Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to stand his ground and fight for his principles, amidst internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking at a media parley on Wednesday, marking his one year anniversary as a minister, Wike declared, “I don’t run away from any fight. I will stay there, I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? I cannot do that!”

Wike’s statement comes amidst speculation that he may leave the PDP due to the internal crisis in the party, particularly against him. However, the minister has consistently maintained that he will not abandon his principles, even if it means standing alone.

Less than 24 hours ago, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, to expel Wike from the party to save it from destruction.

In an open letter to Damagun, Clark stated: “I am writing to bring to your attention the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, who is using his closeness to President Bola Tinubu to intimidate the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the party.”

Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, said: “I cannot stand by and allow the minister to continue to hound the governor. If we do not stop him, the matter will consume him, Wike, and their cohorts.”

When asked by a journalist if he sees himself leaving the PDP in the future, Wike responded, “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, Did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things did they bring one member that won election?”

The minister also highlighted his commitment to principle, stating, “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of principle that if this is not done we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared the ‘Park n Pay’ scheme in Abuja illegal, following revelations that the scheme was being used to syphon government’s funds under the guise of a legal operation.

Wike made the announcement during a live media parley on Wednesday, marking his one year in office.

The FCT minister expressed his dismay at the scheme’s revenue-sharing formula, where private consultants received 80% of the collected funds, while the FCT administration received a mere 20%.

He condemned the arrangement, while highlighting a significant flaw in the system that allowed private entities to divert funds meant for government use.

Wike further stated that the incident was brought to his attention when a senior advocate reported an attempt by individuals claiming to be from the Transport Secretariat to seize vehicles from his office.

Upon investigation, Wike noted that he discovered that the people were operating under the ‘Park n Pay’ scheme, which he was previously unaware of.

THE WHISTLER reports that the scheme involved an agreement between the Transport Secretariat and private consultants, who collect the majority of the funds.

According to him: “The call from a senior advocate, brought to light a scheme that has been syphoning government funds under the guise of a legal operation.

“The scheme, which appears to have been operating under the radar, highlights a critical flaw in the system that allows private consultants to pocket the lion’s share of revenues meant for the government.

“These are things we need to fight within the system. Sometimes, if you don’t bring it to our attention, we may not know. We can’t be everywhere,” Wike emphasised, while noting the challenges faced in overseeing the sprawling FCT administration.

He continued, “The incident unfolded when a senior advocate reached out to me with a troubling report. He said, ‘Sir, some people came to our office and are trying to seize our cars. They claim to be from the Transport Secretariat’.

“I asked him to give the person the phone, and I asked the person, ‘Who are you?’ He said he is from ‘Park and Pay from the Transport Secretariat.

“I wasn’t aware of this, so I called the person in charge of it. I asked, ‘Who collects the money?’ Unknown to us, there are agreements between the secretariat and some people who claim to be consultants. So, the consultant takes 80%, and the FCT administration takes 20%,” Wike explained, visibly disturbed by the discovery.

The minister emphasised that such activities are illegal and promised immediate action to dismantle the operation.

“I’m trying to say that it’s illegal, and nothing like that exists. And if my colleague hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have known,” he stated.

In August 2023, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and a group of concessionaires of on-street parking, signed an agreement to restore the ‘park and pay’ scheme in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Olusade Adesola, who signed on behalf of the FCTA said that the move was to promote a culture of orderliness and organisation in vehicle parking.

According to him, the initiative will decongest the city and make motoring a more pleasant experience.

Mr Adesola explained that the scheme was suspended in 2014 by an Abuja High Court, on grounds that it was not backed by a law.

He also said that the earlier implementation was without the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Kano State government has moved against Governor Abba Yusuf’s political godfather, Musa Kwankwaso after the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) invited the former governor’s nephew Musa Garba Kwankwaso for questioning regarding alleged medical contract scam.

The state government has quickly moved to block N160 million by securing a post-no-debt on an account connected to the state’s local government contract where reports of corruption have been reported.

The government said the move is an effort to retrieve N440 million linked to the medical contracts.

Investigators from the anti-corruption agency are expected to question all those accused of being part of the alleged contract scam which includes Kwankwaso’s nephew, Musa Garba Kwankwaso.

He is anticipated to respond to inquiries about Novomed Pharmaceuticals’ possible role in the contract scam.

The contract was allegedly given without proper procedures, with revelation that each local government was expected to pay roughly N9m per month, for a total monthly payment of N396m.

The alleged scam was revealed by Bello Galadanchi, a Nigerian filmmaker and content creator, who claimed that the state government ordered each of the 44 local government councils to pay roughly N10 million for the drug supply, with Novomed Pharmaceuticals receiving the exclusive contract.

Galadanchi claimed that 25 local governments have already paid the company for August: Dambatta, Warawa, Garun Mallam, Dawakin Tofa, Shanono, Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Gezawa, Ungogo, Nasarawa, Ajingi, Kumbotso, Kabo, Kura, Madobi, Bichi, Tofa, Gwarzo, Rogo, Takai, Kiru, Makoda, Bebeji, and Gabasawa.

Once the terms of the elected council chairmen expired in March,

Governor Yusuf had formed interim management committees for the local governments after the expiration of the terms of council chairmen he inherited from the APC-led government in the state.

However, the interim committees have been accused of not operating in a transparent manner.

Governor Yusuf last week stated that he was unaware of the contract and immediately initiated an immediate investigation.

The chairman of the PCACC, Muhuyi Magaji, said: “We’ve already issued invitations to about five or six individuals, including the permanent secretary of the Ministry for Local Governments, the Director of Planning, and the Director of Local Government Inspection”.

According to him, the commission also called a meeting with the state secretary, the chairman of the Local Governments Directors of Personnel Management Forum, the forum’s public relations officer, and the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State.

Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in Nigeria have raised concerns over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) inconsistent dollar allocations, which they believe are impeding the recovery of the naira. The operators pointed out that the lack of regular and predictable dollar supply from the CBN is causing a loss of confidence in the foreign exchange (forex) market, leading to increased pressure on the parallel market.

To alleviate the forex scarcity, the CBN had approved the sale of $20,000 to BDC operators at a rate of N1450 per dollar on July 18, 2024. This measure was intended to strengthen the naira, particularly in the retail segment of the market. However, despite this intervention, the exchange rate remains high and volatile, with the dollar trading at N1590 in the parallel market.

Aminu Gwadebe, President of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), noted that the inconsistency in the CBN’s dollar supply has contributed to ongoing volatility in the forex market. He emphasized that the lack of frequent interventions has increased demand pressure and further weakened the naira.

“The problem is the streamlining, only once, is it on the 18th of July or so? Like you said, about three weeks, till now, no sales again,” Gwadebe remarked, highlighting the sporadic nature of the CBN’s interventions.

Gwadebe called for the CBN to engage in more frequent dollar sales to currency traders. He suggested that sales could occur once or twice a week to ensure a more stable and predictable flow of dollars into the market. According to him, regularity and volume, coupled with a clear cut-off time, would encourage market participants to engage more confidently, thereby improving liquidity and stabilizing the exchange rate.

“But if I know the window is open for one month for me to buy and with no cut-off time, and then I am not sure when it will come again, people will not be encouraged to come into the market,” he explained, stressing the need for consistency in the CBN’s forex interventions.

National Union of Electricity Employees, (NUEE), has threatened to shut down the power sector if the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is arrested.

WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), arm of the Nigerian Police Force, (NPF), had on Monday, August 19, invited Ajaero, for questioning over alleged Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime. 

NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, while reacting in a statement, said that NUEE noted with utter dismay the political machinations surrounding the police invitation of its General Secretary-cum-President of Nigeria Labour Congress – Comrade Joe Ajaero as a purported fall out of the politically-motivated investigation into an alleged trump up charges of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy and treasonable felony against him.

The statement noted that it was not only embarrassing, but childish and clueless for the Federal Government of Nigeria to take to the antics of witch-hunting, harassment, intimidation and name-calling instead of coming out openly to apologize to the Congress and its leadership for the unlawful invasion of NLC National headquarters few days ago.

According to the statement, the choice by the Government to stifle labour and free speech in the country as a tool to compel Nigerians to continue to suffer in silence in the face of government policies that were not favorable to the people was quite deplorable. 

The statement said, “Those in government, especially elected leaders, should be mindful of their actions in times like this, if they have the love of the country at heart.”

It emphasised that it was so painful to see this happening in a democracy where it is supposed to be ‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people’, lamenting that what Nigerians have is simply the government of the selected few, for themselves against the people.

The NUEE’s Acting General Secretary noted that it was a blatant abuse of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and International Labour Organization Conventions especially convention 87 and 98, was unacceptable and would be vehemently resisted.

The Union condemned in its entirety what it called Government’s interference in the Labour movement through the weapons of intimidation and official harassment of Labour Leaders, in the country, warning that in the event that Comrade Ajaero is arrested, they will have no choice but to go with the NLC directives.

NUEE called on their National, Zonal, State and Chapter leadership to commence immediate mobilization of their teaming members in Generation, Transmission and Distribution to withdraw their services in the event that Comrade Joe Ajaero is arrested.

They also called on the Federal Government to tread with caution as the entire Nation was angry and heated up already because of the hunger and hyper-inflation in the land.

According to NUEE, “The rights of citizens must be respected and guaranteed if the country must move forward.”

President Joe Biden recently revealed the reasoning behind his decision to step down from the 2024 United States presidential race. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention, Biden emphasized that his decision was not influenced by anger towards those urging him to step aside but was driven by his love for the country and the need to preserve democracy.

During his speech, which marked the culmination of his lengthy political career spanning over five decades, Biden reflected on his time as senator, vice president, and president. He expressed deep pride in his accomplishments while acknowledging the importance of stepping aside for the greater good. “I love the job, but I love my country more,” Biden stated, underscoring his commitment to the nation’s future.

Despite winning the Democratic nomination five months ago and being expected to run for a second term, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. He called on the crowd to support Harris and Tim Walz as the party’s president and vice president candidates.

Biden’s speech was punctuated by moments of reflection on key events that shaped his decision to enter the presidential race, including the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville and the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. He highlighted the importance of standing against hate and violence and reiterated his commitment to moving America forward.

In his remarks, Biden humorously acknowledged his age, noting that he was too young when he first entered the Senate at 29 and now too old to continue as president. However, he reassured the audience that he had always done his best to serve the American people.

Biden’s decision to step down and his endorsement of Kamala Harris reflect his dedication to ensuring the continued strength of American democracy, even if it means stepping aside from the role he has held with honour and distinction.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said it will not be silenced by state-sponsored harassment, intimidation, attacks and persecution, following the invitation of its President, Joe Ajaero, by the police on allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.

Naija News reports that one of the leaders of NLC in an interview with Vanguard said it remained committed to its opposition to mass suffering and hunger occasioned by the anti-people policies of the Federal Government, saying some interest groups are doing everything possible to silence the current leadership of Congress.

NLC also called on its affiliates to shut down the economy should Ajaero be arrested by the police.

The leader said, “There are grand designs by some interest groups to silence NLC under the current leadership. But they fail to understand that we cannot be silenced.

“We are fighting a just cause. We have the right to express our views in a democracy. The workers elected us to fight and make demands for them. They are hungry, they are suffering, and they are dying and are in pain. These are what we are telling the government which they do not want to hear. These are the reasons they are after us, trying to cow us by all means.

“The operator of the bookshop (Iva Valley) has been on the second floor of Labour House for years. We did not bring him there. If he has issues with the police, what concerns us? We believe the state is using this as a cover-up. They aim to emasculate Labour because of their vested interest.”

Meanwhile, human rights activist and lawyer to the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, has explained why Ajaero could not honour Police invitation for him to appear at the Force Headquarters on Tuesday, saying the labour leader can only appear on August 29.

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has accused the presidency and the National Assembly of being bandits against Nigerians.

Naija News reports that Ezekwesili made the comment while speaking on the purchase of the new presidential aircraft during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

She said there was no justification for the purchase of a new jet for the president when Nigerians were drifting into poverty every minute.

She added that nobody should pity President Bola Tinubu because he agreed with everything former President Muhammadu Buhari was doing.

She said, “That aircraft is 19-year-old. In everything that we have heard, they are trying to justify the purchase of the new aircraft.

“The fellows dare to play with the intelligence of the public. The executive, the presidency, the National Assembly, I think they have decided that they are the bandits.

“The political class has decided that they are bandits against Nigerians. Because I do not see how it is feasible that the priority of a government that has this level of biting hunger in the land, this level of poverty where people are dropping into poverty per minute will consider the purchase of aircraft for the president.

“The construction of N20 billion homes for the vice president; the purchase of all kinds of funny looking cars and the fleet of the National Assembly members and the executive, what exactly is that?

“I said it publicly that it would not be a piece of cake to run the economy because of the absolute devastation of everything that even resembled economic policy. I don’t think they were doing economic policy under President Buhari.

“But this administration agreed with everything Buhari was doing. There in their own case nobody should feel sorry for them.

“They were culpable in it. The problem with Nigerian societies is that they quickly forget things. I always complain about governance because I understand the basic principles.

“You cannot have education, an advanced one and have political literacy that then the country will not matter to you.”

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be transparent about the details surrounding the newly acquired presidential jet and the status of the older jets that are being sold off.

Obi made his appeal on Tuesday night via his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he raised concerns over the recent acquisition of the Airbus A330 jet by the Nigerian government.

The purchase of the jet, which reportedly cost $100 million, has been shrouded in controversy, especially after it was revealed that the aircraft had been seized by a French court as part of a legal dispute between a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, and the Ogun State government.

The newly acquired jet was used by President Tinubu during his working visit to France on Monday.

Despite earlier denials and conflicting reports surrounding the purchase, the French court’s involvement eventually brought the matter to light.

Obi emphasized the need for the Tinubu administration to provide full disclosure on the acquisition process and clarify the fate of the older jets being sold off from the presidential fleet.

The presidential candidate said, “Now that the Jet is here, can Nigerian taxpayers whose money was used to purchase it need to be privy to how much it cost and how old the aircraft is and how long its been in operation.

“In addition, Nigerians also deserve to know about how the old jets being disposed, how many of them, how old they are, and why they are being sold. Transparency and Accountability should be the hallmark of any genuine leadership.”

He said that the federal government would lose nothing but respect, if it failed to provide adequate information about its leadership to the people whose money was being deployed and whose mandate the President was holding.

“A presidential jet is a major symbol of national sovereignty and state power. How much it costs to transport the president, is a major issue of public accountability. I hope that Nigerians will not be denied the right of full disclosure on the new presidential jet,” Obi added.