It’s With God’s Miracle That I survived Civil War, Kaduna Bomb Attack, Others – Buhari

January 27, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari has given all the glories to God for surviving all the dangerous turns in his life’s journey, including the 30-month civil war, bomb attack on him in Kaduna before he became President and several others.

President Buhari, who visited the Emir of Daura in Katsina State, Faruk Umar Faruk today, January 27, after commissioning two roads, said that he is convinced beyond doubt that the destiny of man, country and the world remains in the hands of God.

“I was at the war front during the civil war, and saw how many died. Some fell right beside me. God kept me.

“Many bridges were blown just before we arrived at some places, and after we crossed. I arrived at some places to see bodies of my own colleagues that we were fighting together. I am alive today only by God’s grace.

“For the President of Nigeria, at this time, to come from Daura is the grace and mercy of God.”

Buhari said that the opportunity for him to serve the country as President came from God, saying that Nigeria is known all over the world for its diversity, with different religions and cultures.

“We are also known because we have a huge population of millions of people.

The President recalled that he secured his first job early after school to manage a co-operative in Daura, but had to escape and join the army when there was pressure that he should get married.

“I told Governor Aminu Bello Masari the story of how I left Daura to join the army. That was how God planned it. We make choices in life, but eventually destiny is before God.

According to him, the Daura Emirate and community had gained international recognition by divine purpose, not man’s efforts, assuring the Emirate that he would return and settle down in Daura, after handing over on May 29, 2023.

“The Emir has spoken extensively and I don’t have much to add. I have three of my classmates that are here today in the Emirate Council.

“I also hear of how the Emir has been giving recognitions and titles to my staff and family members. I am grateful for all the support.”

The Emir of Daura had said that the survival of the President when his car was bombed in 2014 was a divine act, which happened shortly before he won elections in 2015.

“The visit of the President is historic. He was invited by the Governor to inspect and commission development projects.

“The Governor has performed exceedingly well, beyond the projects that had been spotlighted. Close to seven years, he has been working for the people and he has made a big impact.

“Governor Masari is not a thief. The governor has done his best with available resources. He has showcased his record of service by inviting the President to witness progress in the state.

“The President has seen a lot in two days, but he has not seen all. We know the good works of the governor and really commend him.”

The Emir thanked the President for Federal Government projects in the state, and extoled the governor for creating an enabling environment for many to thrive.

“As a state, Katsina benefitted a lot from your position, Mr President and the Daura community remains grateful for all. For a long time, we will be talking about the blessings of God in our domain.”

President Buhari, today, concluded a two-day visit to Katsina State where he commissioned projects such as the Musawa General Hospital, Government Day Secondary School, Musawa, Gora-Makauraci-Malamawa road and Sandamu-Baure-Babban Mutum road, Gurjiya -Sandamu-Karkarku roads in Daura.

Nigerians Are Too Intelligent To Be Suffering Like This; It’s evil – Actress Omotola

Editorial staff

January 27, 2023

The 44-year-old Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde who relocated to the United States of America in 2021, has lamented the level of suffering in Nigeria.

“We are too intelligent a people to suffer like this. Suffering is not lesson to brag about … it’s evil. Why must people suffer to get anything done? Why?”

The actress took to Instagram today, January 27, to say: “After living in the US now for about 2 years.. Not just visiting but living and changing systems, I now see many things we managed and let slide (in Nigeria. It is just pure craziness.

“I’m deeply frustrated at the depth and volume of the needless suffering Nigerians go through.”

She said that living in the US has opened her eyes to the “needless sufferings in Nigeria,” saying that the country’s economy gasps for breath as food price hikes and fuel scarcity continue to persist even as insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers are also threaten the well-being of the citizens.

Omotola had appeared in over 300 films and received so many domestic and international awards during her active days.

Osinbajo Sympathizes With Nasarawa Gov For Death Of His Son

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2023

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in Nasarawa State today, January 27, to condole with the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule over the death of his son, Hassan Sule. he died yesterday, January 26, in Gudi, Nasarawa State.

Osinbajo also sympathises with the family members of the Governor over the loss of Hassan. Photos by Tolani Alli

My Govt Has Successfully Stamped Out Budget Padding, Buhari Boasts

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari has beaten his chest that his government has successfully dealt a blow on budget padding used by the legislators in the past as conduit pipe to siphon the nation’s financial resources.
He commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for being one of the vehicles in achieving the feat, through Tracking of Constituency and Executive Projects.
The President spoke today, January 27, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha at a high-level stakeholders conference on the theme: Fighting Corruption in Nigeria: The Past, the Present and the Future. The conference was convened by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC).
Buhari said that constituency projects used to be “conduit pipe” for self-aggrandizement but that with the intervention of ICPC, a lot is being done to ensure that both the government and constituents have value for money appropriated.
“Today, there is a rebirth of the National Assembly as the issue of budget padding has been addressed, resulting in the initiation and completion of constituency and Federal Government projects nationwide.
“I must commend the ICPC for tracking constituency projects because in the past, was a major conduit pipe.”
The President also spoke on how his effort at checkmating corruption led to the recovery of huge resources, which were directed towards critical and physical infrastructure such as roads, rail lines, bridges, airports, seaports in order to boast the economy.
He tasked the Anti-Corruption Agencies to concentrate more on asset recovery regime in order to deny looters the proceeds of their crime.

This was even as the ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye said that the surveillance of constituencies by the ICPC has forced many contractors who hitherto abandoned projects or executed projects shoddily to mobilize back to sites to either complete such projects or ensure their excellent execution.
The ICPC boss, who was represented by the Director of System Study and Review Department (SSRD), Abbia Udofia, spoke against the backdrop of constant abuse of personnel costs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He said that through its system study and review intervention, the Commission retrieved huge sums of money in billions of naira that would have been diverted.
He listed other initiatives such as Corruption Risk Assessment, National Ethics and Integrity Policy, National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Sector and the Public Service Integrity Award among other interventions that yielded positive result in the fight against corruption.

INEC To Conduct Mock Voter’s Accreditation Nationwide February 4

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2023

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled mock voter’s accreditation across 436 polling units of Nigeria for Saturday, February 4.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who made this known today, January 27 at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja said that the Commission has taken delivery of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the election.

“We have also dutifully tested each machine in our offices nationwide to ensure its functionality.

He said that the Commission has taken delivery of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the election.

“We have also dutifully tested each machine in our offices nationwide to ensure its functionality.

Professor Yakubu said that for the mock voter’s accreditation, 12 polling units have been designated in each State of the Federation and four in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the equality of the country’s 109 Senatorial Districts for the exercise.

“A comprehensive list of the polling units, including their names and PU Code numbers, as well as their distribution by State, Senatorial District, Local Government and Registration Area (Ward) will be uploaded to the Commission’s website shortly.”

The chairman appealed to registered voters in the affected polling units to appear on the scheduled date with their PVCs for the mock exercise.

“Doing so will help to reassure the public of the robustness of our system and to strengthen our processes ahead of the General Election.

“Civil society organisations, the media and the general public are welcome to observe the process.

“At the end of the exercise, the 436 BVAS machines involved will be reconfigured before they are deployed for the General Election.

“We have a loaded agenda for this meeting. I therefore once again welcome you all to this meeting as we go into our working session.”

Professor Yakubu said that there is exactly four weeks to the opening of polls on Saturday 25th February 2023 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections to be followed two weeks later by the Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday 11th March 2023.

He said that movement of materials for the election to various locations nationwide is being concluded.

“Training of officials will commence shortly. Ongoing consultations with stakeholders will be intensified. Airlifting and delivery of sensitive materials to States of the Federation has gone far. “Accreditation of national and international observers and the media is being finalised. Critical service providers in the area of transportation have reassured us of their commitment to efficient logistics for the movement of materials and personnel to various locations while the security agencies have reaffirmed their readiness for the election.

“However, the Commission is aware that there are a few issues to be addressed. One of them is the ongoing collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

“The Commission is encouraged by the determination of registered voters nationwide to collect their PVCs and the actual level of collection so far.

“For instance, in Lagos State, which has the highest number of registered voters in the country, the Commission delivered 940,200 PVCs from the recent voter registration exercise (June 2021 to July 2022) for both new registrants and requests for transfer and replacement of cards. As of yesterday Thursday 26th January 2023, 839,720 PVCs have been collected representing 89.3% of the total figure.

“This meeting with RECs will consider reports from other States of the Federation and the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the Commission will always be responsive to the needs of the electorate.

“The next step is to conduct field tests across the country involving actual voters. For this reason, and in readiness for nationwide deployment, the Commission is conducting a mock accreditation of voters similar to what was done ahead of the recent Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections.”

It’s Miscarriage Of Justice, Adeleke Responds To Tribunal’s Verdict

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2023

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has described the judgement of the governorship tribunal sacking him as “a miscarriage of justice.”
The governor, who reacted to the judgment delivered today, vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking in his country home, Ede, Adeleke faulted the resolution of the over-voting question in favour of Oyetola, calling it “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters.”
He asked his supporters to remain calm, stressing that he will appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal.
He insisted that he remains the rightful winner of the July 16 election.
“I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done.
“Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate.”
Adeleke’s position was reflected in statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

Court Sacks Adeleke As Elected Osun Governor

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2023

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo has sacked the new Governor of Osun State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Odeleke was declared winner in the July 16th 2022 governorship polls.
Feelers from the Tribunal, which delivered the verdict today, January 27 under tight security, did not give the details.
However, the verdict is subject to appeal by Governor Adeleke.
Details later.

Atiku/Tinubu: Please, Grow Up! By Olusegun Adeniyi

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2023

Street wisdom dictates that those in glass houses don’t walk naked. This seems lost on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and the flagbearer of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have allowed their media managers to trade damaging allegations that question their own character and integrity. Each side has succeeded in painting the candidate of the other party as a criminal who is unworthy of the position being sought. While some Nigerians may be enjoying the entertainment, the tragedy of our situation is that either of these two septuagenarians could end up as our next president in a matter of weeks.

I once likened accusation and counteraccusation of impropriety by Nigerian politicians during campaign periods to the African folklore of three famished brothers eating from the same plate of food. Apparently losing out in the game of greed, the first brother remarked to no one in particular: ‘You are eating too fast’. To this, the second brother responded: ‘So you saw him’. The third brother completed the farce: ‘That was exactly what I wanted to say’!

The current circus started with the allegation by Michael Achimugu, a former aide to Atiku. In a video post that is making the rounds on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, Achimugu spoke about the sum of N100 million allegedly paid into a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)’ for misappropriating public funds at a time he (Atiku) was vice president. Achimugu revealed other damaging things about Atiku, buttressing his claims with the audio of an incriminating conversation purportedly held with his former boss.

Hardly had the allegation hit the internet when spokesman for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, went on media offensive. He also filed a writ of summons at the Federal High Court in Abuja asking that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be compelled to investigate, invite and/or arrest Atiku over the allegation. What followed was predictable. The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the EFCC to arrest and prosecute Tinubu over lingering drug peddling and money laundering allegations. Referencing Tinubu’s 1993 alleged money laundering and drug-related case in the United States, Atiku’s media team, including Dele Momodu and Daniel Bwala, said should the APC candidate win, “Nigerians will be plunged into a drug crisis that would make the Colombia situation a child’s play.” They also threw up sundry allegations of corruption and cronyism.

The APC and PDP have shared power at the centre and in the majority of the 36 states since the advent of the current democratic dispensation 24 years ago. That ordinarily should impose a measure of responsibility. So, if all that their presidential candidates have to offer in this election season are insults, abuses, and damaging allegations, then Nigerians should be concerned. What their campaigns are invariably telling the electorate is that a choice of either would be a democratic endorsement of the crimes and vices they are accusing each other of.

In their journal article on ‘Negative Campaign’, Richard R. Lau and Ivy Brown Rovner of the Department of Political Science, Rutgers University, New Jersey, United States argued that one of the most important decisions candidates make is “whether to run on their own merits—that is, their own policy ideas, past accomplishments, and personal strengths, which most observers would call a ‘positive’ appeal; or if instead their campaign will concentrate on the perceived weaknesses of their opponent’s policy proposals, prior policy failures, and/or personal peccadilloes”, which they described as a ‘negative’ appeal. Minders of the two parties prefer the latter.

Let me be clear here. As a journalist, I am aware that mudslinging could sometimes take the moral dimension of exposing the weakness of the other candidate in a sort of ‘buyers beware’ warning for voters. But most reasonable Nigerians are also aware that neither of these two candidates can genuinely throw stones. That is not even my concern. Whichever direction we look today, Nigeria is at a most challenging period in history. And with mounting debts amid low revenues, prospects for the future don’t look good either. So, we need those who aspire for leadership, especially at the highest level, to tell us how they intend to address the myriad of challenges that we currently grapple with and the ones that are bound to come.

The point we cannot ignore in this sordid drama is that when politicians lack depth of insight on pressing national issues, they revert to low level gutter snipes. With the language of political exchange drenched in mud, vitriol, and dirt, even the institutions of democratic society like the judiciary, police, security agencies etc are not safe. Besides, in the case of the two presidential candidates, many would have concluded that their exchanges are very revealing of who they are.

That two friends and associates of more than three decades can descend to this level of desperation is to put it mildly unfortunate. The real danger is how that could be transmitted to their followers when the election doesn’t go their way and the prospect of post-election violence. Yet, when aides get carried away by the excitement of the moment, that is when the adults in the room must show up to call them to order and draw the line. Therefore, it is in the enlightened self-interest of both Tinubu and Atiku to have some quiet words with their campaign managers. They must embrace a more sensible rule of engagement.

Tinubu Accuses Atiku, “Fifth Columnists” Of Moves To Inflict More Pains On Nigerians

Editorial staff

January 26, 2023

The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has accused the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and those he referred to as “fifth columnists” of working to inflict avoidable pains on Nigerians for political end.

Reacting to Atiku, who he said tried in vain to create a wedge between him and President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “when the guilty are afraid of being uncovered, they try to push back with red-herring.”

In a statement today, January 26, by a spokesman of his campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, Asiwaju Tinubu insisted that his empathy with the Nigerian people facing the dual crises of fuel and scarcity of the new Naira notes was turned up-side-down by Atiku and the fifth columnists.

“For the records, Asiwaju Tinubu during APC campaign rally at Abeokuta on Wednesday, in his statement, did not mention, blame or accuse President Muhammadu Buhari for the current challenges in the country.

“Asiwaju Tinubu was only adverting government’s attention to the sabotage being carried out by some Fifth Columnists in the system, possibly working in cahoots with the PDP.

“The CBN officials, including Governor Godwin Emefiele have said many times that enough new Naira notes have been supplied to the banks, yet our people complain that they have not been able to get the new notes.

“In recent days, many ATMs are either not working or when working they are dispensing the old notes, just a few days to the January 31 deadline.

“Similarly, Asiwaju Tinubu is aware of the salutary efforts by President Buhari to end the fuel queues, by chairing a 14-man panel. Yet the queues and agony continue.

“For a presidential candidate, who cares about the suffering of our people, he has a duty to warn government that its efforts to make life better for Nigerians are being sabotaged on several fronts.

“Our presidential candidate only re-echoed what is well known and acknowledged, even by President Buhari himself at different fora: That there are Fifth Columnists in and outside of government who often throw spanners in the works against good intentions and programmes of the government.

“How does an advisory genuinely made by Asiwaju Tinubu to protect and create goodwill for the government of his party become an attack? It can only be so in the jaundiced view of the PDP.

“It is in this light we found amusing the directionless Atiku Campaign’s bagful of mischief in their hurriedly put together press statement meant to gain shameful mileage from the suffering of Nigerians.

“PDP and Atiku should remember not to get high on their own smoke. No political blackmail and an attempt to create a conflict between Tinubu and his long-term ally, President Muhammadu Buhari can succeed.

“We have bad news for Atiku and his handlers: their latest mischief is therefore doomed to fail.

“The Atiku rudderless campaign, always seeking cheap shots and easy ways has again woefully attempted to make a mountain out of a molehill from the comments made by Asiwaju Tinubu in Abeokuta.

“As a patriotic and compassionate leader, Asiwaju Tinubu will not stomach seeing ordinary Nigerians being made to face excessive difficulties over mundane issues due to activities of petrol and currency hoarders.

“As a proud leader of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu would not also look indifferent as his party and the government get dirtied with black brush at a critical time like this, whether he is a candidate or not.

“Atiku camp’s hasty move to mine political capital out of the clearly difficult situation betrays his campaign’s possible connivance, due to its desperation.

“As Asiwaju said in Abeokuta, these orchestrated hardships will not stop his impending victory come 25 February. Nigerians shall surely vote for a party that is working to solve all the problems and mess created by the PDP for which their presidential candidate was an integral part in the, largely, 16 unproductive years they spent in government.

“Atiku and his team can continue their indulgence in fake news and twisted narratives, they cannot change the minds of majority of Nigerians who have long rejected the PDP and Atiku, after their 16 wasted years in power.

CBN Gov Unveils Domestic Card Scheme To Strengthen Payments System

Editorial staff

January 26, 2023

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has formally unveiled the Nigerian National Domestic Card Scheme, known as AfriGo, in a move to strengthen the national payments system and deepen the usage of electronic platforms in Nigeria.

Unveiling the first Central Bank-led domestic scheme card scheme in Africa in a virtual ceremony today, January 26, Emefiele said that the new card scheme, done in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS),would provide more options for domestic consumers while also promoting the delivery of services in a more innovative, cost-effective and competitive manner.

According to him: “the scheme is important to plug in the gap that has remained in the economy since the introduction of the cashless policy, and will integrate the informal segment of our economy, reduce shadow banking, bring more Nigerians into the formal financial services with an attendant diversification of deposit portfolio which will further strengthen the stability of the banking industry.”

He said that though the penetration of card payments in Nigeria had grown tremendously over the years, many Nigerians were still excluded, adding that the challenges of financial inclusion in the country were the high cost of card services as a result of foreign exchange requirements of international card schemes, as well as the inability of existing card products to address local peculiarities of the Nigerian market.

Emefiele gave assurance that the National Domestic card would be accessible to all Nigerians and address most of the country’s local peculiarities, he further stated that it was not a quest to prevent international service providers from continuing to provide services in Nigeria. Instead, he said it aimed at domestic consumers whilst also promoting the delivery of services in a more innovative, cost-effective and competitive manner.

In her remarks, the Deputy Governor (Financial System Stability) at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, said that the Nigerian National domestic card Scheme would lead tothe sovereignty of data, saves cost on card transactions, reduce foreign exchange pressure and would present new opportunities for the Nigerian economy.

Mrs. Ahmad, who doubles as Chairman of the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), further said the card scheme “heralds a new vista of opportunities for the card business, that several countries continue to recognise and leverage as they create their domestic card schemes to augment existing foreign payment card rails.”

According to her, the card scheme also provides an essential platform for further innovation to solve some of the most pressing issues around financial inclusion, SME payments and trade facilitation primarily, supporting the drive for a robust digital economy for the Nigerian market, the African continent and the world.

Giving an overview of the card, she said the name for the national domestic card scheme,AfriGO, was birthed in Nigeria with continental aspirations, as ‘AFRI’ means culture, ethnic diversity, bravery, innovation, and growth while “GO” symbolises progress, empowerment, inclusivity, and future-forward amongst others.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NIBSS, Premier Owoh,listed the security features of the AfriGO card scheme, which includes a smart chip,the CVV Code, and the NQR embedded signatures, amongst others.

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