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Category: Governance

  • ‘Tinubu kept campaign promises to Nigerians’ – Peter Obi

    ‘Tinubu kept campaign promises to Nigerians’ – Peter Obi

    Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has kept his campaign promises to Nigerians.

    Obi stated this during a Democratic Day chat on Arise TV.

    In those days of electioneering, Tinubu had promised to build a Nigeria, especially for the youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life.

    He said Nigeria would manufacture, create, and invent more of the goods and services it require, adding that the country shall be known as a nation of creators, not just of consumers.

    Tinubu also said that Nigeria would export more and import less, thereby strengthening both the naira and citizen’s way of life.

    But in all, Tinubu had maintained that, “I will continue from where Buhari stopped.”

    And Peter Obi, who contested against Tinubu in the election and came third, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said that among all his promises, the President has kept the part he vowed to walk in the footsteps of his predecessor.

    “I think President Tinubu has performed exceptionally well in his first year in office. I’ll say that President Tinubu has kept his campaign promises,” Obi said.

    “Throughout his campaign, he consistently maintained that he would continue from where Buhari stopped and that he’s done very well. 

    “I’ll give him excellent passes. Dollar was N450, it’s now N1500. Fuel was about N238, it’s now about N700; diesel was N844, it’s now N1415; a bag of rice was N30000-N35000, it’s now about N80,000; a bag of beans was similar, N30,000-35000, it’s now about N90,000; a tuber of yam was about N2000-N3000, but now it’s about N10,000; tomatoe basket was about N40,000 and now it’s about N150,000; electricity was N66 per kilowatt but now it’s about N200, you can go on and on.

    “Even bread, which is a basic thing other countries are subsidizing, small-medium bread was about N450 but is now N900. The big one is about N1500.”

    Other promises made by Tinubu include, but not limited to, “assisting our ever-toiling farmers, through enlightened agricultural policy that promotes productivity and assures decent incomes, so that farmers can support their families and feed the nation; modernising and expanding public infrastructure; emboldening and supporting our young people and women by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment and culture, tourism, train and give economic opportunity to the poorest and most vulnerable among us; generate, transmit and distribute sufficient, affordable electricity; make basic healthcare, education, and housing accessible and affordable for all; and most importantly, establish a bold and assertive policy that will create a strong yet adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and all other forms of violent extremism from the face of our nation.”

  • My fall was prostration for democracy— Tinubu defends Eagle Square fall 

    My fall was prostration for democracy— Tinubu defends Eagle Square fall 

    President Bola Tinubu has made a light weather of his fall at the Eagle Square during the Democracy Day celebration, stating it was part of the festivities. 

    At a subsequent Democracy Day dinner in the Presidential Villa, Tinubu humorously referred to his fall as a “Yoruba boy’s prostration,” generating laughter from attendees. 

    He playfully remarked on social media reactions, joking about confusion between “Buga” and “Babaringa.” Embracing the spirit of June 12, Tinubu described it as a day to celebrate democracy while paying homage in his traditional Yoruba manner. 

    Despite earlier dismissals by his aides of the incident as a minor misstep, reactions from Nigerians, including political rivals, varied from expressions of concern to playful jabs.

  • “I hope all is well with him” – Atiku sympathizes with Tinubu over slip 

    “I hope all is well with him” – Atiku sympathizes with Tinubu over slip 

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sympathised with President Bola Tinubu after the President slipped at the Eagle Square during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration.

    Recall on Wednesday, Tinubu slipped at the Eagle Square while boarding the parade vehicle.

    The President, however, quickly regained his balance and continued with the proceedings without further issues.

    Reacting, Atiku expressed his empathy over the incident, hoping that all is well with the President.

    He wrote on X, “I sincerely sympathise with President Bola Tinubu, @officialABAT, over this unfortunate incident as he was set to review the parade on Democracy Day. I do hope that all is well with him. -AA.”

  • Presidency Reacts As Tinubu slips during Democracy Day Celebration 

    Presidency Reacts As Tinubu slips during Democracy Day Celebration 

    The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has played down concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s brief slip while boarding a parade vehicle at the June 12 Democracy Day celebration in Abuja.

    The aide, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, said, “Mr President missed his step while climbing into the truck at the June 12 Democracy Day celebration and tripped. It was a mild misstep. He immediately went on with the ceremonial rounds. No issues.”

    The aide’s statement comes after videos circulated showing the President momentarily losing his footing while stepping into the vehicle.

    Despite the slip, the President quickly regained his balance and continued with the proceedings.

    The ceremony at Eagles Square was a flagship event in a roster of festivities held across the nation to commemorate the country’s annual Democracy Day celebration.

  • Controversial Portrait for Democracy Day

    Controversial Portrait for Democracy Day

    It may seem too weird to be true, but it turned out that the main event to commemorate this year’s democracy day was the commissioning of his own portrait by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu.

    Claimed to be the largest painted portrait of an individual in the world, the work of art was painted by a group of 37 artists, purportedly drawn from all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and unveiled at the Eagle Square, Abuja to Commemorate 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in Nigeria.

    Upon commissioning, it was announced at the event, the portrait shall be taken for display at a public gallery at the nation’s capital, Abuja.

    Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy underwent several fits and starts in its journey to civil rule due to frequent interruptions via military coups d’etat that topple such civilian governments.

    The current effort at democratic governance is the longest in the country, having started in 1999 and running till date, uninterrupted.

    Many however wonder why unveiling a large portrait of the president by the current government should be considered as the appropriate symbolism for this occasion.

    Notable journalist and reknown columnist, Dr. Ruben Abati, and his colleague, Rufai Oseni, both anchors of the Morning Show on Arise TV could not help but wonder aloud whether Nigeria was still a democracy or a civilian dictatorship.

  • June 12: Our economic reforms’ll ensure opportunity for all —President Tinubu

    June 12: Our economic reforms’ll ensure opportunity for all —President Tinubu

    My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

    On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.

    Six years of struggle

    Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator.

    We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.

    They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one.

    Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.

    Sacrifices of heroes, heroines

    The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.

    While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun.

    The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.

    We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists. We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines. Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties.

    Despite the lethal might of the military government, what appeared to be high and unyielding walls of dictatorship came tumbling down. The dismal fortress exists no longer.

    The power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, and the threats of the strongmen.

    The nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.

    This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind’s progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment.

    We’ve steadied democracy

    Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy.
    We have steadied the course.

    Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalise it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another.

    While elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy. Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic.

  • Boko Haram Terrorists Kidnap Passengers Along Maiduguri-Kano Highway

    Boko Haram Terrorists Kidnap Passengers Along Maiduguri-Kano Highway

    Some passengers travelling along the Maiduguri/Kano highway have been kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

    Reports obtained on Tuesday morning revealed that the insurgents carried out the abduction between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, which is located along the Damaturu highway, at approximately 5:50 pm on Monday.

    Daily Trust quoted a source to have disclosed that the terrorists barricaded the highway and forcibly took away several passengers.

    As a result of this incident, numerous travellers and commuters found themselves stranded on both ends of the usually bustling road.

    Consequently, many of the commuters were left with no choice but to return to Benishek and Auno, respectively.

    “There was an incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters came out to block the upcoming vehicles and some passengers were abducted.

    “We are not sure of the number as we speak but certainly there was an abduction on Monday evening,” the source noted.

    Some residents who spoke to journalists on the development narrated how many commercial drivers took refuge in their community momentarily when the insurgents were operating between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari villages.

    “They came out with three wheelbarrow and I believe they were looking for food stuff. We don’t know how many people abducted but some commercial drivers came back and later returned to Maiduguri before reinforcement of military arrived,” the residents noted.

    A passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that he, alongside others were stranded for hours.

    “We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got hinted about the attack and took a detour.

    “We have been waiting for the military to clear the road but we don’t know when. We are stranded here,” he said.

  • Strike: No Work, No Pay – OPS Threatens NLC, TUC

    The ongoing dispute over the new minimum wage and electricity tariff hike in Nigeria is reaching a critical juncture as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) approach the end of their five-day strike relaxation period.

    The organized private sector, represented by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), has issued a stern warning to its workforce about the potential enforcement of the ‘No Work No Pay’ rule if the strike action resumes.

    The Director General of NECA, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, highlighted this position while speaking at the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

    He emphasized that employers are legally backed by the Trade Dispute Act, Section 43, which allows for the withholding of pay for days not worked during strikes.

    “The employers in the Trade Dispute Act Section 43 have the right not to pay for work not done. It is part of our law,” Smatt-Oyerinde stated.

    This announcement comes amidst heightened tensions as the labour unions have provided the Federal Government with a five-day ultimatum to meet their demands, which include an acceptable new wage for workers and a retraction of the new electricity tariffs.

    However, the government’s offer of a ₦62,000 minimum wage has not satisfied union leaders, prompting threats of renewed strike action.

    Smatt-Oyerinde questioned the practicality of paying employees during a strike, especially when no production activities are taking place.

    “Where would the employer get the money to pay when work is not done? It is a rule of justice. Where do I get the money to pay from?” he queried.

    Moreover, the NECA director general pointed out that both international and local industrial laws regulate the right to strike. He mentioned that the issue of strike rights is currently being contested at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) level and has been referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for further interpretation.

    “The context of ultimatum, context of strikes, these rules were guided by law, were guided by framework, in the ILO, it is the convention. In Nigeria, it is the Trade Dispute Act. We will wait for ICJ to come back.”

    He said all parties must work within the legal framework, adding that a subsisting order exists at the National Industrial Court (NIC).

    “We saw the letter by the attorney general of the federation, and our view is this, if you don’t align with it, you will go back to the court where he gets the order to contest it, but the moment I don’t context it, then I have gone way beyond the legal framework,” he said.

    He said all parties must work within the legal framework to have an equilibrium society devoid of anarchy.

    According to him, the International Labour Convention 87 gives the right to organise, “but workers felt it includes the right to strike and that is what we are demanding interpretation from the ICJ.

    “Our position is that we cannot be party to rubbish those institutions created to regulate the industrial process, we have the NIC and the Industrial Arbitration Panel (AIP), we must follow those institutions before escalating issues.”

    The NECA boss said the employers aligned with the Federal Government on N62,000 because that is what is feasible for the members of the OPS.

    “After going back and forth, the employers painfully came to N62,000. I say painfully, judging by the current state of employers in the country, business closing shops, business relocating. Two objectives inform our decision, can we afford to pay, jobs and create jobs and three, it is a deeper economic reason for us.

    “Even in the ILO, the importance is to make sure that the developing economy is not left behind. This is done through transiting those in the informal to formal sector.”

    Oyerinde said anything above N62,000 would be detrimental to the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) that form the bulk of the informal economy.

    He said though both the governors’ forum and organised l

  • Federal High Court Begins Vacation July 23

    The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho, has declared the court’s annual vacation for 2024, set to begin on Tuesday, July 23, and conclude on Friday, September 13, 2024.

    This announcement was made public through a statement released in Abuja by Catherine Christopher, the Assistant Director of Information and ICT at the Federal High Court.

    The vacation period, established under Order 46, Rule 4 (d) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, is a customary practice aimed at providing judges with a well-deserved break to rejuvenate before the commencement of the new legal year.

    Regular court sessions are scheduled to resume on Monday, September 16, 2024.

    During the vacation, the judiciary has designated specific judges to handle urgent cases at the three principal divisions of the court located in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

    In Abuja, Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Peter O. Lifu will attend to such urgent matters. Meanwhile, in Lagos, Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Isaac Dipeol will be available, and in Port Harcourt, Justice A. T. Mohammed and Justice P. M. Ayua will oversee urgent litigation matters.

    The Chief Judge emphasized that this arrangement ensures that the judiciary continues to function efficiently, handling cases of extreme urgency even during the vacation period.

    The public and litigants are advised to approach the designated courts nearest to them for any urgent judicial matters during this time.

  • Rivers crisis: Court affirms 27 defected legislators as PDP Members 

    Rivers crisis: Court affirms 27 defected legislators as PDP Members 

    A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has affirmed that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, are still members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. 

    Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt stated on Monday that the claimants were unable to demonstrate that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other legislators had switched to the APC.

    Justice Gbasam emphasized that party membership is established through being on the party’s register or possessing a membership card, stating that televised events or verbal declarations were insufficient proof.

    The PDP had requested to be part of the case and was included as the fourth defendant.

    Additionally, Justice Gbasam emphasized that the Rivers State government must adhere to all laws enacted by the Assembly since the members are still part of the PDP, and their inclusion in the party’s membership register is the determining factor.

    He also mentioned that the state government must follow the laws created by the Assembly since the members are still part of the PDP and have not forfeited their positions.