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
Nigeria’s largest Opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is set to resolve all the major crisis currently rocking the Party.
It was learnt that the party’s bigwigs held a major meeting on Monday night in Abuja to discuss and resolve serious issues within its ranks.
It can be recalled that the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike and Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki are currently at loggerheads over the former’s comments on Mr. Phillip Shuaibu, the deputy governor of Edo state.
Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Wike, Gov. Bala Mohammed, Emeka Ihedioha, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ex-Gov Olusegun Mimiko, National chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu amongst many others were all Present at the meting.
Sources disclosed to this newspaper that the meeting was also centered on strategies to strengthen Synergy within party. The party resolved to postpone its National Executive Committee meeting which was scheduled for today.
National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba made this known to newsmen at the end of the meeting.
“The National Caucus meeting is adjourned to continue on Wednesday. The Board of Trustees (BoT) Meeting and NEC meeting will now be held on Wednesday, March 16.”
The Nigeria Police on Monday denied reports that some officers were planning to embark on a strike with effect from March 26.
The police, through its acting spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described such reports as “fake and mischievous” attempt to “bring the Force to disrepute, misinform the general public and heat up the polity”.
The police noted that the Force has laid down rules that regulate its operations as well as tackle the grievances of the officers, “and in no circumstance is a strike action one of such means”.
Adejobi described strike actions as mutinous, noting that officers understand this adverse effect and as such, would not stoop to such level of disloyalty and indiscipline because policing services are paramount in maintaining order and peace in the nation.
The statement, however, linked the reason for rumours of the strike action to the failure by the Federal Government to increase the salaries of officers.
The statement read partly: “It is pertinent to emphasise that the IGP is accelerating efforts to ensure the full implementation of the increment of salaries and allowances proposed by the President and approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“It is important to accentuate that it was the President’s initiative without any demand from the Police to direct the process of increasing salaries and allowances. The Federal Government is therefore fully committed to the implementation of the new salary package.
“Since that approval, the Salaries and Wages Commission has issued an implementation circular, the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs and the IGP have been working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure the stoppage of tax deductions as directed by the President and approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police reiterates that police officers under his leadership are well motivated with the ongoing reforms, especially the provision of kits, accoutrements, body armor, the cooperative society’s housing scheme, the renovation of training schools, upgrade of police training curriculum, procurement and deployment of technology to boost ICT-driven policing.
“The IGP equally assures that the police are committed to discharging their duties to the nation as expected and renew their commitment to ensuring public safety, and the protection of lives and property of all and sundry”.
Recall that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had in 2018, 2020 and 2021 promised an upward review of salaries without fulfilling the promises.
In December 2021, the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi announced after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that Buhari had approved a new salary structure for officers.
The minister said the president had approved N1.1billion for the payment of outstanding uninsured benefits of the police of 2013-2020.
Also approved was over N127 million for payment as outstanding death benefits of 5,472 personnel for the uninsured period of 2013-August 2021, not covered under the group life assurance and many other approved benefits.
The Minister had said it would take effect from January 2022, but the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who fielded recently questions on the salary increase revealed that the increment was not captured in the 2022 budget.
Baroness Tinuke Davies-Kesington, the woman leader of the Bola Tinubu Support Organisation, and matron of the Asiwaju Volunteers Group (AVG), says the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader stands a better chance than the rest of his party’s presidential aspirants.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that according to Davies-Kesington, Tinubu would most likely become the APC flagbearer in respect of the 2023 presidential election “because he has over the years become a brand that is embedded in the minds of Nigerians”.
The APC stalwart was speaking in an interview published on Vanguard on Tuesday.
“Nigeria as a country is showing its advancement by producing world class statesmen as mentioned above. They are all credit to Nigeria. But in my professional judgement, Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands a better chance because he has over the years, not only being known as a politician, but has also become a brand that is embedded in the minds of Nigerians across all geographical locations.
“Asiwaju Tinubu is not only a statesman but also brand. He has a unique vision for Nigeria, a Nigeria that is powerful, with her people healthy, prosperous, and educated,” Davies-Kesington said.
