A political group under the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State, known as Justice Forum, has called on the youths in the country not to allow themselves by agents of darkness to destroy Nigeria.
In a statement today, July 21, the group’s Coordinator and House of Representatives member, James Abiodun Faleke further advised the youths not to allow some disgruntled elements to use them to achieve a self centerism political agenda through the planned revolution slated for August 1..
The statement, issued by the Group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Razaq Olusola Ajala, after a meeting in Ikeja, quoted Faleke as citing the ENDSARS protest which took place a few years ago in Lagos that was hijacked by disgruntled elements where innocent lives and several properties worth billions of Naira were lost as a result of the senseless action by “agents of darkness.”
“We all witnessed how innocent lives and properties worth billions of Naira were lost during the so-called ENDSARS protest a few years ago in Lagos when a genuine agitation turned into violence.
“There is need for us to thread softly with the development in Kenya and other similar incidents across the world where genuine agitations have been hijacked by agents of devil and have resulted into loss of innocent lives and several properties destroyed.” Faleke, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, said that the positive effects of some of the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is beginning to manifest on the nation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has just approved a new minimum wage for the civil servant which is more than 100%.
“He has equally removed the duties payable on essential food items, payment of student loans among other efforts by the government to put the Economy back on track.
“We appeal to Nigerians to continue to support Mr. President in his resolved to institute a sustainable economy model that will benefit all.”
He implored all leaders, including National Assembly members, serving and former state Assembly Members, serving and former Cabinet members, Council Chairmen and party stalwarts to use their vantage position to educate and sensitize the populace on the need to understand President Tinubu’s policies and be patient to let those policies manifest to make lives better for the people of the country.

Relying on a data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that confirmed the fact that 133 million Nigerians are currently living in
multidimensional poverty and 20 million people are either completely unemployed or underemployed, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has concluded that Nigeria is collapsing.
In a statement by the National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG expressed concern over the general economic atmosphere, which portends imminent danger.
The group called on the government of President Bola Tinubu to address the escalating hardship that has permeated every segment of Nigerian society.
“Today, life has become highly unbearable for the overwhelming majority of citizens. The suffering of Nigerians is palpable across every stratum. The CNG holds the present and previous governments responsible for creating this dire situation for Nigerians.”
The group also expressed worry over the social consequences created by insecurity, such as displacement of communities, loss of lives and properties, and psychological trauma.
“It is no longer news that pervasive hardship across the country has eroded trust in the present government, and it’s exponentially threatening national unity, peace, and security.
“In responding to the current hardship facing Nigerians, the government appears to be adopting a trial-and-error approach to the economy, resulting in further deterioration and further exposing people to avoidable hardship. No definitive and evidence-based solutions are in sight.
“In this dire situation, instead of providing relief, the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, announced an increase in interest rates, which will further devastate the economy and diminish the prospects for job creation.
“The anti-people policies of the government only enabled the few elites to primitively acquire wealth, while the vast majority of citizens continue to languish in deep poverty.
“The CNG shares stakeholder’s concerns that higher interest rates will not only reduce investments and economic growth but also aggravate the daunting challenges, inundating the business environment, leading to factory closures, job losses, and reduced economic activities.
“The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) reports that, within two months, over 16 multinational corporations relocated from Nigeria to neighbouring countries, over 300 local manufacturing companies were closed, and over 380 thousand jobs were lost sending Nigerians back to the labour market to search for non-existing employment opportunities.
”The CNG wishes to unequivocally call on President Tinubu to reassess his economic advisers/tax regime committees whose misguided counsel has led to policies prioritizing personal interests over national well-being, entrenching poverty, unemployment, inequality and insecurity.
”These advisers have demonstrated a lack of understanding of our economic realities, perpetuating harmful policies that are disastrous for the country, and squandering the president’s political capital. We urge President Tinubu to purge these advisers from his administration, as their incompetence is strangulating the nation’s economy.
”Additionally, the removal of fuel subsidies has led to a shocking 195% increase in petrol prices, from ₦238 to ₦701 per litre, crippling the mobility of people and goods across the country.
”Despite Nigeria increasing its crude oil production from 1.18 mbpd to 1.28 mbpd and receiving favourable oil prices of $82.57 per barrel above the earlier $76.97, this increase in revenue has, sadly, not benefited the common man nor translated into any benefit for the nation.
”For a long time, the CNG has held the firm view that increasing minimum wage amid rising inflation, devaluation of the naira and pervasive economic crises will never solve the problem of Nigerian workers.
“While we appreciate the federal government’s intention to pay a decent living wage to Nigerian workers, we are sceptical over the federal government’s plan to further increase the fuel price in order to fund the new national minimum wage.”

Seun Okinbaloye, who has been the main anchor of the Channels TV’s Politics Today show, Seun Okinbaloye has made it clear that he has not been sacked.
Responding to rumour making the rounds in the social media lately, the broadcaster said that he is very much in the employment of the Channels TV.
A newspaper columnist and Professor of Mass Communications in the United States of America, Farooq Kperogi, quoted Seun Okinbaloye in a Facebook post today , July 20 as saying that he is currently in the US on vacation.
Professor Kperogi who said that he personally spoke with Okinbaloye, said: “Channel TV’s Seun Okinbaloye has NOT been fired, contrary to social media rumors doing the rounds.
“I communicated with him a few hours ago, and he said he is on vacation here in the United States and still very much in the employ of Channels TV.”
Professor Kperogi said the broadcaster described the rumour of his sack as “the whole story is fake news.”
Meanwhile Geoffrey Uzono, has been holding the forth for Okinbaloye in the production of the Channels TV’s Politics Today show.
The publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of Revolution Now movement, Omoyele Sowore shared pictures with Okinbaloye in Newark, New Jersey, United States on social media to dispel the rumour.

Organized Labour in Nigeria has threatened to shut down any state government that fails to implement and pay the new national minimum wage agreed upon recently between the labour and the federal government.
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Chapter, Christopher Arapasopo, dropped this hint in Osogbo, capital of Osun State today, July 20.
According to him, the joint labour unions will enforce the new N70,000 minimum wage in all the states.
He said that the unions agreed on the new minimum wage as a sacrifice to prevent a hike in fuel pump prices.
“The governors would never say they were not there when it was agreed. They were the ones agitating for N70,000 as the minimum wage.
“We, as labour, suggested N250,000 and they brought it down to N62,000 before shifting ground to N70,000, and we accepted it. We have sacrificed a lot of things.
“So, for any government or governor that fails to pay, we will shut that state down. It is a must for them to pay. It is a no-go area. We are not negotiating that.”
He said that the NLC had just concluded its NEC meeting, with all the states being represented.
“The President said if we insisted on our demand of N250, 000, he would have to increase the fuel price.
”But as good citizens of Nigeria, we believe the demand should not be only to the benefit of a particular sector alone.
“As workers, we should be able to think about other Nigerians and not ourselves alone.
“So, we made the sacrifice to accept the N70,000 to avoid the price of fuel going up.” he said
Arapasopo said that If the union had insisted on the N250,000 minimum wage, Nigerians and workers would suffer the increment in fuel pump price and inflation would increase.
He said that the N70,000 accepted by labour was still fair as it would be the least salary paid to workers in the lowest cadre.
Arapasopo added that consequential adjustments and benefits attached to the levels would even jack up the wage when it is implemented.
He said that the Osun chapter of the union would meet with the state government to discuss some allowances for workers, “but the minimum wage stands non-negotiable.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has granted the stay of execution of an earlier ruling on the matter between the Attah Igala and the Attorney General of the federation, granting leave for the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim and Maigari of Lokoja, Ohimegye Igu Kotonkarfe as interested parties.
Justice Okwo also set aside, the earlier Judgement to allow for the interested parties to join and file for an appeal on the earlier Judgement.
Delivering his ruling for stay of execution on July 15, 2024, Justice Gabriel Okwo said that following the application by the people of Lokoja, Kogi and Ajaokuta LGAs wanting to join as interested parties, he has also granted the application.
The Judge maintained that parties seeking to be joined have shown sufficient reasons to be joinders.
He emphasized that having shown grounds that the joinders rights has been infringed upon, the leave for parties to enter into appeal has been granted.
Consequently, he granted leave for the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Ado Ibrahim, the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabiru Maikafi, The Ohi of Eganyi, and the Ohimegye Igu Kotonkarfe, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isah Koto to be joined as interested parties.
A Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja, had earlier in a judgement, ceded the overlordship of Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Koton Karfe under the Jurisdiction of the Attah Igala, Micheal Ameh Oboni.

The Organised Private Sector (OPS), has complained that members cannot pay the N70,000 new National Minimum Wage.
Reacting to the news of President Bola Tinubu’s approval of N70,000 as the new national minimum wage, Spokesperson of OPS, and Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said that the sector would require the support of the government in many ways to be able to pay the minimum wage
“While we commend the President for putting to rest the immediate issue of the National Minimum Wage, we also note, (we appreciate), most importantly his commitment to support the sub-nationals and the Organized Private Sector to pay the new wage.”

A member of representing Ajaokuta in the Federal House of Representatives, Abdulraheem Sanni Egidi, has kicked against the inclusion of his Constituency in a bill seeking for the creation of Okura state from Kogi State.
Abdulraheem Egidi, who was contributing to the debate on the bill, presented by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro federal constituency of Kogi State, stressed that his constituency, Ajaokuta, cannot be part of the proposed new state.
The lawmaker insisted that the map of the proposed new state should be redesigned to remove Ajaokuta.
“For about two days, I have seen a map circulating in the social media where my constituency, Ajaokuta, is part of the proposed new state.
“I want to put it to the house that I believe it is an error. I believe that it is not correct. Ajaokuta federal constituency is currently in Kogi state central senatorial district. It is not part of east senatorial district.
“I want the map to be redesigned.
“In as much as I agree with the creation of the new state, my constituency cannot be part of Okura state based on the following reasons: There is a natural boundary already, and I am not sure anybody from my constituency was consulted. My constituency should be out of it.”
However, speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said that the lawmaker’s demand would be considered by the constitutional amendment committee when further proposals are received from stakeholders.
The Deputy Majority Leader had, during plenary yesterday, July 18, moved the motion for the second reading of a bill to create Okura state from Kogi, with Egume as the capital.
The sponsor of the bill, said that if the state is created, it will bring government closer to the “long neglected people of Igala” and would ensure the equitable distribution of the nation’s resources to the people.
The lawmaker said that Okura satisfies all the requirements for the creation of a state.

Publisher and Chief Executive of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu has expressed surprise over Reno Omokri’s defence of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Omokri, who was once a presidential aide in Nigeria, had attacked Dele Momodu, who had earlier issued an open letter criticizing the administration of President Tinubu. Momodu said that the government is wrong for seeking a new presidential jet amid economic hardship.
Reacting, Omokri faulted Momodu’s criticism, highlighting the achievement of the Tinubu administration.
In response, Momodu wrote: “I have just read Mr Reno Omokri’s response to my earlier article, titled URGENT MESSAGE FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU. Since I’m not a fan of fake economic theories that bear no positive impact on society and the citizens, I won’t waste my readers’ time on trading words with Reno. I will only make the following observations:
“1. What happened to my Brother Reno that he feels he must defend many of the most atrocious policies of the Tinubu government? I believe Reno is too brilliant to waste his talents on a government that can’t even defend itself in good conscience…
“2. When did Reno become a born again Tinubuist that he has forcefully taken over the jobs of Ajuri and Onanuga combined. Otherwise, he would have known the difference between economics and ECONOMY. Economics deals mainly with textbook theories while the ECONOMY deals with the practical and realistic conditions of the people on day to day basis. All the economic ratings quoted by Reno have no meaning in Nigeria of today. No textbook can envisage or assuage the unprecedented hunger and suffering of Nigerians. Our country is haemorrhaging to death while pseudo economists are regaling us with an over-romanticized magic of IMF/World Bank.
“3. What enablers like Reno and company are doing by their blind support for a government that needs honest TRUTH is reminiscent of the story of Marie-Antoinette, the bride of King Louis XVI, who told the lumpen proletariat in France to eat cake if bread is too expensive for them. In her majestic delusion of grandeur and provocative ignorance, the Queen did not know that bread and cake are of the same origin and that the latter is actually more expensive. What happened next?
REVOLUTION swept away most members of the French privilegentsia… Today, Nigerians are substituting tomatoes with watermelon to cook food…
“I will never wish such evil to befall Nigeria, my dear beloved country, but prevention is oftentimes better than cure…
“I pray President Tinubu will somehow arrest this obvious drift towards perdition.”