NEWS
I’ll Make Southeast an Industrial Hub – Tinubu
Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to make the southern part of Nigeria an industrial hub when elected president.
He made this promise during the APC presidential campaign rally which took place on Wednesday at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu State.
Tinubu also promised to develop the region’s mineral resources deposit to propel economic recovery.
According to him, “If you elect me as your president, we will work together. We will create an industrial hub in Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, and Anambra States.
“We will also create two seaports in Port Harcourt and establish an engine fabricating plant, which will create jobs for the youths and all of you.
You have incredible mineral resources to propel the economic recovery of the Southeast. You have an agricultural power that can produce many cash crops.”Tinubu urged the southeasterners to believe in and work with him for his success in the presidential poll.
“My people of Enugu State, nothing is impossible unless you don’t put your mind to it; together, nothing can stop us if we are determined,” he said.
He further advised them not to fold their hand and expect foreigners to develop the region.
“Don’t wait for the white man to do this job for us. We’re brilliant enough, we’re great thinkers, we can fabricate, we can develop and we can mold; we can build engines and we can turn our coal into a lucrative industry.
“In Britain and America, they are still using their coal to fire turbines and generate electricity for their industries. We have the right skills to do so.
“Be bold Nigeria. Wake up, Africa. Let’s use what we have to develop our country. Let’s turn our coal into money. Let’s turn our gas into money,” he said.
Tinubu also bragged about the achievement of the APC, saying: “Today, APC has fulfilled what PDP could not do in 16 years for the Southeast. In 2001, they came here to do foundation laying for the Second Niger Bridge but eventually did not do any.
“They still went back when they were seeking votes. Yet, they did nothing. It was the APC government that came, promised, and completed that bridge. It will soon be commissioned and the era of staying three days on the road during the festive seasons will be a thing of the past. I’m sure your joy will know no bounds.”
He also alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deceived and abandoned Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential Candidate, who is also from the Southeastern region.
“For 16 years, they (PDP) didn’t do anything for Southeast. They misappropriated the monies meant for projects and accused themselves. You know who I’m talking about. Obasanjo and Atiku. That’s the reason for their unending quarrel. Don’t believe them anymore. They have been fooling you for a long time,” he said.
Tinubu commended members of the APC in Enugu State for respecting and renewing the hope of the party and Nigeria, assuring them that they would not be left behind if they continued to support him to victory.
He further assured them that he would work with Uche Nnaji, the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu, saying, “It is only when you vote for me and make him the governor, we will share in the larger gain of Nigeria’s success
Tinubu urged the people of Enugu State to endeavor to get their permanent voter’s card to participate in the election and change the course of the nation’s future.
“Don’t throw away your votes. Shine your eyes, beat your chest, sacrifice in the sun, be in the rain. Get your PVC because it is your way to success, freedom, and prosperity. It is only when you invest that you can harvest”, he said.
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma in his speech told the people of Enugu State that Ndigbo would be more relevant again during Tinubu’s presidency and urged them to be part of his victory.
“Our visit to Enugu is very significant in the sense that there’s a global revolution politically. Over the years, we’ve done politics the way we thought was the best way of politics with little or no research and strong idea. We just followed without any results.
“But after the 2015 election and what came out of it and with the events of these past seven and half years, it became very clear that there is a need for Ndigbo to renew their hope.
“We looked the isolation politics as a primitive way of politics. We need politics that will give us results. We need politics that will take care of the elites and the masses, particularly the masses.
“We need leaders who are compassionate and who will not only think for the elites but the masses.
“It is of cardinal necessity for Ndigbo and indeed, Nigerians to embark on proper reintegration of national politics to be part of national cohesion and become participants of national politics.
“It is not about whether you have been a leader for 20 years or not it is about being the richest man from the Southeast because I’m convinced that what the richest man can do for a community in 200 years, the federal government can do the same in seconds.
“What is important for our people is that there must be a time in our lives when we must confront our challenges head-on.
“Therefore, we must have leaders who will be able to find the courage to face their brothers and sisters to tell them the home truth.
“The truth of the matter today is that we have been used enough. We have to be solvent politically.
“So, our entry into APC with the incremental understanding and awareness politically will give us the revolution we need. I have looked at all the indices that will make us become relevant in Nigeria. Let us be our brother’s keepers. Let us love ourselves and develop a sense of patriotism and nationalism. We have no other country we can call our own.
“The Southeast will be judged by the number of votes they will contribute to the kitty. We cannot become shareholders of a country we have not purchase shares from.
“This is the time for all of us to recognize that there is a common challenge – the challenge of being called true Nigerians.
“Today, from the Southern Nigeria, we have one of our best and brightest emerging as the candidate of the ruling party. A ruling party is a vehicle whose tyres are strong. You don’t need to push it to move. Am I going to come down from the vehicle that has tyres and enter the vehicle that has no tyres even if you push, it may not move.
“Ndigbo must forgive the past, forgive themselves, leave the bush and see the road. We cannot be more intelligent than the entire population.
“We’re interested in partnerships that are genuine.
“As the coordinator of the APC presidential campaign council in the Southeast, I will take responsibility for my actions and in actions.
“We will measure leaders by the number of votes you are able to give to us by February. You are not a leader if you don’t win your polling unit. So, we need to win and for us to win, leaders should go home and talk to the voters.
“We are here to campaign for you to get us 100 percent of the votes. We must win. We have the people, we have the means and we have the contact”.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, in his speech noted that Southeast would surprise Nigerians with their votes for APC and Tinubu.
He expressed happiness at the level of mobilisation of the crowd, urging them to work even harder to reintegrate Igbos into the centre “so that we can boldly go to Jagaban when he wins.
“Time has gone when we used to lag behind. APC gave us Second Niger Bridge
“Anyone doing permutation and saying that APC will not win in the Southeast is living in the past.
“But, after the election, Southeast will be declared the wisest region in Nigeria. We will use our votes to surprise the entire nation. No more crying of marginalisation.
“We are not looking for 60 percent. The least we can ask for is 90 percent.
The APC gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji said that they were determined to get more than 30% votes for APC presidential candidate in Enugu State.
“That’s the promise I’m giving Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodimma. We’re on a rescue mission which will rescue Enugu from the political and economic quagmire Enugu State has been entangled in over the years,” said Nnaji.
Nnaji assured Tinubu that “the crowd you are seeing here is not a rented crowd. The people you are seeing here are members of APC in the state. If the people here are 200,000 , they are registered members of our party.”
The rally attracted other dignitaries such as former Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Azubuike Onyeabor Ihejirika (rtd), Senators Godswill Akpabio, Andy Uba, former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, Dimeji Bankole, Chief Emma Eneukwu, Chief Gbazue Agu Nweke Gbazue Agu (GNG).
Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Senator Kashim Imam; APC presidential aspirant, Mr. Nick Jackrich; Hon. Nkeiru Onyejiocha; governorship candidates of the party in Abia, Ikechi Emenike and his Ebonyi counterpart, Rt. Hon.Nwifuru, former deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke among others.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a committee to oversee the Green Economic Initiative, known as the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions.
Tinubu also approved the appointment of Chief Ajuri Ngelale as Special Envoy on Climate Action and will retain his role as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Sunday in Abuja.
Reports says that this is part of a strategic move of the President to ensure the advancement of his administration’s climate and green economic initiatives.
The committee will coordinate and oversee all the policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.
This is to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes and provide an efficient governance architecture.
It will ensure that all the relevant institutions in the sector are plugged into the President’s vision and are collectively implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda on climate action.
The committee consists of President Bola Tinubu – Chairman; Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman; and Ajuri-Obari Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy.
The members are Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp); Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC); Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC); Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC); and Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA).
Others are Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW); Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN); Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA); Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) and Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI).
Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF); Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN); Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL); Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) and Representative, (Federal Ministry of FCT) as members.
Other representative members are Federal Ministries of Finance; Power; Industry, Trade & Investment; Water Resources; and Agriculture & Food Security.
The committee members also include representatives of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The committee shall, among other functions, identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives.
It will coordinate all the activities of relevant federal institutions towards the attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions of the federal government.
It will also collaborate with all the relevant government, sub-national governments, non-government, and civil society entities towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and ambitions of the federal government.
In the same vein, it will collaborate with national governments and multilateral institutions towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and carbon market ambitions of the federal government.
The committee wiil also monitor, evaluate and guide the progress of all climate action and renewable energy projects and activities of the federal government.
Other functions include: ”Track and guide the implementation of initiatives and developments conducted by the Energy Transition Working Group.
”Supervise the work of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
”Prepare a half-yearly green ambitions update, covering all associated climate action achievements of the Federal Government.”
Imohiosen said that Tinubu remained committed to achieving Nigeria’s green economy objectives on the path of a just energy transition while unlocking new investments in this critical sector.(NAN)
A few days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities gave the Federal Government an ultimatum over the failure to reconstitute the governing councils of universities across the country, the list of members of 111 tertiary institutions has been unveiled.
The 111 tertiary institutions include universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
This was as ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said the Federal Government was expected to reinstate the “illegally” dissolved governing councils and not to constitute new ones.
Osodeke also stated that the demand from the union was not only about the dissolved governing councils of tertiary institutions, adding that the Federal Government should implement other requests of ASUU.
Notable among the members of the councils unveiled include former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega; two prominent Nigerian lawyers and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun and Yusuf Alli; former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Peter Okebukola, and labour activist, Issa Aremu.
ASUU had on Tuesday issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government to address its key concerns including what it described as the illegal dissolution of governing councils of the universities, continued payment of its members’ salaries using the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, among other issues.
As released by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Didi Walson-Jack, the list comprises five names each for 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.
While Jega will serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Messrs Olanipeku, Alli, Okubukola and Aremu will chair the councils for the University of Lagos, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Federal College of Education (Technical), Keana, Nasarawa State, respectively.
Others on the list include the former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who will chair the governing council of the National Open University of Nigeria, Joy Emordi, a former Senator, who will chair the council of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, who is appointed to lead the council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The immediate-past Executive Secretary of NUC, Adamu Rasheed, who resigned from office a few months into his second term in office, was also named to chair the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
According to the statement, the inauguration and retreat for the new governing council members will take place on Thursday and Friday, 30 and 31 May, at the National Universities Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the dissolution of the governing councils of major government agencies and institutions including those of the higher institutions of learning.
In an interview at the weekend, ASUU President Osodeke, said, “It is not just about the governing council alone, it is just one of them. Secondly, we said they should reinstate the illegally dissolved governing council. We didn’t say they should constitute a new one. As far as we are concerned, they have not met any.”
By Lawrence Onoja
It gives me great pleasure and | am truly honoured to be asked to serve as Guest Speaker in this memorable celebration on the occasion of the 58th birthday anniversary and one year in Office in honour of His Excellency, Rev Fr. Hyacinth lormem Alia PhD, the Executive Governor of Benue State who by the grace of God Almighty is the people’s father, a rare politician, gentleman, philanthropist, philosopher, and a dogged believer in Mr.
President’s Renewed Hope Agenda as it supports the development and liberation of the oppressed and less privileged people of Benue State and beyond.2. Today the good people of Benue State and their friends have gathered for a double’ celebration.
One is to thank God Almighty for His help in the last one year since His Excellency was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Benue State. The second Is also appreciating God for adding another year to our Sactificial Governor. Permit me to dwell on the sacrificial and selfless nature of His Excellency as you will all agree with me that His Excellency has indeed made a great sacrifice in my opinion to take up the mantle to serve as Governor of Benue State.Gaylord Nelson, an American Politician and environmentalist, emphasizes the importance of sacrificing for the benefit of future generations in this quote:
“The Ultimate test of a man’s conscience may be his willingness: to sacrifice something for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard” This suggests that true moral character is demonstrated by the willingness to make sacrifices today that will have a positive impact on the future, even if those future generations may never know or express gratitude. This clearly describes the decision His Excellency has taken and also encourages all of us gathered here today to consider the long-term consequences of our actions and to prioritize the well-being of future generations over immediate gratification. By applying this we can collectively make choices that contributes to a sustainable and thriving future for the good people of Benue State and the nation at large.
3. I have observed with keen interest the unalloyed commitment of His Excellency Rev Fr Alia to good governance, transparency, openness, accountability, and fairness: Which are rare attributes in public servants of our time. It is not surprising that His Excellency places premium on the people as the centrepiece for the delivery of democratic governance in Benue State since the inauguration of his Administration on 29″ of May 2023. Thus, the unique understanding of the value of esteem public trust underlies Father’s political philosophy which has found expression in his governance style.
4. Sadly, His Excellency is experiencing unpleasantness in some political quaters to whom he has continued to show unreserved love with the expectations that those political misunderstanding and misrepresentation would be transformed into platforms for fostering political cooperation, understanding, confidence building, consensus building, and good governance. Our prayer for His Excellency is that by God’s Grace and Strength he will not relent on the path of love for the people, good governance, accountability, transparency, openness and accommodation. It is our prayer that the Lord God Almighty will continue to grant him victories for the consolidation of the Unity of Benue State. We are also convinced he has good intention for our people.
5. His Excellency is one of the few Nigerian Governors that brought in his personal convictions to bear on his leadership style, governance, and politics. Within his years of sojourn in politics, | have noticed that his humble, courageous and peaceful disposition has brought goodwill to Benue State. He has been able to selflessly deploy public resources towards equitable development of the State, especially with the renovation of township roads in all the senatorial zones of the state, and the improvement of the State’s Internally Generate Revenue (IGR) through discipline and blockage of leakages. This is because he is consciously working for the collective good of the people that he has heavily sacrificed for. Happily, the majority of Benue people have continued to value your humble and peaceful disposition in the area of security and welfare even in the face of challenges. Your Excellency has been a shoulder, a helping hand, a shelter in the storm, an anchor from life’s battle and a compass for our people that are displaced by terrorists. He is helping us to navigate our ways to safety and comfort. May God bless and reward you.
6. It is in view of the foregoing that | take the pleasure to appreciate His Excellency’s leadership style that have started yielding developmental strides to our agrarian communities in Benue State. I have had privileged encounters with eminent Nigerians who also recounted their admiration with the way and manner you are navigating the Ship of government away from turbulence, acrimony and aggrandisement. Indeed, the rural people in Benue have continued to express their joy with the support and care they have been receiving from His Excellency’s Administration, including both serving and retired civil and public servants, on account of the payment of the arrears of unpaid salaries, pension and gratuities. Although, you were not in government before your election, but you spontaneously went to work in addressing the fundamental concerns of civil and public servants in the State including the remodelling of the Benue State Secretariat to ensure that civil servants have a very conducive working environment for optimum productivity. Our prayer for you is for God to grant you the needed grace and wisdom to complete what you have started at the end of your second term in office by God’s grace,
7. Indeed, our compatriots have also recounted to us the testimonies of His Excellency’s love for the people in need of assiStance, especially the displaced and less privileged in the Society. This is a testament of his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Little wonder, you help and provide succour to people effortlessly — without consideration of class, creed, sex, ethnicity and reward opportunities. Certainly, Your Excellency’s years of dedication to the service of the Lord has trained and equipped you with the requisite leadership skills, Knowledge and techniques to pilot the affairs of the State at this critical time. Little wonder, Your Excellency’s contributions to national discourse are unparallel in terms of the depth of wisdom, knowledge and_ pro-people suggestions. | urge you not to relent but be strong and courageous .as you hold on to the word of God in Joshua 1:9 that encourages you to be confident in God’s presence and protection. The LorD will be with you wherever you go.
8. As I join millions of Your Excellency’s admirers, well-wishers and supporters across the world to rejoice with you on this year’s birthday anniversary and one year in Office, I wish you long life, sound health, victories in life’s battles, and the Grace to continue to lead our people to the promised land.
9. Congratulations once more, Your Excellency
Thank you very much for listening and may God bless you.
Maj. Gen. (rtd.) Lawrence A. Onoja, Ph.D, CFR, mni Former Military Governor of Plateau and Katsina States delivered this lecture at the 58th Birthday of Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormen Alia, Governor of Benue State in Makurdi, May 18, 2024.
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