The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Be proactive, Tinubu tells African leaders

    Be proactive, Tinubu tells African leaders

    President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, charged African leaders to be proactive in forging the destinies of their various countries, noting that the odds stacked against the continent and its people do not require passive leadership.

    Tinubu spoke in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member-States.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, the President also reaffirmed Africa’s unity and strength, while strongly rejecting the notion of a new scramble for Africa.

    The President, who warned that past plundering and exploitation of the continent should remain in the past and never be repeated, also announced plans to strengthen the ECOWAS Standby Force to deter coups and combat terrorism in the sub-region.

    The Nigerian leader, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, highlighted the progress made by ECOWAS in various sectors of its integration process, including trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security.

    In his statement entitled “Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,” Tinubu emphasized the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future, focusing on inclusive growth, good governance, and leveraging the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    Calling for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past, President Tinubu said: “As Africans, we forge ahead, no matter the barriers thrust before us.

    “The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. Past history and current global difficulties argue against our future success.

    ”Lessons of the past few years teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite downturn. Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate.

    ”Such passivity does not commend itself to me. I will not listen to it. Neither should any African. The challenges we face mean that governance will be difficult.

    ”They also mean that visionary good governance is necessary. Some observers assert a new scramble for Africa is afoot and it is much like the old scramble that plundered our continent.

    ”But, here and now, let it be said to whomever the new scramblers might be that our continent may be old but our spirit is new. And it is strong. The bad that took place in the past must stay there. It shall never be repeated.”

    On peace, security, and stability, the Nigerian leader acknowledged the challenges faced by the sub-region, including terrorism and anti-constitutional changes in government.

    ”We sit here in meaningful discussion of vital economic matters. Yet, it will be impossible to bring full meaning to what we attempt unless we give due consideration to the instability and conflict that now scar many of our nations.

    Read Also: Tinubu to African leaders: stand firm against military coups

    ”The fullness of the integration we seek will elude us as long as several of our nations stand in the mist on violence and war.

    ”The trade and commerce we talk of today refers to valued goods and services that improve life. The trade and commerce these nations suffer is of destruction and disorder that takes lives and steals opportunity.

    ”We cannot integrate Africa and attain the prosperity we seek while our nearby brothers and sisters suffer in pain and anguish, they should not suffer.

    ”We must advance as one continent toward peace and prosperity.

    ”Otherwise, we risk the creation of two or more Africa, one a select group of nations moving steadily while the rest remain trapped in the age-old mire of poverty, conflict and lack of hope.

    ”It is very clear that in the area of peace, security, and stability, our region is confronted with the twin challenges of terrorism and reversal of democratic gains through undemocratic changes of Government.

    ”To address these challenges, the ECOWAS Authority, which I have the honour to chair, has given directive regarding the enhancement of the role of the ECOWAS Standby Force for deployment to fight terrorism and undemocratic changes in government.

    ”The Authority has also resolved to raise our own funding internally to finance the peace support operations in our community. Meanwhile, we have continued to monitor the transition programmes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, ” he said.

    President Tinubu recounted that during the recently concluded ECOWAS Summit in Bissau, West African leaders resolved to maintain engagement with Mali, Burkina Faso, to assiduously work towards the implementation of the 24-month transition calendars agreed with ECOWAS.

    Nonetheless, to assist Burkina Faso and Mali in defending their territories from occupation by terrorists, he said, ECOWAS had decided to provide support for their security agencies.

    He appealed to international partners to assist to provide necessary support that will ensure the restoration of democratic order in these Member-States.

    On trade, President Tinubu said ECOWAS had achieved the Free Trade Area and was working on establishing the Customs Union and Common Market.

    However, he expressed concern about the low level of intra-community trade among member-states, noting that the European Union remains the major trading partner for the region, followed by Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa.

    Highlighting efforts made by ECOWAS to consolidate the gains of its trade liberalization scheme and support the implementation of the AfCFTA, the Nigerian leader said the ECOWAS Commission had been assisting member-states in the negotiations, ratification, and implementation of the AfCFTA.

    He noted that 13 out of the 15 ECOWAS member states have ratified the agreement.

    On free movement of persons, President Tinubu informed the meeting that ECOWAS had commenced action towards the implementation of the Harmonized Visa-Regime (ECOVISA) to facilitate the free movement of non-ECOWAS citizens.

    On regional infrastructure development, President Tinubu reaffirmed ECOWAS’ focus on building regional infrastructure, including the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway, to promote economic activities and integration.

    ”The Feasibility and Preliminary Design and Studies show a significant investment cost of nearly US$15 billion for the whole highway with an average economic rate of return of 15% per annum. In the same vein, preparations are under way for the development of the other corridors, namely the Abidjan-Praia-Dakar,” he said.

    Regarding intra-regional cooperation, the President informed the meeting that a joint border post between Nigeria and Cameroon was recently commissioned and handed over in November 2022 to the authorities of the two countries.

    He described the project as a bridge between ECOWAS and ECCAS and a solid foundation for future cooperation and integration between the regions and ultimately the African continent.

  • How I overcome life’s challenges, by Ok3y Sounds

    How I overcome life’s challenges, by Ok3y Sounds

    Budding artiste, Solomon Okoesen Daniel aka OK3Y Sounds has opened up on the challenges he faced as a rising star in the Nigerian music industry.

    The Edo State-born music act noted that although the challenges are enormous, he is prepared and has his eyes on the prize.

    “The music industry is a highly competitive and dynamic field that presents numerous challenges for aspiring artistes. From establishing a unique identity to gaining recognition and success, musicians often encounter obstacles that test their determination and resilience which I know and I am giving my best,” Ok3y Sounds said.

    Born on November 24, 2001, in Benin City, Nigeria, the artiste faced early struggles in life.

    He recalls how his parents separated when he was still very young.

    Read Also: Wema Bank announces Top 3 contestants in sounds of ALAT Competition

    “My parents separated when I was just one year old, leaving me to be raised by my grandparents in Esan, Edo State. Despite the challenges, I found solace and support in my close-knit family. After completing high school education at Irena High School in Ewatto, OK3Y Sounds displayed my talent in music and sports. I excelled in football and earned the coveted title of “Most Valuable Player” in a football tournament.”

    Nonetheless, adapting to social life and seizing opportunities have been significant challenges for OK3Y Sounds. The transition from his hometown to the music industry’s fast-paced environment required him to navigate unfamiliar territories. The competitive nature of the music industry demands relentless perseverance and the ability to adapt to changing trends and consumer preferences. OK3Y Sounds has faced these challenges head-on, determined to carve out his space in the industry.

  • ‘Tinubu, professional in politics’

    ‘Tinubu, professional in politics’

    Omooba Olumuyiwa Sosanya is a renowned accountant and founding father of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN). In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Funke Cole, the longtime associate of President Bola Tinubu attempts a prognosis of the problems besetting the nation’s economy, especially tax administration, offers useful suggestions and gives a vote of confidence on the new administration. Excerpts:

    MOST successive governments have had to grapple with the issue of raising taxes. As a tax expert, do you support raising taxes as a way of boosting the revenue flow of the government?

    Some people are erroneously claiming that Nigeria is under taxed; I think it’s a World Bank report. What is happening is that we have not identified the entire taxable populace and I’m sure the new government is going to do that. The problem we have with some of the tax administrators in Nigeria is that they are lazy mentally. Take the budget for instance; you know the budget is an estimate of your income. Now, when they prepare an estimate that we need so much money and so on, instead of sitting down and finding out where to get the money, they will overburden the citizens. They’ll just say okay, if we increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) by so much, we will make so much money. Mind you, they are only increasing taxes and not that they want to solve any problem. If we put this on import duty, this money will come in. But they forget that when you increase the import duty and a vehicle comes in, it becomes a huge burden on the citizenry. Likewise if you increase the VAT, it becomes a burden on the consumption. Whereas all you need to do, you don’t have to increase any VAT rate. All you need to do is to widen the tax net itself. Allow states to do administration and collection of taxes by liberalising the processes rather than just saying that increase this or increase that. I understand that they have even introduced something they called the Green Tax, which is based on taxing plastics and so on. I think this kind of step shows a lazy mentality. This is why I’m very happy that the Green Tax is one of the items the President issued Executive Orders to put on hold. It is right that he issued the Executive Orders to stop some of these items we have mentioned. The thing is that where you have so much leakage and wastage nothing good can ever come out of such a process. But once all these leakages are taken care of things will turn out for good. You see, there are lots of leakages in the parastatals as I have mentioned both in the states and the federal levels. But unfortunately, all the past governments didn’t have a better idea of how to really stop these leakages, especially when it comes to corporate good governance, financial management and so on and so forth. These wastages and leakages all need to be blocked. When these are blocked, there will be surplus for all. All the missing link is what we are now experiencing from a professional politician, Tinubu.

    The argument in some quarters is that most of the quasi-government parastatals should either be scrapped or merged in line with the Stephen Orosanye Committee report. Do you share such sentiments?

    I don’t believe we should be adopting this fire brigade approach to issues anymore. Of course, if it’s scrapped you will reduce expenditure but you will realise that most of the parastatals that we have, they can be self-sustained, so they should not scrap them. If you scrap them, it is going to affect employment adversely, and if you merge two or three together, you will find out that the service being provided will be reduced. The point should be that no parastatals should do things for free anymore. They are paying salaries; each parastatal should be able to generate money to pay their salaries. For example, why should you expect the Nigerian Port Authority that ordinarily should be funding the Federal Government, you allow them to be spending money without control just like. The system is so porous, that the system is not controlled and there are no checks and balances. A situation where an agency generates N500 billion and at the end of the year you will now tell the Federal Government that you have spent N490 billion to do things and still have a discount given to you. The Federal Government would have sent money to them on their operational projects but in most cases most of these parastatals are being funded, their salaries are being paid by the same Federal Government; whereas they can generate money to pay their staff and then also fund several government projects. So, what we need to do is not to merge them. Merging is not the answer. All we need to do is to make all the parastatals viable. Once you make them viable, you will see a growth in revenue stream from them. Even the High Courts can become viable too. What’s the point in the lawyers going to court, charging the clients N10 million and for filing fees he pays just about N20, 000 and yet he doesn’t pay tax. The logical thing is that if you’re going to court, whatever your signing fee is, your filing fee should be relevant to what you are charging. Therefore, my approach to Orosanye’s Committee report is that this is not the issue of merger but it’s about making the parastatals sustainable and self-sustaining. That’s all.

    Read Also: Forum congratulates Tinubu, cautions FG on N8,000 palliative

    It’s almost two months into the life of this administration already. From available information, President Bola Tinubu has taken some far reaching measures thus far. From the implementation of the fuel subsidy removal, to the unification of the exchange rate to the liberalisation of power generation capacity similar to what he did with the Independent Power Project…

    (Cuts in) Of course, Obasanjo didn’t allow the IPP initiative at the time.

    President Tinubu also signed some Executive Orders influencing some key policy decisions of the immediate past administration that borders on taxes and so on. So, what is your assessment of the Tinubu administration thus far?

    You can see that he has begun to implement his plans. This is what it should be. All the things we are seeing simply point to the fact that we have a president that came fully prepared for the job at hand. Unlike what we have had in the past, fortunately, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria we have now is a professional in politics. He is about prompt service delivery and all. You can see the signs everywhere. Before he got there, he had already prepared in earnest. To become the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t start just yesterday. In fact, he has been planning to become the president immediately after he left the governorship of Lagos state. And you can see immediately he got there, not quite two days, things are changing for the better. It’s not that when he got there, he was saying that let’s set up a committee and all that. No. When he set up the committee, he already had jobs for them. I believe in the next 10 years, Nigeria is going to be better in all ramifications.

    In other words, like you acknowledged, President Bola Tinubu is a professional in politics…

    (Cuts) yes, I’m proud to say he’s an accountant just like myself.

    Are you saying based on his antecedence you believe he is going to turn things around for the country?

    Yes, he’s going to turn things around for the better. With all sense of responsibility, I can tell you without mincing any words that Nigeria is going to be one of the most prosperous countries in the world; if not one of the 10th prosperous countries. This is because we have what it takes to make things work for the better. Is it in terms of natural resources that are yet untapped? Or is it those that are even on the surface? The main thing we need is how to manage these resources. I’m very confident that the Tinubu presidency will help to manage our resources very well in such a manner that it will be to the benefit of all.

  • MESSI-MANIA: Argentine World Cup winner set for Inter Miami unveiling

    MESSI-MANIA: Argentine World Cup winner set for Inter Miami unveiling

    Without a win under its belt since May, Inter Miami is an unlikely candidate to be crowned Major League Soccer’s hottest team – but that was before Lionel Messi came to town.

    Since singing with the Florida club last month, the Argentine superstar has lit up anticipation around both the team and US professional soccer at large, especially among Miami’s many South American residents.

    Inter’s regular season games are sold out, new stands are being built to expand its stadium’s capacity, and the overall soccer mood is buoyant.

    As his plane touched down on Tuesday, not far from his future stadium, some fans were at the airport to greet the World Cup champion.

     “We were waiting for you, Messi-ah,” signs read.

    Chanting the name of their 36-year-old idol, supporters were happy to be there even if they didn’t get to actually catch a glimpse of him.

     “I feel very good, because I know that if I don’t see him now, I’ll see him in an hour, next week, or in 10 days,” said Ariel Gonzalez, 56. “We’re always here fully with him.”

    Read Also: Beckham opens up on Messi’s Inter Miami deal

    Messi’s move to Inter came as a surprise to many, even if the club had said it had been in the works for a while. The Saudis also recruited the star, and there was always the possibility he would return to his long-time club FC Barcelona.

    Now, Inter fans are counting down the days until his grand debut, likely July 21 at the Leagues Cup, which brings together US, Canadian and Mexican teams.

    For Raul Patino, an Argentine who came to Florida more than two decades ago, Messi’s arrival marks “a before and after” in the history of US soccer.

    “He is one of the best players in the world, just like Pelé and Maradona were,” said the 44-year-old fan.

     “In 10 years, when you ask a teenager what he wants to play, he’s going to say soccer. And he’ll do it because Messi is going to impact the lives of all those kids.”

    Messi might not have touched the pitch yet, but he’s already throwing the economics of American soccer for a loop. The cheapest tickets for his possible debut, against Mexico’s Cruz Azul, have rocketed from $29 to $329 on the resale platform TickPick – a 10-time mark-up.

    And he’ll be joined by familiar faces: Inter Miami has also hired former Argentina coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, and Spanish player Sergio Busquets, a former Messi teammate at Barcelona.

  • 2026 WC qualifiers: Rohr unruffled leading Cheetahs against Super Eagles

    2026 WC qualifiers: Rohr unruffled leading Cheetahs against Super Eagles

    German coach Gernot Rohr  has admitted it would be an emotional return for him  to lead Benin Republic  against Nigeria in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    On Thursday,  the 54 Member Federations of  CAF learnt their qualification route for the next World Cup as the teams were  drawn into nine groups with winners in each group qualifying automatically for the finals, while the four best group runners-up will then compete in a play-off stage to determine CAF’s representative at the FIFA play-off tournament.

    Nigeria and Benin Republic were drawn in a tricky Group C along with South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho and Rohr, the immediate foreign manager of the Super Eagles  said  he was looking forward to meet his former wards  with bathed breath.

     “I believe the World Cup fixture between Nigeria and Benin would be another opportunity to see some friends and have wonderful games especially in Cotonou with a fine stadium,” Rohr told  NationSport. “I don’t know now where we are going to play in Nigeria: though I know some good places over there.”

    The Beninese national team are undergoing a resurgence since Rohr  took over the reins of the Cheetahs and recently  held African champions Senegal  to revive their qualification hope for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. The former Bayern Munich defender  believed his current wards  would be ready to face their  illustrious neighbours.

    He continued:  “This is a fixture between a country with big football history and a young nation  who is trying to be bigger. We are trying to build a new team and we had some interesting things to see against Senegal  with five U20 players(in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers as the tie ended 1-1). I think we have the same opportunity to be at the same level with Nigeria though not easy like that .

    Read Also: 2023 AFCON Race: Rohr rallies The Cheetahs for battle of Kigali

    “There would be a lot of emotion  playing against Nigeria but we are professional  as such we are going to prepare the matches seriously . Of course, there are some players who had their first experience with the Super Eagles with me and under my responsibility  as such, it will be a special moment for everybody.

    “Football today is really a big business as such  there’s  no place for emotions and everybody will have to do the  job.

    “But I’ll  be happy to see players I love so much  and some people I still have in my heart. Football is not only about points to win but it’s also an opportunity to meet good people and have friends; and see them again.”

    Meanwhile, Rohr has chided Nigeria football authority for declining participation at a regional U20 tournament in Abidjan, jokingly pray the Super Eagles should also boycott the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against his wards.

    “ Yesterday ( July 14) is a national holiday in France but I will be traveling today (July 15) to Abidjan for a U20 tournament but I’m  surprised that Nigeria eventually declined to participate maybe because they’ll be playing against Benin in Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire),” he said.“ I don’t  know why they cancelled it ;  I hope they ‘ll also cancel our World Cup against them also( general laughter) they should allow love to lead always.”

  • Bafana Bafana coach sure of beating Nigeria to World Cup ticket

    Bafana Bafana coach sure of beating Nigeria to World Cup ticket

    BAFANA Bafana coach Hugo Broos has reacted to the 2026 FIFA World Cup African preliminary qualifiers draw. The draw was conducted on Thursday after the 45th CAF General Assembly in Ivory Coast.

    It was conducted by football legends such as Emmanuel Eboue, Asamoah Gyan, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Emmanuel Adebayor, Wael Gomaa, and Alexandre Song.

    54 African nations will compete for the available 9.5 allocated spots for Africa. The qualifiers are set to start in November 2023.

    The winners of each Group will automatically qualify for the World Cup. The four best runners-up from the Groups will play in a CAF Play-Off tournament. The eventual winner of the CAF play-offs will participate in the FIFA Play-off Tournament for a spot at the biggest sporting event.

    Broos believes his charges stand a better chance of qualifying than they did two years ago.

    Read Also: Man City, Barca get biggest FIFA payouts for World Cup

    “The away games will be very important in a group like ours,” said Broos who is currently in his native Belgium.

    “But now a little bit more because we have five difficult away games for different reasons. I think it is possible for South Africa to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup first in the group,” he said.

    “If you see the progress we have made in the last two years, you cannot compare those qualifiers [for the 2026 World Cup] with the qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    “We are better now, we have a better team now. So okay, I am confident,” he told the SAFA Media group.

    The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted in

    Canada, Mexico and USA. The last time Bafana Bana participated in a FIFA World Cup was in 2010 as hosts. They last qualified in 2002 and have three appearances in total.

  • Doping: Nigeria stripped of CommonwealthGames 4x100m gold

    Doping: Nigeria stripped of Commonwealth
    Games 4x100m gold

    The Commonwealth Games Federation has stripped Nigeria of the gold medal won in the women’s 4x100m at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

    Nigeria was stripped of the gold medal after investigations on the positive doping result returned by Grace Nwokocha who was part of the quartet.

    Nwokocha was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after her sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.

    Nwokocha had ran the anchor leg at the Alexander Stadium, fending off opposition from England’s Daryll Neita and Jamaica Elaine Thompson-Herah to claim the gold medal in an African Record time of 42.10secs.

    The statement published on the Games website said, Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha’s results from the women’s 100m, women’s 200m, women’s 4x100m with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes.

    Read Also: Nigeria wins historic  C’wealth Women’s  4x100m title

    With the withdrawal of Nigeria’s medal, England were promoted to first position, Jamaica second, while Australia were promoted to third.

    The statement read, “The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) can confirm that the Commonwealth Games Federation Court has issued their decision regarding an in-competition sample provided by Ms Nwokocha, who competed in Athletics at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

    “Analysis of the sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Ostarine and Dihydroxy-LGD-4033, a metabolite of Ligandrol. Both are non-Specified Substances, listed under Other Anabolic Agents in the WADA 2022 Prohibited List.

    “On 17 May 2023, The Federation Court issued a decision that Ms Nwokocha had committed the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under the 2022 Commonwealth Games Anti-Doping Rules (ADRs):

    “Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in the Athlete’s Sample, pursuant to Article 2.1 of the ADRs; and Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, pursuant to Article 2.2 of the ADRs.

    “Accordingly, the Federation Court disqualified Ms Nwokocha’s results from the following events, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any points and prizes:

  • Fresh crisis looms in PDP over Tinubu’s cabinet

    Fresh crisis looms in PDP over Tinubu’s cabinet

    A fresh crisis may be brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as some leaders of the opposition party are allegedly pushing for the immediate expulsion of any of its chieftains that accepts to serve in the yet to be unfolded cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan, reports.

    HERE are indications that interest groups within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are once again set to engage each other in another round of face off over alleged plans by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to name some chieftains of the troubled party in his ministerial list as well as consider others for some other roles in his administration.

    A competent source within the party told The Nation that opposing forces within the party are preparing to slug it out over the plot to push for the expulsion of PDP chieftains that agree to serve in the Tinubu administration. It was also gathered that supporters of Atiku Abubakar, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and those backing former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, are set to engage each other in an open war for the control of the party.

    The crisis in the PDP has its root in the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election, where Wike, lost to the former vice-president, Atiku and Atiku’s decision to pick the then Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate against the recommendation of a committee chaired by Samuel Ortom, which reportedly recommended Wike as the PDP vice presidential candidate. Wike failed to support Atiku during the general elections and, instead, worked for Tinubu, who won the election.

    The crisis consumed the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as a Benue High Court ordered him to stop parading himself as national chairman of the PDP pending determination of the suit before it. The National Working Committee, (NWC) of the PDP, acting on the order, confirmed its Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Illiya Damagum, as acting national chairman after Ayu, stepped aside in deference to the court order.

    Signs that fresh troubles were about to rock the party emerged when Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, while responding to an agitation by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for the inclusion of Wike in the list of Tinubu’s Ministerial nominees, said the G-5 governors were only seeking relevance, appointments, and protection from prosecution.

    Atiku’s spokesman added that their decision not to support Atiku had nothing to do with patriotism, and Nigerians should not be deceived. His statement came amidst claims that the pro-Atiku camp in the PDP is still bent on ensuring the exit of Wike and his supporters from the party at all cost. “Tinubu’s ministerial list is one thing they are waiting for to further nail Wike and other PDP chieftains on his side,” a source said on Thursday.

    Another party source told our correspondent that Damagum is under pressure to constitute a committee that will investigate allegations of anti-party activities against Wike and some other PDP leader. “The plan is to get the investigation panel to indict the affected people at all cost so as to pave the way for their expulsion from the party. But the acting National Chairman has been slow in setting up the committee,” our source noted.

    Signs of trouble

    Reacting to Fayose’s interview, Shaibu said appointing Wike as a minister would be counter-productive. He added that the former Ekiti governor said it as it is when he described Wike as “an average mad man.” “We want to appreciate Fayose for describing Wike as an ‘average mad man.’ Indeed, it is only a mad person who can use violence to prevent people from coming into a state to campaign. It takes madness to subvert the will of the people.”

    He added that it is unfortunate that Fayose and other members of the G5 were not bold enough to openly campaign for Tinubu but rather chose to deceive members of their party while working against Atiku behind the scene during the run-up to the presidential election instead of coming out now. According to Shaibu, Wike and others are running from pillar to post in order to get Tinubu to ensure that they are not prosecuted by anti-graft agencies.

    “On September 20, 2022, Fayose, while addressing supporters in Ado Ekiti publicly stated that he would be supporting Waziri Atiku Abubakar despite Wike’s protests. A simple Google search will confirm this. Then after Tinubu’s dubious victory, Fayose quickly changed gears, stating that he was the one who delivered Ekiti State to the APC. This is his stock in trade. He is a lily-livered rabble-rouser who loves to be in the spotlight and pretends to be more popular than he really is.

    “This is the deception of the man. Aware of the fact that he cannot get a ministerial appointment because of people like Kayode Fayemi, Dele Alake and Dayo Adeyeye who are jostling for the Ekiti slot, Fayose is now running from pillar to post, trying to get an appointment for his son while also trying to get the government to withdraw his corruption case from court.

    With the weight of evidence presented by the EFCC and its star witness, Senator Musilu Obanikoro, Fayose is now desperately trying to get the case compromised or withdrawn. Nigerians should not be deceived by his antics. The G-5 governors were only seeking relevance, appointments, and protection from prosecution. Their decision not to support Atiku had nothing to do with patriotism, and Nigerians should not be deceived.

    “Ortom was one of the worst governors in the history of Nigeria. His case file at the EFCC is bulky, and he was recently invited but released because of Wike’s intervention. Okezie Ikpeazu, the former governor of Abia State, also performed abysmally in office. His successor has been complaining almost on a daily basis. But the EFCC will not prosecute him because of the G-5 connection. This is what they have turned the country into,” he said.

    Fayose, has urged President Tinubu to appoint a former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike into his cabinet saying “Wike is an asset to Nigeria, Asiwaju [Tinubu] needs a man like Wike.” Fayose insisted that nothing is wrong with the former Rivers governor making the President’s ministerial list, adding that Wike is a courageous man who is not afraid to speak the truth.

    The former Ekiti governor, who confessed during the interview that he actually worked against the candidature of Atiku in the 2023 presidential election, recalled that he was one of the first PDP members to call for a southern president. “I never worked for PDP during the last election. I cannot work for two people at the same time. The reality is that I worked for Asiwaju (Tinubu). He is a respectable person from the South-West. It is the time of the South.”

    Fayose however said he will not accept a ministerial position in the current administration even if he is offered. According to the PDP chieftain, it is time for the old to give the younger generation space in government. He advised that Tinubu’s cabinet should be 40 per cent for the old, 30 per cent for women, and 30 per cent for youths.

    Read Also: Attacks on Saraki: Kwara youths demand suspension of PDP leader

    Getting messier

    The situation within the troubled opposition party further degenerated when former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, in his reaction to Shaibu’s allegations, alleged that Atiku is angry because he was rejected by the G5- governors during the last presidential election. He added that Atiku should worry more about why he was rejected by the G-5 and other members of the party.

    Ortom stated that the G-5 stood for justice, equity, and fairness and that the 2023 presidency must go to the southern part of the country. “Atiku is angry because Governor Ortom and his colleagues in the G-5 refused to be used by him as ‘Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)’ to circumvent and thwart the resolve of Nigerians to produce a President from the southern region.

    “Another reason for Atiku’s attack on Chief Ortom is the former Benue State Governor’s boldness to speak truth to his face and rebuke him for making unstatesmanlike comments regarding the killing of Benue people by Fulani herdsmen. Atiku is on record to have expressed bitterness towards Ortom for daring to enact a law to prohibit open grazing of livestock in the state.

    “The former Vice President’s diatribe against Chief Ortom can therefore be understood as the manifestation of frustration for losing the 2023 election. His failure to humble himself and unite the PDP, opting to remain haughty even when the signals were clear that he was heading for defeat summarized his performance in the last election.

    “Atiku lacks the moral ground to accuse anyone else of corruption. The words of his erstwhile principal, the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who described him as a very corrupt man have remained indelible and incontrovertible. Chief Obasanjo, in his book, ‘My Watch’ states on pages 191-192 thus:

    “Atiku Abubakar’s name was among the names sent to us. Up to that time, EFCC had enjoyed close cooperation and collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the UK and the USA. I gave the green light to Nuhu for the investigation as requested by the authorities and forwarded his report to the USA. The report was uncomfortable and unsavoury about Atiku and his associates.

    “I thought it was bad enough that the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was under investigation for corruption when my Administration had made fighting corruption one of its cardinal objectives. As it turned out, the investigation in Nigeria and in the US led to Atiku’s house being searched by the US Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was so embarrassing for our Administration and Embassy in Washington…”

    Ortom further admitted that he honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency saying, “The role of anti-graft agencies was to investigate allegations of corruption. Whenever they invite someone, such a person has to honour the invitation. As a man who believes in the rule of law, Chief Ortom willingly visited EFCC when the Commission sought clarifications on the actions of his administration,” Ortom said.

    The statement by Atiku’s aide had sensationally described Ortom as the worst governor in Nigeria’s history. “Ortom was one of the worst governors in the history of Nigeria. His case file at the EFCC is bulky, and he was recently invited but released because of Wike’s intervention,” he said, drawing the anger of the former Benue state governor.

  • ILO to support Tinubu deliver on two million digital jobs promise

    ILO to support Tinubu deliver on two million digital jobs promise

    The International Labour Organisation has declared its readiness to support to the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to deliver the over two million digital jobs promised for the teeming Nigerian youth.The ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Vanessa Phala, stated this at the World Youth Skill Day in Abuja on Friday, with the theme, “Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future: Building Skills for Tomorrow”.

    She noted that the digital economy has become an integral part of Nigerians daily lives, thereby shaping the industrial sector and creating more opportunities. “Today, “The ILO is supporting the government in this digital transformation agenda and will continue to support the new government to deliver the promises of creating over 2million jobs in the digital economy. We know that Nigeria has a youthful population with vibrant energy that stands for a principle of transformative journey.

    Read Also: We’ll protect recovered Benin artefacts, Tinubu assures Oba of Benin

    “However, to unlock the potential of Nigerian youths, we must invest in them, equip them with the right skills and create an enabling environment that would enrich their talents,” she said.

    Speaking earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, OSGF, Nko Esuabana said, “Together, we have embarked on a collective endeavor to reach the skill gap and empower our youths in green, digital and creative economy. The dialogue lies not only in addressing the challenges facing our young ones today but also in harnessing their potentials as catalysts for transformational change.”

  • EFCC: N329.5b, $3.2m investment, forex, email scams recorded in Lagos

    EFCC: N329.5b, $3.2m investment, forex, email scams recorded in Lagos

    • Scammers attracted to state’s economic status, says Commission

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has identified investment, Business Email Compromise, (BEC), forex scams as well as land and property fraud as some of the most prevalent financial and economic crimes in its Lagos Zonal Command. EFCC Acting Chairman Abdulkarim Chukkol said the Lagos Command had received 1,388 petitions relating to these scams, involving the sums of N317, 908,343,469,  $3,205, 648, and N11,686,499,431.79.

    He made the disclosure during a one-day workshop on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for Journalists on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Commission’s Lagos Zonal Command. Chukkol, who spoke through the Commander, Lagos Zonal Command, Michael Wetkas, said all manner of economic and financial crimes had, over the years, continued to thrive in the state owing to its status as the economic nerve centre of the country.

    Read Also: Internet fraud: EFCC arrests ex-convict, 54 others in Oyo

    According to him, “Forex scam, Business Email Compromise, investment scams and land and property fraud , among others, are some of the financial and economic crimes prevalent within the Lagos environment.” While expressing concern over the alarming rate at which unsuspecting people “fall prey to the wiles of the scammers”, he stated that the Commission’s enforcement activities had been directed at the perpetrators of these crimes.

    Chukkol, who lauded the media for reporting the activities of the Commission since inception over 20 years ago, stated that decision of the Commission to sponsor the workshop underscored the importance the management attaches to the role of the media in the fight against economic and financial crimes, including corruption.

    The workshop featured presentations by ACE 1 Larry’s Peters Aso, who spoke on “Understanding the New Money Laundering Laws In Relation To Activities of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions”; ACE 1 Dele Oyewale, who presented a paper titled “Investigative Journalism and Nigeria’s Fight Against Money Laundering” and CSE Sanni Adenike Morinsola, who also presented a paper on “ New Trends In Cybercrime: How Not To Become A Victim.” Participants at the workshop were drawn from print, broadcast and online media organizations.