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The police in Edo State have been given seven days ultimatum to arrest the killers of one Glory Adekolure.
Within Nigeria had reported on Wednesday how Adekolure, a UNIBEN fresh graduate, was beaten and raped to death by some yet-to-be-identified persons.
The incident was said to have happened at Iyowa Community, Benin City, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
After her gruesome murder, the body of the 22-year-old was dumped close to her mother’s house.
A family source disclosed that the 22-year-old was on her way home after processing her clearance forms when she she met her grisly end in the hands of the diabolical men.
Reacting to the incident, Obaseki directed Edo State Commissioner to go after the perpetrators of the heinous act.
The governor’s directive was contained in statement by the state’s communications and orientation commissioner Chris Nehikhare.
According to the statement, the state government expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
“Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye, to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act within the next seven days,” he said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu flew to Pretoria for yesterday’s second term inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on a chartered aircraft because of the poor state of the presidential jet, it was learnt.
The President left from Lagos on Monday aboard the chartered plane instead of the 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) nicknamed Nigerian Air Force 001, which is the official aircraft of the President.
A source in the government said the BBJ is undergoing C-Check making it unavailable for the trip.
Besides, other planes in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) are equally not in a good state to make the journey.
Earlier in the year, a trip by Vice President Kashim Shettima for an assignment in the United States (U.S.) was aborted at the last minute because his official jet developed fault.
The source said: “The President took a chartered plane to South Africa because most of the aircraft in PAF are currently undergoing routine maintenance because of their poor condition.
“The 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) being used by Mr. President is also affected. The plane is more than 20 years old.
“None of the other jets in the fleet could be recalled from where they are undergoing check to fly the President to South Africa.
“Technically, the aircraft which flew the President to Lagos for Eid-el Kabir was not fit enough to make the shuttle to the inauguration of the South African President.
“President Tinubu does not derive pleasure in flying about in a chartered jet. What will he gain? But when it comes to technical audit of the aircraft of PAF, safety is a top priority. It is better to mitigate any risk than aggravating it.”
There are 10 aircraft in the Presidential Fleet, including six jets and four helicopters.
They are Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) 737, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcons 7X, HS 4000, two Agusta 139 and two Agusta 101.
A source said no aircraft was in good condition to make a flight to South Africa.
The source explained that in the last one year, the President has been weighing options on how to reduce the aircraft in the presidential fleet from 10 to seven as part of cost-saving measures.
The three aircraft likely to be on the shelf are the 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), Falcon and Embraer jets.
The BBJ was bought at about $43 million when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo held the fort as President.
But the Federal Government has been advised to replace the Nigerian Air Force 001.
The presidency has spent over N80 billion since 2016 on the Presidential Fleet, which is being managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The breakdown of the past budgets on the Presidential Air Fleet is as follows: 2016 (N3.65 billion); 2017 (N4.37 billion; 2018 ( N7.26 billion); 2019 (N7.30 billion); 2020 (N6.79 billion); 2021 (N12.55 billion); 2022( N12.48 billion) and in 2023 about N25.7 billion, which comprised N13billion in the budget and N12.7 billion Supplementary Budget.
The President is believed to be uncomfortable with the rising cost of maintenance of the fleet.
Tinubu has asked for the reduction of the fleet from 10 to seven in the first phase.
Although a new aircraft may be acquired, there were indications that the fleet may be reduced by the President.
Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2016 proposed to sell two aircraft – Dassault Falcon 7x executive jet and a Beechcraft Hawker 4000 business jet.
Although preferred bidders had agreed to pay $24 million for the two aircraft, they later reduced their offer to $11 million, which was rejected by the Buhari administration.
[TheNation]
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said 23 local government councils in the state will operate from alternative secretariats following Tuesday’s sealing of the councils by the police.
The governor, who said this after swearing in the 23 local government caretaker committee chairmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said they could operate from anywhere.
Fubara stated this as the police barred the newly inaugurated caretaker chairmen from from accessing their offices in all the 23 LG headquarters. The secretariats were barricaded with police patrol vans manned by armed policemen.
The state police command had on Tuesday announced that it had taken over all the LG council headquarters to forestall further bloodshed and to prevent a breakdown of law and order.”
A policeman and a member of a local security outfit were killed during a clash between supporters of the governor and his predecessor, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike at Eberi-Omuma in the Omuma Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
Fubara and his predecessor have been embroiled in a bitter disagreement since late last year.
The crisis led to the bombing of the state House of Assembly last year, factionalised the House while the governor survived an impeachment by Martin Amaewhule led 27 lawmakers of the House loyal to the FCT minister.
The crisis worsened on Tuesday when youths loyal to the governor dislodged some chairmen loyal to Wike after the expiration of their tenure.
The three-year tenure of the 23 chairmen expired on Monday but they had vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 made by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
The law by the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Wike, empowers them to remain in office for six months due to the failure of Fubara to conduct local government elections.
Caretaker chairmen
The governor after swearing in the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen in the Government House on Wednesday, charged them to eschew violence, maintain the peace, and be guided by the Constitution.
Fubara also directed the Auditor-General of Local Governments to commence an immediate audit of the accounts of the 23 councils, adding the new appointees could operate from anywhere
He said that the swearing-in of the chairmen would ensure seamless administration of local governments following the expiration of the tenure of elected chairmen and councillors in the state.
He warned them against any form of confrontation, insisting that such was not in his nature and style but advised them to be law-abiding as they take full control of the local government councils.
He said, “Whatever happened yesterday (Tuesday), I know and the world knows that it is not from you people. Some people caused it. So, let us not allow them to continue to make our state look bad in the comity of states.
“So, when you go back, if there is any situation, you should be law-abiding. I don’t want any confrontation. You can operate from anywhere for now. But the most important thing is that you have the control of the local governments today.”
Fubara defends appointments
Defending the appointment of the caretaker chairmen, he stated, “What is happening here now is a defence of democracy. We will not allow the wrong precedent to be created in this country.
“It is not about Rivers State. It is not about Fubara. But if in any way this attempt at tenure elongation succeeds in Rivers State, it becomes a norm in Nigeria.
“So, we have taken it upon ourselves to say, not on our watch will it happen because it is completely alien to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Fubara wondered why the tenure of elected officers would expire, and they would want to perpetuate themselves in office against their oath of office and the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria.
The governor said such insistence to elongate the tenure of council chairmen would not happen in the state.
He pointed to the importance of knowing how the finances of the 23 Local Government Councils were managed in the last three years and directed the Auditor-General of Local Governments to begin auditing the accounts and make the report available within the next month.
He urged the new chairmen to ensure payment of the outstanding financial benefits and entitlements, including salaries of the immediate past chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors.
He added, “I am not of the class to say that because something happened, you should maltreat them. No. Whatever is their entitlements, ensure that they get them.”
Fubara instructed the caretaker chairmen to work hard to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order in their various council areas.
He added, “Please, I want to appeal to you that when you go back, I don’t want a crisis. Just manage the situation as much as you can. God does not start and end halfway. That is the truth. Since God has started with us, He will complete His work in our lives.
“I don’t want any fight. I don’t want any life to be lost because it does not earn me anything. We know that we can overcome, and we have been overcoming.”
Reiterating that the caretaker chairmen would soon leave office, he said, “Let me also sound very clear here that your tenures are not going to be too long because as a matter of fact before the end of today or tomorrow, there should be a process for the commencement of elective local government chairmen in our dear state.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led State House of Assembly loyal to the governor had during plenary screened and confirmed the nominees,
The list of seven-member nominees per local government council was forwarded to the Assembly under Section 9 (5) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, for screening and confirmation.
Secretariats shut
One of our correspondents who went round the state reported that the LG secretariats of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo and Ikwerre and other council headquarters across the state were under lock and key with police patrol vans stationed and fierce-looking operatives.
The caretaker Chairman of the Ikwerre LGA, Dr Darlington Orji, said he was not able to access the council following the barricade mounted by the police. He, however, said he had assumed duties and could control the council affairs from anywhere.
Orji stated, “The police have taken over the place. When the police have taken over the place, what do you expect me to do?”
When asked if had started work, he responded in the affirmative.
Also, the caretaker Chairman of the Ogu/Bolo LGA, Evans Bipi, who could not access the secretariat, inaugurated other committee members outside the council secretariat and charged them to serve with diligence and honesty.
He said although the council was shut, he had assumed duties.
One of our correspondents observed on Wednesday that the Federal High Court along Azikiwe Road and the State Judiciary complex housing the State High Court were locked, although no reason was been given, but it might be due the tension in the state.
Speaking to the correspondent on the development, the state Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu, said the LG council headquarters would remain shut for the time being due to the clash between the feuding parties.
Disu stated, “It is because two groups are fighting over something. Two groups are fighting over it. The other group is waiting to tackle them. We have to prevent them from clashing and killing one another like they did yesterday (Tuesday) and killed a policeman and one other person.
“So we have to prevent them from going in. We have locked up the local government secretariats. If we allow them (caretaker chairmen) to go in, other people will come out and clash. Then people will ask what are we doing as police officers?
“We are here to prevent a breakdown of law and to protect lives and property. So we know definitely if there is a clash, anything can happen. So we are doing our jobs of protection of lives and property.”
On why local government workers were not allowed into their offices, he said, “For the time being nobody should come in. If we allow local government workers to come in, others will sneak in. So it will still boil down to the same thing. How do we sit and those who are not workers sneak in?
“So it is better we lock up the place and ensure that there is peace. And that is exactly what we are doing.”
State of emergency
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress in the state has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state, saying the governor and the police are helpless over what it termed ‘war in the state.’
The state APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, while briefing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said, “I have been informed that the federal and state high courts cannot sit because of palpable fear. Young men are brandishing all manner of guns, so we are in trouble in the state. We are in a state of war.
“It is because the governor is un-teachable and he does not listen to counsel, even the counsel of the President. The APC in Rivers State is asking and demanding a state of emergency. That is the way it is so that you and I will live in peace. I say so because it will be too late to cry when the head is cut off.
“The Federal Government should do what it should do to ensure that this state of anarchy we are heading to, does not degenerate for us to be seeing fire everywhere.”
Noting the importance of the state in terms of the economy of Nigeria, he said the country would be in trouble if there was anarchy in the state.
But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, faulted the APC’s call for emergency rule, saying Okocha’s comments were not worth responding to.
Johnson stated, “On Tony Okocha I don’t think that what Okocha said is worth giving any attention. We should not break our heads over what Tony Okocha said.
“The other time he said there was a cholera outbreak. When the medical personnel visited the place they said there was nothing like that. Another day he (Okocha) said he was welcoming members of the House of Assembly who defeated the APC. What is the position today?
“He also said that he was going to ask the members of the House of Assembly to commence impeachment of the governor, what is the position today?”
On the police refusal to allow the CTC chairmen access to their various councils, the commissioner said,” I am not in a position to speak for the caretaker committee chairmen.
“I am the Commissioner for Information in Rivers State and I can only speak for the state government. The caretaker committee chairmen are in a better position to speak on the matter by themselves.”
But the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, faulted the call by the state chapter that President Bola Tinubu should declare a state of emergency in the state.
Duru, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, explained that there was no justifiable reason to drag the President into the crisis.
According to him, the matter is still within the purview of the law enforcement agents.
He said, “This is my personal view. This is something that lies within the purview of the law enforcement agents and Mr President cannot be dragged into matters such as this. Truly, we are in a democracy. What underpins democracy essentially is the rule of law, procedure and obedience to the relevant orders of the court
“So, Mr President cannot be dragged into isolated issues or issues that have to do with the functionalities of states such as this. That is my view.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the killing of the police officer and a vigilante operative in the state.
He also directed the probe of the general violence which erupted in the state.
During a clash between supporters of Fubara and Wike on Tuesday, in Port Harcourt, a policeman and a vigilante were killed.
The Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday, said the IG directed the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to heighten security measures across the state.
The statement reads, “The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, condemns in the strongest terms the recent outbreak of violence and subsequent breakdown of law and order at various local government council secretariats in Rivers State, where supporters of two political factions clashed over the tenure of local government council chairmen, which unfortunately led to the tragic deaths of a Police Officer – Inspector David Mgbada, and Samuel Nwigwe, a vigilante member at Eberi-Omuma in the Omuma Local Government Area.
“In response to these heinous acts, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olatunji Disu, to heighten security measures across the state and institute thorough investigations into the killing of the police officer and the vigilante operative, as well as the general violence which erupted in the state.”
Adejobi said Egbetokun also deployed operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.
“The IGP has specifically deployed operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers of the police officer and the vigilante member.
“The IGP seriously warns individuals and groups of people who have a penchant for senseless attacks and mindless killings of police officers and other security operatives across the country to desist forthwith as the fullest force of the law will be meted on them.”
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that there is a plot by the APC to take over the state, saying the plot has failed.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, while responding to a call for a state emergency by the Rivers State APC, called on the Federal Government and the APC’s national leadership to immediately intervene and advise Okocha (the state APC chairman) to cease his actions as they posed a threat to democracy and stability in Nigeria.
The statement read in part “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to yet another hallucinating press conference by the Rivers State Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Tony Okocha wherein he again fantasized that the will of the people of Rivers State as expressed in the governorship election which produced Governor Siminalayi Fubara can be upturned by the imagination of the APC.
“This reckless outburst by Tony Okocha further exposes the sinister plot by the APC in Rivers State which has been seeking ways to instigate crisis, forcefully overthrow a democratic order and impose an anti-democratic regime in Rivers State in clear violation of Section 1 sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The use of the word ‘war’ by Mr Okocha in his statement clearly shows an evil intention which has been firmly resisted and will continue to be resisted by the people of Rivers State.
“The APC in Rivers State should note that its malevolent scheme to instigate crisis and forcefully take over the state has failed. Rivers State is a stronghold of the PDP and the people are solidly behind the Government of the PDP in the state.”
[Punch]
As the nation awaits President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill on new minimum wage to the National Assembly, a host of states may need a bailout or retrench workers to be able to pay the N62,000 being proposed by the Federal Government and Organised Private Sector, OPS.
Although most of the states have been getting more allocations since the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, sources told Vanguard that the increment was paltry and not enough to sustain payment of N62,000 minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the Organised Private Sector, OPS, yesterday said there was nothing like agreement in the just concluded meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage but an alignment of interest.
This is coming as Governor Nasir Idris, of Kebbi State distanced himself from governors who gave hint of inability to pay N62,000 minimum wage.
This is even as Senator Ahmed Wadada, SDP, Nasarawa West, urged President Tinubu to approve at least N150,000 as the new minimum wage.
Currently, no fewer than 20 states are not paying any wage award to their workers to ameliorate the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, in spite of President Tinubu’s plea to them to emulate the federal government that is paying N35,000, in addition to the N30,000 minimum wage.
Lack of funds
Lack of funds, sources said, was the reason most of the governors are foot-dragging on the new wage negotiations, which they didn’t take active part in.
According to data on federal allocations to states before and after subsidy removal in May 2023, most of the states received between 20 and 25 per cent increment in allocations, while some others conversely, received less allocations.
The states’ gross allocations include revenues from statutory allocation, Value Added Tax, VAT, electronic money transfer levy, EMTL, Exchange Gain, and Augmentations as of when subsidy regime was in place and the non-subsidy regime in 2023.
Paltry increment in allocations
Indeed, the 36 states received N2.188 trillion from January to June 2023 before subsidy removal; and N2.305 trillion from July to December 2023 after subsidy removal. The increment is just N116.79 trillion (five per cent).
Lagos State got a 28 per cent increment in allocation. It got N130.55 billion between January and June 2023, and N167.68 billion between July and December 2023. Anambra’s increment was 16 per cent; Ondo (three per cent), Edo (four per cent), and Imo (13 per cent).
Ondo got N56.5 billion/N58.2 billion. Anambra was N46.6billion/N53.6 billion; Edo N57.5 billion/N49.97 billion; and Imo N47.08 billion/N53.4 billion.
States that received less allocation after subsidy removal were Akwa Ibom (33 per cent), Delta (26 per cent), Bayelsa (20 per cent), and Rivers (12 per cent). Akwa Ibom got N185.6 billion before subsidy removal and N125.3 billion after. Bayelsa received N138.6 billion/N110.9 billion. Delta got N244.6 billion/N180.7 billion; and Rivers received N173.6 billion/N153.1 billion.
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states received more allocation at the first half of the year when compared to the second half of the year of non-subsidy regime due to increase in the 13% derivation at the first half of the year and reduction in 13% derivation at the second half of the year.
Why states may have issues paying
Arguing that most states would have issues paying N62,000 as minimum wage, a governor said: The issue is not about the Federal Government, which Labour makes it look. What is being negotiated is a national minimum wage, not a federal government minimum wage for its workers.
“A national minimum wage affects states, local governments and private sector employers, especially SMEs and MSMEs. The first consideration in wage negotiation is affordability and ability to pay. Can states, local governments and private sector employers afford to pay?
“It means states and local governments will spend all their federal allocation and internally generated revenue and even borrow to pay their workers who are less than one per cent of their population. What will they spend on the rest of the citizens in the 36 states who need education, good roads, healthcare, security etc?
“There is need to consider the consequences on the economy, inflationary trend and possible layoff of workers if NLC/TUC blackmailed the government to agree on a minimum wage that is not realistic and sustainable.
‘’There is a general consensus that minimum wage should be increased but it has to be within a realistic band of what all parties can pay. That is why the private sector and government are offering N60,000.”
Idris distances self from unwilling govs
However, Kebbi State governor, Idris, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, said he was not aware of any meeting where governors made their stand known on the disputed N62,000 minimum wage.
The former unionist wondered when the meeting was held because he is a member of the negotiating committee and had been mediating between the federal government and organised labour on the minimum wage issue.
“I was not part of the meeting if it was even held and I will not be part of those who will not pay the agreed minimum wage. Like I did say at different public fora that I will pay the agreed amount, I stand by that.” he said.
He explained that, as a crusader for workers welfare and better pay, he would not abandon his people in these trying times, adding “as a member of the tripartite committee, I will continue to negotiate in favour of Nigerian workers.”
While urging both the federal government and organised labour to shift grounds to reach a common, acceptable and sustainable living wage, he pledged to implement the agreed sum to Kebbi workers.
No agreement, but alignment of interest — OPS
Meanwhile, the OPS has said that alignment of interest was reached at the just concluded meeting of the minimum wage tripartite committee and not agreement.
Spokesman of the OPS and the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, at a forum with Labour Writers Association of Nigeria, LAWAN, in Lagos, also diclosed that OPS was pushing for the new minimum wage to cover employers with 200 employees and above, against 2019 Minimum Wage Act that covered employers of 25 employees and above.
According to him, OPS is made up of different sectors with the Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs. Some are paying N35,000 as the baseline, and the big ones are paying about N70,000 or N75,000.
He said it would be unfair to legislate that these SMEs pay N62, 000 for instance, adding that explained the reason OPS was pushing that the new minimum wage covered only employers with 200 employees and above.
This, according to him, is to protect the SMEs., which are the highest employers of labour and backbone of every economy. ‘’They need protection. If you kill the SMEs, you will probably kill the economy,’’ he said.
Betrayal of Labour
Speaking on the alleged betrayal of organised labour during the negotiations, he said: “To the contrary, there was no agreement reached by the committee but an alignment of interest. What the committee sent to President Bola Tinubu was a recommendation, not an agreement.
‘’Agreement connotes a gang-up. There was nothing like that. We made a recommendation to the President who set up the committee to now decide or determine the figure he should send to the National Assembly to legislate on.
‘’If anybody is not satisfied with whatever figure Mr President sends to the National Assembly, such a person or group can go to the National Assembly during the public hearing to make his or her case. The figure rests squarely with the President. The issue here is about affordability.”
The NECA DG noted that the long-term objective of the OPS was to protect labour because the more OPS employ, the more labour becomes bigger, warning that “but the more we retrench, the more labour becomes weaker as they would lose both their members and prospective members.”
He added that Nigerians must know that there was a big difference between a minimum wage and a living wage, as “what we are talking about in Nigeria is a minimum wage and not a living wage.
‘’The ILO just in March this year agreed on a living wage. The next is to make it a convention before we can be talking about a living wage.”
Wadada seeks N150,000
However, Senator Ahmed Wadada has called on President Tinubu to approve not less than N150,000 as new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Wadada made the call in an interview with newsmen in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State late Tuesday. The lawmaker noted that the current realities of the Nigerian economy informed his decision to propose the figure which will go a long way in alleviating the hardship faced by workers.
“I have expressed my opinion in the past on the issue and I am going to reiterate it here. For me as a person, the minimum a worker should earn is N150,000, looking at the realities of today,” he said.
Lawmakers’re willing to make sacrifices
He said he and other lawmakers were willing to make sacrifices in terms of reduction of their remunerations and allowances just to ensure Nigerian workers earned decent monthly salaries.
Wadada, who expressed confidence in the administration of President Tinubu, described it as an open, transparent and a listening government that would come up with a figure acceptable to workers.
“At worst, it should be higher than what the government is currently offering,” he said.
[Vanguard]
The immediate past member representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbiede Ihama Omoregie, has been expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for anti-party activities.
He was expelled by Ward 2 Oredo Local Government Area (LGA), following the resolution of an enlarged meeting by the ward members and executives, held on Airport Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Reading the resolution, the Chairman of PDP Ward 2 in Oredo, Lawrence Aguebor said the expulsion followed the suspension of Ogbeide Ihama by the ward executives and critical stakeholders of Oredo Ward 2, who met on 3rd of May 2024, and suspended the ex-Rep member for 30 days after which a disciplinary committee was set up.
He explained, “The committee wrote him letters and called him on the phone and sat five (5) times and Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie failed to appear before them.
“Today, we have received the report and recommendations of the committee and the committee has recommended the expulsion of Hon. Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie from PDP. The offenses of Hon. Ihama for which he now stands expelled are captured under section 58 (1) a, b, d, e, f, h, l, j, l. With the expulsion of Hon. Ogbiede Ihama Omoregie, members of the general public are to cease and desist from doing any business that has to do with the PDP with him.”
The ward party members also put his expulsion to a voice vote with all members backing his expulsion from the party.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Political Matters, (Oredo) Hon. Victor Enoghama, said the suspension and expulsion was long overdue.
He noted, "Hon. Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie has donated his building at Ring Road by Sakponba Road Junction to the All Progressive Congress (APC) to be used as campaign office for the 2024 September 21st governorship election in Edo State.
"His suspension is long overdue. Let him join the APC family as we can’t allow him to be in PDP and fraternize with the APC.
Enoghama further charged, “We also call on the ward of the former deputy governor to follow suit and expel Comrade Philip Shaibu from the PDP, also for anti-party activities.
“He is carrying out anti-party activities. He has also donated his campaign office at Airport Road with vehicles to APC for the Governorship election on September 21st, 2024. He can't be in PDP and be supporting APC.”
Local Government Review Committee (LGRC), members under Ogun Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economy Stumulus (OG-CARES), have been trained on project documentation preparation for the next phase of disbursement for the execution of developmental projects.
Speaking at a-day training programme organised by the Community and Social Development Agency in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser in the state, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo highlighted the efforts ofthe state government to check the negative impact of COVID-19 at the grass roots.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Development Partner Coordinator/Coordinator OG-CARES, Mr. Bayo Adenekan, charged the participants to cooperate and support the community for the documentation of the project to be executed within the community, imploring them to be proactive and expidite action in the execution of the project in their communities.
"We should not be foot dragging with the implementation of the project as Ogun State is one of the best when we talk of the provision of social infrastructure for its citizenry, let us do our bits. This is a very salient assignment we need to do, so as to achieve and make this a success,"he said
Also speaking, the acting General Manager, CSDA/Project Manager OG-CARES, Mr. Rahman Adelaja in his earlier remarks, appreciated the state government and the World Bank for having the interest of the masses in the project implementation and execution.
He urged members of the LGRC to cooperate with the community members when need arise, especially for proper documentation and implementation of the project to be executed in the communities of their various local governments.
Responding on behalf of the LGRC members, Mrs. Koleade appreciated both the World Bank and the State government for the provision of infrastructural facilities to their communities, promising their cooperations for the success of the project.
Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and its commercial hub, Lagos, have been ranked as the first and second cheapest cities for expatriates to live in Africa for 2024, according to Mercer’s Cost of Living rankings.
The report highlights the cost of living is a crucial consideration for expatriates when selecting a city for relocation, as it impacts their quality of life and financial stability.
The findings attribute the affordability of these cities to currency depreciations, which have significantly reduced the cost of living for international assignees.
Blantyre in Malawi comes third on the list while Durban in South Africa and Windhoek in Namibia comes fourth and fifth respectively.
Here is a list of the top 10 cheapest cities to live in Africa with their global rank
1. Abuja, Nigeria
2. Lagos, Nigeria
3. Blantyre, Malawi
4. Durban, South Africa
5. Windhoek, Namibia
6. Gaborone, Botswana
7. Lusaka, Zambia
8. Tunis, Tunisia
9. Cape Town, South Africa
10. Johannesburg, South Africa
[TheNation]
Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture on OML 29, has confirmed the detection of an oil leak at its Nembe swamp facility in OML 29, Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State.
AEEPCO, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that its Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team was immediately activated and all production from OML 29 were shut down as a precautionary measure to mitigate the impact of the incident.
“This is a precautionary measure while mobilising additional resources to contain the spill. The cause of the spill is currently undetermined. However, we are proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate the immediate effects,” the statement added.
Commenting on the incident, AEEPCO’s group managing director, Victor Okoronkwo, said: “During our operations on Monday, June 17, 2024, the subject leak was detected. A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) with stakeholders has been initiated to determine the cause of this incident.
“While we regret the production losses to the Joint Venture and the nation and the potential environmental impact, our current priority is to expedite an efficient spill management process in line with regulatory standards and collaborate with all stakeholders to restore production and mitigate associated risks.”
[Leadership]
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said Nigeria would probably not have anything to do with banditry if the country had not changed its national anthem in 1978.
In 1978, the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo dropped “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
“Arise O Compatriots” written by Pa Ben Odiase became the anthem until the government of President Bola Tinubu reverted to the old anthem last month.
The anthem bill speedily passed first and second readings at both chambers of the National Assembly and was afterwards assented into law by President Tinubu.
Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja, on Tuesday, Akpabio said passing the old anthem bill is one of the significant achievements of the National Assembly under his leadership.
He added that the Student Loan Bill was another significant bill that was passed by the federal lawmakers.
“The bill that was sent to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on students’ loans and scholarships to enable Nigerian vulnerable students; the less privilege to obtain higher education,” Akpabio said.
“And as I speak to you over 30,000 Nigerian students have been selected to benefit from it. That is one of the bills I would say appeals to me the most.
“The other one on social impact is reverting to our old national anthem. A lot of people are not aware that there was a panel made up of Nigerians set up to receive input from all over the world in 1959.
“So, when people say we are bringing colonial anthem, please look into the history of the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.
“If we kept to that anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria, because if you took your neighbour as your brother you would not want to kill your brother, if you took your neighbour as your brother, you would not want to into the farm and behead your brother.”
[DailyTrust]
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has nominated caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
Fubara sent the list to the state House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo, on Tuesday.
The nomination came amid a renewed political crisis in the state, as former council chairmen have refused to vacate their offices after their tenure expired.
Fubara’s communication to the assembly was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday night by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West.
According to the statement, the assembly invited the nominees for screening on Wednesday by 8 am.
The crisis in the state worsened on Tuesday as protesting youths loyal to Fubara dislodged chairmen who refused to leave their offices.
A policeman was killed at the Eberi-Omuma secretariat in Omuma Local Government Area during a clash between supporters of Fubara and those of his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
To prevent further breakdown of law and order, the police announced on Tuesday evening that they had taken over the 23 council secretariats.
The three-year tenure of the expired on Monday but they vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 enacted by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
See the names of the caretaker chairmen nominated by Fubara below:
1. Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson
2. Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth
3. Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green
4. Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs
5. Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan
6. Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree
7. Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua
8. Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon
9. Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa
10. Emouha LGA – David Omereji
11. Etche LGA – John Otamiri
12. Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden
13. Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji
14. Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana
15. Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo
16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe
17. Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi
18. Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan
19. Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald
20. Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
21. Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip
22. Port Harcourt LGA – Ichemati Ezebunwo
23. Tai LGA – Matthew Dike
[Punch]
More...
Documents have shown how the $6,230,000 cash allegedly stolen from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on February 8, 2023, was shared.
President Bola Tinubu had set up a special investigative team, led by Jim Obaze, to probe the tenure of Godwin Emefiele, former CBN governor.
The team had claimed that $6.2 million was removed from the apex bank’s vault under the guise of paying election observers.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The amended charges border on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.
According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming that the SGF requested it “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201″.
In the court documents, investigators characterised the crime as an insider job primarily carried out by CBN staff members with the cooperation of two outsiders known as Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar.
Investigators claimed that Odoh Eric Ocheme, Emefiele’s personal assistant, received $3,730,000 of the funds, with three other people splitting the remaining $2,500,000.
Ocheme was said to have justified his lion’s share by claiming he had to pay other interests he had within the apex bank.
Some of the beneficiaries were said to have invested their shares of the loot, estimated at N1.4 billion, in real estate, part of which has now been recovered.
Some of the details of the investigation are contained in an affidavit filed alongside an extradition charge pending against Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and Odoh Eric Ocheme before the Abuja federal high court.
Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and Ocheme are said to be at large and are believed to have fled the country, hence, the extradition proceedings.
In the affidavits, one of the investigators, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said the team obtained copies of the withdrawal slip as well as the accompanying documents, CBN memos, dated 07/02/2023 and 31/01/2023 respectively.
They also obtained “a letter dated 2/01/2023 purportedly written by Muhammadu Buhari to Boss Mustapha and a letter dated 20/01/2023 purportedly written by Boss Mustapha to Mr Godwin Emafiele, which the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch relied on in making the payment”.
The DSP said investigations revealed that both letters were forged and did not emanate from the office of the then president and SGF. At the same time, Jibril Abubakar, whose identity card was used to cash the money in question, was not a staff of the SGF office.
HOW COLLABORATORS INVESTED ‘STOLEN FUND’ IN REAL ESTATE
“We watched the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footages of the 08/02/2023 being the day the money in question was cashed, and the payee (Jibril Abubakar) could not be identified by the staff of either the CBN or that of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, where he falsely represented himself to be working,” the document read
“A further study of the Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) footage revealed that a staff of the Abuja Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, identified as Abdulmajeed Muhammad received the impostor (Jibril Abubakar) at the gate of the bank when he arrived on the fateful date: 08/02/2023.
“Abdulmajeed Muhammad was consequently arrested and in his statement made on 15/12/2023, he admitted helping the impostor into the Abuja Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, but claimed that he did that innocently, the impostor having been referred to him by Bashirudeen Maishanu; a Senior Staff of the CBN.
“Abdulmajeed Muhammad further revealed that prior to 08/02/2023 when the impostor came to cash the money in question, he (Abdulmajeed Muhammad) had been invited by Bashirudeen Maishanu to explain the procedure of public officials making cash withdrawal from the CBN as those persons claimed to be officials from the office of the SGF and that the then president had approved certain fund for official assignment.
“We visited Kuje Correctional Centre, where we interviewed Godwin Emefiele, who purportedly approved the memos authorising the payment, as then CBN and he denied seeing, talk less of approving such memos.
[TheCable]
South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa hailed “the beginning of a new era” on Wednesday as he was sworn in for a second full term as president after his weakened African National Congress (ANC) struck a hard-won government coalition deal to remain in power.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to re-elect the 71-year-old last week after a May 29 general election produced no outright winner for the first time in three decades.
“The formation of a government of national unity is a moment of profound significance. It is the beginning of a new era,” Ramaphosa said, after taking the oath of office during a ceremony at the Union Buildings, the seat of government, in Pretoria.
“The voters of South Africa did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone,” he added, speaking before lawmakers, foreign dignitaries, religious and traditional leaders and cheering supporters.
“They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspirations.”
Ramaphosa is expected to announce his cabinet in the coming days, as talks with coalition members continue.
Numerous heads of state, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Angola’s Joao Lourenco, Congo Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou Nguesso and Eswatini’s absolute leader King Mswati III attended the inauguration.
Guests in suits, fancy dresses and coats to keep warm in the chilly winter weather started to arrive early in the morning amid a heavy police presence.
VIPs, some singing anti-apartheid struggle songs, were allowed into a small amphitheatre within the imposing, sandstone government building.
Other attendees, some holding South African flags, sat on a lawn outside as dancers and musicians performed on a big stage.
After Ramaphosa was sworn in, a band played the national anthem, followed by a 21-gun salute and a fly past by the air force.
Third time lucky
It was the third time Ramaphosa has taken the oath.
The former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman first came to power in 2018, after his predecessor and rival Jacob Zuma was forced out before the end of his term under the cloud of corruption allegations.
Ramaphosa was then re-appointed for a full five-year term in 2019. In South Africa, voters elect the parliament, which then votes for the president.
Ramaphosa promised a new dawn for South Africa, launched an anti-graft drive and started to reform a collapsing energy system.
But under his watch, the economy languished, blighted by power cuts, crime remained rife and unemployment increased to 32.9 percent.
In May, he led the ANC into yet another vote, but the historied party of the late Nelson Mandela came out bruised.
It won only 40 percent — down from 57.5 percent five years earlier.
For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, it lost its absolute majority in parliament and was left scrambling to find coalition partners to remain in power.
It has since agreed to form what it calls a national unity government with several other parties.
Ex-Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated that during his tenure, he left the country better than he met it.
Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, yesterday, June 18, at the Safe Online Youth Fellowship Bootcamp organised by NerdzFactory Company, supported by Meta at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
He recalled landmark achievements his administration recorded while in office between 1999 and 2007.
He said he was responsible for setting Nigeria free from the bondage of immense debt, adding that he takes pride in the celebration of the 25 years an uninterrupted democracy, which started during his reign as democratic ruler in 1999.
He said: “When I came in as elected President, I wanted to get debt relief because we were spending $3.5 billion every year servicing debt and the quantum of the debt was not going down. Today, I can say that I made Nigeria better than I found it from an economic perspective.
“I found $3.7 billion in the reserves and we were spending $3.5 billion to service our debt. By the time I left, we had a debt of about $36 billion with the debt relief, and I left with a debt of $3.6 billion. Also, I left a reserve of over $50 billion. I also achieved excess crude for the country worth over $25 billion.”
Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of doing very little or nothing to solve the hunger issues Nigerians are going through.
In a statement by its National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, the Coalition said the President had deployed what it described as incompetent government policies which have all failed, wondering why Nigerians would now offer themselves as burnt offerings while government officials lived in luxury.
The Coalition further noted that the inability of the government to secure farms and farmers in the country was also a major contributor to the hunger being faced by the people.
“The luxurious lifestyle of our leaders is the reason we are in this mess, because those in government have misplaced priorities and have vehemently refused to do right by our people.
“Rather they prefer to spend money on white elephant projects that require high expenditure but never deliver returns or serve no useful purpose, like the proposal for a new private jet for the President.
“Such money should have been channeled towards the development of projects that will have lasting positive impact on the lives of citizens,” Ameh said in the statement.
He added that, “The President and his Vice have spent over N8.64bn on travel expenses within the last three months while he continues to give speeches and false promises about plans to cut public spending; still, the cost associated with the running of government in Nigeria is far higher than most countries in the same economy bracket.
“The wasteful spending of those elected to oversee the affairs of running our government is a major contributor to the endemic poverty in Nigeria and the president should be concerned about the situation of the suffering masses and work hard to ensure that this situation improves for those affected (which is everyone by the way).
“Nigeria has a poverty rate of 38.9%, and approximately 87 million Nigerians live below poverty line and the reason can easily be attributed to incompetent and clueless leaders who have done nothing to improve the lives of the masses.
“Nigeria’s economic growth has been slow, and the country’s GDP per capita has been flat because successive government policies have failed to address the problems due to lack of foresight and corrupt public officials.
“Corruption is a pervasive issue in Nigeria, and it discourages foreign investment and hinders economic development. I am referring to corruption in public office by government officials who have been involved in stealing public funds meant to benefit the people.
“What has Tinubu done to tackle that since his assumption of office and he is talking about ordinary citizens whose take home pay is not enough to help them meet a good standard of living.”