Category: Lead

The Minister of State Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo (SAN) has given the three anti-graft agencies 72 hours ultimatum to arrest, interrogate and prosecute the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

Keyamo, in a five-page petition dated Monday, January 16, 2023 to the Chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) accused the PDP candidate of four major infractions. 

He alleged that Atiku colluded to fleece the country of public funds using what he termed as “Special Purpose Vehicles” (SPVs). 

Read Also: Arrest Atiku, APC PCC tells security agents

The Minister, who is also the chief spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (Council), maintained that with the public revelations of a whistleblower, Mr Michael Achimugu and pieces of evidence, Atiku Abubakar has a case to answer, calling on the three anti-graft agencies to arrest, interrogate and possibly prosecute the former Vice President.

Keyamo said: “Because this matter is of great national importance, I expect you to act with alacrity and a sense of duty within 72 hours of the receipt of this petition.”

He warned: “If you (anti-graft agencies) fail, refuse and/or neglect to act, I shall be proceeding to court to compel you to act.”

The Lagos State Government has arraigned Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Drambi Vandi, for the alleged killing of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day.

The State preferred a one-count charge of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 against the defendant. 

Read Also: Bolanle Raheem: Lawyer’s absence stalls ASP Vandi’s arraignment

Vandi pleaded not guilty 

The arraignment, which was scheduled for 9am, suffered some delay untill about 11am when Vandi’s counsel, Mr Adetokunbo Odutola arrived. 

Details Shortly… 

A Police officer was killed while another sustained injuries when gunmen attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State on Sunday night.

The hoodlums, who struck around 9.12pm, according to a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, were repelled by Police and Army personnel from 82 Division.

The Commission however assured that the attack will not affect its preparations for the 2023 general elections.

The electoral body said: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, has reported that our office in Enugu South Local Government Area was attacked by unknown gunmen. The incident occurred around 9.12pm yesterday, Sunday 15th January 2023.

“The security gatehouse was razed. Fortunately, the attackers could not gain access to the main building as a result of the rapid response from the Police and Army personnel from 82 Division. The State Commissioner of Police and the REC were personally at the scene immediately they received information about the attack. 

“Of the two Policemen deployed to protect the facility, one of them lost his life while the other sustained injuries and is receiving treatment. The Commission prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased policeman and the speedy recovery of the injured.

Read Also: Police arrest man with firearm, ammunition in Enugu

“The attack is being investigated by the security agencies. Furthermore, a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Enugu State co-chaired by the REC and the Commissioner of Police has been convened to discuss the latest incident and design additional strategies of fortifying the offices and protecting the personnel and materials. 

“Meanwhile, the destroyed gatehouse will be rebuilt, and the Commission is proceeding with its preparations for the 2023 General Election in Enugu State and the entire country as scheduled”.

•Ex-Lagos governor, governorship, National Assembly standard bearers brainstorm

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday spoke on how the ruling party can win next month’s election.

He said candidates for president, governor, National Assembly and Houses of Assembly must imbibe team spirit and subscribe to the strategy of hardwork to sweep the polls.

The former Lagos governor, who held a crucial meeting with the candidates at the Presidential Campaign Headquarters in Abuja, said: “We must not fail party members who gave us tickets.”

The meeting, which attracted a large number of flagbeares, was attended by Tinubu’s running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore,  Deputy Senate President  Ovie Omo-Agege and members of the National  Working Committee (NWC) and Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Others at the meeting were the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Governors  Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa State), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa)  and Simon Lalong (Plateau);  PCC Deputy Director General (Admin), Hadiza Bala Usman, PCC Deputy Director-General (Operations), Adams Oshiomole, PCC Secretary, James Faleke, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel and former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al’Makura.

Almakura told reporters that the strategic meeting was successful, adding that the candidates displayed a rare enthusiasm which showed that the party was strong enough to achieve huge successes at the polls.

 Faleke, who also spoke with reporters after the parley, debunked the rumour of a frosty relationship between some governors and candidates.

Emphasising the significance of the February and March polls, the eminent politician said the candidates cannot afford to disappoint the party that honoured them with the flags.

Tinubu said Nigerians were just recovering from what he described as “many unproductive years of the former Peoples Democratic Party’s government,” adding that they expected a new lease of life from the candidates.

He said: “I am pleased to meet with you today because in you I see our party’s hope and path to success. In you I see the hope of historic national progress as well.

“As so often in life, victory is not a cause for rest or celebration. It is a call to a greater challenge and harder toil. Thus, you all have won the primaries, but now must climb the higher mountain called the general elections.”

The presidential candidate hailed the flagbearers for their contributions, trust and fidelity to the vision and mission, which had shaped the growth and development of the platform.

He said: “We formed the APC, not just to be another political party. We formed it as a champion of the people to rescue democracy from the ravages of the PDP who boasted of ruling the nation for 60 years.

“We formed this party to rescue the people and their collective prosperity from the avarice and greed of an elite that will devour the nation’s God-given endowment if we allow such people back into power.  As those flying our party’s flag, we carry a heavy burden on our shoulders.

“We have the mandate to deliver the party to victory so that we may protect Nigeria from those who would devour all of its fruits. 

“The party has placed its trust in us. Democratic victory in the coming elections is a task we must accomplish.”

Urging the candidates to go to the polls  the party’s candidates to go to the polls on February 25 and March 11 with a united front, Tinubu said a collective work will produced desired results.

He promised to work with them while also seeking their support for his bid to serve Nigeria in the highest office.

Tinubu said: “But winning takes us working as a united force. We have to act like the broom, the symbol of our party. A stick cannot clean any dirt but coming together under the band as one, we can sweep aside all the bad and wrong things that impede our nation’s growth and development.

“As individuals we must strive to win our respective elections. But that is not enough. We have to work together to deliver everyone contesting in our party. The presidential election, for example, is not solely about Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is your project as well. Your election is equally my project.”

Read Also: 2023: Nasarawa First Lady mobilises support for Tinubu, Sule

He added: “We need each other. Whatever position you are contesting, you need me as much as I need you. If I work for you, I am helping myself; if you mobilize for me, you are working for yourself at the same time. Our individual and collective fates are one.

“Let us win and rise together.  This is as it should be.

“I therefore, rededicate myself to the victory of you all just as I do for myself. As you can see, They call me weak, but I am canvassing back and forth and, in every corner, and space of the nation. My opponents are not. I am outworking them because this election is a great mission for me, much more than my personal ambition.

“I too ask you all to re-dedicate yourself to the cause of the party and the future of the nation. I cannot be everywhere, no one can.”

“Our strength lies in our number and our spread. Having you across the length spread of this country makes me comfortable. I am working round the clock for our collective victory. We all should not rest until the entire election is over and victory is ours.”

Faleke told reporters that there is cordial relations between governors and governorship candidates.

He said: “The relationship with the governors has been fantastic. Nobody should listen to those lies about any rift. If they (the opposition) are bold enough, let them say it. They are the ones that have problems like the G-5, G-2, G-1.”

Shedding light on the meeting, the PCC Secretary  described it as “a relationship meeting between our candidates and the Presidential Campaign Council” organised to get first-hand information from candidates from various states.

Faleke added: “We were able to extract the determination of everybody to work for the success of the party. From our interactions with the candidates, I can assure Nigerians that we are winning this election. As for the challenges they relayed to us that they are facing, it is an internal issue we will handle them internally.”

However, Faleke acknowledged the challenges posed by multiple candidacy in some constituencies.

He said: “We have some candidates challenged by other aspirants while others have court judgement, but as far as INEC list is concerned, we are going to deal with the INEC list. We are not dealing with a party list this time around. We already have the INEC list in our custody.

“We have cases of somebody winning at the court of Appeal, but the loser who appealed to Supreme Court wants us to stay action because of the appeal. But, we have told them that the law does not operate that way. We have made it clear to them that the law says that the man with substantive judgement is allowed.”

• Uzodimma seeks special fund for families left behind
• Ayade, Makinde, Lalong, AbdulRazaq, Ikpeazu, Masari: they deserve our respects

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday led other senior members of his administration to the National Arcade in Abuja for the wreath-laying ceremony which climaxed this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations.

The event, which honours the memory of the nation’s fallen heroes, is marked across the country every year, involving a series of activities, including religious services, parades and the wreath laying ceremonies.

The President, who arrived at the National Arcade at 10:05 a.m, was immediately ushered onto the saluting dais for the National Salute.

He also inspected the Guards of Honour, accompanied by the Commander of Brigade of Guards, Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Takuti Usman, to the cenotaph for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Other dignitaries that laid wreaths after President Buhari’s turn were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Others were the Ministers of Defence and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi and Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello,; the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, and other service chiefs, as well as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, representatives of members of the diplomatic corps, and the pair of the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion and a widow of a fallen officer.

The President also performed the symbolic freeing of white doves out of a cage during the event.

This year’s wreath-laying ceremony will be President Buhari’s last as Commander-in-Chief as he will complete his two-term tenure of eight years in May.

Other government officials at the ceremony were members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), ministers, Permanent Secretaries, amongst others.

Also, Cross River state Governor Ben Ayade said he regularly reflected on the sacrifices of the fallen heroes and even the pains of those still alive.

Speaking after laying the ceremonial wreath to mark the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Millennium Park Cenotaph in Calabar, the state capital, he said: “Today’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day brings to mind the pains, agony and melancholy of our fallen heroes.

“As we gather today to honour them, may it also be a great opportunity for us to sit back and reflect on the pains of those who are alive. Some of these soldiers, who fought so hard for the country, are still alive and retired but have challenges of livelihood.

 “Therefore, an opportunity like this beckons on government at all levels to reflect on the sacrifices these our sons and daughters have made for our country.”

Also, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong urged Nigerians to praise members of the Armed Forces to do more in securing the nation.

Lalong spoke after laying the wreath at the tomb of “Unknown Soldier” on the cenotaph at the J. D. Gomwalk Secretariat in Jos, the state capital.

 The governor said the nation’s security services have made tremendous sacrifices to maintain peace and security and, therefore, deserved the people’s respect.

He noted that despite the security challenges in various parts of the country, the security personnel should not be condemned to avoid dampening their morale.

 Also, Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde praised the Armed Forces for their efforts and gallantry in battling various security challenges facing the country.

Makinde spoke during the laying of wreaths for the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Remembrance Arcade at the Government House in Ibadan, the state capital.

He said: “My advice for the security agencies is to remain neutral. The country belongs to all of us. At the end of everything, politics will go and our country will remain.

“Also, let me use this opportunity to thank the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for what they are doing for our country at this period.

“We have challenges in the Northwest, in the Southeast and we have the challenge of little resources. So, we are asking them to do much more with little resources and they are trying to cope. So, we want to appreciate them.

“Our administration will continue to support them. We don’t have any other country apart from this. They are doing their best and they are appreciated. We know they are trying their best and they are highly encouraged.”

Read Also: Wike hails Buhari’s war against Boko Haram, bandits

Also, Kwara State Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq yesterday said the Armed Forces render invaluable services in maintaining peace and keeping the territorial integrity of the country together.

The governor urged the citizens to continue to support them to succeed.

He said it was necessary to continue to immortalise the fallen heroes for being patriotic and the sacrifices they render to guarantee safety and survival of mankind.

AbdulRazaq spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capita, at the celebration of the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

“It is a solemn day to remember our fallen heroes and to remember the service they rendered to the nation, and to urge us as a nation to support our security agencies for the work they do,” he told reporters on the

 Also, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu urged Nigerians to show greater commitment to the nation’s unity.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, spoke during the grand finale of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration yesterday at the Agunyi Ironsi Cenotaph, Ogurube layout in Umuahia, the state capital.

He promised that his administration would continue to prioritise security and partner the Nigerian Legion and other security agencies to sustain the prevailing peace and security in the state.

Ikpeazu also reassured that his administration would not relent in its support and encouragement to the Nigerian Legion and other security outfits.

Also, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma called for the establishment of a body that would take care of the needs of the families of fallen heroes.

He said the setting up of a body, like National Armed Forces Dedicated Fund (NAFDFUND) in the fashion of the Education Trust Fund (TETFud) would take care of the welfare of the families of officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the cause of national assignment.

Speaking at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri, the state capital, Uzodimma said NAFDFUND should be funded by the federal, state and local governments, like the TETFund.

“When modeled after the TETFUND, it will provide a pool of resources where the state and federal governments can deep hands and take care of the education of the children of fallen heroes as well as the veterans believing that the idea will motivate the security personnel to put in their best in addition to making more Nigerians to join the Armed Forces,” he said.

Also, Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari cautioned the Armed Forces and other security agencies against working for any individual, group or political party during the forthcoming general election.

The governor, who spoke during the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations yesterday in Katsina, said security agencies should not be involved in partisan politics under whatever circumstance.

“Members of the Armed Forces will be my last address on an occasion like this because I will leave office by May 29 this year.

“So, I thank you very much for all the support you have given me. We have worked together in the last seven-and-a-half years.

“We have agreed and disagreed, but for the betterment of the people of Katsina State whom you have sworn to protect and defend.

“I hope you will give all the necessary cooperation to all our successors and you will remain the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“You will remain the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and not that of one particular group or political party,” he said.

Also, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo assured families of fallen heroes in the state of his administration’s support to reduce their sufferings.

Soludo spoke during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Alex Ekwueme Square yesterday in Awka, the state capital.

The governor said his administration remained grateful to the departed Armed Forces personnel and would support their families to cushion their pains while assuring that ex-service men got the attention they deserved.

He sought continued support for security agencies to ensure the return of peace in the state.

Soludo stressed that criminal elements would not succeed in bending the will of the people for a peaceful and livable state.

The governor hailed security agencies for their contributions toward ensuring peace in Nigeria and the state.

He said their commitment to national unity and sacrifices could not be quantified, adding that they had been crucial stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

Soludo said the Army and other security agencies had helped to recapture eight local government areas which he said were hitherto under siege at the time he assumed office in March 2022.

The governor extended heartfelt condolences to families of personnel who died in the line of duty.

A CREDIT card designed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for domestic use has been scheduled for deployment, it was learnt yesterday.

The card is expected to compete with other debit cards, including Mastercard, Discovery and Visa cards.

Following its introduction, local banks and other financial institutions will be in a position to offer payment solutions like debit, credit, virtual, loyalty and tokenised cards, non-interest card, identity card.

The CBN said it introduced the National Domestic Card because of its belief that Nigeria has achieved “significant transformation in its payments system over the past decade.

The apex bank added that this has been driven by rapid digital and technological innovation, increasing mobile penetration and the proactive policy initiatives of the CBN which have spurred unprecedented adoption of digital financial services.”

It listed the benefits of the card scheme to include among others

•Reduction of cost and use of foreign exchange

•Protection of data sovereignty

•Enabling locally relevant propositions

•Making cards and payments more accessible and affordable for Nigerians.

Given that MasterCard, Visa, Discovery and other such cards are foreign controlled, the bank said National Domestic Card would ensure “improved sovereignty and security of our data and its operations will be locally based. It will also help to improve and drive financial inclusion nationwide”.

The card also has the potential to leverage its platform “for seamless dissemination of government-to-person payments and other social impact initiatives, ultimately enhancing financial inclusion and supporting the growth of a robust digital economy”. 

The card will be delivered through Nigeria’s central switch, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) Plc, in conjunction with the Bankers Committee and other financial ecosystem stakeholders.

Today’s deployment will enlist Nigeria into the growing list of countries like India, Turkey, China, and Brazil that have launched similar cards for domestic use.

The countries have harnessed the transformative benefits of the schemes to drive their payments and financial systems, particularly for the underbanked.

The CBN said: “The domestic card scheme will be an important game changer for financial inclusion in Nigeria.

Read Also: CBN to unearth hidden account, business owners

“The plan is to deliver Africa’s first central bank-driven, domestic card scheme that combines a fully domestic infrastructure with international interoperability.

“Our plans will enable us to pivot into the largest card scheme in Africa, and amongst the biggest globally.”

It could not be ascertained yet if Nigerians would be able to use for international transactions as its application is for now restricted to our local shores.

At the Bankers’ Committee meeting where the decision to introduce the card was taken, NIBSS Managing Director, Premier Oiwoh said the scheme is “being deployed to help improve the payment landscape across the ecosystem in Nigeria.

He said: “This card will be configured to address the unique ecosystem issues that we have to help improve payment system issues that we have across the nation.”

“We also expect the card to provide affordable pricing, adding that the charges will certainly be lower because it is expected to be charged for in Naira as against foreign currency.

“NIBSS is a sharing infrastructure and the card central management system will be shared and each integrating entity will integrate via APR platform and we expect that other value addition will be mined and created around this scheme.”

Oiwoh added: “It will support micro payment and credit, e-government identity management, transportation, health sector and agriculture in terms of payment”.

Essentially, the card will reduce the dependence on cash along the landscape and help promote the cashless initiative driven by the bank.

Oiwoh added that the operational effectiveness of this card “is expected to be robust, and it should drive a lot of innovation, standardisation, and full end-to-end visibility to improve fraud management and better dispute resolution process around the card operating system”.

The APC Presidential Candidate’s superlative and candid showing with the Nigeria Economic Summit Group on the 13th of January 2023 has naturally endeared him further to millions of voters across the country. A legion of former doubters including those who had based their opinions on skits put together by usually unserious minds who seek whatever they could twist in every speech, have now seen that they have been misguided. The momentum will ramp up even as we move closer to the election day, delivering what may turn out to be the cleanest landslide victory since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. 

What struck me is the candidness of the conversation and the fearlessness of the speech. The economic thinking that attracted me to Bola Ahmed a long time ago, and thus made it easy for me to pledge my unallowed support in his quest this time, was there for all to see. The ideas that he had espoused in his many colloquia, including his writeups in Premium Times and other media, are truly etched in his mind. He comes to the table, not to be bamboozled around by the usual pretenders to intellectuality, but with his worldview, knowledge, drive, and dream for his nation.

Of recent, I realised that Bola Tinubu, just like the great Nnamdi Azikiwe, having studied extensively in a certain era in the United States, must have returned to Nigeria with a fervour to right the wrongs, and to prove that there was nothing wrong with the black man. You cannot immerse yourself in the United States without forming a strong opinion which propels you to want to give direction to your own people – except you forget where you are from and decide to share in the American dream, or you are incapacitated politically. That Tinubu has been on this quest for decades, going by how long he has spotted his broken chains (which I prefer to call the infinity) traditional cap, is worth noting for the perceptive and attentive. This man is a gift to Nigeria and humanity.

 It is evident that in Tinubu we have a fearless, tested, experienced, urbane, businesslike, well-rounded, visionary candidate. He felt very much at home with the business community, who themselves can see by now, that Tinubu is their best bet for further prosperity and for the business community in Nigeria to remain the linchpin of Nigeria’s development, and to even play a larger role. But not only that. The delegates of the organized private sector present at the parley, or watching from the comfort of their offices, would have whipped out their scientific calculators (I remember the hp calculators bankers used to love), and worked out rates of returns on potential investments under the guidance and auspices of a business-oriented and transformative government of Asiwaju Tinubu, who continues to avert their minds to the sheer possibilities of our nation; a great nation waiting to soar, if only we could stay positive, attentive, cooperative, and connect our quest to a higher calling to lay a solid foundation for our children today, and those yet unborn. Tinubu’s vision is not only about Nigeria.

From his trajectory, one can already see that he subscribes to that Chinese adage; ‘If your vision is one year, cultivate flowers; if your vision is ten years, cultivate trees; but if your vision is eternity, cultivate people’. Hands-down, his understanding of succession planning sets him apart. And his investment in raising leaders from among those he has identified over time, sometimes shames his peers who seemed to have simply concentrated on themselves and their children alone over the years. I had warned many of Tinubu’s traducers that his delivery and carriage will only improve, and that he will seem to age backwards, like the fictional Benjamin Button. I hope they are seeing with their eyes now.

  The meat – and there are several actually – of Tinubu’s discussion at the NESG parley could be itemized as follows:

 1. A very candid discussion where reality is discussed, difficulties acknowledged, but without any fear to dream and envision a great Nigeria where the private sector will lead robust growth, powered and enabled by a refocused public sector.

 2. An admission to the plurality and diversity of opinions necessary for national development. Asiwaju acknowledged upfront that he doesn’t have all the ideas, and some may disagree with some of the ideas he proposes. And that is important for robust engagements and progress.

 3. In acknowledging diversity and plurality of ideas, Asiwaju emphasized the importance of teamwork between private and public sector, and his ability to put a committed and patriotic crack team together at the shortest possible time. His track record in Lagos comes in very handy and is unmatched by any other political leader in our time.

Read Also: A word for Bola Tinubu!

 4. Unlike any other contender for the presidency in 2023, Bola Tinubu committed to a double-digit growth of the economy, in defiance to some of the tepid projections of multilateral agencies. This means that he is ready to drive a new thinking and show that we can begin to define our destiny as a people. As we are coming from a position of negative real growth, but we have potentials, this is a very laudable ambition because we have so much to do.  A double-digit growth in GDP also means a surfeit of employment opportunities and profitability for private sector players.

 5. Asiwaju also indicated his readiness to bring together the monetary and fiscal wings of the economy such that they synergize under strong and focused leadership. His ideas on trade are skewed towards value-addition, to consolidate on some of the achievements of the Buhari administration.

 6. Asiwaju, while speaking with the NESG, prioritized security without which businesses cannot thrive. He intends to leverage on the ‘follow the money’ strategy of the Buhari administration to smoke out kidnappers, bandits and other criminals who are holding the nation back. He also intends to consolidate on the monetary reforms of this administration as it pertains to electronic transactions in the public service, guaranteed to improve value-for-money in government procurement and projects all over the country.

7. Bola Tinubu has an interesting take on inflation, which is ravaging the pockets of Nigerians at 21.47% today, largely due to the dislocations caused by COVID-19, especially the necessary spendings of that era geared at reviving the economy. He acknowledges that every country in the world had to engage in that counter-cyclical spending to revive their economy, thus leading to deficits and inflation. He however disagreed with the idea of raising interest rates stratospherically, hurting the private sector, in a bid to slowing down inflation. He suggested a focus on productivity instead. What I heard was; ‘We can work and produce our way out of this quagmire. It will not be easy at all. But we also don’t have a choice than to produce and add value’.

 8. As with many of his writings and speeches, Tinubu excoriated the almost total reliance on foreign borrowing – which comes with a debilitating exchange risk. He challenged his listeners to think more broadly. He does not believe in the dollarization of the Nigerian economy but in the leveraging of our sovereign currency to solve more of our problems. This is a very bold proposition, worthy of further analysis.

 9. The APC candidate further sensitized Nigerians to the need to move past the fuel subsidy era, especially because it opens Nigerians to being defrauded by a few. The integrated transportation system being proposed for all states in the federation will be enhanced to reduce the burden because 70% of fuel is used for transportation. Lagos State is already showing the beginnings of an example.

10. For agriculture, Asiwaju intends to extend the ideas of Buhari in prioritizing the growth of that sector, increasing the proportion of cultivated land in Nigeria, and returning to the era of commodity boards which serve to protect farmers of cash crops from the downsides of a slump in prices. The boards, which were removed with Babangida’s ill-fated foray into orthodox, far-right economics under what was known as Structural Adjustment Program in 1986, have turned out to be very beneficial still in the case of cocoa in Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana, which now produces ten and three times the volume of Nigeria’s cocoa respectively. Our farmers have been in limbo and disarray, and at the mercy of less-than-honest brokers of unknown origin. But at the same time as Asiwaju is proposing commodity boards, he is also moving for a modern solution to solving the problem – empowerment of commodity exchanges where farmers can get some assurances of future prices and also get forward contracts.

 11. The centrality of infrastructure to economic growth and development was also emphasized by the candidate, who committed to the ‘faithful implementation’ of the Infrastructure Master Plan, especially Nigeria’s perennial issues with the power sector. He promised further private-sector-led reforms and also the promotion of alternative, green and clean energy, which will help with the climate change conundrum without slowing down Nigeria’s quest for rapid growth, employment creation, poverty eradication and the enhancement of productivity. A large part of the candidate’s plan is promised to be driven by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), keying into contemporary knowledge thrusts in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Everything, Big Data, Robotics and the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Industrial Revolutions which are already afoot and/or in play.

 12. Small businesses which provide 80% of jobs in Nigeria also got a mention, with Asiwaju promising to continue to help such businesses reduce the challenges to Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, perhaps by looking at some of the Nigerian peculiarities like multiple ‘tax’ burdens, infrastructure, transparency, and public-sector corruption. Asiwaju promises a positively disruptive governance.

13. Another revolutionary promise by Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the quest to reduce interest rates with a view to spurring a consumer credit and mortgage revolution. The consumer credit will be geared at locally produced goods, thereby generating more employment, while the mortgage revolution will be powered by Nigerian banks and will seek to transform the face of low-income housing in Nigeria in a significant manner. This is a veritable gamechanger and can contribute significantly towards the double-digit GDP growth target.

 14. There was also a promise to tackle exchange rate differentials and to enable the fashion and entertainment sector players where millions of youths are employed to be able to contribute their quotas to economic development further by remitting their proceeds home rather than maintaining their wealth abroad. This also goes for other players like commodity and manufactured goods exporters.

 15. Lastly, and very comfortingly, Asiwaju restated his worldview, which is that government in an economy at our stage of development, cannot be absent in the lives of people and cannot shirk all its responsibilities and capitulate to the capture of a few in the private sector. He has an expansive view of the economy and prosperity and comfort, through hard work, for the people of Nigeria. He says that he doesn’t believe that Nigeria has provide enough for her people through our yearly budgets and so we can do a whole lot more. He also challenged all to think in kaleidoscopic fashion, for a diversified economy, while we consolidate on the petroleum sector and remove bottlenecks to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

  Unbiased minds will begin to see that the image of our dear nation is about to be repositioned for good under the leadership of this man, and the kind blessings and forbearance of the Almighty. Nigeria had floundered enough. May all the stars in the firmament align spectacularly for our redemption this time.

•Fasua, PhD is an Economist and Public Affairs Analyst

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged all candidates of the party not to fail members who gave them tickets at the general elections.

He gave this charge at a crucial meeting with all the party’s governorship, Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates in the general elections.

Tinubu, who said he had been eager to meet with the party’s candidates, told them Nigerians are expecting a new lease of life.

The presidential front-runner said, “I am pleased to meet with you today because in you I see our party’s hope and path to success. In you, I see the hope of historic national progress as well.

“As so often in life, victory is not a cause for rest or celebration. It is a call to a greater challenge and harder toil. Thus, you all have won the primaries but now must climb the higher mountain called the general elections.

“We formed the APC, not just to be another political party. We formed it as a champion of the people to rescue democracy from the ravages of the PDP who boasted of ruling the nation for 60 years.

“We formed this party to rescue the people and their collective prosperity from the avarice and greed of an elite that will devour the nation’s God-given endowment if we allow such people back into power. As those flying our party’s flag, we carry a heavy burden on our shoulders.

“We have the mandate to deliver the party to victory so that we may protect Nigeria from those who would devour all of its fruits.

“The party has placed its trust in us. Democratic victory in the coming elections is a task we must accomplish.”

The APC standard bearer urged the party’s candidates to go to the polls starting from the presidential and national assembly elections on February 25 to the governorship and state assembly elections on March 11 with a united front.

According to him, everyone must collectively work for the party’s victory in all elections to ensure that the party’s project of growth and development for the nation is assured.

The presidential candidate promised to continue to work for every one of them even as he also desires to become Nigeria’s president.

“But winning takes us working as a united force. We have to act like the broom, the symbol of our party. A stick cannot clean any dirt but come together under the band as one, we can sweep aside all the bad and wrong things that impede our nation’s growth and development.

“As individuals, we must strive to win our respective elections. But that is not enough. We have to work together to deliver everyone contesting in our party. The presidential election, for example, is not solely about Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is your project as well. Your election is equally my project.

“We need each other. Whatever position you are contesting, you need me as much as I need you. If I work for you, I am helping myself; if you mobilize for me, you are working for yourself at the same time. Our individual and collective fates are one.

“Let us win and rise together. This is as it should be.

“I, therefore, rededicate myself to the victory of you all just as I do for myself. As you can see, They call me weak but I am canvassing back and forth and, in every corner, and space of the nation. My opponents are not. I am outworking them because this election is a great mission for me, much more than my ambition.

“I too ask you all to re-dedicate yourself to the cause of the party and the future of the nation. I cannot be everywhere, no one can.

“Our strength lies in our number and our spread. Having you across the length spread of this country makes me comfortable. I am working round the clock for our collective victory. We all should not rest until the entire election is over and victory is ours,” he added.