The national leader of the All progressives Congress, APC is currently in the National Assembly to meet with Senators on the platform of the party.
It was earlier reported that Tinubu would be meeting the senators to discuss about his 2023 presidential ambition.
This newspaper learnt that the South-West political strongman was also in the company of his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. He is to meet with the senators in the in the upper legislative Chamber.
Tinubu was heard saying to the Senators: “I told Mr President that my ambition is not blind to the extent that I will step on his toes. I just want to step into his shoes and not on his toes. – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to APC Senators.”
“I came for your counsel, partnership and support. I believe that you can back me for my life time ambition.”
“I want to beg you to look at my capacity and my experience. I am perhaps the only one who has been in the Senate, who has been a governor and aspiring to become President.”
Some unknown gunmen on Wednesday ambushed officers of the Imo State correctional center, and killed two of them.
Society gazette reports that the incident happened this morning at Okigwe town, around the Umulolo axis of the state.
It was learnt that those injured have been taken to the hospital.
In recent times, the prevalence of insecurity in southeast states has risen to alarming levels, sending most residents into perpetual fear.
With criminality escalating in geometric magnitude, security operatives have not been spared from the onslaught of the lawbreakers. Soldiers, policemen, paramilitary officers, in their numbers have lost their lives just as a good number of police stations in some communities across the southeast states have been set ablaze.
Imo was worse hit in the immediate past year, and the attackers haven’t stopped yet.
Embattled Police Chief, Abba Kyari has claimed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has been assisting drug dealers to bring in Cocaine into Nigeria.
This newspaper earlier reported that Kyari and four other police officers under the IRT were arrested in February for attempting to bribe an NDLEA officer with $61,000 to facilitate the release of seized cocaine.
POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Kyari made the claim in a N500 million fundamental right enforcement suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22.
The disgraced police officer accused the anti-drug agency of assisting drug peddlers to ship in Cocaine into the country. He also stated that he was ‘framed’ by a disgruntled officer of the agency after he went to demand compensation for the whistleblower that gave information that led to the arrest of a suspect.
An affidavit filed by Kyari’s brother, One Mamman Nur, rehashed the claim stating that drugs were being shipped in from Ethiopia with the ‘knowledge of NDLEA officers’.
Narrating the entire situation in the suit, Kyari stated; “That on that fateful day, the suspect as usual shipped drugs (cocaine) from Ethiopia to Enugu Airport. The officer of NDLEA cleared him within the airport, then officer of FIB-IRT arrested the suspect with the help of an information.”
“That before the informant accepted to work with the officers of FIB-IRT, they both had an agreement to compensate the informant.”
“That officers of FIB-IRT, having noticed that officers of NDLEA were the ones clearing the said suspect with his drugs (cocaine), they immediately took the suspect to NDLEA and also reported those officers involved in the act.”
“That instead of the NDLEA to handle the matter accordingly and bring their officers involved to book, they decided to frustrate the informant, thereby refusing to compensate the informant.”
“That it was at this juncture that the attention of the DCP Abba Kyari was called, who because the NDLEA officer involved is his friend, decided to intervene for the purpose of compensating the Informant.”
“That the NDLEA officer who refused to compensate the informant was the one who framed DCP Abba Kyari up on a trump-up allegation that he was trying to bribe him.”
“That the agent of the Respondent declared the Applicant wanted because of a mere allegation that he was trying to bribe an NDLEA officer without sufficient proof.”
“That the Nigerian Police Force, based on the allegation of the Respondent arrested the Applicant on February 12, 2022, and handed over to the NDLEA.”
Kyari’s bail hearing comes up on March 28th at a federal high court in Abuja.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has revealed what will occur if he fails to win the 2023 Presidential Elections.
Atiku, who was present at a meeting with PDP BoT members on Tuesday night in Abuja said that the party may not survive another 8 years in opposition. He added that should he lose the elections, he will retire from politics completely.
At the meeting, he appealed to elders of the party to work with him to clinch the presidency in 2023.
“I am worried and you should be worried too that if we do not win, it means we will be in opposition again for the next eight years. By the next eight years, I don’t know how many of us will be left in politics and it may even ultimately lead to the death of the party because people gravitate, particularly in developing countries, towards governments. So this is a very crucial and historical moment in history, for our survival.”
He called on the party leadership to jettison the argument of Zoning.
“We invented and formulated this zoning policy simply because we wanted every part of this country to have a sense of belonging and I personally have paid my dues on the issue of zoning.”
“Therefore, you cannot come and try to imply that the PDP has not been following the zoning policy. The many years of PDP government eight years and six years all of them were from the south. So, we should not be stampeded by the opposition party. They have a moral obligation.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), following the expiration of the tenure of the former Board.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the board has Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as Chairman.
Other members, who were appointed to represent various interests as stipulated by the NBC Act, include Mr. Wada Asab Ibrahim, Mr. Iheanyichukwu Azubike Dike, Mrs. Adesola Oyinloye Ndu and Mr. Olaniyan Olatunji Badmus.
Also on the Board are Mr. Bashir Ibrahim, Mr. Obiora Ilo, Mr, Ahmad Sajo, Engr. Bayo Erikitola, a representative of the State Security Service, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as well as the Director-General of the Commission. The Board has a three-year tenure.
Adunni Ade, a practicing lawyer, has recounted how she was beaten and bruised after boarding a bus filled with robbers at GB Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State, Naija News reports
According to Adunni, who expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal, the incident happened last Thursday.
Amongst the things that were stolen from her was her phones, other valuables, and money.
She added that the mini bus was on motion while the robbers battered her.
She said, “On Thursday evening 10/03/2022 at about 7:30pm or 8pm, let’s just say I got very unfortunate because I fell into the hands of the wicked beasts living among humans. I work at Yaba and I live in Ipaja just right after Iyana Ipaja.
“All the way from Yaba, I already got to Iyana Ipaja and I was already happy I had almost got home. Right in front of GB Iyana Ipaja was a mini bus calling Ipaja Ayobo, before me was a woman in her 60s, I guess.
“She entered the bus and then I hopped in right after her. We only just asked for the price of the vehicle(sic) and under split of seconds one of the supposed passengers from the back just came to the front and the next thing I heard was ‘blood of Jesus’, ‘blood of Jesus’ beside me and then they pulled the woman to the back seat and put me in the middle.
“The next thing I knew I tried to get off the bus and then I kept struggling and I was terribly beaten after which they now took my phone and asked me to remove my iCloud from and then took my ATM, asked me for the pin and took all my valuables removed all my jewellery and beat the hell out of me, they even asked that I borrow a million naira or I better start calling family.
“All this was happening while the vehicle was in motion, we even got to a police checkpoint but at this time, I was asked to lay down between the driver’s seat and front passengers’ seat where they kept their legs on me and put a bag on my face in case anyone had to look into the bus.”
The gospel music band called Gigo Global Dynamite presents a three-in-one event, marking the release of their second musical album; titled Ade-Ogo (crown of glory); alongside the unveiling of an all-new reinvigorated Gigo Band; and Praise His Majesty Concert as the highlight.
The special event which will hold at Radio Lagos-Eko FM Multipurpose Hall on Thursday, the 17th of March, 2022 starts from 12 noon.
The multilingual band led by Evangelist Deborah Semande Ochaba, sings in English and Nigerian languages, particularly Yoruba and Ogu.
The band leader, Mrs. Ochaba nee Gandonu is an ordained pastor and tele-evangelist.
Also a song writer and inspirational music minister of the gospel, Evangelist Ochaba is a passionate promoter of her cultural heritage, hence the name of her band – Gigo; which means glory in Ogu language of Badagry descent.
Notable music ministers of the gospel expected to grace the occasion are Evangelists Timi Orokoya, Tope Alabi, Adegbodu Twins, Oluwatoyin Smith and Sesi Ijitimehin. Other music artistes expected to add flavour to the event are Mega ’99 and Dare Melody.
The dignitaries expected are Mr. Samson Segun Ajibade as chairman of occasion, His Royal Majesty Oba Nelson Obayomi Ogunlari, Ogundalu I; the Olowu of Owu-Ikosi Kingdom, also His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Sejiro Olalekan Ogungbe James (JP), Okiki Arolagbade III; Aholu Henwa of Kweme Kingdom, and His Royal Majesty the Agano Toniyon I of Ajara Agamathen Kingdom; as royal fathers of the day.
Ecobank To Pay $40 Million Dividends To Shareholders
The Pan-African banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is set to pay its shareholders dividends of $0.16 per share totaling $40 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This implies approximately CFA90, N66.6, or 1.08 Ghana Cedi per share. For Nigerian and Ghanaian investors, this represents 5.5 times and 8.3 times, respectively, the most recent value of the Ecobank shares they hold.
According to the Company Secretary, Madibinet Cisse, “We are pleased to inform our shareholders and the public that the Board of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (“ETI”), at its meeting of February 25, 2022, approved the Ecobank consolidated audited accounts for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“Audited Accounts”) subject to relevant regulatory approvals. The Board also recommended the payment of a dividend of USD0.16 cents per share being a total amount of circa USD40 million. The relevant resolutions will be presented for shareholders’ approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of ETI.”
He further stated that “The details of the audited accounts will be published upon approval of relevant regulators. Consequently, the closed period which commenced from January 1, 2022, will continue until 24 hours after the Audited Accounts for the year ended December 31, 2021, are released to the Stock Exchanges on which Ecobank Transnational Incorporated is listed.”
The dividend payout has triggered the share price in the various stock exchanges where ETI is listed. In Nigeria, ETI featured in this week’s selection for trading well below its real value, meaning it stands a good chance of considerable price appreciation in the future. The lender’s price-to-earnings (PE) ratio as of Friday was 2.54x, with earnings per share (EPS) of N4.32.
Africa’s Biggest Food And Drink Festival Is Back!… 2022 GTCo Food And Drink Festival
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), is set to continue its long-running showpiece event– The Food and Drink Festival. For the 5th Edition, this headlining event will hold from Saturday, April 30 to Monday, May 02, 2022, at the GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos.
The GTCO Food and drink festival brings together the biggest chefs and food lovers from ALL OVER the world in a celebration of all things delicious with family and friends. Over the years, the Food and Drink festival has hosted millions of people and featured enlightening and engaging masterclasses by world-renowned chefs and food business experts. This year, the free to attend three-day festival will feature cooking masterclasses of cuisines chosen from all around the world and over 140 free retail stalls showcasing everything from the best of Nigeria’s street food to bite-sized gourmet treats and fresh farm produce from the farmers’ market. The well-fitted play area is designed to add another layer of excitement for children and keep them meaningfully engaged.
Commenting on the 2022 GTCO Food and Drink Festival, the Group Chief Executive Office of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje, said; “Africa’s history and rich cultural heritage is beautifully reflected in its cuisines. The primary objective of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is to showcase our diversity and industry as a people whilst delivering a sumptuous culinary experience to food enthusiasts across the continent. As our contribution to the development of local SMEs, we want to see our retail customers who also own small businesses thrive by giving them more opportunities to connect with consumers from around the world.”
He further added: “At GTCO Plc, we are committed to offering our customers and communities great experiences with every nteraction and will continue to promote viable enterprises particularly in the food and fashion industries, given the massive capabilities and countless multiplier effects inherent in these critical industry segments.”
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc is a leading financial services company providing banking and non-banking services including Payments, Wealth Management, and Pension Fund Management, with a presence across eleven countries spanning West and East Africa as well as the United Kingdom. The Group operates a diversified, Proudly African franchise and is renowned for its innovative approach to customer service and stakeholder engagement which has endeared the brand to millions of people across Africa and beyond. Over the years, many customers have benefited from its unique loan products including the Food Industry Credit and Fashion Industry Credit designed specifically for businesses in the food and fashion industry.
The 2022 GTCO Food and Drink Festival promises to be an experience of a lifetime. If you have been keen to try all the local street food and would like to go on exhilarating culture-filled culinary adventures, this is your chance!
The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government summoned an emergency stakeholders meeting in the power sector over the low electricity generation.
Naija News reports that this is coming after the latest collapse of the collapse of the National power grid on Monday morning.
Recall that no fewer than eight states including Lagos experienced blackouts, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company confirmed.
The states affected include Lagos, Enugu, Kaduna, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and the Imo States, among others.
While the issue persists, EEDC in a terse text to its customers on Monday said that the system collapse occurred on the national grid at 10:40 am.
It said that the system collapse affected supply in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and the Imo States.
Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company had also confirmed the grid collapse to its customers, assuring that power would soon be restored.
Following the embarrassing collapse for the second time in 2022, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, summoned an emergency meeting to find a solution to the epileptic power supply across the country.
Sources at the power ministry told The PUNCH that the minister invited participants in the sector to the meeting to address the latest concern about the collapse of the grid.
Aliyu is reported to have told stakeholders to work together to stabilise electricity and shun the ongoing blame game among industry experts.
The meeting, which was held at the conference hall of the Federal Ministry of Power had in attendance delegation from power generation companies, TCN, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading and Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
Others include officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Shell, among other players in the power value chain.
“This meeting was summoned to address the current electricity situation in the country which we see and are not happy about. We must find a solution so that Nigerians will have electricity. I want us to have the patience to talk to each other, not blaming each other,” the minister reportedly stated
