Category: Lead

The Federal Government has banned underage students from the National Common Entrance Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into unity colleges across the country. 

The government directed NECO to put strict measures in place to prevent underage from registering for the examination, including making birth certificates compulsory as registration requirement. 

It noted that to get into secondary school, a candidate should be at least 12 years, adding that one could be eleven plus during the examination and by September, such a person would have attained the age of 12 years.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, gave the directive on Saturday in Abuja while monitoring the conduct of the 2023 Common Entrance Examination into the 116 Federal Government Colleges across the Federation. 

Read Also: NECO reschedules common entrance 

A total of 72,821 candidates sat for the examination on Saturday nationwide. 

The Permanent Secretary, after monitoring the exercise at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, and Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, said he was unhappy to see many underage person taking the examination. 

He insisted that less than eleven years was unacceptable, disclosing that Air Force School, among others, does not accept candidates less than twelve years for admission into their schools. 

Adejo said: “This year, I have advised for parents and I beg you, take this advice to any single home you know. We are killing our children by allowing underage children to write the Common Entrance Examination. 

“I saw children that I know that are not up to 10, and three of them accepted that they are nine years old. We are doing many things; one, we are teaching the children the wrong values. Education is not about passing exams. Education is teaching, learning and character formation 

“I beg the parents, let these children do the exams when they should. We don’t get value by pushing your child too far. Most of the times if a child starts too early, he or she will have problems later in life. 

“Education is designed in such a way that at any particular stage in life, there are messages your brain can take and understand and be able to use. We are moving from education that is reliant on reading textbooks and passing exams. 

“We are getting to a stage where education is what can you use your knowledge to do for the society. You put a small child to go through all the rigours, by the time he finishes secondary, getting to University becomes a problem. I had that experience with a friend. Till date that friend did not get into a University, simply because he was put into school earlier than age that he was supposed to be put into school.

“Let our children get to appropriate age before writing this exam and we are going to make sure NECO put in place appropriate checks. We didn’t want to get to where we will say bring birth certificate but that is the stage we are going to now. In registering also upload the child’s birth certificate, so that at our own end, we are able to cut some of these things.”

The permanent secretary also noted that the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in encouraging girls education is yielding fruit, saying the number of girls that registered for the Common Entrance Examination this year is 38,000 far above the previous years. 

Ondo lawmakers have elected Hon Oladiji Olamide representing Ondo East Constituency as Speaker of the Assembly.

The All Progressives Congress(APC) dominated the Assembly having won 23 seats while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won three seats.

Moreover, 12 lawmakers in the 10th Assembly are aged between 30 and 45.

The youngest Ondo lawmaker, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, is 33, while the oldest is Witherspoon Morenike at 63.

Besides Witherspoon representing Owo II, other female lawmakers are Fayemi Annah representing Ilaje II and Ogunlowo Oluwatosin representing Idanre.

Read Also: Anxiety as Ondo Assembly elects new Speaker

Oladiji was elected as Speaker after a proclamation letter from Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was read by
Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola.

Jaiyeola, who read the Governor’s letter proclaiming the 10th Assembly to hold its first session, said it was in line with Sub section 3 of section 105 of the Nigeria Constitution.

The lawmakers also elected Hon Abayomi Akinruntan representing Ilaje 1, as Deputy Speaker.

The Speaker said the
10th Assembly would not be accused of not doing its best to reposition the state.

Olajidi promised a smooth relationship between the legislature and the executive.

The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government on the decision to remove petrol subsidy.

The Governors, who were elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed their support during a courtesy call on President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

However, the Governors voiced their concern over the sudden hike in petrol prices following the President’s inaugural speech. 

Read Also: Kyari: subsidy removed to stop Nigeria from bankruptcy

Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the President, Chairman of the PGF and Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma, condemned the price increase on what he described as “old stock”. 

He called on Nigerians to rally behind the government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy. 

Details Shortly…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Senator George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

He also approved the appointments of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff and former Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Ibrahim Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff.

The new appointments were contained in a statement on Friday by State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Friday in Abuja announced the appointment of Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, and Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu, APC Govs meet for first time

“In a meeting with Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), the President also named former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),” the statement reads. 

Before the appointments were made public, the new Chief of Staff to the President, Gbajabiamila was seen being shown round the Chief of Staff wing of the State House by some officials of the State House.

Prior to the announcement of the three new appointments, Ambassador Victor Adelek had been appointed the State Chief of Protocol (SCoP) and has since assumed office. 

President Bola Tinubu is meeting with members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President, who was joined by Vice President Kashim Shettima, is meeting with Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the first time since his inauguration.

Governors at the meeting include: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).

Others are Uba Sani (Kaduna); Dikko Radda (Katsina); Father Hyacinth Alia (Benue);  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Umar Bago (Niger); Aliyu Ahmed (Sokoto); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Bassey Otu (Cross River).

Read Also: Tinubu orders centralised security coordination

Other APC Governors not seen at the meeting include Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti);and Dr Nasir Idris (Kebbi).

Also in the meeting are the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu 

The agenda of the meeting, which kicked at around 11:35am, was unknown as at the time of filing this report.

Details Shortly…

The delay in the Supreme Court’s release of its May 26 judgment on the case by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalled Friday’s scheduled hearing in the petition file before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The Supreme Court had, in the judgment, dismissed the case by the PDP in which the party sought to void the joint ticket of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettma as presidential and vice presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election.

The PDP had, in its case claimed that Shettma violated the Electoral Act by allowing himself to be nominated twice for two different offices – Borno Central Senatorial district and Vice President.

Read Also: JUST IN: PEPC adjourns APM’s petition over Supreme Court’s decision in PDP’s double nomination case

Upon being informed about the Supreme Court judgment on May 30, the PEPC adjourned the hearing in the petition by the APM, which raised the same issue as in the PDP case,  till Friday.

Parties were to report today on the status of the petition in view of the judgment, which dealt with the same issue of the alleged double nomination of Shettma.

At the mention of the petition on Friday, the petitioner’s new lawyer, Yakubu Maikasua (SAN) told the court that his client was yet to access a certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment to enable it to take a position on its effect on the status of their petition.

Lawyers to other parties, including Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the APC also confirmed the development, following which Maikasua applied that the case be further adjourned till next Friday.

Without any objection from the respondents’ lawyers, Justice Haruna Tsammani, the court’s Presiding Justice, adjourned till June 9 for hearing in the petition.

Details shortly…

• •No payment by Fed Govt since Feb •Govt, Labour talks resume Sunday

Payment of subsidy on petrol would have sent the country into bankruptcy,

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, gave the indication yesterday.

He spoke the day after releasing the new petrol pricing template, which raised the price from N185 per litre to between N488 – N577.

In his inauguration address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced that ‘fuel subsidy is gone’. 

Following this, many marketers shut filling stations while others sold for between N600 and 900 per litre. Petrol queues returned to cities. 

On Wednesday, a Federal Government team met with Labour leaders on the issues and palliatives. The parley will resume on Sunday in Abuja.

Kyari, who spoke during a visit to the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Federal Government spends N400 billion on subsidy monthly, an amount that is too heavy for the economy to cope with.

He added that no kobo has been made available by the government for subsidy payments since February.

The NNPCL chief also said there is no data on the volume of petrol consumed in the country but that of offloading from the depots is always available.

He advised Nigerians to accept the reality that subsidy removal had come to stay.

The NNPCL boss warned that reversal of the decision could cause a cash crunch for the company and consequently affect borrowings by the federal and state governments.

Last year, the Federal Government said payment of subsidy would stop by June 2023. It budgeted N3.36 trillion for the payments. 

Admitting that the removal of subsidy would cause hardship for the masses, Kyari expressed optimism that the attendant high cost of living would fizzle out in due course.

“This is exactly where we are today. So, we no longer can bear it because of liquidity. If we continue we will run into defaults and the defaults of NNPCL are the default of Nigeria.

“Once NNPCL goes into defaults and liquidity, it affects every borrowing done by the country. Even the sub-nationals. Your lenders will come back to you and say your country can no longer pay.

“The only way you can stop this is to stop this conversation around subsidy as done by Mr President (Bola Tinubu) on May 29. 

“We saw that within 24 hours after the announcement, the bond market appreciated. It is nothing else other than the statement around subsidy and balancing of the apex market.

“These two elements are major concerns of every investor all over the world. Every partner that we have is worried about what is your apex regime and how you deal with your subsidy. They know that this subsidy constitutes a huge amount of money and this country may not be able to survive and pay its debts.

“It is very clear that everybody understands this. Before today, the average subsidy level was N400 billion every month. 

“There is this common argument that the masses will suffer; that we are going to have problems with them. I agree. Once you increase prices to this proportion, as it has happened, it will have an impact on inflation. There is no doubt about it. The market determines what happens next.

“There was a provision of N6.3 trillion in 2022 and N3.7 trillion in 2023 for up to half a year, but I can tell you that not a single naira of that has been funded and what did we do because by law, we are obligated to pay taxes and royalties and other obligations but we held back the fiscal obligations of our shareholders because there was nothing to do.

“The burden of subsidy must be financed because the provision in the law simply means that the government will write a cheque to NNPCL at the end of the month for the service that we’re providing to the nation. That cheque has not been written at all.

“Absolutely, there is a provision in the budget but you do not have the cash to back it up or you also don’t have the fiscal obligation that should have come for the NNPCL to settle for this and this definitely means that there is provision for the end of June, according to the Appropriation Act. 

“We still have a net balance of over N2.8 trillion that the federation should have given back to the NNPCL.

“For any company, when you have negative N2.8 trillion, there is no company in the whole of Africa that will lend to you. You cannot have receivables. The provision of subsidy is there but there is no funding for it. It means it is only on paper. So, it doesn’t exist.

“The conversation today is not really about when you take off subsidy, you can do roads, build hospitals, education and etcetera. It is very true. You cannot give what you don’t have. The key issue is the country does not have the money to back subsidy.

“The inflation in very many countries, it goes up when you have the economic indexes becoming difficult. In many countries, there are very many factors that can make inflation go up. When it does, prices go up. We have to deal with it; live with it.

“You have to increase your production, consumption and balance. You have to change the conversation around GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth and so on. Mr President’s target is to have a seven per cent growth of GDP. You cannot have this if you have this distortion in your demands and consumption pattern.”

Pointing out that the elite is the main beneficiaries of subsidy, Kyari said that 38 per cent of fuel supply goes to the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

He said: “Very many of us here have at least two cars in our houses. When you buy 100 litres of fuel, the government is subsiding every three litres with N100. 

Read Also: Fuel subsidy not budgeted for in 2023 budget – NNPC

“Even consumption itself is skewed in locations and states where the level of economic activities are higher than the others. It is very understandable and that is why people can afford it in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano. 

“So, over 38 per cent of the total fuel distributed in this country ends up in these places. All the other parts of the country suffer.”

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Kyari said that rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries was progressing.   

“There is an ongoing process of rehabilitation. One of them will come this year, the second one will come on stream next year and then the third one will follow thereafter,” he said.

APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had at the meeting thanked the NNPCL chief for updating the party’s leadership on the subsidy issue.

Adamu, who noted that the party was better informed, promised to give the government the much-needed support for the full implementation of the policy.

Speaking on a television programme last night, Kyari explained that with the removal of subsidy, the NNPCL would only supply 30 per cent of the nation’s requirement.

This, according to him, will leave room for anyone or company desirous of venturing into petrol importation to do so.

He said: “By law, there is competition and the NNPCL can only supply a maximum of 30 per cent of the commodity into the market. There will be no monopoly in the market.  

“So the removal of subsidy means people can access FX (Forex) freely at the same level as NNPC. This is clearly a market-driven situation. The market-driven situation means that other players will come in.

“By the way, let me make this very clear, this is a very insignificant part of NNPC’s business.

“There is no benefit for us to monopolise except it is provided for by the law.”  

Kyari cited an example with the supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) diesel, which it supplies less than 30 per cent of the volume required by the country.

He pledged that once other marketers venture into petrol supply, NNPCL will reduce its volume to the market.

“We are already doing it. Today, the daily consumption of AGO (Automotive Gas Oil) or diesel is 12 million litres a day. Today, NNPCL brings less than 30 per cent of that volume to the market.”

He attributed the queues that greeted the removal of subsidy to panic and the fact that many depots did not operate for some days because of pricing.

The GCEO said although Dangote Refinery will become operational either in July or August, it may not immediately produce 100 per cent of Nigeria’s fuel needs.

He said: “I am not sure we will have all the volume we need immediately but that will happen when all the refinery is commissioned.

“It may be in July or August. Once that happens, we will have a significant volume of PMS.”

On another television programme, the NNPCL said the company had 41.8 billion litres of petrol that are enough to last 30 days.

Demand for petrol declines by 40 %

Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says that demand for petrol has dropped by 40 per cent.

IPMAN National Vice-President Abubakar Maigandi told The Nation that commuters and other users of petrol were complaining about the new pump price of petrol.

Maigandi said: “The customers are complaining that pump prices are very high. They are seriously annoyed, insulting the marketers.

“It is an insult we have been receiving in all our petrol stations since Wednesday.”

Queues disappear in Lagos

The queues witnessed across the Lagos metropolis in the wake of the subsidy removal announcement have vanished. 

Checks by The Nation across the metropolis showed that while most of the retail outlets opened their gates to motorists, very scanty vehicles were seen buying the product.

For instance, at the NNPCL outlet on Ogunnusi Road in the Ojodu Berger area; Ikeja and Akute only a few vehicles were seen.  

Ex-senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged aspirants for Senate President to support Senator Godswill Akpabio, who has been endorsed by the party.

The ex-senators under the aegis of ‘APC Non-serving Senators Group’, advised the other contenders – Orji Kalu, Osita Izunazo and Abdulaziz Yari – to respect party supremacy.

The ex-Senators, who had served during Second, Third and Fourth republics, reiterated their position on party supremacy during the meeting in Abuja with some elders, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Ambassador Godknows Igali and Archbishop John Praise.

Outgoing Senate President Ahmed Lawan highlighted the factors that are likely to shape the election of the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly.

He told reporters after he and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila met with President Bola Tinubu in Aso Villa, Abuja, that the choice of next principal officers will be guided by the national interest and interest of the National Assembly.

Senator Akpabio,  maintained that the president is behind his aspiration.

President Tinubu and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had zoned the Senate President to the Southsouth and endorsed Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibrin from Kano, Northwest as Deputy Senate President.

Senators Kalu, Yari, Osita Izunaso and others had objected to the endorsement and vowed to contest against the Akpabio/Jibrin ticket on inauguration day.

At an enlarged meeting of the APC Non-Serving Senators Group and Stakeholders in Abuja, the Convener, Senator Basheer Lado, called on them not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

He urged them to withdraw their bids in the interest of peace, party cohesion and the smooth takeoff of the Tinubu administration.

The elders – Osoba and Yakasai also called on the group to reach out to senators-elect opposing the position of the party.

Osoba urged the APC Non-Serving Senators to lobby other aspirants to ensure that zoning is sustained.

Osoba said: “I want to appeal to you on two issues. Let us all organise a serious lobby system by convening a meeting of all aspirants for the position of Senate President in 10th Senate to make them see reason why they should toe the line of the party.

“The party has decided on zoning and has zoned the positions. We cannot afford to start this government on another crises. The fuel subsidy removal crisis is already there.

“Let us go back to our states and lobby our senators-elect to support the choice of the party. With this, I believe we shall achieve our goal without any hitch.”

Former Senate President Ameh Ebute urged APC senators-elect to respect the supremacy of the party as enshrined in its constitution.

Read Also: Wike joins Abbas, Kalu campaign Monday

After reading a section of the APC Constitution, which provides that the party is supreme, Ebute said: “The party is supreme. No member should oppose the constitution of the party and the position of its leadership. We should abide by the constitution of the party and the zoning of National Assembly leadership positions by the party.”

Elder statesman Yakasai said he had no doubt that Akpabio is qualified to serve as Senate President because of his pedigree.

He said: “The time of paucity of qualified Nigerians is over many years ago. This is the reason for my difficulties in the task giving a talk in a gathering like this. What made my task somewhat easier is the fact that we know the personality we are all talking about. The person is no other than one of the few among the multitudes of people we know who is privileged to occupy three important positions many of our compatriots will wish to occupy any time such an opportunity presents itself to them.

“The personality is no other than a one-time governor of his state, a one-time minister and presently, a senator-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, my popular, competent and amiable Senator Godswill Apkabio.

“Senator Akpabio is now presenting himself for consideration and support to be elected the President of the Senate.”

Ambassador Godknows Igali said the Southsouth is grateful to the APC for zoning the position of Senate President to the region for the purpose of equity, fairness and justice.

He added: “Let us move to lobby our colleagues to support the choice of the party for Senate President to enable our new government to hit the ground running.”

Senator Lado said the enlarged meeting became imperative for the Forum to reaffirm its support for the party’s position that the President of the Senate and his deputy should come from the southern and northern parts of the country for balance and stability.

Lado said: “We are equally convinced that there is a need now more than ever to support the party and strengthen its decision in this regard.

“We are convinced that a strong party capable of whipping its members into line stands a better chance to oversight its members in the executive and legislative branches of government and ensuring that the party manifesto and governance philosophy are religiously observed and executed.

“We were all witnesses to the dislocation that occurred when the legislators rebelled against the party and the president to install their own officers against the position of the party during the first four years of the immediate past administration and the last four years of the administration before it.

“Such a scenario immediately breeds an in-house opposition where the party works against itself. It does not bear stating that a lot of time and resources are usually lost in an effort to convince fellow party members to push forward with the programmes of the party.”

Lado added: “It is not an accident that democracies that are running well, including those on our continent, are democracies where party supremacy is respected and supported.

“Parties are organic structures that outlive periodic leaders who come and go with election seasons. They should therefore not be seen as a mere platform for winning elections and kicking down the ladder thereafter.

“Loyalty to the party in countries like South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia and many others on the continent is the beginning of political wisdom.

“APC members of the 10th National Assembly will be traveling a familiar route in Africa by putting  the party first. A few African parliamentary leaders such as Rt. Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the leader of the National Assembly of South Africa, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the leader of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Augustine Iyamurenye, the leader of the Parliament of Rwanda, and Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi Jeffa, the leader of Kenya, are all put in positions by the ruling parties of those nations.

“As key players in our party and nation, we are also aware that, in addition to the need for political harmony, regional balancing, and respect for religious plurality, Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin are not only ranking senators but also possess the necessary leadership skills.

“With Senators Akpabio and Barau Jibrin in charge of the 10th Senate, there is no doubt that the National Assembly would provide the necessary synergy to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to ensure that all Nigerians benefit from good governance and democratic dividends.

“We, therefore, call on all you stakeholders to support this patriotic move. In the interest of Nigeria’s national stability, peace, and party cohesion,we equally request once again that other aspirants withdraw their candidacies.”

How principal officers will emerge, by Lawan

 President Tinubu’s meeting with the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly was closely followed by another one with Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, both preferred choices for Speaker and Deputy Speaker. 

Highlighting the factors that will likely shape the emergence of the principal officers, Lawan said: “What will inform the emergence will be the national interest, interest of the National Assembly, the legislature to together and therefore, everybody matters in this process. We also believe that Mr. President, having been a Senator himself, and the Vice President also having been a Senator, this is something that they will always wish and pray for.”

He added: “As the Chairman of the 9th National Assembly, I find it dutiful and necessary to work with all the major stakeholders especially the leadership of our country, Mr President particularly, to give my necessary opinion and advice on how the new leadership of the National Assembly should emerge and what we need to do to ensure stability, productivity of the National Assembly and to ensure peaceful atmosphere between the legislature and the executive arms of government.

“We are getting somewhere and I pray we are able to resolve all the outstanding issues by the grace of God. And Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly,” he said.

When asked about his ambition to retain his seat as Senate President, Lawan said he has never shown interest.

Read Also: Yari insists on Senate presidency despite APC’s zoning arrangement

He stressed: “I have never indicated interest to run for the office of the President of the Senate in the 10 National Assembly. We have worked together with distinguished Senators of the 9th National Assembly and members of the House of Representatives to create a very clement environment for us to work.

“We have been productive, much more productive than any National Assembly. We have worked very closely with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and of course, that helped the administration.

I have president’s backing, says Akpabio

 Akpabio maintained that President Tinubu is still solidly behind his aspiration.

According to a statement by the Media Unit, Stability Group for Akpabio/Barau Campaign Organisation, he denied media reports that Tinubu has withdrawn his support for him.

He also said that there is no break in ranks among the 70 senators-elect that have decided to support him.

The statement titled: “Re: 10th NASS Leadership: APC, Tinubu Allegedly Back Out Of Akpabio’s Endorsement” reads: “The attention of the Senate Stability Group of the 10th Senate has been drawn to a sponsored article in some national dialies and online news platforms, purporting the alleged withdrawal of support from President Bola Tinubu for the aspiration of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the preferred choice of Mr President and party leadership.

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have bothered to dignify the sponsored false publication with a response since the purported withdrawal of support exists only in the minds of its purveyors and sponsors, but because of the negative effect it might create in the minds of our teeming supporters, it is therefore imperative that we offer this response.

“That the purported withdrawal of support from Mr President is a big fat lie baked in the oven of those who are yet to come to terms that the Akpabio/ Barau ticket for the leadership of the 10th has come to stay and served on those who are scared of coming to terms with the reality on ground, hence they resort to cheap blackmail, name calling, outright lies and falsehood.

“That the support and endorsement of Mr President and the party leadership for our candidate has not been withdrawn nor being contemplated as erroneously stated in the sponsored article.

“That the sponsors and backers of the story through out their wild goose chase labored profusely to paint the party’s preferred senate leadership in bad light with no concrete evidence to prove their corruption allegation.”

“That Senator Akpabio has served this country in various capacities from when he was a commissioner, two term governor, Senate Minority Leader and most recently, as a member of the Federal Executive Council without any blemish except a tone of allegation which has not yet been proven. Yet mischief makers carry around the spurious allegations simply because he is running for the office of the President of the10th Senate.

“For the records, there is no iota of truth in the allegation of break in the rank of over 70 senators-elect supporting Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Jubril Barau APC Endorsed candidacy for Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

“The truth is that desperate opposition to the party’s position are now jittery with their imminent failure with President Bola Tinubu now as Leader of APC and President. “

“The rebels to the party’s position are also jittery that Tinubu being a man of his words, the decision of the party on zoning would remain unaltered with the massive support of Senators-Elect across all geo-political zones with South West Senators-Elect as the arrow heads of Akpabio/Barau ticket.

“From our observations in the last few days, particularly after the successful inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 16th president of the country, the heat is now on the rebels as discreet investigations for money laundering has commenced against some of them who think they can use money to buy some of the over 70 Senators-Elect supporting the Akpabio/Barau ticket.

“Finally, the Akpabio/ Barau ticket has continued to enjoy the support of Mr President, party leadership, the Governor’s Forum, party stakeholders across party lines and over 70 Senators-Elect, who would cast their votes for the preferred candidates for the NASS Leadership.

“One million and one purveyors and sponsors of fake news, lies and blackmail in the newspapers and online news platforms cannot alter the decison of the Senators-elect, who are more than eager and willing to put the duo of Akpabio and Barau on the driving seats of the National Assembly come 13th June, 2023.”

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday demanded a centralised coordination of security architecture.

It was during his maiden meeting with Service chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies at the State House in Abuja.

He unfolded the security philosophy of his administration and warned against agencies working at cross-purposes.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), who briefed reporters after the parley, said the President warned that he would not tolerate economic sabotage.

At the meeting with President Tinubu were: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao and the Police Inspector-General (IG) Alkali Usman.

Also at the meeting were: the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Bichi and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

The NSA said the President gave an order to the security agencies to crush oil thieves.

According to Gen. Monguno, the President said he would be building on the gains already recorded in the security sector, institute reforms and not accept a situation where the fortunes of the nation continue to nose-dive while other countries make headways.

He said: “This is the very first meeting he’s had with the heads of the security agencies. The meeting lasted two hours. Having been briefed by the participants of the meeting, Mr. President addressed prevailing issues confronting the nation in terms of insecurity and also mentioned his own philosophy towards dealing with national security issues.

Read Also: Tinubu congratulates AbdulRazaq, Uzodimma on election as NGF, PGF chairmen

“First and foremost, he appreciated the armed forces and intelligence agencies and the wider para-military agencies for the work they have been doing in the past couple of years, their sacrifice, their loyalty, and he also paid tribute to those who died in defending this country from the great big menace of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy, etcetera.

“President has made it very clear that he’s determined to build on whatever gains have been made and to reverse misfortunes and turn the tide in our favour.

“As far as he is concerned, this country should not be on its knees struggling, while other countries are working and achieving greater heights.

“The President has revealed that in moving this country forward, he needs the security agencies to redouble their efforts and he’s also pointed out that his own philosophy is one of contemporary security measures, dealing with the requirements of the time.

“He has made it very clear that he will not accept a situation in which our fortunes keep declining and his own trajectory is that national security has to be coordinated, there has to be whatever it is, whether it is a basket system, but there must be a clearing house.

“All agencies must work to achieve one single purpose. Working at cross purposes and colliding with each other is not something that he will condone.

“He has made it very clear that all the security agencies must comply with the demands of coordination with the demands of frequent consultations and also timely reports, which must be acted on. He is going to embark on a lot of reforms in terms of our security architecture.

“He’s going to take a closer look at our misfortunes in the maritime domain, focusing particularly on the issues of oil theft. That he is not going to tolerate, wherever the problem is coming from, it must be crushed as soon as possible. He’s already mandated the security agencies to come up with a blueprint.

“As far as he knows, as far as he’s concerned, he doesn’t have the luxury of time and whatever changes will be made have to be done as soon as possible.”

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“The President also has decided that whatever ventures the armed forces are going to be engaged in, they must carry along those operatives in the theater. They must be well fed, well kitted, motivated and given all that they require.

“President has said clearly that he will do whatever is within his powers to enable the operational elements, but the intelligence agencies must also make their work easy for them by providing the type of intelligence that they require to carry out their assignments.”

The CDS said the security chiefs had received new instructions on how the President wants security should be pursued, assuring the team was already inspired to carry out the new tasks

“The meeting went very well. What we’ve done is to give the President, Commander-in-Chief, the situation of the security across the country and even beyond the borders of what the current situation is.

“We also got a mandate from him as to how he wants the security disposition across to be. So we have left Mr. President fired with that mandate and to realign our intervention to fit, not just the expectation of Nigerians, but with the mandate that Mr. President has given to us.”

The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate Peter Obi wasted time sorting their processes in their case before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) yesterday.

For about 40 minutes, their lawyers could not coordinate their activities to ensure seamless proceedings.

Their uncoordinated start prompted the Presiding Justice, Haruna Tsammani, to warn them against wasting the court’s time.

He suggested to the petitioners to request an adjournment to enable them to put their house in order.

But, the leader of the petitioners’’ legal team, Awa Kalu (SAN) declined, noting that having sought an adjustment the previous day, he would prefer not to ask for another.

Still unable to sort out the documents they planned to tender, the court then suspended proceedings for 10 minutes.

All the while, Obi, his running mate, Baba Datti-Ahmed and some of their supporters looked on from the gallery.

How the day began

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), complained that he was just being served with a copy of the petitioners’ schedule of documents.

He said it was contrary to the court’s earlier directive that it should be done before proceedings begin.

But, a member of the petitioners’ legal team, Emeka Okpoko (SAN), faulted Pinheiro.

He claimed the schedule was not the actual copy filed, but one meant to enable the respondents properly relate with the sequence of the tendering of the documents.

The back and forth between Okpoko and Pinheiro took a while, and when members of the court’s panel examined the schedule about which Pinheiro had complained, they found that the copy of the schedule filed by the petitioners was not the appropriate one.

Proceedings had to be suspended to enable the petitioners to file the right one.

When the hearing later resumed after they were able to file the schedule, Okpoko announced that the petitioners would challenge the last presidential election in only 18 states.

He was, however, only able to tender result sheets from six of the 18 states before asking for an adjournment.

The states are Rivers, Benue, Cross River, Niger, Osun and Ekiti.

For Rivers, the petitioners tendered Forms EC8A for 15 local government areas; for Benue, 23; for Cross River, 18; for Niger, 22; for Osun, 20 and for Ekiti, 16.

The respondents – INEC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) objected to the admissibility of the documents.

They said they would provide their reasons in their final written addresses.

The proceedings, however, came to an abrupt end when rather than tender more documents, Okpoko handed the microphone to Kalu, who sought an adjournment.

That was before the end of the four hours allocated. 

He said it was because they had exhausted what they had for the day and would prefer to return the next day.

Further hearing in the petition has been shifted to 9 am today.

PDP witness testifies

Also yesterday, the Kogi State Collation Officer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the last presidential election, Captain Joe Agada (rtd), told the PEPC that he got information about vote manipulation from his party’s agents.

Agada, who appeared before the court as the first petitioner’s witness in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, said he only witnessed the alleged manipulation of results and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the over 20 polling units he visited in two Senatorial Districts.

Under cross-examination by INEC’s lawyer, Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN), Agada said it was wrong to say that he witnessed the manipulation he claimed in his statement all around the state.

When asked by Aliyu if it was wrong to conclude that he witnessed all the alleged manipulation of ballot papers claimed in his witness statement, Agada said: “It will be wrong.”

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He said his allegations were based on a combination of what he witnessed and the reports sent to him by his party’s agents.

Agada, who admitted being PDP’s witness in the 2015 and 2019 presidential election disputes, said he visited over 20 polling units in two Senatorial Districts during the 2023 poll.

The witness, who said he spent three to five minutes in each of the polling units, claimed that his party’s agents and he were compelled by INEC officials to sign election result sheets.

Under cross-examination by President Tinubu’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), the witness said he did not include, in his written statement, that his party’s agents and himself were forced to sign election result sheets.

Agada, who had earlier denied that his party agents were communicating with each other during the election, made a U-turn when he was confronted with his written statement.

Under cross-examination by APC lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Agada, a pharmacist, said while some of his party agents from whom he got reports about the alleged ballot papers manipulation are alive, some were dead.

The witness said he and two other PDP members analysed the various reports sent in by the party’s agents to conclude that the results of the election were allegedly manipulated in his state.

The second witness, Dr. Solarin Sunday Adekunle, a Chartered Accountant, served as the Ogun State Collation Officer for the PDP.

He admitted that his claim of intimidation and harassment during the election was from the combination of what he saw and what was reported to him by his party’s agents.

Under cross-examination by Olujinmi, Adekunle said he did not reflect that claim in his written statement. 

He also said he excluded from his statement, his claim that he did not sign the result sheet.

While being cross-examined by Pinheiro, Adekunle denied granting an interview to a television, during which he allegedly commented on the election and claimed that his party gave N10,000 recharge cards to voters.

When reminded by Pinheiro that he granted the said interview on April 11, 2023, Adekunle admitted it but denied that it was in respect of the presidential election.

The witness, who claimed to have witnessed vote inflation, said there are 5,040 polling units in his state, but that he visited some of the 19 polling units in his community, during which he spent 10 minutes in each.

Under cross-examination by Fagbemi, Adekunle said it was possible for his statement and that of Agada to be similar because they were speaking on the same election.

Fagbemi noted that the 10 paragraphs in Adekunle’s statement were the same as the 10 paragraphs in Agada’s statement.

The lawyer observed that paragraphs 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in Agada’s statement were the same as paragraphs 1, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21 in Adekunle’s statement.

The third witness, Uzoma Abonta, a lawyer and PDP’s Collation Officer for Abia State, said he would be a spirit to witness all the manipulation he claimed took place in the entire state.

Abonta said his claim about manipulation was from a combination of what he experienced, noticed and reports sent to him by his party’s agents.

While being cross-examined by the lawyer to INEC, the witness said he could not be in different local governments of the state at the same time.

Under cross-examination by another member of Tinubu’s legal team, Yusuf Ali (SAN), Abonta said all his party’s agents played their roles perfectly and signed the result sheets. 

He said he also signed as the state Collation Officer.

The witness said although he disputed the results in his state, he did not present any alternative result before the court.

Under cross-examination by Fagbemi, Abonta admitted that he did not mention, in his statement, the number of polling units he claimed were affected by the allegations.

After Abonta’s testimony, the petitioners’ lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), sought an adjournment till Friday.

Justice Tsammani adjourned till 3pm-7pm.