January 2022 – Page 51

Post Date : January 7, 2022

APC Governors To Meet With Buhari Over February Convention

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to meet with President Muhamadu Buhari on Sunday to decide on a date for the February convention. Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting with the President in his office on Friday. According to him, President Buhari has given an assurance that nothing would stop the APC from conducting the convention in February, hence the resolve by all the governors to meet and harmonise all interests on Sunday. Lalong equally noted that recent remarks by the President, asking the APC to put its house in order, also informed his visit to the President, as he considered it a warning signal for members to sit up, so that the party can conduct a seamless convention and not disintegrate. On the security situation in the country, Governor Lalong affirmed that the cases of kidnapping across the country have intensified. Consequently, he noted that he is eager to see the procured A29 Super Tucanoes Aircraft deployed in full and engaging in massive action, before the second half of the year.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

2023: South-East PDP endorses Sen Anyim for President

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the South-East zone has endorsed the presidential ambition of the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim. The endorsement was made in Enugu during a consultative session hosted by Anyim. Political leaders from across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and the Imo States, who attended the event said they endorsed Anyim because he has a record and unblemished service as President of the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. They made their position known in a ten-point resolution issued at the end of the meeting, and signed by Senator Theodore Orji, former governor of Abia State, who also chaired the session and Chief Duru-Iheoma, SAN, former chairman of PDP in Imo State. The resolution of the Party leaders read: “His Excellency Senator Pius Anyim Pius, met with us the Zonal and State Executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as select political leaders and elders from across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and the Imo States, making up the five states of the South-East geo-political zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The occasion was a special briefing session by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. “The purpose of the session was to consult the leaders of the geo-political zone on his aspiration to contest the 2023 presidency on the platform of the PDP. In addition, it was an opportunity for the Senator to acquaint the leaders thus gathered with the progress and outcomes of his wide-ranging consultations with the leaders of the various sections of the federation, on both his aspiration and the general state of the nation. “In the light of the highpoints of the Senator’s briefing, we resolved as follows: 1. We wish to express our profound gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and His Excellency Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State for their outstanding leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South East Zone and their clear articulation of the interests of the zone at all platforms and organs of the party.. “That the choice of who becomes President of Nigeria in 2023 has become a strategic imperative for the future of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In this regard, the vision, capacity, experience and disposition of the next president will make the difference in the socio-political stability and economic development of the country. “That Senator Anyim, through us here assembled, wishes to express his profound gratitude for the overwhelming warmth and understanding which leaders across the nation showed to him and his aspiration throughout his wide-ranging and extensive consultations so far. “That we appeal to the Peoples Democratic Party in the interest of equity, justice and harmonious national cohesion to zone their presidential ticket to the Southern zones of the country and the South East in particular. “That the people of the South-East geopolitical zone have earned the right to occupy the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023 on account of their eminent qualifications and overwhelming contributions to the development of all parts of the federation through the years. “We further reiterate that the choice of a South-East citizen as the presidential candidate of the party in 2023 will guarantee to every Nigerian a sense of equity, justice and inclusion in the management of the affairs of the nation. In our view, this is the best way of ensuring that we build a nation that leaves no one or group behind. “On account of the foregoing, we congratulate Senator Anyim Pius Anyim for the patriotism of his decision to offer himself for national service by aspiring to contest in the 2023 Presidential race. We take due cognizance of his precious record of distinguished and unblemished service as President of the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. In these positions, he distinguished himself as a detribalized statesman, consensus builder and true nationalist. “We, therefore, unanimously endorse his aspiration with all conviction and enthusiasm and eagerly commend him to the rest of the nation as a worthy leader who will pilot the affairs of the nation towards greater security, unity and prosperity for all citizens. “In furtherance of the foregoing, we hereby oblige Senator Anyim his request that we all join him to persuade and reassure every part of the country to do justice to the South East and thereby promote equity and justice as core values of our nation. “In is an aspiration, we also In assuring Senator Anyim of our support for wish to extend the same hand of support and solidarity to all qualified and deserving sons and daughters of our zone with similar aspiration and who reach out to us as Senator Anyim has done. “It is our solemn appeal to all the people to r s of the South-East zone remain steadfast in the hope that we can all join hands in solidarity with all other parts of the federation to build a prosperous nation founded on democracy, equity and inclusion to the benefit of this great nation. “

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Obasanjo: Nigeria needs political will to manage army of unemployed youths

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says political will and action are key to transforming the country’s population into an asset. While speaking on Friday at the Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe symposium in Lagos, Obasanjo expressed worry over the country’s growing population, especially the unemployed youths. The former president said owing to unemployment and the inability to manage the country’s population, many youths have enlisted in violent groups and kidnap gangs. First cluster of questions are: How are we going to feed this growing population? How are we going to house them, educate them — provided we have security and other variants of security?” he said. “The second cluster of questions are: How do we keep this large keg of a large army of unemployed youths from exploding? How do we keep them from enlisting in violent groups and gangs of kidnappers? “A not-well managed cluster of population is frightening. There appears to be a solution. Political will and political action can make the population an asset. This is the master key. The key has the will and the action. It is not enough to shout political will in mere political rhetoric.” The former president also said there is an index that countries could use to enhance their populations and make it an asset. “I’m proud to introduce the population and assets responsiveness index, just as UN, AU and other international agencies have established indices for comparing performance of countries,” he said.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Fresh crisis hits APC as aggrieved members drag Buni to court

The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress over the February convention may have worsened with some members dragging the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The applicants were seeking an order of the Court to restrain the Buni-led CECPC from going ahead with the convention. Already, the Progressives Governors Forum of the APC have scheduled a meeting for this weekend in Abuja, at the Kebbi State Governors Lodge in Asokoro. The Chairman of PGF and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, said top on the agenda of the meeting was the national convention of the party fixed for February 2022. There had been a clamour for a change in date of the scheduled national convention. But the plaintiffs in the suit dated January 4, 2022, were Suleiman Dimas Usman, Muhammed Shehu, Samaila Isahaka, Idris Isah, and Audu Emmanuel. The APC, Chairman of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission were listed as 1-3 defendants in the Court processes obtained by journalists in Abuja on Friday. The plaintiffs in the case with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/3/2022, filed through their lawyer, Olusola Ojo, prayed the Court for an order to stop the convention on the ground that state congresses were yet to be completed in all the 36 states of the federation. The plaintiffs raised five questions for the Court to determine and also sought eight declarative reliefs. Some of the reliefs included an order of this Court restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants from organizing and conducting the national convention of the 1st defendant unless state congresses of the 1st defendant were first concluded in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. They also prayed for an order of the Court directing the 1st and 2nd defendants to first conduct state congresses of the 1st defendant in Anambra state and Zamfara state before the national convention of the 1st defendant can be scheduled and conducted. Others were, “An order of this Honourable Court restraining the 3rd defendant from giving approval effect to any action of the 1st and 2nd defendant to organize and conduct national convention of the 1st defendant unless state congresses of the 1st defendant are first conducted/concluded in ALL the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.” No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Akwa Ibom governor asked to run for presidency in 2023

… There was jubilation in Abuja on Friday as Nigerians at home and in the diaspora called on Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel to contest the 2023 presidential elections in order to replicate his industrialization policy and use his creative financial and economic ingenuity to salvage the Nigerian dwindling and almost collapsing economy. This was part of reactions that trailed the Governor’s live interview when he appeared as a Guest on Brekette Family Radio Live Talk Show in Abuja, hosted by the Ordinary President, Ahmed Isah on Brekete Family on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM, Abuja, where the Governor spoke on his achievements in the last six years and on the State of the Nation. Following his numerous achievements in the last six years as Governor, his hosts, Ahmed Isah and other phone-in callers called on him to get set to contest for the office of President come 2023, promising to mobilize ordinary Nigerians to contribute funds to finance the electioneering cost. “Now we are begging you. Soon we’ll lead a massive protest if you refuse to heed the plea of Nigerians. The country is bleeding. We need someone like you to use the knowledge of what you have done in Akwa Ibom to salvage the country, Isah declared. The Governor asked those clamouring for him to run for the presidency to rather pray over their demand to seek God’s blessings and direction while he concentrates on completing the mandate Akwa Ibom people gave him through the ballot. Listing his achievements in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Emmanuel said the time has come for leaders to think outside the box on how to run the economy, a factor he said inspired him to conceive the idea of developing the three gateway of land, air and sea in Akwa Ibom. He explained that apart from linking all the local government areas with access roads including the neighbouring states, his administration has expanded on the vision of his predecessors to develop the MRO of the Ibom International Airport to allow for all aircraft within the African continent to be serviced, maintained and overhauled in Akwa Ibom, a feat he noted will bring foreign exchange to the state. According to the Governor, his administration is looking beyond oil which explains why he is currently test running the multi-million dollar coconut refinery in the state of which five foreign countries are currently in Akwa Ibom to understudy the idea, technology and expertise in order to replicate the same in their home country. He explained that despite the price of crude oil per barrel at the International energy market, a litre of virgin coconut goes for $6 which means coconut oil is more costly and profitable than crude, this he said was another way his administration is diversifying both the State’s economy and it’s revenue profile. He regretted that despite Akwa Ibom sitting on top of over 31.1% of oil and gas reserve in the country, the state has no NNPC depot, no DPR or PPMC presence in the state which is why he has built Nigeria’s seventh tallest building named the Dakadda Towers with 21 floors to provide accommodations for investors and multinationals as well as the Luxury Estate which will be built to accommodate foreigners from all over the world. He warned of a great economic crisis due to the impending food scarcity occasioned by banditry and farmers/herders crisis that has impeded the ability of farmers to go to their farmlands to cultivate food, warning that with a country of over 200 million citizens, the looming food crisis is one national crisis that be better imagined than experienced and that the time to act is now. On Power, he revealed that his administration is targeting power for all but regretted that despite producing enough power for consumption, the power so generated cannot be adequately transmitted to end-users, and called on the federal government to rise beyond partisanship and grant him license to distribute the power generated by Ibom Power so that citizens and residents of the state can enjoy uninterrupted power supply. “If the power Ibom Power generates is adequately distributed, Engineers in the power sector have assured me that my people would by now be enjoying up to 21 hours of power per day”, he said. He noted that if power is available, affordable and accessible to small and medium scale businesses, the average barber or salon owner will run his or her business at a reduced cost and make more profit. He announced that his administration also made available an interest free loan of #2 billion for market women, announcing his intention to add more funds to it to make it a revolving loan to stimulate the growth of SME’s in the state. According to Governor Emmanuel, his vision is to ensure the state has a modern health system that will cater for the health needs of citizens and residents which explains why he has revamped and equipped ten General Hospitals in the ten federal constituencies and link it up to education which is why his government is investing massively in making education free at the basic level as modalities have reached advanced stage to make the Vocational Training Center in the state functional so as to equip students with skills needed to make them self reliant upon graduation. On agriculture, Governor Emmanuel said the state is investing massively in encouraging people to cultivate vegetables and that a tomato processing plant has been put in place to ensure harvested tomatoes are processed and marketed to curb waste, improve storage and create wealth for farmers in the state.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Buhari Inaugurates New NNPC Board, Demands Accountability

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally inaugurated the Board of the newly incorporated Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. The president had constituted the board in September but shortly before it was to be inaugurated, he suspended the exercise indefinitely. No reason was given for the development. But on Wednesday, Adesina announced a major change on the board – the replacement of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume with Lady Magarey Okadigbo. The President reminded the Board members that they were appointed as a result of the reforms put forward by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which seeks to reposition the Nigerian petroleum industry to a commercially viable and competitive industry in line with global business dynamics and best practices. The president charged them to focus on profitability and operate at par with its industry peers across the world. ”I expect the NNPC Limited to be mindful of our commitments to our net carbon zero aspirations and to ensure total alignment with the global energy transition realities,” he said. ”The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is mandated to focus on profitability and continuous value creation beyond the simple fulfilment of legal and regulatory requirements. ”NNPC Limited is expected to operate at par with its industry peers across the world, while acting as enabler company that will foster the development of other sectors of our economy. ”The inauguration of this Board is a major step in the ongoing transition to a more viable petroleum industry that will attract investment to support our economic growth and generate employment to millions of our people,” he said. Buhari directed that there should be full alignment and synergy between NNPC Limited, the Upstream Regulatory Commission and the Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority in compliance with the provisions of the law in all respects to deliver the onerous reforms envisaged for the energy industry. While thanking the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their support in the journey towards a viable, accountable and transparent energy industry, the President said he would count on the professional insights and ethical conduct of the Board members to ensure the delivery of his administration’s promises to Nigerians. The Board members are Senator Magarey Okadigbo, Chairman; Mele Kolo Kyari, Chief Executive Officer; Umar I. Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Tajudeen Umar (North-East), Mrs Lami O. Ahmed (North-Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal (North-West), Engr. Henry Obih (South-East), Barrister Constance Harry Marshal (South-South), Chief Pius Akinyelure (South-West), Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Aliyu Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Minister, Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Omicron Is Not ‘Mild’, Kills People Like Other Variants – WHO

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is killing people across the globe and should not be dismissed as mild, the World Health Organization insisted Thursday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the record numbers of people catching the new variant — which is rapid out-competing the previously-dominant Delta variant in many countries — meant hospitals were being overwhelmed. “While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as mild,” Tedros told a press conference. “Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people,” he explained. “In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world.” Just under 9.5 million new Covid-19 cases were reported to the WHO last week — a record, up 71 percent on the week before. But even this was an underestimate, Tedros said, as it did not reflect the backlog of testing around the Christmas-New Year holidays, positive self-tests not registered, and overburdened surveillance systems missing cases. Vaccination targets slipping away Tedros used his first speech of 2022 to slam the way rich nations hogged available vaccine doses last year, saying it had created the perfect breeding ground for the emergence of virus variants. He, therefore, urged the world to share out vaccine doses more fairly in 2022, to end the “death and destruction” of Covid-19. Tedros wanted every country to have 10 percent of their population vaccinated by the end of September 2021 and 40 percent by the end of December. Ninety-two of the WHO’s 194 member states missed the target set for the end of 2021 — indeed 36 of them had not even jabbed the first 10 percent, largely due to being unable to access doses. Tedros wants 70 percent jabbed in every country by mid-2022. On the current pace of vaccine roll-out, 109 countries will miss that target. “Vaccine inequity is a killer of people and jobs and it undermines a global economic recovery,” said Tedros. “Booster after booster in a small number of countries will not end a pandemic while billions remain completely unprotected.” Omicron is not the end The WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove said it was “very unlikely” that Omicron would be the last variant of concern before the pandemic is over. In facing the more transmissible Omicron variant, Van Kerkhove urged people to step up the measures they were already taking to protect themselves against the virus. “Do everything that we have been advising better, more comprehensively, more purposefully,” she said. “We need people to hang in there and really fight.” Van Kerkhove added that she was stunned by how sloppily some people were wearing facemasks. “It needs to cover your nose and mouth… wearing a mask below your chin is useless,” she said. Looking ahead to this year, Bruce Aylward, the WHO’s frontman on accessing coronavirus tools, added that there was “no need to finish 2022 in a pandemic”. But WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that without vaccine equity, “we will be sitting here at the end of 2022 having somewhat the same conversation, which, in itself, would be a great tragedy”.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

UAE Works On Friday For The First time

Employees and schoolchildren juggled work and studies with weekly Muslim prayers on the first-ever working Friday in the United Arab Emirates as the Gulf country formally switched to a Saturday-Sunday weekend. Some grumbled at the change and businesses were split, with many moving to the Western-style weekend but other private firms sticking with Fridays and Saturdays, as in other Gulf states. The weekly day of prayer has always been a free day in the UAE, which had previously observed a Thursday-Friday weekend until 2006. However, mosques appeared busy as worshippers carrying prayer mats arrived as usual before many of them later headed back to the office. “I’d rather take (Friday) off,” said 22-year-old Briton Rachel King, who works in the hospitality industry and has been living in Dubai for six months. “That is what we all know and love, having a Friday off and going to certain places that are open and we could do things. But now it is going to be Saturday.” The UAE made the surprise announcement of the weekend switch for the public sector in December as it grapples with rising competition in international business from other Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. Government bodies and schools will operate four-and-a-half days per week, closing at 12 pm on Fridays for a fixed prayer time of 1:15 pm, whereas the Muslim prayer schedule usually depends on the position of the sun. Out of 195 businesses polled by human resources consultancy Mercer, only 23 percent were preparing to follow the four-and-a-half-day week, but more than half would switch to Saturday-Sunday weekends. “Luckily I have the same days off as my kids, but that’s not the case for my husband,” said Fati, who works in an international distribution company, asking not to give her full name. “He works for a multinational that hasn’t changed its schedule for the moment. I hope they will do it quickly, otherwise, our family life will be ruined.” ‘Feels a bit weird’ Nearly a third of companies are worried about the impact of being out of sync with other countries in the region, the Mercer poll found. “We work a lot with Egypt and Saudi Arabia,” said Rana, an employee of an events company who said some of her teams would have to work on Sundays. Dubai’s financial district was unusually quiet on Friday with large numbers working remotely, especially at a time of rising Covid levels when many children are also doing online schooling. “Today is the first working Friday, it feels a bit weird,” said Ahmad Bilbisi, 34, a banking employee. “It makes sense to me, at least for the banking industry. We are now working on the same day as everyone else in the world.” The new arrangement was a major talking point on social media, with one Twitter user complaining “it just feels so wrong”. “My body and mind have fully acclimatised to having Fridays off. I think today is going to be a long hard struggle,” the tweet reads. Sharjah, an emirate neighbouring Dubai, has found a simple solution: mandating Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as a three-day weekend. AFP

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Tinubu can make things happen for Nigeria, says South-East group

The South-East Destiny Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2023 has joined the call for a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, to join the 2023 presidential race. Addressing journalists in Awka on Thursday, the Convener, SDMBAT, Chief Ekene Enefe, described the All Progressives Congress leader as a good man, who deserved to be encouraged to make things happen positively for Nigeria. Enefe said the group had assessed the value that Tinubu had brought to Nigerian politics as well as the economic and infrastructural foundation laid in Lagos State, and most importantly, the human capital he built during and after his reign as governor of the state. He described Tinubu as one of the most detribalised Nigerians, who, as governor, had appointees from every part of the country. He said, “BAT (Tinubu) is one man that believes in merit; if you have the competence he is looking for, he engages you; that is the kind of man Nigeria needs now. We are supporting him because what Nigeria needs in a president is capacity, competence and national acceptability.” According to him, the country does not need ethnic champions. Enefe stated, “What we need in Nigeria is a good leader, who is informed and who can harness and allocate the resources of this country equitably. “We cannot continue to advocate for a president based on ethnicity. There was a time when people from the South-East occupied good positions in government, but it did not translate into improved infrastructure in the region. “As a matter of fact, some of the champions of the president from South-East extraction are doing it for selfish reasons. How have they used their former opportunities to better the lots of the people in their immediate environment?” Enefe said the SDMBAT was largely made up of youths, who were desirous of national cohesion and progress with a presence at the grassroots in the South-East region. “We are in touch with every community in the South-East; we have been existing and decided to provide our platform for BAT, because he represents a better opportunity for the APC and better leadership for Nigeria, because of his proven experience,” he added.

Post Date : January 7, 2022

Tanzania Speaker Resigns After Feud With President

The speaker of Tanzania’s parliament quit on Thursday after a very public falling out with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, exacerbating divisions within the ruling party. Job Ndugai, who is no stranger to controversy, had infuriated Hassan last week when he criticised her over what he called Tanzania’s “excessive” foreign borrowing. Rifts have emerged recently in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as the party prepares for new elections, although the ballot is not due to take place until 2025. Ndugai, 58, said in a statement he had written to the CCM’s secretary-general informing the party of his resignation from the post he has held since November 2015. “This is my personal and voluntary decision for the interest of my country, government, and my party CCM,” he said. Hassan, who took power in March last year, had on Tuesday hinted that she would be carrying out a cabinet reshuffle to expel ministers she suspects of siding with rival politicians in the party for the election. The speaker’s remarks last week triggered a debate over the country’s debt levels, but many people including Hassan’s supporters in the CCM lashed out at him for criticising the president. “I did not expect someone who leads a pillar of the state to utter such words,” she said, insisting that the government would continue borrowing for development projects. ‘Begging Bowl’ According to figures published by Tanzania’s central bank, the country’s private and public external debt stood at almost $28 billion in November, with government borrowing accounting for more than 70 percent. Total debt amounted to $36 billion in November, it said, while gross domestic product stood at $64.7 billion at the end of 2020. “Is there any pride in taking around a begging bowl?” Ndugai asked at a public meeting last week. “We have resorted to borrowing every day. There will come a day when this country will be sold off.” Ndugai, who was a strong supporter of Hassan’s late predecessor John Magufuli and had also served as deputy speaker from 2010 to 2015, apologised to Hassan on Monday, saying his remarks were misunderstood. Tundu Lissu of the main opposition Chadema party, whose leader was arrested in July and charged with terrorism offences, described Ndugai as “the most despicable speaker in the 96 years of our parliament”. “His forced resignation, though, confirms that Tanzania has only one omnipotent & untouchable arm of the State: the President. A new democratic Constitution is an urgent & imperative order of the day!” he said on Twitter. In June last year, Ndugai was subject to ridicule after he ordered a woman lawmaker who was wearing trousers to leave parliament because of her “strange” attire. He also angered Chadema in May when he refused, in defiance of Tanzanian law, to expel lawmakers whose membership of the party had been revoked. Hassan became president of the East African country after the death of Magufuli, who was nicknamed the “Bulldozer” for his authoritarian leadership style and who oversaw a crackdown on dissent during his rule. She has sought to break with some of Magufuli’s policies, but fears remain about the state of political and media freedoms in the country. AFP