₦airaland Forum

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida IBB has travelled to Germany, our correspondent gathered yesterday.

It was learnt that IBB travelled yesterday with his second son, Aminu and a security aide and will return after the general elections.

It was also learnt that the former leader took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja with all his other children at the airport to bid him farewell.

A close family source told LEADERSHIP that IBB had sought to travel as usual to evade any controversy ahead of the general elections and also undertake his usual medical checks.

The source said; “His Excellency is no doubt averse to being mentioned in and associated with any of the controversies the election may generate and decided to go away.

“Already, some of the presidential candidates have requested to visit him publicly but he refused and decided to go out of the country instead.”

Another source said in November and December last year IBB met some state governors to prepare grounds for his preferred presidential candidate but as usual he kept it away.

It was learnt that IBB will be in Germany for three months and would return a few days to the Ramadan.

It would be recalled that in 2015 and 2019, he traveled out a few months to the general elections and came back a few weeks after the elections.

A Lieutenant Colonel of the Nigerian Army, N.B. Ahmed has been abducted following an ambush on a military convoy by gunmen suspected to be terrorists.

SaharaReporters gathered that the senior military officer was abducted along Tsafe (Zamfara)/Funtua (Katsina) road on Friday, January 6.

The abducted officer is the new commanding officer of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto.

“Our new boss who resumed on Friday was attacked while being escorted to Kano. He was taken away by the gunmen,” a military source told SaharaReporters.

A military signal exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters also confirmed the incident.

The signal was however silent on others travelling with Ahmed.

It read, “TEXT: SP SITREP ON KIDNAPPED OF SNR OFFR. LT COL NB AHMED (N/12022). A/N SNR OFFR WAS KIDNAPED ALONG TSAFE/FUNTUA RD ON 06 JAN 23 AT ABOUT 2000HRS WHILE TRAVELING TO KANO FOR WEEKEND. THE SNR OFFR JUST TAKES OVER COMD OF 8 BOD AS A CO ON THE SAME DATE. THIS IS FOR YOUR INFO AND NEC ACTION. PSE ACCEPT FOR ACTION AND ACK///.”

This comes a few days after a female Lieutenant, P. P. Johnson was abducted by unknown gunmen in Imo State.

A trending video in December 2022 showed the female officer being tortured by gunmen after she was abducted while visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe community.

“She was just conferred with the rank of Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army. She passed out on December 17 after being commissioned from the Direct Short Service Course,” a military source had said.

“She was kidnapped at her home in Ibube. She travelled home for the Yuletide celebration.”

In the clip obtained by SaharaReporters, one of the unknown gunmen was heard threatening to kill the officer for being a member of the Nigerian Army.

He also warned youths against joining the military and other security agencies.

The officer was stripped naked and her hands and legs were tied. She was seated on the ground in a bushy area.

The government of South Sudan has detained six journalists in connection with the circulation of a video footage showing President Salva Kiir wetting himself.

The six remained detained at the National Security Service headquarters, known as Blue House, according to a statement by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan on Friday evening.

Patrick Oyet, the president of the South Sudan Union of Journalists, told Reuters that the journalists “are suspected of having knowledge on how the video of the president urinating himself came out”.

In the third week of December, a video appearing to show Kiir urinating on himself in public circulated on social media.

Though South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) claimed it did not broadcast the footage, the video still became public material. The incarcerated journalists are SSBC staff.

Michael Makuei, South Sudan’s information minister, admitted that the journalists were arrested but told Voice of America that people had to wait to know why they were detained.

“Authorities’ arrests of six employees of the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation matches a pattern of security personnel resorting to arbitrary detention whenever officials deem coverage unfavorable,” Muthoki Mumo, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sub-Saharan Africa representative, said in an official statement Friday.

The federal government has shortlisted 20 candidates for the position of a new and substantive accountant-general of the federation (AGF).

According to a circular seen by TheCable, the 20 candidates were drawn from different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

In May, TheCable had reported on how Ahmed Idris, the former AGF, was arrested in Kano after he failed to respond to invitations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to answer questions over an allegation of N109 billion fraud.

Two days later, Idris was suspended indefinitely “without pay” by Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning.

Chukwunyere Anamekwe, who was chosen to replace Idris in an acting capacity, was also removed.

In the circular, the federal government, explained that the shortlist followed reports of the anti-corruption agencies on the screening of prospective candidates that applied to participate in the process for the appointment of a substantive AGF.

It said the accreditation process for the shortlisted candidates would commence on Monday, January 9.

“Consequently, the shortlisted candidates are to come for the accreditation exercise scheduled to take place from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th January, 2023 at Olusegun Obasanjo Hall, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Secretariat, Phase lI, Abuja between 8.00 am and 4:00pm each day, ” the circular adds.

Here is the full list of those shortlisted for the position:

Mufutau Bukola (Transportation),
Mohammed Aminu Yara’abba (Federal Fire Service),
Danladi Zakowi Comfort (Interior),
Mahmud Adam Kambari (North East Dev. Comm)
Mohammed Magaji. M. Doho (Interior)
Waziri Amos Samuel (Agric and Rural Development)
Madein Oluwatoyin Sakirat (OHCSF)
Adaramoye Joseph Oluwole (Humanitarian Affairs)
Isa Abubakar (Science, Tech & Innovation)
Ogunsemowo Oladipupo Olakunle (Environment)

Egbokale Kadiri Charity (Nig. Football Federation)
and lbrahim Saadiyya Jibo (National Boundary Commission)
Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam (National Salaries, Income & Wages Commission)
Bakre Modupe Julianah (NPF)
Osakwe Udechukwu Obi (Health)
Velvuk Abubakar Sadiq (OAGF)
Njeze Bertrand Chukwuma (Surveyors Council of Nigeria)
Wali Charled Metule (Special Duties & Intergovernmental Affairs)
Dandela Abdulrahman Kassim (Police Affairs)
Mohammed Munkaila (Works & Housing).

A Canadian college, George Brown, has withheld the part-payment of the school fees paid by a Nigerian applicant, Miss Precious Ademokun, who got denied a study visa by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Ademokun who spoke with the CBC News said she had received her admission into a programme at the George Brown College in April and paid CAD8,867 for the first semester fees out of the total of CAD16,872 for both semesters, before applying for a student visa on July 4, adding, “I was told the visa application process could take six to eight weeks.”

The 19-year-old lady maintained that after months of waiting in Nigeria for her study permit application to be processed, she was denied a student visa — and the Toronto college she applied to won’t refund her money.

“I’m very disappointed and sad,” Ademokun told CBC Toronto.

https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05132821/Letter-of-denial-768x638.png
A copy of letter from George Brown College denying Ademokun a refund

When Ademokun contacted the college on September 19, with no decision on her visa by the IRCC, she missed the school’s refund deadline.

On October 6, she received a decision from the IRCC that her study permit had been denied.

Despite that, the Canadian college told Ademokun it could not refund any of the fees she paid to the school.

She appealed, but the school denied her request for withdrawal and refund in a letter sent to her on December 15.

Croatia win knocks Canada out of World Cup
In a letter sent to Ademokun, George Brown College denied her appeal to withdraw her first tuition deposit of $8,962 because she didn’t meet up with the deadline date.

Observing the institution’s website to validate their claim, it wrote, “In George Brown College, international students who are refused a study permit are eligible for a refund or deferral, if it is requested within their deadline date.”

When the CBC Toronto contacted the school’s registrar, Janene Christiansen, she said in a statement that it values its international students and understands “it is always a huge disappointment when study permits are denied.”

Christiansen added, “The school is ‘following up directly’ with Ademokun to ‘find a resolution.’”

“Now that new information is coming to light, we are following up directly with the individual to gather more details and find a resolution.”

Christiansen also said George Brown College’s international withdrawal and refund policy is aligned with other colleges in Ontario and complies with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities directives, as well as IRCC regulations.

However, she says, the school is reviewing its internal processes and policies to “ensure an improved, clear and transparent process for all prospective students.

When The PUNCH observed Canada’s website on study permits for international students, it reads that it currently takes up to nine weeks to process.

The budget deficit under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would hit record high at N55.3 trillion in eight years, with the passage of N21.83 trillion 2023 budget whose deficit is over N10 trillion, LEADERSHIP Weekend can exclusively reveal.

This is just as economists have asked the Nigerian government to heed warnings from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank over the effects of the country’s rising debt, particularly borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria through ways and means, which they say leading to a rise in inflation, eroding the value of the naira and depleting the county’s foreign reserves.

The economists who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend said the federal government has pronounced its own unworthy of credit in the international market by borrowing from the CBN, which is nothing but printing money and pumping it into the system.

According to the economists, the country’s borrowing has now hit a brick wall and it has to stop borrowing. The effects, they believe, are now being felt with the country unable to issue bonds in the international market and has overstretched itself in the local market, raising questions on how the close N12trn deficit in the 2023 budget will be financed.

The only other option left for the government is to abandon its penchant for borrowing and increase its revenue profile by taxing businesses and the income of all Nigerians.

An assessment LEADERSHIP Weekend show that every Nigerian would have pay N60,000 in extra taxes to fund the N12trn deficit in the budget.

And by the time Muhammadu Buhari leaves office on May, 29 when the debt management office says the public debt would have reached N77trn, every Nigerian by then would owe N385,000.

The fiscal policies of the Buhari administration have also seen the country’s budget deficit to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rise to -4.7 per cent, the highest since 1999 when it was -5.4 per cent, according to data on trading Economics.

In 2023, the fiscal deficit, which is the difference between earned revenue and expenditure, is estimated to reach N12.1 trillion as against the actual budget deficit of N2.41 trillion recorded by the Buhari-led government in its first year in government, representing a 402.07 per cent rise in seven years.

The 2016 budget, tagged: “budget of Change’, was the first yearly fiscal appropriation prepared and fully executed by the current administration. The government had borrowed N2.41 trillion in 2016 to fund the N5.36 trillion expenditure.

The 2023 budget as signed by President Buhari is looking at a total spending outlay of N21.83 trillion, a N1.32 trillion over the initial Executive Proposal for a total expenditure of N20.51 trillion.

With N9.73 trillion to be funded with revenue, the government plans to raise N12.1 trillion through fresh borrowings, drawbacks from existing commitments by multilateral/bilateral partners as well as privatisation proceeds.

Meanwhile, the minister of Finance, National planning, Zainab Ahmed had said, the government has no intention of approaching the Eurobond market this year to source for funds.

Presently, Nigeria has a total Eurobond borrowing of about $15 billion spanning different tenures and coupons. According to Ahmed, there are no plans to issue Eurobonds in 2023 unless market conditions improve as bond prices are too high for African countries.

Nigeria had sold $1.25 billion Eurobonds last year, marking its eighth outing on international debt markets, but with unfavourable rates, hence, Ahmed said, Nigeria will focus on concessionary loans from the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank and others for external loans, she told Reuters in Abuja after a cabinet meeting.

“Our external borrowing sources are very much open at multilateral institutions and our focus is on those loans unless we have no option because loan processes are very long.

“The prices of bonds are too high now in most African countries. No one is going near there now. We hope 2023 will bring about some improvement,” she said.

The unfavorable rates at the Eurobond market, particularly for African debtors is not unconnected to the Ghana’s shocker late last year. The West African country had asked bondholders to accept losses on loan interest payments, as the country struggled to stand under its huge debt burden.

Ghana’s debt stood at $28.1 billion of debt at the end of June last year and debt-serving costs made up about 68 per cent of tax revenue over the same period.

However, chief executive of Cowry Asset Management, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, warned that Nigeria may be heading in the same direction with Ghana if care is not taken. Already Nigeria spends more than 100 per cent of its retained revenue on servicing its loans.

Noting that Nigeria was already indebted to other countries and that the budget deficit would make Nigeria to continue to borrow in order to service her debts, Chukwu said, with a N12.1 trillion deficit, Nigeria is bound to continue to borrow and increase her debt profile.

“Today Ghana is defaulting on both local and international debts and Nigeria should be careful not to toe the line of Ghana in terms of borrowing to service debts. Any country that is borrowing to service debts is in a debt trap that could consume such country and that is where Nigeria is gradually heading to.

Prof Godwin Owoh, the executive chairman of Society for Analytical Economics questioned the figures presented by the government as money borrowed through ways and means. According to him, the figures are based on any audited financial statement or official report showing how much was borrowed.

He said the assessment of the IMF is a red card, adding that ways and means, as prescribed in section 38(2) of the constitution, is for temporary borrowing that must be paid back in 6 months. It is not for financing capital projects.

Prof Owoh said, “Signals from the IMF, World Bank and the international community is that the management of the economy has failed. The immediate reaction is to stop borrowing. When did the government borrow N22trn from the CBN with an interest that is over N1trn?”

He advised the present government, which he said is now in transition not borrow again adding that the next government will naturally seek to pass a supplementary budget. Besides, he said, the Chinese, IMF and other creditors have realized they can’t keep lending to this government.

He backed the National Assembly for rejecting the securitization of the N22trn owed the CBN saying you can’t issue an instrument for money already spent in the name of paying back a loan.

He said, “It is unthinkable to people to invest when the money has already been spent. Who is the government going to pay back? Who owns the CBN? The CBN is part of the presidency. It is not another country.”

On his part, renowned economist and former director general of the West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, stressed the need for the government to ‘cap its borrowings.’

Noting that, there is nothing wrong in borrowing provided it is to finance hard infrastructure that has a long term positive effect, he stated that, “the problem with Nigerian borrowing is that there is not much transparency we don’t know what they are borrowing for.

“Also important is the fact that debt service is too high. If you look at every budget virtually almost one tenth is used to service debt and we have not even started touching the debt. So, we have to be cautious. The government will argue that debt to GDP allows them room to borrow but GDP does not pay debt, revenue pays debt and if you take revenue to debt ratio, we cant even borrow at all because two third of revenue comes from oil and the revenue from oil is not a sure revenue.

“I don’t envy any government coming in. Debt is a problem on one side and other problems on the other side. And more importantly, these debts will be paid by the future generation. If we are not careful the future generations will abuse us in our graves because they will see the debt and not see what it was used for.

“No good roads, no good railways, no water, education is in disarray, health system exposed by the Covid-19 is in trouble. Time flies and in no time 20 years have passed and we are still servicing the debts. We should not borrow because we have space to borrow or because we have B+ ratings by rating agencies. They are getting us more and more indebted.”

Meanwhile, experts have charged the federal government to repay loans it used in building rail lines, among other infrastructure across the country.

Mixed reactions has continued to trail declaration by the present minister of Transportation, Engr. Mua’zu Sambo, that inability to secure loan in the international debt market to finance rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt- Maiduguri rail line has affected the feasibility of completing the project this year.

LEADERSHIP findings also shows that inability of the federal government to honor past loan agreements with EXIM bank of China has affected sustenance of the construction of Lagos-Ibadan and Kano standard gauge railway line.

The managing director, First Fit Nigeria Limited, Mr. Eric Umezurike, in his reaction, said, prior to the award of the rehabilitation of the $3.2billion Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway line to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the federal government had through EXIM bank of China in 2016 signed an agreement with CCECC for the construction of Lagos to Kano standard gauge railway line.

He stated further that the project was divided into phases and the first phase from Lagos-Ibadan was awarded at rate of $1.6billion based on 85 per cent and 15 per cent counterpart funding agreement between EXIM bank of China and federal government respectively.

According to him, work on Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway line started in March 2017 because the federal government paid 15 per cent counterpart funding up front as EXIM bank insisted that federal government must pay due to inconsistency from one government to another.

Umezurike pointed out that the international financial institutions will never take Nigeria serious if the federal government continues in its failure to honoring loan agreements, adding that, EXIM bank and CCECC are probably watching to know the party that will win the forthcoming elections for fear that the contract could be terminated if a new party wins the presidential election.

He stressed that, currently, the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway corridor has started operation but the government may not be able to meet obligation of repaying the loan in 30 years due to the short distance and low turnout of passengers.

Mr. John Obot, a freight forwarder said, the construction of Ibadan to Kano and Port-Harcourt -Maiduguri rehabilitation would have started if government paid upfront as was the case with Lagos-Ibadan project.

The federal government had attributed failure to secure loans in the international debt market to finance the reconstruction of the Port-Harcourt–Maiduguri narrow gauge railway line, as a major factor that affected the project.

This revelation comes against expectations that the key national infrastructure will be ready in time before the end of the present administration.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in March 2021 through the former minister of transportation Mr. Rotimi Amaechi performed the groundbreaking ceremony to commence the reconstruction of the rail line, which was constructed in 1960.

“The connection of the railway to a new seaport in Bonny Island and Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt is designed to increase the viability and boost transshipment of cargo and freight locally, across the West African sub-region and in the Continental Free Trade Area,” the president had said as he announced the complementary seaport and industrial park.

However, speaking in Abuja recently, Amaechi’s successor, Muazu Sambo, said the delivery before May 29, 2023, when Buhari’s tenure ends, was no longer feasible citing failure to secure loans to back the financing of the project.

“Now, the truth of the matter is that if there was a promise to deliver this line before the end of this administration, this promise is no longer feasible because, when the contract was approved, it was approved on the premise that 85 per cent will be funded through the foreign loan, while 15 per cent will be the counterpart funding for the national budget.

“Since that approval, we have not been able to obtain that 85 per cent foreign loan for this project. We have been funding it through the national budget on the bases of the 15 per cent counterpart funding of the federal government. And therefore, funding has been a major challenge for this project.” he declared.

Some road users on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to adopt more measures to reduce gridlock as contractors returned to the site after the festive season to resume construction works on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Work on the OPIC axis, which resulted in traffic snarl-ups and hardship to road users in the area, was suspended in December for the festive season to ease the movement of travellers, bringing relief to motorists.

It was gathered that Section One of the highway on Thursday showed that workmen who returned to the site on Tuesday were seen between Kara and OPIC on the Lagos-bound side. They were using earth-moving equipment to scarify some portions while at the same time laying fresh construction materials on other sections.

Also, officials of the Federal Roads Safety Corps and TRACE were seen controlling traffic around the OPIC/Fatgbems filling station. Some of the road users commended the swift return to the site but emphasised the need to minimise hardship caused by the impact of gridlock around construction zones.

Mr Osas Idohasa, a commercial bus driver who plies the Ikeja-Ojodu and Wawa-Arepo routes, commended the quick resumption of works but appealed for urgent measures against gridlock as well as speedy completion of the project.

Idohasa said he would henceforth study the traffic situation before conveying passengers on the Wawa-Arepo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to minimise loss of revenue and man-hours. “How much do I make daily that I will allow myself to sit inside traffic?” he queried.

Mr Tirimisiu Adigun, a commercial motorcycle operator who plies Beger-Arepo, appealed for the construction of alternative routes to ease congestion, to make the highway safer.

Also, Mr Suleiman Alabi, a tipper driver at Fatgbems Bus Stop, appealed to Julius Berger to give back to society by always using recyclable construction materials to fill bad portions along the highway to improve the driving experience.

“Government should tell Julius Berger to go and grade that other lane at Wawa to Fatgbems. They should use all these waste materials to go and fill all the bad portions there. They should do it as their corporate social responsibility. I personally dropped 12 trips of rubbles there as part of my own contribution to prevent accidents and save businesses. No one paid me,” he said.

They expressed worry over crime and criminality perpetuated between Berger and the Long Bridge, usually caused by the gridlock while lamenting that the situation was usually worse at night.

Responding, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Umar Bakare, said Julius Berger was working to quickly fix portions between Kara and Long Bridge that they could not complete before the holiday.

Bakare, who is in charge of Section One of the project which spans Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange, said alternative routes around OPIC and Isheri would be rehabilitated to ease congestion.

He said adjoining Isheri Road that passes in front of OPIC would be upgraded and made motorable to accommodate traffic spillover caused by diversions when work moves to the Ibadan-bound lanes.

The controller said that roads adjacent to the Otedola Bridge Section on the highway around CMD Road would also be made motorable to ease movement.

He, however, said it was impossible to create alternative routes on the Lagos-bound side between the Long Bridge and Kara where work was currently ongoing because the portion was a Right of Way for gas pipelines.

“For the remaining permanent jobs, we are already on the drawing table with a traffic management plan, we are also discussing with other stakeholders like the Police, Federal Roads Safety Corps, and the agencies of Ogun and Lagos States in charge of traffic management, that is talking about LASTMA and TRACE.

“We are also discussing with ministries of Transportation, Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State. We are going to be making announcements about our operations on the road from time to time.

“This, we believe, will help to properly sensitise the public on the nature of our work and diversion,” he said.

Speaking about the Lotto interchange bridge under construction, Bakare said the main carriageway would be given priority to ease passage for motorists before the completion of the bridge.

He said the government was passionate about completing both section one, which spans Ojota in Lagos State to Sagamu Interchange, and Section two, which spans Sagamu Interchange to Ojoo in Ibadan, on schedule in the first quarter of 2023. (NAN)

By John Owen Nwachukwu


The decision of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to endorse the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi has been heavily criticised by the camps of other leading presidential candidates.

Obasanjo in his New Year message recommended Obi to Nigerians, saying that the former Anambra State Governor has indisputable credibility in all facets of leadership.

Most of the politicians criticising the former President had on one occasion or another visited Obasanjo’s Otta Farm in search of endorsements but are now dismissing his recommendation of Obi as meaningless.

Obasanjo has a history of endorsing candidates who ended up becoming President of the nation.

Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker pointed out that when Obasanjo endorsed Musa Yar’adua as his successor in 2007, he made it unambiguously public, adding that it came to pass.

Obasanjo also endorsed the choice of Goodluck Jonathan as Yar’Adua’s running-mate and later backed the Bayelsa-born politician’s first term after he completed the tenure of the late Yar’Adua.

In 2014, Obasanjo declared his support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari.

Obasanjo, then member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made his perspective known during an interview with Financial Times at the launch of his autobiography, My Watch, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya.

For Obasanjo then, Buhari was fully capable of ruling the country. He took the decision against Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition and it came to pass. Buhari became the first man to dethrone an incumbent President when he was declared winner of the 2015 presidential election.

Obasanjo had expressed confidence that Buhari, if elected, would effectively tackle insecurity and corruption.

In addition, he noted that Buhari had the ability to restore the morale of the military to fight the insurgency in the North-East and other parts of the country.

But the South West Agenda (SWAGA), a support group rooting for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, has dismissed Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi.

The National Chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye said the victory of the former governor of Lagos State won’t be affected by the decision of the former president, which he described as empty and lacking substance.

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of APC also described the endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo as useless, alleging that the former president hardly has strong electoral value.

Also the PDP PCC insisted that whether Obasanjo liked it or not, Atiku would be president in his lifetime.

A group known as the Patriotic Youth Front of Nigeria, PYFN, has also rejected the former President’s endorsement of Obi.

The PYFN President, Maxwell Ogar alleged that Obasanjo can’t advise Nigerian youths because his hands are stained with blood.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode also played down the endorsement.

Among other angry reactions, Fani-Kayode, a spokesperson for the Tinubu/Shettima campaign council said Obi’s endorsement by Obasanjo is an exercise in futility.

Asked the significance of Obasanjo’s endorsement of Peter Obi for President, popular activist, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, told DAILY POST that it was a move in the right direction.

“Endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo is well within his fundamental human rights. As an influential statesman, his opinion carries lots of weight which is why it has elicited varying reactions from a cross spectrum of politicians and parties,” he said.

He added, “Edwin Clark’s endorsement of Peter Obi is a significant boost for the Labour Party because the man enjoys a fatherly position in the crude oil bearing communities. Both statesmen have the right to exercise their free speech.”

Nigerians look forward to seeing what becomes of the endorsement in the next few weeks when the citizens go to the polls.

One person has been reportedly killed while many people sustained injuries when Fulani and Hausa settlers engaged in a bloody clash in Ondo State.

The incident happened at the popular Ogbese market in the Akure North Area council.

It was gathered that the clash started on Tuesday evening and snowballed into a full blown crisis by Wednesday morning, leading to the burning down of several shops at the market.

A source said the clash was ignited by a fight between the Fulani settlers and the Hausa community.

However, security operatives on ground as at press time could not speak on the matter, according to Precision, a local online newspaper in the state.

Calls put across by SaharaReporters to State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmi Odunlami Omisanya, were not picked nor returned.

by Kunle Olasanmi


The plans to scuttle the 2023 general election by removing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, from office, failed on Wednesday, as the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Garki, quashed the allegations of false asset declaration against him.

The Court went ahead to bar security agencies from investigating Prof. Yakubu over his valid assets declaration.

In the Originating Summons marked FCT/HC/GAR/CV/47/2022 by Somadina Uzoabaka against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Claimant sought, among other things, an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC Chairman to recuse, excuse and exclude himself and or step down as the Chairman of INEC pending the investigation and consideration of the various allegations against him by the various law enforcement agencies.

The plaintiff also sought an order of court stopping the INEC Chairman from holding or assuming any public office for a period of 10 years.

Prof. Yakubu, who in his response to the allegations, furnished the court with several exhibits to show the sources of money for the purchase of the properties which the plaintiff alleged were illegally acquired and insisted that his asset declarations were validly done.

In the judgment, Justice M. A. Hassan found that the declaration of assets by Prof. Yakubu was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law and that he cannot be investigated by any of the security agencies listed by the Claimant that should all investigate him.

The judge declined to grant any of the 14 prayers of the claimant, declaring that the INEC Chairman cannot be removed over fabricated allegations of false asset declaration.

The judge, therefore, dismissed the claims of the Claimant and allowed the Counter-claim of the INEC Chairman.

Abubakar Idris, a trigger-happy Nigerian Army personnel, assigned to the Presidential Guard Brigade, has shot and killed a passenger of a motorcycle he was riding in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It was learned that the incident occurred on Monday midnight at a location close to a bridge along Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Asokoro, where Idris and his colleagues were stationed for guard duty.

According to sources that spoke with PUNCH, the deceased was taken to the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, for an autopsy.

One of the sources said, “It was a sad incident. The Army’s Guard Brigade officers were on duty last night (Sunday/Monday) when Idris sighted some motorcyclists approaching them close to the bridge.

“Officer Idris was trying to stop one of the bike men, who was carrying a passenger, but in the process he opened fire on them, killing the passenger immediately, while the bike man and other motorcyclists fled.”

According to a different source, the soldiers left the area after discovering the body and left it there until the police arrived.

He said, “Not long after it happened, the soldiers left the scene and abandoned the corpse. But police officers later got to the scene around 3 am. The corpse was taken to the Asokoro District Hospital for an autopsy.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the brigade, Abakpa Godfrey, said he was not aware of the incident.

Abakpa said, “I can’t comment on that for now. I was actually on a pass and I just got back to Abuja, so I am not aware of it.”

This is coming barely 10 days after another security operative killed a female lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem in Lagos.

Mrs Omobolanle Raheem was shot dead by a police officer while she was returning home from a Christmas service at Ajah Under-bridge.

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcou rt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that former governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is yet to account for the $308 million proceeds from the sales of the state gas turbine power stations to Sahara Energy. The governor made these assertions at the New Year State Banquet held in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Sunday night, claiming that Amaechi wants the co-founder of Sahara, Tonye Cole, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to become the next governor of Rivers. “Who’s behind Sahara? The one he is presenting to be the governorship candidate,” the governor said. Wike said it was ludicrous for Amaechi, whose eight years reign in office epitomised maladministration, to accuse his government that is hinged on rule of law of bad governance.

He observed that Amaechi often brags about building modern secondary schools while in office. According to him, a report of the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council set up by Amaechi had denounced siting of these schools in locations far from the communities.

The governor noted that if Amaechi has scruples he would not meddle in the affairs of a state that he allegedly wasted N54 billion on the now abandoned 1.1-kilometre monorail project. Wike said it was preposterous for his predecessor, who closed courts for almost two years and denied people access to justice, to claim that Rivers State has been badly governed since 2015. He described the closure of courts in the state by the Amaechi administration as a coup against the judiciary, and regretted that Nigeria is the only country where those who violate the sanctity of the third arm of government go unpunished.

“There will be bad administration if there is no good governance. What is good governance? There cannot be good governance if it is not predicated on the rule of law and due process. Who can you actually accuse of bad administration? We came to this State in 2015. There was no court,” he said.

By Sharon Osaji


Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and staunch supporter of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has always wanted a president from the South-East.

Weighing in on the former president’s endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi as his choice candidate for president, Omokri on Sunday night, took to his Twitter page to express his opinion on the matter.

Omokri, who described Obasanjo as a good hearted man, said the former president wants a southeastern president to heal the wounds from the civil war of 1967 to 1970.

Omokri tweeted, “Obasanjo is a good hearted man. He has always wanted a president from SE or close to SE as a way to heal the civil war wounds. In 2007, he wanted Peter Odili, but Yar’adua insisted on Governor Jonathan as VP.”

He however added, “What OBJ did won’t affect the election!”

The PUNCH reported on Sunday that Obasanjo in a letter to Nigerians endorsed Obi as his choice candidate for president ahead of the 2023 presidential election in February.

In the 2023 New Year message signed by the former President and made available to newsmen by his aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo described Obi as his mentee and said the former Anambra State governor had an edge in the 2023 elections.

Obasanjo’s letter partly read, “None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.

“Others like all of us have what they can collectively contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria.

“One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost.

“In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. He has a young and able running mate with a clean track record of achievement both in public and private life.”

The ruling All Progressives Party and opposition Peoples Democratic Party have strongly protested against Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi, who assumed power as President under the PDP.

The PUNCH reported that the APC and PDP both claimed that Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi would have no electoral value at the forthcoming polls.

Responding to Obasanjo’s lengthy message, the Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu, would not lose sleep over the endorsement of his Labour Party counterpart by the former president.

While in a telephone conversation with The PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba said, “What is important is the endorsement of the Nigerian people. The endorsement of an individual no matter how highly placed does not translate to victory at the polls.

President Muhammadu Buhari has once again spoken of the attack on his convoy in Kaduna State, a year before he unseated former President Goodluck Jonathan.

While Buhari escaped unhurt in the explosion that occurred at the busy Kawo market area of the city, three of his security aides were injured and rushed to hospital.

At the time of the attack, an aide of the president said the bomber, who drove in a Toyota Sienna vehicle, rammed into Buhari’s convoy and detonated the explosive-laden vehicle.

While Buhari survived the attack, his vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and another one behind it were badly damaged.

In his documentary titled ‘Essential Muhammadu Buhari’, the president said a vehicle which Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso gave him helped him survive the bomb attack.

“I think Kwankwaso was being generous. He gave me an armored Land Rover vehicle. He said I should use it because he believed the competition I was going on involved people who would like to eliminate me.

“I was going to Kano from Kaduna in that jeep and a vehicle wanted to overtake us but my escort stopped them and they detonated the bomb.

“When I looked, I saw pieces of human beings. None of us in the vehicle were injured. But somehow I saw blood on me because of the number of people killed outside by the bomb,” Buhari said.

By Ishola Oludare


Assassins on Sunday murdered Kehinde Fatinoye, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Fatinoye was killed alongside his wife, who was until the incident a Principal Confidential Secretary at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB.

DAILY POST gathered that the unknown persons had stormed the Ibara GRA residence of the couple at a time they just returned from the New Year crossover service.

A source told our correspondent that the couple were killed and set ablaze by their assailants inside their house.

Also, the couple’s son and domestic staff were reportedly taken away by the assassins.

Ogun State police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying: “It is true the incident happened. Investigation has commenced. Somebody has been arrested in connection with the incident. The man and his wife were killed and we are yet to find their child who was taken away.”

He further confirmed: “The incident happened after 12 in the morning. This is a clear case of assassination and we are not leaving any stone unturned to unravel those behind the killings.”

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Dr.Iyorchia Ayu, has launched what looks like his own counter offensive against the Nyesom Wike-led G-5 governors in the party, ahead of next month’s elections.

Ayu, according to an investigation by The Nation, has shredded the lists of polls agents compiled by the governors and forwarded to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja for onward submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Only party agents accredited by INEC are allowed at polling stations and collation centres.

Ayu’s fear is that the party cannot entrust its destiny into the hands of those nominated by the dissenting governors.

The Electoral Act allows each party to be represented at each of the polling booths and collation centres .

The agents are required to sign the result sheets before the outcome of voting at the polling units and collation centres are announced.

It was gathered that Ayu and his team at the PDP National Secretariat decided to subject the lists of prospective agents from the G-5 and a few other states to scrutiny for what a source described as safety reason.

“Well, I don’t understand what you are trying to drive at but I must tell you that it is the responsibility of the National Secretariat to forward the lists of party agents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the election,” the source said.

“The state chapters can assist in the compilation of such list for their states but the decision of who does what as party agents lies with the National Chairman. Don’t forget the presidential candidate too may have his own preferred people in the states. The election is his own, and he should have the prerogative to choose those who will represent him as agents at the poll.

“Moreover, there is no way we will have the state leadership of the PDP campaign committee in place and some other people will be the ones compiling lists of agents. The arrangement is that the campaign committee oversees all elections for the party. So, it is not out of place for the party to insist that all stakeholders should liaise with the PCC in their state in compiling the list of party agents.

“If that is what you mean by Ayu rejecting some lists, you need to understand that it is the normal procedure to avoid duplication of the lists in question.”

A party source confirmed the rejection of the names of some nominees to serve as agents but said those dropped are currently in service as government appointees.

The source drew attention to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 which prohibit government appointees from being party agents during elections.

The Act however prescribed that such government appointees must resign their positions three months before the election to be eligible to stand as party agents at voting centres.

Sources also said Ayu, in response to the lists of party agents sent to the National Secretariat by PDP state leaderships in the affected states, urged them to work with the leadership of the campaign committees in their state for the final list.

A PDP chairman in one of the South South states said: “He (Ayu) made it clear it is the lists from the campaign committee that will be profiled and sent to INEC by the NWC. The decision is unusual as it has always been the state executives that compile and send agents’ lists to Abuja. We see this as an attempt to undermine the leadership of the party in our state and we understand where it is all coming from.”

The Nation also gathered that the aggrieved governors and their supporters are displeased with Ayu’s alleged decision on the matter and are poised for a showdown.

An aide to one of the G5 governors said: “there is no way we will leave our destiny in their hands when we know Ayu is not wishing us well. If they want to nominate the party agents that will work during the presidential election, no problem since they no longer trust the people in charge in the states.

“But how can they also reject our lists for other elections? This is where we smell some rats.”

Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) are also in the G-5.

They want Ayu to quit as chairman on the premise that it is against the spirit of the PDP constitution for a section of the country to have the presidential candidate and national chairman at the same time.

They have excused themselves from Atiku’s campaign.

Atiku’s campaign chairman, Udom, meets Wike, Ortom in Rivers

The Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, yesterday met with Rivers State governor, Wike and Benue State governor, Ortom at the Rumueprikon country home of Wike in Obio-Akpor.

Details of the meeting were not disclosed but it came 24 hours after the dissenting governors returned from their latest strategic meeting in London.

Udom, according to political sources in Port Harcourt,was in town to pacify the G-5 to join the Atiku campaign train.

The campaign council was said to be bothered about Wike’s continuous outbursts, which were daily weakening the PDP’s presidential campaigns and reducing the personality of Atiku in the eyes of members of the public.

The G-5’s insistence that they would not work for Atiku was reinforced on Friday shortly after the aggrieved governors returned from their London trip.

Wike had earlier set aside January 2023 to declare his preferred presidential candidate and mobilise support for him ahead of the 2023 poll.

The Rivers governor said on Friday that the PDP national chairmanship position must be ceded to the South as a minimum requirement for peace was not negotiable.

Udom,Wike and Ortom told reporters at the end of yesterday’s meeting that it was devoid of politics.

Wike said his relationship with Udom had not diminished regardless of their opposing stands on Atiku.

He stressed that, ideally, politics should never be allowed to create unwarranted friction between brothers.

He said: “Politics is not what will divide brothers and divide friends. Everybody knows my relationship with Udom, and we will continue to maintain that relationship. We may have different political affiliation or thinking, that should not divide the brotherly love or create a gap among us.”

Udom explained that his visit was not political, but a demonstration of brotherly love in the spirit of the yuletide season.

He said: “Actually, this is the season of love. Within this period if we don’t demonstrate that love, love not shown is love wasted. I think that is what we are trying to demonstrate, brotherly love, friendship. And then in the spirit of the season, we must visit one another.”

Ortom said part of their discussion also centered on how they could best add value to governance in Nigeria.

He said: “We are going into 2023 and we shared among ourselves how can we best add value to our government, how can we best add value to our people, how can we do things that will help add value to our country Nigeria.

“And that if there are any issues in the past which we have done wrong, we looked at them and said, look, let’s forgive one another and move forward. They are private issues.”

‘God will never give power to the wicked’, Wike replies Okowa, Tambuwal

Governor Wike, in a veiled response to statements made on Friday by Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said God would never give power to the ‘wicked’ and those he said would sell off Nigeria in a fraction of a second.

Okowa who is Atiku’s running mate in next month’s election had said that only God and not the G-5 would determine the winner of the election, while Tambuwal who doubles as the Director General of the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign organization,said the PDP would respond at the appropriate time to what he called the antics of the five governors.

But flagging off the construction of Ogbo-Ihugbogbo road in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday,Wike said: “We can never play God because we know the role that God has played in our lives.

“Don’t be treacherous because you want power…God will never give power to the wicked.”

He said the G5 has the backing of God and that is why the group continues to wax stronger.

“Some people said it is only God that will decide who will be president and not G5…We are where we are because of God.

“Nobody can even breathe air if not God, not to talk about holding position.

“So, nobody can tell us that it is only God; we know that it is only God that gives power but our prayer is to our God: don’t allow those who will sell off Nigeria in one second to be in power. “Our prayer is: God, don’t allow anybody that you’ll have an agreement with and the next two minutes the person will change.

“Our prayer is: God, don’t allow those who will betray their brothers when they have agreed with their brothers to do something. God, may you never allow such persons and that is why God is still making G5 to be stronger.”

Wike said those in Atiku’s camp desired to cause the split of the G5 but it has never worked.

On the Tambuwal statement, he said: “Somebody said they will handle us when we decide. These are the things that annoy us.”

Pressure mounts on PDP for sanctions against G-5 members

Some PDP hawks are said to be pressurizing the party’s hierarchy to punish the dissenting governors.

A top member of the party who craved anonymity, said the PDP must summon enough courage to wield the big stick if the governors make good their threat to dump the party’s candidate.

The party chieftain said: “The only way the PDP can redeem itself is to apply the appropriate sanctions against these governors if they eventually declare support for another candidate.

“It would amount to anti-party activity if these governors opt to support a different candidate and the party’s constitution is very clear on sanctions against anti -party activities.

“The PDP is bigger than any individual no matter the positions they hold today. It’s a different matter if the governors had defected to another party and choose to work against the PDP. But they cannot remain on a platform given them by the PDP and still use the same platform against the party.

“Some people are making comparison between the G-5 and the five PDP governors that defected to the APC in 2014 to work against the PDP presidential candidate in the 2015 election.

“We have made it clear that there is no basis for comparison in the two cases. In 2014, the five PDP governors and other PDP chieftains officially left the party and joined the APC.

“But the G-5 governors have been working against the interest of the PDP while still enjoying the privileges of being members of the party. They are free to leave the party if that is their wish. It is abuse of privilege and no party worth its name will condone such recklessness”.

However, another PDP chieftain posited that it’s rather too late to impose any sanctions on the G-5 governors at this critical time.

The party chief, who also did not want his name in print, said with the general election barely two months away, it would be counter- productive to sanction the governors.

He said: “What sanctions are we talking about and what effect will such sanctions have at this point in time? If you want to suspend or even expel them, due process must be followed as prescribed by the PDP constitution.

“Following due process requires giving them fair hearing, which will also take some time. But we are running out of time so any sanctions at this point will be meaningless and will have no effect on them. From the look of things, the G-5 governors have become a bone stuck in the throat”.

By Egufe Yafugborhi


PORT HARCOURT – GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has again indicated his rejection of the Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 2023 presidential bid based on perceived negative characters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer and his running mate.

Apparently referring to the duo in familiar analogies that have defined his displeasure with Atiku and Okowa, Wike, during Saturday’s flag off the Ogbo-Ihugbogo Road in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers, said, prayed God not to allow the duo take hold of the presidency come 2023.

Hinging his prayer on recent attack on him by Prince Uche Secondus, immediate past PDP National Chairman, the Rivers Governor, said, “Some people said it is only God who can decide who becomes President. We agree. We’re where we are today because of God.

“Nobody can even breath without God, talk much of holding political office. But our prayer is, God don’t allow those who will sell off Nigeria in one second of being in power. God, don’t allow anybody that who you will have agreement with and in next two minutes the person will change (renege on the agreement).”

Apparently chiding Governor Okowa, Wike continued, “Our prayer is God, don’t allow betrayers who will betray their brothers after agreeing with their brothers to do a particular thing. God may you not allow such people (to takeover presidency)”

He added, “Don’t be treacherous in life because you want power. God will never give power to the wicked. Our hands are clean we have not done anything wrong. All we are saying is, do things in a way all of us will have sense of belonging.

“That all of us will believe that we are together. That is all we are saying. If saying so is wrong, then let it be to God. But we know that it is good as right takes, let left take also.

“I heard them say that PDP is a responsible party I agree. But when they left PDP in 2014 against 2015. When they left and made PDP to lose our election. Today, we are struggling to take over power from APC. Who are those who made us to lose this power.”

The Ohanaeze N’digbo Youth Council Worldwide has advised Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to end their romance with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, saying he was leading them to doom.

A statement issued yesterday by the national president of the group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, said the advice became necessary to avoid regrets.

Okwu said the two governors who are running for political positions in their respective states, would do themselves great injustice by endorsing a candidate of another political party.

“Governor Ugwuanyi is an asset we will need in the senate as he has the experience needed to attract federal presence. However, should Wike lure them into endorsing another presidential candidate, it could backfire and cost him the ticket.

“We have it on good authority that the PDP national leadership has concluded plans not just to expel the governors from the party but to dissolve their state executives. This should not be taken for granted as it would totally destabilise them and come with huge and avoidable electoral loss.

“What happened to the AD in 2003 should be a lesson to the governors when the party endorsed then president Obasanjo of the PDP and the AD ended up losing every other position,” he said.

Okwu added that Governor Wike was fighting a personal war, stressing; “If the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar had chosen him as running mate, we wouldn’t have been hearing ‘Ayu must go’.

“Suffice it to say that Wike is only nursing personal anger and frustration against Atiku and the two South-East governors who are with him should think deeply about it.

“The Rivers governor is not running for election and stands to lose nothing, unlike the other governors who are on the ballot. They should immediately end their romance with Wike,” he further advised.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described himself as an elephant, saying he can not be taken by surprise from the G-5 governors of the PDP.

Atiku said that anyone that plans to stop him from achieving his political ambition, should first make himself the president of Nigeria.

The former vice president equally noted that he was not perturbed by plots of five aggrieved governors, popularly known as G-5 governors, to endorse presidential candidates of their choice.

He stated that he is an elephant that has seen everything, noting that he cannot be taken by surprised by the aggrieved governors.

Atiku, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said any person boasting of having such powers to stop his presidential bid, should first make himself president.

His words: “Atiku will be president. Whether the cock crows or not, the sun must rise. Power belongs to God Almighty; no man can arrogate to himself the powers of God Almighty. Any man who can boast of stopping Atiku should first make himself president of Nigeria.

“Atiku is an elephant. Even when an elephant walks on thorns, it does not limp. And when you have seen a snake, it cannot bite you anymore. In this case, we have seen the snake, how can we be taken by surprise?

There is anxiety in the camp of Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, over the deal between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Amaechi, who also vied for the APC presidential ticket, came second during the presidential primaries of the APC in June.

Though Amaechi was named as the special adviser on infrastructure in the Presidential Campaign Council of Tinubu, Daily Trust reports that he has not been participating in the campaign exercise.

The former governor of Rivers State, who was the campaign DG of President Buhari in 2015 and 2019, has been at loggerheads with Wike since 2013.

A source close to him in Abuja told this paper that Amaechi was not being treated fairly by Tinubu and the people around him.

“It is an understatement to say he (Amaechi) is not happy. When Oshiomhole went to Port Harcourt, he asked the people to only support Tinubu and that for the other positions, they should support Wike. A similar thing was re-echoed when the Ebonyi governor visited the state,” he said.

He, however, faulted the report that Amaechi was mulling defection to the PDP.

“It is not true that he has met Atiku. He is not leaving APC, the party he co-founded,” he said.

A chieftain of the party in the state, Steve Nwankwo, said that whatever alliance Wike has with Tinubu will not in any way diminish the influence of Amaechi in the party.

He said that Amaechi had laboured to build the party structures in the state saying that the former minister and his supporters were not afraid of whatever alliance governor Wike has with the APC presidential candidate.

The Publicity Secretary of APC in Rivers State, Mr Darlington Nwauju, said Wike’s alliance with Tinubu was in the realms of conjectures and speculations.

Chido Nwangwu writes that Nigerian born US based IyinAboyeji is listed as one of the 62 global business founders that have established two unicorns

One of the better business news items and empowerment reports that happened a few hours ago as we are moving into 2023 is the listing/naming of a corporate savvy and technologically adroit 31-year-old Nigerian, IyinAboyeji, among 62 business founders in the world that have established two unicorns.

A unicorn in techno-language means a privately held startup company with a value of over US$1 billion. Those achievements have earned him global recognition, for the right reasons.

Aboyeji is driving on billionaires’ lane with Elon Musk, and a few others.

Aboyeji’s story is trully inspirational and worthy of recognition. He has a good sense of the local Nigerian environments as well as an effective method to engage the captains of technology in today’s world. Especially the Silicon Valley and that zone!

I have been consistent in spotlighting the rising profile of Nigerian and African immigrants in the U.S for 30 years through USAfrica, I will underscore the fact that Aboyeji’s rise is unique and very remarkable.

He was recognized in the latest report on outstanding entrepreneurs by the Venture Capital Initiative of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

For context, let me note that the Founder and Director of the Initiative, IlyaStrebulaev, stated that while there are 3,025 business founders/execs in the unicorn category in the world, Richard Klausner, is the only person who has founded 4 unicorns! At the next level, only 3 persons have founded 3 unicorns, 62 persons have founded 2 unicorns each.

It is equally interesting and revealing to read Aboyeji’s vision of the elements of his successful drive. In a world where millions of people do not believe in the instrumentality of divine grace and intervention, the young co-founder of Flutterwave, significantly stated in his reaction to the announcementt: “At 31 years old, by the grace of God, I am one of 62 people in the whole world and very likely the only African to have co-founded two unicorns – Andela and Flutterwave. I am grateful to my country, Nigeria. I have repeatedly said that in no other country on earth would my story have been possible. I am not a caucasian male. I’m just barely 30 years old. I wasn’t born into old money. My parents are humble clergy – the son of a butcher and the daughter of clergy who worked their way up. It is only through prayers, hard work and the favour of God we have come this far. Can anything good come out of Nigeria? Well yes – this is our testimony. We produce unicorns.”

He has a sense of collaboration to achieve successful entrepreneurship. He appreciates team-work and sacrifice for the success.

“They believed when no sane person would. They worked and sacrificed everything to build the future on the continent and I’m so happy for how God has blessed the work of their hands in return.”

At another level and arena, I have reported and analyzed the, equally, the gradual but successful movement of Nigerians and African immigrants towards the mainstream of American politics.

The diasporan communities here in the United States, particularly the younger generation, Nigerian Americans and recent immigrant Africans understand what I refer to as the possibilities dynamic zone since Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.

You will recall victories of eight Nigerian-Americans in the November 8, 2022 mid-term elections in the United States.

Permit me to reiterate that point that for me and for millions of other recent immigrants, we awaken daily with a choice of realistic, productive and equitable, even if imperfect engagement with a society, a country which offers people more opportunities to all without regard to race, religion and pre-existing conditions.

In fact, one of the greatest Presidents of these United States, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), underscored it with these timeless words: “Americanism is a question of principle, of purpose, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of descent.”

I believe IyinAboyeji! reflects the opportunities empowerment America offers as well as the genius of Nigerians, Africans and other immigrants.

Our best is yet to come; and will come!

-Nwangwu, is Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com

@Chidö247

By Cletus Amaechi


Something dramatic and astonishing happened at the wedding of Mr and Mrs. Stanley Ndubuisi from Mbano, Imo State, held at Okota Palace Way, Lagos recently.

Blessing (a.k.a Cubana Lady), presented her three exotic vehicles -4Matic bulletproof SUV, Highlander and Venza to the groom, Stanley, a.k.a Young Money, to the amazement all.

The bride said she did it to alter the age-long narrative and belief that women are always meant to receive instead of giving:

“For a very long time, according to the cultures and traditions of Africa and Nigeria in particular, the woman is considered less important compared to the male counterpart. We want to make the world realise that women have woken up from slumber and can do almost everything a man can do.”

The wedding was witnessed by dignitaries including Aji Akara, Ofe Akwu, State Man, Ababa Nawo and Okey Wa Wurogu were.

The venue was spiced the with rich and colourful photography that brought out the beauty of the ceremony.

By Oluwafemi Dawodu


The Chairman of Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, John Campos, has directed the naming of a street in the area after the slain 41-year-old lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.

Campos made this known during a visit to the family of the deceased lawyer on Wednesday.

The husband of the deceased lawyer, Mr Gbenga Raheem, while speaking to sympathisers, appealed for calm, saying nothing could bring back his wife.

The late Raheem was shot by a cop on Christmas Day while trying to make a U-turn at the Ajah Bridge.

She was a graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

She was the Chief Executive Officer of Croston Homes and co-founder, City Building, a real estate and property development company.

The deceased was seven months pregnant when the tragedy struck.

The senate on Wednesday went into a rowdy session after some senators kicked against a request by President Muhammadu Buhari to approve N23.7 trillion that has been spent by the federal government without approval by the national assembly.

The rowdiness began after Solomon Olamilekan, chairman of the finance committee, presented a report on the president’s “way and means advances” request.

As Olamilekan commenced his presentation, Betty Apiafi, senator representing Rivers west, raised a point of order stating that the request was not constitutional.

But Senate President Ahmad Lawan ruled her out of order, saying: “Let me present his report first… I’m not preventing anyone from speaking.”

By Abubakar Akote, Minna


Bandits have killed no fewer than four farmers and abducted over 100 others including women and children from 14 communities in Mashegu and Rafi local government areas of Niger State in the last three weeks.

Daily Trust gathered that more than half of the victims were kidnapped while harvesting maize, beans, guinea corn and soya beans on their farms.

Those killed were a traditional ruler, two vigilantes and one other person during an invasion in Mashegu Local Government.

Sources said the communities attacked in Mashegu included Sabon-Rijiya, Tsohon-Rami, Bakwai-Bakwai, Mulo, Kawo-Mulo, Nasarawa-Mulo, Mai-Azara, Foje, Mutun-Daya, Beji, Gidan-Malam, Bokuta, Chetaku and Gbazhi, forcing residents to flee to Ibbi town and other safer places in the local government.

In Rafi and part of Shiroro local governments, 61 farmers were reportedly kidnapped in Gidigori, Pandogari and Durumi communities in the last two weeks.

Residents said while bandits had also imposed N3 million tax on each of the communities as a condition to stop kidnapping them and to allow them to harvest their farm produce, only one of the communities had been able to pay. The bandits are said to be also stealing food they already harvested.

Residents who spoke with Daily Trust said rural communities in Mashegu, Mariga, Kontagora, Rafi and Shiroro were still not as safe as widely publicised in some sections of the media.

One of them, Mohammed Sanusi, told our correspondent that one of the vigilantes he simply identified as Abubakar was shot dead after he was abducted alongside other villagers on Thursday when bandits attacked Mulo and adjoining communities during which the village head of Mulo, Alhaji Usman Garba, was also killed.

“Attacks have been going on for the past three weeks in villages in Mashegu Local Government. Right now, over 50 people are in the hands of bandits. One vigilante was killed in Tsohon-Rami on Sunday. He was kidnapped alongside other people in Mulo and other communities on Thursday and he was shot dead. Another vigilante was also killed on his farm in Tsohon-Rami recently. They met him harvesting his crops on his farm and they killed him with a cutlass. Right now, we cannot harvest our crops. Maize, guinea corn, beans and soya beans are getting spoiled on our farms,” he said.

Another resident, Abdulrahman Inuwa, told Daily Trust that residents of Fage and Mulo have all fled their homes.

“They ask villages to pay N3 million tax each; it is Nasarawa Mulo that has been able to pay the tax imposed on communities. One of the three people abducted in Mulo was released and he was asked to go back home and look for money to secure the release of the remaining people. On Sunday, another boy was abducted in Fage village but he was released when he told them that he was from Nasarawa Mulo that had paid their tax. So, they released him, saying that residents of Nasarawa Mulo have settled them.

“Nobody goes to harvest his crops now. Who will go and get kidnapped? You are not with your farm produce and you get kidnapped again. Where do you get money to pay the ransom? What we are left with now is prayers. The situation has not improved in our area. How will it improve when we don’t have conventional security in our area? Up till now, four village heads are in their captivity. It is only the police in Mashegu that do go on patrol and they are not more than 10 in number with only one vehicle and the vehicle is not even in a good condition,” he added.


Inuwa called for the quick intervention of the state and federal governments to enable them to harvest their crops.

Another villager who craved anonymity said the farmer had abandoned their farms.

“Most of the people, over 50 of them, were kidnapped while on their farms harvesting. Some people were from Bakwai-Bakwai, Sabon-Rijiya and Mulo villages. Some people they kidnapped were visiting labourers who came from other places to work for us as labourers.

“The village heads were kidnapped alongside their sons. They later released the two village heads and held their sons. The village head of Gwaji later died at home due to trauma and torture he underwent before he was released on Thursday. They also kidnapped the village head of Kizhi.”

Daily Trust gathered that bandits have demanded N5 million ransom for each of the abductees.

However, in Rafi and Shiroro local government areas, residents said the attackers had also returned since the beginning of harvesting season, stopping them from harvesting their crops.

A farmer who is currently an internally displaced person in Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi Local Government, Ismaila Aliyu, said “We see them almost every day.”

He said “In the last two weeks, 15 people were kidnapped in Gidigori; 6 people were kidnapped in Pandogari last week. About 40 people were kidnapped at Durumi. Also, Kusherki, Madaka, Hanna-Wanka, Kukkoki, Hannah-Wanka, Durumi, Kambari, Kalaibo, Allawa axis and Madaka people have not been able to harvest their crops because Rafi and Shiroro local governments are not safe,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger State, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted people. He said any further development would be made known to the public.

“The police command is making efforts in collaboration with other security agencies to rescue the abducted victims. However, tactical teams have been deployed in the area to forestall reoccurrence,” he added.

When also contacted on the telephone, the Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, said the state government policy did not support payment of ransom or any form of tax and urged citizens to reject such from bandits.

For those that are in captivity, Umar said the state government was on top of the situation and was working closely with security agencies to rescue the victims and ensure that bandits were chased out of the state.

Umar had on Friday told journalists that even though the state had witnessed some level of peace in recent times, there were still threats and pockets of attacks in communities in Mashegu, Mariga and Kontagora local governments.

“As much as we have recorded successes, we are also aware that threats still exist. Recently, we have begun to see attacks on the fridges of Mashegu Mariga and Kontagora local government areas. His Excellency has directed all the security agencies in the state to come out in full force in a matter of urgency and flush the bandits out,” he said.

However, a top military officer told our correspondent in confidence that the activities of informants, both within the communities and security agencies, had become a major challenge in the fight against banditry and insurgency in the state.

“Each time we hear of their movement and we make an effort to launch an assault on them before you know it, they have changed their route. Sometimes, the informants are not from communities; they are within the security formations because if we are making our arrangements, a civilian that is not part of us would not know anything. So, activities of informants most of the time hinder our operations,” he said.

The Nigerian Army had also recently unveiled an operation code-named Operation Mugun Bugu (deadly strike) as part of efforts to flush out bandits and insurgents from the state.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Faruk Yahya, had said during the unveiling of the operation at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora that the high-breed operational tactics were aimed at dealing with terrorism and other forms of crime in Niger State in particular and other parts of the country.

The COAS who said the security challenges facing the country were not insurmountable assured that the military in collaboration with other security agencies would defeat the adversaries.

By Sulaimon Salau


Amid the lingering fuel crisis in the country, nine vessels laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, gas, diesel, and aviation fuel are currently waiting on the high sea, seeking approvals to berth at the Lagos ports.

Despite Petrol now selling for between N170 and 260 at filling stations across the country, several outlets are still under lock and key for lack of products.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) data obtained by The Guardian revealed that the nine ships named: More West, Rich Harvest, Proodos, Flagship Sage, Stena Imprimis, Super Ruby, Alfred Temile, Laperouse, and Maestro are waiting at the Lagos anchorage as Customs is yet to release them for an onward anchor.

The delay might not be unconnected to the Nigerian Customs Service’s (NCS) cumbersome documentation process, as they were tagged CRNAPP, meaning Customs Release Not Applicable (West Coast).

Additionally, it was learnt that 26 more ships are expected at the Lagos Pilotage District, between now and January 3rd, 2023, laden with PMS, fish, sugar, salt, soya beans, and general cargo among others.

Meanwhile, there are still queues at filling stations, with the independent petroleum marketers who had earlier expressed dismay about the price parity, appealing to the government, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to make the products available to them at a reasonable price.

Also, the domestic airlines under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have warned about the scarcity of aviation fuel otherwise known as JETA1, saying it may cause disruptions in flight operations.

The AON in a statement by its spokesman, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, said that the scarcity would force airlines to reschedule flights, leading to delayed operations and cancellations in some cases.

It stated that the unexpected development was a dent in airline operators and the industry, especially at this time of mass movement of people for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Physicians in the field of urology, have warned men against engaging in ‘marathon’ sex, noting that it could lead to permanent impotence.

A sexual marathon is usually a prolonged sexual activity over hours and even days.

The experts noted that marathon sex complicated by penile fracture and persistent erection also known as priapism that is not treated promptly can cause permanent impotence.

Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the urinary-tract system and the reproductive organs.

The urologists also cautioned against the use of sex-enhancing drugs without a doctor’s prescription, warning that it could lead to erectile dysfunction.

According to Cleveland Clinic, priapism develops when blood in the penis becomes trapped and unable to drain.

It noted that if the condition is not treated immediately, it can lead to scarring and permanent erectile dysfunction.

The medical experts disclose this during separate exclusive interviews with PUNCH HealthWise, stressing that engaging in marathon sex and use of unprescribed sex-enhancing drugs are associated with lots of health problems.

A Consultant Urologist, Dr. Gabriel Ogah, told our correspondent that engaging in ‘marathon’ sex might even lead to death.

Giving insight into the risk of marathon sex and the use of sex-enhancing drugs, Ogah, Managing Director, Ogah Hospital and Urology Centre, Fugar, Edo State, explained, “Of course, marathon sex can cause death and ill health. It can worsen your heart disease if you are not fit for it.

“Marathon sex can lead to priapism especially when you are taking drugs, it can lead to penile fracture. And both of them can lead to permanent impotence.

“Marathon sex can cause permanent impotence if it is complicated by penile fracture and priapism which are not treated expeditiously.

“Priapism is the excessive erection of the penis which does not come down. It is defined as the inappropriate election of the penis. If someone takes drugs to have marathon sex, the penis may refuse to go down thereafter.”

According to him, a lot of young people are now taking sex-enhancing drugs.

“That is not advisable. Nowadays, I see a lot of young people who take sex enhancers, they get priapism.

“This year alone, I have operated on four people who were having sex and their joysticks refused to come down.

“The penis becomes long, about 12 inches long, it doesn’t come down at all. You have to operate on them before they can come down. Then in the past two years, I have treated people who when they are having sex because of the way and manner, the position, they had a penile fracture”, he said.

Calling for caution during sexual intercourse, the urologist states that when the penis is erect, it can break like a stick.

He noted, “I operated on one four months ago, and not only that the penis break into two, but the urethra also broke into two. I have to first of all repair the urethra before I repair the penis.

“Marathon sex can lead to penile fracture, especially if the lady is on top and is intoxicated by the sex and she is wiggling buttocks around.

“The penis will just break into two, it will bend. That one needs surgery. If the surgery is not done within 24 hours, the person will never have an erection for life.”

Ogah frowned at the rate at which young people get involved in marathon sex and are coming down with penile fractures.

“We are not having this problem with mature people. Young people are the ones having this problem. Those between the ages of 18 to 30 years are the most affected”, he noted

He counselled, “Don’t take sex-enhancing drugs which are not medically prescribed. Don’t take any sex-enhancing drugs without a doctor’s prescription.”

Another urologist, Dr. Bakare Hamzat said the side effects of sex-enhancing drugs could lead to erectile dysfunction.

Hamzat who works at the Urology Unit, Department of Surgery, Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Lagos, said the use of overdose of sex-enhancing drugs is dangerous and comes with a lot of risks.

“Chances are high that they will have erectile dysfunction. The side effects of sex-enhancing drugs can lead to priapism,” he said.

The urologist said people with priapism may not be able to get sustained erections anymore after surgery due to penile fractures.

According to Mayo Clinic, a penis fracture differs from other fractures in the body because the penis has no bones.

“During an erection, the penis is engorged with blood that fills two cylinders (corpora cavernosa). If an engorged penis is bent suddenly or forcefully, the trauma can rupture the outer lining of one of the two cylinders (tunica albuginea). This can result in a penis fracture.

“The trauma is most often caused by sexual intercourse, such as when the penis slips out of the vagina and is accidentally thrust against the pelvis,” the clinic noted.

A national commissioner in the Police Service Commission, PSC, Najatu Mohammed, has said that money looted by appointees of government in the last eight years is enough to pay every citizen N732,000.

She stated this during a special interview with Freedom FM, Kano, as part of an award presentation and public lecture recently held in honor of a police officer, Daniel Itse Amah.

The event was organized by the Center for Awareness on Justice and Accountability, CAJA, in collaboration with the Penlight Center for New Media Innovation.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Amah, an assistant commissioner of police, had rejected a $200,000 bribe from an armed robbery suspect in April 2022.

The rights activist explained that if the trend is not tackled, by 2030 every citizen would be able to get over N1.4 million if looted funds are to be returned and shared.

“From 2014 till date, what was stolen in this country is huge. If it were to be shared to every citizen, from a child that was born today, to a 100-year-old person, everyone will get N732,000 each.

“And if the trend continues, according to our research, by 2030, it will get worse. If all looted funds were to be returned and shared, everyone would get over N1.4 million as their share,” the PSC commissioner added.

Mrs Mohammed said the only way the country can get it right by tackling and rejecting corrupt government officials.

“The biggest threat to this country is bribery and corruption. It is the foundation of all the calamities that are currently bedevilling this country,” she added.

Oil giant Shell will pay 15 million euros ($15.9 million) to communities in Nigeria that were affected by multiple oil pipeline leaks in the Niger Delta, the oil company on Friday said in a joint statement with the Dutch division of Friends of the Earth.

The compensation is the result of a Dutch court case brought by Friends of the Earth, in which Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary last year was found to be responsible for the oil spills and was ordered to pay for damages to farmers.

However, our correspondent reports that the Niger Delta pollution has continued despite years of promises by successive governments in Nigeria to clean it up.

In 2016 President Muhammadu Buhari launched an ambitious clean-up operation in Ogoniland.

The work is ongoing but residents say little progress has been made.

Continued oil spills from the activities of multinationals have also cast doubt on the impact of the clean-up exercise. “Things are getting worse by the day,” Celestine Akpobari, an environmental activist from Ogoni, told the BBC.

The region provides most of Nigeria’s government revenues but the communities say successive governments have neglected them. Mr Akpobari says people can no longer fish or farm because of the devastation.

“People are dying, there are strange diseases and women are having miscarriages” from the pollution, he says. But the communities and campaigners say the recent court victory gives them hope they will see justice.

In February last year, the UK Supreme Court ruled that oil-polluted Nigerian communities can sue Shell in English courts.

The decision was seen as a victory for the communities after a five-year battle, and overturns a Court of Appeal ruling.

The Niger Delta communities of more than 40,000 people say decades of pollution have severely affected their lives, health and local environment.

The oil giant had argued it was only a holding company for a firm that should be judged under Nigerian law.

Shell described the legal ruling as disappointing.