The presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the 2019 general elections, Kingsley Moghalu, has officially announced to run for 2023 president.
Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a post on Friday on his Twitter account noted that he is not waiting for any fake call before he declares his intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Moghalu further stated that he is running on a vision and not on ethnic identity politics, adding that he is capable like any other candidate contesting in the race.
He wrote “I’m running for President of Nigeria. I’m not waiting for anyone to (fake) “call on me”, or until the presidency is zoned to anywhere.
“I’m running on a vision, not on ethnic identity politics. I’m as good as anyone in Nigeria, north or south, to be President.”
The likes of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, the chief whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu and several others have expressed their intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Nigerians have condemned the Federal Government over the increase in the electricity tariff by Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country.
It was gathered that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had adjusted the electricity tariffs been paid to DisCos, which invariably means that the tariffs have been hiked.
It was gathered that some of the distribution companies saw an increase in their tariffs, while others got theirs reduced. Checks by this platform show that the silent increase wasn’t announced or published on the NERC website.
An electricity consumer in Abuja confirmed an increase in the tariffs without public notice, saying that he recharged N5,000 today but was given 91.7 units instead of the usual 107.
Following the development, electricity consumers on Thursday frowned at the silent hike in the electricity tariff in the country, saying that the increase is untimely and anti-people.
The consumers berated the Muhammadu Buhari government for allowing Discos to raise electricity tariffs amid fuel scarcity and economic challenges facing the country.
In a chat with The Punch, the President of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kola Olubiyo, said his group took up the matter with the regulator last week.
He stated that while some customers said their tariffs were increased by N4, others could not actually tell the amount by which theirs were raised, adding that there had been no public confirmation by the NERC.
He said, “They (NERC) raised it last week or thereabout, and is like it is a N4 adjustment. Port Harcourt and Abuja (Discos) raised it and in fact, I think it is across board.
“But what we are asking the regulator is that if they approved something that is going to affect our pocket without letting us know, it is like shaving our heads in our absence.
“They said labour was part of them and I said is that what labour went to negotiate for us? I was told that they have a structured table that has already been approved and it is just for them to implement.
“But if they have approved the table as they said, are they giving us the required services? You and I know that services have not improved. We are having low generation and all manner of blame games.”
He asserted that the regulator should provide a table on the increase as it used to publish in the past, stressing that consumers had the right to know.
He said, “They should let us have the table that shows the bit-by-bit increment. We should have it. They are not communicating with the public.
“If they are taking a decision that will affect our disposable income, are we not supposed to be in the know? If you raise it they will argue that are we not aware that things are increasing everyday. Is that the way we are going to work?”
Also, an official at the Federal Ministry of Power said the increase had to be implemented because the Federal Government had withdrawn some of its financial support to power firms.
The official disclosed that there was an official communication sent to the DisCos to notify them of the adjustment in tariff.
He said: “The Federal Government has to withdraw every support or most of its support to power firms, such as subsidy on electricity,” the source, who pleaded not to be named for lack of authorisation, stated.
“So in a way, there is an adjustment in tariff because they (power firms) are shouldering higher cost responsibility now. However, some of them actually have reductions in their tariffs and nobody is talking is about it.
“They (Discos) have been communicated more than a month ago, since January or so,” he said.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has filed an application in court for the extension of the detention of embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari and four other suspects involved in the 25-kilogramme cocaine deal.
It was learnt that the agency’s officers are currently investigating assets Kyari claimed to own in a video that has gone viral. The source said Kyari was the equivalent of El Chapo — in reference to a Mexican drug lord currently on trial in the USA.
This is just as sources said the NDLEA is also carrying out forensic analysis of the exhibits recovered from the suspects and other accomplices with a view to arresting all the suspects involved in the deal.
Recall Kyari was arrested by the police on Monday for alleged drug trafficking and handed over to the NDLEA along with four others – Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. Another officer, ASP John Umoru, is said to be at large.
The DCP, who was suspended by the police last July for his alleged links to international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi, was caught on video during a sting operation by the NDLEA attempting to sell part of the cocaine which was seized from some drug dealers in Enugu State, while his suspension was subsisting.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA on Wednesday said that it had no reason to shield anyone who may be indicted in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang headed by Kyari.
The agency in a statement by its Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said it remained committed to evidence based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of facts.
The Nigerian government had said last week that it was looking at the possibility of extraditing him to the US after investigations had been concluded.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the posting of CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban to Katsina State Command as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the State.
This development was made known in a statement on Thursday by the acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to Naija News, the posting follows the elevation of the erstwhile Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, AIG Buba Sanusi, to the next rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
The IGP, while reiterating the commitment of the Police leadership in containing prevailing and emerging crime trends in the State, charges the new Commissioner of Police to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor in ensuring increased public safety and security of lives and property in Katsina State.
He further calls on the Government and good people of Katsina State to give the new Police Chief maximum support in his new role.
The posting is with immediate effect.
Profile of CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban
The new Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1990.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has attended several leadership and strategic courses within and outside Nigeria.
He has equally served in various operational, investigative and administrative capacities within the Force, some of which include DCP Operations in Delta and Enugu State Commands, DC SCID and subsequently Commissioner of Police in Kogi State Command.
Until his recent posting, he was the CP Communications, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The Nigerian Government has been told to disengage Ex-Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola as Minister of Interior for reportedly fuelling a party crisis in the State.
Ahead of the Osun State governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for Saturday, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Osun State called on the federal government to sack Aregbesola, for allegedly promoting crisis in the state.
The spokesperson of the coalition, Mr. Wasiu Alli made the call while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
The coalition accused Aregbesola of promoting rascality and encouraging his supporters to undermine the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola. The fiery politician trended earlier this week after mocking and insulting his now former ally and leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The coalition pointed out that if the federal government fails to call Aregbesola to order and charge him to focus on his official responsibilities instead of going about causing civil unrest, he will end up inflaming the otherwise peaceful Osun State.
It added: “It is to be stated that the number of jailbreaks in the referenced period is unprecedented in the over 60 years of existence of the country. This speaks about the administrative incompetence of Mr. Aregbesola whose superintendence over the Interior Ministry has seen it degenerate into one that cannot secure its own Correctional Centres.”
“Where Mr. Aregbesola should be seen finding solutions to these now-common jailbreaks; he has been busy promoting unrest in Osun State.”
“Where he cannot be cautioned, we demand his outright sack or redeployment if he cannot act responsibly in line with the dictates of the Office he presently holds. A Public Officer must never be seen acting contrary to the spirit and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The coalition said where the federal government is unable to act swiftly to caution Aregbesola, the Senate must show capacity by sanctioning his sack and impress it on the President to effect same.
The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Benin Depot, Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Egele, popularly known as Baba Petrol, has regained freedom 11 days after he was kidnapped.
The Nation learnt his family parted with N70m ransom for his release.
Egele was abducted around 7 pm on February 7 in front of his house at Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.
A member of the family of the victim, who spoke in confidence, revealed the ransom was reduced from N80 million and paid somewhere in Kaduna State.
Egele was released on Thursday morning in an undisclosed location in Edo State.
The IPMAN chairman was receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Benin, the Edo state capital.
Edo Police spokesman Bello Kontongs was not available to confirm the development.
His mobile lines were not reachable but a senior police officer in Edo Command confirmed release of the IPMAN’s chairman after payment of ransom.
– donates fully equipped Point-of-Care Laboratory and operating room equipment to Capital Health Surgical Centre
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) – brainchild of Industrialist, philanthropist and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has formally handed 85 modern medical equipment to the paediatric department of the Gwarimpa General Hospital Abuja in complete fulfilment of the ASR Africa Health Systems Support grant awarded to the hospital in 2021.
The scope of the grant included a fully equipped neonatal unit, equipment for 3 operating rooms, hospital ward monitors and beds as well as an ambulance in fulfilment of the Grant awarded to the hospital by ASR Africa.
Speaking during the formal handover, Ubon Udoh, MD/CEO of ASR Africa said that the formal handover of these items was a significant development as Gwarimpa General Hospital represents one of the largest public hospitals in the Abuja Metropolis catering to a high number of underserved communities and individuals.
According to him, ASR Africa as well as the chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, are passionate about Women and Child Health development – hence the decision to support the overhaul of the neonatal unit and provide new, modern equipment to assist healthcare delivery at the hospital. Ubon also hoped that the hospital will put the newly purchased equipment to good use in tackling maternal and neonatal mortality rates within its catchment areas. Mr Udoh also announced that ASR Africa would adopt the neonatal ward going forward.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the hospital, Dr Mohammed Kawu, Acting Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, commended ASR Africa for the gesture. “What you have done here goes to show you are truly committed to social development. With the quality of medical equipment donated, this is presently the most modern and best equipped neonatal unit in the FCT.”
In a similar development, ASR Africa also donated a fully equipped point-of-care laboratory, an ambulance, and some other medical equipment to the recently opened Capital Health Surgical Centre in Abuja. The surgical centre, which was recently established by Dr Ikemba Iweala, is a specialist facility also offering general medical services to the Abuja populace.
Observers noted that this is not the first time that the ASR would be adopting a neo-natal hospital, a policy which is amied at bringing sucour to the less privileged in the society as one of its cardinal goals.
A 102 year old woman has declared her intentions to vie for Nigeria’s top seat in 2023.
Mrs. Nonye Josephine Ezeanyaeche has stated that she has good plans for Nigeria should she be voted in as President.
Ezeanyaeche, who is also called ‘living legend’ or “Mama Africa’, hails from Aguata, Anambra state and is the founder of the ‘Voice for Senior Citizens of Nigeria’ group.
During a recent visit to the Management team of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, she expressed readiness to contest for the position if the younger generation of the country are not ready.
She joins the long list of individuals who have so far declared interest to run for the exalted position.
Supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have been warned against making disparaging comments about other candidates in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.
Director of Operations for Pro-Osinbajo group, The Progressive Project (TPP), Alhaji Usman Aliyu Usman, gave the warning while receiving some eminent personalities into the support group in Abuja on Thursday.
“Our focus as progressives is on effective strategies towards ensuring the candidature of Prof Yemi Osinbajo and an eventual victory in 2023; no member of our team is allowed to get involved in disparaging any former, present or serving leader who is in APC,” he said.
Eminent personalities received into the Osinbajo fold include former National Secretary of Labour Party Mr, Kayode Ajulo and Mr. Dapo Akinosun (SAN) who is a member of the Chartered institute of Arbitrators UK, American Bar Association and the International Bar Association
Others include former Managing Director of Africa Petroleum Plc, Shettima Abba-Gana and former military administrator of Katsina State, Colonel Joseph Akaagerger who served as Senator from 2007 to 2011.
While welcoming them into the support group, Usman enjoined them to participate in the forthcoming programmes like the New Tribe for Osinbajo’s Uyo rally and the Abuja March being planned by the Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation (OGO).
He reiterating Shettima Abba-Ghana’s view that no matter how good a product is, it must be consistently marketed.
He said “TPP will remain the coordinating body for the efforts of all support groups and we enjoin you to contribute to one another’s success.
“Among efforts being undertaken now is the constitution of a few strategic teams or committees to work on well thought-out ideas,” Usman said.
On his part, Mr. Dapo Akinosun noted that the generation that fought the civil war is on its way out, while emphasizing that special strategies and tactics with deep foundations in the nation’s laws are being analyzed to make the collective effort a reality.
Similarly, Kayode Ajulo maintained that one of the areas to be addressed strategically is about the norms or principles regarding the ‘right of first refusal’, adding that in view of his intellect, capacity and experience,”.
According to Ajulo, his recent suggestion that an APC presidential aspirant should step out of the way has led to incessant threats, including unsettling phone calls to his 86 years old mother who lives in one of the southern states.
“For someone to co-pilot a complex country like Nigeria is no joke; that is why some of us are talking about right of first refusal but if there is anyone who stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Professor Yemi Osinbajo on integrity, capacity, experience and other qualities, let us have a good debate,” Ajulo remarked.
In the same vein, Hajia Rabi Dauda who leads the Coalition of Women for Osinbajo said that women are pushing for Osinbajo’s candidature “solely in the interest of a better future for Nigerian children and generations yet unborn.
“This mobilization for Osinbajo is a special project aimed towards positive impact on the history of Nigeria and this time around, ethnicity, moneybag politics and other base things of the past no longer matter to Nigerians who love Osinbajo,” Hajia Dauda stated.
A commercial bus driver in Lagos, Ibrahim Yusuf has been reported to have stabbed a LASTMA official, Awotola Victor, after he impounded his vehicle.
The attack took place over the weekend in Ojodu-Berger at about 3:30pm.
The victim has been hospitalized while the suspect is in police custody.
On the day of the attack, the victim had impounded the suspect’s vehicle over willful obstruction. After his vehicle was seized, Ibrahim reportedly disappeared and appeared with a big knife which he used in stabbing the security operative. After carrying out the dire act he took to his heels.
He was later apprehended by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The general manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba frowned at the incident and said that the agency would no longer tolerate assault on its officials.
According to a statement on Wednesday titled, ‘LASG will no longer tolerate assault on government workers – LASTMA general manager’ by Asst. Director, Public Affairs LASTMA, Olumide Filade.
The statement read, “According to reports received on the incident, Yusuf, the mini bus driver and offender, was noted to be causing willful obstruction at River Valley Estate and after refusing all entreaties to move away from the place, the vehicle was to be apprehended. At this juncture, the driver disappeared only to reappear unexpectedly with a big knife with which he cut Awotola’s head and neck, whilst he escaped afterward with the aid of the street urchins around the area but his vehicle was apprehended and its custody taken by the agency.
“On Sunday, one of the chairmen of the minibus association/union produced the attempted murderer at the Ojodu Police Station where he is currently cooling his heels in detention, awaiting arraignment in court.”
“Any road user that violates the State Traffic Law as stated in the amended Lagos Transport Reform Laws of 2018 and in line with the state government first pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda will have themselves to blame for committing assault on any government official.”
