A political firestorm has erupted in Rivers State following allegations by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Governor Similaye Fubara, that he was offered money to initiate impeachment proceedings against his principal.
Ehie made the claim during a rally in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state at the weekend.
He said: “They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested.
“They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted.”
Ehie’s claims are yet to be substantiated, and no official confirmation has been issued by the Rivers State government or law enforcement agencies regarding the alleged bribe offer.
READ ALSO:Rivers: Lawmakers loyal to Fubara to screen Commissioner-nominee on Monday
This incident comes amidst reported clashes between Governor Fubara and supporters of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Analysts suggest several possible motivations behind Ehie’s allegations. One possibility is that they are a strategic move to garner sympathy for the governor and shore up support within the PDP. Alternatively, they could be a genuine attempt to expose corruption within the state’s political landscape.
The Rivers State House of Assembly will need to address these allegations formally if there is any merit to them. An investigation may be launched to determine the truth behind Ehie’s claims.
Regardless of the truth behind the allegations, this incident further exacerbates tensions within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
The post Fubara’s chief of staff alleges financial inducement as impeachment plot against governor thickens appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Fubara’s chief of staff alleges financial inducement as impeachment plot against governor thickens
Obi can’t win chairmanship election in Lagos, Kano – Reno Omokri
Former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has resumed his tirades against presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
Omokri, who has been on a warpath with the former Anambra State governor, said on his X platform on Monday that Obi has nothing to offer as a politician.
He added that the LP candidate would not win a chairmanship contest in Lagos or Kano States.
Omokri also lambasted Obi’s supporters, saying they are suffering from mass hypnosis in their support for the LP chieftain.
He wrote: “Many Nigerians are controlled by their emotions as well as tribal pulls, and are not sentient enough to see beyond primordial sentiments.
“And that is what I see when people ask me why I oppose Peter Obi since he is the best candidate. Now, let us consider that statement on its merits.
“If a Second Class Lower Philosophy degree holder applies for a job along with a PhD in Water Engineering, a Master in International Relations, and a First Class in Accounting, who would you employ?
READ ALSO:Nigeria’ll only progress if Nigerians pay taxes instead of tithes —Reno Omokri
“If a man who built no schools for eight years competes with a fellow who built 140 schools in that same period and another who built a total of 18 schools, who would you go for?
“Finally on this score, if a person under whom poverty doubled is in rivalry with one under whom poverty almost halved and another who increased wealth in his domain by 78%, who would you expect to win?
“If you put ethnic sentiments aside, Peter Obi cannot compete with a Local Government Chairman in either Lagos or Kano.
“Regarding physical achievements in office, the Chairmen of Eti-Osa, Orile, Ibeju-Lekki, and Kosofe LGAs in Lagos outperform Obi.
“We play party politics in Nigeria, and of course, if a candidate is in your party, you try to package him and cover his faults.
“But after elections, you must do a post-mortem. Obi’s only purpose in 2023 was to decide the PDP’s votes and make it possible for the APC to win. And if he contests again in 2027, it will be rinse and repeat.
“You cannot expect a deep-thinking person like me to believe that Obi would transform Nigeria when he could not transform Anambra.
“I refuse to surrender my intellect because of the mass hypnosis that Obidients are labouring under. And if that means they will continue insulting me, then so be it.
#TableShaker”
Many Nigerians are controlled by their emotions as well as tribal pulls, and are not sentient enough to see beyond primordial sentiments. And that is what I see when people ask me why I oppose Peter Obi since he is the best candidate. Now, let us consider that statement on its… pic.twitter.com/0ej97QNFxf
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 13, 2024
The post Obi can’t win chairmanship election in Lagos, Kano – Reno Omokri appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Rivers lawmakers who defected to APC have lost their seats – Falana insists
Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, says that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, last year, have forfeited their positions.
TVN recalls that about 25 members of the state assembly who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike dumped the PDP for the APC following the face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister.
The move by the lawmakers led to the establishment of another faction of the assembly as the governor declared their seats vacant.
Despite intervention from President Bola Tinubu, the crisis has continued.
Speaking on the matter, Falana who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, asserted that the lawmakers would be ousted from their seats for transitioning to the APC.
According to him, the constitution has made it clear that “unless you can show and demonstrate that there is division in a political party that sponsored your election, you cannot remain in any legislative arm if you decamp to another party.
“The whole idea is that the constitution set out to ban political prostitution on the part of legislators.
“The Supreme Court made this clear in the case of Adetunde and the Labour Party, that you cannot decamp and then remain a member of a legislative house in Nigeria unless you can show that there is a division in your party.
“It doesn’t mean a division in a local government or a state. It has to be on the national level. That is the position of the court,” he said.
Rivers lawmakers who defected to APC have lost their seats – Falana insists
Electricity tariff hike: Nigerian workers shut AEDC offices
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have shut down all Abuja Electricity Distribution Company offices to demand the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
TVN gathered that the NLC prevented staff members of AEDC who resumed work on Monday from entering their offices.
“Apo office AEDC has been closed by NLC. We were asked to return home when I got to the office around 7:00 am on Monday. Other colleagues in our offices in Abuja were told to do the same”, a staff member of AEDC who preferred anonymity said.
Recall that in a joint notice by NLC Acting Secretary-General Chris Uyot and the TUC Acting Secretary-General, Ankan Hassan, Nigerian workers vowed to ground offices of the 11 Discos Nationwide and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Nigerian workers had called for a reversal of the April 3 electricity tariff for band A customers to N225 per Kilowatt-hour from N68 kwh.
However, NERC ignored the NLC, TUC reversal call, announcing a minor tariff reduction to N206 kwh.
Unsatisfied with the tariff reduction, the organized labour vowed to shut down discos and NERC offices to meet their demand.
The development comes as Nigerians grapple with the ripple effect of soaring headline and food inflation, which stood at 33.20 per cent and 40.01 per cent in March 2024.
Electricity tariff hike: Nigerian workers shut AEDC offices
Atiku’s aide reveals how Wike’s ambition forced Peter Obi out of PDP
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.”
The post Atiku’s aide reveals how Wike’s ambition forced Peter Obi out of PDP appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
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.
The post Falana tackles Fubara over directive to Rivers Assembly, insists on legislature’s independence appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
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
The post MTNN, Zenith Bank, GTCO, Julius Berger top list of stocks to watch this week appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
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