It has been reiterated globally that the immense contribution of women in the socio-economic advancement of the continent can’t be over-emphasized. This and many more are the reasons for the need to include women in administrative roles for sustainable development in the country.

The nation’s National Assembly being in its 10th Assembly, is on the verge of electing notable lawmakers to direct its affairs for the roles of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority leader, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip to mention a few, and recently the National Working Committee of the ruling party APC endorsed Hon. Tajudeen Abbass (Kaduna) and Hon. Benjamin Kanu (Abia) as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. This move has not gone well with some lawmakers, thereby asking the NWC to seek deep consultation.

This move by the party to select those that will steer the leadership positions in the Federal House of Representatives seems to have thrown up dissenting voices that are bent on rocking the boat and thereby going against its party-approved candidates to elect those they seem as right for their interest.

In this ensuing drama in the house amongst members elect of the lower chambers of the assembly, a woman from Imo state by the name Rt. Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha seems to be the only female lawmaker poised to make a good impression for good governance in leadership as she has spoken to be considered for a spot in the top four of the House leadership as who gets what hots up.

The agitation for women to be considered for the top four positions at the National Assembly became paramount and a necessity for the sake of gender equity.

MadamExcellency:
Laugh wan kill me

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the hydrographic survey and dredging of Oguta Lake and Orashi River in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo on Thursday.

The dredging of the river will link Imo to Degema in Rivers and to the Atlantic Ocean.

Speaking at the ceremony on the bank of the Oguta/Orashi River, Osinbajo said the project would connect waterways to hinterlands and expand Nigeria’s shipping and agricultural sectors.

He added that it would also expand Nigeria‘s free trade zone and facilitate her contribution to trade in Africa and the world.

He enjoined Nigerians to cooperate with Imo government and with the Nigerian Navy to ensure that the project came to fruition.

“Today marks an important milestone in the economic development of Imo; the Southeast and Nigeria at large and could not have come at a better time than now,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Imo’s Gov. Hope Uzodimma thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support in the recovery of Imo from the hands of bandits.

He said the project would be executed through a public-private partnership and would create additional employment opportunities for Imo people.

“This project is a harbinger of several other multifaceted projects encapsulated in the socioeconomic development of Imo with capacity to equip the Southeast with a robust and self-sufficient economy.

“We shall establish an industrial cluster in the area to aid economic activities. Imo and the private sector will fund the project in synergy with the Nigerian Navy,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor thanked President Buhari for the leverage to build the capacity of the Nigerian Navy and the military at large.

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, in his remarks said the project would provide the enabling environment for wealth generation and movement of goods and services.

He called for a quick dredging of the access route and also thanked President Buhari for the provision of effective hydrographic services.

He also thanked Mr Uzodimma for partnering with the Nigerian Navy and called on the host communities to protect and preserve the legacy.

President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu described the dredging as a dream come true and urged government to speedily actualise the project.

“Ndigbo are happy; Igbo are grateful. Igbo people in the diaspora are ready to contribute to the funding of the project if need be,’’ he said.

Mr Iwuanyanwu said also that the Igbo people had no intention of seceding from Nigeria.

He pleaded with President Buhari to actualise the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu before the end of his tenure.

The event was attended by prominent traditional rulers including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Other dignitaries were Minister for Trade and Investments, Alhaji Muazu Sambo; former Imo governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and former Chairman of INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of of Kaduna State has said he will not serve as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the administration of…

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of of Kaduna State has said he will not serve as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the administration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

El-Rufai played a key role in the power shift from north to south, an arrangement which worked in favour of President-elect Bola Tinubu.


There have been speculations that the outgoing governor will either serve as Chief of Staff or FCT Minister in the incoming government.

But El-Rufai, whom ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed FCT minister, had earlier distanced himself from the reports that he is eyeing the position.

[/b]Speaking at a policy conversation and book launch in Abuja Tuesday, El-Rufai said: “I have done my job, I’m done, I don’t look back. In fact when I left FCT, the only time I visited FCT was in 2016 when my secondary school classmate was appointed the minister and he said he wanted to see me, so I went there.[b]

[/b]“Once I leave a job, I don’t look back. If I leave Kaduna in 19 days, I will only visit if it becomes necessary. So, I don’t think about the FCT. I’ve done my bit. I don’t comment on the performance of those that came after me.[b]

[/b]“Even if offered, I’m not coming to Abuja. As I say, I never repeat class and there are many young people I know that I can recommend that would do even better job than I did as minister of FCT.[b]

[/b]“I’m too old for this. I’m too old for demolition, get a young man with blood in his veins or a young woman.”[b]

The event was jointly organised by the Africa Programme of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Abuja-based Agora Policy.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, established in 1910, is one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in the world. It was ranked as the number one think tank on the 2020 Global Go-To Think Tank Index published by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme of the University of Pennsylvania, US.

Agora Policy is a nascent Nigerian think tank committed to generating evidence-based and practical solutions to Nigeria’s urgent challenges. It was founded by Waziri Adio, immediate past Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and one of Nigeria’s leading columnists.

001Lagos:
What nonsense

They should relocate the aircrafts to where?

Because of a drug baron who bought the mandate with looted funds ?

Rubbish

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have initiated moves to reconcile the presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar, with the G-5 governors.

The PDP Governors Forum will bring Atiku and the governors under the same roof since they parted ways before the general election.

The G-5 governors had called for the resignation of suspended chairman Iyorchia Ayu.

They contended that it was unfair to the South for the presidential candidate and the party chairman to come from the same regional bloc.

Both camps remained at loggerheads until the polls, which Atiku lost, while Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike continued to push for power to return to the South.

The planned reunion is scheduled to hold tomorrow at the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The G-5 governors listed to attend the event are Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Others are Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).

PDP Governors-elect expected at the event are Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).

Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, C.I.D. Maduabum said the event will serve as an opportunity for PDP leaders, stakeholders and members to come together for the first time after the general election.

He added that the event will also provide the governors with the opportunity to organise a welcome/reception programme for all PDP governors-elect and those re-elected for a second term.

It will also serve as a send-forth ceremony for the outgoing ones.

The statement reads: “This event will feature a discussion on ‘good governance at the sub-national level: issues, perspectives, expectations and outcomes’, which will lay out the challenges facing governance at the sub-national level and possible solutions.

“It is to be presented by Dr. Muda Yusuf, a renowned economist, as a guest speaker.

“It is expected to be a star-studded event as invitations have been extended to the Acting PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Iliya Damagum and members of the PDP National Working Committee; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Namadi Sambo, former Vice President; former PDP governors, current and former PDP presiding/principal officers of the National Assembly, party leaders, stakeholders, friends and well-wishers.”

Past chairmen of the forum to be honoured are Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa).

The event is organised by Sokoto State Governor and forum chairman, Aminu Tambuwal.

PHOTOS: Buhari Arrives Army Parade In Military Uniform

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has arrived at the Nigerian Army trooping and presentation of colours parade at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Thursday.

Buhari will unveil 28 out of the 81 national and regimental colours for the newly established and operationalised units and retired unit colours of the Nigerian Army.