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Nigerians Deserve To Know Price Of New Presidential Jet, Why Selling Old Jets – Peter Obi Queries FG
AFOLABI
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.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has supported the call for former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race.
Recall that the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed vowed to jettison his presidential ambition if Jonathan indicates any interest to contest.
Some northern elites and politicians who are displeased with President Bola Tinubu’s administration have also called for Jonathan’s return to the presidency.
Reacting to the development during an interview with Punch, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the position of the Bauchi governor and northern elites resonated with the opposition party.
He said, “We are absolutely in support of the position of the Bauchi State governor. Don’t forget, he was a prominent member of the. Jonathan’s administration where he was a minister. As the chairman of the 13 governors of the PDP, a two-term minister, former senator and a two-term governor rounding off his second term, you will expect him to understand and appreciate the situation of where this country is coming from, where it is at the moment and where we hope to take it to in the future.
“If you are talking about a southern Presidency in 2027, we should be looking at one who had enjoyed one term and will probably give Nigerians hope and prosperity as opposed to the one we have in power. Secondly, if you are also talking about a nationalist, somebody who would not rig an election to keep himself in office, who announced before the counting process was over, that he lost, it has to be Jonathan.
“You remember that he called the victor, congratulated him and asked him to send people for the transition process. So, it is this kind of person with a listening ear that we believe can save the situation. No President in Nigerian history has been as criticised as Ebele Jonathan. We tolerated all sorts of insults targeted at us and his Presidency. But today, he is the one everybody is looking for with torchlight, even in broad daylight.”
When reminded that the decision may not go down well with PDP former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who has been labelled a serial contester by the ruling All Progressives Congress, the PDP spokesman argued that Atiku cannot dictate for the party who to field in 2027 despite being a major stakeholder of the PDP.
“It is not the place of Atiku to decide for the PDP. We are running a national political party, for crying out loud; one that has governed this country for 16 years. We cannot be expected to have one person determining the direction of the party. If anything, we respect him. He has given it (the presidency) a trial and has been on this for too long.
“But there are times when you realise a battle is no longer around you and you support someone. This is how things are done. If in 2019, we tried, in 2023, we tried again with Atiku, there is nothing wrong in trying someone else in 2027, especially if the odds seemed to favour that person more, which is the case.
“The situation this country is facing today is one that has gone beyond party lines or other narrow considerations. We require a nationalist in the clout of Goodluck Jonathan to be able to salvage the situation. It is clear that for the six and a half years that he was President, he was able to stabilise the forex to a very reasonable extent. The country was able to go on single digit inflation. This we will continue to reference,” he stated.
Northern Nigerian leaders are coming together for a crucial summit to strengthen the region’s political and economic standing ahead of the 2027 elections.
This initiative, spearheaded by the League of Northern Democrats—a group comprising former governors, senators, and other key figures—is centered on addressing the region’s political trajectory, economic growth, and security issues.
The initiative follows the 2023 general elections, which saw political power shift to the southern region after eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner.
During the election, major contenders included Bola Tinubu of the APC from the South West, Peter Obi of the Labour Party from the South East, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, representing the North.
The recent #EndBadGovernance protests in the North, marked by demonstrations and the display of Russian flags, demanding the overthrow of the democratically-elected president, have raised significant concerns among the region’s leaders.
Vice President, Kashim Shettima, addressing the situation, revealed that a high-level meeting of northern stakeholders, including governors, politicians, business executives, and traditional leaders, will soon be convened.
The meeting aims to address the violence witnessed during the protests and explore solutions to the region’s challenges, which Shettima attributed to leadership failures.
The summit will officially be announced at a forthcoming event in Kaduna.
Speaking on the plan for a northern summit on Tuesday, the Protem Chairman of the LND and former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said, “The LND resolved to organise a Northern Nigerian Political Summit, to be held in Kaduna.
“This summit will serve as a platform for discussing the region’s political future, economic development, and security challenges. It will bring together key leaders, thinkers, and influencers to chart a new course for the North.”
In an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, Shekarau expressed the group’s concern about the progress of the region.
He said the group intended to evaluate the challenges confronting the North, particularly security issues, and create a document detailing possible solutions to tackle the problems.
Shekarau said, “We came together to analyse and review the problem bedevilling the northern part of Nigeria. We said we need to embark on general societal reorientation, to enlighten the people on what are their basic challenges and their basic needs.
“It is apolitical though. It is not about any person or any political party, and it is necessarily not about 2027. It is an all-time issue. We want to produce a document, which is not about a year, two-year, or 10-year issue.
“The whole idea is to produce a document that we can confront anybody seeking our votes that these are the aspirations of our people and we want you to assure us that this will be part of your guiding principles.”
In a communiqué jointly signed by the convener, Umar Ardo, and the interim secretary, Emmanuel Jime, the LND announced its resolution to unify the North and reestablish it as a dominant force in national politics.
To achieve this, the group planned to invite prominent northern stakeholders, including former heads of state, current and former vice presidents, and former Senate presidents to rally support for the initiative.
According to the communique, the LND would engage with past Speakers of the House of Representatives, former security chiefs, and other influential figures to gather widespread backing for their efforts.
The statement reads, “The LND resolved to prioritise the political unity of Northern Nigeria. Recognising the diverse backgrounds and experiences within our ranks, we are committed to fostering a strong sense of community and solidarity.
“This unity will serve as the foundation for our efforts to reposition the North as a leading force in Nigeria’s political landscape.”
President Bola Tinubu has taken a fresh step to ensure that the delegation of the Nigerian government to the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Azerbaijan is not bloated.
To achieve this aim, President Tinubu has directed the establishment of a new portal to streamline the number of government-sponsored delegates for the conference.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, during a briefing at the State House on Tuesday.
Ngelale explained that the newly launched platform, called the Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal, is expected to save Nigeria over ₦10 billion during the 11-day conference.
He said the portal will ensure that only delegates directly involved in climate-related activities are sponsored by the government.
The portal will be developed in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), headed by Director-General Nkiruka Maduekwe. It will serve as a transparent platform, listing all government-sponsored attendees from various ministries, departments, agencies, and the legislative branch.
“This initiative is in direct response to public criticism over the excessive number of delegates sent to the previous climate conference in Dubai, many of whom had no substantive role in the proceedings,” Ngelale said.
“The Climate Accountability and Transparency Portal will provide Nigerians with full, real-time access to the list of government-sponsored delegates attending COP 29. This ensures that every delegate has a legitimate economic reason to be at the conference, engaging with companies, multilateral partners, and stakeholders to attract finance and opportunities into the country for the benefit of our people,” the presidential aide added.
He further emphasized that the platform represents a significant step towards restoring public confidence in the government’s climate-related activities, highlighting that COP 29 is just the beginning of a broader effort to audit and rectify past inefficiencies.
“We are poised to save over ₦10 billion during this 11-day event in November. The President remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians trust the government’s actions as we move forward. COP 29 is just the start,” Ngelale concluded.
[NaijaNews]
The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress has threatened to down tools nationwide in the event that the Nigeria Police detains its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The union handed down the threat on Tuesday morning at its headquarters, shortly after holding an emergency National Executive Council meeting to discuss the invitation of the NLC President by the police over allegations of terrorism financing.
The NEC resolved that Ajaero should honor the police invitation but noted that their legal adviser should seek more time for the NLC President to appear before the police authorities.
Comrade Ado Kabiru Sani, the Deputy President of the NLC, enjoined the nation’s workforce to remain on standby for further directives should the police act contrary to their expectation of detaining Ajaero.
His words: “As a committed labor center, we will honor the invitation of the police because we are not a faceless organization, but we are working with our lawyer for an extension of time.
“In the event that the President is arrested, all workers will down tools immediately. We should wait for further directives from our leadership.”
[DailyPost]
HUMAN Rights activist and lawyer to the Nigeria Labour Congress, Chief Femi Falana, has replied to the Nigeria Police on why the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, cannot honour the invitation to him to appear at the force headquarters on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, by 10 am.
He explained that the NLC President had fixed an engagement for August 20, before the Police invitation was sent to him on Monday and promised to be available at the Police headquarters on August 29.
Chief Falana, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, through the DCP Mohammed Ahmed Sanusi, also requested the Police to furnish him with details of the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime levelled against him.
The letter to the Police titled: “Re: Letter of invitation,” which was signed by Samuel Ogala, read: “We are Solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Congress and its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on whose behalf we write this letter in respect of the above subject matter.
“We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday. He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.
“Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024. Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Comrade Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime levelled against him.
“While awaiting your positive response to this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.”
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has dismissed the appeal filed by the Edo State House of Assembly, thereby affirming that Comrade Philip Shaibu remains the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
The appellate court upheld the earlier ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified Shaibu’s impeachment and ordered his immediate reinstatement.
This development follows Shaibu’s controversial impeachment on April 8 by the Edo State House of Assembly, where he was accused of perjury and leaking government secrets.
However, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had ruled that the impeachment process did not follow due process, and as a result, ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement to his position.
In its decision, the Court of Appeal warned that any person aside from Shaibu who attempts to parade themselves as the Deputy Governor of Edo State would face legal consequences.
Additionally, the court set aside the appointment of Omobayo Godwins, who had been named as Shaibu’s replacement following the impeachment.
The court also directed the Inspector General of Police to provide Shaibu with the necessary security to ensure he resumes his duties as the Deputy Governor of Edo State until the end of his tenure.
This ruling has further intensified the political tensions within Edo State, which have been marked by internal conflicts within the state’s leadership.
The Federal Government has expressed its intention to resolve the legal dispute involving former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, amicably.
Onnoghen, who was removed from office in 2019 after being convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on charges of false asset declaration, is challenging the decision through an appeal filed with the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Tijjani Gazali, counsel representing the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), revealed the government’s stance during a court hearing on Tuesday.
Gazali, who serves as an acting director of civil litigation at the Ministry of Justice, informed the court that efforts were being made to resolve the issues raised by Onnoghen through dialogue rather than prolonged litigation.
Onnoghen, who was present in court, is seeking to overturn the CCT’s judgment, arguing that he was denied a fair hearing and that the tribunal chairman was biased.
He also contends that the National Judicial Council (NJC) is the only body with the authority to discipline a judicial officer, not the CCT.
Gazali explained that the case file had only recently been transferred to the Ministry of Justice following the death of the former counsel handling the matter, Aliyu Umar, in 2020.
As a result, he requested an adjournment to allow time for proper briefing.
Onnoghen’s counsel, Chris Uche, did not oppose the adjournment but urged the court to expedite the hearing.
The appellate court granted the application and adjourned the case to September 19, 2024.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to purchase a 14-year-old aircraft for use as a presidential jet, stating that there is no justification for such an expense.
Taking to X, Ezekwesili expressed her disapproval, describing the move as an act of “profligacy” that cannot be justified by any argument from the President.
She wrote, “No argument justifies the purchase of a 14 year old Airbus plane by the @NGRPresident @officialABAT for his indulgence. o argument that can persuade reasonable people justifies this latest profligacy.”
Ezekwesili further warned that such “obscene indulgence” would eventually face backlash from citizens struggling with poverty.
“Continue with your obscene indulgence until the day your hungry citizens can no longer bear to sleep on empty stomachs,” she cautioned.
She also criticized the manner in which the current administration came to power, suggesting it was solely for personal gain rather than for the benefit of the nation.
“I hope it is now evident to all eyes why they needed to ‘grab it…… snatch it ….. and run away with it’.
“All that desecration of our Democracy was to acquire Power for nothing but a self-indulgent lifestyle at the expense of the people. Nothing else. How crass! Just look at the country and its people. One Day shall be One Day,” she concluded.
Elder Statesman and National Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Edwin Clark, has called for the immediate exit of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News reports that Clark made this call in a formal letter addressed to the National Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagun.
According to him, Wike needs to leave PDP for the party’s survival.
The former Federal Commissioner for Information and esteemed leader in the South-South region elucidated the alleged tactics employed by the former Governor of Rivers State to exert pressure on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the party, leveraging his close relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
During a press briefing at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, on Tuesday, the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) expressed his inability to remain silent in the face of Minister Wike’s persistent attempts to undermine Governor Fubara.
The head of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, who acknowledged his political career predated Wike’s birth, cautioned Damagun that failure to halt Wike’s actions would lead to a situation where the matter would consume the minister, Wike, and their allies.
Clark, who is currently in the process of writing a book titled “PDP: To Be or Not To Be,” highlighted the concerning trend of former Governors Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Ben Ayade (Cross River) defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that Wike’s current actions are reminiscent of those of his predecessors.
“After conceding that former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and his wife made him what he is today and will forever remain grateful to them, he is now abusing them. I won’t allow him to destroy Rivers State,” Clark declared.
He alleged that having failed to use the APC to disrupt the PDP, Wike is now using the party against itself.
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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) leadership has warned that it is prepared to embark on a fresh strike across the country in response to any attempt to arrest or detain its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by operatives of the Nigeria Police.
This declaration was made at the union’s headquarters on Tuesday morning, following an immediate emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) to deliberate on the police’s request to invite the NLC President in light of allegations concerning the financing of terrorism.
During the meeting, the NEC decided that Ajaero would accept the police’s invitation but emphasized the necessity for the union’s legal counsel to request additional time for Ajaero to be presented before the law enforcement authorities.
Deputy President of the NLC, Comrade Ado Kabiru Sani, has urged the nation’s workforce to be prepared for further instructions if the police’s actions do not align with the union’s expectations regarding Ajaero’s detention.
He said: “As a committed labour centre, we will honour the invitation of the police because we are not a faceless organization, but we are working with our lawyer for an extension of time.
“In the event that the President is arrested, all workers will down tools immediately. We should wait for further directives from our leadership.”
In a tragic turn of events, Rt. Hon, Harford Oseke, the former Deputy Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, has passed away.
The incident occurred on Monday when Oseke, who was engaged in his regular exercise routine at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, suddenly collapsed and died.
Efforts to revive him proved futile, and he was pronounced dead shortly after the incident. His body has since been taken to Apex Medical Centre in Awka.
Born in August 1960, Oseke hailed from Umuawulu in the Awka South local government area of the State. He was a learned scholar, having studied law and recently completing a Ph.D. in Public Administration. Beyond his academic accomplishments, he was a prominent figure in the freight forwarding industry in Port Harcourt and was actively involved in the importation of fishing feeds into Nigeria.
Oseke’s political career was closely tied to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). During Peter Obi’s tenure, he contested for a seat in the Anambra State House of Assembly, where he later served as the Majority Leader before ascending to the position of Deputy Speaker.
Despite his attempts to expand his political influence, including a bid to represent Awka North and South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Oseke was defeated by the late Rt. Hon Anayo Nnebe.
Rt. Hon Harford Oseke was not only a dedicated public servant but also a devout Christian, recognised as a Knight of St. Christopher. He is survived by his wife and children.
[Leadership]
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Joe Ajaero, has fixed a date to honour the invitation from the Nigeria Police Force.
Ajaero fixed Wednesday, August 29 to honour the invitation.
He communicated the date to the Inspector General of Police via a letter from his lawyers, Falana and Falana Chambers.
The NLC President was summoned by the Police over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.
Ajaero, in the letter by his lawyers, also demanded details of the allegations levelled against him by the Police.
Parts of the letter signed by Samuel Ogala, read: “Therefore, Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.
“Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime levelled against him.
“While awaiting your response to this letter, please accept the assurance of our highest esteem.”
[DailyPost]
The United States (U.S) government has unveiled a humanitarian aid package amounting to $27 million for Nigeria, aimed at supporting vulnerable communities and enhancing resilience against the challenges posed by food insecurity and the impacts of climate change.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria announced on Tuesday in Abuja that this contribution is a part of the broader $536 million humanitarian aid package allocated by the U.S. government to sub-Saharan Africa.
Naija News reports that Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, officially unveiled the comprehensive aid package which brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa in Fiscal Year 2024 to nearly $3.7 billion.
“The funding will be channelled to those in need through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
“It brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa in Fiscal Year 2024 to nearly $3.7 billion.
“The assistance aims to address the critical needs of vulnerable individuals across the sub-Saharan region,” the mission explained.
It added: “This includes refugees from war and terrorism violence, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless individuals, and other conflict-affected people.
“It will focus on crises in the Sahel, among other areas, and support efforts to build durable solutions, such as voluntary returns and refugee integration.”
In an address regarding the development, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, highlighted the significance of the recently announced U.S. funding.
Mills noted that the initiative underscored the United States’ dedication to delivering essential aid and safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable populations and the communities that host them across the African continent.
“This assistance will make a real difference in the lives of those most in need in Nigeria and across the continent.
“This 27 million dollars in aid demonstrates the U.S.’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing humanitarian challenges.
“We stand with Nigeria in its efforts to provide for vulnerable populations and build resilience against food insecurity and climate change impacts,” the mission quoted Mills as saying.