Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has put side by side, the performances of Nigerian leaders post-independence and what is obtainable now and concluded that Nigerians of those days are much better. Speaking during the National Daily Awards in Lagos, Obasanjo said that even though politics was ranging then like the country is experiencing today, they were determined to ensure they chose the right leaders who made the right decisions for the country. “In fact, in making choices of leaders, I will say Nigerians of post-independence make the right choices of leaders. We all know that if your choice is right, the performance and consequences will be right.” Obasanjo who is the keynote speaker at the occasion, recalled the opinion of world leaders about Nigeria immediately after independence but regretted that the country is not living up to that expectation. “When the then Prime Minister went to the United Nations post-independence, the world referred to Nigeria as a giant in the sun, not even a giant of Africa. “But the question is, have we lived up to that? If we have not, the question is why? Are there certain qualities that leaders in the post-independence era had that are absent in leadership today? We talk about values, have our values changed? What is Nigeria today, and what is the Nigeria we want? How do we get the Nigeria we want?” “Over a long period of my life in peacemaking and mediation, I have come to realize that peace, security, and stability are essential ingredients for the development and growth of any country. Without justice, equity, and fairness, no country can attain greatness. “When you look at us individually, there is something unique about Nigerians. Wherever they go, they excel individually. Today, when you look globally, Nigerians are doing great things individually. It’s time for us to unite and take the country to where it’s supposed to be. “If we fail to do so, then our existence is useless. We need to make a difference so that we can leave behind a better society.” Corroborating his views, Chairman of the Occasion and Former Minister of Health and Social Services, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi said that people generally look up to leaders, so it’s important that leaders demonstrate capacity, character and lead by example. “As a country, we urgently need a rebirth of a national ethos. What kind of Nigeria do we want? What role should everyone be playing towards the emergence of such a Nigeria? And how can we own that consciousness and drive it regardless of our current circumstances, regardless of whether we are rich or poor, high or low.” Speaking on the motivation behind the awards, Editor-in-Chief, National Daily Newspaper, Sylvester Ebhodaghe said that despite the challenges and uproar in the country, it will not be out of place to honor patriotic Nigerians who are making a difference. “At the National Daily Newspaper, we consider it important to encourage the few Nigerians who, in spite of the challenges, make sacrifices to do their best. Not that they want to be recognized, but because they believe that building a just, socially cohesive, equitable, and economically viable society rests on each of us doing our part. “We believe that the best way to encourage men and women who still believe in this great country and are willing to give everything to make it work is to recognize and encourage them to continue doing the good things they are doing.” The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babjide Sanwo-Olu, Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba were among the eminent Nigerians who received awards for outstanding performances.

  The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has dedicated a new church building in Abuja, named ‘Jesus House’, in a ceremony presided over by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The dedication ceremony, which took place on Saturday, was a grand affair attended by thousands of RCCG members and dignitaries from across the country. The newly completed church building, located in the Durumi area of Abuja, is a magnificent 5-storey facility that can accommodate up to 3,000 worshippers at once. Speaking at the dedication ceremony, the Pastor-in-Charge of the ‘Jesus House’ parish in Abuja, Major-Gen. Pat Akem-Vingir (rtd), highlighted the importance of the church in Nigeria’s social and economic fabric. “If you remove the church from Nigeria, the country will collapse. People may deny it, but I am saying it unapologetically. “If the church were not in Nigeria doing what it is doing; serving as the light of the world and as the salt of the earth, the degradation would have been more than we can imagine. “70% of the country is youthful. You can’t allow that kind of generation to be wasted. The church is a place where they can find hope, direction and purpose,” he said. In a brief speech during the dedication ceremony, Pastor Adeboye, who was flanked on both sides by his wife, Pastor Mrs Foluke Adeboye, and the RCCG Continental Overseer, Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, expressed his gratitude to God for the completion of the project.   “We thank God for this great day, and for the successful completion of this wonderful edifice. We pray that this building will be a beacon of hope for the afflicted and a place of worship for generations to come,” he said. The dedication ceremony featured a series of performances by RCCG’s choir, as well as speeches by Mrs Adeboye, senior officials of the church, and other dignitaries. Among those in attendance were the former Lagos state Commissioner of Police and Deputy Inspector-General of Police (rtd), Pastor Marvel Akpoyibo, who said this new church building is a testament to RCCG’s commitment to the spiritual and physical well-being of the people. The dedication ceremony culminated in a prayer by Pastor Adeboye, who prayed for the continued growth and prosperity of RCCG, its members and the nation at large. “We pray that this church building will be a source of blessing to all who enter it and that it will continue to serve as a beacon of hope for the afflicted and a place of worship for generations to come,” he said.

  The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba-Alkali, has ordered the immediate arrest of Nigerian musician, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, who was seen in a viral video assaulting a Nigerian police officer. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for Nigerian police, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday as the viral video trended. “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command to arrest Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, who was captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform,” the statement reads in part. According to the statement, the IGP has equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly. In the viral video seen on social media, a visibly angry Mr Kuti was seen screaming “You dey mad?” You dey mad? As he slapped the police officer. It cannot be immediately ascertain what transpired between the duo and led the musician to assault the policeman. However, the incident has since generated widespread condemnation of the Afrobeat singer on social media. In a reaction to the backlash that followed the video, Seun Kuti claimed the officer tried to kill him and his family. “I have the proof. He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges,” the singer said via his social handle.

  Oil production figures for Nigeria crashed to an average of 999,000 (0.999 million) voluntary production level in barrels per day (bpd) in April, just as Angola overtook Nigeria and led Africa with 1.063mbpd oil production in the month. This is according to the April Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) released on Thursday. Data obtained by OPEC through direct communication with the member countries, indicated that Angola’s oil production at 1.063mbpd overtook Nigeria’s production figure, which stood at 999,000bpd in April, the same level with Algeria’s oil production in the month. Nigeria lost 270,000bpd of oil compared to its 1.268mbpd production figure in March, the OPEC data revealed. However, the OPEC data obtained from secondary sources show that Nigeria’s production figure was 1.180mbpd, which was higher than that of Angola at 1.085mbpd. Daily Trust Saturday further confirmed the oil production drop based on the oil production status for April released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). While the total liquid production was 1.245mbpd in April, the actual crude oil produced was 998,602bpd. Blended condensate was 66,317bpd, while unblended condensate was 180,110bpd. The highest crude oil produced in the four months of this year was 1.306mbpd recorded in February 2023. The figure grew from 1.258mbpd in January; by March, it dropped to 1.268mbpd and further plunged to the 998,602bpd recorded in April, the NUPRC stated. In terms of whole liquid production, February saw the highest production of 1.547mbpd after rising from 1.494mbpd in January before dropping slightly to 1.517mbpd in March and then 1.245mbpd in April. Just on Wednesday, the Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, said challenges that include insecurity, energy theft in Nigeria’s oil-producing communities, along with low investment, had stalled the production of about one million barrels of crude oil daily. He gave the indication that Nigeria produced 1.5mbpd of oil.

  Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state, says he bought 250 copies of a book written by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, for N250 million. On Thursday, Malami launched the book titled: ‘Traversing The Thorny Terrain of Nigeria’s Justice Sector: My Travails and Triumphs’. The book was launched at an event in Abuja, the country’s capital. Malami used the book to chronicle his successes and challenges as the AGF and minister of justice for eight years under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking during the event, Yari, who was the chief launcher, said the book will be ueful to persons who are hoping to follow the footsteps of Malami as attorney-general. “My own is a simple business — to launch the book, name the amount of launching and state how it is going to look like in the market,” he said. “It is a very rich book for anyone that may eventually look at it, read it and especially those that will likely follow his (Malami) steps after office. “The book will be priced at launching for N50,000 per copy and a market price of N5,000. “I, the chief launcher, bought about 250 copies of this book for the cost of N250 million. “Some of my friends that were supposed to be here and absent. “I spoke to them from home they asked me to buy each copy at N1 million, that is N25 million for 25 copies. Auwal Lawal Gombe — also 25 copies for N25 million. “The total from my own side is going to be N300 million.” Yari is expected to represent Zamfara west senatorial district in the 10th national assembly. The former governor is eyeing the senate presidency of the 10th national assembly and he has commenced campaign activities to achieve his ambition. However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, who is from the south-south geopolitical zone. In May 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Yari over alleged fraud relating to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The former Zamfara governor was arrested in connection to the fraud allegations levelled against Ahmed Idris, the suspended accountant-general.

  A cross section of northern leaders are demanding that the region must produce the leadership of the 10th National Assembly given that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, are both from the southern part of the country. The leaders representing the 19 northern states and drawn from the academics and political class argued that their demand for the North to head the legislative arm of the Federal Government was in line with Section 14(1), (2) and (3) of the 1999 constitution. The northern leaders made the demand at a one-day round-table discussion in Kaduna state on Friday to review the region’s socioeconomic challenges and its contributions in Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 general elections. The round-table, which drew participants from across the 19 northern states, had the theme ‘Nation-Building and Democracy, the Imperative of Participation, Equity and Equitable Development of Northern Nigeria’. The aim, according to the conveners, was to identify some of the key socioeconomic challenges confronting the region, especially in the areas of education, agriculture and poverty index. The Secretary of the northern leaders’ round-table, Dr Benjamin Dikki, stated that, based on the contribution of the North to Tinubu’s electoral success, the South as a whole should not expect to lead the National Assembly, since both the President-elect and judicial head are southerners. For other participants, the progress and development of the northern region would depend on its stake in government, hence they ask the elected northern senators to contest for all the positions in the 10th National Assembly. With the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in view, the northern leaders believe the region’s access to political power and economic incentives could only be achieved when it is part of the decision-making organ.

  The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company has called on its customers and residents in Anambra State to steer clear of power lines and other electricity rights of way for their safety. The Head of Corporate Communications of the company, Mr Emeka Ezeh, made the call during an engagement session with customers in Awka. He said, “We are worried by vandalism of installation and the abuse of power right of way, though we are not the enforcers, we call on the government to save residents from the danger by ensuring that there are no activities around 5.5 metres on both sides of the 33 and 11 KV lines.” Ezeh said energy theft and vandalism of installation were other operational challenges the EEDC was facing and called on customers to help the business serve them better by tackling the challenges. He said the engagement session was meant to interact with the company’s customers in the area for feedback to identify their challenges and address them for better service delivery. According to him about 50,000 metres were needed to close the metering gap and called on customers to take advantage of the ongoing process where they could acquire metres and pay for them over some time. He said the company was supplying power to the best of its ability within the limit of allocation it received from the generation companies. He said the delay in the supply of metres was caused by a variety of factors, including availability, technology, inadequacy of installation areas and non-separation of load wire. “The Customer Engagement Session is part of our strategy to relate with our customers, feel their pulse, update them with development in the network and also let them know where we need their assistance. “In Anambra, we estimate that 50,000 metres are needed to bridge the gap and we signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government, valued at about N37 billion, and with we expect that our services will be enhanced. “We discourage energy theft because about 40 per cent of revenue is lost to theft and unpaid debt every month,” he said. A customer, Chief Anizonwu, complained about the delay in the metering process but commended EEDC for delivering a relatively better service to its customers. Anizonwu, a Chartered Accountant, condemned energy theft and urged customers to ensure they returned value for the services they enjoyed for improved services. “You have to pay for the service you enjoy to be able to criticise the company, not paying is a form of economic sabotage, it should be discouraged,” he said. The convener of Recover Nigeria Project, a civil rights group, Mr Osita Obi, said there had been a significant improvement in power supply by EEDC. Obi urged the company to ensure they address the genuine concerns of customers while thanking the company for interfacing with their customers (NAN)

  A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state, Hon. Chinedu Eleliam, has been abducted by suspected herdsmen on Wednesday night. The kidnapped party stalwart is the All Progressives Congress Chairman in Umuarugo Village Umueze ll, Ehime Mbaino Local Government Area of Imo State. Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers, trailed him on two vehicles until they got to his house on Wednesday night where they fired several gunshots to scare people away in the area. A community source, who didn’t want to be named, said the party chieftain was seized by the gunmen and bundled into their waiting car, adding that they fired gunshots into the air and drove off. He said after creating tension in the area the hoodlums whisked the APC chieftain to an unknown destination. As of the time of filing, this report, associates and family of the abducted politician said that the kidnappers were yet to make any contact with them to make demands. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Imo State Command, Henry Okoye’s phone number is switched off as at press time.