Category: Lead

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday promised to use Edo State’s natural endowment to foster prosperity in the Southsouth state.

He promised to develop the gas deposit to attract revenue for the state and the country.

Tinubu also asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from abusing President Muhammadu Buhari in their rallies.

He said the president is unmoved by abuses by the main opposition party, stressing that the vituperations lacked basis.

Also yesterday, the former governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, said he dumped the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because the party reneged on zoning.

The eminent politician said the constant criticism of the Buhari-led APC administration by PDP is grossly misplaced, urging prospective voters to ignore the opposition party.

He said PDP leaders attacking the Buhari government know that APC in eight years has performed than 16 years of PDP.

Tinubu stressed: “People who can’t give power to Nigeria say they want to come back. In only eight years, APC put rail back. We are putting refineries back and we will produce for you.

“They can abuse Buhari from morning till night. He does not hear their abuse. Abuse him, rail he provided, Second Niger Bridge he provided, Lagos-Ibadan expressway he provided. Benin-Ore Port will be done so that you don’t need to come to Lagos to clear your goods.”

Tinubu, who spoke at a town hall meeting in Benin, Edo State capital, said if elected, the state will experience prosperity.

At the town hall meeting were Deputy Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Edo State Governor Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, former Edo State APC governorship candidate Pastor Ize Iyamu, Minister of Youths and Sports Development Sunday Dare, and Minister of State for Labour Festus Keyamo (SAN).

Before the parley, Tinubu and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11.

He told the first class monarch: “You talked about the education of our children. It is in our work plan and I can tell you as I am standing here, the programme is there. Education reform will happen. We will establish students’ loans and we will minimise the interest rate and we stagger their payments and give parents relief. They do not have to be slaves to the circumstances.

 “Benin is the economic centre of this region, rich in resources, rich in gas. We are working on West Africa gas that will sell in Europe. I assure you, we are going to mend all those anomalies and Edo will be a centre of economic activities for all.”

On the return of artefacts taken away from Benin, Tinubu said he will fight for restitution, if elected.

He also gave an assurance that he would support the construction of a museum to house the the artefacts.

Tinubu added: “I am here to seek your prayers. I fought for and suffered for democracy in this country. I made sacrifices. When we started these eight years, it is only normal to look forward to succession. I told President Buhari that I am running and I am running nowhere. I am running for the villa, when you move out. I want to occupy the place. Therefore, I need your blessings. The blessings are important to me.”

  The Oba of Benin hailed Tinubu’s pledge to support the Benin Royal Museum, located opposite his palace, which he said would boost tourism and research.

  Oba Ewuare 11 said the Federal Government had taken over the building of the museum through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).

The former Lagos governor said Edo will make money for Nigeria and create prosperity for its people through the development of the gas deposits in the state.

Tinubu told APC stakeholders, diverse trade groups and civil society organisations that under his leadership, Nigeria will pipe gas to Europe and compete with Russia.

Emphasing the economic potentials of Edo, Tinubu said:“Nigeria will make money because Edo has largest deposit of gas. We will make money for Nigeria. There will be long term money for long term projects. We will develop our gas and ship it to Europe and compete with Russia. I am one of the smartest assets of Nigeria.”

He urged the people of Edo State to take back their state from the PDP by forging a unity of purpose with APC.

He promised to  be a listening president the people of Edo State can rely on.

Tinubu said: “Edo, take your state back. First of all, let us forge unity. Let’s find the way where they say there is no way. We must rescue Edo State. I am ready to work with you. Take lantern,  go from house to house. Don’t get angry. Anger does not solve problems. Disappointment is an energiser for me. You Disappoint me, I work harder. You betray me, I don’t get angry,  I ignore you. 

“The reason is because  you are not my God and you are not my creator. My mother taught me if you are sad, I will share your sorrow with you. If you are happy, I will rejoice with you. If you are poor, I will share the little I have with you”.

The presidential candidate urged Edo people not to vote for PDP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar because the opposition party is not organised and cannot solve the problems of the country.

He said: “You see  PDP, they are scattered; they don’t know the road. Atiku does not know how to lie again, except falsifying lie upon lie. Atiku cannot hold serious job for Nigeria.

“When they were privatising Aluminium Smelter Company at Ikot Abasi and privatising NITEL,  I was negotiating Free Trade Zone in China. I negotiated Lekki Deep Seaport in Singapore and it is Deepest Sea Port now in West Africa.  Edo people are extremely smart. You can do the job.

“Count on me at the federal level. I will be your listening President. Vote for me. Prosperity is here. When you put down ballot paper in the box say it is for creating job. I will create jobs for you because you are not lazy.”

Tinubu compared the 16 years of PDP with eight years of APC, saying that APC has served the country better.”

He said his administration will grow the nation’s industrial base to provide decent jobs and improve the wages of Nigerians.

He added: “We must now begin to make use of all our nation’s endowments. Greater industrialisation is a vital aspect of this. Through the production of more and better goods we shall improve our standard of living, provide workers with a living wage and establish businesses that will drive our national economy for generations.”

Tinubu said also reiterated his plan for industrialisation across the country, saying that it will foster economic prosperity.

He said: “Our industrial plan shall encourage the establishment of new manufacturing concerns across the country. We see a future in which Nigeria is known as a nation that produces high quality goods worthy of export to anywhere in the world.

“To achieve this vision, we shall use an array of policy measures. On the fiscal side, we shall employ tax credits and holidays, youth employment incentives, export credits and well-tailored subsidies where necessary. On the monetary side, we will work with the banking sector to channel low interest loans to the manufacturing sector.”

Tinubu added: “We will spark a consumer credit revolution where affordable credit is available so people can purchase cars, homes and appliances without carrying the burden of paying for such costly items all at once. 

“Our policies will afford local artisans and craftsmen throughout the nation the necessary tools to provide for their families and, ultimately, boost overall economic activity for the national good,” he added.

Tinubu reflected on the burning issue of new Naira note scarcity, saying that PDP is culpable.

He said: “They are lying about currency. Who gave us the CBN’s governor? Was he not inherited? We inherited him.”

However, he applauded President Buhari for  agreeing to the extension of the deadline for the currency change.

He said pleas for the extension contributed to his coming late for the Edo meeting.

Tinubu stressed,: “My coming late is not intentional. It is because of the national politics; some of our cousins, our wives selling garden eggs, carrots, roast corn, they need money and they need naira in the process. If  naira is cancelled the way it is and we fail to intervene, we have failed in our duties.

 “We have been on this for three to four days and suddenly today, when the president said okay, out of great respect, he will consider our request for extension, we were happy. I was running back and forth on this and calling him. So, that is what we have been doing, hopefully. Even though we did not get all that we wanted, we got an extension by a number of days.”

Tinubu called for unity in Edo APC, assuring that the struggle of the oppressed lawmakers will not be in vain.

He said: “We need to address unity in our party. I wish to commend the victim 14 (APC members/members-elect of Edo House of Assembly) that were not sworn in and not allowed to sit. God will always stand by you all. I stand before you, committed to your cause. We will not let you down.”

• Scarcity bites harder, may linger

The blame game over the five-month fuel scarcity continued at the weekend with motorists and other users of the product paying between N240 and N550 per litre in major cities across the country.

In Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Kwara  Abia, Anambra and Benue states, some independent marketers boldly displayed unofficial prices on their pumps. Others left the old official price of N167 per litre, but verbally announced higher prices to willing buyers.

In some of the stations, motorists still queued for hours. But, in others, it was drive-in and buy.

However, major marketers like the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporaton (NNPC), still sold at N185, a price that was surreptitiously introduced over a week ago. Buying at many of the stations came with a condition introduced by greedy attendants and their managers: The term was a mandatory payment of  10 per cent on the quantity purchased  

Our correspondents reported that most of the major marketers along routes like Bank Anthony, Ikeja;  Ikorodu Road;  Murtala Muhammed Road, Yaba and Obafemi Awolowo Road in  Ikoyi were under lock and key yesterday.  The few that opened for business had motorists waiting for hours.          

In Akure, where motorists also stayed in lines for hours, pump price hit N500 per litre at petrol stations in the city.

A motorist however, told The Nation that he bought fuel along Ondo Road at N550 per litre.      

Only independent marketers sold at between N300 and N380 in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Bovas, a private marketer, which sold for N190 per litre, had a long queue that caused gridlock. In the last three days, NNPC mega filling station in the city metropolis has been dispensing fuel at the approved official pump price.

In Abia, the product sold for between N370 and N400 at stations operated by independent marketers like Alba.

Total, Eterna Oil and a few others sold at N295 on  Friday and early hours of Saturday in Umuahia and Aba but did not sell yesterday.

Stations like Tonimas and Easy On that sold between N340 and N350  had no queues.

An Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria  (IPMAN) member at  Osisioma Depot blamed the hike on factors beyond their control.

He said: “The increase that you noticed was a result of the price that we bought from tank farms.

“There’s no way you will buy a product at N10 and sell at N10 after expenses. The end to the current fuel pump price increase is not yet in sight unless tank farms reduce their price as well”

A motorist in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, said he bought at N450 per litre while another in Onitsha said it sold for  N370.

IPMAN Chairman in the state, Chinedu Anyaso,  attributed the present price hike to a shortage which, according to him, cannot be resolved by President Muhammadu Buhari-led 14-member committee.  

He argued that mass flooding of the market with fuel would force the price to crash.

Anyaso said: “The problem we have is a shortage in supply, there is not enough product in the system. If the government can flood the system with products, I don’t think this committee is necessary. The government must come out open and explain to Nigerians their major challenges rather than setting up different committees that may not proffer immediate solution to the problem at hand.

“The only thing the public will want to hear at the moment is that the product is available for marketers to load and distribute to the people instead of sourcing from private tank farm owners at an exorbitant price. Government also needs to ensure that all local refineries are working.”  

Only independent marketers in Makurdi and its environs sold fuel to motorists, who struggled for hours, at #350 per litre.

A motorist, Agatha Zugwem,  expressed concern that the lingering scarcity had taken a toll on many businesses in the state.

The Nation further gathered from key stakeholders that the cost of renting a daughter vessel, diversion of allocations by some marketers and sabotage were responsible for the scarcity and hike in prices.

The players, who also warned that the scarcity might last longer, added that government’s failure to pay N600 billion it allegedly owes IPMAN members and rationing of fuel were also factors.

While stakeholders accuse marketers of instigating an increase in pump price, the marketers blame the  Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the scarcity.

 A marketer, who admitted that they receive fuel from depots at the official price, said that additional costs make it unprofitable for them to sell at the price approved by the government. For instance, the source said renting a daughter vessel to evacuate petrol to a place like Calabar cost about $90, 000 a day, while in Lagos, it costs about $30,000 per day.

He said: “If the daughter vessel is delayed due to processing of documentation or finds it hard to anchor and stay longer than a day, then the depot owner has to pay for all the number of days it spends to complete the operation. They will still pay for maintenance of their facility, NIMASA and NPA charges- all in dollars and you expect them to sell at the regulated price?”

 Industry sources also allege that there is ongoing sabotage within the system that is aimed at increasing pump prices. One of the sources was quick to point at the unofficial movement of petrol price from N165 to N170 per litre and just last week the increase from N170 to N185 per litre.

He said: “In these instances, the government tamely denied increasing the price without insisting on its reversal.

“By selling petrol beyond the official price, marketers are daring government to come and arrest them knowing that it is not possible because the government is also aware of what is happening in the industry. “This thinking is that when the people can no longer bear the pains of the scarcity, they will eventually bow to deregulation of the price which is what marketers want.”  

Another source claimed that IPMAN is also reluctant to continue lifting fuel at the unofficial price from depots.

He said that IPMAN wants the government to pay its members over N600 billion for bridging the gap. This claim has however been disputed by the government.

Report by Muyiwa Lucas, Adekunle Jimoh,  Osagie Otabor, Sunny Nwankwo, Nwanosike Onu, Emma Elekwa and Uja Emmanuel

• Reps reject 10-day deadline extension

• CBN to mop up N900b more from circulation

A row broke out yesterday over the scarcity of the new naira notes and the phaseout deadline extension by 10 days.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension for swapping old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes for the newly re-designed ones.

But the House of Representatives rejected the new deadline, saying it was too short.

A former Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry Director General, Dr Muda Yusuf, believes the swap extension was insufficient and could endanger the economy.

The cash scarcity worsened in Abuja, Lagos and many parts of the country yesterday. Many Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) ran out of the new notes.

Some Point of Sale (PoS) operators took advantage of the rush to make brisk business, increasing their charges.

In many parts of the country, traders and business owners rejected the old notes.

Some churches asked worshippers to give offerings with only the new notes.

But the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) praised the CBN and President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension.

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) also commended the President, urging him to sanction banks hoarding the new naira notes.

Emefiele: why deadline was extended

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, briefed reporters in Daura, Katsina State after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said aside from the 10-day extension, there will be an additional seven days’ grace to swap old notes for new ones at the CBN until February 17.

Emefiele said: “First, I will like to thank Mr. President for giving the CBN the approval to embark on this ambitious programme.

“The CBN has not had the opportunity to embark on such a currency redesign programme in the last 19 years.

“Only an incorruptible leader of the President’s stature can give such approval to the CBN.

“We have today (yesterday) sought and obtained Mr. President’s approval for the following: one, a 10-day extension of the deadline from January 31, 2023, to February 10, 2023, to allow for the collection of more old notes, legitimately held by Nigerians and achieve more success in cash swap in rural areas in our villages and communities, after which all old notes outside the CBN lose their legal tender status.

“Our CBN staff currently on mass mobilisation and monitoring, together with officials of the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission), will work together to achieve these objectives in the coming days.

“Two, a seven-day grace period, beginning on February 10, to February 17, 2023, in compliance with Section 20, subsection 3, and Section 22 of the CBN Act, allowing Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February deadline when the old currency would have lost its legal tender status.

“We, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to work with the CBN to achieve a hitch-free process for the implementation of this very important programme.”

Emefiele said the currency swap had achieved more than 75 per cent success rate of the N2.7 trillion held outside the banking system.

According to him, the result is a drop in the rate of inflation, more stability of foreign exchange rates, and a noticeable impact on security, especially in banditry and kidnapping figures.

“We are happy that so far, the exercise has achieved a success rate of over 75 per cent of the N2.7 trillion held outside the banking system.

“Nigerians in the rural areas, villages, the aged and vulnerable have had the opportunity to swap their old notes, leveraging the Agent Naira Swap initiative as well as the CBN Senior staff nationwide sensitization team exercise.

“Aside from those holding illicit/stolen naira in their homes for speculative purposes, we do aim to give all Nigerians that have naira legitimately earned and trapped, the opportunity to deposit their legitimately trapped monies at the CBN for exchange,” Emefiele said.

The CBN governor noted that redesigns were supposed to be every five to eight years.

“Our aim is mainly to make Monetary Policy Decisions more efficacious.

“We have started to see inflation trending downwards and exchange rates relatively stable.

“Secondly, we aim to support the efforts of our security agencies in combating banditry and ransom-taking in Nigeria through this programme and we see that the military is making good progress in this important task,” he added.

According to Emefiele, available data shows that currency-in-circulation in 2015 was only N1.4 trillion, while as of October 2022, it had risen to N3.23 trillion, out of which only N500 billion was within the banking industry.

He said N2.7 trillion was held permanently in people’s homes.

“So far, and since the commencement of this programme, we have collected about N1.9 trillion; leaving us with about N900 billion (N500 billion + N1.9 trillion),’’ Emefiele said.

Reps reject extension

The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee set up to interface with the CBN and bank chiefs rejected the extension.

The National Assembly had asked the CBN to allow the old notes to exist side by side with the new notes for about six months.

The House had asked Emiefele to appear before an ad-hoc committee, a request that was not honoured.

Chairman of the ad-hoc Committee and Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, reacting to the deadline extension, said in a statement: “The 10-day extension for the exchange of the old naira notes is not the solution.

“We as a legislative committee with a constitutional mandate of the House would only accept clear compliance with sections 20(3),(4), and (5) of the CBN Act and nothing more.

“Nigeria as a developing economy and a nascent democracy must respect the principle of the rule of law.

“The House would go ahead to sign an arrest warrant to compel the CBN Governor to appear before the ad-hoc committee.”

Expert faults deadline

Dr Yusuf fears the CBN timeline leaves trade, commerce and agriculture, which he described as critical sectors, particularly vulnerable.

He believes the crippling of business transactions amid the currency swap crisis would not only undermine the trade and agricultural sectors but would adversely affect the manufacturing value chain and the services sectors.

According to him, this is because whatever is produced had to be sold.  

He lamented that the trading end of the chain has been greatly disrupted by this currency swap crisis.

Dr Yusuf, the Managing Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said the failure to extend the deadline for at least six months could put the N100 trillion component of the national GDP at risk

He said: “Any policy measure that would negatively disrupt these sectors should be avoided. 

“For an economy that is tottering on the brink, the capacity to absorb shocks and disruptions is severely constrained. 

“With 133 million Nigerians in poverty, inflicting additional hardship on the citizens would be unfair, insensitive and inconsiderate.”

To him, the focus of monetary authorities should be on regulating the money supply, not on mopping up currency notes.

“Currency notes are meant to be largely outside the banks, not in the banks.

“Cash is a medium of exchange to be used by citizens, not to be stored in the banks.  

“There is nothing unusual if 85 per cent of cash is outside the banking system; just as chequebooks or ATM cards are supposed to be largely in the hands of bank customers,” he said.

Scarcity persists

Many banks in the Abuja metropolis ran out of new notes. Two ATMs at Wuse Zone 3 stopped dispensing new notes before 3 pm.

While one of the banks stopped accepting old notes, it was still open to customers wishing to deposit their old notes by 4 pm.

Around Kubwa, a satellite town, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), most of the banks had a large turnout of customers waiting in long queues to use the ATM where new notes were being dispensed.

In Lagos, many of the banks had no money in their ATMs.

PoS operators took advantage of the rush to increase their charges.

One of the operators, Kelechi Ugwu, said they charged that much because of the rigours of queueing at the ATM to get the new naira notes.

Some traders in Wuse Market said the deadline for use of the old Naira notes had affected their businesses negatively.

According to them, when they reject the notes, customers simply walk away.

In Imo, there was frustration as traders and business owners rejected the old notes.

There were also queues at all the banks as customers were seen struggling to deposit the old naira notes.

Many ATMs in Owerri, the state capital, were not dispensing the new notes.

It was the same situation in parts of Anambra State.

The PoS operators charged N1,000 for 10,000 withdrawals or deposits.

Banks were filled by PoS operators who were being given preferential treatment.

In Ogun State, many banks opened to accept the old notes before the extension was announced.

In many ATMs, customers could not make withdrawals due to a lack of cash.

In Rivers, a cleric, Kingsley Nwachukwu, urged the CBN to do more to address the hardship caused by the cash scarcity.

He spoke at the thanksgiving Church Service of the Correspondents Chapel Press Week 2022/2023.

APC-PCC welcomes extension

APC-PCC, in a statement by the Director, of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said the council welcomed the extension.

The statement reads: “We want to commend the CBN and Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for listening to the voice of well-meaning Nigerians on the exigency of extending the deadline for change of old N200, N500 and N1000 naira notes to the new ones.

“Following difficulties experienced by Nigerians across the country from getting the new notes via ATMs and over the counter from banks, many Nigerians especially requested for an extension of the 31 January 2023 deadline.

“We welcome the 10 days extension of the deadline and the additional seven days of grace.

“This window will enable Nigerians especially those in rural and remote areas to have more time to change their old notes and avert the panic that would have followed.

“We especially commend Presidential Buhari for approving this extension and for his leadership and statesmanship.

“In the same vein, we praise our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his forthrightness in addressing the concerns of Nigerians at his campaign rally in Abeokuta last week.

“Asiwaju Tinubu did not take the easy road by shying away from what would have caused serious inconvenience for our teeming masses.

“Asiwaju showed leadership and compassion for the welfare of Nigerians, at the most appropriate time.”

The CNPP, in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, urged the apex bank to ensure that commercial banks do not hoard the new notes again.

It urged the government and security agencies, “as a matter of patriotic duties, to ensure that the new notes do not find their way into bullion vans belonging to some politicians and their allies”.

CNPP added that it has a reasonable suspicion that there were anomalies which could be attributed to some commercial banks and politicians bent on sabotaging the efforts of President Buhari on ensuring free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

“For this reason, we call on all security agencies, including the EFCC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Police, to carry out already issued presidential orders on ensuring that no money-bag politician compromises the 2023 electoral process…

“We urge the authorities to ensure that banks and individuals hoarding the new notes are appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the law.”

• Report by Collins Nweze, Okwy lroegbu-Chikezie, Muyiwa Lucas; Nduka Chiejina, Bolaji Ogundele, Gbenga Omokhunu, Jide Orintunsin, Tony Akowe, Abuja; Nwanosike Onu, Awka; Chris Njoku, Owerri; Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Chimaroke Nnamani yesterday justified his preference for the presidential standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Nnamani said his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) breached the North-South power rotation principle provided for in its constitution by fielding Alhaji Abubakar Atiku as its presidential candidate for the February 25 poll.

Explaining why he dumped his party’s candidate, the senator representing Enugu East District, flayed the leadership of the main opposition party for denying the South its presidential ticket.

He gave the reasons for dumping Atiku in a statement he personally signed yesterday.

Nnamani, who is seeking to retain seat on the PDP platform, was on January 20 suspended by the PDP for alleged anti-party activities.

He said: “The PDP Constitution prescribed that key political offices be rotated between the North and the South to ensure equity, justice and fairness. Conscious of the need to share and rotate key political offices among the diverse people of our country, the PDP constitution clearly stated that it shall adhere at all times to the policy of the rotation and zoning of the party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

“Even when the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, made a firm commitment to step down should a Northerner emerge presidential candidate for 2023 election, the leadership jettisoned the constitutional provision and turned the logic upside down.”

In 2019, the lawmaker recalled, the PDP allowed only the North to contest the presidential primary in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Atiku clinched the ticket and contested the election.

The statement reads: “It was expected that in 2023, the PDP in a corresponding manner, allows the South to contest for the plum position. But the party, in its decision, opened the contest for both the Northern and Southern aspirants.

“In a twist of events and political maneuvering, Atiku Abubakar got the ticket again for the 2023 race.”

The senator said the outcome of the last presidential primary infuriated Southern PDP faithful, including the G-5 Governors who have continued to insist on the need for the PDP to respect the North-South rotation principle.

According to him, the action of the PDP smacked of injustice and lack of equity, stressing that it is morally wrong for the North to retain power after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023.

Nnamani, who was Enugu State governor from 1991 to 2007, noted that President Mohammadu Buhari, in recognition of the North-South power rotation, created a window for political balancing that paved the way for Tinubu’s emergence as the APC candidate.

“Having critically examined the situation, I found Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the preferred candidate from the South to fit the bill in 2023. There is need for political harmony in a manner that gives all parts of Nigeria a sense of belonging”, Nnamani said.

Ex-supporters of the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso on Sunday burnt the red caps usually won by the former Kano Governor.

They declared for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They were part of the 10,000 who dumped the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), NNPP, ADC and others for the APC in Kano.

They were received by the USIR North West Project For Tinubu/Shettima 2023 on Sunday.

“Today, we have gathered here to receive and celebrate these 10,000 people, who decided to leave their various political parties for our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the convener, Haiiya Umma Salma Isyaku Rabiu, said.

She said: “These are all card carrying members of the PDP, NNPC, ADC, PRP, ADP and other political parties, who have decided to leave darkness for light, to leave regress for progress, to leave fear and intimidation for honour and integrity.

“As you can see, these people are here because of the unity and progress of the APC as the one and only party in Nigeria. The party that has the interest of the people, the party that wants to keep making Nigeria better; the party that loves Nigeria and Nigerians.”

She narrated that the journey of most of the decampees to APC started when the APC Tinubu won the presidential primaries.

“They (decampees) knew that Nigeria is on the verge of regaining its glory and the north is on the verge of greatness again.

“Without the slightest doubt, Asiwaju’s antecedents as a freedom fighter (for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria) which culminated into his founding role in the APC’s formation, makes his choice very unique for our party.

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party and to a large extent, it was this position that provided the paradigm shift for the party to go for elections rather than consensus and paved the way for Tinubu to clinch the party’s ticket.

She said the APC northern Governors deserved praises for seeing that the APC respected the principle of zoning.

She mocked other presidential candidates saying Tinubu was in the race alone.

“Senator Tinubu is very presidential. He has a track record that nobody can beat. When they asked me why I am so sure that Tinubu is the best presidential candidate, I also asked them who is contesting with him because I don’t know.

“These thousands of people are attestation of the fact that, Tinubu is the people’s choice. And his decisions and choices over the last few months, have shown an indication of his understanding of the nation’s political dynamics and gave a glimpse of his vision for the country,” the convener said.

High point of the ceremony was the burning of red caps which were replaced with the Asiwaju black pea caps for the APC new comers.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele for extending the naira notes swap deadline.

Buhari on Sunday approved a 10-day extension for Nigerians to swap their old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes for the new ones.

Emefiele announced this after a meeting with the President in his Daura country home.

The extension followed complaints by Nigerians who experienced difficulties getting the new notes via ATMs and over the counter from banks.

The APC PCC, in a statement by its Director, Media & Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, praised the move.

It said: “We want to commend the Central Bank of Nigeria and Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele for listening to the voice of well-meaning Nigerians on the exigency of extending the deadline for change of old N200, N500 and N1000 naira notes to the new ones.

‘Following difficulties experienced by Nigerians from across the country from getting the new notes via ATMs and over the counter from Banks, many Nigerians especially requested an extension of the 31 January 2023 deadline.

“We welcome the 10-day extension of the deadline and the additional seven days of grace.

“This window will enable Nigerians especially those in rural and remote areas to have more time to change their old notes and avert the panic that would have followed.”

It said the President deserved “special commendation” for approving the extension “and for his leadership and statesmanship.”

The APC PCC added: “In the same vein, we praise our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his forthrightness in addressing the concerns of Nigerians at his campaign rally in Abeokuta last week.

“Asiwaju Tinubu didn’t take the easy road by shying away from what would have caused serious inconvenience for our teeming masses.

“Asiwaju showed leadership and compassion for the welfare of Nigerians, at the most appropriate time.”

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday be in Kano for a state visit.

The state government on Sunday said it was set to receive the president, who is expected to commission at least eight projects executed in the state by the federal government and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“The state government has concluded arrangements to receive President Muhammadu Buhari who will pay a state visit to commission eight development projects in the state,” a statement issued by the Commissioner for Inormation and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba. said.

The statement added that “Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will receive the president and his entourage.”

The commissioner said: “While in Kano, Buhari will commission the 10 megawatt federal government, Kano Grid Solar Power, multi-billion naira Dala Inland Dry Port in Zawachiki, Kumbotso local government area.

“Other projects to be commission include Kano state Data Centre at Audu Baki Secretariat, Tier Data Centre and office complex at Galaxy Backbone Limited Project at Ahmadu Bello Way.”

Other projects to be commissioned by the president, according to the state government, include: Cancer Treatment Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu and Muhammadu Buhari Road Rotary Interchange at NNPC Station, along Maiduguri Road.

Other projects due for commissioning are Aliko Dangote Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre, Zaria Road and Federal Government Housing Units at Gandun Sarki, Darmanawa.