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Enugu: Uzo-Uwani stakeholders pay Gov. Ugwuanyi a solidarity visit

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Enugu: Uzo-Uwani stakeholders pay Gov. Ugwuanyi a solidarity visit

On Sunday, the who’s who of Enugu State’s Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area converged on Enugu’s Government House for a solidarity visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in appreciation of his support, love, and administration’s uncommon transformational agenda in the council area.

The stakeholders, led by Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani LGA, Hon. Josephat Okika, the Member of Parliament for Uzo-Uwani Constituency, Hon. Josephat Okika, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Matthew Idu, and their elder statesmen, Chief Dr. Mike Ajogwu, SAN, and Chief Maxi Ukuta, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for restoring peace and security to the

They also thanked the governor for the numerous infrastructure projects that his administration has carried out in Uzo Uwani LGA, which had been neglected for decades, as well as the appointment of their sons and daughters to various government positions.

The Uzo-Uwani leaders reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty and support for Governor Ugwuanyi, stating that they are united behind him and will give him 100 percent of their votes in 2023, beginning with the party primaries and ending with the general elections.

“Your Excellency, you have done your own part,” the council chairman, Hon. Nnadozie, said on behalf of the people of Uzo Uwani LGA. What we are looking forward to is the party primaries in 2023, which will begin this year, and we will give you our full support. From the primaries to the general elections, one vote will not be lost. Nobody will be able to penetrate them, and they will remain intact for you.

“Your Excellency, we are here to express our gratitude for all of your support, love, and transformation of this local government, Uzo Uwani.” Uzo Uwani has changed for the better since you took office in 2015.

“You began by ensuring that peace and security were restored, as well as safeguarding the lives of the people of Uzo Uwani, among other interventions. That is not something we can take for granted.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Matthew Idu, echoed the council chairman, describing Gov. Ugwuanyi as a peacemaker and great achiever, emphasizing the governor’s overwhelming loyalty and support.

Chief Maxi Ukuta added his voice to the stakeholders’ position in the Uzo Uwani LGA and congratulated the governor on the successful conduct of the state’s Local Government Elections.

Gov. Ugwuanyi has “been recognized worldwide as a man of peace,” according to Chief Ukuta, and “this is enormous and important to us.”

The governor was told by the elder statesman that Uzo Uwani LGA supports him more than any other council area in Enugu State, and that “it is not for nothing, it is based on your sense of equity, good conscience, and being a very decent man.”

Read also: Breaking: NDLEA traces over N1.4 Billion to Abba Kyari’s Account, to seize Assets

“Your Excellency, you have always chosen the path of peace,” he says. As governor, you wield enormous power. I’m not sure how many people in this room are aware of the constitutional powers you have.

“Gov. Ugwuanyi isn’t known as a peacemaker for nothing. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and he does not believe in injustice.

“We are firmly behind you, Your Excellency.” All of the cards are stacked in your favor. You mustn’t be frightened. You are a man of political shrewdness, thanks to God. Nobody will be able to beat you to it. Make a decision, and that decision will be carried out.”

2023: Osinbajo informs Buhari of his presidential aspirations in 2023

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2023: Osinbajo informs Buhari of his presidential aspirations in 2023

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President, is said to have informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his decision to run for the presidency in 2023.

Although Prof. Osinbajo has yet to officially declare his intention, credible sources claim the Vice President has informed Buhari of his desire to run for President in 2023.

According to sources, Osinbajo wants to take Buhari’s place in order to continue implementing the current administration’s policies.

One of the sources said, “Certainly, Vice President Osinbajo has told the president that he wants to succeed him.”

“The vice president had first sought the advice of some prominent Nigerians, who encouraged him to run for president and also advised him to inform the president directly.”

“They told him not to let a third party tell the president,” the source added, “so that the ambition would not be misconstrued.”

According to another source, President Buhari gave Osinbajo his blessings after listening to him, just as he had done to others who had expressed interest before him.

“Buhari smiled, as he always does…

He carefully listened to the VP and, in response, gave him the green light and wished him well, but he made no commitment or assurance that he would support him ahead of other candidates.

Read also: Breaking: NDLEA traces over N1.4 Billion to Abba Kyari’s Account, to seize Assets

“Just as he blessed Tinubu when he visited him in the Villa and revealed his plan to run for president, he blessed the intention.”

“I believe the president is treading carefully.” “Remember what he said during a national television interview,” the source said.

Senator Abu Ibrahim, a close confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari and a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will receive Buhari’s support for his presidential bid in 2023.

If Buhari refuses to support Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023, Ibrahim believes the northern region, particularly northwest politicians, will be at a loss in the future.

Asiwaju Tinubu, he claims, mobilized southwest votes for Buhari in 2015, and now it’s payback time. He went on to say that if Buhari does not support Tinubu, the north will be seen as traitors, and the trust and partnership that brought Buhari to power will be lost.

He went on to say that Tinubu is a benefactor to both Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, and that neither of them will want to upset the apple cart by running against the APC National Leader in 2023.

Speaking about Osinbajo and Fayemi’s rumored presidential ambitions, the former lawmaker insisted that neither of them will run against Tinubu.

Breaking: NDLEA traces over N1.4 Billion to Abba Kyari’s Account, to seize Assets

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Breaking: NDLEA traces over N1.4 Billion to Abba Kyari’s Account, to seize Assets

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has linked over N1.4 billion to the bank account of embattled police officer Abba Kyari.

According to new information from the agency, over N2.8 billion was traced to eight bank accounts linked to Kyari’s deputy, ACP Sunday Ubua. The anti-drug agency revealed this in a report sent to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Kyari and four other officers are currently being held by the NDLEA after attempting to bribe an NDLEA officer with $61,000 in order to facilitate the release of seized cocaine.

On August 15th, 2019, it noted that Ubua received over N2.6 billion. It’s thought to be the proceeds of a Tramadol sale worth 3 billion Naira.

According to reports, Kyari and his team seized a large shipment of tramadol from a warehouse in Lagos’ Amuwo Odofin. The shipment was estimated to be worth N3 billion.

Read also: Lekki deep seaport to contribute $360bn to Nigeria’s economy, FG

Around the same time as the seizure, Kyari’s deputy received a N2.664 billion deposit in his personal bank account. With the money, he bought FBN Insurance shares worth about N100 million. They allegedly sold the drugs to a cartel, according to the agency.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA has requested that all of Kyari’s assets and properties be seized. Last week, AGF Malami received a letter containing this information.

The agency is attempting to seize real estate, bank accounts, and personal effects such as jewelry, among other things, from the suspect and his associates.

Lekki deep seaport to contribute $360bn to Nigeria’s economy, FG

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Lekki deep seaport to contribute $360bn to Nigeria’s economy, FG

Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, has stated that when the Lekki deep seaport is completed and operational, it will contribute $360 billion to the Nigerian economy over the next 45 years.

“It also depends on how much the economy grows before then,” said the minister, who gave the assurance on Sunday in Lagos after inspecting the project. The expansion will be hampered by the economy’s growth.

Read Also:  VP Osinbajo meets with religious leader, calls for peace

“Because the deep seaport was a privately funded project, contractors will be able to collect revenue from commercial activities over time before handing over to the federal government.”

“However, taxes will be collected here, and even they (Contractors) will have to pay taxes; I’m not sure if any taxes were mentioned in the agreement, but I doubt there is any tax exemption.”

“So, we’ll collect taxes here, and the reason we’re giving them the project is because of the taxes we’ll collect here, which will help us build other projects.”

Contractors will have to recover the money they invested in the project, according to Amaechi, who added that “in financial terms, in the process of recovering their money, they will contribute to the nation’s GDP annually.”

Read Also:  Igbo group accuses Nigeria Governors Forum of being enemies of Nigerian youths

Concerning the seaport’s expansion, the Minister expressed concern that the port would not be large enough to accommodate high-level economic activities in the future.

“The argument we had in cabinet was that the need for a deep seaport at Lekki was a result of the fact that demand for port activities in the country has outstripped supply of tincan and Apapa around Lagos,” he said.

21-day notice: Observers raise alarm over secret plans by APC cabal to force backdated letter on INEC

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21-day notice: Observers raise alarm over secret plans by APC cabal to force backdated letter on INEC

 

The Coalition of Independent Observers says it has uncovered a plan by some members of the All Progressives Congress to impose a backdated letter on the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to the group, the letter purportedly written by the National Secretray to INEC, will be doctored in such a way that it will meet up with the provisions for the 21-day notice of intent to hold a national convention.

The observers, which made its stance known at a press conference in Abuja, also said the ultimate is to undermine the nation’s democracy.

In his address, Abdullahi Bilal, the group’s
Executive Director said INEC would be coerced into recognizing the said letter and would ultimately reverse its earlier stance that it had not been properly issued the statutory 21-day notice of intent to hold a national convention

Bilal, in clear terms, said Governor Nasir El-Rufai is behind this fresh plot to destabilize the party and force Governor Mai Bala Buni out of office.

“Gentlemen of the press, because there has been no consequences for the criminal acts that these members of the cabal have been engaged in, they have moved to implementing an even more dangerous phase of the their evil plot. They have concluded plans to backdate a letter purportedly written by the National Secretray to INEC sometimes ago in order to meet up with the provisions for the 21-day notice of intent to hold a national convention,” he said.

“INEC would then be coerced to into recognizing the forged letter and on the strength of that reverse its earlier stance that it has not been properly issued the statutory 21-day notice of intent to hold a national convention. Certain staff of the Commission have been promised juicy postings for them to accept responsibility for not properly filing the letter when it purportedly arrived on time. It is on the strength of this ploy that the El-Rufai faction of the party is pushing ahead with the convention even though it has not met the conditions necessary to do so.

“In clear terms, a faction of the APC led by Nasir El-Rufai is about to commit forgery in addition to the serial violation of the Electoral Act that it has already committed.

“We are aware that they have also commissioned a media team to launch a campaign of calumny against INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, as part of a plot to remove him from the position for daring to assert INEC’s independence with the manner he rejected the change in CECPC leadership.

“With the spillover to attempting to manipulate INEC, Nigerians must now wake up and realize that the rampaging cabal is no longer the problem of APC alone. It will undermine the 2023 General Elections unless it is quickly brought under control. We are in critical times”.

The observers, therefore, urged Nigerians to “unite in resisting any attempt to make INEC act on a forged letter”.

Bilal further said “ we must also send a strong message that the INEC Chairman and Commissioners must not be victimized for doing the job they were appointed to do”.

Igbo group accuses Nigeria Governors Forum of being enemies of Nigerian youths

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Igbo group accuses Nigeria Governors Forum of being enemies of Nigerian youths

On Sunday, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) slammed the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), calling them the true enemies of Nigerian youths.

According to the council, the 36 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have denied Nigerian youths political and economic opportunities to compete with their counterparts in other countries.

The Nigeria Governors Forum, led by Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, should avoid the upcoming 2023 presidential election, according to an OYC release signed by its National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, made available on Sunday.

Read Also:  Confusion in Ondo community as bird with cipher ring falls from sky

The Igbo youths scowled at “the over-ambitious political mentality of Nigeria’s failed governors since 1999,” as they put it.

“The state governors’ corruption tendencies and tyrannical approaches to local government elections, as well as the mismanagement and diversion of funds from local government councils, are definitions of incompetence, and such a class of political gangsters in Nigeria cannot be trusted with the Nigerian Treasury in the president’s office.”

“In all likelihood, the 36 members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) are the real enemies of Nigerian youths.” They have deprived Nigerian youths of political and economic opportunities that would allow them to compete with their counterparts in other countries.

“With the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) record of 774 local government areas and 8,809 wards since 1999, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has denied 18, 576 youths the opportunity to be local government Chairman/Vice-Chairmen and 105,708 youths the opportunity to be Councillors, bringing the total number of politically incapacitated youths in Nigeria to 124,284.”

“The local government council elections could have been held 12 times if the LGA Chairman and Councillors had a two-year term,” Comrade Igboayaka said.

Read Also:  VP Osinbajo meets with religious leader, calls for peace

“We frowned at the NGF’s statement stating that “Nigerian Governors’ Forums of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and People’s Democratic Party, PDP have been meeting and consulting on producing Presidential candidates of both the APC and the PDP,” and that their consultations have advanced to a level of reaching consensus on who they are to the front in the two political parties to contest for president, come the 2023 presidential election,” according to the Igbo youths.

The Nigeria Governors Forum’s plot to merge APC and PDP presidential candidates, according to the youth group, is a futile effort.

Blackout: NBET owes us N1.644trn, GENCOS claimed

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Blackout: NBET owes us N1.644trn, GENCOS claimed

On Sunday, the Power Generation Companies (GENCOS) claimed that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) owed them over N1.644 trillion in stranded or unutilized power debts dating back to 2015.

In response to a statement issued by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on March 8, 2022, which attributed low power generation to GenCos’ inability or refusal to generate power, the companies claimed that a large portion of their generated power was stranded.

Dr. Joy Ogaji, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), said the development was affecting the GENCOs’ smooth operations at a press conference in Abuja.

Read Also:  GenCos Blame Inefficient Grid Management for Poor Electricity Supply

According to the breakdown, a minimum of 3010 megawatts were stranded on a daily basis from 2015 to January of this year, resulting in a huge payment loss, she said.

“…,” she said. Since 2013, I’ve been warning you that power is stranded. We now have 6.616 megawatts available, which we have had since 2015 or 2016. A total of 3606MW was taken, leaving 3010MW stranded. In 2015, the capacity payment loss was N 214.93 billion. In 2016, we produced an average of 7000MW, but only 3212MW was used, while the standard capacity was 3888MW, resulting in a capacity loss of N273. 273 billion.

In 2017, we produced 6008 71MW, but only 3599MW was taken, leaving 3302WM stranded. That is the capacity, and the event loss for 2018 was N236.47 billion”.

“Since 2013, when the power sector was partially privatised until today, weak and inadequate infrastructure (transmission and distribution) have continued to render insignificant, a significant portion of the generation capacities recovered or added by GenCos through huge investments done by them to increase their respective generation capacities,” Ogoji said, reiterating the GENCOS’ readiness to generate adequate power for Nigerians.

“While the GenCos’ owners committed to investing and increasing generation capacity to 13,000MW across the country, no corresponding investment or improvement was made at the transmission and distribution ends.” As a result, GenCos have significant stranded capacity, which Nigerians, ironically, require but cannot obtain. Given that capacity utilization is frequently used as a measure of productive efficiency in any market, decisions about power generating capacity investments are based on expected returns and costs”.

However, when contacted, NBET refuted the GenCos’ figures, claiming that only companies with active gas supply and transportation contracts were compensated for unutilized capacity.

Read Also:  Police react after 13 people burnt to death in Kwara auto crash

Henrietta Ighomrore, NBET’s Head of Corporate Communication, explained that only five power generation companies with active gas purchase agreements were paid for unused capacity in the country.

VP Osinbajo meets with religious leader, calls for peace

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VP Osinbajo meets with religious leader, calls for peace

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President, says that religious leaders must use faith to promote peace, ensure people’s prosperity, and society’s development, in addition to spiritual upliftment.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Saturday evening when he received the Senegal-based Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya Movement, Worldwide, His Eminence, Sheikh Muhammadu Mahi Ibrahim Niass on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, according to a release from the Vice President’s Office.

“We must use our faiths to promote peace and prosperity for our people,” the Vice President said, emphasizing the importance of religion in human development. To ensure that our people benefit from religion, we must work together.

Read Also:  Since We Took Power In 2015, I’Ve Never Had Problem With Buhari: Osinbajo

“We tend to overlook the importance of religion, despite the fact that it is vital to the development of society, not only spiritually but also physically.”

“Many nations around the world have benefited spiritually and physically from the impact of religion. As a result, we must use religion in our countries (in Africa) to assist our people in living better lives, just as religious leaders have done in other parts of the world,” he added.

Prof. Osinbajo urged religious leaders to join forces in order to use religion to address societal challenges, saying that “no matter what the situation is, we in Africa must be able to sit together and talk.” We must never allow situations to arise in which we are unable to sit together.

“In light of recent events around the world, people of faith must continue to emphasize that both major religions (Islam and Christianity) promote peace, and we must allow our citizens to practice whatever religion they choose.”

Prof. Osinbajo praised the group’s leader, as well as the Tijjaniya Movement’s progressive ideals and compassion for the people’s needs.

President Buhari, according to the Vice President, is a model of a leader who accommodates people of various religious backgrounds, citing his 7-year relationship with the President as an example.

“President Buhari is a serious Muslim, and I am a pastor,” he says, “and we have worked together for about 7 years with no issues.”

“The President has shown great leadership; he has demonstrated that he wants a country where people of various faiths live in peace and love.”

Sheikh Niass, speaking in French, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for the opportunity to meet with him and his delegation, describing the vice president as a great personality, one that Nigeria and Africa require.

“The Vice President is a great personality with exceptional character who stands on two feet: one as a political leader concerned about his people’s progress, and the other as a man of God.”

“Africa requires a person of your nature with a strong religious and political background. I pray that Almighty Allah will upgrade you and grant you your desires and aspirations, because, as I previously stated, your leadership qualities will benefit not only Nigeria but Africa as well.”

“Nigeria is the heart of Africa,” he continued, “and whatever Nigeria becomes, Africa becomes.”

The Tijjaniya leader also expressed his gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support, praying for his safety and for Nigeria to overcome its challenges.

Read Also:  PDP demands certificate of return, alleging massive crackdown on members in Umahi

The vice president promised to convey to the President the Sheik’s warm greetings and appreciation.

The Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya and other members of the Movement from across Africa gathered in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, to commemorate the Movement’s late leader Sheikh Ibrahim Niass’ 36th International Maulid Anniversary.

Ganduje Flags Off Over N2.5bn Link Roads In Garo

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Ganduje Flags Off Over N2.5bn Link Roads In Garo

Kano Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has inaugurated a road network in Garo town and neighboring communities in the state’s Kabo local government area.

At the ground breaking ceremony on Saturday, Murtala Sule Garo, the governor’s Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, who was joined by  assured that the Ganduje administration would work round the clock to improve rural infrastructural development.

According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, the projects flagged off include an 18-kilometer road from Kanye to Kabo-Dugabau, which crosses eight of Kabo’s ten Wards and was started in 2018 but abandoned halfway.

Read also: GenCos Blame Inefficient Grid Management for Poor Electricity Supply

The contract was revoked after 9 kilometers were completed and re-awarded for the remaining 9 kilometers at a cost of N1.6 billion.

Another road was built within Kabo town, with a total length of 3.9 kilometers and a cost of over N800 million.

“Experts believe that, once completed, the project will greatly assist movement of farm produce among communities, as well as easing individual movement without any hitches,” the statement continued.

“This project, like similar projects in many rural communities across the state, refutes unsubstantiated claims by some that rural communities are being neglected in this administration’s infrastructure development.” Similar projects have been seen elsewhere.”

Ukraine war: Putin likely to be removed by coup or killed – Ex-Russian Minister

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Ukraine war: Putin likely to be removed by coup or killed – Ex-Russian Minister

Andrei Kozyrev, a former Russian minister, has revealed what President Vladimir Putin may face as a result of his order to invade Ukraine.

Putin could be deposed by an internal Kremlin coup, according to Kozyrev.

He stated that due to the invasion of Ukraine, some key figures in the Kremlin may be plotting Putin’s demise.

Read Also:  Confusion in Ondo community as bird with cipher ring falls from sky

Former Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Kozyrev, who served from 1990 to 1996, recalled that previous leaders in the country were either killed or retired.

According to the US Daily Express, Putin could be deposed soon with a “armed escort either to the grave or to retirement.”

“A large number of Russian czars were killed. Many people were turned down in one way or another.

“Even in the Soviet Union, there were methods; Stalin was allegedly poisoned, and Khrushchev was simply escorted out of the Kremlin.

Read Also:  Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament Assures Democratic Norms Will Be Enforced

“With Putin, I fully expect resistance and dissatisfaction to grow, which will be resolved one way or another.”

“I’m not sure which way it will go, but Russian history is full of surprises.”

“It’s terrifying, but not irrational.” To understand why Putin justified the invasion, we must put ourselves in his shoes.”

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