Cash Shortage: The Governors are Acting on Their Own Volition and it Has Nothing to do with Tinubu Only – APC-PCC
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has denied a media report alleging that it’s Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked state governors to disregard President Muhammadu Buhari over the issues relating to the naira redesign.
Bayo Onanuga, the Director, Media & Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said in a statement, which he personally signed, dated
February 17, 2023, that the report was fake.
“Our attention has been drawn to a fake viral news published by the Peoples Gazette, claiming Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate has asked APC governors to ignore President Muhammadu Buhari’s broadcast and enforce the Supreme Court ruling on the recirculation of old Naira notes.
“The publication by the platform is fake.
“Tinubu never issued such an order. Mr Dele Alake, the APC-PCC Adviser on Media and Communications never issued such advisory on behalf of Asiwaju Tinubu.
“The message quoted by Peoples Gazette was being randomly shared on WhatsApp. Mr Alake was not the author,” the statement read.
Onanuga stressed that “Asiwaju Tinubu has been known, since the currency swap crisis started, to call for calm as the authorities try to find out a solution to the currency crisis. He has offered a six-point suggestion to lessen the anguish our people are facing in trying to get money from the banks.x
While stating that “Tinubu has also held several meetings with President Buhari, his leader over the matter,” he said that “it is thus inconceivable and unthinkable that he would instruct APC governors to disregard President Muhammadu Buhari’s order on the currency matter.”
“Governors who have so far declared this line of action said clearly that they were acting on the ruling of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.
“Asiwaju has had no influence in this decision.
“Journalists, unless acting on the dictates of political opponents or prosecuting some agenda, should endeavour to confirm authorship of their materials from the Media and Publicity Directorate of the campaign. They can also seek confirmation from the Tinubu Media Office or Mr. Alake .
“The Gazette should recant the story with immediate effect,” the statement read.
We Need A Nationalist, Not Southern Or Northern President — Jandor
By Abiodun Alade
In this interview, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran popularly known as Jandor, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Lagos State, speaks on his plans for the state as well as why Nigerians should elect a nationalist and not a regional president come February 25.
From what you have seen so far, do you believe we’re going to have a free and fair election?
Well, of course, with the preparation of INEC and expression of readiness by all the security formations, I believe that this time, Nigerians will make the choice of who will be the leader of the country. And I have no doubts that for the very first time, we will have an election that reflects the wishes of the people. We’re confident that barring any unforeseen situation, that INEC, if what has happened in off-cycle elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun is anything to go by, will get it right and our party is ready for the election.
There are calls by some politicians that INEC should jettison BVAS. And there have also been pockets of violence in some parts of the country as a result of naira scarcity, don’t you think this will affect the conduct of the polls?
Wherever the calls for cancellation of BVAS and the likes are coming from speak to the character of such a group of persons or organisation. If what we’re yearning for is an election that will be free, fair and credible; and we now have a technology to assist us in getting that right and you have some people calling for cancellation, it shows that these are the set of people that have been undermining democracy for a long while.
You also look at the issue of Naira redesign and the fact that we’re not going to have an election that will be monetized so to speak. And you see some set of people coming out to complain. It speaks volumes of who they are. And if you look at all of this sequence of happenings tilting to one side, the question you need to ask yourself is: “why the sudden love for Nigerian people?” ASUU was on strike for nine months, none of you came out to speak for ASUU and speak against the fact that our brothers and sisters were at home for nine months doing nothing.
But again, whatever it is that they feel they want to do or they’re trying to do, it will not change what is going to happen because the people of Nigeria now know where all of these are coming from. How come it is only one political party that is crying foul over this whole issue? How come it is just one presidential candidate as well as a set of governors of a particular political party that are crying foul? You can then understand that the pockets of violence that you’re talking about is from them.
People are wise enough to see all of these and they are not buying it. As far as we are concerned, we’re ready for the election.
Why should Nigerians vote for the presidential candidate of the PDP on February 25?
Because as we speak, nothing is working in our country. The economy is terrible, insecurities here and there, massive unemployment in this country. And we need someone with experience and preparedness to recover this country and get things done. If you look at his message, let me pick just one of his messages and you can see what that can do for the country.
He said when he comes to power, he is going to set aside $10 billion for youth and women empowerment. This will curb insecurity because the majority of the people involved in all of these things is because they have nothing to do. So, if we have that huge amount of money to empower our youths in making sure they have means of livelihood, it will resolve insecurity issues to a very large extent. And the issue of women empowerment will resolve the level of poverty that we have in the country. Now, let’s put that N10 billion aside. If he sells the moribund refineries that are not useful to anybody as we speak, at a rate of $10bn and the money is channelled into youth and women empowerment as he said; don’t forget the organised private sector or a consortium of companies that bought the refineries won’t just leave them like that. They would have another $5bn if not more set aside to invest into resuscitating the refineries. And in doing that, it will create jobs and you can imagine the number of employment opportunities it will generate as well as other benefits to the country. That alone will reduce unemployment, insecurity and poverty in the land. That is the man who’s got a plan and is always coming forward to provide solutions on how to revive the economy and recover Nigeria from those who have held it by the jugular.
There is agitation for a Southern presidency and some people are clamouring that Yorubas should support one of their own?
In the South West, we are very sophisticated. I’m sure you know we’re blessed at that. And we’ve looked at what we have in the country, the hardship that we have in the country, we’ve looked at it holistically, and we have been able to identify that it is a hardship that doesn’t even recognise your tribe. It doesn’t even know where you’re coming from.
On this presidential election, you need to look at each candidate based on their merits, integrity, character, track record, and see which one of them can actually take us out of the issues confronting us as a country. It is not about where you are coming from.
So, when people are shouting about a Southern president, I don’t want it and I don’t want a Northern president either. What I want is a Nigerian president. Let’s have a president that is a nationalist, and this is what Atiku Abubakar represents. He has tentacles spread across the country; he is one man that has roots everywhere, and he has the experience. This election is not your regular election (like what we’ve been having in the past). This will be the first popularity test of APC in the Southwest, especially in Lagos State.
How do you respond to the position of the ruling APC that you have not held any elective position in the past and so don’t have experience to lead a sophisticated state like Lagos?
It all depends on their definition of experience and the job at hand. What has their own experience given us in Lagos? The experience that has not been able to curb Lagos traffic for 24 years or the experience that has 4.2 million Lagosians living in extreme poverty under four years. Experience that has 1.8 million Lagosians unemployed as against what it used to be in 2019 or experience that has over 2 million of our children out of school? The experience that gave us collapsed buildings every now and then because the regulatory agency has no clue of what to do. Experience that has gotten our state ravaged with flood every time it rains. So, they are missing the point because they don’t understand the concept of experience.
What we’re bringing to the table that they don’t have is that we have experience on how best to run an economy unlike them. For close to two decades, I have been an employer of labour in this economy, contributing a whole lot in this economy. I’ve had cause to look for funds, turn it around, and make profit not to stay afloat but pay salaries and more. Same with my running mate, unlike the man there now, he has been a salary earner all his life and that is why he does not have what it takes to run an economy.
Your thinking, as a business owner, who has gone to a financial house to source for funds, invest it in business to be able to pay back the loan, pay salaries and make profit will be completely different from a man who waits every 30 days to get salary. So, it is the business-like experience that we are bringing to the table. So, they are inexperienced in this case because they have not had cause to employ five persons.
What will you do if elected as governor of Lagos State?
We’re first going to birth a government that people can call their own. We’re going to have a governor that people can beat their chest and say ‘we put this man there’.
It is about time we make Lagos a wealthy state indeed, not just on paper. What we hear today is that Lagos makes N51bn monthly but you can’t see it reflecting in our daily living. We are changing that by giving Lagos a breath of fresh air, where they can see the fortune of their state. Is it not troubling that with such monthly IGR, there are no iconic projects in Lagos?
We would look at issues that are currently giving us bad names and fix them. It is unacceptable that we have about 2 million out-of-school children. I don’t need to build new schools before I proffer solution to that. We will engage the private school owners – about 5,000 registered private schools in the state, and I will inform them that I have about 2 million children that I need to spread across your schools in exchange for tax holiday or incentives as the case may be. By doing so, I would have put some of my children in those schools. And I would also engage churches and mosques that have spaces they don’t use during school hours to let the government use them to put some of the children there. If I do this within three months of coming into office, we would have reduced the number of out-of-school children drastically. And I would do this pending when I can embark on aggressive infrastructural renewal across the local government areas.
Is Lagos PDP still one? Chief Olabode George has not been part of your campaign?
I have a rigorous campaign strategy of visiting every ward in the state. Our leader is close to 80. I can’t possibly be dragging such an old man to every ward. But we don’t have any problem, he is our leader and he is supporting us in everything we are doing.
2023: Deputy Governor, Obasa Make Revelations About Tinubu
– Hamzat commends Lagos Speaker over Agege transformation
Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the Speaker of the State, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, have again declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the best of all the presidential candidates for the February election.
The duo further further urged Lagos electorate to make proper use of their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at the coming general election by voting massively for candidates of the APC in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
Hamzat and Obasa gave the charge at the grand finale of the Agege Day celebration and launching of N500,000,000 Agege Education Endowment Fund on Tuesday where they, with the First Lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, commissioned projects
Dr. Obasa, while describing Tinubu as the only one with competence and capacity for the task ahead amongst the other contenders, noted that the presidential candidate had excelled in three areas – infrastructural development, employment and human capital management and development – while in office as governor and continued to effectively manage people even outside office.
“Make sure you vote right by voting for the person that is competent to serve you, to represent you and bring about the dividends of democracy and we, without second thought, strongly believe that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the most competent amongst those who are vying for the presidency and that is why we are encouraging everybody to come out en masse.
“It’s not only about winning. We don’t just want to win, but win with massive votes coming from Lagos in competition with votes that would come from other parts of the country, so that we can win convincingly and at the end of the day Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can have a say as opposed to what we witnessed in 1999 when the President that emerged did not gain the support of his people. This time around, we want our President to have the support of all of us from Lagos, Southwest and other parts of Nigeria.
“We are not just canvassing for him, but we are canvassing for him based on his achievements, what we have witnessed and are still enjoying. You will agree with me that some of the roads constructed during Asiwaju’s era as Governor in Lagos are still in existence functioning properly.
“Most of the schools built during his administration known as Millennium Schools are still in good shape, talk about those who have been empowered and established. I am one of them. These are testimonies that this man can do a lot,” Obasa said.
Speaking on the essence of the N500 million education endowment fund, Obasa note that the government alone cannot do it all. He urged well-meaning individuals across the state to help contribute to objectively construct a society free from social vices through provision of qualitative education to stem the ugly trend of out of school students constituting nuisance in the state.
“Basically, the essence of an achievement is to continue to build on it. We have so many people who have passed through some of the schools in Agege and achieved so much in their lives and calling on these people to further support the current students we have in Agege right from primary school to secondary school.
“Through this endowment fund, we can equip the beneficiaries, support them through higher institutions and establish them.
He said commended the residents of Agege for their unity irrespective of tribe and religion saying Agege Day is meant to further cement the relationship and fight crime.
“We are determined to entrench enduring crime-free and educational legacies that would bring uncommon progress to us in all areas of our socio- economic development. As your representative in government, I am standing before you to reaffirm that I would continue to make Agege my first.
“I will give all it takes to coast home every development opportunity for our advancement.
As the Speaker of the foremost House of Assembly in Nigeria, I reassure you all that I shall continue to take Agege to enviable heights. I trust our people in Agege. We are passionate. We are Progressives. We speak with one voice. We love the APC and will always stand by the party, now and always.
“This is why we are resolute to ensure massive victory for every candidate of the APC starting from our father and Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Wale Ahmed, Abdulkareem Jubril to my humble self in the elecetion that will happen a few days from now,” Obasa reiterated.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Hamzat commended the Speaker for facilitating development to Agege. He agreed that the town had witnessed the true dividends of democracy.
According to Hamzat, those who have not been to Agege in the last five years would find it difficult to recognise the place as a result of development.
While commending the council chairmen in Agege and Orile-Agege, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Johnson Babatunde, respectively, for their efforts to better their people, Hamzat urged Lagosians and Nigerians to vote for Tinubu looking at how he had helped to make Lagos what it is today.
Speaking on the essence of the endowment fund, the Chairman of the Organization Committee of Agege Day, Hon. Afolabi Ayantayo, said it would be used to mitigate shortfalls in educational infrastructure and other related areas.
Ayantayo, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Parastatals Monitoring Office, said: “Students gaining admissions overseas but whose parents could not afford to cater for their tuition can approach the fund. When they graduate in future, they will be thankful and appreciative of those who came to their aid back then.”
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
If Tinubu Wins There will be Great Hopes For Heart Surgery Patients – Dr. Ariyo Idowu, Perfusionist
Perfusion is a rare and delicate Cardiovascular profession that has to do with handling and operating equipment that assists surgeons during an open-heart surgery or any other medical procedure in which it is necessary to artificially support or temporarily replace a patient’s circulatory or respiratory function.
It is a system where the experts use the equipment to temporarily put the heart to sleep (hibernate) and revives it after the surgery to safe the patient the frightening experience of pain during opening up of the heart or the lungs. It is a medical process to safe life which were in the past only available in the advance country.
However, it is interesting to learn that, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), trained the first expert and pioneered the career of open heart surgery in the country when he was the governor of Lagos State.
Although, Idowu admitted that the heart operations used to take place in Enugu and Ibadan in the 1970s, the exercise stopped more than 20 years before Tinubu revived it in Lagos, expressing the conviction that, if he wins on February 25, Nigerians should expect revival of the medical exercise in a very larger scale across the country.
Dr. Ariyo Idowu, made the disclosure Tuesday during a scheduled Zoom meeting organized by the members of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee Media Directorate, Lagos, headed by the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan.
Idowu discussed Asiwaju Tinubu’s intervention in the health sector when he was the state governor when young health professionals, including himself, were trained. The scheduled zoom meetings were some of the avenues created by the Kehide Bamigbetan led media Directorate to unveil Tinubu to the public to realise reasons he (Tinubu) should be voted for as the next president on the Saturday 25 election.
According to the Perfusionist, Tinubu, as a visionary administrator who searches for young talented materials to build for nation building spotted the potential in Ariyo Idowu when he was just 26 years old and sent him abroad to train as an expert in perfusion. After the training, Tinubu as governor then now established a medical centre where free heart surgeries were carried out.
While fielding questions from his zoom guests, Dr. Idowu confirmed that, at least 20 of such surgical operations were carried out during Tinubu’s tenure as the executive governor of Lagos State adding that minimum cost of an operation then was N5 million meaning Tinubu expended a whooping sum of N100million on the 20 patients.
Speaking further, Dr Idowu reasoned that, with Tinubu as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the country would climb up the ladder of global medical rating while the youth would have field day as opportunity for their development and empowerment would be the priority of the new president going by his pedigree and antecedent.
What Tinubu did as just as governor of a state in the health sector just like in any other sectors would be replicated on a larger scale to the best interest of all Nigerians, asserting that, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best bet for the country at this point in time for rapid development and positive utilization of the raw energy deposited in the body of the youth by God for nation building.
“Tinubu is a visionary leader who knows the plights of the citizenry and ready to help. He has had the mind set to uplift humanity from the onset. The most important thing in governance is to be prepared to serve humanity selflessly like Tinubu. He is ready for the task ahead. And after reviving the free heart surgery through the Ministry of Health under Dr. Leke Pitan, his commissioner for Health after comatose for 20 years, the programme has continued since then nonstop,” Idowu submitted with great appreciation to his mentor, Tinubu.
“Kindly permit me to thank Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving me the rare opportunity to acquire this unique knowledge that has put me where I am today as a globally recognised professional on the medical line. And I am sure the youth stand a similar chance if they vote for him en masse on February 25 to become president. With Tinubu as president, the sky would be too low to be their limit,” Idowu rounded off.
Check the Full List of the 240 Polling Units where INEC will not Conduct Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the full list of the 240 polling units where elections will not hold in 28 states.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had said this during a meeting with the national leaders of political parties in Abuja on Monday.
Giving the reason, INEC said the affected polling units the were newly created do not have new registered voters, adding that no voter also transferred to those polling units.
Wema Bank builds capacity for owners and managers of SMEs in Enugu
In its bid to equip small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Enugu with adequate knowledge and skills to boost their businesses, Wema Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative bank, is hosting its maiden Business Growth and Innovation Conference in Enugu, the Enugu State capital. The conference, being organized in partnership with the Enugu SME Center, the Enugu State Government’s SME development agency, will hold on Wednesday, February 15th and Thursday, February 16th, 2023.
The Head, SME Banking at Wema Bank, Arthur Nkemeh, said that the two-day conference, which will cover key areas of business management, such as strategy and innovation, digital transformation, sales and marketing, and financial management, will upskill business owners and managers and boost the capacity and growth of SMEs in Enugu.
“The Enugu Business Growth and Innovation Conference is intended to bridge the knowledge gap that exists in the SMEs space. It will equip attendees with best-in-class knowledge and skills in business management. The capacity building program will be delivered by world-class facilitators who are subject matter experts in various aspects of business management, in keeping to our position as the leading bank in the SME Advisory space in Nigeria.”
He noted that, being the leading bank in the SME banking segment in Nigeria, Wema Ban has been a champion of the growth of the SME sector in the country through its various financial and non-financial (business advisory) services for SMEs.
“As a champion of the growth of the SME sector in Nigeria, Wema Bank has put in place many initiatives that will drive the growth of the sector in the country. We not only have low-cost banking products that speak to the needs of SMEs, but we also ensure that the managers and promoters of these businesses are equipped with top-notch knowledge and skills that will ensure that their businesses thrive in any given situation they find themselves.”
Arthur called on owners and managers of small and medium-scale enterprises in and around Enugu to avail themselves of the opportunity that this conference presents to build their capacity and ensure that their businesses growth potentials are achieved.
“The needs of the SMEs in Nigeria are enormous and range from access to capital to talent acquisition and retention, to management operation and so on. These needs, as diverse as they are, could be better and more effectively addressed through adequate capacity building. This is why it is imperative that SMEs owners and managers, especially those in and around Enugu, endeavour to participate in the Conference to learn new strategies that they can use to grow their businesses,” he concluded.
More information is available on the bank’s website www.wemabank.com
Black Actress gave Birth to HalfCaste Baby for Black Husband
There is a fire on the mountain! Ghanaian Actress Bibi Bright’s marriage is on its last leg after giving birth to a halfcaste.
Apparently, Bibi Bright has given birth to her 3rd child. But this time, she gave birth to a halfcaste. She delivered a white baby boy.
According to reports, that has set confusion in her marriage as her Ghanaian husband feels cheated.
The report says there has been a family meeting to solve the issue but they could not settle it as Bibi Bright’s husband denied being responsible for the baby and continued to question her about the father of her baby.
After being under too much pressure, she moved back to her father’s house and eventually travelled out of the country.
Her 2 daughters are with her estranged husband but she left with her halfcaste baby boy. According to the report, Bibi Bright claims she prefers her lover who is obviously a white man to her Ghanaian husband.
Meanwhile, Bibi Bright has been on social media for months but resurfaced a few days ago.
Free School Uniforms And Empowerment Program For Oto Awori Junior Grammar School By Khairat Animashaun Initiative (KAI)
Hon. Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye, the reputable founder of Khairat Animashaun Initiative (KAI) and a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led her satire team and notable stakeholders to Oto Awori Junior Grammar School to give free school uniforms and launched an empowerment program to support the school and the students at large.
KAI, the talk of the town initiative like no other from Hon. Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye who is a reputable public administrator has become a drive in the betterment and uplifting of school education in Lagos State.
Findings revealed that the unique program is just one of the many schemes from Khairat Animasahaun Initiative (KAI) in making society and the world a better place. Her vision is to create a more sustainable socio-political, economic, cultural and educational environment for Lagosians and Nigerians at large.
The well-attained educational empowerment program took place at the reputable Oto Awori Junior Grammar School located at the Lagos Badagry Express-Way, Oto Ijanikin beside Lagos State University of Education on Monday 30th of January 2023 by 11am prompt.
Khairat, as she fondly called was well represented by Hon. Deji Ajiboye and Dr. Kayode Akinrolabu, the Director of Finance and the Secretary of Khairat Animashaun Initiative (KAI) respectively. The Manager Programs of KAI, Hon. Muyiwa Bajulaiye ensured that all plans were put together for the success of the event.
The visioneer, Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye wants to specially thank Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, who is the Chief Stakeholder for his endless support and love for Khairat Animashaun Initiative (KAI) in making the right impact in Lagos State by giving back to Lagosians, the residents and the society at large.
Those in the know squealed that the empowerment program and the free uniforms for the students in the beginning of the New Year for the school is a much welcome idea to give the junior students a renewed hope in their academics.
The occasion was grace by HRM Oba (Elder) Dr. Josiah O. Ilemobade-Aina, Kuyamiku 1, Oloto of Oto, Awori Kingdom; Hon. Kayode Robert Bolaji, SA to Lagos State Governor and Hon. Bajulaiye Muyiwa Stanley who played host for the KAI program.
It was a colourful event with inspiration and hope for the students and it was well attended by who is who in the society with the engagement of notable key individuals in the education sector and different walks of life respectively.
Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye would like to implore Lagosians and Lagos residents to continue to be their brothers’ keepers and be ready to give a helping hand to make the state under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu bigger, better and rising greater.
During the semi-final matches played in the female category, Ikeja Junior School beat Herbert Macauley four nil while new debutant Government Girls College Agege defeated United Christian School two nil.
In the male category, Aje Comprehensive Junior School showed superiority over Ruthina International School in a match that ended eight-five while, Ikeja junior school also made it to the final after scoring three unreplied goals against Government junior college, Surulere.
Speaking on the progress of the Cup, Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar says the competition shows that Lagos have talents that can be nurtured to develop the game in the nation and beyond.
Gafaar gave a guarantee that the best of handball at the junior school level will be witnessed on the 3rd of february at Rowe park, Yaba during the Grand finale stressing that the talents discovered will be recruited by the commission for further development and exposure.
The seasoned sport administrator also praised former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, DR Kayode Opeifa for his continuous sponsorship of the championship alongside with his family adding that the competition will continue annually.
The grand finale which will hold today at the Rowe Park by 2pm is expected to show case former handball players, coaches, the games sponsor, DR Kayode Opeifa, Director General, Lagos Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa among others.
