I Did not Endorse Atiku- Jonathan

October 17, 2022

The narrative that former President Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed the Atiku/Okowa presidential ticket is false after all, as indications have emerged that some hawks in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stage-managed the meeting to achieve a pre-determined phantom endorsement.

The development came amid information that the former president has a soft spot for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi who he has severally supported morally and otherwise ahead of 2023 general election.

A close ally of the former president who was at the recent courtesy visit facilitated by the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, told Daily Sun that Jonathan is not happy that the PDP turned the private visit into an endorsement for its presidential candidate.

He said journalists were not allowed to witness the private visit and conversation unknown to the host (Jonathan) that some of the PDP hawks secretly videoed the proceeding and posted it online to appear as if the former president had endorsed Atiku.

Our source said President Jonathan is a statesman who extends equal gestures to all the presidential candidates, hence, the event where he prayed for Okowa was not different.

He explained that the visitors led by the Bauchi governor brought some kola nuts for Jonathan to according to them, pray for the incoming vice president (Okowa) and that the former president merely used their own words to pray for him.

Our source told Daily Sun: “You know that President Jonathan has a soft spot for the Bauchi governor who led the delegation. Atiku who had made several efforts to get Jonathan’s support was not even part of the delegation.

“Jonathan was surprised when his attention was drawn to the news on the social media that he had endorsed Atiku. That did not happen but as a statesman, he just let it go instead of putting up a statement denying it.

It was to forestall the PDP making a political capital of the visit that Jonathan’s aides prevented the media from being in the meeting but who knew that some hawks in the party had planned to use it to gain some mileage.”

Our source told Daily Sun if there was any presidential candidate that enjoys the support of the former president, it is Peter Obi.

He said that the LP candidate had visited Jonathan at least three times since the conclusion of the party primaries unlike candidates of other parties.

You know that Obi is very close to Jonathan for obvious reasons. When Oga was in power, Obi was one of those close to him and they have continued to enjoy the relationship till now. I am sure that is why many people are surprised when they started to read that he has endorsed Atiku/Okowa ticket. Jonathan is a statesman and he treats all the presidential candidates with respect but people should not misunderstand that as an endorsement”, the source said.

(the sun)

Names of 12 Bankers Involved in Insider Fraud Arrested by EFCC

Queen Madu

October 16, 2022

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 12 bankers for suspected insider fraud in Enugu. The arrests were made on Friday.

The incident was announced on the EFCC’s social media accounts on Saturday.

According to the commission, the suspects moved funds from dormant accounts in an old generation bank to a different account. There were different beneficiaries of the fraud, but the EFCC claimed to have identified the principal beneficiary.

“The suspects are: Odeniyi Anthony, Deki Kingsley Onyekachi, Oguchukwu Ene, Elendu Chizaram, Anyakora Uchenna, Onah Kingsley, Akwe Elizabeth and Chinenye Grace Acibe,” the EFCC statement read in part.

“Others are: Victoria Ezedie, Chidi-Ukah Obinna, Etoh Lawrence Uzochukwu and Udeze Harrison.

“Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly stole funds from some dormant accounts in a branch of an old generation bank in Enugu.

“The stolen funds were transferred from the dormant accounts to various beneficiaries, with the principal beneficiary already identified by the EFCC.”

Investigations are still ongoing. The EFCC said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.

Atiku’s Statement about Igbo and Yoruba Disappointing- Moghalu

Queen Madu

October 16, 2022

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has expressed disappointment over a comment by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar that Northers don’t need Igbo or Yoruba to be president.

Recall that Atiku on Saturday during an interactive sanction With Arewa Joint Committee held in Kaduna State, claimed that Northerners do not need Igbo or Yoruba presidency in the forthcoming election.

Atiku’s shocking utterance has been generating reactions from concerned Nigerians across the country.

Reacting on his verified Twitter handle, the former CBN Deputy Governor said the comment was a “direct appeal to divisive ethnic sentiment and a denigration of the largest ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria.

was very disappointed to view the video clip of H.E. Atiku Abubakar @atiku, a former Vice-President of Nigeria, telling an audience in Kaduna that what the North needs is a northerner to be President, and not a Yoruba or Igbo candidate.

“All candidates in the 2023 presidential election must avoid ethnic or other divisive sentimental appeals”.

He called on Atiku to withdraw the statement and tender apology to Nigerians who picked offence in his utterances.

(Infodaily)

Subsidy: I pity the next president of Nigeria – Sanusi

bvichannel1

October 16, 2022

The deposed Emir of Kano and vice chairman, Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency, Lamido Sanusi, has expressed his compassion for the next president that will succeed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), due to the perceived depleted state of the economy.

Sanusi, who is also the current Khalifah, Tijaniyat Movement of Nigeria, said this in Kaduna on Saturday while addressing notable politicians at a Kaduna Investment programme titled, “Building a resilient economy”.

The 14th Emir said Nigeria’s economy has been tied to the oil and gas sector and subsidy removal is fast mitigating the economy’s growth.

“Nigeria has continued to be a rentier state. It does not exist for development but as a sight of rent, and extraction to make those who control the state rich turning them into billionaires overnight.

“In 2023, if we have an election, we cannot continue to have the trend. Because any continuation will lead to insecurity and might get us to Mali, Burkina Faso’s situation.

“We can’t keep towards pushing the brink; we have to come back,” he added.

Citing data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, Sanusi said only 50% of states in the country generated enough revenue to cover their wages, overheads and debt services.

He maintained that the cost of servicing debt in Nigeria with the Federal Government was N2.597 trillion whereas revenue was N2.4 trillion.

“In other words, debt service is now 108 per cent of revenue. Every naira the Federal Government earns goes to service debt and it is not enough, (as the FG) has to borrow to service the debt. And then begin to borrow to build roads, pay salaries and overheads.

“We are leaving a mountain of debt for our children. They (children) might curse us because we are taking all the money borrowed to subsidise petrol and enjoy it cheaply.

“We see the problem and we are going to continue. I’m sorry for the next president who comes in June and says I’m removing fuel subsidy after day one,” he asserted.

SOLUDO AWARDS NEW ROADS FOR CONSTRUCTION – Paul Nwosu

bvichannel1

October 15, 2022

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State is gradually making good his promise to turn Anambra State into one huge road construction site, all in a bid to ultimately make travelling around the state easier and pleasurable.

To this end, Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) recently approved and awarded contracts for the construction of a flyover at Ekwulobia to decongest the hellish traffic jam often experienced at the roundabout. Other adjoining roads around the area to be constructed include the Nanka –Ekwulobia – Aguata local government headquarters road (2.0km); Ekwulobia – Oko road (0.825km) and Ekwulobia – Isuofia road (1.125km). Other ancillary structures and facilities to be built around the Ekwulobia hub are, a bus terminal building, fuel station, security office building, fire station and other external works such as sewage treatment facilities, drainage, landscaping, etc. All the construction work will be handled by A.V. Vision Construction Nig Ltd at the cost of N10,100,100, 000.00 (ten billion, one hundred million, hundred thousand naira) and the work is to be completed in 18 months.

Also to be constructed by A.V. Vision Construction Nig Ltd are the Isuofia to Nanka Road with spur to Nanka/Obi Adimorah Road (2.2km and 10.3m wide) at the cost of N748,000,085.05k (seven hundred and forty eight million, eighty five naira, fifty kobo).

Six vital roads in Awka, the capital city of the state that were also among the set of contracts just awarded include, the Club (Abakaliki) Road (2.078km); Regina Caeli to Y Junction (1.173km); Millenium Industry – INEC – Ekwueme Square (1.762km) and Unizik Temp Site – Okpuno – Isuaniocha Junction (6.847km). Others are, Chukwudifu Street (0.297km) and PPSSC – NECO office Road (0.473km). The construction of these roads have been awarded Niger Construction Company Ltd (Nigercat) at the cost of N6,665,960,804.70k (six billion, six hundred and sixty five million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, eight hundred and four naira, seventy kobo and the company has a target of 10 months to complete the job.

The construction of Oye Agu Abagana to Nimo Road with spur at Nimo road (5.12km and 10.3m wide) was equally awarded Triconstruct Nig Ltd at the cost of N1,600,013,018.72k (0ne billion, six hundred million, thirteen thousand, eighteen naira, seventy two kobo). The company has 8 months to finish the work.

Meanwhile, the following roads have been awarded by Governor Soludo for construction. They are:

AWKA

1. Club (Abakaliki) Road (2.078km).

2. Regina Caeli to Y Junction (1.173km).

3. Millenium Industry – INEC – Ekwueme Square (1.762km).

4. Unizik Temp Site – Okpuno – Isuaniocha Junction (6.847km).

5. Chukwudifu Street (0.297km).

6. PPSSC – NECO office Road (0.473km).

OKPOKO

1. Obodoukwu road Obodo-Owerri Rd 5.77km.

2. Oguagu- Ik Onuorah-Anumudu-Mgbuka- Amazu-Owerri Rd -2.97km.

3.Edeh Road-School rd-Awalite – Ojoto-Owerri rd 1.48km.

4. School rd- umuobom Street-Ojoto Street Junction -0.58km.

5. Umuobom st (Ojoto st Junction-Adazi ani street- Owerri Rd- 0.77km.

6. Umenweke st (Obodoukwu Junction)-Umeojiakor st ( School Rd Junction)-0.58km.

7. Ojoto Junction-Anumudu (Mgbuka Amazu Junction)0.99km.

8. Uzii st- Mission st (Awaited Junction) 0.54km.

9. Anumudu street (Ik Onuorah Junction )- Gmi Rd- 0.38km.

EKWULOBIA AND ENVIRONS

1. Flyover At Ekwulobia Roundabout.

2. Nanka –Ekwulobia – Aguata local government headquarters road (2.0km).

3. Ekwulobia – Oko road (0.825km).

4. Ekwulobia – Isuofia road (1.125km).

5. Isuofia to Nanka Road with spur to Nanka/Obi Adimorah Road (2.2km and 10.3m wide).

6. Isu-Igbo River that is Isuofia – Ekwulobia Section of Ekwulobia – Nnobi Road – 600m stretch including 1.2km drainage.

(Ancillary structures and facilities to be built around the Ekwulobia hub are, a bus terminal building, fuel station, security office building, fire station and other external works such as sewage treatment facilities, drainage, landscaping, etc).

Others are:

1. Mmiata-Anam- Nzam Road (Second Phase) (with bridges, culverts, etc) – 11km.

2. Akpaka-Basilica Road, Onitsha – 7.79km.

3. Amansea-Ndukwuenu-Awa-Ufuma Road – 26. 4km.

4. Amansea-Awba-Ofemili – 26km.

5. Dredging of 500m of Mmili John River, culvert desilting and widening of water flow.

6. Flood Control Work at Ogbunike/Ogidi section of Enugu-Onitsha Old Road.

7. The construction of Oye Agu Abagana to Nimo Road with spur at Nimo road (5.12km and 10.3m wide).

*REHABILITATION (ONGOING /COMPLETED)*

1. Chisco Park Section of Onitsha – Enugu Federal Highway at Onitsha.

2. Major interventions on two sections of Amansea axis of the Enugu – Onitsha Old road.

3. Intervention on Inland Doors axis of Nkpor-Umuoji road.

Cameron Dam Causing Flood Across Nigeria States

Queen Madu

October 14, 2022

In recent weeks, floods have taken over major states in Nigeria, displacing homeowners and businesses The impact so far has been devastating and many have in recent days been rendered homeless in states like Anambra, Kogi states and more Interestingly, the farmers are not left out as farmlands have also been affected by the unfortunate development, which many say would affect the cost price of produce in the coming months

Here is the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon causing devastating flooding in Nigeria, with over 300 dead, Rivers Mirror noted. Communities in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa, Nasarawa and other states have also been devastated by the flooding that has destroyed many homes and lives in Kogi state.

In 1977, construction of the Lagdo Dam, located in Northern Cameroon began and was completed in 1982.

The deal Nigeria struck with the Cameroonian Government but breached it Initially, the Cameroonian and Nigerian Government had agreed to build two dams so that when excess water is released from the Cameronian Dam, it will be contained by the Nigerian dam which would be two and a half times bigger and won’t result in flooding.

However, the Nigerian Government agreed to construct the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa state to lessen the impact of any potential flooding from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon. But regrettably, the Dasin Hausa dam has not been completed since 1982 and this has led to the yearly flooding in Nigeria.

(Legit)

Nnamdi Kanu Release a plot to Distract Ndigbo Against Peter Obi- Emeka Ugwuonye

Queen Madu

October 14, 2022

The truth about human history shows that history repeats itself more often that we are willing to admit. The sudden and dramatic acquittal of Nnamdi Kanu and his impending release from detention is a chilling repeat of history. It exposes in the purest form the personal political motivations behind the agitation for Biafra and the very core of human nature.

President Buhari, like President Shagari, as typical politician would make any deal to ensure that his party wins the majority of Igbo votes even against all odds. In 1982, President Shagari’s NPN party needed to win in Igboland in the 1983 elections. But that was impossible because a veteran politician and man with strong appeal to the Igbos, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik), and his NPP party dominated the Eastern part of Nigeria. The only way for NPN to achieve the inroad it desired into the Igboland was to find any Igbo man who could rival Zik in popularity among the Igbo voters.

It happened that the only Igbo man with the kind of popularity that would beat Zik in the East was Emeka Ojukwu, who had been in exile in Ivory Coast for 13 years, and who was eager and desperate to be allowed back to his home country. Ojukwu was then very pained by the fact, as he perceived it then, that he fought and suffered in the war where he believed that he was fighting for the Igbos, only for other Igbos who didn’t suffer as much to have become great as Igbo politicians during the second republic. How could the “true leader” of the Igbos be suffering in exile, while the “fake leaders” of the Igbos would become successful politicians. And, according to Ojukwu, these Igbo politicians were not even seeking his return. So, you had in Ojukwu a popular Igbo leader eager to make a deal to come home, and you had Shagari-led NPN ready to trade on the opportunity so-created.

The stage was then set for NPN to pardon Ojukwu and permit him to return to Nigeria, but on one condition, which was that Ojukwu would join NPN and turn the Igbos into NPN states. That meant that Ojukwu understood that he was coming back to Nigeria to dislodge Zik’s (NPP) control over the Igbo political space. After all, Zik did not support him during the time he fought for Biafra. And Ojukwu did a fine job. The first thing he did upon returning to Nigeria, with the support of NPN government in the center, was to set up the IKEMBA FRONT, a semi-militant political group, to fight for him and for NPN for the political heart and soul of Igboland. That was the first time since the war that the Nigerian Government sanctioned a violent thuggery group in the East. It doesn’t matter that Shagari did not actually trust Ojukwu and would rig elections against Ojukwu and cause Ojukwu to lose the senatorial election to a relatively unknown medical doctor from Onitsha (Dr. Edwin Onwudiwe). (Ojukwu was assured that if Shagari won the 1983 election and Ojukwu his senatorial seat, Ojukwu would become the President of the Senate, which would have made his number three in the hierarchy of political leadership of Nigeria. But in fact, nobody near Shagari actually intended Ojukwu to be that close to power. So, they rigged the elections against Ojukwu, causing him to lose a Senatorial seat and indirectly suggesting to him that he was not as relevant or as popular as he thought).

Fast-forward forty years later; President Buhari’s ACP has little chances of winning the votes of the people of the Eastern part of Nigeria. As Shagari saw Zik as an insurmountable opponent in the East, Buhari and Tinubu see Peter Obi as too strong to defeat in the East. And without the East, the APC candidate will not win the election in 2023. Again, the votes of the Biafrans will make all the difference in the outcome of 2023 presidential election. Before his rendition, Nnamdi Kanu normally compared his agitation for Biafra with the civil war and he referred to Ojukwu-led movement as the “Class of 1967”, while referring to the IPOB-led movement as the “Class of 2020/21”. As eerie as that might have sounded, he was right in some ways. The pardon of Ojukwu could be called the Release/Pardon of 1982, while the judgment of the Court of Appeal yesterday is the equivalent Event of 2022. What a difference forty years has made!

APC sees that with the rise of Peter Obi nationwide, Obi could take the vote of 80% of the Igbo youths, which is Nnamdi Kanu’s constituency. That spells a defeat for APC. The only way out for APC is to find an Igbo man who is presumed more popular in the East than Obi. And no man could foot that bill better than the man who could cause millions of the hardworking tireless Igbo people to sit at home on a working day, and to repeat it for more than a year. The popularity of Nnamdi Kanu is believed to be the golden bullet that would change the game for APC come 2023. If APC could field a Muslem-Muslem ticket as a tactical calculation to win votes, APC will have no hesitation to engineer the end of prosecution for Nnamdi Kanu if that would help the APC in the 2023 elections. Such calculation would be a small thing, in fact a smart thing, for APC.

Ojukwu was not pardoned unconditionally, and Nnamdi Kanu is not being released unconditionally. Each of them came as a heavy political asset to the party in power that wants to retain power at all cost. Somebody can rightly argue that with the popularity of Nnamdi Kanu among the Igbos, it would have been a terrible mistake for APC government to have him in detention and hope to win elections in the East. Tinubu must have been screaming against that. He would have no chance of impressing the Igbo voters if their new Ojukwu had remained in detention during election. But either way, the whole thing would make sense for APC only if Nnamdi Kanu would undertake to at least not oppose them if released. So, again, his release must have been laden with all manner of conditionalities.

Someone may be quick to argue that the pardoning of Ojukwu was an act of the Nigerian Executive, while the acquittal of Nnamdi Kanu is an act of judicial decision. But that makes no difference, except that it makes the politically engineered acquittal more sinister in that it amounted to involving the courts in politics. Also, one must stand reminded that Nigeria is still a country where the President could remove a sitting Chief Justice without losing anything. It implies that the Nigerian courts are really mailable by political forces. Clearly, there is every reason to believe that the sudden acquittal of Nnamdi Kanu is a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. It is the executive acting through the courts, which is dangerous irrespective of the euphoria over the release of Kanu.

Also, it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu sees the rise of Peter Obi as “baboon de work, monkey de chop” metaphor. Arguably, Kanu thinks that his IPOB raised awareness of the Igbo exclusion from Nigeria, which Peter Obi is now riding on to fame. Again, as Ojukwu saw Zik ripping the benefit of his fight for the Igbos, Kanu sees Obi as ripping the benefits of his IPOB’s agitation for Igbo emancipating, not minding the fact that IPOB wanted secession of the Igbos, not their inclusion in Nigerian politics. In fact, IPOB opposed what Obi standards for. Yet, Nnamdi Kanu entertains the belief that Obi is ripping the fruits of the crop sowed by the IPOB.

Whichever way we look at it, if Nnamdi Kanu joins or supports the APC in the coming election; in fact, if he keeps quiet after his release, it confirms that his release came with heavy political conditionalities. It also means that Biafra has been traded off again for the political benefits of individuals. It finally confirms the truth about all these agitations, which truth has been known to me all along. Anybody losing his life for Biafran agitation is merely being used as a pun in another man’s political chess game. Adieu Biafra, see you again in in the next forty years.

(Newsband)

Just In: Former President Goodluck Jonathan Endorses Atiku

Queen Madu

October 14, 2022

Former president Goodluck Jonathan has openly shown support for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of the 2023 general election.

Addressing a delegation of PDP stalwarts led by Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed and Mr Okowa at his residence on Thursday in Abuja, Mr Jonathan wished “more success for all of us, especially those who want to represent us from next year.”

Mr Jonathan also referred to Mr Okowa as “Our incoming vice president.”

A video clip from the event, which has now gone viral, also showed the former president praying for the success of all the party’s flag bearers.

Mr Jonathan’s endorsement of PDP’s candidate is his first partisan-political comment since the commencement of the 2023 electioneering.

Since 2015 when he was ousted from power by APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, the former president has kept a glaring distance away from the PDP, the party he rode to power as president in 2015.

In the run up to party primaries, the rumour mill was agog with tales of Mr Jonathan running for office on the platform of the APC which removed him from power. The suggestions were strengthened by Mr Jonathan’s closeness to President Buhari and his camaraderie with some governors of the ruling party. The rumour was however not to be though a presidential nomination form was acquired in his name.

For a man who had hitherto maintained a non-partisan stance, it is not immediately clear if Mr Jonathan’s ‘endorsement’ is a mere political speech or an actual show of support.

Nonetheless, the elder statesman has recently opened his doors to receive major presidential candidates including APCs Bola Tinubu and LPs Peter Obi.

(Journalist101)

Breaking: ASUU Calls off 8Month Old Strike

Queen Madu

October 14, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called off its eight-month strike.

The PUNCH reports that the decision was taken at the end of the National Executive Council meeting which was held at the ASUU secretariat in Abuja.

“Yes, it has been called off,” the newspaper said, quoting a highly placed source at the meeting.

When asked for more details, the source said, “the president will release an official circular in the morning”.

The academic union embarked on a strike action on Monday, February 14, 2022.

Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment had filed a lawsuit against ASUU at the National Industrial Court which ordered the union to call off the strike.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, ASUU appealed the matter at the Court of Appeal but the appellate court upheld the decision of the industrial court, asserting the lecturers must resume work before filing an appeal.

Thursday made it exactly eight months since the academic union embarked on strike.

(Journalist101)

Nnamdi Kanu Discharged, Not Acquitted – FG

bvichannel1

October 13, 2022

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday quashing the terrorism charges against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, saying that Kanu was only discharged by the court but not acquitted.

In a statement signed and released Thursday night by Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu, the AGF the court’s decision was on a single issue that borders on rendition.

The statement added that there were other issues predating Kanu’s rendition “on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail” which remained “valid issues for judicial determination.”

It further stated that the FG would continue to pursue determination of pre-rendition issues while considering all available options on the judgement on rendition.

The statement read, “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.

“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.

“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition.

“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predates rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.

“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”

Source: Punch

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