POLITICS
2023: I’ll Run, Tinubu Tells Buhari. Says his Ambition is Life-long One
APC’ ll do Everything Possible to Retain Power at Centre – Niger Gov
From From Dan Amasingha, Minna.
The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, disclosed yesterday that he used the opportunity of his visit to the Presidential Villa on Monday to inform President Muhammadu Buhari of his 2023 Presidential ambition.
He stated this to journalists after his closed door meeting with the president and further disclosed that though he made his intention known to the president, he would continue to consult with Nigerians.
He dismissed the assertion that ”a kingmaker cannot become a king”, saying only commission of murder can stop him.
This is coming a week after the Director-General, Tinubu Support Groups and former House of Representatives member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, disclosed that former Lagos State governor will be contesting in the 2023 Presidential election.
Tinubu’s ambition has clashed with that of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was Commissioner of Justice in Lagos State under Tinubu, who though has not made his ambition known, has many individuals and support groups rooting for him.
Meanwhile Niger State Governor and Chairman, North Central States Governors’ Forum (NCSGF), Abubakar Sani Bello, yesterday disclosed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) was resolute and committed to seeing that it retained power at the center as well as in the states and local government levels in the country.
Receiving a high-powered delegation from the Senator George Akume Contact Team at Government House, Minna, Governor Bello stated that the North Central geo-political zone deserved to get a fair treatment in the political arrangement of the nation.
The governor noted that the North Central Zone is marginalised, socio-politically and unfairly treated in terms of infrastructural development, noting that the region’s infrastructure has suffered immense deterioration because of its location as gateway between the northern and southern parts of the country.
“I feel the North Central has not been fairly treated. Politically we have been abandoned, we are neither here nor there in the core north or core south political calculations. We are hardly noticed even though the zone has always delivered a ‘block-vote’ during elections,” he said.
He noted that as the food basket of the nation, the North Central geo-political zone could comfortably feed the country and the whole of West Africa if the Federal Government outlines robust plans and makes deliberate efforts towards supporting agricultural programmes.
Governor Sani Bello said it was in realization of the fact that the zone was politically ‘neither here nor there’ in the equation that the party’s leadership in the region deemed it necessary to indicate interest and support aspirants from the region to vie for party offices including the chairmanship position.
Governor Bello assured that, as a leader to all, it was incumbent on him and the party to support any candidate from the North Central geo-political zone with the requisite credentials and pedigree to not only unite the party but importantly retain power in 2023.
The leader of the Akume Contact Team, Senator Jack Gyado said they were in the state to seek its support for Akume who is aspiring to become the National Chairman of the ruling APC.
He stated that Senator Akume has the quality, credentials and requisite experience to feel the void of the national chairmanship position of the ruling party stressing that, as a retired permanent secretary, two term governor, three term senator and now a minister, Akume possessed the knowledge and ability to consolidate the party’s gains and achievements.
Senator Jack Gyado disclosed that Senator Akume has greatly contributed to the emergence and success of the ruling APC since it’s formative years and assured that the former Senate Minority Leader will deliver the region and the center for the party.
He, however, stated that for the Geopolitical Zone and Senator Akume to actualize the dream, the leadership of the Governor and the party in the region have roles to play in ensuring that the position of the National Chairman of APC is zoned to the North Central.
Senator Jack Tili Gyado congratulated Governor Bello for his achievements in the state adding that Nigerlites and the people of the North Central Zone are lucky to have him, being a dynamic and progressive leader.
POLITICS
Poverty, Behind Deadly Stampedes Across Nigeria, says Falana
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, on Sunday attributed the deadly stampede that claimedmore than 105 lives in stampedes during food and cash distribution events to “poverty-induced neoliberal economic policies” and “criminal negligence.
”In a statement released on Sunday, Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond ASCAB, demanded justice for victims of the tragic events, saying, “These tragic events are a national shame, the victims were not just statistics but human beings driven to desperation by systemic poverty and the gross incompetence of those entrusted with their safety.
”On December 21, 12 people died and 32 others were injured in Okija, Anambra State, during a scramble for rice distributed by a philanthropist.
On the same day, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including children, as over 3,000 people jostled for palliatives.
Just two days prior, on December 19, 35 children lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas funfair at an Islamic High School, Basorun. in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“The loss of these innocent lives is heart-wrenching,” Falana lamented.
“It underscores the indignity that poverty imposes on our people.”
Falana also criticized the elite for their treatment of the poor during such events, stating, “No member of the elite invites others to lunch by throwing the food,” and condemned what he termed “class prejudice” in the distribution of humanitarian aid.
He also announced plans to mobilize lawyers to pursue civil suits against the organizers of these events.
“We will ensure survivors and families of the deceased are adequately compensated,” Falana affirmed. “Those responsible for these avoidable tragedies must be held accountable.”
POLITICS
2025 budget: LP Chieftain Lauds Tinubu for Diving Priority to Security, Others
Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, National Deputy Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) ,has commended President Bola Tinubu for giving priority to security and other key sectors in the 2025 Appropriation Bill .
Olorunfemi gave the commendation while speaking with newsmeon Thursday in Lagos.
NAN reports that the President had on Wednesday presented the N47.
9 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill , christened “Budget of Restoration, Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity” , to a joint session of the National Assembly .The President listed highlights of the 2025 budget allocations to include: defense and security: N4.91 trillion; infrastructure: N4.06 trillion; Health: N2.
48 trillion and Education: N3.52 trillion.Reacting , Olorunfemi described security as an enabler of development.
He called on the President to ensure proper implementation ,saying budgets had always been well-crafted but usually lacked monitoring and implementation.
“There is nothing that can happen if there is no security. This is good if the budget is properly utilised for the purpose.
“Our problem is not about policies and budgets, it is about monitoring and implementation.
“There is nothing wrong in bringing a budget proposal forward in terms of expectation, what we want to do, how we want to do it, and how much we want to spend.
“Now, the most important thing is the implementation,, budgets in Nigeria have always been properly crafted,” the LP boss said.
Olorunfemi called on the President to build strong institutions to prevent sabotaging of his policies.
“If this government wants to do anything, it must wake up to the responsibility of monitoring policies and ensure severe penalty for anyone who attempts to sabotage such policies.
“We need institutions that no one will be able to interfere with. We must allow these institutions to work, that is what we expect.
“Once we have strong institutions, most of our problems are solved,” he said.
He also called on the President to take steps to address the problems experienced by Nigerians in the banking sector.
Olorunfemi decried the inability of many Nigerians to get cash at bank’s Automated Teller Machines and the high charges paid to get cash from Point of Sales (POS) operators.
The LP boss also urged the President to devise ways of ending multiple taxations and high fuel price, describing them as major causes of hardship .
Recalled that the President said that the budget was a demonstration of government’s commitment to stabilising the economy, improving lives and repositioning the country for greater performance.
He also said the budget sought to consolidate the key policies instituted to restructure the economy, boost human capital development, increase the volume of trade and investments and bolster oil and gas production. (NAN)
POLITICS
Atiku hails Ndimi’s Oriental Energy on commissioning of first FPSO
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The former Vice President of Nigeria and PDP Presidential flag bearer in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated the Chairman of the Nigerian Independent producer, Oriental Energy Resources (OER), Muhammadu Indimi, on the successful completion and commissioning of the Okwok Field’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel/platform in Dubai.
In a statement in Abuja by his Media Office in Abuja on Wednesday, the Former Vice President described the commissioning of the FPSO as one of the most gladdening news coming out from the upstream subsector of Nigeria’s oil industry in recent times.
“The vessel’s deployment at the Okwok field is expected to significantly increase Nigeria’s crude oil output, contributing to the government’s revenue growth and economic development objectives,” he said.
According to Atiku, “This is the first FPSO entirely funded by an indigenous Nigerian company and this landmark achievement being championed by OER showcases the rising capability of Nigerian firms in conceptualising and successfully executing complex projects in the nation’s upstream oil industry.
The successful building and commissioning of the FPSO marks a significant step toward enabling an indigenous oil and gas company to independently develop a marginal oil field.
This development marks an important milestone for Nigeria and its indigenous energy sector, he said.
“No doubt, this latest investment would boost economic growth, generate job opportunities for Nigerians, and ensure steady growth and development of not only the oil sector but the nation’s economy in general.”
He described Indimi as a man who so much believes in the capabilities that exist in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“From onset of his foray into the nation’s oil sector, his vision of standing out as a player of reckon in the nation’s upstream oil business has been top-notch,” he said.
As he said, Oriental Energy’s significant investment in the oil sector has set a new standard in local investment and operational excellence in the nation’s oil business, benefiting both the company and its partners.
The 40,000 barrels per day capacity facility constructed by the Singaporean firm HBA Future Energy will commence sailing to Nigerian waters beginning February 2025 for hook-up on the Okwok Oil Field. Production is expected to commence on the oil field in the first half of next year.
Okwok Oil Field, discovered by ExxonMobil in 1967, is located in Oil Mining Lease(OML) 67, in 31 metres water depth in shallow marine, southeast offshore Nigeria with estimated recoverable reserves of 45 million barrels. OER has an ongoing multi-well drilling campaign on the field that commenced in October 2023.