NEWS
Atiku Won’t Sell Nigeria, Says Northern Elders Forum
By prosper Okoye, Abuja
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has dismissed the allegation made by some Nigerians that the People’s Democratic Party Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would sell all of the country’s assets if he emerges the winner of the February 25th polls.
“Atiku is a democrat, and has come of age – say almost 80 years old now – aside from leaving a legacy I don’t think there is any reason he is contesting to be president,” NEF’s President, Prof.
Ango Abdullahi told DAILY ASSET at the united Christian leader’s eagle eye forum endorsement of Atiku in Abuja yesterday.“This is someone who fought with his principal, Obasanjo, when he was vice president.
He took Obasanjo up to the supreme court more than 11 times and won in the defence of democracy,” he stressed.“All of the party candidates have held one position in the government, and they are all rich, so to make such assertions about Atiku will be very unfair to him,” he added.
However, the president who was represented by Dr. Sadiq Abubakar said the forum did not endorse any candidate.
“The forum as a body is non-partisan, we have many of our sons vying to become president, so we cannot come out in public to say this is our best son vote for him,” said prof. Ango, and stressed that the forum would oppose any candidate that emerges unconstitutionally.
“A lot of damages have been done to the country in the last eight years, so we are yearning for a government that feels for Nigerians. As an umbrella of leaders from the north that cut across all diversity, we stand for free, fair, and credible elections, and we will support whoever emerges as president irrespective of the region,” he said.
“Forget about the New Nigeria talked about by the Labour Party,” National President of the Christian Forum, Aminchi Abu, retorted. He maintained that Atiku was the right man for President. “The sun, moon, and stars have remained where they have always been, so how will the New Nigeria come?” he asked rhetorically.
“Nigeria is sick, and Atiku has promised us recovery. It is until we have recovered Nigeria that we can then talk about a new country,” he said.
He said the forum had chosen to endorse Atiku because he has all the leadership qualities that Nigeria needs to become better at the moment, including patience.
“Atiku is a unifier and a patient person. You hear a lot of bad things people say about him, but you can never hear him abuse anyone,” he added.
Director of Strategic Communications, Atiku/Okuwa Campaign Organization, Dele Momodu, agrees.
“Some people will divide the country among religious and ethnic lines for their selfish ambition, but Atiku won’t,” he said.
Dele who had received the endorsement on behalf of Atiku said Nigeria had suffered from bad leadership in the past because of the inclination of the electorates to vote in line with held unchecked sentiments.
“This time around God has prepared for us a good leader in the person of Atiku Abubakar who will consistently support every part of Nigeria,” he said.
NEWS
Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Increases to 33.88% in October- NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says Nigeria’s headline inflation rate increased 33.88 per cent in October 2024.The NBS disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for October 2024, which was released in Abuja on Friday.According to the report, the figure is 1.
18 per cent points higher compared to the 32.70 per cent recorded in September 2024. It said on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate in October 2024 was 6. 55 per cent higher than the rate recorded in October 2023 at 27.33 per cent.In addition, the report said on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in October 2024 was 2.64 per cent, which was 0.12 per cent higher than the rate recorded in September 2024 at 2.52 per cent.“This means that in October 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level was higher than the rate of increase in the average price level in September 2024.”The report said the increase in the headline index for October 2024 on a year-on-year and month-on-month basis was attributed to the increase in some items in the basket of goods and services at the divisional level.It said these increases were observed in food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel, clothing and footwear, transport and furnishings, household equipment and maintenance.Others include education, health, and miscellaneous goods and services, restaurants and hotels, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and kola, recreation and culture, and communication.It said the percentage change in the average CPI for the 12 months ending October 2024 over the average CPI for the previous 12 months was 32.26 per cent.“This indicates an 8.82 per cent increase compared to 23.44 per cent recorded in October 2023.”The report said the food inflation rate in October 2024 increased to 39.16 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 7.64 per cent higher compared to the rate recorded in October 2023 at 31.52 per cent.“The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis is caused by increases in prices of guinea corn, rice, maize grains, beans, yam, water yam, and CocoYam.“Others are palm oil, vegetable oil, Lipton, Milo, and Bournvita, among others.”It said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in October was 2.94 per cent, which was a 0.30 per cent increase compared to the rate recorded in September 2024 at 2.64 per cent.“The increase in food inflation on a month-on-month basis was caused by an increase in the average prices of palm oil, vegetable oil, mudfish, croaker, fresh fish, dried beef, goat meat, mutton, and skin meat.“Others are bread, guinea corn flour, plantain flour, rice, among others.”The report said that “all items less farm produce and energy’’ or core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 28.37 per cent in October on a year-on-year basis.“This increased by 5.79 per cent compared to 22.58 per cent recorded in October 2023.“The exclusion of the PMS is due to the deregulation of the commodity by removal of subsidy.”It said the highest increases were recorded in prices of bus Journey within the city, Journey by motorcycle, and bus journey intercity among others.“Others are rents, meal at a local Restaurant, hair cut service, woman hair brush, women’s hairdressing, among others.”The NBS said on a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 2.14 per cent in October 2024.“This indicates a 0.04 per cent increase compared to what was recorded in September 2024 at 2.10 per cent.“The average 12-month annual inflation rate was 26.12 per cent for the 12 months ending October 2024; this was 6.14 per cent points higher than the 19.98 per cent recorded in October 2023.”The report said on a year-on-year basis in October 2024, the urban inflation rate was 36.38 per cent, which was 7.09 per cent higher compared to the 29.29 per cent recorded in October 2023.“On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 2.75 per cent, which increased by 0.08 per cent compared to September 2024 at 2.67 per cent.’’The report said on a year-on-year basis in October, the rural inflation rate was 31.59 per cent, which was 6.01 per cent higher compared to the 25.58 per cent recorded in October 2023.“On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate was 2.53 per cent, which increased by 0.14 per cent compared to September 2024 at 2.39 per cent.’’On states’ profile analysis, the report showed that in October, all items’ inflation rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Bauchi at 46.68 per cent, followed by Kebbi at 40.02per cent, and Sokoto at 39.65 per cent.It, however, said the slowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis was recorded in Delta at 27.85 per cent, followed by Benue at 28.22 per cent, and Katsina at 29.59 per cent.The report, however, said in October 2024, all items inflation rate on a month-on-month basis was highest in Kano at 3.77 per cent, followed by Bauchi at 3.74 per cent, and Anambra at 3.59 per cent.“Kwara at 1.27 per cent, followed by Ondo at 1.49 per cent and Lagos at 1.91 per cent recorded the slowest rise in month-on-month inflation.”The report said on a year-on-year basis, food inflation was highest in Sokoto at 52.18 per cent, followed by Edo at 46.55 per cent, and Borno at 45.85 per cent.“Kwara at 31.68 per cent, followed by Kogi at 33.30 per cent and Rivers at 33.87 per cent recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.’’The report, however, said on a month-on-month basis, food inflation was highest in Adamawa at 5.08 per cent, followed by Sokoto at 4.86 per cent, and Yobe at 4.34 per cent.“Kwara at 1.11 per cent, followed by Ondo at 1.31 per cent and Kogi at 1.50 per cent, recorded the slowest rise in inflation on a month-on-month basis.” (NAN)NEWS
FRSC not Recruiting, Says Spokesman
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says it is not recruiting and cautioned potential job seekers against falling victim to scammers.A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide on Friday in Abuja, said that the clarification became necessary following desperate efforts by alleged fraudsters to scam unsuspecting job seekers.
He said, “The attention of the FRSC has been drawn to a publication by online platforms misinforming the public about ongoing recruitment of personnel into the services of the Corps. “This medium is to let the public know that the Corps is not recruiting at the moment, neither is there any ongoing arrangement to that effect, “he said.Ogungbemide quoted the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, as admonishing applicants seeking to join the services of the Corps, as well as the general public to disregard the fake and misleading publications.He said recruitment processes in the Corps had always been transparent, credible and made public.Ogungbemide clarified that such recruitments were usually made public through placement of advertorials and notifications on all available media platforms, including the Corps’ website: www.frsc.gov.ng, our social media handles, and the National Traffic Radio 107.1FM“The public is by this publication warned to desist from any form of engagement with the purported scammers and purveyors of the misinformation as the Corps will not be liable should anyone fall victim,”he said.(NAN)NEWS
Gas Explosion Damages 6 Vehicles in Katsina – Police
Gas cylinders conveyed in a truck have exploded at a Filling station in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, causing damage to about six vehicles. The police spokesman in the state, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu disclosed this in a statement issued in Katsina on Friday. He said that on Nov.
15, a loud explosion was heard by police operatives attached to Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters and promptly the DPO led a team in collaboration with the military, to the scene. “Upon arrival operatives found a truck loaded with gas cylinders engulfed in flames at Tamal filling station, along Kagadama-Magamar Jibia road. “The joint team swiftly deployed preventive measures to protect lives and minimise property damage, successfully quenching the fire. “Six motor vehicles were significantly affected by the fire incident, but fortunately, no life was lost,” he said. According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, has directed a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. Sadiq-Aliyu explained that further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds. (NAN)