Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is at the presidential villa, Abuja for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
She came into the president’s office accompanied by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubair Dada.
Okonjo-Iweala is running to become the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has already emerged as one of the final two candidates for the election.
President Buhari has since expressed his support and that of his administration to her effort to clinch the plump post.
Her visit to the presidential villa is apparently connected to the election.
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Okiye, was on Monday morning impeached.
Okiye’s impeachment notice was signed by nine out of the 10-member Assembly.
Though details of what led to the impeachment are still sketches, Tribune Online gathered that Okiye would have been removed last week but for the last-minute intervention by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Edo Assembly, as it is presently constituted, is made up seven Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, embers and three All Progressive Congress, APC, members.
14 other members-elect stayed off the inauguration of the House on June 17, 2019, when Governor Obaseki issued the proclamation for the inauguration of the legislative arm.
While the 14 others had on August 6, 2020, inaugurated themselves in a private residence at Ugbor GRA, of the state capital, Benin, where they elected Victor Edoror as the speaker.
Okiye, it would be recalled, had week decamped to the PDP alongside six other members, while the remaining three members, who participated in the June 2019 inauguration remain in the APC.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that it will not be cowed into enrolling its members on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The union which was reacting to the directive issued by the Federal Government which seeks to stop the salaries of university employees, who have not enrolled on the scheme, described the move as blackmail to weaken workers and make them enroll on the platform.
Speaking in an interview with Punch on Sunday, the Chairman of the University of Port Harcourt Branch of ASUU, Dr Austen Sado, said that the directive by the government clearly shows that there is something the Federal Government is not telling the people.
He said “It (directive to stop salaries) clearly shows that there is something the Federal Government is not telling the people. They are not paying us (some lecturers). So, why are they saying by November?
“What they are doing now is just blackmail and threat to see how they would weaken our members to go and enroll (on IPPIS). People who have not enrolled are not being paid; some people for eight months, some for three, going to four months. I have not been paid salary since July, while some people have not been paid since February”.
The spokesman of the Eyitayo Jegede campaign organisation, Gbenga Akinmoyo, has said that the team is waiting on God, after his principal was defeated in the Ondo Governorship election.
Akinmoyo stated this during an interview on Channels Television in Akure on Sunday.
“This project is a project that God has ordained. As it is so, we wait. So we wait on God,” he said.
On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, as the winner of the poll.
Akeredolu won 15 out of 18 local governments, with Jegede winning the remaining three.
Akinmoyo thanked the people of the state for voting for their conscience during the polls and commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members for working hard for the party.
“For the benefit of the general public, we will like to thank all the Ondo State voters who went to the polls yesterday and voted for their conscience,” he added.
Former chairman of the board of Ondo State Radio-vision Corporation, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, on Sunday attributed the defeat of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede in Saturday’s governorship election to the face off between him and former Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Jegede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, served as a two-term attorney general and commissioner for Justice when Mimiko was governor for eight years.
The relationship between the two of them went sour when Mimiko anointed Jegede as his successor in 2016 but allegedly refused to back it up with funds, which led to his defeat.
Jegede also emerged as the candidate of the PDP in the 2020 governorship election but Mimiko, who has since dumped the party to form the Zenith Labour Party, pitched his tent with the incumbent Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who contested on the platform of the ZLP.
Reacting to the outcome of the result in a statement on Sunday, Ajulo, who is an Abuja-based lawyer, said Jegede would have won if he had made peace with Mimiko to earn his support.
He said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who won the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, defeated other contestants because he made peace with the aggrieved members of his party before the election.
He said, “The Peoples Democratic Party would have had a better shot at winning if the party’s candidate had emulated the tactic of the APC’s candidate who stooped to conquer by making peace with all his old and new adversaries.
“I am disturbed that the PDP candidate failed to be on the same page with his former principal, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
“This (development) unfortunately, helped Akeredolu, SAN fortunes as PDP went into the election with a cracked wall.
”Where are all state governors and national party leaders of the party? They even tried to beat up Ayodele Fayose during one of the campaign rallies.”
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2020 Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, has been declared winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He defeated his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, in 12 of the 18 Local Government Areas where the election held.
Akeredolu polled 292,830 votes as against Jegede’s 195,791 votes.
INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, who declared Akeredolu winner, said he had met all conditions required to be returned as governor-elect for the state.
Though Jegede won the first LG (Ifedore) result to be announced, Akeredolu maintained a comfortable lead after 16 of the 18 LGAs’ resultswere announced.
Jegede won in Akure South, Akure North, and Ifedore LGAs while the Deputy Governor and Zenith Labour Party candidate, Agboola Ajayi, won none.
image captionSunday saw more protests, such as this one in Lagos
Nigeria has dissolved the special police force at the centre of protests against police brutality.
The government said a special presidential directive had ordered the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).
Protests against the squad were sparked by a video of a man allegedly being killed by police.
The demonstrations have intensified despite a crackdown and have spread outside the country.
All the officers in the Sars squad – widely accused of unlawful arrests, torture and murder – are to be redeployed, the presidency said, and a new arrangement to replace the squad is being worked on.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s chief of police said an a team of investigators – including civil society organisations and human rights bodies – would be set up to investigate alleged abuses by Sars.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said he was determined to end police brutality, introduce reforms and bring “erring personnel… to justice”.
Protesters had demanded the unit be disbanded rather than reformed because previous commitments to change police behaviour had had no effect.
PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE: The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG has been dissolved WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
The Inspector General of Police will communicate further developments in this regard.— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 11, 2020
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced the decision to dissolve the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said the operatives will be redeployed to other police formations and commands.
Adamu announced this in a live broadcast on Sunday.
The announcement came after days of online and offline protests against the brutality and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives nationwide.
At the briefing, the IGP said,
“The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force otherwise known as SARS is hereby dissolved in all the 36 states police command and the Federal Capital Territory.”
Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has spoken regarding the police brutality on “END SARS” protesters in Ogbomosho.
Engr.Seyi Makinde
He made the following statements;
I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of one of our children, Jimoh Isiaka, who was shot during the ENDSARS protest in Ogbomoso. He later died at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, earlier today.
Also, at this same protest, Abdulrasaq Olawale, Oluwadamilare Gbolohunmi, and five other persons sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
This situation is highly regrettable. I have contacted the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, and other relevant agencies, and investigations into what led to the unfortunate incident are still ongoing.
I pray that God grants the parents of Jimoh Isiaka the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
The ENDSARS protests are a strong indicator of a systemic failure. It is a failure on the part of those who have been constitutionally empowered to protect the citizens.
It again calls into question why State Governors are called Chief Security Officers of their state whereas, they do not have the necessary powers to control the police force.
I will be paying a personal visit to the family of Jimoh Isiaka and I promise to pursue the investigations to a logical conclusion.
Peaceful protests are a big part of our democratic process. The right to freedom of speech and assembly are guaranteed by our Constitution, and I will never support any attempt to rob citizens of their fundamental human rights.
I call on all residents of Oyo State to please remain calm. I also call on the Police to allow residents of Oyo State protest peacefully without fear of being assaulted.
Again, I express my deepest sympathies to the family of Jimoh Isiaka, may his soul rest in peace.
Frank Mba,Nigerian Police Force Public Officer has opined that some social media celebrities are using the End SARS campaign to grow their fan base.
He further noted that these celebrities are seeking public validation.
Frank Mba said in an Interview yesterday;
“I have seen some of those who are pushing for end SARS who are just pseudo-activists, people who are desperate for public validation, people who are looking to be seen as social media influencers and I will tell you these are the people that post false items, fake news.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday finally reacted for the call to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad over their alleged brutality in the country.
Nigerians have been protesting against the activities of the police operatives for some past few days.
Buhari in a statement released on Friday night noted that he had met with the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
The president expressed his determination to reform the Police Force and ensure that officers are fully accountable to Nigerians.
Few minutes ago, the president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the on going “END SARS” protest in Nigeria.
He stated the following;
“I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.”
“The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses, & ensure erring personnel are brought to justice. I appeal for patience & calm, even as Nigerians freely exercise their right to peacefully make their views known.”
“The vast majority of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, and we will continue to support them to do their job.”
The Nigerian Police force has released statements on Twitter to address the “END SARS” protest and the killings associated with it.
Below are the statements;
“ENDSARS PROTESTERS GO BERSERK – MURDER 1 POLICEMAN, INJURE ANOTHER IN DELTA, STEAL AK47 RIFLE WITH 25 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.”
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has condemned the unprovoked and violent attack on policemen and damage to police operational vehicles and other assets by ENDSARS protesters in Ughelli, Delta State, on Thursday, 8th October, 2020.”
“The incident which resulted in the unfortunate death of one Police officer, Corporal Etaga Stanley attached to ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, Delta State who was attacked and brutally murdered by the protesters also left another, Sergeant Patrick Okuone with serious body injury sustained from gunshot by the protesters. The protesters also carted away one (1) service AK47 rifle with breach no 56-2609008 and 25 rounds of live ammunition that was with the deceased at the time of the incident.”
“The IGP, who described the incident as cruel and unwarranted, has warned that the Force will no longer tolerate any attack on its personnel or any member of the law enforcement community by any individual or group protesting under any guise.”
“The IGP notes that protest by citizens remain a legitimate means for airing their concerns and views. It must however be carried out with all sense of responsibility and within the confines of the law.”
“The IGP, while condoling the family and friends of the late Corporal Etaga Stanley who paid the supreme price in the service of our dear nation, equally commended the officers of the Delta State Police Command for exercising restraint in the face of the immoral and unjustified provocation.”
“Meanwhile, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police, Delta State to carry out a discrete investigation into the unfortunate incident, root-out the perpetrators and bring the killer protesters to book.”
Below are snapshots of the original tweets as posted by the Nigerian Police force.
ONLY federal workers registered on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform would continue to get salaries, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
Buhari said this during the presentation of the N13.03 trillion 2021 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday.
The President said any worker not captured on the payroll would be treated as a ghost worker.
But the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that has vowed never to key into the IPPIS platform as demanded by the Federal Government, said the President’s remarks had nothing to do with its members.
ASUU President Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, who reacted to the remark yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari was not referring to its members in his budget speech.
President Muhammadu Buhari
Prof Ogunyemi said: “The President didn’t say ASUU members. He said he didn’t want to pay money to non-existent personnel and he (president) said employees of federal government. That doesn’t translate to ASUU.
“As far as ASUU is concerned, we have met with Mr. President, we have reached an understanding that we should develop the alternative to IPPIS that will respect the autonomy of universities. That is what we have done and which we have presented to the Federal Ministry of Education about two months ago.”
“What is left for government to do is to continue with the integrity test that they promised to conduct before they accept the alternative which is the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
ASUU
“We don’t believe that ASUU falls into the category of non-existent workers. We don’t believe that ASUU works at the MDAs that Mr. President talked about.
“IPPIS is meant for the civil servants and that we know they are faithfully applying. So if that is going on in the MDAs, we believe the universities should be insulated from civil service rules because universities have their own establishment Acts which are vested with the management of personnel and payroll system in the hands of the university Governing Councils. That is what we have been challenging all along.”
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), says Nigeria’s economy may slip back into recession.
Buhari poke at the presentation of the 2021 budget estimates to the Joint Session of the National Assembly on Thursday in Abuja.
The president explained that Nigeria’s economy is being battered by the global economic fallout from COVID-19, adding that a drop in crude oil prices deprives the country of key revenues.
He presented a budget of N13.1 trillion, which represents over 20 per cent increase from last year’s spending plan.
The budget, he said, comes with a deficit of N4.8 trillion that will be financed mainly by borrowing.
Buhari noted that global crude prices tumbled early in the year, falling below $20 per barrel in April.
He said, “The 2021 Budget was prepared amidst a challenging global and domestic environment due to the persistent headwinds from the Coronavirus Pandemic. The resulting global economic recession, low oil prices and heightened global economic uncertainty have had important implications for our economy.
The Nigerian economy is currently facing serious challenges, with the macroeconomic environment being significantly disrupted by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Real Gross Domestic Product growth declined by 6.1 percent in the second quarter of 2020.
“This ended the 3-year trend of positive, but modest, real GDP growth recorded since the second quarter of 2017. I am glad to note that, through our collective efforts, our economy performed relatively better than that of many other developed and emerging economies.
GDP growth is projected to be negative in the third quarter of this year. As such, our economy may lapse into the second recession in four years, with significant adverse consequences.
“However, we are working assiduously to ensure a rapid recovery in 2021. We remain committed to implementing programmes to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years.”
Falz, Tiwa Savage, Runtown, DJ spinall, Toke Makinwa amongst others, joined the “END SARS” protest today. The protest which started off yesterday even got more serious today.
God-fatherism in politics has been existing way back before I was born. If you think god-fatherism never existed in Oyo state, that is very wrong. Late Adedibu during his lifetime used to be a powerful godfather in Oyo state and a saviour to his numerous thugs.
The sitting governor in Oyo state at that time (2003) , Senator Rashidi Ladoja seemed to be a figure head to many while Adedibu was indirectly trying to control the state. There were times in broad day light when Adedibu’s thugs took over the metropolis shooting and causing chaos. What about rumours of how those thugs forcefully acquired land from people who worked hard to own it?
Senator Rashidi Ladoja
Adedibu’s influence was not restricted to only Oyo state. It reached other south western states in Nigeria. There was an interview he had and he was referring to the then governor of osun state, he said and I quote ;
“Sebí omo dada ni gomina osun. Ti mo ba ti lo ki, o ma n ko nkan kabiti si eyin buutu Mi. Isu ko ni o da si ibe , owó ni.”
Meaning that, the then governor of osun state was a good son and anytime he visited him, he used to load his booth with money and not with yam.
After school closing hours, even school children were not safe. Fortunately, my siblings and I didn’t have to go home ourselves after closing time. My heart raced each time I sighted a thug on bike, riding carelessly past the vehicle in which I was. Late Adedibu suceeded in impeaching Ladoja with the support of his cohorts on January 2006. Precisely after 11 months, on December 2006, Ladoja won the case in court and got his mandate back as governor of the state.
However when Governor Obaseki of Edo state and Adams Oshiomole ( a typical godfather ) started having issues before the 2020 Edo state elections, I thought of the old days of god-fatherism in Oyo state.
Oyo politics is dynamic! After Ladoja completed his tenure , the free spending Christopher Alao Akala was elected as governor. Then, the season film started. I wasn’t old enough to understand politicians’ gimmicks before then, hence my personal observation started. You see, anytime a wrong leader is voted into power , the civil servants suffer first , then others follow. Thank God for where Oyo state stands today, it is a big revolution. I’m not done yet, I’m still going doing the memory lane.
Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala
Akala took over as governor like a careless spender in disguise as a free giver. People around him enjoyed but what about those working for the state? He made a statement then and I quote;
“I can’t break into the bank in order to pay worker’s salaries”.
My thoughts are, “what happened to maximizing opportunities in the state and generating more revenue inorder to keep up with the state’s expenses? ” . Oyo people got tired of Akala and as the 2011 elections approached, campaign was intensified by candidates contesting to be the next governor…this includes Akala. Well it happened, Akala lost and Senator Abiola Ajimobi won the gubernatorial election. However, as the late legendary afrobeat singer, Fela kuti said in his words, “suffer suffer”. The “suffer suffer” season began!
Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi
Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi was sworn in as governor and well, his first achivement was the 13 months salary he decided to pay workers on December. However, the claimed 13 months salary was relatively a stipend, not a full salary. The narrow flyover constructed at Mokola was another achievement for him, amongst other things he did. Mind you, I can say not for clout but fact that the flyover was not well constructed because it is very hard to sight an on coming vehicle.This describes how narrow the flyover is.
After series of road constructions and other achievements, the war between the state government and workers started. Ajimobi started owing workers salaries , as much as 7months. Amidst the debts, he sacked so many workers unjustly and notwithstanding, kept on troubling them by observing very frequent screenings. Many workers lost their lives via road accident, as he mandated them to make their certificates available during the numerous screenings.
Of course , workers had to obtain their certificates from various institutions across the country. Some workers lost their lives in road accidents, others lost their lives due to depression and underlying health issues they could no longer afford to treat , as a result of lacking stable income. Ajimobi kept on sacking and suspending workers , yet didn’t replace them with new intakes. As if that wasn’t enough , he demolished buildings without compensating the people involved. Yet, he didn’t set up new infrastructures in places he demolished.
During the time Ajimobi was serving as governor, he made a statement in the church during a service for the late Oba Odulana Odugade( the former Olubadan of Ibadan) and I quote ;
“I cannot use money meant to develop the state to pay worker’s salaries”.
Oyo has seen bad days and if the people are rejoicing today because Engr. Seyi Makinde is in power, go back to the memory lane. Unfortunately for Oyo people, Ajimobi governed the state for 8 years , it was about the survival of the fittest. Even entrepreneurs felt the heat, money wasn’t circulating but there was enough funds to support campaign for 2019 elections. Ajimobi contested for the senate but lost. His gubernatorial candidate ,“Adelabu”, also lost the election. Rain fell on that day , it was a glorious day for Oyo People as Seyi Makinde won the gubernatorial election.
His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde (Oyo state governor today).
Ajimobi could have been a godfather if his gubernatorial candidate had won the election. Oyo politics seems to be moving and for the first time in a long while, the people finally have a voice. Hey, Oyo revolution is God’s plan.
The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N653,886,584 to procure and deploy a hybrid spectrum monitoring system that will cover the southern part of the country, most importantly the south-east.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Issa Pantami, disclosed this on Wednesday, at the end of the 18th virtual Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at State Hūouse in Abuja.
According to him, the investigation carried out in five geo-political zones; the north-east, north-west, north-central, south-west and south-south, revealed that out of the 320 frequencies discovered, 106 were illegal and based on the advice of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the illegal frequencies will be prosecuted.
Mr Pantami described the use of illegal frequencies in the country which according to him, has become very rampant, as worrisome.
He explained that the initial monitoring did not cover the southeastern part of the country, hence the need for the council’s approval.
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