A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dele Momodu, has said Nigeria is in trouble because its economy has collapsed under President Bola Tinubu.
Momodu said Tinubu was engaging in reckless waste by purchasing private jets, building monuments, and distributing palliative rather than fixing the collapsed economy.
The veteran journalist lamented that the waste by Tinubu’s government is a sign of a failed administration.
In an open letter to Tinubu, Momodu said there would be resources for development if Tinubu can curb the resources in his government.
The letter posted on his Facebook page reads partly: “Nigeria is in big trouble. Our economy has virtually collapsed. And what’s the way out? You’ve been wasting too much money at a time that requires absolute frugality.
“Please, stop this reckless propensity for wasting scarce resources.
“Purchasing Presidential jets, building outlandish monuments, distributing cash as palliatives, etc, are signs of a failed and careless government.
“If you can curb the excessive spending of your government, you will free up a lot of resources for serious development.”
Nigeria in trouble, economy has collapsed – Dele Momodu
Nigeria in trouble, economy has collapsed – Dele Momodu
Food Sufficiency: Southern Governors’ Forum to promote regional trade – Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Thursday said southern states have decided to promote inter-state and inter-region trade to foster food security and sufficiency.
The governor also disclosed that Ogun State has decided to establish Farmers’ Markets across the state to ensure food security.
He spoke when he received in audience the newly constituted Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Ayorinde Olabomi.
Governor Abiodun, who is the chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), said that Southern States have no reason not to promote trade among themselves with fertile land and human capacity in the region.
“As a matter of fact, me and my colleagues in the Southern part of Nigeria have met and have said that we have no reason not to promote inter-state or inter-region trade.
“There is no reason why someone from the South East or South South is not buying yam or tomatoes from somebody in the South West. There is no reason why someone from the South West is not buying rice from Ebonyi.
“We should be able to attain food security and sufficiency within our region because we have the human capacity and the necessary arable land. There is nothing we do not have to ensure we achieve this objective,” he said.
Governor Abiodun said that the Farmers’ Market would be located at strategic locations across the state, inluding Asero in Abeokuta and Ogere along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
He also said plans have been concluded to move the Kara cattle market from its present location to Ogere, where the cattle merchants can have access to a good atmosphere.
He continued: “Our Ministry of Agriculture is working on establishing a few things, one of which is the Farmers Market at strategic locations across the state, and I think this is another initiative we can collaborate.
“One will be at Asero in Abeokuta. One will be somewhere around Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which is around the Ogere area, which we have also designated as our livestock and animal husbandry area.
“We are proposing to move the Kara market to somewhere along there where we have land, and we can provide them with additional land for expansion.
“We believe that with the number of small holder farmers we have in Ogun State, it will be an advantage to them if we have the farmers’ market located in strategic places.”
The Governor noted that his administration sees agriculture as a way of providing food security, create employment and generate revenue, adding that the Federal University of Agriculture should be at the forefront of championing food security, as the purpose for which it was established.
He also promised to collaborate with the institution in some ways, including cassava production, even as he promised that the Iyana-Camp to Alabata road is already under the radar of his administration.
Earlier, Oba Ayorinde Olabomi, while describing Governor Abiodun as one of the best Governors in the country, called for collaboration with the state government at a time when people were clamouring for food.
The royal father further said that the institution is poised to contribute it’s quota to ensure food security in the country, urging the state government to take advantage of the several training programmes, research and development that the institution has to offer.
The Pro-Chancellor appealed to Governor Abiodun to assist the institution by reconstructing the Iyana-Camp to Alabata road, which had been destroyed as a result of activities of trucks.
Food Sufficiency: Southern Governors’ Forum to promote regional trade – Abiodun
Hardship: CAN advises against planned protest
Kaduna State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Ma’aji Caleb, has warned Christians in the state to distance themselves from any planned protest against the government of President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “Instead as Christians, our obligation is to pray, obey and support those in authority for the peaceful coexistence and progress of the country.”
Speaking with TVN in Kaduna on Thursday, the state chairman noted, “It is true that we have found ourselves in a very difficult and challenging time in all spheres of life, but we should not lose hope, ours is to unite and work together as a family to be able to overcome any challenge we may face as a nation, by the grace of the Almighty, we shall surely be victorious.”
On the part of those in leadership positions at all levels of governance, he advised that they should be prudent in all their dealings and ensure that justice was seen to be done in dealing with all Nigerians.
As Christians, he advised, “We should not lose focus but we should be supportive to government policies and pray for them for God’s wisdom and guidance as they pilot the affairs of the country in the right way.”
To those planning the protest, he noted that “nobody knows what they intend to achieve and their purpose”, stressing that “the previous protests in the country did not do any good but led to the loss of lives, maiming of innocent people and destruction of valuables that the nation and some people are yet to recover from.”
Hardship: CAN advises against planned protest
US election: Nancy Pelosi leads campaign for Biden to step aside
Former Speaker of US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has joined the push for President Joe Biden to bow out of the presidential race.
The former speaker has reportedly told her Democratic colleagues that the President could be convinced to leave the race soon.
According to the Washington Post, the former speaker has assumed a prominent role in passing messages from House Democrats to the White House.
She is relaying concerns the incumbent President is incapable of beating his opponent from the Republican Party, Donald Trump in November.
The lawmaker thinks Biden is close to making a decision to end his campaign.
Pelosi, who was one of the key figures that ensured Trump did not return elected in 2016, helping Biden to the White House, is now widely reported as orchestrating the renewed pressure on the President to bow out of his re-election bid.
Biden has insisted he will bear the Democratic Party’s flag in November, but he is said to be asking questions about negative polling data and whether the vice-president, Kamala Harris, considered the favourite to replace him if were to withdraw, would fare better.
The indications of a possible rethink come after the President tested positive for Covid-19 during the week, forcing him to be isolated for several days.
His isolation has curtailed a campaign visit to Nevada that had been part of a drive to show his candidacy was very much alive.
This coincides with fresh polling data showing that Trump now leads by two points in Virginia, a state Biden won by 10 points in 2020.
It shows that President Biden’s support has fallen in swing states since his disastrous showing at last month’s debate in Atlanta.
US election: Nancy Pelosi leads campaign for Biden to step aside
Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Friday, July 19, 2024
Here are the top 10 stories making headlines across the country.
1. Dele Momodu to Tinubu: Beware of hero worshippers in National Assembly
The Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, on Thursday warned President Bola Tinubu to be wary of hero worshippers in the National Assembly.Read more
2. Tinubu orders payment of university workers’ withheld salaries
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, stepped into the ongoing dispute between the Federal Government and university non-teaching staff over withheld salaries.Read more
3. NLC gives reasons for accepting Tinubu’s N70K minimum wage offer
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, explained why the organised labour accepted President Bola Tinubu’s N70,000 minimum wage offer.Read more
4. Reps to cut salaries by 50% for 6 months to fight hardship
The House of Representatives has resolved to slash their salaries by 50% as a way to support the Federal Government addressing the economic hardship in the country.Read more
5. FG delays implementation of 18 years minimum age requirement for tertiary admission to 2025
In a surprising turn of events, Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman has decided to postpone the enforcement of the minimum age requirement of 18 years for admission into tertiary institutions.Read more
READ ALSO:Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Wednesday, July 17, 2024
6. Ex-APC stalwart, Salihu Lukman, says Akpabio has reduced Senate to a govt parastatal
Salihu Moh. Lukman, former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of undermining the independence of the Nigerian Senate, reducing it to a parastatal under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.Read more
7. Dangote Refinery insists IOCs frustrating crude purchase
The management of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has refused to back down over claims that International Oil Companies (IOCs) are frustrating its quest to purchase crude feedstock for the Dangote refinery.Read more
8. NGX delists Niger Insurance, two others from platform
The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has delisted the shares of Niger Insurance Plc and two other companies from its platform for non-compliance with standards.Read more
9. Farmer docked for allegedly defiling neighbour’s daughter in Oyo
Police on Thursday arraigned a farmer, Mufutau Salaudeen, at the Oyo State Family Court in Iyaganku, for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s daughter.Read more
10. Olympics: House of Reps lead support for Team Nigeria with N100m pledge
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has gotten ball rolling as they call on other Nigerians to support the Team Nigeria ahead of their participation at the Olympic Games.Read more
The post Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Friday, July 19, 2024 appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Criminalize non-wearing of life jacket on boats – HYPPADEC MD, Yelwa urges lawmakers
Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPPADEC, Abubakar Yelwa, has advocated a legislation that will criminalize non-wearing of life jackets by boat passengers.
He made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting on the agency’s Youth Transformation Programme (YTP) in Ilorin on Thursday.
Abubakar urged Houses of Assembly in its catchment areas to enact the laws to help mitigate the death rate from boat mishaps in riverine communities.
Speaking through the Director of Community and Rural Development, Dr Mahmud Muhammed, the HYPPADEC boss recalled how a riverine community lost 130 persons to a single boat mishap.
He disclosed that the agency had trained over 5,000 youths in its YTP scheme, noting that the 800 youths that benefited from the scheme in Kwara State would soon get starter packs to commence their own businesses and possibly employ others.
According to him, the starter packs that would be distributed to the beneficiaries who were trained in 15 vocations which include tailoring and fish farming cost over N255m.
Abubakar pleaded with the beneficiaries not to sell the starter packs, but put them to judicious use.
Criminalize non-wearing of life jacket on boats – HYPPADEC MD, Yelwa urges lawmakers
US election: I’ll carry out largest deportation in America’s history – Trump vows
Presidential candidate of the Republican, Donald Trump, has promised ‘the largest deportation operation in the history of the United States of America.
Trump addressed Republican supporters on Thursday in his formal acceptance of his nomination.
Trump noted that the GOP platform proposes “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country”.
The former President said that crime is dropping in Central American countries such as El Salvador because “they’re sending their murders to the United States of America”.
Trump, who escaped assassination attempt a few days ago, noted that his deportations would be “even larger than that of president Dwight D Eisenhower from many years ago.
“You know, he was a moderate but he believed very strongly in borders. He had the largest deportation operation we’ve ever had.”
US election: I’ll carry out largest deportation in America’s history – Trump vows
Otti approves disbursement of developmental project funds to 23 communities
A total of 23 communities from 10 LGAs in Abia State have been picked to benefit from the Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development Project, as approved by Governor Alex Otti.
The projects that were submitted to the state government as the most important needs in their localities, are to be constructed in three weeks, starting from the day of the disbursement next week.
Speaking at the event, Governor Alex Otti, who was represented by Rev Fr. Christian Anokwuru, his Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, said he is in a hurry to develop every part of the state.
Also, the General Manager of Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development Project, Ekejiuba Ekpo, while speaking on Thursday during a training programme for members of the Community Project Monitoring Committee, CPMC, from the benefitting communities, said that the agency would carry out strict monitoring and evaluation of the construction of projects in the communities to ensure that the funds given to the communities are not embezzled or fraudulently diverted.
According to him, the Abia State Government is contributing 95 per cent of the funds, while the benefitting communities are contributing 5 per cent counterpart funds, even though he said that community development officers from LGAs have been deployed to also monitor the projects.
He noted that Governor Alex Otti is interested in developing every part of the state, especially the rural communities where basic amenities are lacking.
The general manager, who tasked the members of the Project Monitoring Committee to ensure transparency, accountability and dedication, warned that the funds would be thoroughly audited to ensure that they tallied with the quality of jobs executed.
The 23 benefiting communities are Amaeke-Alayi, Uhabiri, Ohokobe, Umuode Nsulu, Ndiaku, Ugwunagbo, Ogbuebele, Oria Na Agu, Abala and Nunya.
Others are Avonkwu, Ndiokereke Abam, Amaeke Isiegbu, Ajata Okwuru, Umuodeche , Ndiudumukwu, Nsukwe, Amato Isingwu and Umuawa Alaocha.
The rest are Umuajiji Isieke, Mbato Ofoeme and Mbom Afarata communities.
The projects to be executed include primary health centres, water boreholes, and the reconstruction of school buildings.
Otti approves disbursement of developmental project funds to 23 communities
Gunmen kill police officer during Shaibu’s reception, Edo govt blames deputy governor
Gunmen on Thursday shot dead a police officer identified as Inspector Onu Ako during a reception for the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.
The deceased was attached to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Monday Okpebholo.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, nullified the impeachment of Shaibu by the state House of Assembly.
He also restrained Obaseki and the Assembly from stopping Shaibu from performing the functions of his office.
The judge equally ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to restore the deputy governor’s security details.
The Assembly, however, said in a statement, it had appealed the judgement.
It is not immediately clear if Okpebholo was wounded in the incident.
READ ALSO: EDO: PDP chieftain, Orbih, says court judgment on Edo dep gov, Shaibu, will deepen democracy
The spokesman for the state police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the attack to journalists.
He said the incident occurred along the Airport Road shortly after the entourage left the Benin Airport.
However, the state government in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, accused Shaibu of unleashing mayhem on innocent people of the state with his thugs.
The spokesman for the APC candidate, Godswill Inegbe, also confirmed the attack.
He said Okpebholo had been admitted with other members of the entourage to an undisclosed hospital in Benin City.
“During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured with bullet wounds, while one of the policemen has been feared dead,” the spokesman added.
The post Gunmen kill police officer during Shaibu’s reception, Edo govt blames deputy governor appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Dele Momodu to Tinubu: Beware of hero worshippers in National Assembly
The Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, on Thursday warned President Bola Tinubu to be wary of hero worshippers in the National Assembly.
He also asked the president to see the sacked Senate chief whip, Ali Ndum, as his best friend.
The Senate on Wednesday removed the outspoken lawmaker as Chief Whip following the recommendation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC).
He had since been replaced by the Senator representing Borno North, Mohammed Monguno, in that position.
Ndume was removed a few days after he criticised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style.
The lawmaker, who featured in a programme on Arise TV, said the president has been caged by his aides in Aso Rock.
He added that Tinubu was not aware of the challenges faced by Nigerians because he was far removed from the current realities in the country.
The lawmaker also argued that former President Muhammadu Buhari was a more accessible leader.
In an open letter to the president, the director of strategic communication for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council in the 2023 elections called for efficient management of the scarce resources because the country’s “economy has collapsed.”
He wrote: “In the name of God, beware of those hero-worshippers at the National Assembly who have turned you into God. Ndume is your best friend. Listen to him. There’s danger ahead.
“You must enforce discipline as a leader. Your new disciple, Nyesom Wike, has publicly disrespected you in the Fubara matter. You need to sanction him before he throws Nigeria into total chaos.
“Nigeria is in big trouble. Our economy has virtually collapsed. And what’s the way out? You’ve been wasting too much money at a time that requires absolute frugality.
“Please stop this reckless propensity for wasting scarce resources. Purchasing presidential jets, building outlandish monuments, distributing cash as palliatives, etc. are signs of a failed and careless government.
“If you can curb the excessive spending of your government, you will free up a lot of resources for serious development.
“Invest in vocational skills for our highly talented youths who can demonstrate their capacity for hard work.
“Invest heavily in local agriculture. Upgrade our institutions of learning. Giving cash to politicians to distribute is unhealthy and unhelpful… It is the height of cluelessness.”
The post Dele Momodu to Tinubu: Beware of hero worshippers in National Assembly appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.