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The Kano State Police Command has said that security agencies in the state will adhere strictly to the Federal High Court order that all parties in the Kano Emirate controversy maintain status quo.
Also, the Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, said the order by the Kano Governor, Abba Yusuf to arrest Aminu Ado Bayero was on social media and not formally transmitted.
Gumel addressed newsmen on behalf of other heads of security agencies.
Recall that on May 23, a Federal High Court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.
The law had ensured the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
But Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano emirate, filed a suit.
Mohammed Liman, the judge, ruled that the defendants “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created pursuant to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019”.
The court also ordered that all processes be served on the inspector-general of police (IGP) in Abuja.
The court also ruled that “all parties” “maintain status quo until June 3, 2024″.
Ado Bayero
Reacting, the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, assured that justice would prevail. He urged residents to maintain law and order.
He spoke on Saturday at the mini-palace where he has been since returning to the state after dethronement.
His words: “I call on the people to remain law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the legal process in this tussle.
“We call on the authority to do justice in this matter. Kano is a very influential state in Nigeria. Whatever affects Kano affects Nigeria.
“May peace reign in Kano. We pray for Allah to bless Kano with responsible and just leaders.
“Justice is the way to go on every issue. There will be justice. Nobody is above the law. We will accept whatever the law says.
“I appreciate all the people who have shown concern. As I said, justice will take its course. We will keep on praying for peace in Kano State. May Allah the Almighty protect us.”
Police’s position
Meanwhile, Gumel, the Police Commissioner, statted the position of security agents on the matter.
He addressed the press alongside a brigade commander of the Nigerian Army and officials of other security agencies.
His words: “The police command is expressly obeying the Court Order with SUIT No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024 Dated 23rd May, 2024 issued by the federal high court sitting in Kano alongside all law enforcement agents in the state.
“Therefore, we are calling on members of the public to know that the police in the state is working together with the military and other security agencies to provide the adequate security to everyone, as we are committed to carrying out our statutory duties as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Starting in June, Nigerians will have the convenience of passport home delivery, eliminating the need to visit the immigration office for collection.
This development was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday when he inspected the electronic gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s new terminal in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo said the delivery will not include every location to avoid overloading and damaging the system.
He said the Nigerian Immigration Service would start home delivery in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja.
He stated that for Nigerians in the diaspora, the home delivery service would initially launch in the United States and the United Kingdom, with preliminary testing to ensure its effectiveness.
The minister explained that the delay in implementing home delivery was due to a lack of data centres.
He noted that the NIS had been relying on a private company’s data centre and emphasised the need for a permanent solution to this problem.
“We have completed the whole solution but when we came on board, we realised that the data centre was not really there. We were leveraging on a private company data centre and we appreciate them for that assistance. We think that it is better to create a permanent solution to problems rather than quick fixes.
“We could have done it in February but we had to build our data centre from scratch to be able to keep the integrity of our data and national security intact. This is more important. It is disgraceful that NIS is 61 years old and NIS is a custodian of biometric data of Nigeria and we believe that NIS should be in charge of the data of Nigeria.
“It is not acceptable that this data is domiciled in a third party and that is why we have been able to do this,” he said.
H added that the data centre has been constructed and the passport delivery issue has been resolved.
“It is about national security and I can assure you that It is comparable with anyone you can find anywhere in the world.
“We have built the data centre, sorted the passport delivery solution and done the final presentation in terms of technology deliverables and the tracking solution which will all be embedded in the application we have so we do not create multiple lines of failure,” the minister said.
Speaking further, the minister stated that the final presentation of the electronic visa has been completed.
He added that it will reduce the visa processing time from 72 hours to 48 hours.
“The passport automation process is almost complete,” he added.
This announcement comes nine months after the minister initially declared that home delivery of passports to Nigerians would commence by February 2024.
In October, Tunji-Ojo stated that starting in February 2024, Nigerians would be able to have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, or any other location of their choice.
…Suspension Illegal – Party Spokesman
It’s one crisis after another for the Labour Party (LP) as the Edo State chapter of the party has suspended the embattled National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, over alleged anti-party activities.
Abure who has been fighting to keep his position for several years now has been hit by yet another suspension in a letter of suspension dated May 14, 2024.
To see through his suspension, another letter of ratification dated May 15, 2024, was ratified at a meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) on Friday night in Benin.
The letter announced that Abure, who has defied all odds to stay on as chairman, has been suspended with immediate effect.
The letters indicated that Abure has been suspended from the party in Ward 3 in Arue-Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State for alleged “high-handedness and anti-party activities.”
The letters further read, “While the suspension is with immediate effect, you are advised to restrain from holding out or parading yourself a member of Labour party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi in Ean North-East LGA, Edo State.”
While the letter of suspension was signed by the Ward Chairman, Thompson Ehiguese and Ward Secretary, Stanley Usiomoh, the letter of ratification of his suspension was forwarded to the State Executive Committee of the party through the State Chairman by the Local Government Chairman of the party in Esan North-East, Patrick Onogbeni and LGA Secretary, Ehikioya Eromosele.
“The LGA Executive met today, 15th of May, 2024 about 12 noon, to consider the matters presented on the suspension and accordingly found them weighty and the suspension ratified and upheld,” the letter read.
It noted that, “The state executive committee considered the letters, together with the issues contained therein, and ratified Abure’s suspension.
“With the ratification of his suspension, the basis of his chairmanship of the party at the national level has been vitiated, and by implication, he stands suspended as the party’s national chairman.”
But in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh told newsmen that the suspense was illegal.
He stressed that, “The ward, LG or even the state have no power to suspend the National Chairman. An Edo High Court has also ruled on this matter. Also, an Appeal Court has ruled on this matter.
“This dimension is a continuation of the attack on the person of Abure as witnessed during the governorship primaries. It will also amount to nothing and we are not perturbed,” Ifoh stated.
A video featuring House of Representatives member, Ahmad Satomi, has gone viral on social media.
The representative of Jere Federal Constituency, Borno State, challenged the Green Chamber regarding the recently passed National Anthem bill.
Satomi questioned the bill’s relevance to Nigeria’s pressing issues, sparking widespread discussion and debate.
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed for a second reading a bill seeking a return to the old national anthem, PUNCH Online reports.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, the sponsor of the proposed law, Julius Ihonvbere, anchored his argument on the need for patriotism and nationalism.
But many Nigerians on social media questioned the relevance of the move, wondering if it would help salvage the nation’s economy, being Nigeria’s biggest challenge at the moment.
In the video, Satomi addressed his colleagues, questioning the practicality and impact of the bill, which mandates reverting to the old National Anthem, “Nigeria we hail thee.”
His concerns highlighted the disconnect between legislative actions and the real-world problems faced by Nigerians.
“I do not know how this national anthem will affect the well-being of the common man in Nigeria. Let’s be realistic.
“How will this support either hunger, banditry, or improve insecurity?” Satomi asked.
He emphasised the need for legislation that directly benefits the populace, rather than symbolic gestures.
Satomi urged his colleagues to prioritise development-oriented policies that would attract positive international attention and foster growth.
He expressed frustration over the focus on the national anthem while the world advances in technology and innovation.
“There is a saying that goes thus, ‘Countries that rely on prayers will rely on the ones that do think.’
“Please, let’s think of something that will bring progress, stability, and prosperity to the economy of this nation and improve the lives of the common man,” he urged.
Despite his objections, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, May 23, passed the bill with accelerated consideration.
The bill’s passage has sparked debate among the public and lawmakers about legislative priorities amid the nation’s ongoing struggles with hunger and insecurity.
[Punch]
Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has taken umbrage at the remarks of Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate.
Baba-Ahmed said Soyinka’s comments on Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP in the last poll, should be dismissed as a distraction.
In an interview with Noble Eyisi, Soyinka said Obi should not vie for the presidency in 2027 because he is “unfit” to lead Nigeria.
Soyinka had accused Obi of encouraging the online vitriol often lobbed by his supporters — who are called ‘Obidients’.
In an interview on Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed said the Nobel laureate should rather respect himself instead of waiting for Obi to control the actions of his supporters.
The former senator said Obi would not join issues with Soyinka, adding that “intellect does not give one a right to insult anybody”.
“The learned elder statesman is scared in advance about what good Peter Obi would bring to Nigeria. He’s scared that the end is looking very likely for his principal, for bad governance,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“What Soyinka is doing now is an attempted distraction.
“Nobel laureates all over the world are loved and cherished by their people, not just their nationals but globally. I have never heard where Nobel laureates are insulted in the way that Wole Soyinka is.
“There is no way Peter Obi, with all the issues in front of him and my humble self, can control Obidients.
“Peter Obi entered a canoe without a life jacket and he paid for it. It is not the work of Peter Obi to control the Obidients, it is the responsibility of Wole Soyinka to maintain his respect and dignity.
“In the presence of all these politics, decent Nigerians should continue to offer respect to others.
“All he is trying to do is an attempted distraction which Peter Obi and I have excused ourselves from. We will not react to that Nobel laureate.
“What is Wole Soyinka at a time when the Nigerian armed forces are killing Nigerians by mistake? At a time when our currency is hopelessly depreciating and so many other issues.”
In 2023, Soyinka accused Baba-Ahmed of “fascistic language” and “threatening the judiciary” after the LP vice-presidential candidate said Bola Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn in as president.
Baba-Ahmed had maintained that the APC candidate did not “meet requirements of the law”.
[TheCable]
The federal government says Glencore, a British mining and trading group, is expected to pay Nigeria a $50 million penalty for bribery.
Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday during the ministerial sectoral update for the present administration.
He said the resolution was reached after the federal government entered a settlement agreement with the firm.
“The ministry on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on April 25, 2024, concluded negotiation of a settlement agreement with Glencore International A.G. wherein Glencore is expected to pay the sum of $50 million as penalty and compensation for certain activities in Nigeria,” he said.
THE GLENCORE TRAGEDY
In May 2022, the United States department of justice said Glencore, and its United Kingdom subsidiaries, entered into multiple agreements to purchase crude oil and refined petroleum products from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through shady deals.
In Nigeria alone, the department said Glencore and its subsidiaries paid more than $52 million to the intermediaries, intending that those funds be used, at least in part, to pay bribes to Nigerian officials.
In the same month, Glencore agreed to pay about $1.5 billion in total to resolve investigations in the US, United Kingdom and Brazil — of which $1.06 billion was payable to agencies in the US and Brazil.
A London court, In November 2022, ordered Glencore to pay a $310.6 million (£276.4 million) penalty for seven bribery offences in relation to its oil operations in Africa.
Glencore had pleaded guilty to five counts of bribery in relation to a total of $26.9 million, which was paid “primarily to officials in state-owned oil companies” in Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
The company also admitted to two charges of failing to prevent bribery over payments of approximately $1 million to agents in Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan, to secure “valuable oil contracts”.
When Nigeria, in October 2022, tried to claim compensation from the British mining and trading group, a UK judge ruled that the nation did not have the right to be heard.
FAGBEMI: NIGERIA TO RECEIVE £2.1M FROM BAILIWICK OF JERSEY
Speaking further, Fagbemi said Nigeria is set to receive about £2.1 million in corruption proceeds from the Bailiwick of Jersey.
“The ministry achieved the following successes under its international asset recovery and management efforts,” he said.
“The asset sharing agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Bailiwick of Jersey was signed in February 2024 for the return of £2,125,944 proceeds of corruption.”
Fagbemi said the proceeds have been approved by President Bola Tinubu to continue works on the Abuja-Kano road project.
[TheCable]
The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
The order was contained in a statement on Saturday by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, Sanusi Tofa.
The governor said Bayero should be arrested for allegedly creating tension in the state.
The statement titled ‘Gov. Yusuf Orders Arrest of Deposed Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero,’ read, “The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state.
“The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.
“In a statement issued by Mr Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the spokesperson to the Governor, it was confirmed that the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, 25th May 2024.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys.”
Bayero, whose whereabouts had been unknown since he was deposed on Thursday returned to Kano on Saturday.
The state House of Assembly repealed the law that ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had signed on December 5, 2019.
After signing the law, Ganduje split the emirate into five and appointed Emirs to each.
Upon signing the repealed Kano Emirates Council Law, Yusuf gave all the Emirs affected by the law 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand them over to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He subsequently announced the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi, whom Ganduje had deposed in 2020 as Emir of Kano.
The governor issued a reappointment letter to Sanusi on Friday, and Sanusi led Jumat prayers at the Government House, Kano.
In the early hours of Saturday, Ado Bayero returned to Kano into the waiting hands of a crowd of supporters, according to a video sighted by Daily Trust.
On Friday, Governor, Abba Yusuf reappointed Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Sanusi received his letter of reinstatement at the Government House in Kano.
The governor said, “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the country would need about $10 billion yearly to achieve energy transition by 2060, which amounts to $360 billion.
Shettima stated this yesterday at an energy transition symposium organized by the Development Agenda Magazine, in Abuja.
He said before then, the country must maximise petroleum resources in the short term to provide the base-load energy that would turbocharge the economy.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Power and Infrastructure, Sadiq Wanka, he said: “But full implementation of the Nigeria Energy Transition would not be easy.
“It requires concerted effort locally and international collaboration to source financing and to prepare the Nigerian workforce for a Net-Zero economy and to have a truly just energy transition.
“If we take the issue of financing alone , funding the energy transition requires investments of over $10 billion per year up to 2060.
“With 45% of Nigerians lacking access to electricity, and GDP per capita that is half that in Egypt and a third of that in South Africa, the urgency of, improving the economic condition of Nigerians is clear, But there are critical environmental/considerations which if not adequately managed would actually hamper our ability to change the lives of millions of our people for the better.
“Majority of this money would necessarily come from the private sector including through initiatives to access high -integrity carbon markets.
“But we are up to the challenge. The administration of President Ahmed Tinubu is willing to take the difficult decisions and the rich resource base and depth of human capital in our dear country will ensure our success.”
The Vice President also, noted that the two-pronged strategy to pursue renewables alongside oil and gas investments has yielded notable results that support the overall energy transition, like the “Climate Change Act signed in 2021 seeks to mainstream climate action into national plans and programmes.
“A renewed push towards hydroelectric power seeks to tap into over 14,000MW of near- term hydropower potential.
“The 700MW Zungeru Hydropower plant just came online in 2024. The national regulator has also mandated electricity distribution licensees to procure a certain percentage of their power from renewables.
“The Electricity Act 2023 which Mr. President signed, strongly supports the transition to a more renewable energy mix.”
Also, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, said his state has adopted what he called “unique approaches of placing people in the centre of its development plan.”
Represented by the Managing Director of Kaduna Power Supply Company (KAPSCO), Idris Aminu Idris, Uba said: “The Kaduna Solar for Health programme began with the goal of improving access to healthcare by delivering sustainable, uninterrupted power supply to Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and Maternity Health Clinics across all Local Government Areas (LGA) in Kaduna State.”
According to him, “the scope of the project expanded to include rural isolated General Hospitals across 255 wards in Kaduna State.
“The objectives of the Kaduna Solar for Health program are to increase access to healthcare; to ensure 1 hospital in every ward and LGA has access to reliable power 24hrs/day; to eradicate petrol and diesel generators which cause noise and pollute the environment with toxic waste such as CO, that can lead to serious Environmental and Health issues.”
Editor in Chief of Development Agenda Magazine, Paddy Ezeala, said the event was organized for chart a way on how to achieve a seamless energy transition.
Ezeala said: “Speakers at today’s event are speaking on how the Energy Transition movement is likely to affect Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots and more specifically those impacted by the extractive industry activities.
“These include those presently impacted by fossil fuels extraction or those affected by extraction of minerals powering so called clean energy, such as lithium, cobalt etc.”
President Bola Tinubu, in a meeting with Yoruba Leaders of Thought, pledged his commitment to meeting Nigerians’ expectations, emphasizing that Nigeria’s bleeding has ceased.
Expressing concern over the state of local government administration, Tinubu advocated for a more efficient system that promotes community development within Nigeria’s federal structure.
Acknowledging the challenges faced during his administration’s first year, Tinubu affirmed, “We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding.”
“It has been challenging. It has been fulfilling as well. We took over, and we stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death but will now move to prosperity. That is the promise I made to you all, and it is also the charge you gave me.”
He also called for deepening governance and reinforcing leadership across all levels of government and institutions. He added that his administration is committed to encouraging fiscal federalism and strengthening the system to enhance inclusion and equity for all Nigerians.
“Local government administration is being suffocated. People are looking for opportunities to ensure that they survive and become more purposeful through community development programmes. I will not support any effort to make the local government a unitary system by handing all core responsibilities to the federal government. That is criminal when there is a federal system.
“We have a federal system. There are state and federal administrations. We have two components. States must do whatever is in the best interest of their administration process. There is no one-size-fits-all. That is what we should do by looking at the revenue formula, and we must be consistent with federalism: fiscal federalism. You should expect those things from me, not the knee-jerk reactions ahead of elections.
“I can tell you that Nigeria is no longer printing paper money and deceiving itself that it has a base for survival. Nigeria went through terrible labour pains, but we have seen the baby coming out alive,” the President concluded.
Honourable Bayo Aina, speaking on behalf of the Yoruba Leaders of Thought, commended Tinubu’s investment in national infrastructure, praising his dedication to responsible governance across sectors.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP and former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said he didn’t give any directive on reinstatement of HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.
Kwankwaso said he also received the news of the reinstatement of the Emir like every other persons.
The former Minister of Defence stated this in an interview monitored on the BBC Hausa service on Friday.
In his word, “what you saw is what I also saw but I will go to Kano very soon and I will speak with some of the assembly members, especially the speaker, and the Governor on what is happening.
When asked that to many people, a thing of this nature cannot happen without his knowledge as a leader of the party, Kwankwaso said, “Rabiu Kwankwaso has burnt his hands over dictating what to do. We are still with the Governor working together.
“It’s just a matter of offering advice and if you are not asked to, you keep quiet so long things are going right we just pray and hope that they succeed.
“When I said we will revisit the case, I didn’t say the direction to follow. I just said it will be reviewed… When I go there, I will hear what happened and I am sure they will tell me whatever happened and whatever they tell me, we just pray for them. I heard the Assembly members have repealed the law.
“What we were telling them was they should go and investigate whether what happened was done out of goodwill or not. What happened appears to be a vendetta or cheating. It’s just a matter of did Ganduje do right or wrong? It’s not about going against him.
“For those that are looking at it from the perspective of whether it’s going to be tenure-based are somehow right but who started it? When I came back as Governor in 2011;
“…everybody knew that late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, was not supporting us, he was supporting Shekarau but when we got into power we never thought of dethroning him.
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“This is why we are telling people that everybody should maintain their position,” Kwankwaso however stated.
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The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has bemoaned the desecration of traditional institutions in the northern part of the country.
He stated that the system that protects the monarchs and traditional institutions in the region has been destroyed.
Sanusi made this known while delivering his appreciation speech after receiving his letter of appointment from the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, at the Government House in Kano on Friday.
The monarch, who decried the needless division of emirates in some northern States, hailed the Kano State house of assembly for abrogating the law used to dethrone him and also used to create the now abolished Emirates in the State.
“In the northern part of this country, we have seen it in different states how politicians balkanised emirates, with one Emir becoming 20, some 19. In states of northern Nigeria, there are Local Governments with two or three first-class Emirs all because the system has been destroyed.
“This thing that has been brought to Kano, had it been allowed, one day we will wake up with the Emir of Kumbotso, Bichi, Fagge and 44 Emirs. So what the government and the assembly did is a rescue mission.”
Presenting the appointment letter to Sanusi, the governor said, “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers;
“I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”
Yusuf noted that Sanusi’s reappointment was “based on his competence, credibility and popularity,” urging the new Kano Emir “to be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.”
Former National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore has revealed how he delivered Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the party’s flag bearer in 2022.
Omisore made this revelation in an interview with Channels Television on Friday.
The former Osun State deputy governor confirmed that the then APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, wanted the North to retain the Presidency after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North-West.
He said, “In politics, everybody has their mindsets, we came from different (geopolitical) zones to the NWC (National Working Committee) that time, representing differing different interests.
“I was the most senior member of the party in the South-West and my mandate was to deliver the South-West for Presidency. Somebody from South-South too, his own mandate was to deliver South for the Presidency, I want to assume so.
“So, my own way was to get to my destination which I have gotten to today. The way and manner I did my journey is between me and God.
“I can’t castigate anybody who tried to be smart but if you want to be smart and I outsmarted you, to God be the glory. But the point is that my mission was to deliver the South-West Presidency which we are today.”
Omisore said though Adamu backed a different aspirant, the NWC was able to present a convention “where democracy took place and democracy was respected.”
“We voted, everybody had a choice and it was transparent. And the moment there is a transparent primary, there won’t be any noise; it is only when people feel cheated that they go to court.”
The former APC National Secretary said everything that happened in the buildup to the APC presidential primary was “all political”.
He said “whatever we did then was for that time. The party had moved on to consolidating on democratic gains for the benefit of Nigerians.
Recall that in the buildup to the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Adamu announced then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the party’s “consensus candidate.”
But the announcement was strongly rejected by a league of northern governors who preferred Tinubu.
Despite the twists, Tinubu won the keenly contested primary, trouncing strong contenders like Lawan, ex-Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, amongst others.
The former Lagos governor would later defeat opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) at the February 2023 general election to clinch the number one spot at Aso Villa.
No fewer than 200 officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria were on Friday relieved of their duties.
This is an addition to the long list of ongoing disengagements in the apex bank.
This adds to the list of 117 staff sacked by the bank between March 15 and April 11, 2024.
The termination of appointments affects directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers and lower-ranking staff.
Impeccable sources who are staff of the bank confirmed the sack to our correspondent on Friday, saying that those sacked are not less than 200.
They revealed that affected persons include older directors who were not affected by the last round of retrenchment.
One of the sources in a 20-second call with our correspondent simply stated, “It is true and confirmed.”
The staff member who could not disclose further details for fear of victimisation added that the move has caused apprehension among staff of every cadre as the management has not specified any criteria for the decisions.
Another source confirmed the information, indicating that additional dismissals are expected in the months ahead, spread out across staggered phases.
The official said, “It is real and is even more than 200 officials but the actual number is unconfirmed yet. The sack is coming in staggered phases and that is why we can’t confirm the number yet. But it is not less than 200.
“The sacked persons include directors, and other cadres but the ones that are easily known are the directors. Some of the batch of old directors that were not affected during the last round of sacks are now affected.”
The sack letter obtained by our correspondent and issued by the Human Resources Department on May 24, 2024, said the policy was to reorganise the organisation for effective operations.
The letter, lacking a signature read, “The new strategic direction of the bank has been widely publicised. In line with our new mission and vision, the bank is currently undergoing a significant organisational and human capital restructuring process.
“As a result of this review, I have been directed to notify you that your services will not be required with effect from Friday, 24th May 2024.
“Your final entitlements will be calculated and paid to you in due course. Thank you”
In February, at least 1,500 members of staff of the apex bank of Nigeria were redeployed from the headquarters located at Central Area to its Lagos office.
At the time, the CBN said the action was necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the bank’s structure with its functions and objectives and redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent.
It added that it was also in compliance with building regulations, as indicated by repeated warnings from the facility manager, and the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN Head Office.
A memo issued to staff read, “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimise the operational environment of the Bank.
“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilisation of our office space”.
Efforts to get the reaction of the bank’s Director of Corporate Communication, Hakama Sidi Ali, was not successful as she did not pick up her call or respond to the text messages to her line.
Electricity Tariff Will Come Down Same Way With SIM Cards, Mobile Phones — Adelabu Tells Nigerians
AFOLABI
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has claimed that the hike in electricity tariff is temporary
The minister said he is optimistic about the reduction of electricity tariff.
Adelabu disclosed this on Friday during the sectoral briefing by ministers in Abuja.
Recall that on April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, announced a 240 per cent electricity tariff hike for band A customers who receive a 20-24 hour power supply.
After the Nigeria Labour Congress (NUC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called for reversal, the Commission slashed the tariff by N18.
Unsatisfied with the development, the Organised Labour threatened to go on strike.
Meanwhile, Adelabu said the electricity hike for Band A customers was a temporal hardship pending an increase in power sector output.
The minister stated that the tariff is similar to the initial price surge observed in the telecommunication sector, which eventually saw prices decrease over time.
“The electricity tariff might look expensive at the moment. But I’m optimistic that these tariffs will go down. We know how much we were buying SIM cards when the telcos just came. We know how much we were buying telephones.
“But gradually, as we scale up in generation, transmission and distribution, these prices will also decrease. It’s a temporary hardship leading to a permanent gain,” Adelabu said.
In April, SaharaReporters reported how the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project said it was suing President Bola Tinubu's administration over the arbitrary increase in electricity tariff.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Nigerian government had approved N225 ($0.15) per kilowatt-hour tariff increment for Band A electricity consumers in the country.
Band A are those who enjoy electricity supply for 20 hours per day.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musliu Oseni, who made this known at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, had said the increase would see the customers paying N225 instead of the current N66 kilowatt per hour.