Paul Ibe, spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has shed light on the internal power struggle that led to former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi’s exit from the party.
Ibe, who spoke during an interview with Channel Television’s Seun Okinbaloye, alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, frustrated Atiku’s efforts to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East.
He added that the development ultimately forced Obi out of the PDP.
According to Ibe, Atiku was willing to step aside if the party had zoned the ticket to the South-East, but Wike’s ambition to secure the ticket for himself thwarted the move.
READ ALSO:Nigerians come for Atiku’s aide, Daniel Bwala for defending Tinubu’s absence
Obi left the PDP in May 2022 and joined the Labour Party where he secured the right to contest in the last election.
He finished third in the election. behind President Bola Tinubu and Atiku.
Ibe said: “Atiku did not force Peter Obi out of the party, Wike was instrumental in the exit of Obi because Wike had promoted the zoning of the presidency to the south.
“Atiku Abubakar had said that he was prepared to get himself off the ticket if the party zoned the ticket to the South-East.
“Wike frustrated that effort because he believed that if it was zoned to the south, not the southeast, he would be in the best position to be able to get the ticket.”
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Atiku’s aide reveals how Wike’s ambition forced Peter Obi out of PDP
Lokpanta Cattle market must be free from criminals, smelly abattoir – Otti
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has restated the determination of his administration to eradicate every form of criminality from the Lokpanta Cattle market in Umuchieze, Umunneochi LGA of the state.
This is even as the governor expressed worry on the dirty condition of the market and admonished the traders on the need to clean up their environment.
Otti said this on Sunday when he paid an unscheduled visit to inspect the ongoing perimeter fencing projects around the cattle market while returning from Enugu.
“I stopped around the abattoir and I found that the place is very dirty and smelly. So, we have to ensure that it is clean because it is what people eat.
“If they get contaminated, people will fall sick, and you don’t want to sell your cattle, sell your meat and somebody eats it and gets sick. So, you have a responsibility to keep the abattoir and everywhere you are clean,” he said.
He reiterated that the market would become a non-residential place but a trading environment, saying that the Abia state government is making a plan to locate where the traders will live.
Otti, who thanked the traders for their support, said all genuine traders would receive protection and support from his administration, even as he charged the traders to fish out every criminal found around the place.
“So, everyone who is doing a legitimate business, the government will protect you. What we don’t want are criminals.
“You must fish out every criminal because the day they will attack, they may be attacking you. Criminals don’t ask where you come from, what religion or what language you speak”, he told the traders.
Lokpanta Cattle market must be free from criminals, smelly abattoir – Otti
Falana tackles Fubara over directive to Rivers Assembly, insists on legislature’s independence
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticized the Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara, for directing members of the state House of Assembly to convene at the Government House for plenary.
Falana, who featured in Channel Television’s Sunday Politics, emphasized that the legislature was independent of the executive arm of government.
He argued that the governor’s directive was an overreach as the Assembly has the autonomy to determine its own sitting venue.
He noted that the independence of the legislative and executive arms of government is enshrined in the constitution, and Fubara’s action undermines this principle.
The rights activist suggested that the governor may have issued the directive before the Rivers State High Court intervened, but insisted that the legislature’s independence remains unassailable.
He said: “The House is independent of the executive. So the governor cannot tell the house where to sit.”
READ ALSO:PDP to APC: Bury the idea of impeaching Gov Fubara
Fubara had on Friday issued an executive order for the immediate and temporary relocation of the sitting of the Assembly to the Auditorium, Admin Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt.
In an official Gazette, Executive Order of the Rivers State Government 001-2023, Fubara cited the unsafe state of the Assembly complex.
This development raises concerns about the balance of power in Rivers State and the potential for executive overreach.
Falana’s intervention highlights the importance of upholding the constitutional separation of powers and ensuring that each arm of government respects the autonomy of the others.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Assembly will respond to the governor’s directive and assert its independence.
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Adeleke’s chieftaincy title acceptance undermines governance priorities – APM
The Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Osun State chapter, has criticised the installation of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the Asiwaju of Ede.
The party also labeled it as an abuse of power and a conflict of interest.
In a statement signed by the party’s chairman, Wale Adebayo, he lamented that such actions could set a bad precedent, conflict of interest, and potential nepotism.
Governor Adeleke is set to be installed as the Asiwaju of Ede land by the Timi of Ede land, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal.
Also, the event is being used to mark the 64th birthday anniversary of the governor.
TVN reports that the previous holder of the chieftaincy title was the governor’s late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was the first executive governor of Osun State and three term senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, between 2003 and 2007 and 2014 to 2017 before his demise.
According to Adebayo, “Governor Adeleke’s decision to accept a chieftaincy title on a Monday morning is highly concerning and raises serious questions about his priorities as the state’s leader.
“By prioritising a ceremonial event over his official duties at the start of the workweek, Governor Adeleke is sending a troubling message that personal prestige and ceremonial honours are more important than the welfare and progress of the people he is supposed to serve.
“This action suggests a lack of urgency and commitment to addressing the pressing issues facing Osun State, and may undermine the trust and confidence of the people in his leadership. It also sets a poor example for other public officials and reinforces a culture of self-serving leadership, rather than one that prioritizes the public good.
“It raises questions about Governor Adeleke’s priorities and whether he is truly focused on delivering good governance and meaningful progress for the people of Osun State, or if he is more interested in personal aggrandizement and ceremonial honours.
“The people of Osun State deserve a leader who is fully committed to their welfare and progress, and who prioritizes their needs above personal interests.
“This sets a dangerous precedent that could erode public trust and faith in the state’s leadership.
“Furthermore, the governor’s decision may embolden other public officials to prioritize their own personal prestige and self-aggrandisement over the critical work of serving the people. This would be an unacceptable dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the public’s confidence.
“Governor Adeleke must reconsider this course of action and demonstrate an unwavering focus on the urgent matters of governance.
“The people of this state deserve a leader who will put their needs first, not one distracted by ceremonial honours. We urge the governor to recalibrate his priorities and dedicate himself fully to the duties of his office.
“Specifically, the APM is concerned that future governors may seek similar titles, creating a culture of seeking personal honours rather than focusing on governance.
“A governor holding a chieftaincy title may create a conflict of loyalty, where their responsibilities to the state may be compromised by their new traditional obligations.”
Adebayo added that the governor’s frequent trips abroad were personal and not in the best interest of Osun State.
“His frequent travels outside the state are for personal reasons, such as attending parties, rather than for official business or development opportunities for Osun State.
“As the chief executive of the state, his primary responsibility is to serve the people of Osun State and work towards its development and progress.
“If his travels are not focused on achieving these goals, but rather on personal indulgences, we view it as dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the people of Osun State.
“It is imperative that he maintains a high ethical standard and separates political and traditional institutions to ensure good governance and accountability,” the statement added.
Adeleke’s chieftaincy title acceptance undermines governance priorities – APM
MTNN, Zenith Bank, GTCO, Julius Berger top list of stocks to watch this week
After a temporary reprieve, the bears returned to the equities market last week as investors lost N761.40 billion.
It would be recalled that the market tumbled four times out of the five trading days last week.
At the end of trading on May 10,
the benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) lost -1.36% to close at 98,233.76 points from 99,587.25 points the previous week
Despite the bearish sentiments in the market stocks like MTNN, GTCO, UBA and PRESCO posted strong performances to lift the market sentiments making them stocks to watch in the new week.
Kindly note that TVN Stocks to watch is not a buy, sell or hold recommendation. It is advisable to consult your financial advisor before making any investment decision.
Julius Berger • 72.40 0.00
The current share price of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBERGER) is NGN 72.40. JBERGER closed its last trading day (Friday, May 10, 2024) at 72.40 NGN per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX). Julius Berger began the year with a share price of 43.00 NGN and has since gained 68.4% on that price valuation, ranking it seventh on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance. Shareholders can be optimistic about JBERGER knowing the stock has accrued 24% over the past four-week period alone—fourth best on NGX.
Julius Berger Nigeria is the 74th most traded stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the past three months (Feb 6 – May 10, 2024). JBERGER has traded a total volume of 33 million shares—in 3,265 deals—valued at NGN 1.99 billion over the period, with an average of 523,661 traded shares per session. A volume high of 6.62 million was achieved on February 7th, and a low of 5,740 on March 27th, for the same period.
READ ALSO:MTNN, Zenith Bank, GTCO, Julius Berger top list of stocks to watch this week
MTNN • 220.00 0.00
The current share price of MTN Nigeria (MTNN) is NGN 220.00. MTNN closed its last trading day (Friday, May 10, 2024) at 220.00 NGN per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX). MTN began the year with a share price of 264.00 NGN but has since lost 16.7% off that price valuation, ranking it 136th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance.
MTN Nigeria is the 29th most traded stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the past three months (Feb 6 – May 10, 2024). MTNN has traded a total volume of 146 million shares—in 24,414 deals—valued at NGN 32.7 billion over the period, with an average of 2.32 million traded shares per session. A volume high of 11.9 million was achieved on May 8th, and a low of 149,749 on May 2nd, for the same period.
GTCO • 41.45 ▴ 1.45 (3.63%)
The current share price of Guaranty Trust Holding (GTCO) is NGN 41.45. GTCO closed its last trading day (Friday, May 10, 2024) at 41.45 NGN per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX), recording a 3.6% gain over its previous closing price of 40.00 NGN. Guaranty Trust Holding began the year with a share price of 40.50 NGN and has since gained 2.35% on that price valuation, ranking it 66th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance. Investors should, however, take caution of GTCO’s recent bad performance, having lost 10% of its value in the past four weeks.
Guaranty Trust Holding is the fourth most traded stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the past three months (Feb 6 – May 10, 2024). GTCO has traded a total volume of 2.07 billion shares—in 27,738 deals—valued at NGN 85.9 billion over the period, with an average of 32.8 million traded shares per session. A volume high of 245 million was achieved on April 30th, and a low of 3.11 million on March 4th, for the same period.
ZENITHBANK • 34.00 0.00
The current share price of Zenith Bank Plc (ZENITHBANK) is NGN 34.00. ZENITHBANK closed its last trading day (Friday, May 10, 2024) at 34.00 NGN per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX). Zenith began the year with a share price of 38.65 NGN but has since lost 12% off that price valuation, ranking it 129th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance. Shareholders’ worries are compounded by the fact that ZENITHBANK has lost 18% of the stock’s value from April 8th to date.
Zenith Bank is the sixth most traded stock on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the past three months (Feb 6 – May 10, 2024). ZENITHBANK has traded a total volume of 1.78 billion shares—in 36,391 deals—valued at NGN 68.8 billion over the period, with an average of 28.3 million traded shares per session. A volume high of 162 million was achieved on April 4th, and a low of 6.93 million on February 15th, for the same period.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Nigerians naive to understand Tinubu’s ‘renewed hope’ – Fada Oluoma
Famous Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma has suggested that Nigerians were obviously too naive to understand President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Oluoma, who likened hope to anaesthetics, said anesthetics was meant to numb the pain while the real life saving surgery takes place.
In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, the cleric lamented that naira, the nation’s currency, was strongly resisting every effort to keep it below N1500 naira per dollar under the current government.
Oluoma noted that a loaf of bread that sold for N500 now sells for N1200 naira, while commodity prices have doubled, tripled and quadrupled as the case may be.
According to him, “Hope doesn’t put food on the table, hope doesn’t pay school fees, hope doesn’t pay hospital bills, hope doesn’t pay house rent (which landlords increase indiscriminately and govt ignores infamously); Hope will not create jobs or make electricity supply constant.”
He continued, “The problem here is that successive governments in Nigeria keep administering large doses of anaesthetics to us without carrying out any curative surgery. Maliciously increasing the dosage and frequency once we wake up from the effect of previous dosage.
“At worst, hope is an opium, a psychic drug that makes you feel okay and patient, maybe even comfortable with all the things going wrong.
“It sedates you but doesn’t change your condition. So, Tinubu offered us hope not jobs, not improved earnings, not stable electricity or buoyant economy, he offered us hope and we bought it”.
Speaking further, Oluoma opined that ‘hope’ shouldn’t be what politicians offer its citizens, adding that it should be left for clerics.
He stressed that a government should offer job opportunities, not hope of jobs
“Hope shouldn’t be what politicians offer its citizens, it should be left for clerics like my humble self. A government should offer job opportunities, not hope of jobs.
“A government should offer security, power, housing, affordable health care, education and not hope for these things. Why is Nigeria the place where politicians preach like clergy men and clergy act like politicians?
“While the former offer hope, the latter promise jobs, prosperity and other material well being they are in no position and have no capacity to give. What in God’s blue planet is going on with governance in Nigeria?
“As long as the purchasing power of the poor masses keep nose diving and the prices of basic goods and services keep skyrocketing further beyond their reach, what we have is nothing but ‘Renewed Shege’.
“Each administration will always leave our currency weaker than the previous one, a recurring decimal. One administration shows us Shege, another one comes and renews it and we keep dying gradually in hope. Let the poor citizens of Nigeria breathe, please.”
Nigerians naive to understand Tinubu’s ‘renewed hope’ – Fada Oluoma
Lagos Govt vows to clamp down on illegal real estate firms
The Lagos State Government has vowed to clamp down on unregistered individuals and organisations engaging in real estate activities in the state.
Lagos State Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai disclosed this at a recent 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing.
Akinderu-Fatai warned that illegal real estate agents will face legal consequences for non-compliance with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority registration requirements.
He said the warning became imperative to instill sanity and ensure fraud-free real estate business in the state.
He advised state residents to be mindful of real estate agents they do business with to avoid falling victim to fake and dubious estate agents.
“It is also essential to request that we spread the warning across every platform that it is an offence for an individual and organisation to engage in real estate business in Lagos State without being registered with LASRERA. Let us act responsibly and follow the path of the law.
“I want to seize this opportunity to raise awareness on the need for residents not to fall victim to fake and dubious Estate agents and to patronise the registered real estate individuals and organisations,” he declared.
Lagos Govt vows to clamp down on illegal real estate firms
Abia PDP, Concerned Pensioners clash over cleared arrears
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abia State chapter has again picked holes in the clearance of pensions owed retired workers in the state by Governor Alex Otti, alleging that pensioners were tricked in forefeating most part of the backlog.
In a press statement by Amah Abraham, the Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary of the Abia PDP, he alleged that the actual number of months paid by the Governor did not tally with the actual number of months that the state owed the retirees.
According to Amah, the position of the PDP was based on the outcome of the enlarged executive council-in-session of the Abia state chapter of the National Pensioners Union, NUP, concerning their outstanding pensions.
Amah, while saying that former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu paid 51 months and owed 45 months of pensions during his 8 years of administration, said that it was wrong for the present administration in Abia state to say that it cleared 9 or ten years of pensions arrears.
But a group of retired workers known as Concerned Abia Pensioners has drummed support for Governor Alex Otti, saying that he cleared their pensions arrears.
The Concerned pensioners, who staged a city wide celebration in the streets of Umuahia before terminating their jubilation in front of Abia State government house last week, said they were satisfied with what Governor Otti did.
Led by Emeka Okezie, the Concerned Abia Pensioners, who were dressed in white attires, berated those criticising Governor Alex Otti and also used the occasion to thank him for paying full pensions in April, as he had earlier promised.
“We are in solidarity march in support of the Governor for what he is doing everywhere in the entire state and to alleviate the sufferings of pensioners, paying us our arrears of pensions and full payment this April.
“We are praying for him and nobody will try to tarnish his image. God will not allow that,” Okezie said in front of Abia government house.
Abia PDP, Concerned Pensioners clash over cleared arrears
Boniface helps Leverkusen go 50 games unbeaten
Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface was on target for Bayer Leverkusen in their 5-0 victory over Bochum in a Bundesliga game on Sunday.
With the win, Leverkusen have now gone 50 games unbeaten.
The Xabi Alonso side who are already champions of the German topflight are now within one game of completing the first part of an invincible treble.
Read Also: Missing AFCON my most painful career moment —Boniface
If Leverkusen avoid defeat in their final league game of the season – at home to Augsburg next Saturday – they will become the first team to go through a Bundesliga campaign without tasting defeat.
Bayern Munich lost just once in their title successes of 1986-87 and 2012-13.
After next weekend, Leverkusen will also face Serie A’s Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin on 22 May.
They will then play in the German Cup final against Kaiserslautern in Berlin three days later.
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Rivers crisis: Tinubu can only wish you well – Falana to Wike, Fubara
A human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, has said President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the political crisis rocking Rivers State is “extra-legal”.
TVN reported that President Tinubu at some point waded into the crisis involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike.
His intervention led to a peace pact between the parties late last year, a move that was meant to calm the situation in the State.
But Falana said there was no provision outside of the law to resolve the political crisis.
“I think the President’s intervention in the Rivers political crisis is not backed by any provision of the Constitution mind you,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“It’s an extra-legal measure towards the restoration of law and order in that state.
“The President can only wish them well. And if they have taken their battle to the court of law, they just have to follow through and allow the law to take its course. That is what the rule of law is about under a democratic dispensation.
“There is no provision outside the law and that point has to be made abundantly clear to those involved in the crisis in Rivers State,” he said.
Rivers crisis: Tinubu can only wish you well – Falana to Wike, Fubara