Category: Lead

Anambra State Governor  Charles Soludo has accused the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, of pettiness.

Soludo said it was unfortunate that Obi and LP  could allege high-handedness against his administration, which on two occasions okayed government’s premises for them to mount their billboards free of charge.

The governor, who assumed the national leadership of the All Progressives Grand alliance (APGA) last Saturday, made this claim while being featured yesterday on Channels Television Politics Today.

Also, Soludo said he would in a few days officially write the Federal Government on his call for the release of the leader of the Independent People of Biafra(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Reacting to the allegation of intolerance the LP  made against him, Soludo, said: “It is needless for me to be reacting to the ranting by some people who have alleged that the state has been frustrating their presidential campaigns in the state.

“The Anambra State Signage Agency has sufficiently dealt with that.

“It is on record that I have on two occasions granted government properties to the Labour Party without paying a penny. Nobody has done that before.”

Soludo said Obi when he was the governor of the state didn’t allow LP to use public property in the state even after the latter had paid.

“Peter Obi, as a governor of Anambra State didn’t even allow the Labour Party to freely campaign in Anambra.  He denied them the venue they paid for.  But I have allowed him and his party to use government properties free of charge twice.”

Soludo said the problem with Obi’s party was that they failed to play by the rules by mounting billboards without meeting the necessary conditions.

“The other day, they had their campaigns in Onitsha.  They have their billboards all over the place. The point is, when you fail to play by the rule, by putting up billboards without making payment for such, of course, the signage agency will come after you.

“The problem is that they want to exercise a mentality of entitlement but we can’t continue to give them everything for free.

“It is on record that no party, the PDP, APC and others are complaining. Why only the Labour Party?

“I may have some faults as a human being, but being petty is not definitely one of them. The Labour Party has no reason to complain whatsoever.”

  Soludo, who had a few days ago called on the Federal Government to release Kanu said he was delighted over the Minster of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar  Malami’s reaction to it.

The governor said: “The Federal Government will in a few days’ time receive a letter to guarantee  Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the IPOB.  This is not a personal matter.  It is not about Charles Soludo; it is about the lives, security and prosperity of the entire Southeast.

“We need to be serious about this.  We want this election to go peacefully in the Southeast.  We want everybody to participate. “We want peace and security to return.  We want long-term transformation and for the Southeast to become very secure and prosperous, we need some stakeholders around the table.

“We are doing a lot by deploying a non-kinetic approach. We can’t have sustainable prosperity if we don’t have sustainable security.

“  For this reason, I will continue to push with other leaders in the Southeast and all men and women of good intentions will join in this call.

“It is either they grant Nnamdi Kanu a conditional release in line with the court judgment, or grant him administrative bail. 

“ I am prepared to provide a surety to host him (Kanu) in the Government Lodge here in Anambra and provide him whenever he is required. I think this should be very straightforward to all of us.”

The unending scarcity of the  Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has been blamed on increase from cross-border demand, according to Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday witnessed a worsened situation of the dearth of the product as most of the retail outlets were not opened to customers.

MOMAN Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, who spoke with The Nation on phone, said despite the volume that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is supplying, the demand for the product keeps rising, suggesting there is increase in demand from neighbouring countries.

His words : ” Demand is too high. The demand is high despite the fact that NNPC is bringing in whatever volume it is bringing in.”

Asked why the demand is so high, he said “That is what you need to ask. I don’t know but I suspect that it is cross-border demand that has gone up.”

Asked whether he suggested that there was influx of demand from neighbouring countries, he said “correct.”

He denied the rumour that marketers were conniving to hike the pump price, insisting that the increase was simply due to increased demand.

“It is not true that marketers are conniving to hike the price, it is not true, demand is high that is all,” he said.

Besides, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) revealed to The Nation that petrol ex-depot price was N240/litre yesterday.

Its President, Alhaji Debo Ahmed described the price to The Nation on phone as exorbitant because NNPCL supply of the product was unable to match the demand.

According to him, the only solution is for the NNPCL to increase supply to meet demand.

Ahmed said: “We don’t have stock of petrol from NNPC. Importation is just too low to the demand. That is why we still have this scarcity going on.

“Until NNPC is able to bridge the gap. As at today, the price at the private depot is too exorbitant’’.

” As at today, it is about N230 something to N240 per litre at the depot. It is because there is no depot.

“Those who have the few product are trying to make sure they maximize the opportunity.

” NNPC is the only importer of this product in the country so they have to upscale their importation to make sure they wet the market.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) website that usually contain the available stock and sufficiency has been down for over a week.

The information on the website is that it is being updated.

Besides, the spokesman of the Authority, Mr. Apollo Kimchi that was asked to respond via text message did not reply. He did not answer The Nation’s call.

Similarly, the NNPCL Chief Communications Officer, Malam Garba Deen did not respond to The Nation’s call and text message.

The Nation however observed yesterday that only very few retail outlets vended the PMS, although they sold it at 180 per litre, amid endless queues.

There were also remote areas like Byazhin Across in Bwari Area Council where our correspondent observed that petrol has been sold for N350/litre.

Meanwhile, blackmarketers sold the product for about N4,000 per litre along major expressways like Kubwa expressway and Nyanya to Orozo road where our correspondent monitored the petrol market.

Lagos State has declared four days as work-free for civil servants so they can get their Permanent Voter Card (PVCs).

A statement yesterday by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said the work-free day would be from January 24 to 27, 2023, for workers on different grade levels.

The dates include Grade levels 01, 03, 07, and 15 (January 24); levels 02, 04, 08 and 13 (January 25); levels 05, 09, 12, and 17 (January 26); and levels 06, 10, 14 and 16 (January 27).

Muri-Okunola added that the work-free days were approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu so public servants can participate actively in the elections.

He added: “Consequent upon the extension of the collection of PVCs by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is hereby notified for the general information that all public servants who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to do so before Sunday, January 29, as it is a civic responsibility to vote.”

Muri-Okunola, however, urged accounting officers to excuse their officers in respective grade levels on the designated days.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde was conspicuously absent at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign rally in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday.

His absence also robbed the rally of the usual heavy crowd that normally attends governorship and presidential campaign rallies.

Though the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his team members hailed the Governor for allowing the rally to hold, and for mobilizing supporters to attend, the crowd fell heavily short of what is usually experienced at Mapo Hall during governorship and presidential campaigns.

Crowds of supporters usually fill up to 500 meter radius around the hall while vehicular movements are usually hindered up to about 700 metres.

But Thursday’s crowd only filled the frontage of the hall while residents were going about their normal businesses around the hall.

The rally, which held at the historic Mapo Hall, attracted the national leadership of the party in attendance. The party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were also joined by Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

A former vice president Namadi Sambo; former Governors Achike Udenwa (Imo); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Idris Wada (Kogi) and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, were also at the campaign.

Makinde’s absence confirmed that the G5 crisis with the national leadership of the party was still firmly rooted, only five weeks to the election.

The Integrity Group (aka G5 Governors), including Makinde, are demanding the resignation of the national chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to allow a southerner take over for the purpose of inclusiveness. They are Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuayi (Enugu).

Though Atiku and all the party leaders spoke glowingly of Makinde at the event, commending him for giving the rally a favourable space, it was clear that all was not well with the PDP both nationally, and in Oyo State.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde was conspicuously absent at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign rally in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday.

His absence also robbed the rally of the usual heavy crowd that normally attends governorship and presidential campaign rallies.

Though the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his team members hailed the Governor for allowing the rally to hold, and for mobilizing supporters to attend, the crowd fell heavily short of what is usually experienced at Mapo Hall during governorship and presidential campaigns.

Crowds of supporters usually fill up to 500 meter radius around the hall while vehicular movements are usually hindered up to about 700 metres.

But Thursday’s crowd only filled the frontage of the hall while residents were going about their normal businesses around the hall.

Read Also : Seyi Makinde: Between the end and the means!

The rally, which held at the historic Mapo Hall, attracted the national leadership of the party in attendance. The party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were also joined by Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

A former vice president Namadi Sambo; former Governors Achike Udenwa (Imo); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Idris Wada (Kogi) and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, were also at the campaign.

Makinde’s absence confirmed that the G5 crisis with the national leadership of the party was still firmly rooted, only five weeks to the election.

The Integrity Group (aka G5 Governors), including Makinde, are demanding the resignation of the national chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to allow a southerner take over for the purpose of inclusiveness. They are Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuayi (Enugu).

Though Atiku and all the party leaders spoke glowingly of Makinde at the event, commending him for giving the rally a favourable space, it was clear that all was not well with the PDP both nationally, and in Oyo State.

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Governors in the G-5 group cannot join the campaign of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar because the leadership of the PDP has made reconciliation impossible.

Benue Governor Samuel Ortom who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday accused the PDP leadership of arrogance, impunity and mischief in the handling of the rift between Atiku and the G-5.

The G-5, consisting five PDP Governors, is led by the Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike. Other Governors in the group are Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Ortom.

The Governors have demanded the replacement of the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu with another person from the South as condition to support Atiku.

Read Also : Wike lists cardinal quality of preferred presidential candidate

Ortom, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, said: “So, no efforts by the leadership of our party have been able to address the issues that we are raising. They have not been able to adopt methods that will pacify and placate the G5, you know. This is not right. So, on the G5, that is where we are.

“Arrogance, impunity, mischief, will not really help matters. One would expect humility; it is said that you stoop down to conquer even if you want to make it.”

The Benue Governor expressed disappointment with some PDP leaders in the South who chickened out on the demand for power shift to the South.

“I must say that I am disappointed with some of our PDP southern governors who chickened out, who sold out and chose to do something else.

“In the APC, all the governors in the North allowed for power shift even when they have a majority. I must commend them for fighting for equity, fairness and justice, because they considered that the presidency should go to the south.

“We (G-5) are committed to issues of integrity, issues of fairness, equity, and justice,” Ortom added.

The Governor said the G-5 remained on course and will not back down on its demands, stressing that they have given the PDP leadership ample time to address the issues at stake.

Continuing, the Benue Governor said: “I think we are on course as far as I am concerned with our group. As faithful party men, we have given enough time. And we are told that the failed leadership at the national level will take advantage of the opportunity we have given them to address those issues.

“There are many ways of addressing issues even when you are not able to meet the demands of a group or individuals, you will find a way of meeting.

“And then you find a meeting place where people decide to be arrogant, where they decide to be mischievous, and do things as if the other person does not exist and try to do some things with impunity, as if they have won election and they don’t need any other person. It becomes a problem.”

A twin explosion has left three persons injured at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Rumu-Woji Playground, Port Harcourt.

Read Also: APC postpones Tinubu/Shettima campaign rally in Taraba

It was gathered that no fewer than three persons were injured in the incident that occurred on Thursday afternoon.

Two of the injured said to be women were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. 

The Publicity Secretary of the APC, Darlington Nwauju,.confirmed the incident, describing it as “unfortunate”.

Details Shortly…

The Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Lekan Balogun on Thursday urged the presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar to reconcile with Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde and other G-5 Govs.

The monarch, who described Atiku as his friend, said he was not happy with the recent happening in the party, saying Atiku should do something fast as soon as possible to unite the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

G-5 Governors, including Nyesome Wike (Rivers); Samuel Otorm (Benue); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Seyi Makinde(Oyo) were at loggerheads with Atiku over the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyiocha Ayu.

Speaking in Ibadan while receiving Atiku, who was on a courtesy visit to his palace, the monarch said Atiku’s reconciliation become necessary for his victory in 2023.

He however said if Atiku become the President, he should not forget traditional rulers, resolve insecurity and allow Ibadan to become a State.

Read Also: BREAKING: Makinde shuns Atiku’s rally in Oyo

Atiku said PDP government would make sure traditional rulers are relevant across the nation particularly at this time the country is experiencing many security challenges.

“I remember role of the traditional institution during the colonial era when they were responsible for maintaining law and order in their respective domains, PDP government will look into all these institutions to bring about safer and more united Nigeria.

“We shall implement the restructuring of the country, we shall dialogue with various constituents of the country so that we can give them full autonomy and resources so that we can witness more inclusive development in the nation’s economy.

“These are some of the policies we intend to deploy when we emerged, we intend to open up the economy so that Nigerians can have jobs in all sectors of the economy,” he said.

Those at the entourage of Atiku include PDP Deputy presidential candidate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; Bayelsa Governor Duoye Diri; former Vice President Namadi Sambo; former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Imo Governor Lyke Imoke; Sen. Dino Melaye; former PDP national chairman Uche Seconds; former Adamawa Governor Sule Lamido; ex Oyo Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi and former Minister of State for FCT, Jumoke Akinjide among others.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde was conspicuously absent at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign rally in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday.

The rally at the historic Mapo Hall attracted the national leadership of the party. 

Read Also: Makinde vows to localise industries in Lagelu

The party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were joined by Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Ademola  Adeleke (Osun); Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom). 

Makinde is a member of the G-5 demanding the resignation of PDP national chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu as a condition to support Atiku’s presidential ambition. 

Details Shortly…

Former Senate President Joseph Wayas died of poverty and not sickness, his first son, Joseph Wayas Jr, has said.

He said his father may have been alive if he had access to proper medical care.

Speaking with The Nation in Abuja, Wayas Jr also rued the delay in conducting the funeral of his father who passed away at 80 in December 2021.

He expressed displeasure with the Committee set up by the Cross River State Government to organise the funeral.

He however expressed gratitude to Governor Ben Ayade, for being responsive and decisive following the announcement of the senior Wayas’ demise by setting up the Committee and empowering it to plan the burial.

He regretted the delay in carrying out the burial of his father, saying there is no reason he should not be buried in the next 30 to 40 days.

The younger Wayas said in the last three years before his father’s death, his sister in London bore the cost of his treatment and maintaining the corpse since 2021.

Wayas Jr also expressed the family’s gratitude to President Muhamudu Buhari, who facilitated his father’s trip to England and provided funds for him to have access to the best medical care.

Read Also: Ex-Senate President Wayas’s widow dies at 78

However he said the support provided by the Federal Government barely lasted four months before it washed its hands off the matter.

According to him: “My dad did not die of sickness. My dad died of poverty. We can give honour to Buhari because had Buhari not determined that my dad should go out for medical treatment immediately, he would have died sooner. 

“Buhari and the Federal Government gave my dad money to go outside. For that reason he lived three years longer. It got to a point where the Federal Government said they cannot do anything anymore if the National Assembly cannot do something. If my father had received the kind of care that a man his age and personality should have received, Rt. Hon. Dr Wayas would still have been alive. 

“He died because at the end of the day, there was no money to provide for hi is urgent care. The money Buhari had given him was supposed to last for three or four months treatment- not three years by the British doctors who gave a more up to date and critical assessment of his needs. Later, t became a big problem buying medication and seeing doctors.

“The bills were piling up and it was the bills that my sister and her children were responsible for. My dad and sister were thrown out of my sister’s house into the streets due to their debt obligation to the landlord. At the end of the day, my sister was able to get a little respite from the local government, yet the accommodation was far from being the best. 

“It was a flea, cockroach, mildew infested environment. It was the kind of environment that made my father’s bad condition even worse. He kept visiting the hospitals, often staying days there, because of the conditions in the government provided accomodation where he was staying. So I make the point today that my dad did not die of sickness but he died of poverty.

“There were plenty of attempts by members of the National Assembly to intercede but the leadership of the National Assembly was not forthcoming. Even a letter written from the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government to the NASS leadership to take over from where it had stopped in caring for Wayas did not get a response.

“He did not need to die. What is going on now with the burial committee is a further betrayal. It is like pouring pepper on a wound, it is an insult after injury. Can you imagine his grandchildren’s payroll being garnished to offset the medical bills incurred on Dr. Wayas care, while some committee members are meanwhile benefiting from something that no one else.not even his grandchildren can benefit from.”