News Archives - Page 82 of 282 - SocietyGazette.com

‘You Know Nothing About Nigeria’— Atiku Hits Back At Sowore Over $16bn Power Sector Embezzlement Claims

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has replied Omoyole Sowore who is also contesting for the country’s top job in 2023 saying the African Action Congress presidential candidate does not understand how the Nigerian power sector works.

Atiku reacted in an interview on Arise Tv monitored by THE WHISTLER.

Atiku had on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 criticised the country’s energy crisis particularly, the collapse of the national grid for the sixth time in 2022.

He had tweeted, “I am reliably informed that there was a total National Grid Collapse at precisely 12:23pm today. This is one collapse too many. It is the 6th time this is happening this year alone.”

Sowere however accused the presidential candidate of spending $16bn to procure darkness for Nigerians.

“The National Electrical grid collapse started when you and Obasanjo invested $16bn to procure darkness for Nigeria, the @MBuhari regime came to gazette grid collapse as a law. Alhaji @atiku, don’t pretend that you care about the National Grid!” Sowore had replied.

Industry data from the Federal Ministry of Power in Abuja showed that power generation on the grid had reached a peak of 4,091.6MW on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

It plunged to 3,921.8MW on Wednesday morning and later crashed to about 50MW leading to the collapse of the National grid.

But Atiku admitted that transmission was at 4,000MW before the government started investing $16bn in the power generation project. He blamed the failure to improve power supply on the distribution companies (DisCos).

“He is opponent what do you expect him to say? He has all along lived outside this country, he doesn’t even know the policy we implemented and even the policy initiative. When we came in, the total generation was about 4000MW, we initiated the building of nine additional power stations.

“By the time those nine were finished, the capacity had gone up from four to about 13,000MW, but unfortunately, there was no corresponding increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned,” the former VP said.

He argued that when the transmission cannot evacuate the generation, “there is no way they will not collapse, so they kept on collapsing.”

The PDP flag bearer explained that the “nine additional power stations were completed by (Goodluck) Jonathan. Umaru (Musa Yar’Adua) was on it, he died and Jonathan continued and he completed them.”

“He (Sowore) doesn’t even know. What does Sowore know about this country? Nothing.”

Atiku also said during their tenure which ended 2007, he advised President Olusegun Obasanjo on the decentralization of power generation and transmission.

Atiku also revealed that his foreign exchange policy will be different from what is currently obtainable under the President Buhari administration.

Naira has depreciated to N635 per dollar at the parallel market, while the official Central Bank rate is N415.9 to the dollar.

The PDP candidate said the best possible option is to converge the parallel market rate and the official rate, a move he believes would solve the forex crisis.

“Exchange rate is CBN’s policy. I’m not expected to interfere in such, but what I expect to see is a convergence of the CBN exchange rate as well as the parallel market rate.

“I’m a market-oriented person. I believe in the forces of the market. This is what I expect the CBN to achieve- convergence of the exchange rate.”

Osun: I’m Not An APC Member, I Only Work For The APC Government – Femi Adesina

The special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina has denied being a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adesina on Thursday submitted that APC is only his preferred party but he is not a member of the party, adding that he is a Buharist as well.

Naija News reports he made the stand known in an article released on Thursday in which he reacted to those calling him out after the APC lost the July 16 governorship election in his home state of Osun.

It will be recalled the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke on Saturday, defeated the incumbent governor and candidate of the APC, Gboyega Oyetola.

This led many to start calling out APC stalwarts from the state including Adesina on how they couldn’t deliver their very own state.

However, Adesina on Thursday in an article titled ‘OSUN: BUHARI DOES IT AGAIN’ said though he would have preferred Oyetola as his preferred candidate to win the election, he is not a stakeholder in the Osun election as people painted it to be.

In his words, “I’m also a Buharist, a firm believer in the ideals of that honest man, the Mai Gaskiya from Daura, in Katsina State, though I am not a registered member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It was, therefore, laughable for some people to try and rope me into Osun State politics, as the gubernatorial election held last Saturday. First, they came up with the news that Femi Adesina had lost his ward to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Which Femi Adesina. Me? Or another one? Do you lose what you don’t participate in?”

He further clarified that contrary to insinuations that the PDP defeated the ruling party in his ward, the APC actually won in his ward.

“Out of curiosity, I checked. The APC had, indeed, won my ward, in the Post Office area of Ipetumodu by 176 to PDP’s 130 votes. But it didn’t matter. It just shows how heinous and petty some people can be,” he added.

On his membership of the APC, Adesina said while he is sympathetic to the party, he is not a registered member of the APC and those calling him out after the party’s loss in Saturday’s governorship election should be properly guided.

“My position is this. I work for an APC government, and it is my preferred party. But member? Not so. I have always rooted for good APC candidates and I would have loved if Governor Gboyega Oyetola had won in Osun last weekend,” he declared.

Adesina also added that he would most likely never be a member of the APC.

“Yes, APC is my preferred party, but I’m not a member, and won’t likely be, with my eyes set on farming and media work after leaving government service,” he added.

Buhari Govt To Spend N30.2 bn On NASS Complex Rehabilitation

The Muhammadu Buhari-led government is set to spend the sum of N30.222 billion to rehabilitate the National Assembly Complex.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Musa Bello, said this on Thursday during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on FCT to various project sites being constructed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) in Abuja.

Bello said the cost approval of NASS complex rehabilitation by President Muhammadu Buhari was N37 billion which was included in the 2020 budget of the Federal Capital Development Administration.

He said the amount was downwardly reviewed to N9.25 billion in the revised 2020 budget to enable the FCDA to pay contractors, leaving a balance of N21.025 billion.

According to him, the total cost of rehabilitation work which stood at N30,229, 290,830.35 billion was not part of the National Assembly’s annual budget of N128 billion as insinuated in some quarters.

He also disclosed that the contract, which was awarded on 30th December 2021, has a completion period of two years.

He stated that the National Assembly Phase II, popularly known as “the White House” was realised from 1996 to 1999 by ITB Nigeria Ltd without any major rehabilitation works carried out on the building over the years.

Speaking on other projects embarked upon by the administration, the Minister said the Federal Secretariat complex and the construction of the Southern parkway from Christian Center to ring road had commenced.

He said other projects are rehabilitation of the expansion of Outer Southern Expressway, provision of engineering infrastructure for Wuye District, rehabilitation and expansion of Outer Southern Expressway Villa Roundabout and completion of B6, B12 and Circle Road in Central Area.

The Minister pointed out how the FCDA decided to prioritize key projects due to paucity of funds, but assured that all projects which were ongoing would be completed in record time.

Bello further indicated that the ministry is determined to ensure that a number of projects are completed before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

On his part, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT Senator Tolu Odebiyi (APC Ogun-East), who led the committee members, expressed happiness with the quality of the projects being constructed.

“We believe that in the twilight of this administration, in the next month, it is important we catalogue all the projects that are being done and prioritize the ones that must be completed before the end of this term.

“This is so that we can also make sure we provide the adequate funding and budget for it.

“Their budget is going to be forwarded to us very shortly and it is important we come and see the state of the work and the completion rate of the programme before we take them on,” he said.

Nigeria Needs Competent Hand and not Religion Inclined Leader – Prophet Israel of Genesis Global

… Lambast Christians Leaders Who are Causing Religious Divide in the Country

“According to the Bible, when God created Adam he did not create him a Christian or Muslim he only created him a man. Since both the Christian and Muslim believe in the Adamic creation it is surprising how those who are supposed to be unifying us through the teachings of the Bible are now trying to separate us hiding under Christianity” This are the words of Prophet Israel Oladele of the Genesis Global Church recently in Lagos.

The renowned prophet in a statement made known by his media aide Oluwaseun Fabiyi, expressed his shock at how some Pastors people are looking up to has thrown the teachings of the Bible to the trash for the teaching of self-interest, and are in the process causing disunity amongst the same people God wants them to unite.

Not taking away the fact that Pastors are also human but Prophet Genesis as he is fondly called is of the belief that the public utterances of most of this supposed spiritual head reeks more of carnality than spirituality it was supposed to be. He was of the belief that reasoning of people in such a position should not only be spiritual but also intellectually sound.

He cited the fact that rather than make religious pronouncements on issues that can further disintegrate the country the candidates should be asked how the interest and conditions of living of the people will be protected and bettered.

In reference to the unveiling event that took place in Abuja on Wednesday, Genesis questioned the decision of the supposed spiritual leaders, CAN leadership and others, why they did not use the event to ask salient questions of the APC candidates as regards to the position of the Christians.

Against the believe that any Christian that supports Tinubu has been paid, Prophet Israel Genesis states “I can say this on the podium anywhere, and I have said it severally in the past and I will never desist but rather continue saying it, No Politicians or Nigerian leaders has ever gave me money to voice out, likewise I’m not advocating for Celestial body neither CAN but rather agitating/advocating for the Nigerian Youths because I’m a Nigerian and a vibrant youth prophet of God and I am entitled to my opinion. I’m not bothered if anybody decides to take this piece personal or read it out of context as the fact remains; truth is always bitter.”

The prophet stated further that he’s not afraid of letting people know of his Muslim background which he would never kick against as we are all same Nigerians and God’s hand made.

The World Famous Prophet, Israel Genesis Global also made it known to his media aide that he would rather die in Speaking the truth always than to live in telling lies as he promised never to relent in preaching the truth to the whole world.

Huawei, partners organize job fair for Nigerian youths

As part of its talent cultivation strategy, Huawei Technologies (Nigeria) Limited is set to host a job fair for Nigerian youths.

The job fair, scheduled to hold on the 3rd of August, 2022 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja is intended to attract, qualified candidates for job opportunities in IP technologies, Information Technologies, Channel management, Programming, Data Engineering, Account Management, Delivery Management, Procurement, Channel Sales and others.

This will afford candidates the opportunity to listen and connect to prospective employers. Recruiters would be looking out for Huawei certified applicants, experienced applicants, Interns and graduate trainees. The company says this is also open to NYSC members needing a place of primary assignment.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and most populated country with great potentials for development, especially in ICT. The ICT sector is crucial to it’s national growth, a strong tool for sustainable development, increasing productivity and Economic expansion.

The job fair is intended to attract, qualified candidates for job opportunities, in IP technologies, Information Technologies, Channel management, Programming, Data Engineering, Account Management, Delivery Management, Procurement, Channel Sales and others.

Companies in attendance will include Huawei, its partners, customers and contractors. This is one of the profound components of Huawei skills development strategy and the youths are urged to seize the opportunity by ensuring that they market themselves and showcase their potentials.

The Job Fair is an important part of the Huawei talent ecosystem development strategy which aims at developing talents, promoting a favorable business environment and strengthening partnership within the industry.

A key aspect of ICT development in Nigeria is the cultivation of ICT talents in all industries. Looking to bridge the gap between Industry requirements and the Academia, Huawei continually leverages on the technologies, knowledge, experience, and successful practices it has gained over years of operations in the ICT industry to cultivate more high-quality ICT talent. Huawei does this through building sustainable partnership between the Industries, Government and the Academia.

As part of this, Nigeria’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy recently partnered with Huawei towards developing ICT Talents by signing an MOU with the Ministry of Communications and digital economy to train 3,000 students in ICT thereby expanding the digital economy. This is done through different initiatives, one of which is the Huawei ICT Academy which has partnered with over 100 educational institutions in Nigeria, including Ahmadu Bello University, University of Port Harcourt, University of Ibadan, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic and other renowned institutions.

‘Inhumanity To Man’- Abia State College of Education Staff Lament Non-Payment Of 29 Months Salary Arrears

The College of Education Association Staff Union, COEASU, has vowed to continue with the ongoing industrial action following the non- payment of 29 months salary arrears owed staff of the Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, by the State government.

The union, after an emergency meeting on Tuesday, said staff of the institution live in deplorable condition due to non-payment of their salary arrears.

In an interview with THE WHISTLER on Wednesday, Chairman COEASU, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu chapter, Comrade Kevin O Egesi, revealed that the nonchalant attitude of the state government towards teacher education was condemnable.

The union further accused the college management of refusal to promote staff for more than 7 year and to implement financial increment from 2008 till date.

He said: “In the meeting held on 19th July, 2022 the National Executive Council of COEASU agreed to continue with the strike action going on in the Colleges. Agreed to meet again in three weeks time.

“Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu staff are in a very deep suffering because of 29 months salary arrears owed to them. Abia State Government’s nonchalant attitude towards teacher education development and non release of subvension to the college have killed many staff, rendered many homeless and scattered many families. What is our offence in working for the state.

“The college management refused to promote staff for more than 7 years and also refused to implement financial increment from 2008 till date. Non- remittance of deducted union check-off dues by the management to cripple the union is a big offence. And the continuing deduction of staff salary by 15% for more than 2 years now. What a management, man inhumanity to man.

“Based on all these plight and suffering of the workers, strike continues in Asceta till all our demands are done.We will all see light at the end of the tunnel. Aluta continua”.

Recall that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on Tuesday withdrew the accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, for failing to pay staff salaries and allowances for over 30 months.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesperson for NBTE, Fatima Abubakar, said the accreditation was withdrawn because the polytechnic had not shown any commitment to offset the arrears and ensure regular payment of salaries.

NNPC Quietly Approves Petrol Pump Price Hike To N179/Litre

The increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol from N165 per litre to N179 per litre has been approved by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
The new price approved by NNPC is expected to take effect today across the country as it directs fuel marketers to change the petrol price on pumps today.

NNPC also increased the ex-depot price from N148.17 to N167 per litre.

The decision was reached weeks after fuel marketers adopted different prices following petrol scarcity across the country.

Some filling stations had changed the price on their meter, while others left the approved retail price of N165 per litre but were selling above the displayed price.

Some filling stations were dispensing fuel for motorists for around N170 to N175 per litre.

Tinubu Visits Pastor Adeboye Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has met with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, following the controversy trailing the Muslim-Muslim presidential preference of the ruling party

THISDAY had reported yesterday that Tinubu had set up a team of eminent persons with whom he was scheduled to meet the Christian leaders within the party and faith-based organisations like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Catholic, to appeal to them and secure their buy-in.

A source in the Tinubu Campaign team, who pleaded anonymity, informed THISDAY that the plan, which was going to be a holistic approach to the crisis, was to make the Christian community see reasons behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket, adding that Tinubu decided to lead a team to appeal to the Christian community.

But THISDAY yesterday gathered that the meeting with Adeboye was actually held on Sunday at the Redemption camp.

A reliable source, who also pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that the meeting with Adeboye was very fruitful, adding that the clergy was not against a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Though THISDAY could not confirm those on Tinubu’s entourage to the meeting with Adeboye, it was reliably gathered that the wife of the presidential hopeful, Senator Oluremi,was there.

“He met Adeboye on Sunday. The meeting was very fruitful. He (Adeboye) is not against Muslim-Muslim ticket,” the source said.

Asked who was with Tinubu at the meeting with Adeboye, the source insisted “his wife”, stressing that Tinubu would soon meet with the leadership of CAN.

Kemi Nelson: We Have Lost A Very Bright Light, Obasa Mourns

With the passing of Chief Kemi Nelson, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State has lost a very bright light, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has said.

Chief Nelson, a former South-West Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died on Sunday at the age of 66 after a brief illness.

Dr. Obasa, in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, described the death of the politician as a huge loss to Lagos state, the party she served with so much passion and enthusiasm, members of the party and Nigeria.

“The shock is indescribable. It is so huge and painful, one that will be difficult to heal for a long time. Indeed, we lost a very bright light that had always brought the desired radiance to our party.

“Chief Kemi Nelson was a coordinator of women and she carried out her tasks with so much ease, enthusiasm and effectiveness to the admiration of everyone of us.

“She never hid her passion for a better Lagos and Nigeria through democratic governance. She was dilligent and excelled in every position or committee she found herself.

“While I, like many others she held in high esteem, will personally miss her, I pray that God would strengthen every member of her family, her friends, associates, those she mentored, the GAC and our party,” Obasa prayed.

Chief Kemi Nelson, former Executive Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and influential politician, was a senatorial candidate in 1992. She lost the election to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now presidential candidate of the APC ahead of the 2023 election.

In 1999, she pitched tents with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and served in the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly

My Heart Cries For Nigeria Says Prophet Joshua Iginla As He Speaks On Tinubu’s Choice Of Shettima As Running Mate, kuje Prison ( Video)

The General Overseer of the Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla has taken shared his view on the trending Muslim-Muslim APC ticket after Chief Bola Tinubu opted for the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2023 presidency. The prophet also went further to plead with Nigerian leaders to fix the country.

According to Prophet Joshua Iginla, he wondered why APC would be so insensitive by going for a muslim-Muslim ticket. “I asked myself, in a country like Nigeria with too much strong religious beliefs, why will the ruling party go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket? Why will their presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, go with that view? I asked myself again, if we don’t know, we are sounding the drum of war in a place where there is unity, peace and understanding despite our differences. Nigeria is a country for all and does not belong to a particular set of religion. It has never happened before in this country. Why now?

“If we must make Nigeria great, we must allow equity, justice and sensitivity to be the watch of the day for our leaders. I am pleading in my heart, this was not the Nigeria I was born to. This was not the Nigeria that our great heroes fought for. What is going on? Our leaders, please save us because the Muslim-Muslim ticket is a sign of war”.

Meanwhile, the prophet also touched the issue of insecurity when he commented on Kuje prison break. He said the Nigerian military is among the best in Africa but wonder why the country could not replicate that standard in her nation. He further said the security bodies should wake up.

Speaking on Kuje Prison attack and a message to Nigerian leaders, the prophet said, “Kuje prison break is the one that left me speechless. Why? It happened in a country with the highest ranking military capacities in Africa. Sometimes I ask, is it not the same military that fought wars in Africa and came out victorious? The Giant of Africa has now become the sleeping brother of Africa. In the history of this country, we have never experienced such a thing before.

“It is because of insensitivity of our leaders that insecurity increased in this nation. If they are conscious of things to happen, they will take a step to remedy the issue. In Nigeria, before anything happens, the signs are clear if only our leaders can be more sensitive to detect them on time.

“Finally, this is my message to our leaders. I am sorry to say this, many of our elected leaders don’t feel the pains of the masses. Please in the name of whatever you hold dear, fix this county. This was not the Nigeria my parents told me about”.

Prophet Joshua Iginla started by saying, “As a pastor, my phone rings everyday. What are they asking for? They are looking for food to eat. Today, a Dollar is about N600. Today, our diesel is up to N800 per litre. Today, there is insecurity everywhere that many are gradually moving to arming themselves. We are afraid to be in church; we have become the security of ourselves after the Owo massacre. If the church can be attacked, no one is safe again”.

Watch the Explosive Video: