In continuation of his consultations and engagements with critical stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond on his decision to contest for the presidency in 2023, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will on Sunday (today) visit the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
According to Asiwaju Progressives Oyo, Tinubu will use the visit to hold court with the Alaafin, Obas and chiefs in his domain.
The APC leader had earlier visited the Presidential Villa, where he informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his aspiration.
Since declaring for the race while speaking with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu had interfaced with Northern leaders led by former Presidential Liaison Officer to former President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai.
He had visited Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari and Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle to consult and also sympathise with them over the incessant bandit killings in the two states.
He met with Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also on the same matter.
The consultations has also taken Tinubu abroad, where he met members of APC United Kingdom chapter and Nigerians in the Diaspora among others.
Only last weekend, he visited the four paramount rulers in Ogun State: Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; and Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi.
Wilfred Machage, Kenya’s high commissioner to Nigeria, is dead.
Machage was appointed high commissioner to Nigeria in January, 2018.
He reportedly collapsed at his Abuja residence on Saturday, after which he was rushed to the hospital.
Confirming his death, Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs, in a statement, expressed sadness over Machage’s demise.
The statement reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets to announce the sudden death of Hon Dr. Ambassador Wilfred Machage, Kenya High Commissioner to Nigeria, which occurred today.
“Ambassador Machage collapsed at his home and was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after at around 12.30pm, Saturday afternoon, in Abuja, Nigeria.”
His wife was present with him at his residence when he collapsed.
Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari for refusing to sign the electoral act amendment bill into law.
Aisha is of the opinion that signing the electoral bill into law is an opportunity for the president to leave a lasting legacy before leaving office.
Naija News reports that the activist shared her thoughts via Twitter.
She wrote: “Buhari doesn’t even like himself! Otherwise he would be the one championing and doing everything possible to ensure that the electoral bill is passed!
“How can someone spend 8 years with zero positive legacy?! Ahhhhhhh!
“The people that placed a curse on him did him bad!”
There have been unconfirmed claims that the reason for the delay in signing the bill is because some governors and top leaders of the APC are insisting the president does not sign the bill.
People are also concerned that the delay might lead to legal uncertainties which will inevitably threaten the integrity of the off-cycle elections in Ekiti, Osun and the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, the Kenya ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage has been confirmed dead after collapsing at his Abuja home.
In a statement to newsmen on Saturday, Machage was pronounced dead at hospital in Abuja.
The statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the ambassador’s wife was with him when he collapsed. Read more
The Adamawa state government has announced the banning of the sale and interstate transportation of livestock.
The Secretary to the State Government, Bashir Ahmad, in a statement revealed that the reason the state took such a decision was due to the amount of levy placed on the livestock.
He went ahead to state that Lagos collects about N35,000 levy on a cattle and maintained that such high levy affects the amount of revenue generated per head of cattle.
Ahmad said that since they were solely responsible for rearing the cattle they would therefore harness the revenue made from it to improve the economy of the state.
According to him: “What we generate as revenue per head of cattle is low compared to what’s been collected along the road to the point of sale”
“People take cattle from Mubi market here, move it to Lagos, along the road they pay nothing less than N5000 per head in like, five revenue collection points.
“We concluded that as long as this thing starts from us, then we should be able to acrue revenue just as others are doing.
“As we’ve seen how much revenue is generated outside the state from our cattle, we decided to harness it to improve our economy.
“To achieve that from now, we will work on value-chain of the cattle by moving it from the market to an abattoir within the state, slaughter it, process it by separating the bones, the horns and we’ll package the beef for shipment to markets in Lagos and other states.”
The Executive Director and Group Chief Finance Officer of Oando Plc, Olufemi Adeyemo, has resigned his appointment from the company and the board, the company has announced.
Adeyemo’s resignation is coming in the heat of the company’s participation in the importation of off-spec methanol blended fuel into the Nigerian market.
The company was one of the suppliers that imported the methanol blended petrol through four Premium Motor Spirit cargoes under its Direct Sales Direct Purchase arrangement.
The four companies that supplied the methanol blended petrol are MRS which made the importation through a vessel named MT Bow Pioneer, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium through vessel identified as MT Tom Hilde, Oando through a vessel named MT Elka Apollon, and Duke Oil.
But the company had denied participation in the importation of the off-spec petrol until the revelation made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
“Adeyemo played a major role in the growth and success of the Oando Group. He was pivotal in the execution of several notable accomplishments, including but not limited to; the 2014 landmark acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigerian assets, the 2015 Rights Issue, and various restructuring programs within the Group,” the company said of the former staff who joined back in October 2005.
The ex- director’s resignation became effective February 18, 2022 and he has been replaced by Mr. Adeola Ogunsem.
Ogunsem was the company’s Chief Financial Officer of Oando’s upstream division, Oando Energy Resources as he joined the company on January 01, 2012.
The company said the new CFO has over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
Oando also expressed optimism that Ogunsem would make a positive contribution to the oil company.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday graced the birthday celebrations of former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Anyim’s 61st birthday celebration was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, was accompanied by aides and other government officials.
Also at the event are former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara and ex-Sokoto state state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, among others.
Speaking at the event, Jonathan described Anyim as a humble man who did well to serve Nigeria creditably when he was Senate President and SGF.
The former president also stated that Anyim can do better “if given the opportunity” having done well in previous positions.
This newspaper reports that Anyim has declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aphrodisiac seller Hauwa Saidu popularly known as Jaruma has once again challenged Regina Daniels after she was remanded in prison for some days.
Recall that Naija News earlier reported that Regina’s billionaire husband Ned Nwoko had filed a petition against Jaruma, accusing her of peddling fake news against him and his wife on her Instagram page.
The s3x therapist was arraigned before an Abuja high court on charges bordering on defamation of character, false news publication and intimidation.
Police Prosecutor, E. A Inegbenoise, informed the court that Nwoko had written a petition through his lawyer to the FCT command for proper investigation into the matter.
The judge, Justice Ismailia Abdullahi ordered that the defendant be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the bail hearing on Friday January 28. He then proceeded to adjourn the case to February 23, 2021 for trial. She was later granted bail and released.
However, it does not seem that Jaruma was intimidated by Nwoko’s law suit and has once again called out Regina Daniels on Instagram for not honoring their N10m contract.
2023: Why Nigeria Must Avoid Fire Brigade Approach To Election – Obasa
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Friday urged Nigeria to avoid what he described as “fire brigade approach” to the 2023 elections.
Dr. Obasa said this at the State’s 17th Legislative-Executive Parley stressing that adequate preparations were needed to make the elections successful.
According to him, there should be adequate voter education to avoid voter apathy, violence and cases of void votes during the exercise.
A statement by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, quoted him as saying that the fact that Nigeria is preparing for the 2023 elections means that democracy has become entrenched in the country.
“The fact that Nigeria is planning another election after twenty three years of democratic transition is a sign that democratic principles have been widely accepted in spite of the myriad of problems confronting the process.
“As the nation shows growing commitment to its stability, the time is ripe for civil society to prepare itself and the citizenry to demand power sharing in a truly participatory democracy,
“As is evident enough, the negligence of the importance of voter education has been responsible for violence, a bulk of void votes, and apathy during past elections. It is unfortunate that Nigeria operates fire brigade approach in some of our undertakings, especially as regards to voter education.
“As it were, political education is a prerequisite for enhanced political skills, knowledge and participation in democracy.
“Electoral violence and other factors such as cultural practices, family background, institutional and low level of political knowledge, no doubt, militate against political participation.
“The citizens for want of security, consequent upon electoral violence, develop aparthy toward political participation. Therefore, to maximize the benefits of political education programmes and ensure sustainable democracy in Nigeria, the government and other political education agencies should develop a pragmatic political education framework,” Obasa said.
He, however, advised that the responsibility of educating potential voters should not be left to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alone.
“Political parties, civil societies, religious and traditional institutions, as well as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should also collaborate with the electoral body in this regard.
“The government should be willing to fund such organisations in the voter education campaign, from the grassroots level upwards. When this is prioritised, the process of complaints where one’s name is omitted, the dangers of violence and rigging, how to protect votes and how to make votes count generally will be avoided,” he said.
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.
