Category: News

…New PG thanks Ndigbo for his emergence, promises to advance Igbo course

…Hails Gov. Ugwuanyi for transforming Enugu Old Government Lodge

The five governors of the South East states and other leaders of the zone on Sunday unanimously adopted and inaugurated Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, the Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo, as the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

The decision was reached during a closed door meeting of members of Ohanaeze Imeobi with the governors and other Igbo leaders held at the state-of-the-art Banquet Hall, Enugu, newly constructed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration. The Banquet Hall is located within the premises of the remodelled Old Government Lodge, GRA, Enugu.

The meeting had in attendance Governor Ugwuanyi, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, and the Deputy Governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, Dr. Kelechi Igwe and Prof. Placid Njoku respectively, who represented their governors, accordingly.

Other Igbo leaders at the event include former governors of Imo and Anambra states, Chief Ikedi Okakim and Mr. Peter Obi who is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded general election; former President of the Senate, Chief Adolphus Wabara; Governor-elect of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Okey Emeuche; former Presidents General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey and Chief John Nnia Nwodo; and wife of the first President of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Uche Azikiwe.

Others were serving and former members of the National Assembly; serving and former ministers and ambassadors; clergymen; Obi of Onitsha, HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Amb. Lawrence Agubuzu and other royal fathers; elder statesmen; Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of South East states; National President, Association of Town Unions, Chief Sir Emeka Diwe and other members of the executive; and Town Union Presidents of the South East states, etc.

In his acceptance speech, Chief Iwuanyanwu thanked the Igbo leaders and the entire people of the South East zone for finding him worthy to pilot the affairs of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

The new President General also thanked the South East governors in a special way for their support for Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

He promised to do his best, rise to the challenge, defend and advance the Igbo course.

Chief Iwuanyanwu added that his tenure will promote transformation in education, agriculture, industrialisation, electricity/power generation, health, among others, calling for collective efforts and support of all.

The President General who pointed out with delight that “this is the first time I have seen the five governors of the South East coming together to take up and support a course” stated that his emergence is a new dawn in Igbo land as “the governors are united in that project and I am very proud of you.”

Impressed with Governor Ugwuanyi’s performance and his validity in upholding and promoting the enviable status of Enugu as the historic capital of the old Eastern Nigeria and the South East, Chief Iwuanyanwu commended the governor for transforming the Old Government Lodge, Enugu and constructing a befitting Banquet Hall within its premises where his adoption and inauguration as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo took place.

He described the incident as not just a coincidence in history but also a testament to Governor Ugwuanyi’s sound vision and steadfastness towards the course of the Igbo people.

“This is a new dawn in Igbo land. The governors are united and focused. For example, the Governor of Enugu State, a man that I have always known as a young man; he has done very well as a governor and I am very proud of him.

“Now I am here, this place is a hallowed ground. This place is the former Government Lodge of Eastern Nigeria. This is where our great leader Zik used to stay. Everything about Eastern Nigeria was conceived here.

“Governor Ugwuanyi has re-activated this place. This is a very good coincidence in history that my inauguration and my acceptance are being performed on this ground. From this ground we emerged in 1960 from a relatively low back point to be number one in Nigeria, number one in education, number one in industry, number one in progress, etc.”

Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has said the incoming government in Kano will revisit the dethronement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, 14th Emir of Kano.

Sanusi, who became emir in the final term of Kwankwaso as governor, was dethroned by outgoing Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who was deputy governor at the time the monarch was installed.

Sanusi was removed on March 9, 2020, and also banished from Kano and sent to Loko, a remote community in Nasarawa State, while the expenses of the emirate under him were probed.

Ganduje had also split the emirate into five and appointed emirs who were at par.

But speaking in a viral video, Kwankwao said the dethronement and balkanisation of the emirate would be reviewed by the government of Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor-elect, who is popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida.

“We have campaigned and as you know we are popular in Nigeria especially in Kano state, we are now back and God willing we will continue with the good works our administration left. This incoming governor and his team will take them up.”

“As elders, we will continue to advise them to do the right thing. We tried not intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any Emir, but now, an opportunity has come.

“Those who were given this opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do. Beside the Emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied. Usually a leader inherits good, bad and issues that are hard to reconcile.”

He further prayed for God’s intervention to allow the incoming governor to be able to handle things easily.

No regrets dethroning Sanusi

One year after he removed Sanusi, Gaduje had said he took the decision to save the system and the traditional institution from abuse.

He spoke at the presentation of a book on former President Goodluck Jonathan, authored by a journalist, Mr. Bonaventure Melah.

Ganduje had said Sanusi was not the best man for the throne, alleging that the deposed emir was appointed to spite former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan had in April 2014 removed Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over claims by the ex-CBN governor that $49 billion was stolen by some persons under the Jonathan administration.

Faulting Sanusi’s public outburst over the alleged fraud, Ganduje said the ex-CBN governor ought to have discussed the matter privately with the former president who in turn could have directed an investigation into the allegation.

“Jonathan took a bold step in [removing] Sanusi as CBN governor, which created bad blood in certain circles. When Sanusi said $49 billion was lost in Jonathan’s government, I said in my mind that no, you could have discussed with him (Jonathan) privately.

“You could have given him this clue and then he would know how to investigate even before those who had stolen the money would find a way of hiding the money.

“That statement, I said in my mind was not honourable. That statement created bad blood… Sanusi was appointed Emir of Kano not because he was the best man for the throne but to retaliate what Jonathan did to him.

“That was in order to prove that what Jonathan did to him was wrong and that the people of Kano wanted their son as emir and, therefore, they decided to appoint him as emir. But when he was appointed, there were a lot of demonstrations with people burning tyres here and there. But because of government backing, he was sustained on the stool.

“When I became governor, (that’s why you will laugh), I said yes, Jonathan medicine is an important medicine. That medicine, even though I am not a medical doctor, but that medicine would serve the same purpose, for the same disease and for the same patient.

“So I took my Jonathan medicine and decided to save the system, to save the institution and I applied it effectively. So Jonathan and I are on the same page. Actually, I have no regrets.”

Daily Trust

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to increase the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

The association stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of the extraordinary council meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The communiqué which was signed by the NARD President, Dr. Innocent Orji, the Secretary-General, Dr. Kelechi Chikezie, and the Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Musa Umar, was made available to journalists on Saturday.

The doctors demanded an increment of about 200 percent of their current gross salary.

This, according to them, will be in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, for the review of CONMESS in 2022.

The communiqué read: “The Federal Government has neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue.

“This is against the background of the dwindling economic situation in the country, the serial abysmal decline in the value of the Naira, the imminent removal of fuel subsidy, and the consequent damaging effect on the cost of living in the country.

“There have been previous ultimatums issued to the government by NARD on account of this problem of the review of the CONMESS salary structure.

“The previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be due for review after five years, but this has not been done since the implementation in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.

“NEC has resolved to issue the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum beginning on Saturday, April 29, to resolve all these demands, following the expiration of which on May 13, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.”

The association also demanded the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health.

Ripples

The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful and seamless transition to the incoming government.

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, the governor dismissed insinuations by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) that the outgoing administration is undermining the transition programme.

Garba stated that the main transition committee and the various sub-committees at the levels of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are working tirelessly towards preparing a handover note to the incoming administration.

He also explained that the inclusion of representation from the incoming government was based on the need to ensure transparency and openness in the process.

“The aim of the transition committee was to prepare a handing over from one government to another and not presenting or promoting any form of ideology,” Garba said.

He also called on certain “elements” of the incoming government to tread carefully, work for a smooth transition process, and avoid anything that could sabotage the process.

The commissioner further indicated that the outgoing government expects the issue of ideology and new programmes of the NNPP to wait for the new government to be inaugurated.

“We’re committed to a seamless transition and want to assure everyone that the main transition committee and the various sub-committees are working assiduously towards a smooth handing over of power,” Ganduje was quoted as saying.

Garba added that while the transition committee by the outgoing government prepares the final handover report, the committee by the incoming administration would eventually receive the report at the appropriate time.

He noted that since the outgoing government has all the relevant data and information at its disposal, which the transition committee is gathering, the incoming government needs the least representation in the committee, just as it obtains in other states where transition is between different political parties.

Channels TV

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has announced President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the postponement of the May 3rd 2023 population and housing census.

The Minister in a statement in Abuja on Friday morning, said a new date will be determined by the incoming administration.

The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for 3-7 May 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming Administration.

“The President gave the approval after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday (28 April 2023).

“In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.

“The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

“He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses.

“The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.

“The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.”

Vanguard

The Gubernatorial Transition Committee (GTC) of the Kano state governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf has alleged that the outgoing government of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is undermining and sabotaging the transition process.

However, the state government said the allegation was unfounded, claiming that the GTC had refused to submit the names of its three nominees to the government’s transition committee.

It said despite this, all ministries, parastatals and agencies of the government have been carrying on with the handing over process.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the chairman of the governor-elect’s GTC, Abdullahi Baffa said the government’s insistence that it must nominate three members to join the 17-member government transition committee was “tantamount to insisting that we must have a joint transition committee even though we belong to separate political parties.”

He said because of the GTC’s “insistence that the right thing must be done, Governor Ganduje is doing everything possible to undermine and sabotage the transition process: He is yet to inaugurate the government team even after announcing its formation almost four weeks ago (sadly, the government team say they cannot hold any meeting with us until they are inaugurated by the governor)”.

Baffa also alleged that Ganduje has “mischievously transferred all permanent secretaries and most of the directors within the service to undermine the preparation of the hand-over”, adding that the governor “has surreptitiously embarked on massive recruitment of workers (in his final few days) on a scale that he has not done in the last seven years and 10 months with the sole intention of over-bloating the service, undermining the incoming administration, and creating confusion.”

He said all these were manifestation of bad faith and total lack of statesmanship in the conduct of the governor.

Baffa said to ensure the transition process is smoothly concluded before the May 29 handover, the GTC would be having interaction with all permanent secretaries, heads of agencies and Director of Personnel Management of all local government areas from May 2.

Reacting to the allegations by the GTC, the state Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, who is also a member of the government’s transition committee, told Daily Trust that there was no truth in what the GTC alleged.

Garba said it was the GTC that had so far refused to nominate the three persons to join the 17-member committee, adding that the GTC was given three slots because the bulk of the work of the transition period would be carried out by the outgoing government.

He also said it was not true that the committee had not been working because the governor was yet to formally inaugurate the committee, saying at least two meetings had been held and the chairman of the committee had given directives for all the ministries, parastatals and agencies to conclude their handing over process.

He said some of the MDAs had already concluded their process and as soon as the GTC nominates its representatives to the committee, they would be carried along.

Daily Trust

The Federal Government says about 7,000 nationals including Nigerians are stranded at the Egyptian border on their way from Sudan.

This is according to the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

A Friday statement by Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit of NIDCOM quoted Dabiri-Erewa as expressing concern over the plight of those affected.

“Dabiri-Erewa said over 7000 Nationals, including Nigerians, are not being allowed to cross the border into Egypt since their arrival late yesterday evening,” the statement read.

“She added that The Nigerian mission in Egypt has been working tirelessly on this as the Egyptian authorities are insisting on visas by fellow Africans to transit back to their countries.

“She appealed to the Egyptian authorities to kindly allow the already traumatized travelers to transit to their final destinations in various countries in Africa.”

Channels TV

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) lost the February 25, 2023 presidential election because of overconfidence.

He said while the All Progressives Congress (APC) was working hard to retain power in the election, the combined opposition was carried away by self-confidence.

At his residence yesterday in the State House where he received the Progressive Governors Forum led by their chairman, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, the president in a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said: “They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our Party blended confidence with caution, we worked hard and won. Now, their overconfidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else. They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from outside why they are unable to beat us.

“A combination of over confidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?”

Speaking in response to an issue raised by Governor Bagudu, the leader of the Forum, President Buhari said “an important reason I congratulate Asiwaju on winning is because the opposition got support and false hope from outside and went on to create the impression that they will win, that they will defeat us. How more wrong could anyone be?”, he asked.

The president charged the Progressive Governors to stick together and openly address issues among themselves.

“Try and keep solving problems. Be courageous to discuss them openly between yourselves. This is the best way to survive politically in Nigeria,” said the President, urging that “you (Governors) have a program to meet regularly and to discuss issues and how to maintain the Party nationwide.”

Buhari spoke at length about his retirement proposal, saying that he intended to be at home in Daura for six months before moving eventually to Kaduna.

He thanked Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for the infrastructure he has provided that would make life for his retirement and that of the people of the state much better, adding that the Governor of Kano had equally done the same.Bagudu said the visit was ostensibly to say “Happy Sallah” to the President and to thank him for the leadership he had given to the Party and the nation.

This being their first visit since the elections, they congratulated the President on the Party’s victory in the Presidential Polls, saying, “Congratulations, your Party won the Presidency, a majority in the Senate and for being the leading Party in the House of Representatives. These successes would not have happened without your support.

“History will remember you kindly. Around the world, the election is being celebrated because of the turbulence in the region and in the developing world, all courtesy of your leadership. We won by sheer hard work, the same thing you have always encouraged us to do. We thank you immensely for everything,” he added.

The governors in attendance in addition to Kebbi were from Plateau, Imo, Kwara, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Cross Rivers , Jigawa, Katsina, Ogun and Nasarawa States.

The deputy governors of Kano, Gombe, Borno and Ebonyi were in attendance, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Leadership

Amid the crisis rocking Sudan, the Federal Government has said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will commence the airlifting of Nigerian evacuees from Egypt on Friday.

“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Peace and other Airlines have received clearance to fly to Egypt. The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja tomorrow (today), 28th April, 2023 to commence the airlifting of the evacuees,” said Amb. Janet Olisa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The government also said arrangements are being concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in other countries neighbouring Sudan.

See full statement:

JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MFA) AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (FMHADMSD) ON THE EVACUATION OF NIGERIANS CAUGHT UP IN THE ON-GOING CRISIS IN SUDAN

Issued at Abuja, Nigeria on 27th April, 2023

The Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development convened a Situation Room on the Evacuation of Nigerian nationals from Sudan chaired by the Permanent Secretary FMHADMSD, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, meets daily. This followed the lingering crisis in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RAF)

Members of the Situation Room include Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Office of the Chief of Staff, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Nigerian Air Force (NAF). Other members include the various Nigerian Foreign Missions relevant to the evacuation exercise.

Seizing the window of the three (3) day United States negotiated ceasefire in Sudan, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR approved the immediate deployment of both human and financial resources towards the evacuation of Nigerians caught up in the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

Consequently, forty (40) buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt, which is one of the identified safe reception borders. As at the time of the release of this statement, the 1st batch of buses had already departed Khartoum.

The Nigerian Mission in Egypt is liaising with the Egyptian Authorities to facilitate the evacuation exercise, by providing emergency entry documents and holding shelters, until the stranded Nigerian are airlifted back to Nigeria.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Peace and other Airlines have received clearance to fly to Egypt. The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja tomorrow, 28th April, 2023 to commence the airlifting of the evacuees. Similarly, arrangements are being concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in other countries neighbouring Sudan.

Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border on 22nd April, 2023 and got stranded were allowed entry into Ethiopia on 24th April, 2023 following the intervention of some Nigerian leaders. The students are safe and in good condition and have already made personal travel arrangements to return to Nigeria.

Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by the Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived Jeddah and are being taken care of by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Nigerian Embassy in KSA. Arrangements are being made to bring them back home safely.

The initial hitches encountered during the commencement of the exercise, including incidents of bus drivers stopping in the desert due to non-payment have been resolved. The buses have continued towards the Egyptian border. The evacuation exercise is progressing and will continue until all stranded Nigerians are brought back home safely.

Signed:

Amb. Janet Olisa, OON

Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, MFA

Signed

Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo mni, NPOM Permanent Secretary

FMHADMSD

Channels TV

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami says the allegation of loss of over 2.4 billion dollars from illegal sale of 40 million barrels of crude oil is baseless.

He stated this on Thursday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee which is investigating the matter.

According to Malami, after investigating the allegation, it was observed that the origin of the crude allegedly lost in China was unknown, this was communicated to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The AGF also informed the lawmakers that details of whistle blowers as requested by the committee cannot be disclosed at a public hearing because it breached confidentiality and indeed the whistle blower policy.

With regard to details of accounts into which recovered monies were paid, he said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) maintained these accounts which are operated by the Ministry of Finance, maintained in the apex bank and that the AGF is not a signatory.

Channels TV