Television Nigerian

Dana Air presents One-year free tickets for Hilda Baci

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May 15, 2023

Dana Air presents One-year free tickets for Hilda Baci

With one year of free tickets for all her domestic travels, Dana Air has announced its support for the world-record-breaking chef Hilda Baci.

For the longest individual cooking marathon, Hilda broke the previous record.

In addition, the airline gave the mother of Baci three months’ worth of complimentary flights.

In order to surpass India’s Lata Tondon, who had previously held the record with 87 hours and 45 minutes in 2019, the 27-year-old began cooking on Thursday, May 11, 2023, and finished it in 100 hours.

Speaking about Dana Air’s support for Hilda Baci, Chief Operating Officer Ememobong Ettete said that as a proudly Nigerian brand, the airline has and always will support the craft, creativity, efforts, and innovations of young Nigerians who personify the true Nigerian spirit.

“We have always led the way in terms of support for the arts and entertainment industry, health care, and culture, and our corporate social responsibility has been all-encompassing,” the airline said in a statement.

“We will provide financial support for Hilda’s local travels for a year and are motivated by her fortitude and drive to succeed.

We know her mother is a chef as well, so we will give her mother three months of free local flights in recognition of the fact that her mother is likely the source of her inspiration.

We are grateful to Hilda’s mother for giving us such a wonderful daughter and for providing her with so much support. We appreciate everyone who came out to support one of our own in an objective manner.

Recruitment: NSCDC, Immigration have released names of candidates shortlisted

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May 15, 2023

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Recruitment: NSCDC, Immigration have released names of candidates shortlisted

The names of candidates who were successful in the recruitment processes for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Immigration Service have been made public by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board.

In a statement released on Monday in Abuja and signed by the Secretary to the Board, Mr. Ja’faru Ahmed, it was revealed that the Computer-Based Test that will be administered to successful applicants will take place on Thursday across the federation.

The secretary instructed potential applicants that they should go to the Board’s portal at “cdcfib.career” to look for the names of successful candidates.

He advised those who had been successful in applying that they should proceed to print their invitation letters and be present at their respective designated centers on Thursday at or before 6:30 a.m. for accreditation.

According to Ahmed, those who have been selected will also need to bring originals as well as photocopies of one of the following forms of identification with them to the centers where they will be testing.

“National Identification Slip (NIN Slip), an international passport, a voter’s card, or a driver’s license.

“Applicants are also to ensure that they follow strictly the information that is contained in their invitation letters,” he said. “This is very important.”

(NAN)

Tell Buhari not to let Emefiele leave Nigeria: Matawalle

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May 15, 2023

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Tell Buhari not to let Emefiele leave Nigeria: Matawalle

Bello Matawalle, the governor of Zamfara State, has urged the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), to forbid the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, from traveling abroad.

Following rumors that the president had granted the CBN governor’s request to go on study leave, this occurred.

In a statement released on Monday, Matawalle said that Buhari had demonstrated good faith by indicating that he was prepared to leave his position.

He urged the president, however, to reject any attempt by anyone attempting to undermine the good work he has done.
“President Buhari and his wife Aisha Buhari have shown good faith and shown they want a seamless orderly, peaceful transfer of power to the incoming administration,” Matawalle said.

Read Also: 10th NASS: Yari rejects APC zoning formula

“They are eager to make sure the new regime gets off to a smooth start, quickly, and without any obstacles that would be against our nation’s best interests. I applaud President Buhari and his wife for acting in a statesmanlike manner because this is the right thing to do.

But other government employees have behaved in a different way. They act as though they want to make things difficult for the incoming government. President Buhari shouldn’t permit this. Any attempt to undermine the good work he has done should be met with a frown from him.

“I want to firmly advise President Buhari to refuse any study leave or other type of leave for any officer who will be essential to the launch of Aswaj Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s incoming administration.

“The President should cancel the leave if it has been approved, as reported in the media, in the interest of a peaceful transfer of power, accountability, and good governance.”

According to the governor of Zamfara, the CBN governor must be forced to provide the incoming administration with a report on his tenure.

“Governor Emefiele of the CBN presided over the administration of the nation’s financial and monetary systems. The recent disastrous naira swap policy, also known as the naira confiscation program, which caused untold suffering and trauma for Nigerians and regressed our economy, was initiated and carried out by him, he claimed.

We fought tenaciously until we won a reprieve for our people from Emefiele and company. Two of my brother governors and I sued the Federal Government over this foolish policy.

When he still has about 10 months left in his employment, the same Emefiele wants to go on study leave, ostensibly in an effort to avoid having to render accounts. This can’t happen.

The President Buhari should not support this. Emefiele must continue working so that he can provide the incoming administration with full accounts of everything that happened while he was in charge. He must respond to any inquiries the new administration may have, especially given the fact that he still has a few months left in office.

Matawalle further pleaded with the president to refuse any request from any officer of the departing government who wished to leave the country.

He continued, “I’m aware that some members of the departing government are preparing to sneak out of the country at this crucial time when they are needed to provide answers, though I would not want to mention their names here.

“President Buhari should disregard their extravagant and unpatriotic scheme. These strategies are sinister and dangerous.

They unequivocally demonstrate that these officers are hiding something. This needs to stop immediately. Any scheme to avoid rendering accounts serves no one’s interests in terms of accountability, transparency, or fighting corruption, he continued.

10th NASS: Yari rejects APC zoning formula

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May 15, 2023

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10th NASS: Yari rejects APC zoning formula

The National Working Committee’s zoning formula for the National Assembly Presiding offices by the All Progressives Congress still appears to be causing issues as members of the National Assembly continue to reject it as the competition for control of the 10th Senate picks up steam.

Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor of Zamfara State and representative for Zamfara West, is one of the leading candidates for the top spot in the revered chambers. He has declared his interest in the position in accordance with the constitution, not any zoning formula as recommended by the National Working Committee, which is led by Senator Adamu Abdullahi.

NILDS Yari said in response to inquiries from reporters yesterday at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, during the ongoing Induction Programme for Members-elect of the National Assembly organized by the National Assembly and National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, “My aspiration for Presidency of the 10th Senate is covered by relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which to me, is superior to any other law or arrangement.”

Read Also: NLC, TUC now heavily partisan, unable to speak for workers – Onanuga

“I am a devoted member of my party, and nobody has informed me that any positions have been zoned in the 10th National Assembly, to my knowledge.

He continued, “Among the 109 Senators, the position of President of the Senate is first among equals. Any senator-elect who wishes to serve in that capacity must secure the backing of others, which is what I am doing.

“The arrangement is one of hire and fire. On the day of the inauguration, I want to be hired as the 10th Senate’s president. I’ve approached a lot of people, and many of them have offered their support; I won’t let them down.

In order for me to become Senate President on the day of my inauguration, only 108 other Senators must vote in favor of me.

Remember that the party leadership recently disclosed the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South-South and Deputy Senate President to the North-West, determining who will lead the 10th National Assembly.

NLC, TUC now heavily partisan, unable to speak for workers – Onanuga

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May 15, 2023

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NLC, TUC now heavily partisan, unable to speak for workers – Onanuga

In this interview with ADEBAYO FOLORUNSHO-FRANCIS, Bayo Onanuga, the former director of media and publicity for the disbanded All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, discusses how the former governor of Lagos State intends to address various issues, including the removal of fuel subsidies and Nigeria’s mounting debt.

Outrage was expressed over the casual way the Senate approved Buhari’s N22.7tn extra-budgetary spending, especially from detractors and opposition parties. Will this cause a problem for the incoming administration, despite the fact that government is a continuum?

Your opinion is your own. The specifics are not yet available. Asiwaju is not yet mounted either. He will research all of those things once he boards the ship. Remember that the APC controls the government. We are the APC as well. Therefore, we think that whatever the Senate approved must have been done in good faith. From there, the Tinubu administration will handle it.

What about his strategy for reducing the massive national debt load?

What I do know is that the president-elect brought up the subject of debt in a number of forums leading up to the election. Asiwaju, a “finance” man, has a strong conviction that the debt problem can be largely solved. He had mentioned paying off some of our debt with naira. He had mentioned eliminating waste in government to free up funds so we could relieve some of our financial burdens. I am confident that his administration will be able to find a solution to lighten the load. He made it clear during his January speech to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group that he is not overly concerned about the budget deficit, which has increased from N2.41 trillion in 2016 to N11.34 trillion in the current budget. He explained to the summit that fiscal deficits are a necessary component of contemporary governance, so they are not necessarily bad. According to him, both the most powerful and affluent governments and the poorest countries have deficits.

Whether or not deficit spending is productive, he claimed, is the real question. Unproductive deficit spending, especially if it is backed by an excessive amount of borrowing in foreign currencies, is a compound negative, according to him.

I therefore anticipate that his administration will devise strategies to address what some Nigerians view as the debt burden.

Will Tinubu publicly disclose his assets, as did Osinbajo, Buhari, and his predecessors?

Exactly why not? It is customary. He’ll complete it. Asiwaju will list his possessions. The same will also be done by his vice president. The Code of Conduct Bureau has already requested that the newly elected officials declare their assets by May 29. Tinubu will undoubtedly abide by the law.

The demand for an asset declaration must have been prompted by the controversy surrounding the British property Seyi Tinubu purchased. What do you think of the current circumstances?

This is a dated tale. They mentioned Oyetola the last time I read about it. They now include Seyi in the narration. It’s an old tale that people keep spreading everywhere. It was probably first published by Premium Times around a year ago. The news has covered the incident once more. They might release another claim that the property is owned by someone else tomorrow. They were aiming for the incoming president. However, they were unable to uncover any smoking guns because the narrative made it abundantly clear he had nothing to do with the property’s purchase.

Is Obi causing issues for the president-elect’s team?

Frankly, I find it difficult to comprehend Peter Obi and his supporters. They have responded to the election and its fallout in a desperate manner. Following their legal battle, Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have been attacking the president-elect with all manner of insults, questioning the validity of the election, and character assassinating him along with their supporters, who some writers have compared to a headless mob. In order to reclaim a so-called mandate that they never received in the first place, they have insulted and lied about INEC officials. You wonder if Obi came in second place because they are being so boisterous and reckless about it. He came in last place and didn’t even get the majority of the vote or the spread.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress’ latest farce involves them forming an alliance with some seriously compromised civil society organizations and declaring that they will act as the judiciary’s watchdog. In fact, the NLC stated that they would create a “Register of Shame” for judges who made statements about the election that they didn’t agree with. All that is beyond my comprehension. That is not appropriate. The NLC can’t do that, of course. Due to its membership in the Labour Party, the Congress is already a candidate for office. How can you say that you want to watch over something in which you already participate? Due to their already extreme partisanship, the NLC and TUC have no moral standing to preside over the post-election legal battles. Future-focused, I’m not even sure how the NLC and TUC can now assert that they speak for all Nigerian workers after fully embracing the Labour Party.

Is Tinubu unconcerned about the difficulty of dealing with the removal of the gasoline subsidy?

I am unable to discuss his move or any strategy at this time. I can only predict that he will take them sequentially. The fuel subsidy must be eliminated, agreed both the incoming president and the opposition’s defeated candidates from the PDP and Labour Party. But I fully anticipate them to retract or refute my assertions. Anything is possible in politics. However, when asked what they planned to do about the lingering fuel subsidy during the campaign, every single one of them stated it clearly. The subsidy had been abused, and it needed to be removed, according to consensus among all the major parties. Asiwaju agreed that it had to go. What will be done and how will depend on the approach. He will, however, cross that bridge once he arrives there.

The subsidy has grown to be a significant issue for our people and is ruining the treasury. The majority of the smugglers, not the citizens of Nigeria, are the main beneficiaries of this subsidy. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. claims that Nigerians consume a certain amount of gasoline, but the Nigerian Customs Service has recently cast doubt on this claim.

We cannot continue to subsidize petrol consumers in Cameroon, the Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Niger, and Chad just because we are upholding a subsidy regime, unless we are a nation of fools. We cannot keep serving as Santa Claus to our neighbors and smugglers.

You may recall that the World Bank formally requested that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), discontinue the subsidy in 2015. The Buhari administration once did away with it before changing its mind when the cost of crude increased and had an impact on the landing cost of imported fuel. The Tinubu administration needs to decide as soon as possible. In the greater good of Nigerians and the economy, we cannot keep avoiding making that choice.

What will the cabinet of Tinubu look like? Will his administration include some opposition figures and Nigerians living abroad?

Nigerians should, in my opinion, wait for the release of his cabinet list, which will happen after May 29. He is currently consulting with every APC participant.

In the past three weeks, a list of Tinubu’s purported ministers and agency heads has been making the rounds on social media and online platforms. Just how reliable is that list?

Those are merely stories from social media. We ought to simply wait. Some of these positions that are being advertised would be held by coworkers of his. Let’s simply wait until May 29. After the inauguration, Tinubu will undoubtedly make the names public.

A few weeks ago, Buhari revealed that the opposition fell short of defeating Tinubu because they were riding the wave of arbitrary poll results and arrogance. Critics, however, asserted that Tinubu was merely fortunate to receive some assistance. What specifically will you claim made him the winner?

God, I’ll say. This might not be covered in political science textbooks. But I’ll admit that God had a significant hand in his victory. The PDP was divided into three by God, whereas the APC remained a stable party going into the election.

He and his party faced overwhelming disadvantages. The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had turned the Nigerian people against the APC and Tinubu with his poorly timed, uneconomic currency swap and currency scarcity. Then there was a fuel shortage in many areas of the nation. The two unfavorable factors made it unlikely that the candidate for the ruling party would prevail. He did, however, manage to survive because the public came to believe that the currency and fuel shortages were staged in order to disadvantage him and give Atiku the victory.

But that did not take place. Asiwaju’s record as the former governor of Lagos, in my opinion, was a major factor in the support he received from Nigerians. By supporting him, they hope he will duplicate the successes seen in Lagos on a national level.

In my opinion, Tinubu’s record helped him win a lot of votes, with the exception of the South-East, where Peter Obi defeated him by using the ethnicity card.
Despite this, Asiwaju still had the best national spread out of the three leading candidates. He finished second in many states where he did not place first. That is clearly different from Atiku, who consistently places third in some polls. Atiku only succeeded in 21 states, whereas Tinubu was able to win 25% of the vote in about 29 states. On the other hand, Peter Obi lagged far behind. I believe he received it in 15 states.

Speaker: Abbas, Betara split opposition camp

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May 15, 2023

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Speaker: Abbas, Betara split opposition camp

The coalition of minority members-elect has been split by competition for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions of the 10th House of Representatives.

It was discovered that a new coalition was supporting Tajudeen Abbas, who was endorsed by the All Progressives Congress, while Aliyu Betara, a Borno State representative, was being supported by the “10th Assembly Greater Majority,” a group of minority lawmakers-elect.

However, a significant portion of newly elected representatives are leaving the “10th Assembly – Greater Majority,” a coalition of the Peoples Democratic Party and other minor parties with elected representatives in the 10th House.

A parallel minorities’ coalition to be known as the Minority Parties’ Forum is set to be launched on Monday (today) by the irate opposition members, including those from Rivers State who are loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike.

The new development occurred as the opposition camp’s candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions were set to be introduced by the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority this week.

The coalition had stated on May 2, 2023, that it would eventually nominate members from within its ranks for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

The move was required, according to the coalition, because of the “discordant tunes coming from the stable of the ruling APC.” Given that the coalition has 183 members while the ruling party only has 177, the opposition members-elect declared their intention to enter the fray by presenting viable alternatives to the current leadership.

Therefore, an 11-person committee was formed by the Greater Majority in the 10th Assembly with the mandate to shortlist, screen, and ultimately recommend aspirants within a week.

Nicholas Mutu (PDP), Victor Ogene (LP), and Abdulmumini Jibrin (NNPP) are the committee’s chairman, secretary, and vice chairman, respectively. Others include Idris Salman, Beni Lar, Jonathan Gbefwi, Beni Lar, Ali Isa, Alhassan Rurum, Mathew Kuzalio, Salisu Majigiri, Nnabuife Chinwe, and Oluwole Oke.

Read also: What to know as Sudan war enters its first month

The 10th Assembly: Greater Majority has members who have expressed interest in running for leadership positions, according to Ogene, who spoke with our correspondent on Saturday. He had also suggested that the opposition members might adopt and consider one of the candidates running for the ruling APC.

Solomon Bob (PDP/Rivers), a member-elect, revealed that some members of the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority were leaving and launching a new group of opposition members on Monday in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday.

Bob claimed that Betara, the current chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, was going to be chosen by the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority as its candidate.

Ironically, Iduma Igariwey (PDP/Ebonyi), the deputy chair of the House Appropriations Committee, is rumored to be in charge of the coalition of factional minorities that will reportedly support APC-endorsed candidates. The pressure group’s secretary will be Alhassan Rurum, a member of the NNPP from Kano State.

“I belong to Joint Task – 10th Assembly; I don’t belong to the Greater Majority,” the lawmaker declared. Given our current course, they actually constitute a small minority. We’ll create a new alliance called the Minority Parties’ Forum. Tomorrow (Monday), we will launch. It is similar to that one so that we can inform everyone that there is only one Minority Parties’ Forum.

“They cannot arrive and attempt to monopolize the notion that minorities are united in their support for Betara and are pushing for it. By creating the false impression that all minorities support Betara, we have manipulated public perception. This is untrue.

When asked who was in charge of the new coalition, Bob responded, “Igariwey is the one coordinating (the coalition), and Alhassan Rurum is the secretary.”

Igariwey has not been with Betara from Day One, Bob said in response to a query about why he would oppose Betara’s bid for the speakership despite being the deputy chairman and chairman of the same committee, respectively. It’s one thing to serve as Betara’s deputy during an expiring term; it’s quite another to attempt to usher in a new one.

When confronted with the 10th Assembly’s assertion that the Greater Majority caucus had more members-elect than the APC, the Rivers lawmaker responded that the Minority Parties’ Forum would have more members of the opposition.

Where are they going to get the numbers, asked Bob. The 14 members are with us, as is everyone in Oyo State. Out of nine, Osun has just one, Wole Oke; the other eight are here with us. We have all 13 of our members here in Rivers. All 10 are with us in Akwa Ibom. So where do they get the numbers from?

Nevertheless, the PDP member acknowledged that the Minority Parties’ Forum would support the APC candidates. We’re supporting Tajudeen Abbas, who has the APC’s support, he declared.

Igariwey, who was contacted about the development, acknowledged it but clarified that it only involved moving the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority.

It is actually a different group in the minority caucus, he said. Our catchphrase isn’t Greater Minority. Even though we are attempting to reposition the group, it is still the same group. It still contains the same people who make up the same minority group.

When questioned about the leaders and members of the Greater Majority who have been attending meetings of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members-elect of the APC and opposition parties that has adopted the zoning plan of the ruling party, Igariwey responded, “We are going to have our meeting tomorrow. You will be better informed about it thanks to something we release that resembles a communiqué.

On the subject of the number of opposition coalition candidates who had expressed interest in the speakership race as well as the emergence of another group, Ogene (LP/Anambra), who speaks for the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority, was contacted.

To our correspondent’s surprise, he directed her to the group’s coordinators, Messrs. Fred Agbedi (PDP/Bayelsa), Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP/Nasarawa), and Dachung Bagos (PDP/Plateau).

The calls made to Agbedi, Gbefwi, and Bagos were not answered, though.

In the meantime, the South-South Youth Alliance declared on Sunday that those who opposed the election of Godswill Akpabio as Senate President were against the “will of God” for Nigeria. This was in advance of the 10th Senate’s scheduled inauguration on June 13.

In a statement released in Abuja, the youth group referred to Akpabio as a “democrat” who is qualified for the top Senate position.

The coordinator of the group, Benjamin Nwizua, wrote the following in a statement: “Senator Akpabio was a performing governor of Akwa Ibom State who earned the title, uncommon governor. He then went to the Senate, where he was appointed Minority Leader and later Niger Delta Affairs Minister.

In addition, Abass has the support of a section of the ruling party operating under the Progressive Foundational Movement.

Additionally, the group pleaded with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, and the APC leadership not to give in to pressure and covert threats to strike Abbas from the list of approved candidates.

Aganaba Johnson, the PFM National Coordinator, made the appeal in a statement that was released in Abuja on Sunday.

The Northern Business Roundtable, a group, has urged senators elected on the platforms of the various parties to support Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, in his bid to become Senate President.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Larai Kolo, the group’s spokesperson, claimed that Yari had the skills and moral fiber necessary to serve as Senate president.

What to know as Sudan war enters its first month

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May 15, 2023

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What to know as Sudan war enters its first month

Sudan’s capital is a desolate war zone where terrified families seek refuge in their homes as gun battles rage in the dusty, deserted streets outside, one month after the conflict began.

Those who are still alive in Khartoum are still surrounded by barricades, hoping to avoid stray bullets while also dealing with severe food and supply shortages.

Runaway inflation, cash shortages, power outages, and communication problems exist.

Even during decades of sanctions against former strongman Omar al-Bashir, the city of five million on the Nile River had long been a place of comparatively good stability and wealth.

It has now reduced to a mere shell of what it once was.

Foreign embassies are closed, there are burned-out airplanes on the airport tarmac, and hospitals, banks, stores, and wheat silos have all been robbed by robbers.

While the generals battle, the remnants of the government have fled to Port Sudan, located 850 kilometers (528 miles) away, which serves as the focal point for large-scale exodus operations of both Sudanese and foreign residents.

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, more than 750 people have died in the battles. With lengthy refugee convoys traveling to Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad, and South Sudan, thousands more have been injured and nearly a million people have been displaced.

The cost of some foods has quadrupled, and gasoline is now 20 times more expensive than it was before the war.

A number of truce agreements have been reached and swiftly broken, and prospects for an end to the fighting that has caused more suffering for the 45 million citizens of one of the world’s poorest countries are dim.

According to Alex Rondos, a former special envoy of the European Union to the Horn of Africa, both sides “violate ceasefires with a regularity that demonstrates a sense of impunity unheard of even by Sudan’s standards of civil conflict.”

– Coups in history

Although Sudan has a long history of coups, optimism increased after large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations resulted in Bashir’s removal from office in 2019 and the shaky transition to civilian rule that followed.

Prior to the generals’ coup in 2021, Sudan was gradually reintegrating into the international community as Washington and other foreign powers lifted sanctions.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the army, and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), erupted into a conflict over the integration of paramilitaries into the army on April 15.

Since then, both sides have been unable to gain the upper hand on the battlefield despite numerous bullets, aerial bombardments, and anti-aircraft fire.

The army, backed by Egypt, theoretically has the advantage of air power, while Daglo is reportedly supported by the United Arab Emirates and foreign fighters, according to experts. He oversaw the notorious Janjaweed militia, which was blamed for atrocities during the 20-year-old Darfur conflict.

According to Cameron Hudson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Russian mercenary group Wagner has “technical advisers” in Sudan but is not actively engaged in combat.

According to US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, “both sides believe that they can win militarily” for the time being, at a Senate hearing in early May.

In Sudan, where one in three people already depended on aid before the war, the fighting has made the humanitarian crisis worse.

Since then, aid organizations have been looted, and at least 18 aid workers have been killed.

According to the UN, up to 19 million people could experience food insecurity in the next six months.

‘Poorer for Longer’

Representatives from both sides are in negotiations across the Red Sea in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

By May 11, they had agreed to uphold humanitarian principles, such as the protection of civilians, as well as a commitment to generally allow for the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid.

However, “it is hard to see that commitments on paper will be fulfilled, absent a significant change of mindset from the warring parties,” said Aly Verjee, a Sudan researcher at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg.

Sudan has a long history of war, particularly in the western region of Darfur, where Bashir, beginning in 2003, armed and unleashed the Janjaweed to put down a rebellion that the insurgents claimed was being led by Arab elites who were monopolizing Sudan’s wealth and power.

At its height, the scorched-earth campaign may have claimed the lives of 300,000 people and uprooted more than 2.7 million, according to the UN.

The health ministry reports that Darfur has seen the majority of the fighting’s fatalities.

The ministry listed 199 fatalities in Khartoum, but claimed that by May 10 at least 450 people had died in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, and its environs.

Mohamed Osman, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP that snipers are still present in the area and shooting at people who are leaving their homes.

He continued, “There are also reports of people dying from the injuries they sustained in the early days of fighting” due to the destroyed hospitals.

According to the humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, “people have gone from three meals a day to just one” due to food shortages in the displacement camps in Darfur.

The fighting throughout the nation, according to Verjee, has destroyed factories and workshops and led to “the partial deindustrialization of Sudan.”

Therefore, any future Sudan will be significantly poorer for a much longer period of time.

NASS: Former envoy rebukes Akeredolu for criticizing NWC position

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May 14, 2023

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NASS: Former envoy rebukes Akeredolu for criticizing NWC position

Ambassador Sola lji, a former ambassador to Togo and a top APC official in Ondo state, has criticized Rotimi Akeredolu’s stance regarding the party’s National Working Committee’s NWC zoning of the leadership positions in the National Assembly.

As you may recall, Akeredolu had attacked the party’s NWC and criticized the arrangements as being ineffective, lopsided, and likely to reinforce injustice and worsen inequity.
However, lji condemned Akeredolu for criticizing the NWC decision and standing up for aggrieved aspirants who were disappointed and disfavorably affected by the zoning, saying Akeredolu’s action amounted to disrespecting, working, and causing dissatisfaction within the party.

He criticized the governor of Ondo state’s positions and insisted that there was no need for controversy regarding the NWC of the APC’s proposal to zone the leadership positions of the National Assembly, which had yet to be inaugurated.

He asserted that “a highly regarded and respected leader as the Executive Governor of Ondo State, should not be heard to make an outburst that is capable of spewing insults about the leadership of our great party.

In actuality, a topic like this shouldn’t be discussed in the pages of the newspapers. Instead, it needed to be handled in a pleasant manner.

In fact, the governor has unrestricted access to the party’s leadership, including the National Chairman and other national leaders and NWC members, as well as the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with whom he should have had private discussions to express his concerns regarding the NWC decision.

While Ondo State is represented in the NWC by Barr. D. I. Kekemeke, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the Party, “His Excellency, the Governor, has a very close and known access to the National Secretary of the party, aside from his private access to the leadership of the NWC.

“Under the circumstances, the Governor disregarded the party’s constituted authority, and the opinions so expressed in the Press Statement at best represent His Excellency’s personal opinion, to which he is legally entitled, and do not represent the position of leaders and members of the Party in Ondo State.”

Iji argued that “the APC NWC enjoys the constitutional mandate to act on behalf of the Party’s NEC in taking decisions outside of NEC meetings.

Importantly, the NWC is the highest administrative body of the APC and deserves respect from both leaders and members.

The statement attributed to Akeredolu, according to him, should be viewed as his personal opinion and not the position of the party’s state leaders as a whole.

The NWC’s decision to ensure orderliness in the party’s affairs as we get ready for the inauguration of the next APC Presidency and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly could not have been anything other than a private opinion, as party leaders in Ondo state were never consulted on such a position.

Given the tireless efforts of our great Party’s leadership in swiftly finding a solution to the zoning formula, one might have anticipated that our National leaders would receive high praise for their audacity in resolving the highly sensitive matter. Therefore, it shouldn’t be allowed to grow that the Ondo state chapter of the party is endangering the efforts of the NWC and the National Leaders.

“The governor’s decision to go against the NWC’s ruling is not something that has happened before. Recall that in 2019, our party’s leadership made the decision to reward those National Assembly members who, through their fidelity and commitment, assisted in stabilizing the party and the national government.

Similar to the NWC, the governor encouraged and supported his own preferred candidates to run on the platform of an opposition party instead of accepting the NWC’s decision to give return tickets to the affected National Assembly members.

Because of the governor’s alleged anti-party stance, the opposition won the presidency in 2019 as well as two senatorial seats, five federal constituency seats, and two seats in the House of Representatives.

“Our leaders at the heart of our Government have adopted this special zoning formula to allay the fears of most members because they realized the need to prevent a repetition of what happened in the 8th National Assembly, when a few party members nearly made the National Assembly ungovernable for our great party. Without a doubt, this has effectively prepared the group for a future greater exploit.

“The APC’s progressive platform is an embodiment of discipline. As a result, every party official and leader must not only practice discipline, but also uphold discipline as our defining characteristic. To do otherwise would cheapen and denigrate our great party. This is the progressive and right path to toe in our collective agreement to build a virulent and sustainable party, of which we can all be proud.

“I believe that party leaders, regardless of their position, should collaborate with others to create a common ground where problems can be resolved without necessarily inciting a raging conflict within the party.

“As true Democrats, we shouldn’t expect everyone to share the same perspective on the decisions made by the NWC and other esteemed Party leaders.

“People should have the freedom to voice their own opinions and even to criticize government actions. However, internal mechanisms exist within the Party’s organs and structures to direct such criticisms without purposefully pandering to the public.

“The governor had expressed dissatisfaction with justice and equity. Assuming he loves to uphold justice and equity in his lofty position as the governor of Ondo State, I sincerely believe he ought to grant the NWC access to similar insight and dedication.

“I believe that in this situation, we should all praise the NWC and our notable national leaders.

“In their wisdom, they crafted out this workable zoning formula in light of the sensitive nature of the leadership positions of the National Assembly, and in particular, the crucial role that a cooperating, supportive, and friendly National Assembly plays in ensuring the formulation and passage of relevant laws to aid the Executive in the implementation of the life-impacting programs of the President in accordance with our Party’s manifesto, which will be in the overall interest of the nation.

“I am confident that based on his exceptional performance as the former governor of Lagos State and in all the leadership positions he has ever held meritoriously in the public and private sectors in and outside Nigeria, the incoming president, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will never preside over the affairs of a country beset by injustice to any person, or group of persons, on the basis of any political, ethnic, religious, or w

“Overall, I strongly advise every Party member to view the NWC’s timely intervention in the zoning arrangement of the Principal Offices of the National Assembly as an indication of the performance to be expected from the incoming administration, as well as the affected aspirants to the relevant positions.

Iji urged Akeredolu to “be rest assured that the fears he expressed in his response to our Party’s announcement of the zoning of the key leadership positions in the National Assembly would have been adequately taken care of by these eminent men in their rigorous and robust debates, aside from their wide consultations within and even outside our great party, before announcing the zoning arrangement, in spite of what he thought might be imperfections.

Therefore, he should mobilize support for the NWC rather than inciting the disgruntled aspirants against the Party and its leadership, in his opinion.

10th NASS Leadership: Pro-Tinubu group backs APC’s zoning

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May 14, 2023

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10th NASS Leadership: Pro-Tinubu group backs APC’s zoning

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received praise for the zoning arrangement for the National Assembly positions from one of Tinubu Hope’s support groups in Nigeria.

Recall that Sen. Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, was chosen to lead the Senate, and that Kaduna State’s Hon. Tajudeen Abass was chosen to lead the House.

This was said in a statement made by the group’s convener and leader, Barr. Olurotimi Daudu, on Sunday in Akure in response to harsh criticisms of the zoning plan, particularly from the opposition.

Daudu stated that the president-elect’s and the APC’s proposal for a shared leadership structure was in line with the values of justice, fairness, inclusivity, and national cohesion.

He continued by saying that the goal of the entire plan was to promote and seek greater unity among the nation’s various regions.

“As a support group, it is essential that we speak out in favor of the zoning arrangement.

“We have unwavering faith in ‘Asiwaju’s’ ability to lower interethnic tensions and strengthen national unity.

I therefore urge everyone who disagrees with the zoning formula to lay down their weapons and work with the president-elect.

“At a time when it is urgently necessary to restore Nigerians’ hope, it is unnecessary to begin any sort of diversion.

Additionally, Tinubu Hope of Nigeria has Senator Akpabio’s full support in his bid to win the Senate President position in the 10th NASS.

“He will offer the necessary strong and inspiring leadership. He has the credentials, experience, and track record to lead the NASS, the speaker claimed.

Daudu stated that Akpabio is a seasoned statesman who has made noteworthy sacrifices for the country’s unity, stability, and advancement.

As a former governor, minister, and ranking senator, he continued, Akpabio would be well-suited to collaborate with Tinubu to shift the paradigm of leadership in Nigeria’s favor.

“As a group, we advise the president-elect to maintain his composure and disregard unproductive outbursts from the opposition.

He continued, “Nigerians are firmly behind him and have faith in his ability to deliver the inspiring leadership we long for.

Daudu also encouraged federal lawmakers who were elected on the APC and other political parties’ platforms to work with Tinubu in the best interests of the nation.

He also exhorted members of the Tinubu Hope of Nigeria to continue supporting the new administration strongly by offering insightful and practical policy recommendations.

National Assembly: APC growing stronger after zoning leadership positions

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May 14, 2023

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National Assembly: APC growing stronger after zoning leadership positions

The All Progressives Congress made the controversial decision to give individual lawmakers the power to zone the leadership positions of the two chambers of the National Assembly. As a result of this decision, the opposition to the decision is growing stronger, and the anointed candidates have started making moves to convince their colleagues to accept the ruling party’s position.

The Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was anointed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, as the President of the Senate in the 10th Senate, had reached out to other aspirants for the position, who are aggrieved by his choice, and reportedly promised them headship of committees of the Senate considered to be “juicy.” Other aspirants for the position are upset about Akpabio’s choice.

It was discovered that Akpabio had a meeting with some of the individuals who were against him being appointed to the position.

It is said that the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, who is said to be aware of the plot against him, promised that he would not forget his opponents while sharing committee positions in the next Senate. It is also said that he is aware of the plot against him.

It was also reported that the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, met with Akpabio and discussed the necessity of bringing his fellow senators along with him in the running of the Senate when he takes office. This information was gathered.

Because of the sensitivity of the issues at stake, a source close to Akpabio who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “You know that Akpabio is not new to power play. At a time when someone serving in the Senate for the first time was not permitted to hold a principal officer position, he served as the leader of the minority.

“He works well with others. He is well-versed in the fundamentals, and I am able to disclose to you that he has held conversations with some of the individuals who are openly campaigning against him. They will be given favorable positions on the various committees as a component of the overall strategy.

According to the source, the former governor is scheduled to arrive in Lagos today (Sunday) in order to participate in strategic meetings with the relevant stakeholders.

Tajudeen Abass, the APC’s candidate for the speakership, and Benjamin Kalu, the party’s preferred candidate for the deputy speakership, are subtly putting pressure on state governors elected on the platform of the party to convince fellow lawmakers to support them in the House of Representatives. Both candidates are vying for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker.

On Saturday, Abass and Kalu took their campaign to win the top positions in the Green Chamber to the state of Lagos, where they met with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu alongside members of the Joint Task Team. There, they made an appeal to Governor Sanwo-Olu to sell their candidacy to his fellow governors and to help pacify other disgruntled aspirants, who have rejected their imposition by the ruling party.

In his remarks to the governor, Abass emphasized the importance of maintaining harmony within the House of Representatives and the nation as a whole. He also mentioned that the members-elect who make up his team are organized along party lines.

The lawmaker stated that the recent general elections caused more divisions in the country, and he emphasized that in order for the nation to be healed, the President-elect, whom he described as a unifying leader, needed to have detribalized Nigerians at the helm of affairs in the legislature.

He stated that “Our goal is to make sure that the nation is united in order to face the challenges that are currently facing it.” We take on the responsibility of leading the House with the intention of establishing a positive working relationship between the executive branch and the legislature that is free from animosity.

“In areas where there are bound to be disagreements, we are going to make sure that problems are solved through dialogue. It is of the utmost importance that the House maintain its equilibrium. We will heal the wound, especially the ones that were caused by the various competitors in this race.”

Abass urged Sanwo-Olu to reach out to governors and other aspirants for conversation that would make the election of presiding officers in the National Assembly hassle-free, and he pledged that he would not fail the party or his predecessors. Abass urged Sanwo-Olu to reach out to governors and other aspirants for conversation that would make the election hassle-free.

On his end, Kalu stated that a leadership of the House led by Abass would inspire institutional trust in the tenth National Assembly. He also stated that the decision of the House would reflect the interests of all Nigerians.

Bello Kumo, who represents the Akko Federal Constituency in Gombe State and is the leader of the Joint Task Team, stated that the leadership that is being provided by Abass will not compromise the autonomy of the House.

In addition to this, he pressed Sanwo-Olu to broach the subject of the Abass agenda with the other governors that Sanwo-Olu works with.

In response, the governor stated that the leadership of the 10th National Assembly should reflect the diversity of the country and referred to both chambers as the “people’s houses.”

Sanwo-Olu highlighted the fact that the race to fill the principal positions of the parliament typically involved fierce competition that would pit members against each other. Despite this, he stated that the objective of competing for the presiding seats should be to reflect the interests and aspirations of the people.

The governor, who stated that the cohesiveness of the nation was more important than the ambitions of the candidates for the speakership, urged Abass and his team to refrain from taking any member-elect for granted.

Sanwo-Olu made the following statement: “This race to elect leaders in the House of Representatives should reflect the true federal composition and political diversity of the country.” In this room today, I have witnessed members of various political parties and representatives from all over the country coming together to cooperate as a team in order to elect the Speaker. I strongly encourage you not to stop here; rather, you should continue to delve deeper into your involvement, and you should extend the hand of comradeship to each and every member.

“Despite the fact that you have the backing of the party, I have noticed that you are not resting on your laurels or leaving anything to chance. I applaud this. I strongly encourage you to make sure that your involvement is complete, open, and welcoming to everyone. There are additional candidates who are more than capable of carrying out the same engagement. They are familiar to us, and they are going to be brought into the room so that we can have a conversation with them. When the House is called to order, it is our hope that the position of the party will be taken into consideration and accepted in the Green Chamber.

Shettima meets aspirants

In the meantime, Shettima has indicated that he is willing to negotiate a cease-fire with the other candidates for the position of Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives by meeting with them.

On Friday, Shettima made the pledge during a meeting with the newly elected members of the Joint Task 10th Assembly that took place in his residence in Abuja.

This comes as a result of more than 60 members-elect signing on to support Abbas and Kalu as the consensus candidates for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker positions ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 5.

Shettima stated, “I met with Aliyu Betara two nights ago, and at the end of the day, there will be no winner and no vanquished. I have also met with Ahmed Wase, and we will continue the engagement.”

“Miriam Onuhoa is a friend of mine, and I will make an effort to reach out to her; my only request to the incoming leadership is that they be just and inclusive.”

Shettima stated that the leadership of the APC was attempting to ensure that there would be fairness in the distribution of the country’s four most powerful positions.

Alternate candidates proposed by the opposition

In the meantime, the 10th Assembly: Greater Majority, a coalition of members-elect from political parties that are in the minority in the House of Representatives, will reveal its candidates for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker later this week.

On Saturday, we were informed that several members of the opposition parties had expressed an interest in vying for leadership positions in the organization.

On Saturday, indications emerged that the members of the opposition might consider and adopt a candidate among the aspirants in the ruling APC’s race for the Speaker. This would be an alternative to the members of the opposition running their own candidate.

On May 2, 2023, the coalition made a public announcement stating that, in the end, it planned to try to select candidates from within its own ranks to run for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

As a result, the Greater Majority of the 10th Assembly had established a committee consisting of 11 members with the mission of quickly compiling a short list of candidates, vetting them, and making recommendations for the speakership and deputy speaker positions.

Nicholas Mutu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, serves as the committee’s chairman. Victor Ogene, a member of the Labour Party, serves as the committee’s secretary, and Abdulmumini Jibrin, a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party, serves as the committee’s Deputy Chairman.

Oluwole Oke, Jonathan Gbefwi, Beni Lar, Ali Isa, Alhassan Rurum, Mathew Kuzalio, Salisu Majigiri, Nnabuife Chinwe, Gwacham Maureen, and Idris Salman are some of the other people who have been named.

Ogene disclosed to one of our correspondents on Saturday that the deadline for the declaration of interest by members of the coalition was Saturday night, and that the aspirants would be revealed this week.

He stated that there were originally 11 people on the panel, but that number has since increased to 13 with the addition of a chairman and a secretary. In reality, we are 13 years old. Just a few moments ago (on Saturday), I posted a notice on our WhatsApp platform asking interested speakership and deputy speakership aspirants from our fold to submit themselves for screening. I informed them that they have until midnight to do so, and that after that, by Sunday, we should brief the house on what the position entails. Tonight is the night that we should be wrapping up our discussions with the prospective candidates.

The secretary, on the other hand, did not disclose either the number of candidates who had expressed interest in the positions or the identities of those candidates.

However, sources within the camp of the opposition hinted that the members-elect of the minority might choose to vote for one of the aggrieved aspirants in the APC.

Under the condition of anonymity, a member of the PDP who spoke to one of our correspondents said that cracks had been created in the coalition because some of its arrowheads might be working for the APC camp in the House.

There is a rift between the two of us. Before this coalition was formed, some of us already had candidates picked out to run for office under the banner of the APC. The lawmaker said that now that we are already seeing some of the coordinators with their preferred candidates, it is possible that we will return to where we are coming from.

Ogene confirmed that the coalition may choose one of the aspirants within the APC if the opposition was unable to produce popular candidates who would compete against the candidates of the ruling party.

“Nothing is set in stone,” as the saying goes. Even candidates for the office of president of the APC are attending meetings held by political parties other than their own. So, the issue is one of politics. They are having a conversation with both of us, and we are having a conversation with them. However, this is dependent on the person doing the talking. We have a leadership that is widely acknowledged. Don’t lose sight of the fact that one of the responsibilities of the committee is to interact with APC members who are running for the position of speaker. According to him, this is proceeding in tandem with the search for candidates to fill our own positions.

When Ogene was asked about the possibility that members of the opposition would eventually adopt APC aspirants, he responded by saying, “Why not? We will not go and bring in a Speaker from outside the members-elect if, at the end of the day, those who have indicated interest either withdraw their interests or do not even show up. We will sit down as a caucus as well, evaluate the manifestos and qualifications of each APC aspirant, and ultimately choose one candidate.

It was reported on Wednesday that the disappointed aspirants were banding together in opposition to the candidates that had been chosen by the party in power. Additionally, they have established a group that goes by the name G-7 with the intention of recruiting some of its members to run against Abbas and Kalu.

The leading candidates for the position of speaker, some of whom are already serving in leadership roles in the 9th House, voiced their opposition to the announcement of consensus candidates made by the APC without first consulting with the relevant stakeholders in the chamber.

Unrest also exists within the House as a result of the decision made by the APC to give two of the four presiding positions to the North-West while denying the North-Central region any representation in those roles.