The General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, William Kumuyi, has said that he has not received any revelation from God on who will be elected President in the 2023 election.
He promised to reveal to Nigerians once he receives from God who Nigeria’s next President would be.
The cleric, who spoke to newsmen in Minna, the Niger State capital yesterday, September 25, during at the Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK) with the theme: ‘God of All Possibilities,’ said: “I cannot tell you a lie.
“God has not shown me anything. He has not found it fit to tell me. He does not tell everybody, everything. Who am I to tell God, why haven’t you told me about the next President? When he tells me, I will come and tell you.”
Pastor Kumuyi said that only dialogue would resolve the impasse between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government, adding that going to court, issuing threats, and having series of protests would not end the lingering strike.
“The university needs to look at what the government is saying, what is their abilities, what can they do while the government should look at what ASUU is saying, what are they asking for, their rights and how to meet that right.
“What is needed in this case is to look at how they can adjust to each other and look for ways of fulfilling it.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has foreseen what he called “a nation of opportunities, of equity and justice, a secure and prosperous nation, a nation of laws and righteousness” in Nigeria. Professor Osinbajo, who spoke today, September 25 at the 62nd Independence Day anniversary service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, to mark Nigeria’s October 1 Independence Day, said that despite its challenges, the future of Nigeria will be far more glorious and peaceful than her past.
According to him, the nation’s lights will shine bright, with opportunities, equity, justice, and righteousness, saying: “we stand at the gates of a new nation. And we see its lights shining bright; the nation of God’s promises.
“Even if what we see today seems bleak, and dark, we are confident that God who owns the heavens and the earth will fulfill His promises concerning this nation.” Below are the full remarks of the Vice President at the Anniversary service. I bring you all the warm felicitations of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, on this occasion of the interdenominational service to mark the 62nd Independence Anniversary of our Republic. Let me also congratulate His Eminence, Dr. Daniel C. Okoh, the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and all the new members of the Executive of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). I pray that your tenure will bring blessings, light and encouragement to our nation in Jesus’ name. In a few days, we will celebrate the 62nd birthday of Nigeria. But Nigeria is not a natural person, it is made up of people, of men, women and children who are Nigerians. So, when we say that celebrate the birthday of Nigeria, we are in fact celebrating the birthday of the Nigerian people wherever they may be in this great and vast nation. So, every prayer and every blessing that we pronounce today on Nigeria, we also pronounce on every Nigerian and all our friends. So, this evening I will pray for Nigeria and the Nigerian people. My favourite prayer for people on their birthday is found in Deuteronomy 33.25(b): “as your days, so shall your strength be.” What does this prayer mean: as your days so shall your strength be? It means the older you become, the stronger you will be in various ways. The first is that you will become physically stronger and healthier as you grow older, in Jesus’ name. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 34:7, it says that Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. And his eyes were not dim, nor his natural vigour diminished. For the average person, as you grow older you become slower and less fruitful and even barren. But the Word of God to Nigeria today is that it shall not be so with you. Even as you grow in age, you will be more fruitful. You will not be weaker with age. And for every Nigerian, you will be more fruitful as you grow in age, and you will be stronger day by day in Jesus’ name. The Word of God says in Psalms 92:13-14: it says: “those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” That shall be so for you and all you hold dear in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus. Another implication of the blessing: ‘as your days so shall your strength be,’ is that every day, God’s promises will be renewed in your life. God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you; And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Let me repeat these blessings for Nigeria, and for you who are here, and every Nigerian because God added in that promise that in Abraham, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. So, you will be a great nation, and God will bless you, and anyone who blesses you will be blessed, those who curse you will be cursed; and through you, this nation and the world will be blessed, in the mighty name of Jesus. Yet another implication of this blessing: as your days so shall your strength be, is that every day, every month, every year, you will be greater, better, happier, more prosperous, and more joyful than the previous one. And concerning this nation, the Word of God says in Haggai 2:9: “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace’ (in this nation, I will give peace), says the Lord of hosts.” The future of Nigeria will be far more glorious, more peaceful than her past, and so it shall be for you too. Every year will be happier for you, more glorious, more prosperous and more peaceful, in Jesus’ name, “As your days so shall your strength be.” Another implication of this blessing is that your strength physically, mentally and spiritually and even financially will be sufficient and adequate for every new season, every new situation and every new challenge. You will have more than you need for every new season in your life in Jesus’ name. Brethren, we stand at the gates of a new nation and we see its lights shining bright. The nation of God’s promises; a nation of opportunities, of equity and justice, a secure and prosperous nation, a nation of laws and righteousness. Even if what we see today seems bleak, and dark, we are confident that God who owns the heavens and the earth will fulfill His promises concerning this nation. Indeed, He says in Joshua 21:45: “not a word failed, of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” And we pronounce concerning this nation, that not a word will fail regarding any good thing which the Lord had spoken to Nigeria. All will come to pass in Jesus’ name. Finally, to every citizen of this nation, and every family that is represented here, we declare that in the name of Jesus, your best days are yet to come. Every promise that God has made to you will come to pass in Jesus’ mighty name. Happy 62nd anniversary!
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal, has described Christian groups that are now supporting the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu as turncoats and judas.
“There are, of course, some Christian turncoats and Judases who, driven either by moral turpitude, poverty or greed, have hired themselves out as agents and spoilers of this noble Christian course.
“To this group, I wish to recommend the study of the biographies of Judas Iscariot and Ahithophel in the Bible. Be careful to note how their lives ended
“It seems that Bola/Kashima’s preferred approach is to attempt to counter our position through insults and sponsored fake Christian organisations in order to create the impression that there is division within Christendom on this matter.
“Needless to say, this tactic has failed woefully. They are now the butts of jokes in church gatherings all over the country. Unknown to them Church history emphatically records that Christians are more united in terms of adversity and persecution as now being propelled by this MM ticket of the APC.
“This approach has also portrayed the duo as arrogant and pitiable people whilst also exposing them to the public as people with unimaginable deficiencies of noble character.
“The reality is that for each minute that this same-faith ticket duo have spent on their goebellsian propaganda, they have ended up spending several hours more trying to rebut the controversies that they themselves create in the process.
“Everyone, including some notable Christian haters is now inviting false “Bishops” and “CAN” Leaders to meetings. They are busy fabricating overnight “christian” organisations that churn out falsehood to the public. It is such a pity that people who intend to lead our country could descend to such low levels of morality and deficiency of conscience.
“But belying this posture is the reality of their true intentions not to have any roles for northern Christians in their government. The unarguable fact is that they intend to offer nothing of significance to any northern Christian in an APC government anticipated to be led by Bola and Kashim.
“The reality of their zoning arrangement is that the North East region is already out of the equation for any other posts because it has the Vice Presidency, while the North Central too is out because they have the party’s National Chairmanship.
“The other key positions, The Senate President, the Speaker, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to the President positions have been zoned to the North West, South South, South East and South West regions respectively. Besides, we all know that there is and will be no ranking christian Senator or House of Rep member from the North West that could occupy the seats of Senate President, Speaker or even their deputies. In any case, it is an open secret that they never allow Christians to occupy such positions in the North West Zone even if there is a qualified Christian.
“Who then do they think they are fooling with this their “there are other positions in government that could go to the northern Christians” mantra? If Kashim Shetima worked determinedly with Bola Tinubu’s acquiescence to deny the northern Christians the Deputy National Chairman (North) position during the party’s National Convention, what magic will then compel them to give a northern Christian any significant posts in their government? Let us make no mistake about it; these guys will persecute us to no end. They are very well practiced in this.
“My dear Christians, it has been clear to us from the onset that APC, Bola and Kashim never had the intention or plan that offers the Northern Christians any sense of inclusion through any tangible roles in their government.
“Those with major political influence on them are mostly religious bigots of the hegemonist flavor and some self-centered sycophants of the evil kind. So instead of reconciliation which would involve offering some important positions to Northern Christians, they have decided to go for broke and ignore the interests of Christians of the north. And, broken they will be indeed. We noticed this trend in APC right from its registration in 2014 up to the 2022 convention where the overriding goal seemed to have been to exclude northern Christians from all the organs of the party.
“How any one expects APC to win the 2023 presidential election under this climate befuddles the mind. I do not know why this saying keeps coming to mind: “those whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad” but it bears restating. It is a pity that Bola has chosen to throw away the Presidency which was within his easy reach to grab.
“As for us northern Christians and other Nigerians who share in our vision of a united and peaceful Nigeria devoid of tribal and religious exclusion, we will continue with our struggle and are very very confident of victory.
“After all, the God who allowed Nigeria to be inhabited by a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society intended that we all should live in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters all created in the image of God. We are on a mission from God and are confident of victory. So, we fear no one and can be intimidated by no one. We are confident that Nigerians, especially sensible Northern Nigerians, will come to appreciate this fight for justice, equality and peaceful co-existence. We are buoyed by Psalm 2:1-4 which reads thus:
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take council together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying ‘let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us’. He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derisions.”
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has acknowledged that the acting leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has the right as an individual to endorse any of the presidential candidate but has no authority to drag the group into such personal decision.
Reacting to the claim by Pa Adebanjo that Afenifere has endorsed the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), warned that no single individual, irrespective of his position can turn Afenifere into his personal estate, much less Adebanjo that is just an Acting Leader.
In a statement today, September 26 by Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, the APC flag bearer stressed that, as an individual, Adebanjo cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation.
“Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right.
“We know for a fact that Baba has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as Acting Leader. We are also certain that there was nowhere Afenifere, as we know it, met and took a decision to adopt Peter Obi as a candidate for 2023 presidential election.
“We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo, but he cannot turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance.
“We are very much aware that Baba Reuben Fasoranti, the real leader of Afenifere, had stated clearly that Pa Adebanjo has always been speaking for himself on many national issues using the name of the group.
“It is our well considered position that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere. Baba is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice.
“As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation.”
Presidential candidate candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has again protested that he is not stingy as many people tagged him. “Go and read what Bianca wrote about me, I am not a stingy man. I spend more money more than those people who do give away.” Responding to such people, Peter Obi said that what he doesn’t do is that he has allergy for money not used properly, public or private. “I don’t spend money carelessly, I spend it for what it’s used and people can see it and it has nothing to do with anybody, it has to do with my family, everybody knows, if you call my wife today, she will tell you, Peter will not buy this, Peter will not do this. “I have a young man, who traveled to Rwanda this morning, and I was supposed to travel with him, and he said to me, ‘ I have booked your hotel in so so and so place, but they said it’s a thousand and five hundred dollars per night and I said, ‘No way!’ is it not just to sleep? How can you do a thing like that… Is it not bed they have there, Is there hotel where they pay 250 dollars per night, he said yes, I asked how can I spend five times the amount . “Isn’t not the same sleep? Money is meant to be used usefully.”
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of 2023 election, Femi Fani-Kayode, has described the leadership of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as having been suffering from mental challenge over their gloating about the exclusion of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha from the Campaign Council.
Fani-Kayode, who once served as the nation’s Aviation Minister, in a series of Tweet, said that anyone who suggests that Osinbajo rejected a role on the PCC owing to APC’s Muslim/Muslim ticket needs to be examined.
FFK, as he is fondly called, said that those who are making such assertions are completely ignorant, adding that the PCC was constituted in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He said that these are the same leaders of the PDP who left Bode George, Segun Mimiko and many others from the Wike camp out of their PCC because these men had the courage and decency to reject the proposition of another eight years of Fulani rule after President Buhari which would endanger the peace and unity of the country.
Fani-Kayode accused the PDP leaders of turning every southerner and Middle Belter into a slave, and asked: “are those that took this noble stand to reject slavery, subjugation & bondage not heroes? Is it a crime to insist on being treated as an equal? Should these men not be commended for their foresight & vision & decency?
“Yet instead of honoring them their party of slaves & slave masters seek to punish them for their noble stand & insist on having their pres. candidate, their Nat. Chairman and the DG of their PCC ALL from the North even though this violates their party constitution & all.
“What type of madness is this? Is this the party that OBJ, UMYA & GEJ led?
“What a pity! What a tragedy! If these PDP creatures do not stop this nonsense even the Obidients will defeat them & push them into 3rd place.”
“Finally get this: we do not zone political offices on the basis of religion, we zone them on the basis of region zone & political expediency. That is why the PDP fielded a Christian/Christian ticket in Osun state & won the Governorship election.
“Even though the state has a 50% Muslim population and no-one complained. Why should the leaders of PDP be so concerned about our Muslim/Muslim ticket when their party fielded a Christian/Christian one in Osun? What is good for the goose is surely good for the gander!
“This issue is a matter of choice. Someone tell these misfits of the Peoples Dunce Party & their accursed leaders to stop obsessing & whining about our same faith ticket & the compostion of our PCC and instead meet us in the field. 8/ .
“They should stop talking crap and crying more than the bereaved and let the people decide. That is what you call democracy. (FFK).”
On Thursday last week (September 22), the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum was held in Manhattan, New York in the middle of the most important international event of the year: the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Forum was enormously popular, attracting some 500 guests and delegates – almost double the expected number. While this resulted in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere at times, the Forum was a resounding success: a clear indication of investor confidence in Nigeria.
Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and seeks to raise GDP to USD 965 billion-almost a trillion Dollars by 2027.
Under President Muhammadu Buhari, the nation has recorded marked progress in highways construction, bridges, railway, power, electrification and capacity addition in airports and their modernization.
As the President spoke, making the determination of his government to open more and more sectors of the economy to the private sector, a particular participant stunned, not a few when he announced that he manages pension funds of USD 1.3 Trillion, money well in excess Nigeria’s current GDP, five times over.
First, well over a billion dollars’ worth of deals benefitting Nigeria and her partners were signed at the Forum, including a $1.3 billion investment from Sun Africa for a new solar energy project; $70 million ring-fenced by Adryada and Noblesse Green Energy for a new biodiversity project; strategic financing support for a new refinery on the Niger Delta announced by Honeywell UOP; and a major philanthropic investment in data for Nigerian schools announced by Airtel Africa that would be setting up internet connection for 100 schools each year for five years running.
A highlight of the event was the Presidential Luncheon, which saw Guest of Honour President Buhari joined by CEOs and Senior Executives from some of the largest and most prominent American and African companies, including GE, Chevron, Honeywell, Bell Flight, Sun Africa, McGraw Hill, American Tower and many more.
The full guest list of participants included the American Tower Corporation, Aveva, Big Sun Holdings, Citi, CrossBoundry Group, Cure Violence Global, Entrust, Educational Testing Service, ExxonMobil , GE Healthcare,Gilead Sciences and Hello Tractor.
Also in attendance were Google, McLarty Associates,Medici Land Governance, NBA, Odum Capital, Oracle, Pearson,Rendeavour, Roche,Seed Global Health, Standard Bank,TIAA/Nuveen, UBA America, the AfDB, African EXIM Bank and its US equivalent, Export Import Bank of United States, headed by Reta Jo Lewis, the first ever African-American to lead the organization, and the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank, IDB.
We had also in actual participation, the World Food Program, WFP, the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, the International Fund for Agriculture, IFAD and NEPAD agency for Africa.
Of course no one could have overlooked the overarching presence and actual participation of the Corporate Council of Africa whose current President, Florie Liser addressed the meeting, saying that the organization is pushing for a private sector roadmap to support investment in several sectors to aid economic growth in Nigeria.
Some of the this country’s biggest corporations were also represented at the highest levels, including, but not limited to the great oil behemoth, the NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the NIPC, NEXIM Bank, Ndimi’s Oriental Energy, First Bank, Airtel, Flour Mills Nigeria, the Fertilizer Producers Association of Nigeria, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and so many others.
Interestingly, there were also in attendance, several young Nigerian entrepreneurs who are continually making their mark on the global business landscape.
After breakfast and the opening session, we had the first plenary on Nigeria’s economic outlook and the second one on high level conversations about scaling up international partnerships for Nigeria on the development drive. Thereafter, eight breakout sessions convened simultaneously for the real business that brought everyone here.
There was a thematic group seeking answers to important questions about growing Nigeria’s agriculture for food security and access to export market. It addressed questions of increased investment in fertilizer and urea, opportunities for Nigeria-EU partnerships in view of the Russia-Ukraine war and such issues as the need for technology support and innovative financing mechanisms for agriculture.
Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector came under discussion with a focus on “reforms, results and the road ahead,” where international interest was canvassed for the two pipeline projects taking Nigeria’s gas to Europe through Morocco and Algeria. Awareness was also raised by the NNPC Limited on the dangers of crude oil to Nigeria and the world at large. They called it “blood oil.”
The investment climate in Nigeria including systemic risk issues and the vistas of the African Continental Trade Agreement were also brought under focus.
Infrastructure opportunities in power, clean energy, transportation and water came under discussion, as did the ways and means of increasing capital flows into Nigeria, industrial financing, international development financing and the road to greater financial inclusion.
Nigeria also brought for international discussion at this forum, the quest for scaling up international resources for financing education in the continent as well the need for innovative deal-making mechanisms to link government, deal sponsors and international pools capital in the health sector.
There was also a very comprehensive discussion on the next steps for technology development: emerging technologies, satellite technology, digital communication, financing clean industries and the use of technology to combat insecurity.
There have been some of criticisms about the size of the venue and the number of guests; it can only be said that those making those criticisms have never experienced New York during UNGA – one of the world’s busiest and most important international events attended yearly by world leaders from around the globe.
The President himself pointed to the significance of the representation at the forum when he said
“ the beauty of this forum is that the Ministers responsible for all of these sectors are here today, as are some of Nigeria’s premier business leaders who are already excelling in these spaces.”
There were some who criticized the quality of speakers at the Forum. With a lineup that included the President himself, the country’s most senior ministers and the most senior executives from those prominent companies already mentioned, these claims can only be described as inaccurate. As for those bandying around other names of supposed speakers who did not attend, they are merely misinformed, and taking their information from a dated, draft list of potential invitees – not from the final list.
Sadly, there are those who will always seek to criticize Nigeria for their own political gain and put her down even in moments of her greatest success. The resoundingly successful Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum is a clear example. We look forward to an equally successful repeat next year.
Nigeria has everyone to thank for this successful program, and not least in this category is the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a veteran of the UN and global systems who was the linchpin of the entire event.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity wrote in from Abuja.
The Spokesperson for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has said that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha were left out of the 422-man list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council to enable them concentrate on governance of the country.
Keyamo, in a statement today, September 24, said that the directive to that effect came straight from President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
“Nothing can be farther from the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council. As a result, Mr. President has specifically directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government.
“As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns. The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility.”
Keyamo also said that the list that was released would be subject to periodic review.
“Our candidates and the leadership of the APC have also indicated that the list is not sacrosanct as there may be periodic review of it as circumstances dictate.
“We will not toe the path of those who governed the country in an irresponsible manner before us and our party is not in total disarray like those who wish to ‘rescue’ the country, but cannot simply manage their own internal affairs.”
Other prominent members of the party that were also not included in the campaign council include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, amongst others.
Osinbajo and Nwajiuba had contested the presidential primary of the ruling party with former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, who eventually won the ticket even Dogara and Lawal have since registered their opposition to Tinubu’s choice of a Muslim like himself as running mate.
“I am ready for either peace or war. Whatever the government wants, we can give them a multitude.” This is the boast of a notorious Zamfara bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji, who reportedly expressed his bitterness over the air raid on his abode and the killing of vulnerable people by the soldiers of the Nigerian Army. Information reaching us in Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the top bandits’ commander accused the Nigerian government of breaking the peace pact it had with him in stopping banditry, by protecting the people of Shinkafi axis from any attack. In an audio conversation, Turji was believed to have said: “Peace is priceless and I am ready to be a peace advocate unless the government wants him to be a warmonger.” The bandit leader said he had agreed with officials of the government and community leaders to abandon banditry. “There have not been any attacks in the last five months since we reached a truce with the government but now that the military has attacked our home, we feel betrayed especially after the death of vulnerable people in the airstrikes. “For the past five months, we didn’t attack or kill anyone around Shinkafi. As a result, farming and other business activities were flourishing without any hitches. “I feel embarrassed when my name is mentioned after attacks by other bandits and terrorists. “Apart from my house that they destroyed, many other buildings belonging to innocent citizens in the forest were also affected.” It was earlier reported that scores of armed bandits belonging to Bello Turji camp were eliminated during a ‘surprise raid’ by the air troops of Operation Forest Sanity in Zamfara State. The ‘surprise attack’ was carried out by two Nigerian Air Force, NAF, fighter jets, upon receiving credible intelligence at Fakai area of Shinkafi. After the attack, the military dropped leaflets and aired jingles warning citizens living in banditry-prone areas in an effort to avoid collateral damages in the renewed military operations.
Meanwhile, terrorists suspected to be armed bandits, today, September 24, killed 11 Muslim worshippers, members of Ruwan Jema village in Zamfara State Credible local sources in Zamfara said that a group of terrorists in a convoy of motorcycles stormed the community, Ruwan Jema, during Friday Prayer in the mosque. A survivor, Aliyu Nanarki said: “those killed by the bandits were among those observing their Friday prayer in the mosque.” It was gathered that 11 corpses were recovered after the raid by the terrorists, even as several persons are still missing, since yesterday. Source: PRNigeria.
The Spokesperson of Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization, Dino Melaye has said that those who are waiting to take advantage of the current crisis in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 Presidential election are waiting in vain.
“Waiting to benefit from the internal synthesis that may play out in the PDP is a wait in futility. “The tears of opposition are only flowing from the demonstrable capacity of Atiku for political sagacity.”
In a statement today, September 24, Dino Melaye said that the 2023 presidential election is not the turn of the flagbear of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and that there is no conferment in the forthcoming election.
He accused the APC of trying to take advantage of the crisis in the PDP, saying: “no short cut to victory.
“The hawkers of spin in the camp of Ahmed Bola Tinubu are at it again, this time latching unto a debatable forecast to award victory to a delusional candidate who claimed that the presidency of Nigeria is a categorical entitlement.
“The palace jesters are gloating over the orchestrated amplification of the agitation by some members of our party to sing a dirge, forgetting that advocacy is not only normal in a democracy, their very idol went riotous and danced naked in desperation when he sensed that the ticket of his discredited and failed political party was eluding him.
“Atiku will continue to support the enthronement of strong institutions that can minimise the excesses of political Goliaths. And as it happened to Goliath, strong men get defeated, no matter the length of their domination.”
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“I am ready for either peace or war. Whatever the government wants, we can give them a multitude.”
Harvest From Nigeria’s Global Economic Summit In New York, By Garba Shehu
On Thursday last week (September 22), the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum was held in Manhattan, New York in the middle of the most important international event of the year: the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Forum was enormously popular, attracting some 500 guests and delegates – almost double the expected number. While this resulted in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere at times, the Forum was a resounding success: a clear indication of investor confidence in Nigeria.
Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and seeks to raise GDP to USD 965 billion-almost a trillion Dollars by 2027.
Under President Muhammadu Buhari, the nation has recorded marked progress in highways construction, bridges, railway, power, electrification and capacity addition in airports and their modernization.
As the President spoke, making the determination of his government to open more and more sectors of the economy to the private sector, a particular participant stunned, not a few when he announced that he manages pension funds of USD 1.3 Trillion, money well in excess Nigeria’s current GDP, five times over.
First, well over a billion dollars’ worth of deals benefitting Nigeria and her partners were signed at the Forum, including a $1.3 billion investment from Sun Africa for a new solar energy project; $70 million ring-fenced by Adryada and Noblesse Green Energy for a new biodiversity project; strategic financing support for a new refinery on the Niger Delta announced by Honeywell UOP; and a major philanthropic investment in data for Nigerian schools announced by Airtel Africa that would be setting up internet connection for 100 schools each year for five years running.
A highlight of the event was the Presidential Luncheon, which saw Guest of Honour President Buhari joined by CEOs and Senior Executives from some of the largest and most prominent American and African companies, including GE, Chevron, Honeywell, Bell Flight, Sun Africa, McGraw Hill, American Tower and many more.
The full guest list of participants included the American Tower Corporation, Aveva, Big Sun Holdings, Citi, CrossBoundry Group, Cure Violence Global, Entrust, Educational Testing Service, ExxonMobil , GE Healthcare,Gilead Sciences and Hello Tractor.
Also in attendance were Google, McLarty Associates,Medici Land Governance, NBA, Odum Capital, Oracle, Pearson,Rendeavour, Roche,Seed Global Health, Standard Bank,TIAA/Nuveen, UBA America, the AfDB, African EXIM Bank and its US equivalent, Export Import Bank of United States, headed by Reta Jo Lewis, the first ever African-American to lead the organization, and the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank, IDB.
We had also in actual participation, the World Food Program, WFP, the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, the International Fund for Agriculture, IFAD and NEPAD agency for Africa.
Of course no one could have overlooked the overarching presence and actual participation of the Corporate Council of Africa whose current President, Florie Liser addressed the meeting, saying that the organization is pushing for a private sector roadmap to support investment in several sectors to aid economic growth in Nigeria.
Some of the this country’s biggest corporations were also represented at the highest levels, including, but not limited to the great oil behemoth, the NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the NIPC, NEXIM Bank, Ndimi’s Oriental Energy, First Bank, Airtel, Flour Mills Nigeria, the Fertilizer Producers Association of Nigeria, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and so many others.
Interestingly, there were also in attendance, several young Nigerian entrepreneurs who are continually making their mark on the global business landscape.
After breakfast and the opening session, we had the first plenary on Nigeria’s economic outlook and the second one on high level conversations about scaling up international partnerships for Nigeria on the development drive. Thereafter, eight breakout sessions convened simultaneously for the real business that brought everyone here.
There was a thematic group seeking answers to important questions about growing Nigeria’s agriculture for food security and access to export market. It addressed questions of increased investment in fertilizer and urea, opportunities for Nigeria-EU partnerships in view of the Russia-Ukraine war and such issues as the need for technology support and innovative financing mechanisms for agriculture.
Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector came under discussion with a focus on “reforms, results and the road ahead,” where international interest was canvassed for the two pipeline projects taking Nigeria’s gas to Europe through Morocco and Algeria. Awareness was also raised by the NNPC Limited on the dangers of crude oil to Nigeria and the world at large. They called it “blood oil.”
The investment climate in Nigeria including systemic risk issues and the vistas of the African Continental Trade Agreement were also brought under focus.
Infrastructure opportunities in power, clean energy, transportation and water came under discussion, as did the ways and means of increasing capital flows into Nigeria, industrial financing, international development financing and the road to greater financial inclusion.
Nigeria also brought for international discussion at this forum, the quest for scaling up international resources for financing education in the continent as well the need for innovative deal-making mechanisms to link government, deal sponsors and international pools capital in the health sector.
There was also a very comprehensive discussion on the next steps for technology development: emerging technologies, satellite technology, digital communication, financing clean industries and the use of technology to combat insecurity.
There have been some of criticisms about the size of the venue and the number of guests; it can only be said that those making those criticisms have never experienced New York during UNGA – one of the world’s busiest and most important international events attended yearly by world leaders from around the globe.
The President himself pointed to the significance of the representation at the forum when he said
“ the beauty of this forum is that the Ministers responsible for all of these sectors are here today, as are some of Nigeria’s premier business leaders who are already excelling in these spaces.”
There were some who criticized the quality of speakers at the Forum. With a lineup that included the President himself, the country’s most senior ministers and the most senior executives from those prominent companies already mentioned, these claims can only be described as inaccurate. As for those bandying around other names of supposed speakers who did not attend, they are merely misinformed, and taking their information from a dated, draft list of potential invitees – not from the final list.
Sadly, there are those who will always seek to criticize Nigeria for their own political gain and put her down even in moments of her greatest success. The resoundingly successful Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum is a clear example. We look forward to an equally successful repeat next year.
Nigeria has everyone to thank for this successful program, and not least in this category is the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a veteran of the UN and global systems who was the linchpin of the entire event.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity wrote in from Abuja.