The Nigerian Military High Command has made it clear that it will not support installation of an Interim National Government (ING) as being canvassed by some Nigerians. Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami, who made this known when he fielded questions from newsmen yesterday at the Defence Headquarter, Abuja, described ING as illegal and unconstitutional. Major General Danmadami said that the military as a reputable institution does not support illegality and would do everything in its powers to defend the constitution of the country. He said that the call by some aggrieved persons in the country for an interim government following the outcome of the just concluded general elections is illegal. Danmadami said that the elections have been held, concluded and a new president elected, while describing those calling for an interim government as “mischievous and nothing more. “On the issue of the interim National government I don’t know why people are bringing up this issues it is rather unfortunate. Election has been conducted and INEC who is mandated has announced the president-elect. “It is not our responsibility to speak on that issue but I know that several calls have been made from the presidency that there is nothing like interim national government so I think people are just trying to be mischievous. It is unconstitutional and all of us know about it. “The constitution does not provide for an interim national government and that is the point that the presidency has been hammering and so that is the stand. “It is not our stand because that is what the constitution says. It is unconstitutional so anything that is unconstitutional as far as I am concern it’s not applicable.” Source: PRNigeria.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the attack on him by pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, is part of the frustration over their loss in the investment they made on the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the February 25 election, Peter Obi.
The minister who reacted to the organisation’s attack in an interview with newsmen today, April 6, in Washington DC, the US, said that the attack on him was borne out of frustration and anger at the loss of their investment in Obi’s election.
Afenifere had berated the minister for condemning Peter Obi for inciting people to violence over the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections.
“It is clear from what they said that Afenifere invested heavily in Peter Obi’s presidency, and they failed woefully; that is the reason why they are lamenting.
“They have refused to get over the loss of what they invested in Obi’s presidential campaign.
“But the earlier they do, the better for them,’’ he said
The minister said that Afenifere had lost its reputation and relevance as the voice of the South-West.
“Fortunate were days when Afenifere sneezed, the whole country would catch a cold. It is not the same thing right now.
“When Afenifere talks and you begin to ask yourself, which Afenifere? You know what that means,’’ he said.
He stressed that there was no provision in INEC laws that allows the Commission to transmit the results of elections electronically.
Lai Mohammed said that the entire process from voting to collation to sorting to tabulation and transmission was manual.
He said that the laws setting up INEC give the Commission the right to determine the mode of elections, the mode of collation and transmission of results.
The minister also responded to a call by a civic organisation, Integrity Group calling for his national apology over the admonition of Obi.
He said the group had failed to understand the position of the Federal Government on the unacceptable postures of the Labour Party presidential candidate
“I said Peter Obi and the Labour Party should stop inciting people to violence since they have submitted themselves to the election tribunal.
“They should stop asking people to go out on the streets, they should stop the reckless statement that if the President-elect is sworn in, it will be the end of democracy,’’ he said.
An American diplomat and a foreign observer in the just concluded 2023 general elections, Johnnie Carson has identified three factors that worked for the victory of the President-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25 election.
‘Do you know why he won? He got the money, he had the best national organisation that worked for him and the ground game.”
Carson, an Executive Officer of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) spoke in Washington DC when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid an official visit to the institute to engage in the concluded elections.
Carson emphasised that for a candidate to win an election in Nigeria, like a lot of democracy in the globe, the three things, including substantial and significant financial resources were needed.
Others, according to him, are a national working organisation and a grass-root acceptance.
He said that while Tinubu had all the three criteria in his kitty during the polls, the other major contenders did not have all
The diplomat said that he co-led National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI), International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria during the elections.
According to him, Tinubu undoubtedly won the polls and will be sworn in come May 29, except something happens dramatically with the court.
Speaking specifically on the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Carson said: “On the part of Mr. Peter Obi, he did not have the ground game and a national organisation.
“Obi is, however, very popular, particularly among the young, educated, urban, and sophisticated.”
Carson said that the presidential election was one of the most competitive polls in Nigeria and in Africa.
He observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needed to up its game.
“Nigeria deserves the very best electoral process.
“To me, the problem is not with Tinubu and the other candidates,’’ he said.
Carson hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment in delivering a free and fair election for Nigeria.
He said the president “is a man of outstanding integrity’’ and he demonstrated the attribute in the past elections.
On his part, the minister said considering where INEC was coming from and where it were today, there were massive improvements in the conduct of the 2023 polls.
Conceding that there was room for improvements, the minister said the introduction of a new technology Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by INEC underpinned the credibility of the elections.
According to him, BVAS cut out fraudulent votes, ghost voters and multiple votes.
Lai Mohammed said the election was conducted against the backdrop of fuel shortage, mounting insecurity, and a poorly timed cash swap policy.
The minister also had engagements with the Council on Foreign Relations, a well-versed think-tank on African affairs and foreign relations chaired by a Nigerian, Dr. Ebenezer Obadare.
He was also at the Reuters News Agency; The Politico, an international political newspaper, and Zenger News, a channel that publishes its contents on Forbes.
During his respective interactions with the Think-tanks and international media, the minister presented the facts of the just concluded polls as against skewed narratives of the opposition and naysayers.
The interactions also delved into the economy and foreign affairs.
At Reuters, the Agency’s recent investigation of alleged secret programmes of coerced abortion of women and girls freed from insurgents’ captivity was discussed.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the 2023 elections have proved the growing strength of the Nigeria’s democracy and the sophistication of the Nigerian electorates when it comes to the choice of leaders.
Speaking today, April 6, when he received at the Presidential villa, Abuja, the new Emir of Dutse, Jigawa State Capital, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sunusi, President Buhari said that the stunning outcome of 10 Governors failing to make it to the Senate meant that there is no longer a guaranteed route to power and the voter is truly the king when it comes to elections.
“It is a testament to the maturity of our democracy and to the amazing sophistication of the voter. What shocked me was that the ordinary citizen who is usually underrated has made the point of his political understanding of things.
“Assumption is always that you are Governor for eight years and you go to the Senate to crown the career. No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore.
“Politics will be more difficult, henceforth,” the President said.
After listening to the Emir who listed several government projects put in place for Jigawa State under the Buhari Presidency, and a request for some more, the President promised to do his best for the State in the remaining time left.
He undertook to brief the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on those requests, agreeing with visitors that the particular problem of water supply to the State Capital is worrisome.
The President told the Emir and members of the Emirate Council who accompanied him that he and the entire nation will continue to miss his friend, the late Emir, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi, saying that he will continue to pray for the repose of the deceased.
The Emir and leader of the delegation, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim thanked the administration of Muhammadu Buhari for helping Jigawa State to excel in major rice production, for approving a rail link to Dutse from Kano and for the restoration of peace to the State, the nation and the neighbouring countries that had suffered insecurity.
The Emir appreciated the upgrading of the Army Battalion in Dutse to a full military Brigade and requested the President to do something about the acute water shortage affecting the State Capital.
Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna State has approved the reinstatement of 1,288 public primary school teachers sacked in June 2022 after the conduct of competency test. Public Relation Officer in the State Universal Basic Education Board, Hajiya Hauwa Mohammed, dropped the news yesterday, April 5, in a statement in Kaduna. Hauwa said that 1,266 were affected by the competency test, while 22 others were removed from the government payroll for alleged unproven claims. The board had in June 2022 sacked 2,357 primary school teachers over competency test. The board had explained that of the figure, 2,192 teachers were dismissed for their failure to sit for the test, while 165 teachers were sacked for poor performance. Some of the affected teachers, however, complained that they wrote the examination and passed, but were still sacked, while others claimed to be sick at the time of the test and provided proof. Some of the affected workers claimed to have been kidnapped at the time; while some claimed to be on suspension due to verification of their certificates, while others claimed to be central administration staff, and as such, exempted from writing the test. “Having examined and verified their complaints, the state government approved the reinstatement of 392 teachers, who wrote and passed the test, and 515 central administration staff that were officially exempted from the test. “Others are: 298 teachers, who were verified to be sick at the time of the test, as well as 61 teachers that were kidnapped or involved in accidents verified by their respective Education Secretaries. “Also, 22 teachers, who were permanently removed from the payroll for unsubstantiated claims were equally reinstated, amounting to a total of 1,288 reinstated workers. The spokesperson therefore advised all affected teachers to collect their reinstatement letters from their respective Education Secretaries immediately. Source: NAN.
The Federal Government is preparing fully for the 2023 national census with the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of two contracts worth N15.3 billion for the supply an installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components and digital assistance devices.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said yesterday, April 5, after the Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the total cost of the ICT components is N15.3 Billion.
”Among those memos that were okayed today was the award of the contract for the supply and installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components for the 2023 population census.
”This is for the National Population Commission (NPC). It is meant for census. The ICT component contract was awarded for about N10.9 billion.
“Another contract that was approved for the National Population Commission was the contract for the development and implementation of mobile device management solution for the personal digital assistance devices to be used for the 2023 population census.
Garba Shehu said that the council also approved contract for the development of external cost of infrastructure at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) new training academy at N3.3 billion.
He said that N1billion was equally approved for the contract for the procurement of 19 vehicles for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The presidential aide said the council approved N65 million for variation in the cost for the supply of airport fire crash tenders in the Ministry of Aviation.
He further disclosed that the council approved a policy on HIV/AIDS to protect people living with the disease and new regulations on the woodworking ecosystem.
“Government has revised regulations pertaining to woodworking machinery and the entire ecosystem which dated back to 1959.
”New regulations have been put in place as empowered by the law.
“And by this approval, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will domicile and gazette these changes that have been approved.
“His other approval is on policy on HIV/AIDS. Basically, this is to guarantee personal human rights over people with HIV in workplaces so that they are not discriminated against and they are given equal rights.
”They are not discriminated against and they are given all that is due to them. And they are respected, especially with regards to their personal and human rights,” he said.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola also disclosed the council approved the construction of 283.4km roads to BUA Cement company under the Federal Government’s tax credit scheme at the cost of N328 billion.
According to him, the contracts covering four different roads in Kwara is covered by Executive Order 7 which promotes investments in public infrastructure, especially roads.
Fashola explained that the contract also covered a distance of about 283.938km.
He revealed that the council also approved digitization of the ministry’s operation at the cost of N916million and would be implemented in 12 months.
Other memoranda approved by the council for the ministry, according to him, included the augmentation of 48 kilometers Kaduna Eastern bypass contracts connecting Kaduna to about 11 states in the country, from N38bilion to N78.6billion
He stated that about 24 kilometers of the road had been completed
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite also addressed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.
He disclosed that FEC approved a new bill known as Nigeria Mining and Mineral Act, 2023, to replace the Nigerian mining law and update the law.
The new bill captures the value chain in the mining sector, encourages value addition, as well as, recognises the artisanal miners, who will now be registered, under the proposed law.
He disclosed that FEC approved the bill for onward transmission to the National Assembly by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, revealed that the Federal Government had secured a World Bank facility worth $800 million dollars.
It will be used to attend to a segment of post-petroleum subsidy palliatives requirements in the country.
According to her, the 800 million dollars is the first tranche of palliatives to be disbursed through cash transfers to about 50 million Nigerians, who belong to the most vulnerable category of society.
She said: “When we were working on the 2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Appropriation Act, we made that provision to enable us to exit fuel subsidy by June 2023.
”We’re on course, we’re having different stakeholders’ engagements, and we’ve secured some funding from the World Bank.
“That is the first tranche of palliatives that will enable us to give cash transfers to the most vulnerable in our society that have now been registered in a national social register.
“Today that register has a list of 10 million households. 10 million households is equivalent to about 50 million Nigerians.”
Ahmed added that the government was ready to go beyond cash transfer to cushion the effect the subsidy removal will have on Nigerians.
She added: “We also have to raise more resources to enable us to do more than just the cash transfers and also in our engagements with the various stakeholders.
“There are various kinds of tasks that we have to go beyond the requirement of just giving cash transfers. Labour, for example, might be looking for mass transit for its members.
“So, there are several things that we’re still planning and working on, some we can start executing quickly, some are more medium-term implementation.”
On how much funding was received from the World Bank for the execution of the planned exit, Ahmed said: “$800 million for the scale-up of the National Social Investment Programme at the bank and it’s secured, it’s ready for this disbursement.
An elder statesman and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has announced a $1,000 reward for anyone who can expose the author (s) of fake news recently credited to him.
Professor Soyinka said, at an Arise TV programme today, April 5, that such fake news is capable of stoking violence and endangering the nation’s democracy.
The noble laureate condemned false news attributed to him by some media platforms, saying: “I also want to use this opportunity, if you don’t mind, to warn your audience: Please beware of fake news. A lot of damage is being done by the propagation of fake news.
“Even, as recently as a few days ago. Some verbiage, some garbage, some nauseating news, which you’ve seen many times before have resurrected and attributed to Wole Soyinka. It makes me sick. I do not see why that could not be solved.
“In fact, I think it has reached a stage I’m going to go further. I want to use this opportunity now to announce a reward. I’m not a rich man, but I’m going to announce a reward.
“I look at my account and can afford a thousand dollars to anyone who can finger successfully the author of some of the tracts that are attributed to me over the past six months.
“We have repudiated again and again. Other people (would) come out to say Wole Soyinka never said this. There are some who want to believe it and there are those who have some tractions.
“So, permit me to use you as my advertising board to place a thousand dollars on those (peddling fake news about me).
“I will even go further to raise additional funds for anyone who can please relieve us of false attribution of fake news.”
File photo: Wole Soyinka | PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)
The Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has said that he had long told Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quit politics and leave the stage for the young ones to steer the wheel of the country.
Professor Soyinka, who featured in an Arise TV programme today, April 5, said that at different times, he asked the duo not to run for presidency again.
“I told Atiku when he was contesting and came to see me in my Ikeja office few years ago; he came with Gbenga Daniel, my former governor (of Ogun state).
“I said to him, ‘Listen, it’s about time you people left the stage, why don’t you just go away. We need an infusion of fresh blood into the system’.
“But for some people, maybe they read it as bloodletting. No, I said infusion of fresh blood. I said so I cannot support you. I think your generation should quit.
“But he wasn’t the only one. I then sought out the current President-elect, Tinubu and I gave him exactly the same message.
“I said, ‘Whatever you people are planning, I’m convinced that we need the young generation, new thinking, new sensibilities, new energies’.
“So, why don’t you just leave the stage, let’s look for somebody, a really brilliant individual then use your entire influence to catapult that person to power, and this country will see a massive transformation.
“We spoke for about an hour and a half, and then Bola Tinubu said, ‘No’. He said there were still things he felt he could still contribute.”
Outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Wendy Laing, has confessed that she enjoyed herself in the country and is sad that she’s leaving.
She said that she was particularly fascinated by Nigeria’s music, dance, culture, and that she had “a fabulous time here.”
She spoke today, April 5 during a farewell visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja, after four-and-a half years tour of duty.
“I’m sad to be leaving. Nigeria is so much fun, I had a fabulous time here, and I’ll be back. I love the dance, the music, the culture. It’s been good to experience Nigeria. I have been to over 20 States, and I have told my successor to also do the same. I will be back, and still travel wider.”
She congratulated President Buhari for very successful eight years in office, saying that he had done very well to hold the country together.
This was even as President Buhari said that the United Kingdom is second home for many Nigerians, and that the relationship between the two countries will continue to wax strong.
“In fact, some wealthy Nigerians don’t feel complete till they have had a home in the UK,” he added.
President Buhari said that he looked forward to retirement and move to Daura, Katsina State, after handing over on May 29.
“I will be as far away from Abuja as possible.”
He lauded UK for cooperation on many fronts, particularly in the rebuilding of the North East, hitherto ravaged by insurgency.
Former Nigeria’s President, Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter again, this time to the British authorities to temper justice with mercy in handing down sentence to the former Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Nwanneka Beatrice, in their Organ Harvesting Case in London.
In a two-page letter written and signed by Obasanjo himself and addressed to The Chief Clerk, Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, he appealed to the Chief Clerk of the London court to take into consideration the age-long cordial relationship between the United Kingdom (UK) and Federal Republic of Nigeria to appeal to the court and government of UK to let the sentencing of the accused consider their good character and parental instincts and care be taken into consideration.
Obasanjo who described the crime ascribed to the Ekweremadu’s as unpleasant and condemnable and should not be tolerated in civilized society however pleaded that Ekweremadu and wife who have used their Ikeoha Foundation to do many charitable works for the benefits of society and his conferment with the coveted honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) are testament to his service to Nigeria.
The former President said that Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt their lessons and pleaded that their sentencing be reduced so that they can still in future contribute to the development of society and country.
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