banks, insisting they cease to be legal tender on January 31.

The apex bank had since Friday, January 12, asked banks to stop giving customers old N1, 000; N500 and N200 notes but checks by our correspondents in many states revealed that most of the banks have not complied.

Deputy Director, Currency Operation, CBN, Rekiyat Yusuf, made the call for Nigerians to reject to old notes in Lokoja, Kogi State Capital, while sensitising market men and women about the redesigned naira notes.

She said any bank caught dispensing old notes to customers henceforth would be sanctioned.

She was responding to a concern by a customer that banks were still dispensing old naira notes via ATMs.

She said, “If banks give you old notes, reject it and return it to them and report the bank to us immediately for appropriate action. We have given them enough new currency notes to dispense to replace the old ones in circulation.

“There is no reason for banks to still be stocking their automated teller machines with old notes as the apex bank has made enough redesigned notes available for dispensing to members of the public. Any bank caught would be made to face appropriate sanction.”

Similarly, CBN Director of Currency Operations, Ahmed Bello Umar, who addressed traders at the Katsina Central Market yesterday, said the CBN had enough new naira notes, which had since been distributed to commercial banks for onward disbursement to their customers through ATMs.

He noted that the CBN had last Friday “Directed that all ATMs must carry only new notes. If the banks don’t have the new notes, they should not load the old notes.

“We’re going round towns and cities in Nigeria to ensure that all the ATMs are loaded with new notes. And there’s relaxation on the policy, they can dispense any of the notes either N1, 000, N500 or N200 notes.


ATMs dispensing old notes in Lagos, Kano, Nasarawa, Sokoto, others

Our correspondents, who visited some of the ATM points in Lagos, Kano, Nasarawa, Sokoto and Adamawa states yesterday, observed that most of the machines were still dispensing old notes; while some mixed them with new ones.

Traders in Kano State, including those at the popular Wapa Bureau de Change market, expressed fears over the CBN’s deadline on the old naira notes. They said their clients were rejecting the old naira notes.

Some of the forex dealers, who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday when CBN officials went to the market to sensitise traders on the deadline, lamented that the new notes were not available in most of the banks.

Traders at Galadima, Sabongari, Kantin Kwari, Wambai and Kurmi markets also complained of the scarcity of the new notes.

The chairman of the Sabon Gari Market Traders Association, Alhaji Sule Umar Kura urged the CBN to make the new notes available to commercial banks.

The CBN Kano Branch Controller, Umar Ibrahim Biu, also said defaulting banks would be sanctioned.

But when our correspondent visited some ATM points in Kano, it was discovered that none was dispensing the new naira notes.

The Unity Bank’s branch on Lagos Street, which shares the same fence with CBN office, was not dispensing cash on both ATM around 6pm. This situation is also similar to First Bank’s branch opposite CBN’s office on the same street.

At Zenith Bank’s branch on Zoo road, it was discovered that the machines, about four of them were all dispensing old naira notes.

The CBN Kano Branch Controller, Umar Ibrahim Biu said the apex bank would not hesitate to sanction commercial banks that are hoarding or frustrating the policy.

He said the Apex bank had also directed commercial banks to desist from payment on the counter as part of efforts to check favouritism of customers.

In one of the banks at the University of Lagos, one ATM dispensed new notes of N, 000 mixed with N500 notes while others were dispensing old notes.


Cattle traders reject new notes for fear of counterfeiting

Cattle traders at the weekly Mararraban Liman Katagum market in Bauchi State, during the sensitization by the CBN officials yesterday, appealed for extension of the Naira Redesign deadline, alleging activities of Point of Sale (POS) fraudsters targeting unsuspected Fulani herders and others in the state.

Chairman, Mararraban Liman Katagum Cattle Traders and Dealers (Sarkin Tike) Association, Hashimu Isah, said many fraudulent POS operators had flooded local markets swindling herders who brought cattle to the market for sale.

Responding, CBN Controller in Bauchi, represented by Director, Medical Services, Abdulkadir Jibril, said the apex bank’s Consumers Protection Department had deployed ambassadors and agent bankers to liaise with local leaders to ensure imposters do not cheat the rural dwellers.

“Through these agents, appropriate actions will be taken to ensure that people get their monies safely into the banks without necessarily going to commercial banks inside the cities,” he said.


Reconsider January 31 deadline, Sultan urges CBN

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday advised the CBN to reconsider the January 31 deadline on the naira policy.

He gave the advice in his palace while receiving the CBN Comptroller in charge of Sokoto State, Dahiru Usman, who led officials to intimate him and seek his advice on the redesigned naira notes.

He said: “We still have people who don’t know that our naira was redesigned. They could reject the new naira notes when given. If they see the colour, they will think it is a fake currency.

“The CBN ought to have considered stakeholders right from the day the redesign was announced. We have credible means to step down the information to the common man because the conventional media is for the elite.”

The sultan also cited insecurity, saying some people could not move large sums of money from their villages to banks in the city because they could be robbed or kidnapped along the way.


No going back on deadline -CBN

Meanwhile, the CBN yesterday insisted there would be no going back on the January 31 deadline for phasing out the use of the old naira notes.

Team Leader, CBN Monitoring Team Group C, Owugar Comfort Akinbode, reiterated this while answering questions from journalists in Makurdi, Benue State Capital.

She said: “We want compliance in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. That’s why our team is here. We want the money to get to the masses; that is why we are very interested in this exercise, especially to check their ATMs, to see if they’re dispensing the new notes.”

She said the pay points of the banks visited, including Access and Union Banks were dispensing the new notes.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has explained why he threw his weight behind the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, as his preferred candidate, saying Nigeria doesn’t deserve a leader with bad character.

He spoke on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while featuring on an interactive session organised by the Experiential Leadership in Africa (TEL-Africa) with the theme: “Executive Decisions, Indecisions, and Leadership Development in Africa.”

In his New Year message to Nigerians, entitled: “My appeal to all Nigerians particularly young Nigerians,” Obasanjo had backed Obi’s candidacy because “he has an edge” over other candidates.

Expectedly, Obasanjo’s position ruffled the feathers of some leading candidates in the presidential race.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu described Obasanjo’s backing of Obi as “worthless”, while his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, said it was Obasanjo’s personal wish which does not reflect the opinion or “position of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the country.”

Speaking at the interactive session, Obasanjo said he did not use the word “endorsed” in the open letter, as he only expressed his opinion on the candidates.

He said, “Whether the letter is open or not open, what I believe is that I will be punished by God if I know what is right and I did not put it where it should be.

“The word I used is that one particular candidate has an edge, taking everything together and I take character, I take track record, I take vision and I take what you see in this man as a child of God.

“I said they all claimed to be my mentees and of course I won’t deny that, but if you are my mentee, they must also admit that I know them a little bit and if I then know them a little bit, I must be right to say…

“I don’t know why people are… I have done this in the past before for President Buhari. I said President Buhari does not really understand economy and that is true and you have seen it. I wasn’t running him down, that is what he is and he himself will admit that.

“I said his (Buhari) understanding of foreign affairs is also very little because when he was Military Head of State, he said his frontline does not go beyond the borders of Nigeria, that is a pity. But what then do you have, I wrote a letter almost six and a half pages and then only one sentence…

“Why should you as a Nigerian vote for somebody that the character, the reputation, the life of which you do not want your own children to be?

“It is either you are wicked, you are unpatriotic or you are really, really a bad citizen of this country and then if this is who you are, what do you want God to do with you and that is the way I see it.

“For the last three days, I have about 35 youths who I have been talking to and they all told me that education, security and corruption are what they are concerned about, the question is who then can do it?”

A former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has said it would amount to blasphemy for Nigerians to reject the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a special gift from God.

Yuguda who spoke yesterday during a symposium on ‘renewed hope 2023’, organised by the APC Professionals Forum at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja said Tinubu should succeed Buhari because he is patriotic and an anti-corruption crusader.

The former governor said, “Nobody can doubt the progress in Lagos and we can see the leadership qualities in him to lead people from all parts of the world.

“Tinubu is very patriotic and that is who we need today as a leader. He is an anti-corruption crusader. We know it and everybody knows it. If there were corruption in Lagos, that state would not be where it is today.

“It would be to, should I say, blasphemy to turn against him. At least, he is there for you. Tinubu is very patriotic and that is who we need today as a leader.

“Anywhere there is corruption, there can’t be progress; there can’t be economic progress that we can see. In society, we can’t say there is no corruption but, at least, it has been brought down to the barest minimum.”

Speaking at the event, wife of the APC presidential candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said her husband would lift many families out of poverty and hunger if elected on February 25.

Tinubu’s wife who was represented by the Director General of National Centre for Women Development, Asabe Bashir, said if elected, the Tinubu-led administration would increase opportunities and create the right environment for women and youth to flourish.

Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice-president, has claimed that he led the economic management team during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made the claim on Monday, at the presidential dialogue on the economy, organised by the National Economic Summit Group (NESG) in Lagos.

“As head of the economic management team, while I was Vice President, I was instrumental in designing a private sector revival strategy and advocated for the opening of the economy for private sector investments in several sectors. And we made tremendous progress,” Atiku said.

“I’m sure you still remember the good old days of rapid economic growth with stable interest and exchange rates, low inflation, low unemployment rates, and low poverty headcount.

“We paid off nearly all of our foreign debt which was crippling the country.”

Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s president from 1999 to 2007.

But how true is the claim that Atiku led the economic management team?


VERIFICATION

Checks by TheCable revealed that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance and now director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), actually led Obasanjo’s economic management team.

The economic management team was established by Obasanjo in 2003 at the beginning of his second term as president.

A publication on Nigeria’s debt reform, published by the Centre for Africa-Europe relations said: “When President Obasanjo was re-elected in 2003, he appointed a new economic management team headed by former World Bank director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. This team implemented many policy reforms.”

In a report where Okonjo-Iweala recounted her journey through economic reforms, she admitted that in 2003, after she got permission of Obasanjo to set up a presidential economic team, the former president decided to preside over the team as the chair, while she takes the lead.

The team, which consisted of 12 members with expertise in macroeconomics, microeconomics, debt management, privatisation, private-sector development, governance, anti-corruption measures, civil-service reform, and budget management, were responsible for designing and implementing economic reforms under the Obasanjo administration.

Members of the 12-person team included Chukwuma Soludo, the then Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor; Nuhu Ribadu, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Nasir el-Rufai, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT); Oby Ezekwesili, minister of education; Bode Agusto, director-general, Budget Office; Ifueko Omoigui, chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among others.

As head of the economic management team and finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala led the negotiations for Nigeria’s debt relief.

After the negotiations, Nigeria and the Paris Club announced a final agreement for debt relief worth $18 billion, after Nigeria paid $12 billion.


IS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT TEAM SAME AS NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL?

No. The two entities are not the same and do not perform the same functions.

During his stint as VP, Atiku headed the National Economic Council (NEC).

His biography on the Yar’adua Foundation’s website reads: “As Vice President, he (Atiku) chaired the National Economic Council which was responsible for assembling the outstanding talent that transformed the Nigerian economy, more than quadrupling GDP between 2000 – 2007.”

NEC was established by the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, as amended, specifically section 153(1) and paragraphs 18 & 19 of part I of the third schedule.

According to the constitution, NEC has the mandate to “advise the president concerning the economic affairs of the federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various governments of the federation.”

Membership of the NEC comprises the VP as chairperson, 36 state governors, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other co-opted government officials.

Nigeria’s current national economic council is chaired by vice-president Yemi Osinbajo

The council holds meetings once every month.


VERDICT

Atiku’s claim that he was the head of the economic management team is false. The team was set up in 2003 during Obasanjo’s administration, the former president was the chair while Okonjo-Iweala led the team.

The PDP presidential candidate must have confused NEC with the economic management team.

By Israel Arogbonlo


Kenyan men have an average of seven sexual partners in their the last 12 months, while women have had two, according to a new survey released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

In a report titled “Demographic and Health Survey”, the KNBS revealed the average number of sexual partners among Kenyan women is 2.3 and 7.4 among men.

The report also gathered 35 percent of men reported having sex in last 12 months with a person who neither was their wife nor lived with them, and 68% of these men reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse with such a partner.

“A higher proportion of men (15%) than women (4%) reported having two or more sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the survey.

“Of those with more than one partner in the last 12 months, 24% of women and 45% of men reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse.

“In the 12 months before the survey, 19% of women had sex with a person who neither was their husband nor lived with them, and just 37% of these women reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse with such a partner,” the report revealed.

The Chatham House director of Africa Programme, Alex Vines, has disclosed that the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, had not responded to the invitation of the institute.

Mr Vines stated this in his opening remarks while hosting the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, at the Chatham House, London on Monday.

He said the independent policy institute had earlier hosted the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu.

Mr Vines added the institute would host the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu, and presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, on January 17 and 18 respectively.

“We have sent an invitation to the candidate of the PDP Atiku Abubakar but he is yet to reply to our invitation,” the director said.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that on January 10, the presidential candidate of PDP arrived in London for a meeting with UK government officials and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Published By: Michael Adesina


The presenters at Arise TV got on the nerves of Festus Keyamo on Monday after the spokesperson for the presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress was questioned on the health status of Bola Tinubu.

When asked to speak on the health status of Tinubu, Keyamo rubbished the question with the claim that it was a strategy by the opposition and some media houses to tarnish the image of his candidate.

Keyamo who was not happy with the mode of questioning added that there was no evidence to the contrary that Tinubu has health issues and such a question should not have been asked.

The minister said: “No matter how much they report it, the opposition and a section of the press, no matter how much they parrot it, the fact remains that there is no evidence to the contrary that my candidate has health issues. The strategy has been to repeat a lie a thousand times until that lie sticks out as the truth. As I speak to you, in the last few weeks, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been more active on the campaign trail than any other candidate. Now this program opens and the first thing you asked me is about health, it is just the strategy of the opposition.”

When told that there are clips of Tinubu’s gaffes on the internet, Keyamo said the errors were not limited to only the APC candidate.

He said Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have also had their share of gaffes while speaking to Nigeria and therefore Tinubu’s gaffes should not be considered a big deal.

“I have not seen anything happened that has not happened to other candidates. Slips of tongues here and there. It has happened to Atiku, it has happened to Obi and his running mate, it has happened to the spokespersons. The PDP spokespersons and the candidate have asked Nigerians to vote for APC even far more than the APC people.

However, Keyamo got angrier when an Arise TV reporter alleged that Tinubu was rushed off stage in Minna.

Responding to the comments, Keyamo accused Arise TV of committing tyranny of the microphone.

He said: “You just sit behind the microphone and make profound statements. For example, you said my candidate was rushed off the stage in Minna, that is not true. How can you stay there and make such a statement and it is not true. Show the clips to Nigerians. You are a television station, show the clip, there was nothing like that. After the event in Minna, he went to commission different project. I demand an apology for that.”

Three months after the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, promised to make the account of the party public, he has yet to do so.

Ayu had in October last year promised to make public the income and expenditure account of the party public by December after its presentation to the National Executive Committee to mark the one-year anniversary of the National Working Committee led by him.

The national chairman made the pledge following accusations of mismanagement of party funds by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who also alleged illegal payment of housing allowance to members of the NWC and members of staff at the party’s secretariat.

The controversy that the accusation generated resulted in the subsequent return of the alleged illegal funds to the party’s coffers by those affected.

In total, the sum of N1.3bn was approved by the party’s leadership for disbursement to the beneficiaries.

The decision was sequel to a memo presented by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, at a meeting attended by 13 members of the NWC, while six members sent in apologies.

The Deputy National Chairman (North), PDP, Ambassador Illiya Damagun, presided over the meeting as Ayu was said to have travelled out of the country.

The document read in part: “Housing Allowance for NWC/ Staff: The National Secretary presented a memo requesting (the) NWC to approve the payment of housing allowance to members of the NWC and the staff (members).

“The National Vice Chairman, NW, suggested that the memo be amended by separating the deputy national officers from (the) NWC and also said the housing allowance should be approved considering how much it would help members (of the NWC) and staff (members).

“The National Treasurer commended the National Secretary for ensuring that staff (members) were also beneficiaries of the housing allowance.

“The National Auditor suggested that the two-year salary set aside should be invested.

“Subsequently, the NWC approved a total sum of one billion, three hundred and seventy-eight million, two hundred and eleven thousand, five hundred and eight naira (N1,378,211,508) only for the payment of housing allowance to the NWC, deputy national officers and staff (members).”

Following Wike’s allegation, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih; and National Women Leader, Prof Stella Affah-Attoe, returned sums ranging from N28.8m to N34m paid into their accounts on the grounds that they were suspicious.

They each wrote to Ayu and expressed their displeasure with a media publication suggesting that the money was paid as a bribe to secure their support. The national chairman, however, denied that the payment was a bribe and said the NWC members collectively agreed to the payment of the housing allowance.

Following the controversy Wike and his allies insisted on the resignation of the national chairman over the allegation and claims of lopsidedness in the party’s leadership hierarchy.

Wike and his allies, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Abia State Governor, Ikeazu Ikpeazu; and Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, maintained that for equity justice and fairness the national chairman had to step aside for a southern chairman.

The Rivers governor had also accused Ayu of allegedly pocketing N1bn donated by a Lagos businessman, which was never remitted to the party’s treasury, an allegation the national chairman denied.

When contacted by Sunday PUNCH on why Ayu had yet to make the account public as promised, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the National Chairman, PDP, Mr Simon Imobo-Tswam, said he had yet to get details from his principal.

Imobo-Tswam stated, “I don’t have that information yet; let the spokesman (of the PDP) speak on it; it is not his (Ayu’s) personal account that is to be published, it is the party’s account.

“I am in the village as we speak; I am bereaved; so, you can talk to him (party’s spokesman).”

When one of our correspondents contacted the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, he said “Go and ask him (Ayu) now. I am the one who said it (to make the account public); go and ask him.


“I am not the national chairman; go and ask him.”

On his part, Orbih stated, “Go and ask him (Ayu); what is my business with him publishing the account or not publishing it; I don’t comment on these types of issues.

“Meet the national chairman and ask him why he has not published the accounts, and not me. Ask other party members. I am an NWC member and not the one you should ask.”

A NEC member and Enugu State branch Chairman of the PDP, Augustine Nnamani, said he was not granted permission to speak on the matter.

“I am not authorised to make any statement on the issue please; I am not the appropriate person to talk about it,” he said.

The national chairman had set up a committee headed by the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of inducement of the NWC members.

Ologunagba had in a statement said, “The NWC at its meeting on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, thoroughly examined the surprising publication by a peculiar newspaper, which reported that the housing allowance legally paid by the party to its national officials was a bribe.”

Meanwhile, a former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the PDP, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, has criticised Ayu for his refusal to make public the financial records of the party.

Nwuke, an ally of the Rivers State governor, said the development confirmed Wike’s position on the national chairman.

Nwuke, who is the Chairman, Publicity and Communications Committee, Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, spoke to Sunday PUNCH on the telephone.

The former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications said, “This (Ayu) is a man who does not live up to his commitments.

“He said if a northerner emerged the presidential candidate of the party, he would gladly step aside as the national chairman and give space to the South. He did not.

“He has said that he was going to declare the financial records of the PDP, but he has not. So what advice do you want to give to a man who is unwilling to play by the rules?”

However, a PDP chieftain, Sam Ohabunwa, said Ayu had not reneged on his promise of releasing the financial records of the party.

Ohuabunwa told Sunday PUNCH that the PDP was a well-set-up organisation with its procedures and systems.

He stated, “It has its accounting protocol. Assuming the year ends in December in any company, it cannot be on the second day of January that the account will be ready.

“When the year ends, it takes some time to get returns from all the chapters and branches of any organisation.

“Then you prepare your account. After this, you bring in an auditor who will do his job and then, you present it to the organ of the party from the National Working Committee, the National Executive Council, and the Board of Trustees before it becomes a public document. Ayu cannot make an account and bring it to the public the same day.”

Meanwhile, the Abia State chapter of the PDP said it had to meet to discuss the failure of Ayu to make public the financial records of the party in December 2022 as promised.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Alwell Okere, disclosed this while speaking to one of our correspondents on the issue.

In a WhatsApp message, Okere stated, “The NEC has yet to meet. The Forum of State Chairmen has yet to meet too. This is not an individual issue.

Efforts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Nathaniel Ikyuur, prove abortive as he did not respond to several calls and or replied to a text message sent to his WhatsApp.

Similarly, Chief Olabode George and Prof Jerry Gana, who are allies of the Rivers governor could not be reached for comments as their phones indicated that they were switched.

Indications have emerged to suggest that governorship candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in states controlled by aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party known as G-5 Governors are not happy with the party (APC) ahead of the general elections slated for a few months away from now.

Findings conducted by Saturday Telegraph during the week revealed that candidates of the APC in Oyo and Rivers States, Senator Teslim Folarin and Tonye Cole, are feeling alienated by the perceived decision of the leadership of the party to pay premium on wooing the opposition instead of boosting their campaigns. The leadership of the APC had in recent times been making frantic efforts to profit from the crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose five elected governors and other stakeholders are up in arms against the party’s leadership over the continued stay of the National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in office.

The aggrieved governors led by their Rivers State colleague, Chief Nyesom Wike, have in recent times been fraternizing with the APC, particularly its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with observers speculating likely alliance that might mean a likely trade off of the governorship candidates of the APC in the affected states.

This has however been causing some form of disquiet within the affected state chapters of the APC with many of the chieftains and stakeholders lamenting and bemoaning their fate. A source within the Oyo State chapter of the APC in a chat with Saturday Telegraph on Friday said members are currently in quandary over the continued rapport between the leaders of the party and the G-5 Governors.

“I can tell you that our members are not too encouraged with the manner with which our leaders at the national level are hobnobbing with these G-5 PDP governors. “This situation has seriously impacted on the morale of members who are wondering what is going on,” a source within the party said. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who is a member of the G-5 Governors has expressed his readiness to support the Presidential bid of Tinubu through his Deputy, Alhaji Bayo Lawal, endorsed the former Lagos State governor at a function of the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, a few months ago.

“The endorsement caused some ripples within our party. Our leaders have been doing a lot to douse tension within the party because for some time now, the focus of our leaders has been on how to keep the morale of members together with a view to going into the elections as a united family,” the source said. The situation is the same in Rivers State where many chieftains are said to be very unhappy with the party.

“Many members of the APC here in River State are very unhappy with our party because of this un-holy relationship between Governor Wike and our leaders at the national level. “It is as if we don’t exist as a party here in River State. Our condition is even made worse by the continued taunting of our members by PDP members who are openly boasting that the National Headquarters of the APC listens more to them than us,” a highly placed source within the party stated in a chat with our correspondent.

If everything goes according to plan, Nigerian carriers are expected to receive 40 brand new aircraft in the next 36 months, starting from early this year, THISDAY checks has revealed.

Nigerian airlines have recorded steady progress in aircraft acquisition since Arik Air broke a 20-year old jinx by acquiring brand new aircraft in 2007.

THISDAY can report that Air Peace is expected to receive 10 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft this year, followed by Ibom Air, which is expected to receive 10 brand new aircraft from Airbus, starting from this year.

It was learnt that Overland Airways also made firm order for 7 Embraer 175 aircraft.

Air Peace had made order for 10 Boeing B737 Max in 2018 and reconfirmed the order in 2021.

Sources told THISDAY that the aircrafts will arrive the country within the 36 months period.

Air Peace official told THISDAY that the company would focus on receiving the 10 brand new Embraer aircraft this year and would then look forward to receiving the Boeing 737 MAX, which would come in MAX 8 and 10 variants.

Informed source from the company told THISDAY that the MAX 10 equipment are primed for the Lagos-London route whenever the airline receives approval to operate the route.

The Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Ibom Air, Annie Essienette, told THISDAY that the Akwa Ibom State owned airline ordered for 10 Airbus aircraft, which was expected to begin to arrive early this year but due to the delay in manufacturing the aircraft, it is expected to begin to arrive later this year.

“We are sure of one this year, two next year but we will have all delivered between this year and 2025. We have staggered delivery of the aircraft. We are also expecting variant in the aircraft types that will be delivered to us,” she said.

The airline, he added, will have a big boost in its fleet when it receives all the aircraft, “It will make us the second biggest operator in the country.” Currently the airline operates five Bombardier CRJ-900 and two Airbus A220 aircraft.

THISDAY learnt that the acquisition of these aircraft will cost the airlines humongous amount of money and the facility is being provided by largely local banks.

It was learnt that when the delivery is completed it would up the rating of Nigeria’s aviation industry in the global air transport market.

Overland Airways is also expecting the delivery of its aircraft to start from the first quarter of this year, if there are no last minute changes.

Looking at the benefits of brand new aircraft to the airline, key member of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and the CEO of Top Brass Aviation Limited, Captain Roland Iyayi, told THISDAY that brand new aircraft would be economical to the airline because in the first five years of its operation there won’t be schedule maintenance but routine maintenance, except there is incident, which would call for schedule maintenance.

He said new aircraft increase customer confidence because to a large extent passengers believe that new aircraft would be safer but it is merely psychological because any aircraft deemed airworthy by regulatory authority is safe. But because of the belief of passengers, the new aircraft will attract more passengers, which means the new equipment would be recording high load factor and reduced cost of maintenance will make the aircraft profitable to the airline.

“Essentially, brand new aircraft saves money for the airline. Between four to five years, the airline will engage in routine maintenance. There will be unscheduled maintenance but schedule maintenance during the period will be minor. Chances will be that the airline will start getting more patronage. So load factor will be high. Reduced maintenance cost will make the airline profitable in the long run,” he said.

Iyayi also said new aircraft would reduce capital flight because it will not be flown overseas for checks; as new aircraft it will be subjected to minor in-country maintenance.

Travel expert and organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ambassador Ikechi Ukoh, told THISDAY that the airlines should be commended for acquiring brand new aircraft but noted that the facilities at the airports in Nigeria currently cannot enhance the benefits of the new equipment.

He noted that airport facilities couldn’t effectively serve existing aircraft, adding that bringing additional aircraft will make airport services cumbersome.

He advocated for the upgrade of airport facilities in order to dovetail with the new aircraft that would be coming and more aircraft that would come and join the market.

His observation also confirms the feedbacks from passengers during the Yuletide who complained of shambolic services at the airports during the high season when airports could not effectively facilitate passenger and cargo movement at many airports in the country.

“40 Brand new aircraft coming in the next 36 months will exacerbate the problems at the airports. There will be enough passengers that will fill the planes, but everybody has problem loading passengers into the planes. Facilities currently at the airports cannot carry that number of aircraft; so bringing new aircraft will compound the problems on ground. There will be chaos at most of the airports, especially at the Lagos and Abuja airports. The new aircraft will be fuel efficient so they will save fuel on long distance flights and maintenance will be low and cheaper,” Ukoh said.

The criminal investigation department of the Lagos police command has arrested one Oluwole Akande for allegedly impersonating Yetunde Longe, the police commissioner, railway command.

Confirming the development to NAN on Wednesday in Lagos, Longe said she got a call from Frank MBA, a former spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on the matter.

She said the wife of the 80-year-old victim called Mba to report an alleged plan by one “CP Longe” to demand millions of naira from her husband as condition to drop a petition.
“CP Frank Mba replied the wife of the victim that he knows CP Yetunde Longe cannot make such mischievous demand. He promised to call her and verify and get back to the woman,” Longe said.

“CP Frank Mba called me to relate the matter and I confirmed that the information was totally wrong. I said there was no petition of such before me and I don’t even know the victim.

“It was at this time the state CID, Panti, was informed to trace the suspect and he was apprehended. He confessed to have impersonated me.”

The police commissioner added that the suspect, a 55-year-old man, will be charged to court soon.

Speaking with NAN, Akande, who claimed to live at Ojokoro area of Lagos, said Longe was the only person he had impersonated.

Akande said he decided to threaten the victim by claiming there was a petition concerning an illegal business, adding that the victim would not take him seriously until he impersonated a high-ranking police officer.

The suspect, however, said he got Longe’s name and rank through the media when she and her husband were decorated on the same day as commissioners of police.

Akande said he told the victim that if he was willing to pay N1.5 million, he would drop the case, which the victim promised to pay.

He also claimed that he was the only person involved in the crime.

“I just wanted to obtain the victim. I thought if I give the man stories, he will fall for them and just pay me and I will escape,” Akande said.

“I sent several messages to him. I used two SIM cards to carry out the crime.”

According to NAN, investigation into the case revealed that after the N1.5 million was paid, the suspect allegedly collected more money from the victim amounting to N250 million.

The victim also reportedly sold two of his houses and filling station to meet the demands of the suspect, before his wife contacted Mba.

This story is published in partnership with Report for the World, a global service program that supports local public interest journalism.

By Amos Tauna


A palace guard (Dogari), Sama’ila Abubakar Rimin Tsiwa, has been dismissed from the services of the Zazzau Emirate Council in Kaduna State for allegedly raping a lady on a mission to the palace.

Abdullahi Aliyu Kwarbai, the Media and Publicity Officer of the Emir, in a statement, said, “Sama’ila Abubakar Rimin Tsiwa, a palace guard, has been dismissed with immediate effect from the services of the Zazzau Emirate Council for raping a lady on a mission to the palace.”

According to the statement, the palace guard lured the lady, who was preparing for a wedding and came to seek assistance from the Emir through him, saying that instead of taking the lady to the Emir, Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the suspect lured her to a location with friends where they gang raped her.

The statement further explained that the Council had directed the police to speed up their investigations and ensure the prosecution of the culprits without delay to face the full wrath of the law.

The emirate council promised to follow up with the case to ensure justice was done for the lady.

The National Industrial Court on Wednesday struck down Regulation 127 of the Nigeria Police Regulation made pursuant to the Police Establishment Act 2020 which provides for the sack of an unmarried woman police officer who gets pregnant.

The PUNCH had in January 2021 exclusively reported how a female corporal, Olajide Omolola, who works in Oye, Ekiti State Police Command, was sacked for getting pregnant outside wedlock.

Aggrieved by her sacking, Omolola challenged her dismissal on the ground that the police authorities had discriminated against her since her male counterparts are not dismissed in similar circumstances.

But in a landmark judgment delivered at the Akure Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice D. K. Damulak, held that the police regulation which permits the dismissal of unmarried pregnant policewomen was “discriminatory, illegal, null and void”

According to her, the regulation violates section 42 of the Constitution and article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act which abolished discrimination on basis of gender.

The judge said that the police regulation cannot stand as it was not applicable to unmarried policemen who impregnate women and consequently set it aside.

Justice Damulak said, “The Court finds and holds that the provision of Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulation 127 thereof, which applies to unmarried women police officers getting pregnant while in service but does not apply to unmarried male police officers impregnating females while they are in service, are discriminatory against unmarried women police offices by Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, if any law is inconsistent with the provision of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of its inconsistency be void.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the case of the Claimant succeeds in part only in terms of prayer B which is A Declaration that the provisions of Regulation 127 and section 127 of the Police Act which is against women police officers getting pregnant before marriage but does not apply to male police officers impregnating women before marriage is discriminatory, illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Claimant’s Fundamental Right under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the said provision is hereby declared null and void and struck down.”

Meanwhile, the judge also awarded aggravated damages of N5 million for the violation of Omolola’s fundamental right to freedom from discrimination.

However, the sacked officer’s prayer for reinstatement as a police officer was refused by the court as the judge upheld the submission of the police counsel, Mr. P.S Abisagbo, to the effect that she could not be reinstated as she was on probation at the time of her dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.

Justice Damulak relied on many judicial authorities and particularly the case of Women Enlightenment and Legal Aid v Attorney-General of the Federation where the Federal High Court struck down the police regulation that placed a three-year ban on female recruits from contracting any form of marriage.

The management of the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State, has banned indecent dressing and implemented a new dress code for students and staff.

Christian Anieke, the university's vice-chancellor, announced this on Tuesday while speaking to staff and students returning from the Christmas and New Year holidays.

According to Aneke, all students should wear their faculty uniforms with appropriate ties and shoes.

“No student is expected to wear slippers, rugged jeans, coloured hair, long fingers, fez caps or artificial eyelashes,” he directed.

Mr Anieke expressed regret that most students and staff wear t-shirts with unauthorised inscriptions, in violation of the school's dress code, and ordered male students to properly comb or shave their hair.

The vice-chancellor revealed that the university's management had implemented qualitative assessments of all teaching and non-teaching staff.

“Principal officers of the institutions will henceforth visit the lecture halls to assess the lectures by the academic staff while the non-teaching staff will submit their roll calls at the beginning and closing of each day’s activities,” Mr Anieke explained.

“Students who fail to attend lectures will not be allowed to sit for examinations.”

He announced that the institution's 14th matriculation would take place on January 27, emphasising that female matriculants would not be permitted to wear shoes taller than four centimetres. Males must dress in a suit with a matching tie.

This is not the first time a Nigerian university would be implementing a directive towards enhancing decent dressing on campus.

For instance, the management of Rivers State University banned students from wearing miniskirts, ankle chains (anklets or ankle bracelets), and false eyelashes in October 2022.

The school management also banned students from having tattoos and dressing in a certain way considered “indecent” on campus.

This was disclosed in an Internal Memorandum released by the Registrar of the school, Dr. S. C. Enyindah last Wednesday, October 19, 2022, compelling all the students to obey the prohibitive order with immediate effect.

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally for Tinubu/Shettima ticket billed for Thursday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has been shifted to January 30, 2023.

Although what compelled the postponement could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, LEADERSHIP gathered it may not be unconnected with the sudden resignation of Senator Nelson Effiong, of his appointment as the chairman, Central Planning Committee (CPC) of the event.

However, a replacement has been announced by the CPC secretary, Hon Uwem Udoma, a former deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, saying Obong Nsima Ekere, a former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has been named in his stead, with the mandate to effectively prepare the ground for the big rally.

Addressing journalists, Udoma urged supporters to remain calm and resolute in their support for the party, assuring that APC was on course to victory at the February polls.

He said, “This is to inform all APC members in Akwa Ibom State and the general public, that the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Rally for Akwa Ibom State, earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday, January 12th 2023, at the Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, has been postponed to Monday, January 30th, 2023.

“The president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari will be attending the Akwa Ibom rally.” He added that the CPC was still tinkering on the new venue for the rally.”

“The CPC, therefore, urges all APC candidates, their campaign councils, supporters and party members across the 31 local government areas in the state to redouble their efforts at mobilising the party faithful for the rally,” he added

The officer, whose name had yet to be official released as of the time of this report, reportedly slumped at the Muhammadu Buhari Square, venue of the event, and was rushed to a medical facility.

An officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Monday, slumped and was feared dead during President Muhammadu Buhari's visit to Yola, the Adamawa State capital to canvass support for the All Progressives Congress presidential and governorship candidates in the state.

The officer, whose name had yet to be official released as of the time of this report, reportedly slumped at the Muhammadu Buhari Square, venue of the event, and was rushed to a medical facility.

Some witnesses claimed he was later pronounced dead, although SaharaReporters could not independently verify this.

Reports on the Adamawa chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) platform also indicated that the DSS officer, who slumped at the presidential campaign rally venue, had passed on.

The officer, believed to have been drafted from Abuja, reported slumped while on duty at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa, while waiting for the arrival of President Buhari.

Several condolences have been expressed by journalists who are on the platform.

However the Nigeria secret police while confirming the incident, said the officer was still alive.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, Musa Isa, Spokesperson for the Adamawa command of DSS said, “The report is not true; I can confirm to that the officer is alive.

By Leon Usigbe



The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva on Monday declared that he will be okay as a private citizen to buy a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol at N300 per litre.

Presenting President Muhammadu Buhari’s Scorecard in the petroleum sector under the media series organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the minister affirmed that the cost of petrol in Nigeria is still low compared to what obtains in other countries of the world.

The product is already selling in parts of Nigeria at prices ranging from N179 to over N400 per litre depending on the location.

Sylva had been asked whether he would be comfortable buying at N300 per litre if he becomes a private citizen just like most Nigerians who are presently bearing the high cost.

He said: “If you ask me how I will feel as a private citizen to buy petroleum products at N300 per litre, frankly, if you as me, I will say I won’t feel bad knowing the actual situation.

“And if you compare Nigeria to other countries and you would also understand and you also convert N300 that you are talking about to other currencies, then, you would probably understand.

“You know a lot of you travel to the United Kingdom, a lot of you travel to the US. How much do you buy petroleum products? Even in Saudi Arabia and in Arab communities that produce crude oil. Convert it to what we are buy in Nigeria in terms of Naira, you will find out that we are not really doing too badly.


“But unfortunately, we are still in a subsidized regime which all of us know and we have come to a national consensus now that this subsidy is not sustainable. But we will get there. Together, we will get there.

“Because many times, you’re the first people to ask how we are able to sustain this, and then, when we want to take out the subsidy, the same people will protest.

“Sometime, we don’t understand what the average person wants. But what is desirable as far as we are concerned is to ensure that petroleum price is market-driven. That way, it will also drive a lot of investments.

“A lot of people who will like to invest, private sector investment who like to invest in this sector but under a subsidized regime, who is going to invest?

“If you build a refinery, how is your refinery going to make profit under a subsidy regime? But if you have a market-driven situation, you will see that a lot of investors will come and of course, there will be a lot of refineries and this problem of access to petroleum products will be a thing of the past.”


The former Bayelsa State governor also said that it is not realistic to expect the price of petrol per litre to fall to N40 as had been promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that it can only happen if the exchange rate of the dollar to naira is one to one.

When asked if the price could revert to N40, he argued: “I’ll answer yes. Why do I say yes? But this is dependent on if we are able to achieve within this period an improvement in the exchange rate.

“If we can achieve a $1 to N1 exchange rate, I believe we also be able to improve on the pricing. You know, somehow these things are dependent on other factors. The exchange rate is also a factor that you have to look at. That’s just on a lighter note.


“But frankly speaking, I will like to use this opportunity to commend the agencies under the ministry for their hard work. The management of the supply to the nation under this subsidy regime is not easy.

“We must all agree that so much money is being pumped into our cars. But somehow, we have to scoop funds to continue to keep the country wet.

“Sometimes, if you begin to think deeply you wonder what magic they are doing to be able to keep this country wet consistently considering that you buy something let’s say for N10 and you are to sell it at a loss, and then you’re expected to go back to buy the same thing and come back and sell it at a loss.

“So, at every point in time, you are looking for more money. You continue to buy it because you are mandated to sell it at a loss.

“So, if you’re a businessman, just look at it from that perspective, that you’re now in business where you’re mandated to sell at a loss to the population. So, that’s not an easy thing, I must tell you.

“So, at this point, I must say that it’s impossible for us to achieve an N40 per litre. That’s not something that’s realistic.”

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has summoned an emergency meeting in Abuja to deliberate and reach a decision on the continued stay of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, in office in view of his recent activities, which allegedly undermined President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of free and fair general elections.

The opposition leaders, in a statement by its Steering Committee Secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, expressed worry over alleged repeated involvement of the DSS DG in activities, which they said threatened the very hope for credible elections starting with the numerous alleged legal attacks and plot to force INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, out of office, which was linked to the DSS, and the recent attempt to stop the currency redesign and cash withdrawal limit policies of the CBN, which will stop vote buyers, and failed plot to remove the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, from office using a fake and fabricated terrorism charges.

The Coalition further expressed concerns over the attack and assault on Opposition candidates especially the physical attack and detention of NNPP governorship candidate in Kano State, Abba Yusuf, allegedly on the orders of the DSS DG’s wife, Aisha, and use of DSS officials to stop him from boarding an aircraft, the failed assassination attempt on the opposition spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, and failed move to frame him for arson to cover the voter register fraud tagged Omuma Magic exposed by him, the arrest and illegal detention/attack on President of Middle Belt Youth Forum and PDP House of Assembly Candidate, Godwin Meliga, the DSS refusal to arrest those behind voter register fraud (Omuma Magic) and other attacks and clampdown on people with opposing views.

CUPP said, “the recent aggressive unwarranted behavior of DSS operatives is becoming a huge source of concern. Over the weeks DSS operatives have deviated from their mandate and resolved to hunt individuals carrying out their constitutionally recognized duties.

“First was the plot to get INEC Chairman and CBN Governor sacked.

“Now we read on the news that Aisha Bichi, the wife of the director-general of the State Security Service, SSS, Yusuf Bichi, has ordered the arrest of the Kano governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Abba Yusuf, and barred him from boarding a Max Air flight from Kano to Abuja on Sunday night. These acts are signs that the DSS might be one of the problems to a successful 2023 election, hence the need for opposition leaders to meet and take far reaching decision. The meeting invitation which was signed by Opposition Coalition steering Committee Secretary Peter Ameh/ Labour Party BoT chieftain will have in attendance all members of the opposition alliance at the CUPP Hqrs.”