A source in the presidency has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari is in a tight corner about signing into law or rejecting the amended electoral act sent to him by the National Assembly.
According to the source, some strong people in government including state governors and lawmakers have been trying to prevail on the President not to sign the bill.
The source added that the President himself has nothing against signing the bill but is trying to consider the reservations and opinions of others on the matter.
Naija News recalls two major amendments been proposed in the bill by the National Assembly is the compulsory use of direct primaries by political parties to choose candidates for election as well as the provision to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically or decide otherwise.
The use of direct primaries or otherwise has however become a major bone of contention among stakeholders with many of the opinions that the state governors are against direct primaries because it would take away the control of party votes and choosing party candidates from them.
President Buhari has until Sunday, December 19 to either sign or reject the bill before him.
But the presidency source quoted by Daily Trust claimed Buhari is taking his time on the bill because of the pressure from interested persons.
“Contending forces are pushing their cases before him but we have no indication of what will happen. He has always been a promoter of direct primaries. He understands what is going on and he wants the system to be democratized,” the source said.
Meanwhile, as earlier reported by this online news platform, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina has submitted that signing the electoral amendment bill or not will not change the reputation already built by President Muhammadu Buhari as a democrat.
The spokesperson argued that Buhari has already etched his name in the sands of time as a leader with the highest regard for democratic values.
Adesina spoke last Monday amidst the agitations been generated by the content of the electoral bill forwarded for the President’s assent by the National Assembly.
A South African court Wednesday ordered former president Jacob Zuma to return to prison, invalidating the medical parole he was granted in September.
The decision to place Zuma on medical parole is “declared unlawful and set aside”, read the ruling by High Court Judge Elias Matojane.
Zuma, 79, was jailed in July for 15 months for contempt of court after he refused to give testimony to corruption investigators.
His jailing sparked violent protests and looting in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal that spread to the financial hub Johannesburg in July, claiming over 350 lives.
That was the deadliest violence in South Africa since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.
Current President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the unrest as an orchestrated attempt to destabilise the country.
Zuma was granted medical parole on September 5, but the exact reasons were never revealed. While in prison, he was taken to hospital for surgery to treat an undisclosed ailment.
A young man who was filmed on Tuesday, December 14 jumping into a lagoon in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, in an attempt to commit suicide has been identified as Odunare Olalekan, a 21-year-old diploma holder.
The victim was said to have jumped into the lagoon in Epe area around 10 am on Tuesday over unknown personal issues.
According to reports, Olalekan whose body is yet to be recovered is a holder of an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate and a worker at Alaro City, a sprawling mega estate along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, was captured in videos sitting on the rails of a bridge before jumping into the waters.
The man filming the scene could be heard trying to make small talks to distract him, but Olalekan who looked distressed never responded.
It was also learnt that the man who is presumed dead, left behind a one-year-old baby for his 19-year-old girlfriend.
Meanwhile, a 100 level student from Donga LGA, Miss Emuseh Lawi has died in Taraba State University Jalingo after one of the female hostels gutted fire.
Naija News reports that there was a fire outbreak at the Zenith Hostel in the Taraba State University (TSU) which left a female student burnt beyond recognition.
According to reports, the 100-level student of Tourism, from Donga Local Government of Taraba State lost her life after the fire destroyed some part of the female hostel of the University, popularly called Zenith Hostel.
An eyewitness disclosed that the young female student was deeply asleep in her room when the fire broke out.
It took the effort of the other females in the hostel to break into the room and bring her out, she was later confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre Jalingo.
The fire which affect some parts of the hostel damaged properties and other valuables belonging to students.
It took the collective effort of the female students in the hostel and Security men at the University to bring the fire under control.
A quarter chief has been assassinated in Owo town, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State over an alleged land issue.
The quarter Chief, who was identified as High Chief Elewere Tunde Ilori, was shot dead on Wednesday evening while returning from where he had gone to settle land dispute.
The Chief was said to have gone to resolve the land dispute on the order of the Olowo Of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye following a complaint lodged at the Olowo palace by two aggrieved families.
According to a source in the community, the Chief and members of the two parties involved in the dispute were returning to town when they were attacked, with the deceased chief shot in the head
The source, which craved anonymity, disclosed Chief Ilori died instantly, while one other person who was hit by the assailant’s bullet was been rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the town.
“The hoodlums ran away from the scene immediately and the remains of the man and the other person shot were taken to the hospital where one of them was pronounced dead. I think the incident had been reported to the police in the town,” the source said.
Following the death of the chief, tension built up in the community as youths who protested the killing barricaded major roads in the town with bonfire.
Confirming the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Funmilayo Odunlami said investigation had commenced towards apprehending the perpetrators of the heinous act
The Federal Government yesterday faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s score card in the last six years.
It disagreed with the former leader’s remark that the President has nothing to offer in office, particularly on the worsening insecurity that has upset the country.
The government warned Nigerians against the use of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders, saying that they can overheat the polity and heighten tension.
Government also said that with a recent court declaration, bandits have been declared as terrorists, stressing that no administration in Nigeria’s recent history has provided the security agencies with the hardware to tackle insecurity as that of President Buhari.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the clarifications at a briefing in Abuja against the backdrop of increasing banditry and kidnappings in the country.
Ex-President Obasanjo had on Monday claimed that President Buhari has nothing more to offer the nation.
He said the nation should start looking beyond the tenure of Buhari by shopping for a new leader in 2023.
Obasanjo said: “President Buhari has done his best. That is what he can do. If we are expecting anything more than what he has done or what he is doing, that means we’re whipping a dead horse and there is no need.”
But, Mohammed said the assessment of the President by Obasanjo was wrong because Buhari was doing his best for Nigeria.
The Minister said: “If anybody is worried today about the security situation of the country, it is Mr. President.
Read Also: Nigeria elite harassing us despite our performance, Buhari laments
“ President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country.
“Not only has he done so much. President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue, fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.
“By boosting the number and capacity of our fighting forces, Mr. President is putting them in good stead to tackle insecurity not just during the life of his administration but long after he would have left office.”
Mohammed assured Nigerians that Buhari will leave the nation better with sustainable achievements.
He added:” President Buhari is leaving a legacy of security, infrastructural development, economic prosperity and social cohesion for Nigeria.
”This may not seem obvious today, amidst daunting challenges, but posterity will be kind to this President.
“Despite all this, President Buhari has not relented, constantly presiding over meetings of security chiefs to get an update and also issue necessary directives, and not missing any opportunity to offer succour to his countrymen and women, when necessary.
“The skewed narrative in certain quarters that the President has not shown enough empathy is glib talk. The President has also continued to work with our neighboring countries and indeed our Western partners to tackle insecurity, especially terrorism.
“With the entire Sahelian region experiencing a devastating surge in terrorist attacks, more so in the wake of the Libyan crisis, it has become even more imperative for Nigeria to step up regional cooperation to more effectively tackle insecurity – and that is what Mr. President has been doing.
“Gentlemen, President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country. Not only has he done so much. President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue, fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.
“By boosting the number and capacity of our fighting forces, Mr. President is putting them in good stead to tackle insecurity not just during the life of his Administration but long after he would have left office. President Buhari is leaving a legacy of security, infrastructural development, economic prosperity and social cohesion for Nigeria. This may not seem obvious today, amidst daunting challenges, but posterity will be kind to this President.
“Please permit me to use this opportunity to commend the military, police, civil defence and other security, intelligence and para-military agencies for their continued service to the nation. It is important to remember that our men and women in uniform sacrifice their sleep and comfort so we can in turn sleep well.
“Even as we continue to battle insecurity, it will be uncharitable on our part to suggest they are not doing enough, or not to appreciate their sacrifices. The recent massive surrendering of Boko Haram terrorists and the huge pressure on bandits represent a testament to the effectiveness of the efforts of our security agencies. We should encourage them to do more, instead of pillorying them.”
The Minister said the use of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders of all hues, can only overheat the polity and heighten tension.
He asked Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the government at addressing security challenges in the country.
Mohammed said: “Finally, while there is nothing wrong in the citizens expressing their concerns over the insecurity in the country, we wish to say that the use of incendiary and insulting words, especially by leaders of all hues, can only overheat the polity and heighten tension.
“While the government provides leadership, all Nigerians have a role to play in securing our nation. Security is not the sole responsibility of the security forces alone.
“We must not only support our security agencies, we must also say something anytime we see something that hampers our safety and security, as encapsulated in the mantra: ‘’If you see something, say something.’’
Asked why the Federal Government’s position on the status of bandits, Mohammed said:” I think the AGF went to court and got a declaration. As far as the law is concerned today, bandits are terrorists. But it is not me or you that will say that they are terrorists, the court has made a declaration.
Regarding gazette on the court declaration, the Minister said: “There is a process for everything, we should be patient. The Attorney-General of the Federation won’t go to court for nothing. For the AGF to go to court, it is the biggest step to declare bandits as terrorists.”
Responding to a correspondent, the Minister insisted that Buhari has improved security architecture of the nation than he met it.
He said: “Since assuming office in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to make the issue of security a major plank of his administration’s policy. This is not a surprise, considering the fact that the fight against insecurity is one of the three priority areas of the APC-led Federal Government.
“Yes, the security situation has continued to pose a great challenge, but amidst the cacophony of voices – some genuinely concerned about the situation and others ready to exploit it for selfish ends – it is easy to forget where we are coming from.
“Today, we only look at the current situation, without wondering what would have been had this President not taken the bull by the horns, as far as security is concerned.
“With the way the insurgents were going before this Administration came into office, with their control of a vast swath of land the size of Belgium, with their freewheeling attacks in almost a dozen states, including the Federal Capital Territory which was hit at least five times, perhaps they could have achieved their aim of declaring an Islamic State in Nigeria, if President Buhari had not acted decisively.
“After all, in 2014, Boko Haram declared a Caliphate in Gwoza after capturing Bama and Gamboru as well as other towns and villages in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. They installed their own Emirs, collected taxes and flew their flag before the military dislodged them.
“Yes, banditry and kidnapping have added to the state of insecurity, President Buhari has also continued to provide quality leadership in order to ensure that our security agencies decisively tackle the cankerworm of insecurity of any hue.”
Starting from January 2022, officers of the Nigeria Police Force will start to receive a new increased salary.
Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, made this known on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
According to the minister, police officers will also receive a six percent increase in their duty tour allowance and shift allowance starting from next year.
He said the FEC also approved the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of uninsured benefits and the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of outstanding allowances.
Dingyadi said the council approved a 20 percent upward review of salary for the police force in order to improve the relationship between the force and the citizens.
He added that the approval was in consonance with President Buhari’s promise to enhance police personnel pay as demanded by #EndSARS protesters.
Dingyadi also announced a tax waiver of N18.6 billion for personnel between Grade Levels one to Grade Levels 14.
The minister said that the sum of N13.128 billion was approved for outstanding death benefits for 5,472 police personnel.
He, however, said that the payment would only begin after the Auditor General of Federation must have scrutinized it.
“We are also pained to inform the public that ASUU has activated its process of resuming the conditionally suspended strike immediately…”
The Bauchi zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is forcing university lecturers to go on indefinite strike over its failure to implement the 2009 agreement.
“Should we embark on strike, know that we are forced, and government should be held responsible and accountable,” said ASUU zonal coordinator Lawan Abubakar at a press conference on Tuesday in Jos.
The union had on November 14 issued a three-week ultimatum to Mr Buhari’s regime to do the needful or face an indefinite strike.
“We are also pained to inform the public that ASUU has activated its process of resuming the conditionally suspended strike immediately after the expiration of the three-week ultimatum,” added the ASUU coordinator.
Mr Abubakar, represented by his predecessor, Nanmwa Voncir, noted that the agreement was renegotiated in May 2020, yet the regime remained adamant about not implementing it.
The ASUU coordinator advised the regime to implement the 2009 agreement with the union to avert a strike by its members.
Mr Abubakar further stated that Mr Buhari regime’s lackadaisical attitude towards addressing ASUU demands would force the union to take the drastic decision of embarking on an indefinite strike.
He explained that the union’s demands were not personal but aimed at lifting the standard of university education in the country.
“The Bauchi zone of ASUU feels that the government has been tolerated enough, and we cannot continue to entertain its officials who are failing to do the needful for over the years,” Mr Abubakar stressed. “Impending strike action can be avoided if government officials can do what they failed to do in the last one year.”
He added, “We are, once again, pained to bring these issues to the public domain because more than a year after suspending the 2020 strike, little progress has been made towards implementation.”
Mr Abubakar, who decried the sorry state of public universities in Nigeria, called on parents, students, and the public to continue to understand and support the union in its bid to regain the lost glory of public universities in Nigeria.
“These universities are public properties, and as stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we have a role to play, regaining its lost glory. Today, our public universities don’t have infrastructures; our laboratories and other facilities are obsolete,” the ASUU coordinator further stated. “We are pretending to be teaching, and the students are pretending to be learning.”
Man creates a scene after breaching Bishop David Oyedepo‘s security as he ascends to the pulpit at Living Faith Church, Canaanland, in Ogun.
The incident which reportedly occurred two Sundays before the 2021 Shiloh programme captures the moment a supposed desperate man for miracle dashed to the pulpit to grab unto the pastor’s leg.
The security team on the altar, including Oyedepo’s son struggled to get the man off the preachers leg as he held on tight almost causing Oyedepo to fall on his feet.
Man breaches Bishop Oyedepo’s security, creates a scene during service (Video)
“The NNPC is once again giving Nigerians strong assurance that we have product sufficiency that will last far beyond the festive period,” said the statement.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) says it will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a sufficient supply of petrol to every part of the country during and beyond the forthcoming festive period.
Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr Garba Muhammad, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The NNPC expressed appreciation to Nigerians for always heeding its advisories to avoid panic buying.
“The NNPC is once again giving Nigerians strong assurance that we have product sufficiency that will last far beyond the festive period,” said the statement. “Indeed, our stock has risen from a reserve of 1.7 billion litres to over two billion litres within the last one month.”
Therefore, the national oil company urged Nigerians not to engage in panic buying but to “fully enjoy the spirit of the festive season.”
While appreciating Nigerians for their understanding and support, NNPC promised that it would not relent in always ensuring a sufficient supply of petrol.
“We wish you all happy celebrations,” added the NNPC statement.
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said he will consult widely before making a decision on whether to run for the Presidency in 2023.
He made the remark after a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Northern Alliance Committee in Abuja.
“I am not going to turn them down,” he said of voices that have clamoured for his candidacy. “But I will still effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians
“But the President is still in office. I don’t want to distract him from all the challenges he might face today. So, don’t muddle the political waters. Consult, make our program known to the people later. And the intention is clear. So you can keep guessing.”
Tuesday’s meeting is seen as part of his consultations towards his 2023 presidential ambitions.
Some South-West politicians, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have openly endorsed Tinubu for President.
