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Obi takes sarcasm to another level as he throws jabs at Tinubu, Soyinka, Okupe

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Obi takes sarcasm to another level as he throws jabs at Tinubu, Soyinka, Okupe

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, on Wednesday, displayed his sense of sarcasm when he threw veiled jabs at President Bola Tinubu, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and the former Director-General of his campaign council, Doyin Okupe.
Obi, who was a guest on an Arise TV political programme in commemoration of the 2024 Democracy Day, was asked to give his honest assessment of the Tinubu administration and he promptly said: “President Tinubu has kept his campaign promises of continuing from where Buhari stopped.
“He has done very well and is excellent at continuing from where Buhari stopped. Everything has gone up.”

President Tinubu Has Kept His Campaign Promises; Continuing From Where Buhari Stopped -Obi
He has done very well and is excellent at continuing from where Buhari stopped. Everything has gone up.Peter Obi, 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate
Full interview:… pic.twitter.com/eRTpKjXxzj
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) June 12, 2024

While speaking on the recent criticism he has faced from the likes of Soyinka, Okupe and Anambra States governor Charles Soludo, Obi said: “On Wole Soyinka, Doyin Okupe and Soludo’s criticisms, I don’t like to coment when my fathers talk. I will leave the assessment to the people to make.
READ ALSO:Peter Obi may return to PDP, if…, former LP campaign DG, Osuntokun, reveals condition
“He (Wole Soyinka), is an elder and I don’t talk when elder talks. But when I get to that age, I would like the younger generation to respect me and I would put myself in a position to be respected.
“But I am fit to be the president of this nation. I am competent in both private and public service. I am one of the most successful business men in Nigeria.
“I can stand and compete against anyone in terms of my education and background.”

Peter Obi: “The first thing you do as a leader who inherited a difficult situation is to lead by example.”
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) June 12, 2024

The post Obi takes sarcasm to another level as he throws jabs at Tinubu, Soyinka, Okupe appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Eid-El-Kabir: Police beef up security in Osun

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Eid-El-Kabir: Police beef up security in Osun

The Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Umar Abba, has ordered effective and extensive deployment of policemen as well as all necessary logistics to strategic locations across the state.
This is as part of efforts by the Osun State Police Command to ensure a hitch free Eid-el-kabir celebrations.
CP Umar Abba made this known in a statement issued by the Command Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola in Osogbo on Thursday.
The CP, according to the statement, also issued a directive to all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers as well as Tactical Commanders, “charging them to ensure that no stone is left unturned in making sure that adequate security is provided in their various areas of jurisdiction”.
While stressing that maximum attention should be paid to critical public places and other points prone to public disturbance, the CP “assured members of the public that security had already been beefed up to ensure a crime-free Sallah celebration”.
Charging heads of formations to personally supervise their personnel deployed for the special assignment, CP Umar Abba warned them not to infringe on the rights of citizens.
“They are to ensure a 24/7-hourly surveillance of their respective area of operations. We are soliciting for the cooperation of all and sundry.
“The State Police Command is hereby urging citizens to be law abiding. Parents and guardians are enjoined to take good care of their wards and advise them to stay away from any act capable of causing public disorderliness.
“Members of the public are to report any suspicious movement by giving prompt and useful information to the Police in case of any infraction of the law through the following numbers 08039537995 and 08067788119.
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command wishes all Muslim faithfuls and visitors a joyous and peaceful celebration.”
Eid-El-Kabir: Police beef up security in Osun

Footballers’ unions take FIFA to court over Club World Cup

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Footballers’ unions take FIFA to court over Club World Cup

Players’ unions have complained that the expanded Club World Cup, due to take place in the United States in June and July next year, is an unacceptable additional burden on players.

The organisations “believe that these decisions violate the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights while also potentially violating EU competition law”, the global professional footballers union FIFPRO said in a statement.

With the support of FIFPRO, UNFP and PFA have asked the Brussels Commercial Court to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union by putting forward “four questions for a preliminary ruling”.

“Players and their unions have consistently highlighted the current football calendar as overloaded and unworkable”, the unions said in their statement.

In early May, FIFPRO and the World Association of Football Leagues had already threatened FIFA with legal action.

The players’ representatives accuse FIFA of having “continued a programme of competition expansion despite the opposition of player unions”, in particular by expanding the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teams.

“The most in-demand players are now part of an endless schedule of games and competitions for club and country, with their limits constantly being pushed through expansion and the creation of new competitions,” said PFA general manager Maheta Molango.

The two unions point to a possible violation by FIFA of the right of European workers to “collectively bargain over their terms and conditions of employment” and their right to “healthy friendly working conditions”, as provided for in European law.

They also cite the ECJ’s ruling in the Super League case last December as evidence that FIFA is restricting competition law in a “unilateral and discretionary” manner.

FIFA has not commented, but sources close to the governing body point out that the international match calendar was signed off by its ruling Council which features representation from all continental confederations, including UEFA.

They also insist that the calendar was the result of extensive consultation, and reject any suggestion that it was imposed on the football community.

AFP

Checkpoint not cause of Enugu accident – Nigerian Army

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Checkpoint not cause of Enugu accident – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports blaming an accident that claimed 25 lives at Egwu Onyeama, Enugu State, on Tuesday, on a
checkpoint mounted by the 82 Division, Enugu.
The Headquarters 82 Division of Nigerian army maintained it does not have a checkpoint at the location of the accident.
According to the Division, the accident that occured on Tuesday happened about 300m ahead of the soldiers’ base.
It added that preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was due to brake failure.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday, the Division commiserated with families whose loved ones were involved in the incident, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The statement reads: “The attention of Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to the news circulating in some mainstream and social media platforms attributing the Division’s Checkpoint at Ugwu Onyeama as the cause of an unfortunate and tragic accident that claimed 25 lives on 11 June 2024. On receipt of the information from an online journalist that sought clarification about the incident, he was informed one-off that the Division does not have a checkpoint there but rather, it has a Location/Base by the roadside to curb the incessant kidnappings the area was hitherto known for.
“This, report is inaccurate and full of falsehood that are meant to tarnish the appreciable efforts of the troops. It is therefore necessary to set the records straight.
“First, the Division wishes to condole and commiserate with the families whose loved ones were involved in the tragic incident and also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“It would be recalled that the rehabilitation of the road was concluded in December and the road opened in first quarter of this year. Since then, the troops only have a base and the barriers used for the checkpoint were removed.
“Due to the steep gradient of the road, the section have remained problematic since the 1990s before, during and after the checkpoints were removed.
“The accident that occured yesterday happened about 300m ahead of the soldiers’ base. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred due to a brake failure of a trailer coming down slope from 9th Mile Axis. The trailer rammed into other incoming vehicles from Enugu and not those coming from same Axis of 9th Mile with it.
“Hence, the crash was a head-on and not a rear collision. Thus, the soldiers never stopped any vehicle on the road for any checking but served as a responder to the accident.
“Also, while loss of any life is unfortunate, however, only 2 people died at the scene of the accident and not 25 cases being reported. It is disheartening to accuse the military of causing the accident. The Division is not unaware of the efforts of the kidnappers and illegal miners in the area to get rid of the checkpoint.
“The law abiding citizens are once again assured of the commitment of 82 Division Nigerian Army to continue to serve them as the Nigerian Army remains the Peoples’ Army.
“The general public is hereby enjoined to disregard the report as it is not the actual account of what happened. The Division will continue to perform its constitutional roles of protecting lives and property within its Area of Responsibility.”
Checkpoint not cause of Enugu accident – Nigerian Army

NELFUND to publish institutions with complete data June 24

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NELFUND to publish institutions with complete data June 24

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has said it would publish the full list of institutions that have submitted their complete student data as requested by the agency for upload onto the NELFUND Student Verification System.

NELFUND on Thursday, said the list would be published on June 24, 2024.

This list of both Federal and State owned institutions will be published to ensure transparency and to encourage due access and participation in the scheme, of both undergraduate applicants and tertiary institutions in this critical exercise, the Fund said in a statement by its Head of Media, Nasir Ayitogo.

‘It is commendable that many federal institutions have already completed the exercise has been the first wave, whilst the process of uploading the data to NELFUND SVS is currently ongoing for the state-owned institutions

‘For applicants to be able to access the fund, the individual’s details must feature in the institution’s submitted data set sent to the NELFUND SVS, where automatic applicant verification can then occur seamlessly.

‘Failure to have this verification would invalidate the application process and disadvantage applicants. It is therefore critical that the information provided by the tertiary institutions is not only complete but also accurate,” the Fund said.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on April 3, signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law.

The assent was sequel to the separate considerations by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

The executive bill titled, ‘A bill for an Act to repeal the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023 and Enact the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2004 to Establish the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as a body corporate to receive, manage and invest funds to provide loans to Nigerians for higher education, vocational training and skills acquisition and related matters,’ was signed in the presence of the leadership of the National Assembly, ministers and major stakeholders of education.

The Act empowers the Nigeria Education Loan Fund to provide loans to qualified Nigerian students for tuition, fees, charges and upkeep during their studies in approved public tertiary institutions and vocational and skills acquisition establishments in the country.

Nigeria’s economic downturn responsible for decline in DStv subscribers – Multichoice

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Nigeria’s economic downturn responsible for decline in DStv subscribers – Multichoice

African Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Group, has blamed Nigeria’s economic challenges for the decline in DStv subscribers.
According to Multichoice, active subscribers in the country has reduced by 18 per cent.
The company disclosed this in its financial result for the year, which ended March 31, 2024.
According to Multichoice, the decline in Nigeria affected its overall subscriber base leading to a nine per cent decline for the year.
The total subscription figure for Nigeria was not stated as it is lumped with other operating units outside South Africa tagged as ‘Rest of Africa’ (RoA).
It reported that the 18 per cent decline in Nigeria brought the RoA’s total active subscribers down by 13 per cent to 8.1 million from 9.3 million in 2023.
“The group’s 9% decline in active subscribers was mainly due to a 13% decline in the Rest of Africa business as mass-market customers in countries like Nigeria had to prioritize basic necessities over entertainment, while the South African business showed more resilience with a 5% decline.
“The Nigerian economy and consumers faced persistent challenges through FY24. The removal of fuel subsidies, sharp currency depreciation with the official naira halving in value, inflation climbing to over 30%, and higher emigration of the middle and upper class drove an 18% YoY decline in active subscribers,” the company said.
Multichoice added that this also reduced Nigeria’s contribution to the Rest of Africa revenues from 44 per cent to 35 per cent.
It noted, however, that Ghana saw a similar subscriber trend given an inflation rate that is still above 20 per cent.
Multichoice further stated that due to the challenging market dynamics, the short-term focus of its RoA (Nigeria, Angola, Kenya, Ghana, and Zimbabwe) business was shifted from subscriber growth to safeguard profitability and cash flows.
Recall that Ahead of the implementation of Multichoice’s new subscription prices on May 1, a Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja issued an order restraining the company from implementing the new prices based on a case filed by a Nigerian customer.
TVN had reported that Multichoice ignored the court order and implemented the new prices which prompted the Tribunal to slam a N150 million fine on the company for challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
The court also ordered Multichoice to give Nigerians a one-month free subscription on DSTV and GOTV.
Nigeria’s economic downturn responsible for decline in DStv subscribers – Multichoice

$2.4bn of $5.5bn refinery loan repaid, says Dangote

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$2.4bn of $5.5bn refinery loan repaid, says Dangote

The founder of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that he has paid off $2.4bn of the $5.5bn loan for his $19bn Lagos-based refinery.

The Africa’s richest man also alleged that powerful oil cartels tried to undermine his refinery project.

Speaking at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Nassau, The Bahamas, on Wednesday, Dangote said his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery will act as Nigeria’s strategic reserve, as reported by This Day Newspaper.

“We borrowed the money based on our own balance sheet. I think we borrowed just over $5.5bn. But we paid also a lot of interest as we went along, because the project was delayed because of lack of land, also the sand-filling took a long time. Almost five years or so we didn’t do anything.

“We actually started in 2018. We borrowed that much. We have actually, of course, paid interest and some principal, about $2.4bn. We’ve done very well. We now have only about $2.7bn left to be paid. So we’ve done very well for a project of that magnitude,” he said.

Dangote thanked Afreximbank and Access Bank for their support, acknowledging that many had doubted the project’s success.

He stated that the vision would have failed without their backing.

Dangote further remarked that foreign banks showed little interest in supporting Africa’s development.

The billionaire acknowledged that he anticipated resistance, but admitted that he underestimated the ferocity of the opposition, stating that the pushback was far more intense than he had expected.

He stated that both local and international interests, which he likened to a “mafia”, made repeated attempts to thwart the refinery’s completion.

“Well, I knew that there would be a fight. But I didn’t know that the mafia in oil, they are stronger than the mafia in drugs. I can tell you that. Yes, it’s a fact,” he stated.

Dangote, who described himself as a fighter, said they “tried all sorts” to stop him.

“But I’m a person that has been fighting all my life. You know, so I think it’s part of my life to fight,” he said.

He added, “As a matter of fact during the COVID period, some of the international banks really were looking forward to making sure that they push us into default of our loans so that the project will just be dead. And that didn’t happen with the help of banks like Afreximbank.”

Dangote also announced his plans to venture into the steel industry, stating that his goal is to use only Nigerian-produced steel, ensuring self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imports.

According Online reports the Dangote Refinery recently shifted its plan to release petrol into the market from June to July 10-15. Dangote cited minor challenges for the delay.

Biafra declaration will restore peace, stability to West Africa – BRGIE

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Biafra declaration will restore peace, stability to West Africa – BRGIE

The Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, BRGIE, has claimed the declaration of Biafra Liberation on December 2, 2024, will bring about peace and stability in the West African region.
Simon Ekpa, who is known as the Prime Minister of BRGIE, disclosed this in a statement via his official X handle on Thursday.
This is coming amid vow by the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa that Ekpa must be arrested and prosecuted.
However, Ekpa noted that the declaration of Biafra meant total freedom from Nigeria.
He stressed that the liberation of Biafra would put an end to the insecurity surge in Nigeria.
According to him, “in preparation for the declaration of the Restoration of Independence state of Biafra, BRGIE has engaged a Lobbying Firm in Washington DC to represent the Biafra government effective from June 12, 2024.”
He added that the marginalization of Biafrans will be a thing of the past from December.
“As the Biafra Declaration of 2nd December 2024 comes closer, our objective is to see Biafra total freedom from Nigeria, which will help to restore peace and stability in the entire Sahel region, it will also help to end terrorism in West Africa.
“The Biafra Republic Government In Exile BRGIE under my leadership has hired one of the prominent Lobbying Firm in Washington DC to represent the Biafra government effective from 12.6.2024.
“Our arms remain wide open to other possibilities across the board. Biafrans are ready to make friends with whoever is willing to help in the Liberation, we have no enemies other elements in the Nigeria state”, he said.
About three weeks ago, Ekpa’s BRGIE announced that it has dragged the Nigerian government to the African Union over Biafra Liberation and the continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Biafra declaration will restore peace, stability to West Africa – BRGIE

Bank witness exposes suspicious payments in Agunloye trial

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Bank witness exposes suspicious payments in Agunloye trial

In a development surrounding the alleged $6 billion Mambila Power Project fraud, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission witness has shed light on how former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, received multiple transfers totalling N5.2 million from an employee of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd, Jide Sotirin.

An EFCC statement on Thursday via X noted that the revelation came during Agunloye’s trial before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, where he faces seven-count charges bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambila Power Project contract.

A compliance officer with Guaranty Trust Bank, Adebayo Ilori, took the stand as a prosecuting witness and narrated the intricate details of the financial transactions involving Agunloye and Sotirin.

According to Ilori’s testimony quoted by the EFCC, “Sometimes in October 2022, the bank received a letter from EFCC requesting for some information on the account opening package, statement of account, and certificate of identification on two customers, Olu Agunloye and Jide Sotirin.”

Ilori further explained the process undertaken by the bank to comply with the EFCC’s request, stating, “Upon receiving the letter, Wale Agunbiade, head of the Unit, went ahead to generate the statement of account from the computer system of the bank.”

The witness confirmed the authenticity of the documents provided to the EFCC, stating, “Upon receiving the account opening package and statement of account, we compared the information generated because the statement of account was generated from the bank’s application by imputing the customer’s details on the computer system, and all the parameters requested, which was then printed out.”

Ilori’s testimony took a critical turn when he revealed the details of the financial transfers Sotirin made to Agunloye.

“The witness established that Sotirin on August 10, 2019, transferred the sum of N3,600,000.00 from his account to Agunloye. On October 22, 2019, he transferred N500,000.00 to Agunloye and equally did so on November 13, 2019, to the tune of N1,121,000.00,” the EFCC statement noted.

The witness further corroborated his claims by referring to the bank statements, stating, “On exhibit EFCC (1b), the name of the account holder is Agunloye Olu, and it is a Naira account. On 10 August 2019, there was a transfer credit of N3,600,000.00 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun in favour of Agunloye Olu. Also, on 22 October 2019, there was a credit transfer of N500,000.00 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloye, and on 13 Nov 2019, there was a credit transfer of N1,121,000 from Jide Sotirin Abiodun to Agunloye Olu.”

The EFCC furthered that the court proceedings were adjourned until June 11, 2024, for cross-examination.

The EFCC had on January 10 arraigned Agunloye, who served as power and steel minister between 1999 and 2003 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on seven counts bordering on “fraudulent award of contract and official corruption.”

In one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye awarded a contract, titled “Construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis” to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited “without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.”

In another count, Agunloye was alleged to have on August 10, 2019 “corruptly received the sum of N3.6m from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and Leno Adesanya for having conveyed the ‘approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960 megawatts Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station’ in favour of SPTCL.”

Minimum wage: I’ll approve what Nigeria can afford – Tinubu

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Minimum wage: I’ll approve what Nigeria can afford – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said that he would approve a new minimum wage that the government can afford.
The President said this on Wednesday at a dinner to mark Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken Democracy in Abuja.
Tinubu thanked those who stood by him over the years, promising Nigerians that he won’t depart from the tenets of democratic governance.
“I have to celebrate with you my dear brother, Senate President, Deputy Senate President,” he said, adding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibrin Barau would soon get an Executive Bill from him on the new minimum wage.
“The minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford, what you can afford and what I can afford. Cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all,” he said.
The President also pledged to bring down the prices of food items by tackling the menace of banditry that has forced many farmers away from their farms.
He also rallied Nigerians to support his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and informed citizens that a bill for a new minimum wage would be sent to the National Assembly soon, among other things.
Recall that the government and the labour last Friday, failed to reach an agreement on the new minimum wage.
While labour again dropped its demand from N494,000 to N250,000, the government added N2,000 to its initial N60,000 and offered workers N62,000.
Both sides submitted their reports to the President who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly for a new minimum wage.
Minimum wage: I’ll approve what Nigeria can afford – Tinubu

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