Emameh Gabriel writes about the engagements of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at the just concluded annual session of the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

The 350th session of the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) wrapped up in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, March 15, 2023, following two weeks of intensive discussions on crucial labour issues.

The session provided a platform for member- states to address critical labour and other key issues that jointly affect them.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Labour and Employment, NkeirukaOnyejeocha, played a pivotal role in representing the nation’s interests and advocating for key priorities.

The conference prioritised strengthening the global response to child labour, a significant concern for many countries.

Discussions also focused on ensuring adherence to the updated ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (2022). This declaration emphasises core labour principles like freedom of association, elimination of forced labour, and non-discrimination.

The session also reviewed progress on the ILO Action Plan for Gender Equality (2022-2025), which aims to bridge the gender gap in the workplace, one of the key areas the Minister has strongly advocated for in the last decade in the parliament. 

Additionally, updates were provided on initiatives like the Global Coalition for Social Justice, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing labour challenges.

Furthermore, the conference addressed concerns regarding democratisation within the ILO’s governance structure and the ratification of amendments to its constitution. Discussions also addressed labour rights violations in specific countries, including Belarus, Myanmar, Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh.

During the conference, Onyejeocha in her usual stance, ensured that Nigeria’s perspective was heard. On the sideline of the event, she advocated for several key priorities that align with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s goals, which include the call for the ILO’s increased support in developing youth employment programmes and skills development initiatives in Nigeria.

This focus aligns with the administration’s recognition of youth as a critical driver of national development.

The Minister, who on behalf of Government of Nigeria, congratulated Gilbert Houngbo as the first African DG of the ILO after over 100 years of its establishment, assured him of President Tinubu’s support and cooperation on strategic partnership.

She also commended his achievements, including promoting social justice and fighting inequalities in the world of work.

She commended the ILO’s successful implementation of programmes in Nigeria, particularly those focused on youth employment, a key priority for the current administration.

During her meeting with the DG, the Minister announced Nigeria’s candidacy for re-election to the ILO governing body for the 2024-2027 triennium. The governing body is the executive council of the ILO and plays a vital role in shaping its policies and programmes. The Minister believes Nigeria’s re-election would solidify the country’s voice within the organisation and enable it to contribute more effectively to global labour issues.

“Nigeria is the second highest African contributor to the ILO budget (next to South Africa), thus the need to be more involved and strategically placed in the ILO. We therefore specially request that more Nigerian professionals to be employed into the ILO to bridge the under-representation of Nigeria in the ILO workforce, both locally and internationally”.

She emphasised the need for “increased efforts” to establish social security programmes for Nigerians. Social security provides a safety net for citizens, particularly those facing unemployment, illness, or old age.

Onyejeocha did not stop there, she highlighted Nigeria’s under-representation within the ILO workforce and requested increased opportunities for Nigerian professionals. This aligns with the desire for a more inclusive and representative in ILO. She also proposed upgrading the ILO office in Abuja to a “Decent Work Office” serving English-speaking West African countries.

She said “this would strengthen the ILO’s presence in the region and enhance its ability to support member states”.

Onyejeochaemphasised Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with the ILO to promote decent work and social justice for all Nigerians. This commitment aligns with the ILO’s core objectives of creating a fair and just global labor market.

On his part, Director-General of the ILO, Houngbo, commended Onyejeocha’s leadership and expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s contributions to the organization. He pledged ILO’s continued support for Nigeria’s development efforts, particularly regarding youth employment and social security.

In the lead-up to her recent trip to Geneva, Onyejeocha has been actively involved in numerous discussions with Nigerian organisedlabour to address workers’ anxieties. These talks have proven successful, fostering a more harmonious environment between the government and the unions.

Currently, the Minister is handling a crucial national assignment, representing the federal government on the ongoing minimum wage review for Nigerian workers, entrusted to her by President Tinubu. Her leadership has ushered in a new era of collaboration between the government and labour groups.

Onyejeocha envisions the Ministry of Labour expanding its role beyond conflict resolution. She believes the ministry can leverage other departments within its structure to create employment opportunities for Nigerians and cultivate a more welcoming work environment for all. This was well expressed in her engagements in Geneva.

•Presidency ignored red flags, senate handicapped, says senator

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen of theLabour Party, has said one of the reasons a former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was not confirmed as a minister was his poor efforts at ending killings in Southern Kaduna and some of his recent unpatriotic utterances.

He, however, faulted the presidency’s handling of background checks of ministerial nominees before they were sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Neda, who stated this yesterday at an interactive session with the Association of Edo State Journalists in his office at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, said if the presidency had done a diligent work before hand, the embarrassment witnessed during the ministerial confirmation would not have surfaced.

The Senate, on Monday, withheld the confirmation of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Stella Okotete, and Senator Abubakar Danladi over security screening. But confirmed the appointment of 45 other nominees sent to it by President Bola Tinubu for screening.

El-Rufai is the immediate past governor of Kaduna State; Okotete, from Delta State, is Executive Director, ������Ƶ Development, Nigerian Export-Import Bank; while Danladi was deputy governor and later governor of Taraba State.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the three nominees, who were not confirmed, had to undergo security screening from relevant security agencies before their appointments would be confirmed.

But the Senator explained that all the drama would not have arisen because, “there are steps towards the final announcement of who becomes a minister.”

He said: “The first step starts with the president, who has the prerogative to nominate a candidate. So, the first step of screening starts from that very level. And the president has all he needs to screen any candidate. The EFCC is under him, the Police is under him, all the necessary tools he needs to screen them are under him. We don’t have that at the National Assembly.

“So at the point the president looks at an individual and nominates that individual, the screening process start at that level. He should go through these agencies first of all, who should go back to him and said this is what is it and for this reason, we cannot recommend this person for appointment. They missed it at that point.”

Neda explained that the Senate was handicapped and had no knowledge of the allegations leveled against some of the nominees apart from El-Rufai, who was known to have performed credibly well as a minister of the FCT, but at the same time has questions to answer about his efforts to end the killings in Southern Kaduna and some unpatriotic utterances he allegedly used in some viral videos published online.

According to him, all they had in their possession was the CVs of the nominees. He said there was no way the Senate could have known all about the nominees neither did the Senate  have his WAEC before it to clear allegations against persons with questionable credentials.

“That ought to have been done at different levels before it came to us. I think we should take that again and say that before the president nominates, perhaps, it should come with the necessary clearances for us to also review, because if we had those clearances there, we are in the better position to say yes, this person has been cleared.

“One of the nominees, who was allegedly barred for ten years said he has gone to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court has cleared him. That is what he said. But we don’t have the Supreme Court in front of us. We don’t even know all that facts until people started asking those questions,” he explained.

He said if those had come earlier, the senate would have been in a better position to decide whether they would be cleared or not.

“The president would have been advised on what occurs in the Senate. And it’s left to him to say based on some of the questions and some the answers that were given, I will still put you forward or I will withdraw your nomination, because he has the prerogative to nominate.

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

As the world commemorates the 2023 United Nations International Day of World Indigenous Peoples, a coalition of civil society organisations have called for more inclusiveness of the FCT indigenes in governance of Nigeria.

This was just as they lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointing an FCT Aborigine as minister, first time in the Fourth republic.

The president recently nominated an FCT Aborigine, Hon Zephaniah Jisalo, as a minister.

In a text of a press conference which took place in Abuja, yesterday, which was read on behalf of the coalition by the Executive Director of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the group commended Tinubu for giving the FCT aborigines cause to smile with the ministerial appointment.

“We thank President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for listening to the aspirations of OIs, but we encourage him to go a step further and appoint Hon. Jisalo as FCT Minister to preside over the affairs of his people.

“This will reduce the feeling of alienation by the original inhabitants whose right to elect a governor and state house of assembly has been denied over the years.

“Last month, from July 15 to July 21, 2023, CHRICED led a 12-member delegation of Abuja Original Inhabitants to address the United Nations’ 16th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva, Switzerland, on the plight of OIs who face political marginalisation, landlessness, statelessness, economic emasculation and the threat of cultural extinction.

“The delegation therefore sought the United Nations’ commitments to protect the rights of OIs. The nomination of Jissalo coming at the heel of that journey, is commendable, and it represents a bold first step towards addressing the decades-long injustices, marginalisation, and exclusion of the Original Inhabitants whose ancestral homelands were taken over via Military Decree 6 of 1976 to make way for Nigeria’s capital.

“What this means is that the long-suffering indigenous peoples in the FCT will now have a voice in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).”

The group affirmed that it was within the constitutional right of FCT indigenous Peoples to demand for their rights.

According to the text, “One of the most critical issues to reflect on in the context of promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples is the principle of self-determination.

“This principle is well enunciated and recognized as a fundamental right in major human rights instruments, including the United Nations Charter.

“Similarly, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) states that Indigenous Peoples have the right to self-determination (Article. 3) and in exercising this right, they have the right to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

“Self-determination is fundamental and must be taken together with Articles 1 and 2 of the UN Declaration because Indigenous Peoples are subject to international human rights law and as Peoples are equal to all other Peoples.”

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s friendly approach that caused organised Labor to call off its nationwide protest last week.

The group stated this in a statement signed by the factional National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi and made available to newsmen yesterday.

Arabambi, said it was for them at the Labour Party to go beyond the divide of partisanship and mere politics, adding that Tinubu recently released economic blueprint that touched on the fundamentals of nation-building that had eluded the country for decades.

He explained that out of the 41-paragraph speech, 15 of the paragraphs was not in any way, at a loss to them at their faction of the National Working Committee of LP.

He pointed out specifically, paragraphs 15 to 30 which he said addressed the concerns of, “all Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the removal of the fuel subsidy, albeit temporarily and the unified exchange rate.”

He said: “To do this, the President left Nigerian with some symphonic puzzle, a little addition and multiplication which is progressive and align with the Labour Party welfare and vision for national policy.

“The President said the manufacturing sector would be further empowered to deliver goods and services to the country with expansive view and to this end, N75 billion would be deployed to that sector between now and March next year, this is an 11-month timeline for implementation, assessment and results, from which a review would be done.

“More rewarding and labour-friendly approach is the loan at a single digit interest rate of nine per cent per annum. In spite of this, the policy extends repayment period to 60 months. Do the maths, it translates to about five years.

“That is a labour and productive friendly policy and programme that the LP cannot fight because of mere politics but support as our own labour members in the public and private sector are direct beneficiaries of this well laid out plan.”

*Says president misled by lawyers and trying to hoodwink judges 

*Tinubu’s election on shaky grounds, Atiku’s aide insists

Gabriel Emameh in Abuja

The Obi-Datti Campaign Organisation yesterday declared that with the damning evidence before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC) in Abuja against President Bola Tinubu, he would not participate in the rerun election should the poll be annulled.
Also, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said that there is palpable fear in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the likelihood of the court upturning the election of President Tinubu.

Spokesperson and Head of Media of the organisation, Mr. Diran Onifade, told ������Ƶ yesterday that President Tinubu’s legal team did not only mislead him but also effortlessly tried to hoodwink the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-man panel.
President Tinubu had last Tuesday appealed to the justices of the PREPEC to exclude the presidential candidate of the LP, Mr. Peter Obi, and his party in the event of any rerun presidential election, claiming that only he and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  Atiku Abubakar, are constitutionally qualified to recontest the rerun election.

Tinubu, through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and the counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had argued that should the justices of the court void the February 25, 2023, presidential election, Obi and his party should not be allowed to re-contest.
Olanipekun had while arguing his final written address, declared that Obi should not be allowed to participate in the rerun election because he came third in the race.
But the LP described the claim by Tinubu’s lawyers as an attempt to foist his position on the panel of justices, adding that if there would be any rerun, Tinubu would not be on the ballot based on the evidence before the PREPEC.

Onifade said Tinubu’s appeal for the exclusion of Obi and the LP from participating in the proposed rerun and his last-minute effort to challenge the outcome of the election in Kano State showed that he has lost the votes allegedly stolen from Obi in Rivers and Benue states.
He said: “If there will be a second election, it will be between the top two. Tinubu will not be among the top two because all the issues we raised are enough to disqualify him. The certificate forgery, the drug trafficking forfeiture, the invalid nomination of his vice, etc. All those things would have disqualified him in the first place.

“So, he is not going to be on the ballot. All these things that his lawyers are doing are just to make him comfortable. They have misled him and are also trying to mislead and hoodwink the justices. The justices are not foolish.
“They are claiming that the constitution says that even if it’s true that he has a case of forfeiture, after 10 years, you have been cleared. But that is not true. They are just being clever by half. The section of the constitution they are talking about has so many subsections and only one of them has the 10 years moratorium and it doesn’t cover him.

“So, if there is going to be another election, their man would have been disqualified,” Onifade explained.
On the claim that Obi came third, he said: “We talked about the figure we put together from Rivers State and Benue State. They didn’t even address those at all. When you remove what they stole in Rivers and Benue states and you add to Obi’s, their own figures would have gone down and Obi won’t be in the third position again.”

Asked if the figures in Rivers and Benue states would be enough to displace either Tinubu or Atiku, he said the issue was still subjudice, adding however, that for the APC and Tinubu to come from behind to challenge the results in Kano in the last minute, while on the other hand appealing to exclude Obi from a possible rerun, left a lot to be desired.

“We can’t prejudge the tribunal. But let’s say for the sake of your question, if you remove one million from eight million, it will go down to seven million. And when you add that one million to six million, that will amount to seven million. We have a professor that did all the calculations. It’s a pity that we didn’t have the time to carry out the calculations nationwide. They know it’s damaging to them.
“If not, how come that a state like Kano that we are not even contesting with them, was brought to the tribunal to challenge that votes were stolen from them in Kano?” Onifade queried.

He explained that “their (APC) calculation is that by the time what they stole from Rivers and Benue states are deducted, their votes would have gone down and if the tribunal grants them what they claimed they lost in Kano, it might make up for what is deducted from them.
“Even those of us who are laymen, know that their lawyers are playing mind games because it’s one thing they would say in the evidence they have tendered and it’s another that their witnesses will say under oath.

“For instance, under oath, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele admitted that their man forfeited money and it’s about narcotics trafficking. He admitted that under oath. The same forfeiture they have been going about saying that it’s a civil case. Then again, the INEC witness even though he tendered a document that the uploading on IReV was not part of the mandatory process, in his testimony before the justices, changed it and said the process included uploading through the IReV.

“The court document that they tendered, they said the case was about narcotics trafficking. That’s the exact words in that document. And then the certificate issue. The one he presented to INEC was not issued by the university. That’s a forgery,” he added.

Tinubu’s Election on Shaky Grounds, Atiku’s Aide Insists

 Meanwhile, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, Shaibu, has said that there is palpable fear in the ruling APC on the likelihood of the court upturning Tinubu’s election.
Shaibu, in an exclusive interview with ������Ƶ at the weekend, said: “Now that pleadings have been concluded in the petition challenging the February 25 presidential election, it is easy to decipher that the declaration of the APC as winner of the election is standing on shaky grounds.”
He said further that there was a high possibility that the court would upturn the purported election of President Tinubu, and strengthen electoral processes in Nigeria.

“The uneasy calm in the camp of the APC is in apprehension about submissions and admission of some fundamental facts during the adoption of final written addresses in the two major petitions challenging the declaration of Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the last presidential election.
“At the adoption of final addresses, Tinubu’s camp conceded to two major facts that have made his key supporters across the country jittery on what may befall them in the final decision of the tribunal.

“Among other admitted and undisputed fundamental facts at the proceedings were that Tinubu actually forfeited a sum of $460,000 through the judgment of the United States of America’s court for his established involvement in narcotics and money laundering related offences.”
Phrank added that another fact was the unchallenged admission of the INEC that Atiku won the February 25 presidential election in 21 states of the federation, the claim which ought to have made the electoral umpire to declare him as the lawful winner of the poll.

“Besides the two major facts, the qualifications of Tinubu for the poll may also take centre stage in the scrutiny of the tribunal following the admission of the President in his INEC form EC009  wherein he admitted having not attended any primary or Secondary School in Nigeria.
“This is in contrast to his claim to the same electoral body in 1998 where in his own hand writing, admitted graduating at a Primary School at Aroyaya in Lagos and at Government College Ibadan, Oyo State.

“Tinubu’s legal team at the adoption of final address led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN conceded that the President was actually punished by an American court and was made to forfeit the $460,000 found in his bank account as proceeds of heinous crime of narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
“Similar admission was made through the APC represented by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

“The two legal teams, however, asked the tribunal to invoke the forgiving spirit of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution to overlook the judgment of the US court on the forfeiture on the ground that the verdict was handed to Tinubu more than 30 years ago.”
He said: “It is ridiculous that the holder of the President of Nigeria will stand before an open court and be pleading for clemency for a crime on narcotics and money laundering.

“The admission by INEC that Atiku won in 21 states of the federation which, uptil now, has not been controverted by INEC itself, is another factor giving the APC sleepless night.
“At the last opportunity to rebut the claims and denounce it, the electoral body completely slept off, fuelling the belief that the electoral umpire knows what it is doing in its entirety.”

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

Miners in Mineral Resources in Nigeria have called on the Federal Government for support by way of partnership to explore the huge forex potential in the sector to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

They said the sector holds a huge potential capable of generating enough foreign exchange if there is proper synergy between the Federal Government and private miners. 

The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sani Shehu, spoke at the 2023 delegates election of new executives members of the body in Abuja Friday.

He said harnessing mining potential is another sure way the Federal Government could earn more forex especially in the face of the rising inflation in the country where a dollar now goes as high as N900.   

He said: “Mining is a very critical sector more than ever before and government is under serious pressure to source its forex but unfortunately, a dollar yesterday was N900  and I think this is very sad and if you look at the world economy, there is no option of strengthening the naira than to source for more dollars and happily more of these mineral resources are dollar-earned product and very few are naira source.

“Therefore, mining sectors and miners as operators have a critical role to play in terms of generating foreign exchange and therefore we have known how important we are and work close with government to give us all the support we want.” 

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mine and Steel Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, represented by Okhunoya Sunday Onah of Mining Inspectorate Department in the ministry, lamented that minerals such columbite, tantalite, lead/zinc, tim and others are exported raw to Asian countries and Europe at ridiculous prices without value addition, adding that it has not helped technological and industrial growth of Nigeria.

He therefore called on the association to encourage research and development that could encourage value addition to most of the minerals that the country is endowed with.  

Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech, the newly sworn-in president of the association, Dele Ayanleke, who scored 137 votes to defeat his rival, promised to re-engineer, reposition and restructure the body even as he noted that the association over the years has lost it “goodwill and become a pariah in the scheme of industry reckoning”.

Other members of the exco, who were sworn in Friday included the National Secretary, Suleiman Arzuka; National Publicity Secretary, Fatai Jimoh; National Secretary, Sulaiman Liman! Vice-President, Ibrahim Danyaro; Assistant Secretary, Shehu Dinawa and Financial Secretary, Tope Adebanjo.

Emameh Gabriel looks at steps taken so far by President Bola Tinubu to appoint capable and credible women into his government.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu released the first batch of the members of his cabinet with eight women making the list out of the 28 nominees unveiled by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

President Tinubu’s nomination of eight women to serve in his government, and others who might join later, could see Nigeria actualising the 30 per cent affirmative action promised by the President during his campaigns earlier this year.

Globally, the agitations for 35 percent women inclusion, otherwise known as Affirmative Action has been gaining momentum in the last decade. Before now, Nigeria has not taken significant steps in this regard, unlike countries like Sierra Leone, where a law known as Women’s Empowerment Act was enacted in January 2023.

The law states that 30 percent of public and private jobs must be reserved for women. President Julius Mada Bio actualised this commitment with 30 percent of public positions occupied by women, after his reelection in June.

In Nigeria, the list of 28 ministerial nominees, unveiled on Tuesday has added a new dimension to the quest towards Affirmative Action. In fact, it has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians, analysts and stakeholders. The list contains names of 20 males and eight females. The eight women nominees represents 25 per cent.

Some political stakeholders and commentators have applauded President  Tinubu for the 25 percent mark, affirming that it is a significant leap in the efforts towards 35 percent Affirmative Action.

The women who made the list are Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Doris Aniche Uzoka, Hannatu Musawa, Stella Okotete, Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, and Betta Edu

Most policy experts have hailed President Tinubu’s foresight in going for the best brains, especially women who have broken the glass ceiling in their chosen fields of human endeavours and have fully unleashed their potentials towards societal advancement, hence carving a niche for themselves.

Most of the women so appointed parade unimaginable and incredible résumé. A ready example is the four-term member of the House of Representatives and former Deputy Chief Whip who once chaired the House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nkeiruka Chidumen Onyejeocha.

Her nomination was credited to her loyalty, humility and her experience both in the public and private sector.

In the course of her 16 years stint at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, Hon Onyejeocha served as the House Committee Chairperson  on Aviation for two consecutive terms of eight years where she made landmark impacts on the sector. During the period, a lot of modern innovations were unleashed on the Aviation sector, including the deployment of emerging (advanced) technologies in line with the global best practices.

One of the hallmarks of operations in the aviation sector is safety. In order to enhance the performance of critical agencies in the sector, she encouraged the modernisation of infrastructure and equipment in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

Onyejeocha’s political career started with her appointment in 2002 to the executive cabinet of Abia State as commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower Development. In 2003, she became the executive chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

She is, among others, an Officer of the Order of The Niger (OON); an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Shipping (ACIS); an Associate of Institute of Personal Management (AIPM), and Member, National Council of Women Society (NCWS).

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, which she obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2021). She bagged Masters in Transport Management (MTM), from Ladoke Akintola University, Oyo, Nigeria, in April 2009. Similarly, in August 2005, Hon Onyejeocha clinched Masters of Arts in International Affairs and Diplomacy.

Upon the conclusion of her Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) in July 2017 from Abia State University, Abia, Nigeria, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, in August 2019.

In July 1993, Hon Onyejeocha bagged a Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies from the University of Nigeria. She also obtained a National Diploma in Social Work/Communication Development in July 1988 from the University of Nigeria.

Until hee nomination as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), she represented the good people of Isuikwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency for four consecutive terms 2007 – 2023 (16 years). As member of the House of Representatives, she served as Deputy Chief Whip of the 9th Assembly.

During these years, she was Chairman, Women in Parliament, Member, House Committee on Navy, Member, House Committee, Petroleum (Up Stream), Member, House Committee, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Member, House Committee on House Services/Welfare, Member,  House committee on Public Procurement, Member,  House Committee on INEC and Member House Committee on Police Affairs.

These positions availed her the opportunity to sponsor several bills including the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 to enable every possibly Nigerian shot, access to immediate medical care in the absence of a police report; Sponsored Anti-torture Act 2017 to prohibit the maltreatment of all accused persons in Nigeria; Sponsored National Senior Citizens Centre Act, 2018 to cater for Nigerian Senior Citizens after retirement, among many others.

She led the Abia State chapter of Asiwaju Super Women and campaigned vigorously for the party’s victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll.

*Monarch seeks development of Iwere land

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The people of Itsekiris in the United Kingdom at the weekend rolled out the drums to welcome His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, the Olu of Warri to a royal cultural display to the admiration of guests.
The Olu of Warri in his effort to attract foreign direct investment from diaspora, urged his people to begin to invest their human and capital resources to attract development to Iwere land.

The monarch was hosted at the Ugbajo Itsekiri UK 10th Gala and Charity Nite held at the Brent Civic Centre, Wembley, United Kingdom.
The colourful event with the theme, “The Role of Diaspora Community in Strategic Health and Education Development in Rural Community,” also had the attendance of senior palace chiefs, friends of the Itsekiris, with different cultural troupe and associations who took turn to display their cultural heritage.

The occasion also offered well-wishers the opportunity to present gift to the monarch which was received by Chief Brown Mene on behalf of His Majesty
In his remark, the Olu of Warri, who was flanked by his wife, the Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Her Highness, Olori Atuwatse III and Chief Oma Eyewuoma, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Brown Mene and other Palace chiefs, urged Itsekiris in diaspora to bring to bear their expertise, connection and network to the development and economic advancement of Iwereland, adding that the unity behind the crown outweighs distraction of the few.  

He said: “I know it has been interesting in the last two years and God is definitely in the midst of us and is guiding us. I want to say Itshekiri must be focused, let us not give in to sentiment.

“We welcome every single Itsekiris that has a heart; a desire to see the people fulfil their potentials. As far as Itsekiris is concern, Ogiame has no enemy. Let us rid ourselves of made up sentiment and unite.”  

On his part, the President, Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr. Majebi Eyewuoma, in his speech stressed the need for all Itsekiri to be guided by the popular acronym PTAD, Progress, Transparency, Accountability and Development.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Philip Agbese, in an interview with Emameh Gabriel, expresses optimism about the leadership of the 10th House constituted in June, 2023.

The 10th House of Representatives is gradually settling down but the question on the lips of most Nigerians is what manner of parliament do we expect under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas?

Hon Tajudeen Abbas was overwhelmingly voted as the Speaker of the House on June 13 when the 10th Assembly was inaugurated. He polled a total of 353 votes to defeat former Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase and former chairman of the House Committee on National Intelligence, Sani Jaji, who scored three votes each. Apart from the trio, others who aspired to lead the 10th Assembly included Alhasan Ado-Dongowa, Muktar Betara, Yusuf Gadgi, Mariam Onouha and a host of others but at the end  Hon Abbas emerged as the speaker.

What this means is that the 10th House is united. Nigerians should expect a well-coordinated, people-friendly and united House focused on their interests.

The endorsement of Hon Abbas by the ruling APC generated furore in the House, with many arguing that it was an attempt by your party to weaken the Green Chamber in the current dispensation. What is your reaction to this?

Let me make this clear to you. The leadership of Speaker Abbas is the best thing that has happened to the 10th National Assembly. In as much as we under his watch are prepared to work in harmony with the executive arm, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas will not relent in upholding the principles of checks and balances.

The collaboration of the 10th Assembly will be anchored on transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

We shall work closely and inter-dependently with the Executive and Judiciary to give Nigerians the good governance they deserve. We stand at a crossroads in our nation’s history, where challenges abound, but so do opportunities.

We will champion legislations that will uplift the lives of our fellow citizens, promote social Justice, and drive sustainable development.

Don’t you think the Speaker owes a debt of gratitude to his colleagues for their massive support during the contest, especially those who were at the forefront?

Well, I don’t understand the measure of gratitude you are trying to paint up here, but I believe that the 10th National Assembly found true leadership in Hon Abbas and that informed the massive support he attracted during the contest.

His emergence was a product of a unanimous decision by members and so, he does not owe anyone in particular, but service to humanity and Nigerians.

Recall that critics had dubbed the 9th Assembly a rubber stamp House because of its subservient posture to the executive arm of government. Don’t you think the 10th Assembly would likely fall in the same shade considering its leadership conflagration?

The 10th National Assembly will never be a rubber stamp. Speaker Abbas will never be a rubber stamp. Before his election, he interacted with many people.

For the APC, our party is to endorse him because he enjoys the support of members. The leadership of the APC was just very smart to have endorsed him.

Speaker Abbas is a man of his word and he has promised not to disappoint Nigerians.

He is not going to disappoint the 10th assembly. He will never be a rubber stamp rather he will do what will benefit Nigerians.

I am sure, he will not be a rubber stamp, he is going to be a man of his own. He is a man of integrity. He will stand with the masses.

What should be the expectations of Nigerians as the 10th Assembly settles down?

Expectations are high, not only from Nigerians but defenders of democratic principles and ethics across the globe.

This is more so because the legislative arm of government has a crucial role to play in fostering the development of a people-oriented government.

The 10th National Assembly is set to move the nation forward by making laws for the overall national interest. From inception, it was very clear that the 10th assembly was the hub of representation of the Nigerian people, and so every effort will be channelled towards making the country a better place to live and prosper.

The good news is that Speaker Abbas possesses a great wealth of experience anchored on a commendable track record of achievements. He has appreciable public relations talent which he has deployed at national and international levels. He is an astute team player who has hit the ground running in many areas of Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth.

The 10th Assembly will be a win-win for the President Tinubu administration with Nigerians and Nigeria as the main beneficiary.

In your opinion, what do you think the 10th National Assembly should do differently in order not to earn the toga of a rubber stamp assembly like the 9th Assembly?

No, no no! I think the 9th National Assembly did very well. The good governance-driven performance of the immediate-past National Assembly stemmed from the harmonious working relationship with the executive arm of government.

I am sure that some Nigerians have only wrongly labelled the last Assembly as a rubber stamp. It is a misconception and misunderstanding. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila-led ninth House of Representatives was exceptional in engaging with the executive. The harmony and collaboration with the executive were intended to provide a safe atmosphere for national development.

And so, it is my candid opinion that the 10th Assembly which I am privileged to be part of will build on the legacies of the last Assembly. We shall consolidate the achievements of the ninth National Assembly in making democratic governance more beneficial to Nigeria and Nigerians.

We will try our best to meet the legitimate expectations of the people, and relevant institutions of government must be made to function well. Look, I have always insisted that compared to previous assemblies, the achievements of the ninth National Assembly in the area of law-making are attributable to harmonious executive-legislative relations, which contrary to many expectations need not be aggressive.

Do you have a word for your colleagues as you settle for legislative business in the 10th assembly?

Oh yes. I would like every one of us to be mindful of the damaging effect of persistent conflict with the executive and the resultant impact on legislative activities. A good working relationship with the executive is desirable and, indeed, imperative to achieve effective and efficient service delivery to the people.

In this piece, Emameh Gabriel asks if President Bola Tinubu will negotiate with agitators, including the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, as he had promised during the campaigns that led to his victory at the February 25, 2023 poll.

Supposed negotiation with all genuine agitators, including IPOB as a way of dousing violence in the South East and other parts of the country was on the front burner of the presidential poll debate as key contenders pledged to utilize negotiation as a means to find solution to the crisis.

President Bola Tinubu, then the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) even went further promising to make the South East a new hub of prosperity in the country.

Today, Tinubu is President amid great expectations especially in the area of insecurity as violent non state actors and centrifugal forces continue to mount deadly assault against the natives, public infrastructures and security formations across the country, especially in the South East which has rapidly become the new theater of instability in the country and the resurgence of compulsory sit-at-home.

Insecurity has always been a fundamental factor determining Nigeria’s electorate’s decision when it comes to choosing the occupant of the office of the President, particularly since the deadly Boko Haram phenomenon reared its ugly head on the nation’s political scene.

The insecurity factor has of recent time been exacerbated by the amplification of the farmers – herders crisis in the North Central, the emergence of banditry in the North West and especially the IPOB secessionist agitations in the South East.

While the Northern region as a whole is not new to instability and violent eruptions every now and then, the South East was relatively peaceful and stable hitherto, even when violent agitations of resource control was rocking its sister region of the South-South culminating in the famous Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in August 2009.

While the mayhem in the North have largely been regarded as undefined and indeterminate with no clear legitimate agenda, the agitation in the South East like its counterpart in the South-South hadvsought to wrap itself around international and universal principles and norms in a bid to give it legitimacy.

The emergence of IPOB can be traced to 2015, as a successor to MASSOB, which was until then the vehicle that championed the legacy of the Igbo quest for the realisation of a sovereign state which they were unable to achieve during the 1967 – 1970 civil war that tested the bonds of Nigeria’s federal republic.

Negotiation With IPOB as Election Plank?

Insecurity was a key talking point for all the presidential candidates of the major political parties during 2022 presidential campaigns, debates and town hall meetings.

Tinubu, the then presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) during his campaign and engagement with South East leaders promised that he would engage Biafran agitators and negotiate with them if elected president.

Speaking in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, on November 21, 2022, Tinubu said there was the need to come to table with all agitators, which he described as the best way to end insecurity in the South East region.

He said: “We want peace, we will talk to all the agitators, this thing is not done by conflicts. You can’t get your wishes by conflict but by sitting round the table to complain.

“We don’t want to go backward. We are progressives, we will move Nigeria forward. We will do the right thing. We will make South-east the Taiwan of Africa”.

He also promised to continue the reformation of the transport system, especially the railway sector, embarked upon by the Buhari administration.

IPOB, an outlawed group, has been blamed for the restlessness in the South East, where it declared weekly sit-at-home at the expense of the economy of the region.

The region at the last count has lost an estimated N4 trillion to insecurity in the last two years and this has continued to raise concern among leaders of the region.

The attacks, often linked to the outlawed IPOB, have led to the abduction and killings of several persons, mainly government officials and officers of various security agencies.

Beyond abduction and killing, the facilities of the various security agencies and those of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been repeatedly attacked across the region.

The activities of IPOB and its affiliate body, otherwise known as Unknown Gun Men have provoked terror in the South East that many of its elites who supported Nnamdi Kanu at the intital stage of his movement have not only become victims of his sword but have become speechless even in the face of the carnage witnessed in the region almost on daily basis.

Former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who partially blamed elites of the region recently on his verified Twitter handle, confirmed this when he twitted that “the simple reason the elites in the South East are finding it difficult to speak out against those killing and dehumanising their own people in the East is the fear of reprisal attacks against their own properties and family members back home by these ‘unknown gunmen’. 

He said: “Their silence does not mean support for what is happening there. It is the responsibility of the federal government to restore law and order in all parts of the country and this I am absolutely certain the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu  will do.

“Besides, we cannot isolate a region and its elites in a country where we see ourselves as one. It is our collective responsibility to assist the Federal Government in restoring order nationwide.

“The only thing I ask is that these same elites must either now be silent or totally support the efforts of the federal government (be it military or otherwise) in restoring order to that region. When they initially kicked against operation ‘PYTHON DANCE’ in the East, little did they know that the situation would degenerate to this level of savagery. Now, they know”, Keyamo had posited.

Renewed Call for Negotiation

There are many individuals within Nigeria who see the inauguration of a new president as an opportunity for a new approach different from the high handedness and purely militaristic method of the Buhari administration which is believed to have exacerbated the situation.

With Nnamdi Kanu still being incarcerated by the federal government,  observers believe releasing him could be the begining of a negotiated settlement.

Recently, the House of Representatives thinking along that direction called on President Tinubu to explore political and diplomatic means to address the issue of IPOB as a way of ending the menace of insecurity in the Southeast.

The call by the lawmakers came a day after gunmen attacked Ishieke Daily Market located in the Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The resolution of the House followed a motion by a member of the Green Chamber, Hon Eze Nwachukwu, on the need to forestall further killings in Ebonyi State.

In a similar vein, a group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, last month called on President Tinubu to invite the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu for a round table discussion. The group was responding to Asari Dokubo who had while speaking to newsmen recently after  meeting with President Tinubu branded the IPOB leader as a criminal, while also advising Tinubu not to release him.

Like the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last general election, Peter Obi, who also promised to negotiate with genuine agitators if elected, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has urged the new government to change approach as the only way to deal with the security emergency in the southeast.

Soludo said, “One critical issue that we must draw your urgent attention to is the issue of systemic insecurity in the South East.

“While our efforts with the security agencies are yielding significant results, we believe that sustainable peace and security will be enhanced through wider non-kinetic engagements with all critical stakeholders.

“In this regard, may I repeat my previous calls and hereby request our President-Elect to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately after swearing-in (that is, if he is not released before then). We need him around the table as an important stakeholder in discussions about healing and sustainable peace in the South East”.

This call for negotiation with IPOB is coming within the climate of a new call for amnesty for agitators around the country, including bandits in the northern part of the country.

A former governor for Zamfara state, Senator Sani Yerima, made the case for the groups recently when he asked President Tinubu to negotiate with terror gangs operating in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-western part of the country.

Yerima who was addressing journalists after meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja said  government should negotiate with the terror gangs, locally called bandits, for a lasting peace in the North-west region.

He likened the negotiation he is advocating is similar to what the administration of former President Umar Yar’Adua did with militants in the Niger Delta, which gave birth to the amnesty programme.

According to him: “These people are Nigerians and I believe that the Nigerian military and other security agencies have the capacity to deal with them squarely if directed and are given the resources they require, support and the political will.

“But the collateral damage that will be associated with the actions they will take is what I believe should be avoided. In the past, the late President Umaru Yar’adua had a similar interaction with militants of the Niger Delta and it was successful.

“The major causes of this problem are poverty and ignorance. So, I believe that as Nigerians, if they are called upon or if the government now comes up with a rehabilitation programme, I am sure we will have a successful end to this crisis,” he said.

The President As Negotiator in Chief

President Tinubu on assumption of office pledged an open door policy, which has resulted in members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party walking casually into Aso Rock, and Asari Dokubo, a chieftain of Niger Delta militancy made history giving a press conference in that hallowed vicinity.

While the federal government under President Buhari was known for showing proclivity towards impunity, Tinubu has always had a good grasp of the importance of the respect of the rule of law to the smooth order and  functioning of society and progressive democracy. He has shown himself time and again as a man who does what needs to be done at the appropriate time. The President has been described as a strategist who knows how to give to get what he wants.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo recently named key stakeholders of the region to meet with President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the tide of insecurity in the zone.

Those present at the meeting included the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo,  Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, his Ebonyi State counterpart, Francis Nwifuru and former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige.

Others are former Imo State governor, Mr Ikedi Ohakim; former Senate President, Pius Anyim; Osita Chidoka, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Senators Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Sam Egwu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Darlington Nwokocha, Dave Umahi, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, Mrs Josephine Anenih, and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

There is the believe that if the high powered Ndigbo delegation eventually meets President Tinubu with their proposal for peace, which will essentially include negotiation with IPOB, among others, Nigeria can be expected to see a new order of things in the South east as a prelude to greater general stability in the country. But will Tinubu negotiate with agitators as promised during his campaigns? Only time will tell.

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The leadership of Labour Party, has faulted a tribunal judgement sacking its member representing Aniocha/Oshimil Federal Constituency, Delta State, in the House of Representatives, Ngozi Okolie.

The party, in a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, disagreed with the ruling that it failed to sponsor its candidate in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).

This was as the party alleged that powerful people in Delta State were involved in the matter, and that it was not surprised by what it described as ‘arm-twisting and political bravado’ that won’t last.

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, Monday, nullified the election of Okolie of the Labour Party, for the House of Representatives.

In the judgement that lasted over five hours, the three-member tribunal headed by Justice A.Z. Mussa, disqualified Okolie, and declared the runner up in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election, Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner.

Elumelu had in a petition with the number: EPT/DL/HR/06/2023 approached the tribunal, and sought to disqualify Okolie on the grounds that she was not properly sponsored by the Labour Party, and that she did not resign her position as a public office holder before contesting under the Labour Party.

In its judgement, the tribunal agreed with the petitioners that the second respondent (Okolie) was not duly sponsored by the third respondent (Labour Party) as she was not a member of the party as at May 28, 2022 when the primary purportedly held.

But in its response, the national leadership of the party did not only express shock, it also described the judgment as “clearly inconsistent with the position of the law, which it said had already been “settled even by superior courts, including the Supreme Court.”

The party explained that, “The issue of nomination of candidates as well as membership are internal affairs of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts. It is only a political party that can determine, who its members are and who their flag bearer for an election should be. 

“The courts have in a plethora of cases held that the court has no jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party,” Labour Party declared.

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP-PCC), yesterday,  berated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for asking the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to disqualify its candidate, Peter Obi, should the court settle for a rerun.

This was contained in statement signed by the Head Media, Obi-Datti Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, who accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of becoming “desperate and lined up measures to undermine his public image.”

According to him, “Obi-Datti Media office has noted how a worried ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and its Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are even wishing and pleading with the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal PEPC to consider pairing them with Atiku Abubakar of the PDP instead of Obi.

“In fact, he wants Obi disqualified outright and be prevented from participating in the rerun, should there be one.”

Diran alleged that, “In their (APC) desperation to stop Obi at all costs, they have lined up a series of untoward activities using rogue troll agents that seek to portray him negatively and copiously misrepresent him in public space.

“This devilish act is ostensibly to enable them to defend their call that Obi should be disqualified by the PEPC thus seeking a rerun between Tinubu and Atiku.

“Obi-Datti Media recalls that last week the same rogue agents had claimed that Obi granted an interview on Arise Television, saying he is willing to take defeat and wait for elections 2027.

“All this wicked and dubious propaganda is aimed at achieving one mission; to confuse the public, distract and defocus the Justices from their statutory responsibilities.

“We therefore, wish to urge the Nigerian public not to be gullible and to disregard the fake ������Ƶ publication and embrace the correct edition with the lead story, Atiku: APC Plotting to Manipulate Judiciary, Undermine Democracy.”

The Obi-Datti Campaign office, however, called on the public to “watch out for more of these sinister acts of desperation orchestrated by a drowning government that is visibly afraid of justice, which must certainly come.”

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

The factional National Chairman of Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa yesterday kicked against an offer of an olive branch by the Julius Abure National Working Committee (NWC) of the party 

Rather than accepting the peace offer, Apapa insisted that he remained the authentic National Chairman of the Labour Party, declaring all actions carried out by any committee set up by Abure null and void.

This was revealed in a response to the Labour Party Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution Committee (LP-PSCRC) constituted by Abure in December 2022

The Abure faction had constituted the peace committee with a view to resolving lingering issues affecting the unity of the party.

The committee had invited some members of the LP-NWC loyal to Apapa to appear before it for talks and to further address existing grievances in the party.

In its July 18 letter, the committee said the meeting would provide both factions with the opportunity “to resourcefully interact and find lasting solutions to the lingering crisis currently rocking the party.”

Among those invited for the meeting scheduled to hold today Sunday July 23, 10:00 a.m. at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja are: Prince Favour Reuben, Comrade Eragbe Anslem, Chief Oko Eze, Hon. Murphy Imaseun, Comrade Arabambi Anatomy, Mr. Akinghade Oyelekun and Mr. Mike Auta.

In its reply dated July 21, however, the Apapa faction reminded the committee that Apapa “is the Acting National Chairman of Labour Party, LP with effect from April 6 and ratified by NEC on May 3 in Bauchi, Bauchi State.”

The faction Labour Party LP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on May 3 in Bauchi suspended Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu Clement and Mrs Oluchi Okpara as National Chairman, National Secretary, National Organizing Secretary and National Treasurer in line with the restraining order of FCT High Court issued on April 5.

With the order, according to the faction, all the committees and structures set up previously by the Julius Abure led administration including your LP-PSCR, stand dissolved.

The reply said: “That while we in the National Working Committee, NWC appreciates your modest efforts at restoring peace to the party at large, we want to remind members of your dissolved committee that Abure has continued in contempt of the restraining order of FCT High Court from April 6 till today.

“That for the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee under the leadership of Alhaji Lamidi Apapa shall sooner than later, set up the LP Peace, Security & Dispute Resolution Panel, LP-PSDRP to look into certain areas of concerns  in the lingering dispute.

“That the order of FCT High Court restraining Julius Abure and three (3) others must be fully complied with. That Julius Abure, Umar Farouk and Mrs Oluchi Okpara must fully account for all the labour party money that accrued from sales of forms and donations 2022-2023

“That our 2023 Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi must necessarily retract publicly and apologise for denying Alhaji Bashir Lamidi Apapa on national television.

“That the matter of illegal and unlawful substitution of Labour Party candidates in INEC portal by Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim is a criminal matter that bothers on the Nigeria Police Force (FCID) Investigation and Forensic Audit Report indictment for Forgery, Perjury and criminal conspiracy.

“That the above case and issues of forgery, perjury and criminal conspiracy are before the police and will be exhausted fully by the courts. That every National Working committee member’s administrative duties that were usurped by Julius Abure shall be restored and remedied financially and otherwise.

“That every infraction committed against the provisions of the Labour Party Constitution 2019 as amended shall be redressed accordingly,” the Apapa faction said.

 Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

Embattled National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, has approached the Supreme Court to set aside the concurrent judgments of the Court of Appeal and High Court, both in Benin, Edo State, which ordered his removal as national chairman of the Labour Party
This was as he faulted the Lower Court for categorising issues of leadership of political parties as particular being a pre-election matter as against the provisions of Section 254 (14) of the 4th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution” No. 21 Act of 2017

The appeal court sitting in Benin in a judgment delivered by Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji on July 10 maintained that the ruling of the lower court on the suspension of Abure by members of his ward was valid.
A ward in the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) had on March this year suspended Abure over alleged anti-party activities.
But the embattled national chairman had since approached various courts for his reinstatement, the last of which was the Court of Appeal in Benin, which maintained the status quo.

However, dissatisfied, Abure in an appeal dated July 14 by his lawyer, and exclusively obtained by ������Ƶ, faulted the appellant court on six grounds.
While he described the ruling as miscarriage of justice, he said the lower court justices erred in law when they proceeded to hear the appeal as a pre-election matter without a letter of authority from the president of Court of Appeal as provided for in the Court of Appeal Practice Direction on Pre-Election and Political Parties Leadership Matters 2021.

He said, “The lower court would have the ample time to hear the motion dated 7th July, which has been hurriedly excluded.”
In another ground, Abure maintained that “the Lower Court Justices erred in law, when they granted the motion of the 1st respondent dated 15th June 2023,seeking accelerated hearing by departure from the rules of the Lower Court without considering the facts in the counter affidavit filed opposing the application.

He said, Order 8 Rule 6 (1) of the Court of Appeal Rules 2021 provides that, “Where a Notice of Appeal has been filed, the Respondent may apply for a departure from the Rules to compile and transmit the records of appeal to allow for an accelerated hearing and determination of the appeal. The Lower Court failed to consider the convenience of the parties in its ruling.”

Abure, who faulted the lower court justices, said they erred for declining to hear the motion dated 7 July 2023 challenging the jurisdiction of the court but proceeded to adjourn the motion and consolidated same with the brief of argument ordered to be filed in five days, thereby leading to breach of right to fair hearing of the appellant Particulars the, jurisdiction of the Lower”

He maintained that the lower court justices erred in law when they granted an order deeming the records of appeal self-compiled by the 1st Respondent as properly compiled and transmitted leading to miscarriage of justice.

For instance, he claimed that, the “judgement of the Lower Court was delivered on 26h day of May 2023. The Notice of Appeal was filed by the Respondent on 9h June 2023.

He, therefore, expressed disappointment that by Order and Rule 1 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2021, the lower court mandated the Appellant (now the 1stRespondent) to compile and transmit record of appeal within 60 days after the filling of the Notice of Appeal but the record was transmitted by the 1stRespondent on 17th day of June 2023 when the time for the registrar to transmit the record of appeal has not expired.

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

The presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi has asked the federal government to recognise teachers rather than conferring national honours on criminals who stole public funds.

Obi made the remarks during the 2023 graduation of students of Pacesetters schools, Abuja,

Specifically, he called on the federal government to recognise a teacher of St. Michael RCM Primary School, Ogunpa Lunloye, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Akeem Badru, who was recently named the overall winner of 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teachers’ Award for Central and Southern Africa.

Obi said the teacher should be given a national honour for his contribution to the education sector.

He said: “We are busy giving national awards to those who have stolen the country dry. We are busy giving national awards to those who should not be part of us and we are not celebrating teachers who win awards. 

“I want to see a national honour given to the teacher from Ogun state. We have to change. It is time to do the right thing.”

Obi, former Anambra state governor said the rising security challenge confronting the federation was fuelled by growing poverty. 

He noted that the more Nigerians are pulled out of poverty the more the level of criminality would reduce in the country. 

He, however, advised that this could only be achieved by investing more in education.

He said: “For me, education is the most important thing any nation needs. What differentiates development and underdevelopment is education; it is the foundation.

“Even when you go out and people tell you about measures of development being hinged on the human development index and they tell you it is health, education and per capita income. 

“The problem of insecurity in Nigeria is hinged on poverty. The more you pull people out of poverty the more you reduce criminality and you can’t do that unless you invest in education.

“The more people are educated the more they are able to pull themselves out of poverty. You can’t have 20 million out-of-school children and think of development tomorrow. We must have to invest in education.

“If you follow the 2022 world population of countries, the population of Norway, the population of Ireland, Singapore and Dubai together. If you put the population of these big successful countries together, their population is 19.7 million and we have 20 million out-of-school children. 

“We have population of more than these four successful, thriving, respectable developed countries put together out – of – school. So imagine what it will be if we invest in education. So investment in education is critical.

“We will invest in public schools and we will also invest in private schools. So, for me, if I have the opportunity, education will have the highest amount in our budget and our teachers will be celebrated because the most critical components of education are the teachers.

“They are the ones that our children will take after, they are the ones that talk about discipline but today, and we are not celebrating them,” Obi explained.

Chairman, Pacesetters Schools, Abuja, Kenneth Imansuangbon charged the graduands to go and make a mark in the world. 

Imansuangbon, a front line aspirant for the Edo governorship election next year said: “We have trained them well. They should go out and represent the country as ambassadors; they are the future of Nigeria. 

“Nigeria needs change and I believe the training they have received puts them in a better position to represent this country because they are the future of Nigeria.”

Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Sunusi lamented the state of education in the country. 

The monarch, who recounted his days as a student of one of the unity schools in the country, urged the government to restore the standard of public schools in the country. 

He said: “It is quite unfortunate that we have to send our children to private schools in Nigeria. I was a product of Federal Government College, Kano. But we have to ask ourselves why the standard of education in Nigeria is degrading. We have to ask ourselves that. Something has to be done.”

The monarch charged the chairman of Pacesetters schools, Abuja to reset the standard of public schools in Edo State when he wins next year’s governorship election. 

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

The Action Alliance (AA) and Action Peoples Party (APP) have described as unfortunate the call by the Labour Party (LP) for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The Labour Party had, through the Director General of the defunct Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign, Akin Osuntokun, called for the immediate sack and prosecution of Yakubu over what it described as betrayal of the people’s trust and an abysmal performance by the commission during the 2023 general election.

In a statement Thursday, Mr Kenneth Udeze, the National Chairman of AA, accused the LP of discrediting the INEC boss having failed to establish its case at Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

According to Udeze, LP and its public facing organs are seeking to distract the public from the reality that their candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, did not win the 2023 presidential election and could not realistically have won it. 

He said it is reforms introduced by INEC that litigants are relying on to present their cases at various election petition tribunals across the nation.

“Assuming without conceding, the elections were manipulated, the Labour Party can only prove its case using the instrumentality of the innovations promoted and defended by the INEC chairman. It beggars belief that while relying on innovations introduced by the INEC chairman, the party still castigates him and seeks to hound him,” Udeze said.

He said it is without doubt that INEC under the leadership of Yakubu has introduced the most far-reaching innovations to improve the electoral process in Nigeria. 

Also, the APP, in a separate statement, said It is unfortunate that INEC has become an easily available punching bag at whom the political class targets to manipulate the system or at whom the political class targets its anger.

The statement, signed by Mr Uche Nnadi, the party’s acting National Chairman, asked the LP to await the PEPT decision and refrain from needlessly stirring up the Nigerian public against an outstanding public servant because of their easily predicted loss at the election.

He said: “It is on record that the political class stood by while INEC facilities were targeted and attacked in the build-up to the elections. For instance, INEC facilities in the South-east were constantly attacked and equipment destroyed with little or no comments from people such as Mr. Osuntokun. 

“We will be the first to admit that there were a few cases where politicians induced INEC staff to manipulate the process. However, it is on record that where these cases have been established, the commission has demonstrated a commitment to prosecuting the perpetrators of these acts.”

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Global Initiative For Peace and Care (GIPLC) has revealed that the body has raised five million dollars in child support, since it began operation in 17 years ago.

The Director General and National Coordinator of GIPLC, Nuhu Kwajafa, made the revelation yesterday in Abuja at the presentation of  life-changing N100m ($160,000) cheques  to Nigerian children requiring surgeries both within and outside the country by the Global Initiative for Peace Love and Care (GIPLC).

 Kwajafa disclosed that the cash disbursed was raised by the Grand Patron of the NGO, Igho Charles Sanomi, on May 20th, 2023 at a birthday dinner in Paris, France.

Fielding questions from journalists, Kwajafa said: “In the last 17 years, the NGO have raised over five million dollars for children support all over Nigeria, including South Sudan. People keep saying things are rough but how we do this? We use the power of volume. If you want to raise one million naira, get 100,000 people to give 10,000 each. If you want to raise money, the power of volume is the way to go.”

On how partnership with government can be of assistance, NC explained that: “Partnership with government can work, he explained: “Last year, we held a party for 5,000 orphans, we wrote to all the governor’s, ministers, agencies of government and parastatals. We were not asking them for money but educational materials. None of them responded. Common things like sharpener, eraser, books etc. So the way government can partner with us is, when we write, be part of us. Show commitment.

He further revealed that government is overwhelmed, hence the citizens should take the bull by the horn, most renowned NGOs don’t give money treatment but rather spend on diseases like cholera, HIV, Polio etc. He called on all Nigerians to get involved in every little way they can.

“The government too is overwhelmed . Every Nigerian should know that it is our responsibility to reach out to the children in need. That’s why we call it the everyday problems. UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation will never give you money to pay medical bills of children. They can spend money for various problems: HIV, Polio,  cholera but to give you money to pay medical bills. They wouldn’t. It is our responsibility.

“Let every Nigerian subscribe. What can you give every month: a thousand, two or five thousand every month. By the time a million Nigerians gives a thousand naira monthly, that’s a billion naira. We can save life with it. Even the state governors. Do you know that the Governors spend 10 million naira for logistics on each trip? Even a million naira by all the governor’s every month will go a long way. So, it’s a collective thing. People keep asking, how do you sustain this? The answer is, how are mosques, churches etc? It is by participation. It’s just about the collective will of the people to do the right things. People are dying every day.

On the heavy responsibility line up before his organisation, Kwajafa revealed that: “Today, we gave out over 100 million naira. I have over 700 children in need of help, which can cost over 700 million naira. People keeps dying every day.

“On what is motivation, he said: “The driving force is the success story. That smiles I see on the faces of the recipients. Just like we saw today, many people were testifying to successful surgeries and treatments. That’s the biggest motivation. The success story we are recording is making us want to work harder. Sometimes some of the surgeries are not successful but those that are successful gives us joy. We are more on the positive side. We want to do more.”

Emotions began to run high, when a cheque of 10 million naira was presented to Ruth Joseph, whose four months old child has a hole in the heart billed for surgery in India. Mrs Joseph couldn’t find words to express the depth of her gratitude as rolled on the floor in tears.

Favour Adah Kole, whose Orphanage Home in Makurdi Benue State has benefited tremendously from the activities of GIPLC paid glowing tribute to Mr Nuhu Kwajafa, who she described one of the most detribalised Nigerians.

“I didn’t know him from Adam. He only heard about my Orphanage and start reaching out to me. Since then, he has been keeping in touch with us. One evening. I and my 50 children were looking for 200 naira to buy pepper for our dinner. I didn’t know where to get it from. Suddenly, my phone rang, it was Mr Kwajafa. He said that he called to check how we are doing. He said he was going to transfer 200 thousand to me that evening. The way I shouted made him realised we were dire need. He immediately increased it to 500,000.”

Mrs Kole presented pillar of service award to Mr Kwajafa, while praying to God for more provision for him to do more.

A total of 15 families were presented with one hundred million naira cheques for treatment of various health ailments.

The Global Initiative for Peace Love and Care (GIPLC) is a non-governmental organization headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, with a steadfast commitment to promoting sustainable and participatory community charity projects that uplift vulnerable children and widows in Nigeria and around the world.

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Labour Party (LP) has dismissed viral reports that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was nursing the ambition to contest in 2027.

The Chief Spokesman of Obi-Datti Campaign Council, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said  the interview which Obi was quoted to have said he would contest the presidential election in 2027, never happened as the former governor of Anambra State was not in even in the country.

Tanko in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday said there was no time Obi granted the said interview to any media organisation in Nigeria or outside the country.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Daily Post and some social media networks on an interview granted by His Excellency Peter Obi to Arise News television.

“We want to quickly point out that this is the highest level of yellow journalism taken too far all in a bid to change the narrative as there was no time Obi granted such a nebulous interview to Arise News.

“Obi arrived in Nigeria from an overseas trip just last weekend, and for any reputable media organisation to publish such a fallacy and complete fabrication calls to question the kind of journalism some Nigerians are practicing.

“For all avoidance of doubt, Obi did not at any time grant such an interview to any media organisation in Nigeria or outside the country. Please take note!”

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party, has called on party supporters to be on the alert and prepare themselves for a possible rerun of the presidential election currently being contested.

In a statement by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, Abure said he was reliably “informed of the plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to work ahead of a possible rerun, knowing that the tide of the wind is heavily tilted against it.”

Consequently, Abure called on millions of Labour Party members and supporters “to be on the alert and get ready to further humiliate the APC and its government in the polls if their sinister plot materialises.”

Abure made the call during an online meeting held with Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy led by Professor Eddie Oparaoji, the Labour Party Diaspora Chairman in the United States.

“Rumours have it that those in government are already planning for rerun and this is one of the supports we will be canvasing from you. We should also be getting prepared because since all those in government are already preparing for rerun, we too should not be taken unawares.

“So, we will be needing your engagement and support on this aspect if paradventure it happens today, that the election is nullified, which is not what we are asking for, because we are asking for outright declaration of Peter Obi as the President of Nigeria.

“We believe strongly that we won that election given the statistics we have, given the result we have, we are not expecting anything less than the declaration of Peter Obi as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“But supposing that didn’t happen as the government is believed to be planning for a rerun, it will not also be out of place for us to be preparing for a rerun election.

“Having said this by the side, I must say clearly that we have put all our evidence before the court; we are very hopeful that the tribunal will act on our favour. And we are very hopeful that supposing the matter gets to the higher court, the Supreme Court, in this case, it will also act in our favour. We are keeping our hope and confidence alive.

“In nine months, we are able to change the political narratives of this country and we must build on that successes and so that we can have a more formidable party that we can strategically positioned from the down trodden people of Nigeria,” he said.

* Says it’s launchpad for 2027

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

A group under the aegis of Tinubu Shettima Independent Campaign Council, which is also sympathetic to Senator Magnus Abe, has accused former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of using his proteges in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to secure for himself a ministerial slot to remain relevant in the polity ahead of 2027.

This was even as they alleged that Wike was trying to reap where he didn’t sow and plotting to deny other ethnic groups in the state the benefit of equitable share of the dividends of democracy.

Some APC stakeholders under the aegis of Amalgamated Bola Tinubu Campaign Council led by a former Chief of Staff to former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and stalwart of the party, Chief Tony Okocha, had Tuesday urged President Tinubu to strongly consider Wike in his ministerial appointments based on his role which gave Tinubu victory in the state during the presidential election.

But reacting to Okocha’s position at a press conference in Abuja Wednesday, the Director of the group, Chief Kadilo Kabari, condemned calls from certain quarters urging Tinubu to consider Wike for a ministerial appointment, adding that it would be wrong for only one ethnic group in the state to be in control of the entire power structure of the state.

He explained that before and during the February 25 presidential election, Abe had contributed largely to the victory of Tinubu in the state, if compared to that of Wike’s. 

Kabari said: “Politics is a game of numbers. As a matter of fact, Wike’s support can be bequeathed to seeking a safe haven having lost in every political equation. He is finding the Tinubu presidency as a safe haven and then the battle of offices as a war chest for the next election because we know him. 

“I am not against Wike joining the APC. As a matter of fact, we have so many ex governors that are in the APC but none of them said they will take the party’s structure. If it were the serving governor that is joining, you will understand. At this point, I am not speaking from a partisan perspective. I am speaking as  an ardent supporter of Tinubu. In the governorship, I stood with Magnus, no apologies. 

“This last election availed Nigerians a lot of opportunities for variety. So, I condemn in totality the attempt to stand truth on its head by claiming no other person did anything and also bequeathing all the proceeds of victory to one person who showed ethnocentric bias even in his distribution of offices in Rivers State.”

He further described Wike’s contributions to the party as highlighted by Okocha, and the allegations that Abe worked against Tinubu as false, alleging that Wike’s camp are out to “reap where they didn’t sow” 

His words: “Okocha and his co-travellers should  bury their heads in shame because the state of Rivers and the elections can be likened to the biblical husband and partakers of the first fruit. We had people who cleared the bush, we had people who tilled the soil, we had people who planted the seeds, we had people who watered it. We had people who watched it grow. At the point of its growth, everybody finds his branch in different political aspirations. 

“That is where Magnus of SDP is different. Now, they should bury their heads in shame that in plucking the fruits, they want to pluck the ripe and unripe and do not want those who wield, those who planted, those who watered to partake.”

He, therefore, cautioned against a campaign of calumny against Abe and other political actors, adding that pursuits should be personalized with honesty, capacity, merit and fairness as yardsticks.

* Calls on Tinubu to ignore Abe’s antics 

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

The Rivers State chapter of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has declared total support for former Governor Nyesom Wike as the new political leader of the state and intermediary between the state and the government at the central.

Tony Okocha, a former chief of staff to a former governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, who assumed leadership of the party in the state before the February 25 presidential election, in an interview with journalists in Abuja Tuesday, disclosed how his former principal, governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Amaechi, and a chieftain of the party, Magnus Abe, worked against the APC during the February presidential election in the state.

Okocha said that the APC was left almost in disarray when Amaechi and Abe abandoned the party in the middle of the sea, delibrately leaving it to be submerged by storm till Wike came to the party’s rescue.

He expressed dismay over claims by Abe specifically, who he said wrote President Bola Tinubu off in the presidential contest, coming back to arrogate to himself “the first son of Tinubu in Rivers State”, just as he challenged him to produce “results from his two polling units, ward and local government” where Tinubu was said to have lost to Abe’s Social Democratic Party (SDP).

He said: “When Amaechi left, Magnus left, what remained was the little I could control with an amalgamation of support groups. Since 1999, PDP has been in control of Rivers State back to back. Even in 2015, when I was chief of staff, Amaechi was governor and during that presidential election, APC scored about 69,000 votes, PDP scored about 2 million votes and we were in charge and he doubled as the DG of Buhari in 2015, in 2019 Wike had become governor, it became even worse.

“In 2015, APC scored 7 per cent, in 2019 we scored 5 per cent. Then, in 2023 APC is now winning. What was the magic? Wike’s PDP scored 32/32 in the state House of Assembly in Rivers State, Wike’s PDP scored 12/13 of House of Representatives seats, Wike’s PDP scored 3/3 of the senatorial seats, Wike’s PDP won the governorship and then Wike’s PDP did not win presidential election in Rivers State. What happened?

“Is it not the reason that all of us know that the G-5 governors said until things are made right, until power shifts to the south and that until Ayu resigns that they will not work for Atiku. Now, the spin doctor who made sure everything worked out for Tinubu, was Wike.

“We have 6,868 polling units in Rivers State across 319 wards and across 23 LGs and you and I know that every politician has his own polling unit agents that are paid on a stipend or the other. Who paid for the 6,868 agents in Rivers for APC.

Okocha said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G-5 governors’ activities were responsible for the success of Tinubu in Nigeria’s politics today, adding that: “Look at the ratio, APC won 12 states, and PDP won 10 states.”

He said assuming the PDP worked together, the party would have taken more states. 

“I am telling you that in our own case, I am saying it categorically, I would have been the one person to say ‘no don’t give it to him because I had the house’. He didn’t come to see an empty house. I would have decided to appropriate everything to myself and behave like a crab.

“If you have somebody that is more than you, why don’t you invite the person. If he helped us to win in 2023, are we now going to tell him to come to us in 2027 to help us win? Why don’t we bring him in because he has value to add. No politician in Rivers State today can surmount Wike. No one in Rivers State can challenge Wike. He is the best.

“We are saying that whatever is due us as Rivers State should be handed over to Wike because he knows who worked for Tinubu in Rivers. I would have claimed it all because I was the last man standing when everybody took off but we are saying, look, this man contributed more,” he said.

Okocha described ‘Magnus’ media stunts’ as “mere grandstanding and only for his benefits”. 

According to him, “My worry is that you may just not have agreed to work with Tinubu. It is a different ball game. But that you worked with Tinubu and then at the point that you were needed the most, mid-sea, you abandoned the ship. You rejected, you goofed on your own. You ported to an another party or chose not to work for Tinubu again, and then only to return when the victory is here to say I was Tinubu’s first son. Does that work?

“He (Abe) said that as a member of PSC, the strategy committee, that while they were reviewing states, vis-a-vis how they stand, the possibilities and impossibilities of Tinubu winning in respective states, Rivers State was not counted in as one of the states where Tinubu will score 25% at the time. 

“So for him, remaining there would have been absurd. So he felt ‘okay, this man will not win, so let me go to another party to try my own personal interest. And I am asking him when he got to this SDP, did he go there as an ordinary member? No, he went out and became the candidate of the party.

“You now want to eulogize Tinubu. You didn’t know that Tinubu was the best person before he left for another party. It is now that he has won you want to grandstand, you want to eulogize just for appointment. It will not work. I will not support it. It is against common sense.”

Reacting to claims that he earlier said that Amaechi worked for Atiku, Okocha described his former boss as a bad loser who refused to be a good sportsman, using surrogates within the APC to sabotage Tinubu’s chances in the state.

His words: “He is not denying it. Amaechi refused to be pacified, even when Tinubu visited him in his house and said let’s work together. He refused. He attended only two rallies, campaigns in whole of Nigeria.”

Okocha recounted how Amaechi in one of his interviews about the credibility of the 2023 presidential election descredited the election and even went further to say that INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, was a product of Tinubu’s political empire. Consequently, Amaechi deployed Tony Cole, who was the APC governorship candidate in the state at the time to do his bidding.

He said: “The man (Tony Cole) was neither here nor there. And I told you that as PCC coordinator, he did nothing. No billboards, no banners, no posters, no jingles. In his campaigns, he never mentioned Tinubu. In his polling unit, he was there mobilising for Atiku in compliance and in keeping with the directive given to him by Amaechi.

“He was scared that if he identified with Tinubu, it will rub off on him in his own governorship quest. So for him, it was safe not ever to mention anything called Tinubu.

He recounted how the group met to run a post election analysis and concluded to confer on Wike the political leader of the state as reward for saving the party when it was almost on its knees.

“The group had met after the election and we asked ourselves what the position was. In that meeting, it was not part of our agenda; we had a two-point agenda. One, was a briefing as to what had happened. The second one was what is the way forward. In the course of that meeting, a motion was moved from the floor saying to us that we should invite Governor Wike to come over to APC and take over the leadership of APC. And when that motion was moved, it was followed with a standing ovation, spontaneous.

“The reason is when Ameachi had left. Magnus had left. What remained was the little that I could control and with this amalgamation of support groups, we wooed the PDP. Are you not aware of the G5?  

“If he helped us to win in 2023, are we now also going to say to him while in PDP, come to us in 2027 to help us win? Why don’t we bring him in and say take over because he has value to add. Is it Ameachi? Wike flogged us. Is it Magnus? Wike flogged him. 

“We have said whatever is due us as our own slot in Rivers should be handed over to Wike because he knows who and who worked for Tinubu in Rivers. Are we being selfish? I have told you here that I was the last man standing when everybody took off. But we are saying ‘look this man contributed more’,” he said.

•Slams SGF

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The South-South Elders Progressive Forum (SSEPF) has expressed dismay over what it described as a deliberate and flawed communication by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) with regards to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on President Bola Tinubu’s directive dissolving the governing boards of all federal government parastatals, agencies, institutions and government-owned companies.

They stated this in statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, at the end of a meeting with stakeholders, where the elders said clear ambiguities in the SGF’s communication on June 19, paved the way for vested interests to circumvent the presidential directive and its implementation in the breach at the NDDC.

The SSEPF expressed dismay that in announcing the presidential directive, the failure of the SGF’s office to take cognisance of the diverse statutory provisions on procedure for appointment into Boards of the various federal government agencies particularly as applicable to the NDDC, allegedly occasioned the confusion and ongoing intense lobby and manipulations by officials at the Commission affected by the directive.

The statement which was signed by Chief Jolomi Ande and Dr. Benedict Akparanta, Chairman and Secretary General respectively of the SSEPF read in part: “We wish to remind the SGF that while the managing directors/CEOs of some agencies such as the Nigeria Ports Authority, NIMASA among several others are usually appointed individually irrespective of whether there is an existing Governing Board for these agencies or not, and therefore, may not be affected whenever their Boards are dissolved, a substantive managing director of the NDDC and the two executive directors are appointed only when a Governing Board is constituted for the Commission, making them part and parcel of the Board.

“It is to be noted that no individual had been appointed substantive managing director of the NDDC without a Board and it is for this reason that the appointments of Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua in November 2022 and Mrs. Ibim Semenitari in December 2015, were all made in acting capacity by the immediate past administration pending the appointment of a substantive Board.

“In the same vein, a few others such as Prof. Kemebradikumor Pondei and Nelson Brambaifa also acted as managing directors alongside the two executive directors as an interim Board and were all removed from office jointly in both instances.

“It is also pertinent to note that contrary to the present scenario, no previous Governing Board of the NDDC had been dissolved with either the managing director or the two executive directors left to continue in office.

“The recently dissolved Board of the Commission shouldn’t be an exception in order not to heat up the rising temperature in the Niger Delta to a boiling point. Therefore, we enjoin the SGF to keep abreast of the NDDC procedure for appointments and rectify the anomaly promptly.”

While decrying what it termed the “manipulative activities of monstrous middle-men who paraded the corridors of power” during the tenure of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, the SSEPF urged President Bola Tinubu to take full charge of his administration as well as checkmate saboteurs and, “middle-men” towards rekindling public confidence, good governance, peace, stability and development of the nation, just as it commended the President for taking giant steps within a short period in office.

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

The President, Asteven Group, Council on Renewable Energy in Nigeria (CREN) and Founder, Asteven Renewable Energy Institute, Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on practical solar energy training for at least 500 youths across all the local governments in the country in the next four years.

Akpoyibo, who made the call in an interview with journalists in Abuja Monday, said that the idea would not only address energy challenges in the country but would also provide more than 20 million jobs for Nigerians.

He said this can be achieved through proper partnership and inclusion of private sector players in the industry.

The CREN and Asteven Group President urged the Federal Government to partner with various stakeholders such as states, National Assembly, non-governmental organisation (NGOs), non-profit foundations, oil companies and private companies in sponsoring youths to save the country billions of naira that would have been exported out of the country. 

He said: “According to recent report by economic analysts and experts, Nigeria is projected to record increase in unemployment to more than 40% in 2023 posing as a great challenge to the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was sworn into office 29th May, 2023. 

“This is a red alert comparing the resultant effect of unemployment in the country from 2018 when it was almost half the current speculation giving rise to insecurity and unprecedented high rate of crime in the country majorly perpetuated by the youths. 

“It is also imperative to emphasise that the projection may be far less than what will be recorded in the days ahead due given the removal fuel subsidy.”

Akpoyibo noted that even though Nigeria with a population of over 100 million youths and one of the most endowed countries with solar energy in the world, still ranks very low in complying with the energy transition programme in the areas of technical expertise and product manufacturing. 

He said: “A large population of Nigerian youths are ignorant of the industry and have been unable to harness the enormous opportunities in the industry giving the billions of dollars invested into the sector. So many youths are looking for white collar jobs when they can be financially independent through the acquisition of skills in the solar energy industry.

“The numerous solar energy projects implemented by the previous administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari even though well intended were short lived due to the lack of sustainability plan that would have mitigated the billions lost in deployment of solar projects such as Solar Naija Home, Energizing Education, Energizing Markets, Solar off-grid etc. 

“Even the government agencies executed projects that were without provision for equal deployment of technical skills that would ensure sustainability and maintenance of such projects. How can solar companies take people from Akwa Ibom to go and execute a solar project in Kano with little or no skilled indigenes? Already, such a project cannot be sustainable as you don’t expect the expert to travel from Akwa Ibom to Kano anytime there is a problem with the system. 

“But this is because most local areas within the country lack skilled workers who are mainly situated within the cities and urban areas. As soon as a project is commissioned, the contractor leaves and never returns to that location ever again leading to dilapidation of the project.”

The renewable energy consultant said Nigeria is currently generating just 37 megawatts of solar energy when it holds the potential for 500,000 megawatts, and estimated billions of dollars in economic value to equip the youths to become empowered and economically viable within their immediate communities. 

“This is the future that government must prepare our youths for rather than the growing buying of motorcycles, taxis and others that can be lost if damaged yet a skill can never be lost.

“In the days ahead as our new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu makes efforts to increase employment in the country, there must be a deliberate and holistic attention to private partnership in training of the youths. It is imperative to ensure that all solar budgetary arrangements must capture training of indigenous youths who will ensure sustainability of these projects. 

“Nigeria is properly positioned to lead the energy transition programme in Africa to such extent that international organizations like the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, European Development and so many others will commit to supporting more solar projects in the country. 

“Everyone depends on energy no matter where they are, and even those in the rural areas are migrating to the urban areas due to lack energy. But energy can be taken to every locality and efficiently sustained with adequate skills. This will address the country’s energy shortfall.

“Asteven Group is one of the pioneer indigenous solar companies that manufactured world class products for the Nigerian market creating thousands of jobs through vendors and merchants of our products. Over the past 15 years, the company has operated across the six geo-political zones in the country and around five African countries deploying cutting edge solar technology. 

“It is in the course of our business expedition that we discovered the lack of skills in the solar industry in the country with largely 98% of solar projects outsourced to foreigners even with billions voted by government at federal and state levels, and bulk of the money getting repatriated by foreigners to their own countries without adding much value to our economy,” he added.

*Wonders if energy is imported by Discos in dollars to warrant tariff increase

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

In the wake of plans by some government institutions to jack up prices of commodities and services, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently halt such moves “as such would further worsen the precarious situations of hapless Nigerians.”
The organisation also faulted the planned increase in tariff by the power Distribution Companies (Discos) because the naira exchange rate depreciated  from N441 to a dollar to about N750 per dollar, wondering why service being rendered in Nigeria should be denominated in or predicated on US dollar
This was contained in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the organisation,  Jare Ajayi, and made available to journalists yesterday.

Faulting the reason of Discos for the planned increase in tariff, Ajayi wondered why service being rendered in Nigeria should be denominated in or predicated on US Dollar.

“Is the energy they are distributing imported from the United States of America?”

Ajayi maintained that various steps taken lately by the Tinubu-led administration may have the potential of lifting Nigeria up in the medium and long term but, “there is the need to ensure that the people are not squeezed out of breath before that good time comes, as it’s only a person who is wholesomely alive that would enjoy the largesse of tomorrow!”

While calling on Tinubu to checkmate steps capable of alienating his administration from the people, Afenifere urged him to be mindful of actions by government agencies that may be tantamount to sabotaging his good intentions.

Some electricity Discos had on June 25, 2023, announced that from July 1, this year, the tariffs being paid by electricity consumers in Nigeria would go up by 40 per cent.

Similarly, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, had on Tuesday, June 27th, disclosed that the Joint Tax Board has imposed a levy of N1,000 per annum on every vehicle owner in Nigeria. The payment was said to be in the form of Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC). Afenifere said this was without regard to various taxes vehicle owners pay yearly viz Vehicle Licence, Insurance, road worthiness and hackney permit (for commercial vehicles) etc.

Afenifere said for instance, “in many states across the country, some road users (other than pedestrians) have daily payments to make to be allowed to ply the roads.

“An example is the one in Oyo State being carried out by the Park Management System (PMS). Many other states have similar arrangements.”

The organisation said though to further squeeze the citizens, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made it obligatory for commercial banks to collect and verify their customers’ social media handles as part of their Know Your Customer (KYC) process, stating that the, “directive amounts to making members of the public ‘to pay’ for the failure and negligence of relevant organs of the government in carrying out their constitutionally assigned duties.”

Ajayi added: “The CBN, through its Director, Financial Policy and Regulations Department, Mr. Chibuzo Efobi, said that it gave the directive with a view to ‘bolstering compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism provisions.’

“Already, every telephone user in the country got captured as directed by the National Communications Commission (NCC) with the National Identity Number (NIN) incorporated.

 “Besides, every bank customer now has what is known as a Bank Verification Number (BVN). Email addresses were also registered with the banks into which information from banks are sent to the respective customers. Meaning that the information this new directive is seeking is already within the purview of government agencies.”

He called on Tinubu to stop the planned increase on electricity tariff and ensure that the increase was not effected secretly as had been done before, stop the planned N1,000 POC levy and prevail on relevant arms of government to utilise information about Nigerians already in their purview as the new CBN directive is repetitive of what already exists in addition to its potential of being used to infringe on the privacy of Nigerians”.

Arguing that the new directive from the CBN was another way of traumatising Nigerians as was done to youths three years ago when the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) made it a condition for them to obtain NIN before they could register for its examinations that year, Ajayi submitted that the youths suffered greatly as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) that was supposed to issue the NIN could not cope.

He said: “Yet, the youths were made to suffer for what was not of their making in any way.”

“In making it compulsory for every telephone user to be captured by telecommunications network, the NCC said that it was to make it possible for security agencies to be able to track kidnappers who use telephone to contact families of those they kidnap. This has been on for more than four years. Yet, kidnapping still continues.

“This means that the security failure in the country is not due to lack of information about the kidnappers and other terrorists. “Rather, it was due to the failure of those who are in charge of security. Various reasons could be adduced for this including perhaps sabotage and lackadaisical attitude of the government. “The terrorism that occurred in Bauchi state this Ileya season during which terrorists operated for hours, according to reports, is another instance. Reports certainly went out during the course of the operation, yet the terrorists not only killed some people, they kidnapped many including the wife of the community head just as they burgled supermarkets and houses without being checked.”

Afenifere, which applauded Tinubu for some bold steps he has taken within one month of assuming office, noted that his actions were restoring people’s confidence in the government and have the potential for a broader economic transformation. But the way some of the policies are being implemented are making many to ‘gasp for breath.’

*Says it’s fraudulent

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja 

The National Working Committee of the Julius Abure-led Labour Party, has accused the Lamidi Apapa led-faction of the party of fraudulently procuring a judgement against its candidate for the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu.

This was as they vowed to vacate the judgment in the Court of Appeal, to establish the legitimacy of their candidates in the November 11 governorship election, adding that a judgement that didn’t give chance for fair-hearing cannot stand.

A Federal High Court sitting in Bayelsa State, last weekend, declared Evangelist Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu (Ikenga) as the authentic candidate of Imo Labour party for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

The court also declared as illegal and unlawful, the April 15th governorship primary election conducted by the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the party in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

Delivering judgment in a suit brought before it by Sir Basil Maduka, challenging Ukaegbu’s emergence, Justice Emma Akko declared Evangelist Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu the authentic candidate of the party for the 2023 Imo governorship election, having emerged through the April 16th primary election conducted by the Lamidi Apapa constituted electoral panel in the state.

The court also declared as illegal, the governorship primary election conducted in Bayelsa and Kogi States on April 15th by Julius Abure-led faction of the party, noting hat Abure was suspended and restrained from parading himself as national chairman of the party by Abuja High Court at the time of conduct of the said primaries in the states

The court further held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should upload names of candidates who emerged through valid primaries conducted in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States on 16th April, 2023 by Lamidi Apap- led National Working Committee of the party

Reacting to the judgment, National Publicity Secretary of the Abure led-NWC, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement, expressed disgust with the judgement entered against their candidate in the November governorship election in Imo state, Distinguished Senator Athan Achonu. 

Obiora alleged that the party has confirmed that, “the judgement was fraudulently procured by our former but now suspended members led by Lamidi Apapa and we have directed our legal team to appeal the judgment with immediate effect.

“This is not the first time we will be seeing such a back door judgement. You recall that the Apapa group is known for propagating falsehood, misinformation and series of blackmail and this is yet another of their mischief.

“Not too long ago, we had intimated Nigerians particularly our teaming party members of the activities of the Apapa led renegades; how they have been moving round Nigeria shopping for a wiling court that will do their biddings.”