August 2021 – Page 22

Post Date : August 22, 2021

2023: Buhari’s government using EFCC to bully opposition leaders, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of using security agencies to clamp down on the opposition. In a statement issued on Saturday, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, said the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is using the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) to harass PDP leaders “in the renewed move to cow and weaken opposition formation”. Ologbondiyan said the APC is targeting dissenting voices to “foist an anti-democratic situation” in the country ahead of the 2023 elections. “Our party however states that no amount of intimidation, harassment and use of anti-graft agencies to clampdown on its leaders on trump up corruption charges, can cow or make the PDP to surrender or abdicate the mandate already given to it by Nigerians to lead in the effort to rescue our nation, come 2023,” the statement reads. “The APC knows that it has been rejected by Nigerians having failed woefully and that there is no way it can win elections under any condition. “As such, it seeks to use the state apparatus of power to decimate and muzzle opposition and dissenting voices and foist an anti-democratic situation on Nigerians. “Part of this heinous plot by the APC is to use the EFCC to bully, harass and hound PDP leaders, who are rallying Nigerians for the task ahead, with a view to coercing them to abdicate the mandate of the people and join the APC. “This explains why the EFCC and other security agencies have been harassing PDP leaders such as former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former PDP state governors, including the former governor or Abia state, senator Theodore Orji; former governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson; his Kano state counterpart, senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and other key PDP leaders, on trump up charges, while their counterparts in the APC with similar allegations as well as others who had defected to the APC are moving around freely.” The PDP said while its members are being hounded by security agencies, “corrupt officials of the APC administration, who are looting our national treasury, are doing so freely, under Buhari’s watch”. “Furthermore, our party has been made aware of plots by the APC administration to use the EFCC to further harass outspoken PDP chieftains in a bid to muzzle our party, force a one-party state and deny Nigerians a voice to challenge the atrocities of the APC and its administration,” the PDP said. “We alert Nigerians of how many of our leaders are being harassed by emissaries of the APC in a bid to get them to compromise their stand against the corrupt and inept APC administration. “If the APC had done well; if it had not devastated Nigerians and brought so much pain to the people; if the APC had managed our national resources well instead or engaging in unbridle treasury looting, stealing over N15 trillion naira and turning our nation into poverty capital of the world, if APC had not compromised our national security and threw our nation open to bandits, insurgents and terrorists, would it not be celebrating by now instead of this plot to force the people to submission?” The opposition party said its leaders will not be cowed to jettison the “determination to oust the APC from office at all levels across the country, come 2023”.

Post Date : August 22, 2021

FG to deploy 5G network soon, says Pantami

The federal government says it will soon deploy 5G network in the country to increase connectivity. Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, disclosed this in Abuja when he featured on a special News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) interview programme. Pantami said that the decision to deploy the 5G network followed an outcome of thorough investigations, research and trial absolving it of posing security or health threat. He explained that the work on the national policy on 5G stands at 95 percent done and will be presented to the federal executive council (FEC) in due course. Pantami, who said that the primary concern of government was to ensure security and welfare of Nigerians in their utilisation of services in the telecommunications sector, blamed the delay in the deployment of the 5G network on conspiracy theories. TheCable did a fact check on the rumours that COVID-19 was associated with the deployment of the 5G communications network. “Our government is a listening one; so we listen to constructive criticisms, respect it and appreciate it and at least we value it,” he said. “We’d reached advanced stage of 5G, then, an issue came up that 5G was related to COVID-19; many people including the educated ones started circulating it without verification. “Naturally, people are a bit scared and sceptical about technology. “So we gave enough time to do more consultation, creating awareness in local languages so as to engage our citizens to address all the challenges. “We set up a technical team that accommodated security, health and environmental institutions and the public sector so that we can be on the same page. “I want to give you the assurance that 5G communication network is in the pipeline.” Pantami said that the ministry had started discussions with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) concerning spectrum for commercial purposes. “From that spectrum, NCC will give it to mobile operators to start deployment; so, the policy is almost ready,” he added. “I went to the National Assembly, I defended our presentation and they have accepted and they have also endorsed the deployment of 5G. “They have also encouraged us to learn from other countries that have deployed 5G and we have already done that. “The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a statement that there is no relationship between 5G network and COVID-19 and that addresses the health issue. “Similarly, the International Communications Union (ICU), which is an arm of the UN, also issued another statement debunking any implications from the 5G.”

Post Date : August 22, 2021

Tinubu Should Not Succeed Buhari – Kogi Gov

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has given reasons why a former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, saying the purported pact between the president and the former Lagos governor is not binding. Bello, whose campaign posters for the presidency have littered parts of the country, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, said the leader of the APC would be convinced to support a young aspirant to succeed Buhari. Daily Trust on Sunday reports that Tinubu, who played a key role in the formation of the ruling party and victory of President Buhari, is yet to declare for the presidency, but his body language shows he may throw his hat in the ring. The quest by blocs to grab the soul of the ruling party ahead of the 2023 politicking has ignited internal crisis. The three main blocs battling to take over the party’s soul comprise governors, the presidency and Tinubu’s group. There are other smaller camps within the three main blocs. “Senator Tinubu is one of our leaders and I respect him so much. He has played a very significant role in Nigeria’s democracy and has built a lot of people. He has paid his dues, and with all respect as a son to him, my simple advice is that it is time for him to allow his children to take over the mantle of leadership. And let us do it to the glory of God and his admiration. He should see that those children he raised are now doing well. Let him see how we would manage this country in his lifetime. “He has a right to contest, nobody is questioning that. I always urge everybody to respect him for the roles he has played in this country’s democracy. He is a man of integrity, to be candid,” the governor said. Responding to a question on the possibility of Tinubu pulling out from the party if he is denied the presidential ticket of the APC, Bello said, “You don’t build a house and destroy it. I don’t think Tinubu would do that. I think he has grown past that. He is an elder statesman who will not say that the country should be destroyed in his lifetime, not even after his demise. So I don’t see him doing that. I don’t see that happening at all. I can speak for him, that at an appropriate time he will throw his weight behind a Nigerian youth to take over the leadership of this country while he would be behind the scene giving support as an elder statesman and one of the leaders of this party.” On his 2023 ambition, he said he would give an affirmative answer at the appropriate time to those mounting pressure on him to contest for presidency. When contacted, Tinubu’s media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, declined comment on Governor Bello’s statement. But Senator Rilwan Akanbi, who represented Oyo South in the Eighth Senate and a key advocate of the Tinubu 2023 presidency, said Governor Bello’s comment was his personal opinion and he is entitled to it. Akanbi, who is the vice chairman of the South-West Agenda (SWAGA), a group formed by Tinubu’s loyalists to champion the 2023 aspiration of the former Lagos State governor, said Bello and Tinubu, like every other Nigerian, are entitled to the presidency as long as they meet the requirements. He, however, said it was the turn of the South, specifically the South-West, to produce the next president. He also said the issue of presidency was beyond producing a youth, but the person must have the experience and track record to lead the country. “Whatever Governor Bello said is his personal opinion and he is entitled to it. What we are saying is that the South should be considered; that is our first agenda, then we are pushing it to the South-West. He can keep on playing to the gallery. “Everybody has the right to aspire. There’s no restriction as far as you can meet the requirements; and we have all met it. I am equally qualified to contest. “But some people believe in maturity, capacity, capability and experience. It depends on the school of thought you belong to. And whatever opportunity you have been given to perform, your track record is very important. It will show whether you can lead a country like Nigeria,” Akanbi said.

Post Date : August 22, 2021

Olu of Warri reverses ‘curse placed on Nigeria’ by his grandfather

Tsola Emiko, the newly-crowned Olu of Warri, has reversed an ancestral curse that he said was placed on Nigeria by his grandfather. The 37-year-old monarch spoke on Saturday during his coronation as the 21st ruler of Warri Kingdom in Delta state. While delivering his inaugural speech, he said the curse was placed on Nigeria by his grandfather, Wilson Gbesimi Emiko, the Olu Erejuwa II, and Uku Akpolokpolo, Akenzua II of Benin, over an alleged injustice meted out on the former. The late Erejuwa II was the Olu of Warri between 1951 and 1986 while the Akenzua II was the Oba of Benin from 1933 to 1978. The new king said there is a need to address the issue because he is a firm believer in the interconnection between the spiritual and the manifestation in the physical. “While not seeking to reopen old wounds, it is pertinent to recall the grave injustice meted out to Olu Erejuwa II. He visited his royal majesty, Oba Akenzua II of Benin and recounted his ordeal. In his reaction, a curse was placed on the land by both of them,” he said. “It is not recorded that Olu Erejuwa II reversed the curse on the land neither is it recorded that Oba Akenzua II did the same. Most probably, the issue was never revisited. “As a firm believer of the intricate interconnection between the spiritual and the manifestation in the physical, I am a firm believer that the matter needs to be addressed. “As the spiritual, cultural, political, and traditional ruler of this land, I, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, the first son of Olu Atuwatse II, the grandson of and direct descendant of Olu Erejuwa II who was offended on this throne, hereby, reverse the curse placed over this land. “In its place, I release forgiveness and healing to the federal government of Nigeria whose might was used to propagate that offence, and I decree unprecedented and an uncommon peace, prosperity, progress, development upon this land. “I bring down the government of heaven unto this land and I direct it to flow as a course that can neither be sabotaged, slowed or stopped. It goes out as a strong ripple effect emanating from this kingdom to the Niger Delta, to the rest of the Nigerian nation and even the African continent.”

Post Date : August 22, 2021

17-year old girl stabs neighbour to death in Kano

A 17-year old girl, Aisha Kabiru of Shekar Maidaki Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her 28-year old neighbour, Bahijja Abubakar to death. Police spokesman, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who paraded the suspect on Saturday, said she stabbed the victim at the back of her neck and left her in a pool of her blood. “She was taken to a hospital but she died while receiving treatment,” the PPRO said. Kiyawa said the Police acted on the instruction of the Police Commissioner, Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, when the news reached them. He disclosed that police officers, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kumbotso Division, SP Mudassir Ibrahim, nabbed the culprit in a hideout at Zawaciki Quarters of Kumbotso. “Receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police raised and instructed a team of policemen to proceed to the scene. ”Within 24 hours, the team arrived the area and arrested the culprit while the victim was rushed to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where she was admitted. Unfortunately, on August 20, at about 0800hrs, the victim died while receiving treatment. ”A suspect, one Aisha Kabiru, of the same address with the deceased was arrested same day, at about 1000hrs, in a hideout,” Kiyawa said. It was gathered that the teenager confessed committing the crime during interrogation. She revealed she had a misunderstanding with the deceased, and during argument, fighting erupted between them. An eyewitness said the initial quarrel was settled. “But later on, she took a sharp knife and stabbed Bahijja at the back of her neck which resulted to her death. Having realised her crime, she went into hiding,” our source said. The Police Commissioner (Dikko) has directed that the case be transferred to the homicide section of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Kano Police Command for “discreet investigation.” Dikko said the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

Post Date : August 22, 2021

Buhari warns leaders to shun divisive attitudes

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on emerging leaders in the country to rid the nation of divisiveness and unite the people. He made the appeal in an address to the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero and his people at his inaugural ceremony on Saturday in Bichi, Kano state. In the address read on his behalf by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, the President said the prevailing circumstances of the nation impose a demand on leaders to “display their qualities and work earnestly for continued peace and unity.” ‌ A statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) quoted President Buhari as saying: “Your turbanning at a providential time like this in the history of our country when the prevailing social and socioeconomic conditions have created an opportunity for emerging leaders to display their qualities and work earnestly for continued peace and unity. ‘‘Your father, my friend the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, was a symbol of unity, not only within his Kingdom but also within Northern Nigeria and the whole country.” Going down the memory lane, President Buhari said when we remember Ado Bayero, we remember unity, we remember simplicity and good leadership, a leader who devoted his life to unify the nation. “I remember with nostalgia, the passion and commitment he always exhibited in the pursuit of anything he believed in, a distinctive character that almost cost him his life prematurely on 19th January, 2013 because of his vociferous stand against the Boko Haram terrorists.” President Buhari expressed optimism that the new Emir will exhibit similar qualities and “even much more, as he has begun to exhibit” within the few months of his reign. According to the statement, President Buhari, who extended his “deep and wholehearted congratulations”, said he will continue to pray for the success of the Emir and looks forward to his contributions ‘‘to uplifting the people of his emirate and Nigerians in general.” The leader of the Presidential delegation, Professor Gambari, who is an uncle of the Emir, Nasiru Ado Bayero from his mother’s side, reaffirmed his loyalty and affinity to the Emir. Gambari described the recreation of Kano’s additional four emirates by the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration as ‘‘wonderful, historic and innovative.” Other members of the Presidential delegation are the Ministers of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adamu as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu.

Post Date : August 22, 2021

Man kidnaps neighbour’s son in Lagos, demands N2.5m ransom

A resident of Aboru in the Ipaja area of Lagos, Desmond Okoroafor, has been arrested for the alleged kidnap of his neighbour’s eight-year-old son, Daniel Chukwudi. Okoroafor, 21, was apprehended alongside one Egwuonwu Iyke, whom he reportedly connived with to abduct the boy and hold him captive. From their hideout in the Ajangbadi area of the state, the duo were said to have contacted the victim’s family and demanded N2.5m ransom for his release. The police said operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau went after the suspects after the victim’s parents reported the abduction, which occurred on July 11, 2021. The spokesperson for the police in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Saturday, said Okoroafor exploited his unhindered access to the family to lure the victim from home to Ajangbadi, where he was in captivity for six days before he was rescued. He said, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two male suspects, Desmond Ikechukwu Okafor (21) and Egwuonwu Gift Iyke (34), who conspired and kidnapped an eight-year-old child, Daniel Chukwudi, on 11th July, 2021. The kidnap was planned and executed by the victim’s neighbour, Desmond Okechukwu Okorafor. “Twenty-four hours after the evil act, the suspects reached out to the victim’s parents and demanded N2.5m ransom as a condition for his release from captivity or else he would be killed. “Following a report by the distraught parents, operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau began a painstaking, diligent investigation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects in their criminal hideout, while the victim was also rescued from his detention where he was kept incommunicado.” Ajisebutu said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had directed that the suspects be charged.

Post Date : August 21, 2021

Jerry Gana: Nigerians are most miserable in Africa… nothing is moving

Jerry Gana, a former minister of information and former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (PDP), says Nigeria has the highest number of “miserable people in Africa”. Gana said this on Saturday at a retreat organised by the Kogi Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Renaissance Group in Abuja. The PDP chieftain said most Nigerians, the majority of them youths, have become “jobless, frustrated and hopeless” as a result of the harsh economic policies of the current administration. He said the PDP “is the only hope now for the Federal Republic of Nigerian to return back to sanity”, adding that the country is a difficult situation. “In the misery index, Nigeria is the highest in Africa. We are the most miserable set of people in Africa because nothing is moving. In fact, our currency is now 100 percent devalued. Nigeria is going through a very difficult time,” he said. “The level of indebtedness in the past few years is such that every Nigerian is now in debt. The Naira is perhaps one of the most useless currencies in Africa today. I have never seen this level of corruption as we have today. In fact, the level of corruption makes the PDP governments look like angels because corruption is now a thousand times worse.” Speaking on the insecurity in the country, Gana said nowhere is safe, adding that even Katsina, the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari, is bedevilled by banditry. “Governor Maisari was advocating recently that everyone in Katsina state should get a gun. Do you know where Katsina is? Do you know who comes from Katsina? he asked. Also speaking, Bukola Saraki, former senate president, said the deliberations in the retreat will reposition the party in the state. “Kogi has witnessed a change in fortune since 2015 but I am happy because today’s meeting sends a strong message to the PDP family throughout the country. We must not forget that our party, the PDP is the landlord in Kogi that was robbed of victory in the past elections. So, we must set aside our differences in the interest of the party,” he said.

Post Date : August 21, 2021

CBN Warns Microfinance Banks Against FOREX Transactions

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cautioned microfinance banks in the country to stop engaging in foreign exchange transactions and other unauthorised dealings. The apex bank stated this on Friday in a circular titled ‘Cessation of Non-Permissible Activities by Microfinance Banks’ issued by Ibrahim Tukur from the CBN’s Financial Policy and Regulation Department. “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has observed the activities of some Microfinance Banks (MFBs) that have gone beyond the remit of their operating licenses by engaging in non-permissible activities especially wholesale banking, foreign exchange transactions and others,” the circular read. “Given the comparatively low capitalisation of MFBs, dealing in wholesale and/or foreign exchange transactions are a significant risk with dire consequences for financial system stability. “It has, therefore, become imperative to remind all MFBs to strictly comply with the extant Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Microfinance Banks in Nigeria 2012 (the Guidelines).” Based on the remit of microfinance banks, they are strictly prohibited from foreign exchange transactions, according to the CBN. Consequently, microfinance banks that deal in forex transactions risk sanctions. “The CBN will continue to monitor developments in the MFB sector and apply severe regulatory sanctions for breaches of extant regulations, including revoking the license of non-compliant MFBs (in line with Section 19 of the Guidelines),” the apex bank said. Microfinance banks are meant to focus primarily on providing financial services to retail and micro-clients. The CBN insisted that micro-credit and retail transactions carried out by MFBs are limited to N500,000 per transaction for Tier 2 Unit, and N1,000,000 for other categories. Micro-credit facilities shall constitute a minimum of 80 percent of the total loans portfolio for MFBs, it added.

Post Date : August 21, 2021

FG, resident doctors reach new agreements

The Federal Government on Saturday morning agreed to pay N4.8bn Residency Training Fund to the National Association of Resident Doctors(NARD) in the next seven days. The government also agreed to clear the arrears of the consequential adjustment of the National Minimum Wage from April when the bill was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari to December 2019. The government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, also said it has forwarded a list from 38 hospitals to the Budget office for inclusion in the Service Wide Vote. The agreement may have laid the foundation for the peaceful resolution of the ongoing strike by NARD which commenced on August 1, 2021. A Memorandum of Action is expected to be signed by all parties involved in the discussion today (Saturday). The truce was brokered following the intervention of the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association led by Prof Innocent Uja. At the Friday renewed meeting, all the consolidated 12-point demand by NARD, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and other affiliates of NMA were resolved. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the government resumed discussion with the striking doctors at the instance of President Buhari. In a statement on Saturday morning by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, Ngige said the President directed him to side step every technicality and re-commence conciliation, especially in the background of the alternative dispute resolution window, provided by the National Industrial Court, where the matter was referred to under the instrument of article 17 of the Trade Disputes Act. He said: “The National Industrial Court in its wisdom advised that NARD should keep talking with its employers. So we are tapping into this widow of an alternative dispute resolution to ameliorate this situation that is already bad.” Ngige commended Ujah for assuming his role as the leader of all doctors in Nigeria, saying all affiliate doctors’ associations are under the NMA. The Minister said: “When you talk to the children and they don’t listen well, you talk to their parents. “The standing agreement that every negotiation by affiliate associations must be led by the NMA was not observed in the recent past. I therefore commend Ujah for assuming his role as the father of all doctors. I want you to play this role effectively and efficiently.” He insisted the present administration has made more investment in the health sector and dismissed insinuations the non-keeping of agreements by the Federal Government was at the root of incessant doctors’ strike. The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, urged the doctors to end their strike in the interest of the nation as government tackles their demands. President of NMA, Prof Uja said the strike was avoidable and blamed some government functionaries for not playing their roles. He said: “As doctors , we are trained to prevent disease, cure illnesses and promote health but not trained to go on strike,” and regretted that circumstances forced the doctors otherwise. ,He commended Senator Ngige for going the extra miles to ensure that officers across Ministries and agencies who are relevant to tackling the doctors’ demands are put on their toes. Prof Uja said: “At the meeting we had on Wednesday , before us , he was calling relevant officers, asking what have you done about this , what have you done about this? He does his own and also chases others around to ensure that progress is made,” Uja said , adding there was no misunderstanding between him and the Minister as falsely reported in a section of the media. “At close door, the meeting tackled and resolved all the 12 point issues such as payment of House Doctors where Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria tabled evidence to show that 2800 doctors have been paid and efforts ongoing to sort the outstanding 144; the N4.8B Residency Training Fund which the Budget Office assured would be paid in 7days. “The arrears of the consequential adjustment of the National Minimum Wage which the meeting agreed, cuts across other sectors but that greater focus must be paid to clearing that of April to December 2019 which has no ambiguity. The Ministry of Health also revealed that as of August 3, 2021, a list from 38 hospitals has been forwarded to the Budget office for inclusion in the Service Wide Vote. “The meeting also tackled the issue of locum doctors/ emergency and migration to IPPIS, the bench fees and the hazard allowance which it agreed should be out of the negotiation table since the stalemate created by the disagreement between the NMA and JOHESU was responsible for the delay, as the Federal Government already mapped out N37.5B for it. “The decision of the National Council on Establishment , given effect by the Circular from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation which excised house doctors and NYSC doctors from the scheme of service was also visited. Also deliberated upon was skipping which is a consequential grade alignment as well as non-payment of three months Covid-19 allowance to some doctors in 2020, and migration of MDCAN to CONUAS among others. “The meeting adjourned to 10 a.m. this morning, Saturday, August 21, 2021 to streamline agreement reached on all issues, draft and sign the Memorandum of Understanding towards ending the three weeks old strike by NARD.” The meeting was attended by Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Labour and Employment , Dr. Peter Tarfa, Health, Mamman Mamuda, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Office of the Head of Service, Ngozi Onwudiwe, Director General of the Budget Office , Ben Akabueze, Chairman of National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, representative of the Minister of State, Finance , Budget and Planning, representatives of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, leaders of the NMA, NARD, MDCAN among others.