₦airaland Forum

The proposed expenses for general travels and transport amount to N2,495,540,656.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has budgeted the sum of N297 million for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) while it plans to spend about N2.5 billion on the President's local and foreign trips.

A breakdown of the executive budget proposal for the 2023 fiscal year which the Nigerian President presented to the joint session of the National Assembly on Friday, showed that the sum of N297,219,120 was allocated for the NHIS while the sum of N862,076,448 was budgeted for President’s local travels and transport.

Further analysis of the proposed budget showed that the government plans to spend the sum of N1,633,464,208 on the President's foreign trips. The proposed expenses for general travels and transport amount to N2,495,540,656.

It therefore means that the government plans to spend approximately N2.5 billion on the President’s local and foreign trips while the total budget for the National Health Insurance Scheme for all Nigerians is N297.2 million.

This is despite the poor healthcare system in the country and the high rate of poverty orchestrated by the poor economic state which has made it almost impossible for millions of Nigerians living below the poverty line to afford healthcare services even at the primary level.

A survey report published in March this year by the World Bank in collaboration with Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the profile and drivers of poverty in Nigeria, showed that at least four in 10 Nigerians live below the national poverty line.

The report stated that many Nigerians, especially those in the North are more affected as most of them lack access to education and basic infrastructure, including electricity, safe drinking water and improved sanitation.

It stated that jobs do not translate Nigerians’ hard work into an exit from poverty because most workers are engaged in small-scale household farm and non-farm enterprises, while just 17 percent of Nigerian workers hold the wage jobs best able to lift people out of poverty.

With this high level of poverty and lack of access to basic infrastructure and improved sanitation, it is obvious that more Nigerians would need healthcare services on a regular basis without commensurate resources to afford the services.

The Presidential Campaign Organisation of Labour Party Candidate, Peter Obi, has announced a plan to present its list of council nominees to Nigerians on Wednesday.

This was disclosed in an invitation card shared by the Director General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe.

Okupe said the unveiling ceremony, tagged “Pre-Campaign World Press Conference”, will take place at Chelsea Hotel in Central Area of Abuja by 12.00 noon on Wednesday.

The development is coming four days after the LP presidential candidate launched an official website to promote his political campaign and solicit funds ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The former Anambra governor made the announcement in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle.

Obi, who encouraged his supporters to visit the official campaign website for the Obi-Datti Campaign organisation, disclosed that donations from willing donors could also be made through the platform.

But reports emanating from the camp of Labour Party indicated that the unveiling of the campaign list was not LP’s initiative.

A source within the party accused the camp of Okupe of coming up with programmes without the input of the party leadership.

As of the time of filing this story, the National Publicity of the Party, Abayomi Arabambi, could not be reached for reaction.

But National Youth Leader of Labour Party and the Edo North Senatorial Candidate, Anselm Eragbe, told The PUNCH that there was no crack in the party as alleged.

He said, “No, I think we are missing the point. Though the presidential campaign is held by Labour Party, the candidate is in charge of his council list composition. The LP is an integral part of the presidential campaign.

“I can tell you there is no fracas and there are no issues anywhere. So tomorrow, the presidential campaign headed by the DG of the Presidential Campaign Organisation will unveil the programmes and the members of the council.

“All members of the Labour Party will be there together to conduct the event. On Thursday, the LP will have its NWC meeting arising from tomorrow’s event and on Saturday, the National Youth Leader will have a World Press Conference to prepare the youth of Nigerian for action.”

When asked if it is apt for such an event to hold in the absence of the presidential candidate of LP, who is still not back in the country, Eragbe disagreed.

“Peter Obi is coming in tonight. But depending on his schedule, the event can be held in his absence anyway. Besides, the programme has been agreed upon by the campaign committee to be unveiled. There are no issues really,” he said.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Abia, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, has identified political dialogue as the only way of settling the case of the Independent People of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently being detained by the DSS in Abuja.

In a media parley with journalists on Monday in Umuahia, Onuoha noted that a lot of consultation was going on, adding that the matter was one of misunderstanding, which he said was normal.

According to him, “We have had series of meetings and there is nothing like dialogue. We need to find a way of solving it.”

The President of Vision Africa disclosed that he had committed himself to the peace process to avoid another civil war, saying “we have had this (war) before” and it’s ugly experiences.

Others he said included; international relations development agencies, job creation, youth and women empowerment, agriculture and rural development.

He further disclosed that he would enthrone participatory governance, education for sustainable development, accessible basic health for all, effective trade and commerce as well as use faith missions for community development.

The methodist clergy and the first Bishop to contest governorship election in Abia, said he would engage a tripartite formula of traditional rulers, the clergy and the community leaders, to develop the Abia communities where democracy is domiciled.

Fielding questions later, Onuoha said that INEC had shown that electoral process in the country was growing and urged them to remain apolitical and “outsmart politicians.” He rejected the insinuations in some quarters that PVCs were being issued only to voters of a particular party.

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, will bring a new vista into governance and ensure that true federalism thrives if voted into power.

According to Akeredolu, true federalism is important in a diverse nation like Nigeria, adding that it will properly address the fundamentals of nationhood.

He said this could be achieved with Tinubu’s understanding of the issues affecting the well-being of the country.

The Governor made this known while speaking on the topic, ‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Business of Nation Building,’ during a Twitter Space session on Sunday.

“If voted into government, Nigerians will see that we have someone in place who had gone through democratic tutelage. He has been governor. He led a party.

“Asiwaju has deep knowledge about the problems of this nation. He has been part of the struggle to ensure that democracy is enthroned and that a true federal system runs in the country,” Akeredolu said.

He went on to note Tinubu’s contribution to the return of democratic rule in the fourth republic as a founding member of the National Democratic Coalition.

He said, “Tinubu’s contributions in the NADECO struggle can not be denied. As you know, when the 1993 presidential election was held, MKO Abiola was deemed to have won that election. But the military junta cancelled the election and set up an interim government.

“Asiwaju Tinubu and a few others felt they weren’t going to take it. They formed the NADECO and fought the military. They stood on June 12. Then the whole country conceded that the next President must be from the Southwest. That is why in 1999, only former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae ran for the election.

“You can not deny Asiwaju his role. He ran away from the county and set up the Radio-Kudirat. Those were the struggles we had before the fourth republic came up.”

Reacting to the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, by the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Akeredolu, said the group didn’t speak for the Yoruba people.

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Olabode Richard, Akeredolu stated that the group was divided by the purported endorsement which doesn’t represent the stance of the Yoruba people.

He said Tinubu had always remained a progressive despite the prevalence of political prostitution in the country.

“Prostitution in politics is very common. When you have people who stick to their guns and stay in their parties, you must respect them. It is not common. We have seen a situation where governors left their parties and go to other parties. For me, it is integrity. Asiwaju has shown integrity. Asiwaju’s form of politics has taught us that political prostitution is unnecessary,” he stressed.

He hailed Tinubu for his effort in building Lagos and for making the state which he once governed a country within a country.

He said Tinubu promoted national unity by appointing people from different ethnic backgrounds across the country into his government.

“Asiwaju Tinubu assembled the best brains for the job and these people moved from Lagos to become leaders in their respective states. Aregbesola was there as a commissioner and went from there to become governor in Osun State.

“Everybody has its own part to play. Today, we have people who have been senators in Lagos and gone back to their states to contest. Lagos can be described as a mini Nigeria. An Hausa man can thrive in Lagos. An Igbo man thrives in Lagos.

“Aliko Dangote lives in Lagos and his business is in Lagos and he’s thriving. So many other people thrive in Lagos. Our brothers from the East own the whole of Alaba. They have representatives in the National Assembly and Lagos State Assembly. You must give credit to Asiwaju for laying the foundation for such things to thrive in Lagos,” Akeredolu said.

The Governor expressed confidence that the APC Presidential candidate would make state police happen in the country.

He said: “I strongly believe that the Presidency of Tinubu will give chance for State Police. He is lucky. Today, all governors in the 36 states of the federation support creation of state police. That should be a centre piece of his campaign.

“There must be restructuring and Asiwaju is one President that will come and restructure the country in accordance with the APC constitution. I look up to him as a leader who would say come 2023, a state police would happen.

Expressing his view on the Muslim/Muslim ticket, Governor Akeredolu said what is important to the country is capacity and knowledge, not religion and ethnicity.

“There are lots of discussions about the Muslim/Muslim ticket. And some of us have tried to explain to our people. The ticket itself can not be the issue. The main issue is who will serve the country. When you talk about the issue of ticket, you also want to talk about the issue of inclusivism. Should the presidency go back to the north? No!
“And what are we left with? We are left with an Obi and Asiwaju. Then you will weigh the two. Some of us have made a decision about Asiwaju. And the decision is based on what he has to offer.

“When put together on a scale, Tinubu weighs higher. We look at intellect, experience and what we stand to gain from his presidency. Capacity and knowledge are different from religion and ethnicity. We have always voted for experience and capacity.
“We have said it clearly. President must come to the South. It has come to us now to make a choice. In making the choice, we must think about capacity and competence. And the scale tilts towards Asiwaju Tinubu,” he stressed.

The Governor further assured that Asiwaju Tinubu will promote youth inclusion in his government, adding that young Nigerians will have enough participation in the government.

STEWpid:
Chai

No source!?

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, commissioned cadets of 69 Regular Course (Army, Navy, and Air Force) of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.

aminulive:
https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-tinubu-will-2023-election-if-apc-chairman-adamu/

Two vigilante personnel in Anambra State have been arrested for an attempted rape of a 12-year-old girl.

It was gathered that the incident happened at Nkutaku area of Okpoko in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, whose identities were not disclosed, are currently at the Okpoko Police Division, within the same local government.

It was gathered that the the victim hails from the Guyuk Local Government Area of Adamawa State, but lives on Obodoukwu Road near Atani Road.

The victim was said to have been dragged to an abandoned structure by the suspects, while she was going with a neighbour, a male of the same age, at about 10pm on Tuesday, to lock-up her mother’s shop which is also located in the same area.

A police source at the Okpoko Police Division told our correspondent that, while the two minors were walking along the street going to lock-up the shop, the two vigilante operatives, fully armed with machetes and pump action guns accosted them, intimidating and subjecting them to instant fear.

It was, however, gathered that after taking the minors to an abandoned structure on Obodoukwu Road, the suspects told the little boy to go home and bring N1,000 to bail themselves for wandering at that time of the night.

The source said the purpose of asking the little boy to go home to bring the money was to leave them alone with the helpless girl in order to accomplish their mission.

However, luck was said to have run out on the suspects when the boy returned to their residence and narrated how they were hurriedly taken away by the security operatives, which prompted the girl’s father, identified as Mr Lee Bibamde, a trader, to immediately call for a rescue team in search of the missing girl.

Bibamde, with the assistance of another vigilante operative and some elders were taken to the scene where they met the victim fully naked.

According to the victim’s father, “My daughter was pantless (without panties). They had also succeeded in removing her tight. In fact, she was fully naked. The other operative was somewhere keeping watch for his colleague so that he could take his own turn of my daughter from the confession made by them.”

Meanwhile, a top management and commander of the security outfit where the suspects were working, while reacting, said the two vigilante men have since been sacked.

The police source said, “The commander of the vigilante outfit did a wonderful job by arresting the suspects and subsequently handing them over to the police for prompt action. The matter is being investigated and may be charged to court on Thursday this week.”

While confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the two suspects are in the police custody and will be charged to court at the end of investigation.

“The two suspects are in custody and at the conclusion of the investigation, they shall be charged to court,” Ikenga added.

Urheadmaster:
Why Blur the face

‘None Of Them Landed Well’— Nigerian Paratrooper Regiment Soldiers Crash Into Trees, Buildings 100m Away From Eagle Square As They Get Ready For Independence Day Event

WATCH: ‘None Of Them Landed Well’— Nigerian Paratrooper Regiment Soldiers Crash Into Trees, Buildings 100m Away From Eagle Square As They Get Ready For Independence Day Event #October1st pic.twitter.com/ozXir0MRMt

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 30, 2022

Mayor Muriel Bowser officially proclaims Saturday, October 1, 2022, as “Nigerian American Day” in Washington, D.C.

In recognition of the significance of this day, The Nigerian Center is opening a walk-in immigration clinic in Washington, D.C. The clinic is for community members who require legal assistance regarding immigration and naturalization.

The Nigerian Center and several community organizations serving the Nigerian American community will announce the opening during a press conference on October 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.

Some speakers include Gbenga Ogunjimi, Founder, The Nigerian Center, Dr. Oye Owolewa, U.S. Representative, Washington, D.C., Aly Kaba, Director, DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs, MannyWellz, Nigerian American artist and producer, and Chris Paul, Offensive Tackle, Washington Commanders. To attend the press conference and tour, rsvp at nigeriancenter.org/events/nad2022

“Across the US, immigrant community centers have been a proven strategy for financial inclusion for newly migrated individuals. Until recently, the Nigerian community hasn’t had a community center. I founded The Nigerian Center to provide new Nigerian immigrants with the necessary tools and guidance to navigate the systemic complexities of their new country, acquire the necessary tools for success, and ultimately accelerate their path towards self-sufficiency on their journey to becoming Nigerian Americans,” stated Gbenga Ogunjimi, Founder and CEO of The Nigerian Center.

"I'm proud to be able to witness the creation of the Nigerian Center, where folks will be able to receive critical legal aid and resources. I'm also excited about the opportunity to showcase the Nigerian American culture on a greater level. Lastly, as US Representative, I'm honored to know that the very first Nigerian Center is located in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.," stated Dr. Oye Owolewa, US Representative, District of Columbia.

About The Nigerian Center: The Nigerian Center Inc. is the first immigrant and cultural center for the Nigerian diaspora in the United States. As a non-profit, The Nigerian Center was established to connect to the Nigerian culture while offering financial inclusion and social justice opportunities for members of the Nigerian American community in the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., The Nigerian Center provides a platform for members of the African diaspora to learn about their Nigerian heritage while connecting them to the current Nigerian American culture in the United States. The Center also curates cultural programs for first-generation Nigerian-Americans and will support newly arrived immigrants.

Wakili, the representative for the Burra Constituency, revealed this during the House's sitting under a personal justification, according to Abdul Burra, the spokesperson for the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Suleiman, who shared the proceedings of the Assembly's plenary with PUNCH on Tuesday night.

Bala Ali, the eldest son of the Dass Constituency representative in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Ado Wakili, has been murdered by alleged kidnappers.

Wakili, the representative for the Burra Constituency, revealed this during the House's sitting under a personal justification, according to Abdul Burra, the spokesperson for the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Suleiman, who shared the proceedings of the Assembly's plenary with PUNCH on Tuesday night.

Danlami Ahmed Kawule, the Deputy Speaker of the House, presided over the meeting on Tuesday.

He said the lawmaker who extended his condolences to the members on the murder of his colleague’s son described the incident as “tragic,” and prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased and grant him Jannatul Firdaus.

Responding to the motion, the Speaker directed that a special prayer be conducted for the deceased. Bello Shira representing Shira Constituency led the special prayer.

The speaker announced that the lawmakers would pay a condolence visit to the member and his family immediately after the plenary.

Burra claimed that Baballe Dambam, who represents the Dambam/Zagaya/Jalam Constituency, revealed the circumstances of the incident by explaining that the victim was abducted by unidentified people, held captive for days, and then killed.

He added that the funeral prayers for the deceased had already taken place and termed the situation as startling and upsetting.

Recall that the then-member representing Dass Constituency, Musa Baraza, was attacked and killed on 14th August 2020 by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Amed Wakil, who confirmed the incident to journalists said that the deceased’s two wives and one-year-old child were also abducted by the gunmen. They were later released from captivity after several days in captivity.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Tuesday in Lagos State at the ongoing two-day media capacity building workshop on the commission’s progresses, innovations, preparations for the 2023 general elections and critical issues in the Electoral Act 2022, Daily Trust reports.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other parties are yet to submit the reports of the expenses they incurred during the 2019 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Tuesday in Lagos State at the ongoing two-day media capacity building workshop on the commission’s progresses, innovations, preparations for the 2023 general elections and critical issues in the Electoral Act 2022, Daily Trust reports.

Yakubu, represented by Director, Election and Party Monitoring Department, Aminu Idris, said out of the 91 political parties that participated in the 2019 polls, about 34 submitted their reports (both expenditures and incomes).

The major political parties reportedly spent N4.6billion, N3.3billion on billboards, print media advertisements, electronic media advertisements, and coverage/grammies (musical performances) during the 2019 polls.

According to the INEC official, in the list of the 34 political parties that submitted reports for the 2019 election, the major parties were not among them.
Director-General, The Electoral Institute, Sa’ad Idris, said the commission was expected to train about 1.4m ad-hoc staff who would officiate at the 2023 general elections, comprising security officers.

Now in the opposition, the PDP has since lost its bearing, not knowing how to proceed in the business of social agitation, of media propaganda and political activism.

Founded in August, 1998, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, used to pride itself as the largest political party in Africa, in the times that seem to have faded in our memories. It was founded by eminent citizens like Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and many others. Broadly speaking, the PDP represents a centre right political entity, adopting a neoliberal economic status dressed in ultra conservatism, thus favouring free market policies which support economic liberalism. It easily won the February 1999 election, fielding retired former military leader, General Olusegun Obasanjo to pair with a retired customs officer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It would later win the 2003 election through Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua, and the 2007 election through a retired teacher, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. It managed to retain a majority in the States and the legislative assemblies, through these periods, mostly under very questionable circumstances. Having tasted power, the PDP did everything underneath the sun to retain power, which it held on to for so long a period from 1999 to 2015, until its fortunes changed. No significant change was experienced in the economic prosperity of Nigeria, during these wasted years.

Whilst it held sway, the PDP virtually became a monster in power, trampling upon the rights of its own members and thriving in impunity and brazen violation of its own constitution, which led to the imposition of very unpopular candidates through electoral malpractices and manipulations. It was indeed a thriving moment for the party that once boasted its motto as: Power To the People, whereas only a few gathered themselves together to determine its fate and fortunes. So it was that the party became seemingly impregnable and even invincible, to some extent. All efforts made by the rival political parties to wrest power from the PDP were always thwarted and contained, viciously and at times, brutally. Nigeria was becoming more of a one party state at the time, until the opposition gathered its acts together to form a major political alliance under the All Progressive Congress, in 2015. Even at that, it took the rebellious efforts of disgruntled members of the PDP, to completely decimate the umbrella party, through the newPDP.

Under the PDP, Nigerians got used to ballot box snatching during elections, massive rigging and manipulation of election results, intimidation of opposition candidates and their parties with security agencies, in some atmosphere of benevolent dictatorship. It was purely a matter of the end justifying the means; just to win the elections, at all costs. This was mixed with very scandalous cases of corruption and open stealing by public officers and political leaders, who all simply walked into the public treasury to trade. We were all told on national broadcast that stealing is not corruption. Simply put, we became trapped under the PDP, with no clear direction for the true economic prosperity of Nigeria. So that by the time the general elections came in 2015, most people just wanted anything but PDP, not bothering to properly read through the main opposition party, the APC, which itself has since proven to be worse.

Upon conclusion of the elections, the incumbent president and PDP presidential nominee, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was defeated by General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, with 55% to 45%, losing with 2.6 million votes, out of 28.6 million votes cast. Out of the 36 States, the APC won 21 states whilst the PDP won 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory, forcing the latter to slip into the main opposition party. Behold, the largest party in Africa became like fish out of water. The effect was devastating, as the PDP fell into some irreversible trauma, rendering staccato voices of total discord here and there and running around like a chicken drenched by a heavy downpour. Having lost power at the center, mini gods soon emerged in the States where the PDP held sway, and things began to fall apart. The APC became totally ruthless in power, hounding prominent PDP members into jail or temporary custody, whilst most of them battled to save their names and fortunes. It won’t be long before the PDP became hit with internal implosion, through the mindless power tussle between the Ali Modu Sheriff faction and that of Ahmed Markafi, until it was rescued by the judiciary, though a little too late to salvage the now perforated umbrella. The PDP did its best to rescue its sinking ship during the 2019 general elections, but the APC would brood no such daring incursion into Also Villa, as it dug deeper into the drenched PDP, even snatching some of its governors in the unending political conquest.

Now in the opposition, the PDP has since lost its bearing, not knowing how to proceed in the business of social agitation, of media propaganda and political activism. It was just following the APC, which was now playing the role of ruling party and the opposition. By all standards, democracy is people’s government, and you cannot operate it without mass involvement, which the PDP lacks, having oppressed and suppressed the masses for all of its life. In any democracy, the opposition has a major role to play, especially in the developing economies. This is why in the legislature, a crucial post is reserved for a member of the opposition as minority leader. His role is to constantly raise vital issues of national importance, with the government, when it has ceased to do the will of the people. Holding its measuring rod, the opposition will analyse every and all programmes and policies of the government, vis a vis the manifesto of the ruling party and the promises made during its campaigns. The opposition is expected to criticize the government in case the latter ignores its promises or conceals vital facts and would at times resort to protestations in the assemblies or mass action through the people.

In a democracy, the opposition is the platform to raise awareness among the people over specific issues of national importance and to raise levels of political consciousness among them. It must constantly provide credible and objective alternatives to government programmes and policies and not just criticize for the sake of being heard or bringing the government down. The opposition serves as the watchdog of the system and in some cases, it would proceed to form a shadow cabinet to exercise vigil over the performance of the government.

But what do we now have with PDP as the opposition party? Empty noises all over, of discordant tunes in political disarray, which in turn has turned the APC into a monster of sorts. The PDP dwells mostly in utter frivolities and cannot even drive and muster viable opposition, of critically engaging government agencies and parastatals on glaring inefficiencies and wastages. It is not gathering any political intelligence, for mass action and it is not familiar with or even engaging labour and civil society groups, nor partnering with the all-powerful Lagos-Ibadan axis of the media. Labour has declared one or two strikes in the life of this regime without any whimper from the PDP, university teachers have been on strike for months now without a single collaborative action from the PDP and individual activists and analysts have become soft targets of the ruthless APC regime without any form of solidarity from the PDP. Is that an opposition party? Your guess is as good as mine!

What is the value of an opposition that has no single bite at all? Of what use is an opposition that does not even understand its own vital role in democracy? If the government is all too powerful to crush the opposition, the latter should be potent enough to cause a stir, either in the parliament, in the courts or on the streets, against the government and force it to adjust or exit, through mass movement and agitation. How can you effectively play the role of opposition in the luxury of your offices and mansions, and expect to be taken seriously? There will be no democratic warfare at all? And yet you want to wrest power?

Governor Nyesom Wike is busy destroying the house that he once helped to build, consumed with self and ego, with a heavy war chest bankrolled with crude oil windfall. Some say that Karma is the judge, now serving PDP with its own coin. The party is in serious dilemma, not knowing what to do with Wike and his team, since they cannot be expelled from the party whilst still openly professing loyalty and membership. Yet, the Wike group remains in the PDP at its great peril because the internal battle is always worse than the external one. The situation of the opposition party seems delicate and precarious, in the present circumstance of events. By all means, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should not have contested the PDP presidential primary election. The issue at hand goes beyond having the presidential candidate and the Chairman come from the same Northern region, but rather the implication of the arrogance of the power monsters, which gives the wrong impression of non-relevance. When things get to such a desperate time when a political party cannot uphold its own constitution, proffering the lame excuse of loss of power as the reason for the backward proposal for it to jettison zoning, then such entity cannot be entrusted with the governance of a delicate nation like Nigeria. If while in the opposition a political party is so treacherous to abandon its own constitution, what will it do with the Nigerian Constitution if entrusted with power?

Let the owners and handlers of the PDP wake up from their tiring slumber and take up the task of credible and viable opposition. That is what democracy is all about. We are now sick and tired of the same narrative from the ruling party. Let us hear the other side, and imbibe the golden words of Plato that:

“The punishment of wise men who refuse to take part in the affairs of the government, is to live under the government of the unwise men.”

Life without Christ is Crisis

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has refuted claims that he broke away from his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike.

Addressing journalists after a meeting with caucus members of Peoples Democratic Party from the North West senatorial district, Ortom said that nothing would make him leave Wike.

The senatorial district comprises of Jemgba and Minda axis. A group from the Jemgba community had accused the governor who is from Minda, of working against their son, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

While reacting to this, Ortom had through his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, narrated how he supported the national chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, adding that he could not, therefore, turn around to work against him to be removed from office.

But making his position known on Monday, the governor told journalists in Makurdi that he could not have parted ways with his friend, Wike, saying they both just returned from London.

He said, “And the headline from This Day that I have split with Wike. I just came back from London with Wike this morning. We are friends and I still maintain my stand on what I said.

“I have not moved away from there; that I still sympathise with Wike on the injustice meted on him.

“Politics is about interest and where your interest is not protected, you have a right to protest and I think that is what is happening.

“The party leadership has not been fair to Governor Wike based on activities that took place during and after the convention.

“We have not been able to deploy adequately the internal conflict mechanism to resolve those issues and this is all I have been saying.

“I sympathise with him and still stand with him. Let the leadership of the party at the national level do the same thing.”

Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has recalled how the recommendations contained in the report of the 2014 National Conference were not implemented when submitted by the committee.

Akinyemi who spoke at the 9th annual lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church held last Friday said he tried all he could to make former President Goodluck Jonathan sign the document but all to no avail.

He also recalled how he was invited to convince the former president of the need to convene the national conference.

He said, “Oronto Douglas called me one day and said we need to see. I said for what? And he said, “You need to come and talk to Oga, he is afraid that if he summons the National Conference, there would be a ‘walk out’ and it will fail. So, I want you to come and talk to him so that it will work and won’t fail.

“So, I went and we met. We started to talk about the protocol things, and I said, ‘Sir, this issue of the National Conference, and he said, ‘No, no, I don’t want to hear about it, don’t go there.’ And I told him that was why I visited. And he said If that was the reason why I visited then the conversation ends there. So, I got up and he walked me to the door and opened it.

“As I was about to go out, he said, ‘Do you think it will work?’ and I replied, ‘that what will work?’ and he said, ‘but you came here to talk about the National Conference’. I said but you did not want to hear about it. So, he asked me to sit down and that was how the conversation started. So, I prepared a blueprint and showed him.”

Akinyemi also revealed how the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party almost hijacked the process.

He said, “The party got to know that something was being planned, and they accused him of not involving them. They said it won’t work and Jonathan said, ‘I have made up my mind’. They insisted that Jonathan should give it to the party to run but Jonathan didn’t oblige. After then, Okonjo Iweala said, there was no money for the budget. He then told Okonjo Iweala, ‘You find the money or you find yourself a new job.'”

“But when he then lost courage, we divided the result into three quadrants; one of which needed executive approval. And all he needed was to sign it, but he didn’t. I then met him and asked him to implement his own part, and he said, ‘Oh, I am coming back to the office. When we get in, we will do so.

“And I said, ‘Sir, you’re not God. It’s only God who decides who sits on that chair. He only took it to the National Assembly when he lost the election. And of course, the National Assembly would not sign a document by a president who had lost an election. So, that was what happened. At least you should have done your part and leave the rest to Buhari to decide.'”

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will confer a national honour on the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

In a statement issued on Monday by Mr Richard Olatunde, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Akeredolu is listed among the recipients of the 2022 National Honour Award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger.

According to the statement, the appointment was contained in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, signed by the minister, Senator George Akume.

The letter, which read in part, stated, “I have the honour to formally inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the conferment of the National Honours on you, in the rank of CON, Commander of the Order of the Niger.

“The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 9am.”

Former US security contractor Snowden is one of 75 foreign nationals listed by the decree as being granted Russian citizenship.

Snowden has been living in Russia since 2013 to escape prosecution in the US after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programmes

President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to former US security contractor Edward Snowden, according to a decree signed by the Russian leader.

Snowden is one of 75 foreign nationals granted Russian citizenship by the decree published on an official government website on Monday.

Snowden, 39, a former contractor with the US National Security Agency, has been living in Russia since 2013 to escape prosecution in the US after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programmes.

The documents revealed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the National Security Agency.

He was granted permanent residency in 2020 and said at the time that he planned to apply for Russian citizenship, without renouncing his US citizenship.

That year a US appeals court found the programme Snowden had exposed was unlawful and that the US intelligence leaders who publicly defended it were not telling the truth.

US authorities have for years wanted Snowden to be returned to the United States to face a criminal trial on espionage charges.

The move comes at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow are at historic lows over the conflict in Ukraine.

Snowden’s lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti that the former contractor’s wife Lindsay Mills, an American who has been living with him in Russia, will also be applying for a Russian passport.

The couple had a child in December 2020, who already has a Russian passport having been born in the country.

Snowden, who has kept a low profile in Russia and occasionally criticised Russian government policies on social media, said in 2019 that he was willing to return to the US if he is guaranteed a fair trial.

He has not commented on being granted Russian citizenship.

Putin, a former Russian spy chief, said in 2017 that Snowden was wrong to leak US secrets but was not a traitor.

Putin last week announced a mobilisation of Russian men to contribute to the army’s fight in Ukraine and Kucherena said Snowden would not be called up to serve given he had no prior experience in the Russian army.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile told news agencies that Snowden had received Russian citizenship as a result of his own request.

The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, Monday afternoon, withdrew its circular which ordered vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and governing councils to re-open federal universities, The PUNCH reports.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported earlier that a circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 was addressed to all vice-chancellors; pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities ordering them to re-open universities.

But in another circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136, which was also signed by the Director, Finance and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, the commission withdrew the order.

Though it did not explain why. The letter tagged, “withdrawal of circular NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 dated September 23, 2022” partly read, “I have been directed to withdraw the NUC Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135, and dated September 23, 2022 on the above
subject.

“Consequently, the said circular stands withdrawn. All pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils, as well as vice-chancellors of federal universities are to please note. Further development and information would be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.

“Please accept the assurances of the Executive Secretary’s warmest regards”

For instance, on Sunday, during an interview on Channels Television, Keyamo said Nigerians are hungry and can’t wait to have a new leader who would satisfy their hunger.

President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Aso Rock cabal have called for the removal of Festus Keyamo as the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC)/Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.

According to a presidential source, Buhari and members of the cabal accused Keyamo of always de-marketing the current administration despite being a serving minister.

“Buhari has asked for the removal of Festus Keyamo as the party’s campaign spokesperson. The President accused him of always de-marketing his regime, describing the government in which he is a minister as a failed regime. He has been described as a loose cannon who is daily demarketing his regime as a failed regime. The cabal members are not happy,” the source said.

For instance, on Sunday, during an interview on Channels Television, Keyamo said Nigerians are hungry and can’t wait to have a new leader who would satisfy their hunger.

When asked to discuss the APC’s campaign issues for the 2023 elections, Keyamo said, “Nigerians are hungry, they want to see how that hunger will be addressed, not how their Christian faith or Muslim faith will be addressed.

“They want to see our policies on agriculture and what Asiwaju has done before as governor of Lagos state, how he improved Lagos and how he will bring that kind of dexterity to Nigeria as a whole.

“That is what they want to see. How do we want to run the country? What do we want to tell Nigerians?”

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha was also said to have insisted on his removal following the latest interview on Channels Television.

“The SSG had to insist on Keyamo’s removal after his reckless outburst on Channels TV yesterday (Sunday). They have already informed the party leadership about this,” the presidential source added.

September 24, 2022

The workers had on August 12, 2022, shut down the national grid to draw the government’s attention to their plight.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to shut down the national grid again, if the federal government fails to meet their demands.

The Zonal organising secretary, North West NUEE, Comrade Dukat Ayuba, in a press conference in Abuja on Friday said the two weeks given to resolve the crisis had elapsed.

He said although negotiations were still on going, the shutting down of the national grid could go on.

The workers had on August 12, 2022, shut down the national grid to draw the government’s attention to their plight.
Ayuba lamented that the so-called privatisation of the sector was a scam because nine years after the taking over by investors, nothing had changed.

“That was why, we kicked against privatising the distribution sector because, the investors don‘t have the capacity and expertise. As committed Nigerians we advised the government against it. But the government was hell bent on doing so.

“The investors are still operating with obsolete equipment dating back to 35, 40, and 50 years. One will expect that with the coming of the investors they will replaced these obsolete equipment but nothing has been done.”

According to the union leader, the nation still generates 5,000 megawatts of electricity, saying, “This is the same 5,000 megawatts we used to generate. So, what is the benefit of privatisation? We now generate megawatts with higher tariffs, bringing hardship to the homes of millions of Nigerians. This will only happen in Nigeria,” he stressed.

Also, a member of Central Executive Committee, Wisdom Nwachukwu, said the federal government was plotting to sell off the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

“They are going behind meeting with some stakeholders. We are watching them. We will not allow that. We are patriotic Nigerians who want the best for our country.”

The Vice President, North West, NUEE Ado Gaya revealed that the 16 months demanded by the electricity workers is their legitimate earnings which involve 55,000 workers.

However, he said nine years after, the workers had not received a dime, saying, many of the workers have died, while those who were laid off were suffering with their families and passing through very difficult times.

Bodmas94:
https://saharareporters.com/2022/09/23/chinas-former-vice-minister-security-sentenced-life-accepting-92million-bribes

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, on Thursday, said power consumers paid a total of N210.17bn to distribution companies in the fourth quarter of last year.

It disclosed this in its Quarterly Report for Fourth Quarter 2021 released on Thursday, noting that the N210.17bn represented 9.34 per cent of the total electricity bill given to consumers by electricity distribution companies during the period.

“The total revenue collected by all Discos in 2021/Q4 was N210.17bn out of N303.11bn billed to customers – corresponding to a collection efficiency of 69.34 per cent (70.89 per cent in 2021/Q3),” the regulator stated.

It added, “Compared to 2021/Q3, the total billing by Discos increased by N30.12bn (+11.03 per cent) while the revenue collected increased by only N16.64bn (+8.60 per cent), hence the reduction in overall collection efficiency in 2021/Q4.”
On market remittance, NERC stated that the combined market remittance order adjusted invoices from the Nigerian Bulk Trading Company and Market Operator to Discos in 2021/Q4 was N210.72bn for generation costs as well as transmission and administrative services.
“Out of this amount, the Discos collectively remitted a total sum of N149.19bn with an outstanding balance of N61.53bn. This represents a remittance performance of 70.80 per cent during the quarter.”

On remittance to NBET, it stated that out of the total invoice of N205.18bn issued by agency to Discos, it was expected to receive N160.13bn but it got only N109.45bn during the quarter.
It said, “However, only N39.75bn was received from all the Discos which means that the MO remittance performance for the quarter was 78.59 per cent.

“This represents a 2.58 percentage point increase compared to 76.01 per cent (N41.53bn remitted against an invoice of N54.64bn) recorded in 2021/Q3.”

On remittances by special/international customers, the report indicated that in 2021/Q4, the NBET and MO issued invoices of N380.62m and N82.53m respectively to Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited but as was in the previous quarter, no remittance was made by this special customer.

“During the same period, MO issued an invoice of $13.11m to bilateral customers (Paras-SBEE, TRANSCORP-SBEE, Mainstream-NIGELEC & Odukpani-CEET) but no remittance was made (payment of $6.22m was made in 2021/Q3 against invoice of $11.52m),” the regulator stated.

Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, has been discharged from the hospital after having a successful kidney transplant surgery.

The rapper on Thursday announced this on his Instagram page.

CNN
—
Fifteen of Spain’s best women footballers have resigned from the national team, saying the training methods of their head coach are harming their emotional states and health.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said in a statement Thursday that it has received 15 emails from 15 players asking not to be selected and referred to the players having an issue with the national team coach Jorge Vilda and staff.

The federation said it was “an unprecedented situation in the history of football, both male and female, in Spain and worldwide.”

Players said in their resignation letters that the “current situation” had significantly affected their “emotional state and health,” according to the federation.

The players were unhappy with the management of injuries, the atmosphere in the locker room, Vilda’s team selection and his training sessions, Reuters reported citing sources close to the situation.

Two-time World Cup winner and US Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe posted an Instagram story on Thursday night supporting the players, saying, “You got a 16th [player] standing with you in [US flag emoji] This many players together like this is so powerful. We should all listen.”

RFEF appears to be standing by the coach. The federation said it will not “allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach and his coaching staff, since making those decisions does not fall within their powers.”

“The federation will not admit any type of pressure from any player when adopting sports measures. These types of maneuvers are far from exemplary and outside the values ​​of football and sport and are harmful,” it added.

RFEF said that the players would not be allowed to return to the national team unless they “accept their mistake and ask for forgiveness.”

The revolt is a high risk move for the players. The federation said that refusing to honor a call-up for a national team was classified as a “very serious infraction and can carry sanctions of two and five years of disqualification.”

Sixty-seven-year-old Fu was found guilty by the Intermediate People's Court of Changchun in northeast China's Jilin province, according to AA News

A former justice minister, Fu Zhenghua has been sentenced to death for corruption involving $16 million, with a two-year reprieve, by a court in China.

Sixty-seven-year-old Fu was found guilty by the Intermediate People's Court of Changchun in northeast China's Jilin province, according to AA News.

The death sentence can be commuted after two years in prison, the court ruling stated.

Fu who served as justice minister between March 2018 and April 2020 was accused of “taking advantage” of his position between 2005 and 2021, including accepting bribes totalling more than 117 million yuan (about $16.76 million) and “bending the law for personal gains.”

According to the report, the court stripped Fu of his political rights for life and confiscated all of his personal property.

“After the two-year reprieve for his death sentence, Fu's sentence can be commuted to life in prison in accordance with the law, but no further reduction or parole shall be given to him,” according to the court ruling, as quoted by the Chinese public broadcaster CGTN.

He held positions such as head of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, vice minister of public security, minister of justice, and deputy head of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's Committee on Social and Legal Affairs (CPPCC).

The court found that Fu had concealed evidence involving a suspected serious crime committed by his brother Fu Weihua while serving as head of the Beijing public security bureau between 2014 and 2015.

“This concealment allowed Fu Weihua to avoid prosecution for a long time,” the court stated in its verdict.

“The sum of bribes Fu had taken was huge, and he committed particularly serious crimes, which caused a heavy loss to the interests of the state and people and also had a particularly bad social impact,” it added.

However, court noted that Fu who was assigned to the Committee on Social and Legal Affairs of the National Committee of the CPPCC after having served as justice minister last year, received a “lenient sentence” as he “confessed to all his crimes and pled guilty during the investigation, provided clues for important cases, and had been cooperative in returning his illegal gains.”

flemsy15:
This is huge. I'm just imagining the quantity of 1,855kg of coke if 1 bag of cement is just 50Kg. Honestly I never knew that just a robust coke biz goes on in Nigeria. I was thinking in Nigeria they just smuggle few kilogrames and sell to the few rich folks that are interested

Modified:
They don already turn the comment section to tribal-war field. They leave coke dey check names, we dey try for this forum

Scottz:
Chai

Abeg Im based in Lagos mainland I need job I’m jobless and depressed I’m going crazy by the day I’m tired of hardship. Im speaking out pls someone with good heart should reach out to me on mail.

Owopariola001:
It's not entirely true. Football is part of this life. And a football career just like life can happen to anybody. Some will have blossom careers early, some late, only a few will have good careers all through.
Yaya Toure was never a special talent until he joined Man City.
But even Quaresma who is better than C.Ronaldo by miles fizzled out of the game.
For every Carlos Tevez, there is Sinama Pongolle
For every Toni Kroos, there is Borja
For every Andres Iniesta, there is Femi Opabunmi, etc.

Even in life, some Senior Prefects, where are they today? Some First class graduates where are they today? Some people that started their life with good jobs are nowhere to be found years after, that's life bro.