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According to an exclusive report by Daily Trust, the Boeing 737-800 series aircraft which the Federal Government flew into Abuja for the unveiling of Nigeria Air belongs to Ethiopia Airlines. 

The aircraft took off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at 9:55am on Friday and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 12:43 p.m.

Shortly after the aircraft landed, Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, expressed delight that after “a very long, tedious, daunting and difficult path”, the project had taken off

 

He later unveiled the aircraft with registration  ET-APL at the General Aviation Terminal of the Abuja airport.

Checks by Daily Trust showed that the aircraft is owned by Ethiopian Airlines. ET-APL is written on the wing of planes operated by Ethiopian Airlines.

Investigations showed that the aircraft flew for its original airline up till Sunday. It embarked on a trip from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv in Israel, according to the flight history.

Flightradar, the popular flight tracking website, said  the aircraft operated between Tel Aviv and Mogadishu, Somalia, still on May 21,  2023.

On 20th May, it operated both Mogadishu in Somalia and Beirut on 20th May while the previous day it also serviced Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.

Ethiopian Airlines is a majority shareholder in Nigeria Air project. It has a 49% stake, a structure which made domestic airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) file a suit against the Federal Government.

According to the ownership structure, two Nigerian companies hold a 46% stake while the remaining 5% stake is held by the Federal Government.

Domestic airlines, namely Azman Air, Air Peace, Max Air, Topbrass Aviation and United Nigeria Airlines, member airlines of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, argued that the partnership would put them out of business by opening their market to Ethiopian airlines.

Among the list of grievances, the airlines demanded an order of up to N2 billion in damages for “wrongful exclusion and unlawful bidding and selection processes” for the Nigeria Air project.

Although Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had announced that the  Nigerian Air aircraft would arrive the country Friday, he was silent on whether or not aircraft was purchased for the project.

But last year he had told journalists that the Federal Executive Council approved the leasing of three aircraft for the carrier.

“We have said in our outline business case, which was earlier approved, that we are starting with three aircraft for the first instance and then we progress. We will have a mixture of Airbus and Boeings because every airline that will grow big uses the two,” he said.

“We will start with domestic flights and then we grow to become international and then we move to become regional and intercontinental. There are challenges currently in our aviation industry but it is a global phenomenon and it will not last forever because aviation is a very resilient sector. Certainly, we will overcome these problems,” he added

Commenting on the airline project earlier on Friday, Chief Executive of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, said the arrival of the aircraft did not translate into commencement of commercial operation by the airline.

Sanusi, who bared his mind on the issue during the interview, said it was one thing for the aircraft to arrive the country and another for the airline to commence commercial operation.

According to him, it is practically impossible for the airline to start commercial passenger operation in two days time given the rigorous process involved which he believes would not be waived by the regulatory authority, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as the whole world is watching.

He said, “It is one thing to bring the airplane to the country, it is another thing to start the airline, getting all the necessary approvals from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“There’s a very important and vital component of getting an AOC which is the demonstration flights. Of course there are waivers that the Director General of the NCAA has the power to give, but the demonstration flights is critical to safe operations and I do not think he would give that waiver.

“So it is practically impossible for the airline to take off in the next two days. It is not possible. Because they have to do the demonstration flights, the five phases have to be completed, the international community is looking at us to see actually whether we are actually following what the international Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has stipulated in their recommended practices and laid down procedures for commercial carriage of passengers internationally.”

After Sirika announced the launch of the airline at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK in 2018, he granted an interview where he said the carrier had also looked at 81 potential destinations, which included China and India.

Daily Trust’s messages to Sirika about findings on the aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines but he had not responded as of the time of filing this report.

Last modified on Saturday, 27 May 2023 10:03

Bola Tinubu, the president-elect will be inaugurated on Monday, May 29, when President Muhammadu Buhari will officially and constitutionally vacate the seat of power.

On his journey to becoming the president-elect and subsequently Nigerian President, Tinubu made lots of alliances with top All Progressives Congress (APC) bigwigs as well as non-APC members. 

Also, the alliance of the defunct Congress of Progressives Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and fractions of the likes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and many others gave birth to the APC in the build-up to the 2015 general elections. However, between 2015 and 2023, allegiances have been switched, loyalties have been stabbed, there has been dew, there have been rains and the earth has consumed lots within the political reign of President Buhari. 

These events further explained why Tinubu, who has kept his eye on the ball, may not work with all cabinet members of Buhari on getting to the office from Monday. However, he will likely work with some of them who are listed below: 

Babatunde Fashola

The outgoing minister of works and housing has served under Buhari through the 8 years tenure of the outgoing President but he had earlier worked-relation with Tinubu more than he had with Buhari. 

Fashola served s chief of staff to Tinubu when he was the governor of Lagos state and subsequently succeeded him. During the campaigns, Fashola supported and contributed to the victory of Tinubu and this would make him more relevant in the next administration. 

Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Often called "Mama Diaspora", the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) is one of the prominent Buhari's cabinet that will migrate to Tinubu's administration. 

Just like Fashola, Dabiri-Erewa is one of the ACN and Lagos faction of the APC members in Buhari's administration, and over time, she has kept her loyalty to the president-elect. 

Festus Keyamo

Keyamo is one of the key supporters of Tinubu under Buhari's administration, a vocal figure and chief spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign council. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment is likely to have a big catch in Tinubu's administration for his open loyalty to the president-elect.

Bashir Ahmad

The Kano young politician may be retained though he did not belong to the camp of Tinubu and the ACN at the beginning of Buhari's administration. However, Ahmed was vocal in the build-up of the APC presidential primary as well as the 2023 general election. 

Adeleke Olorunibe Mamora

The former senator for Lagos East senatorial district is the current minister of science and technology and former minister of state for health, both under President Muhammadu Buhari. Considering the Lagos and the ACN factor, Mamora is likely to be one of Tinubu's cabinet members that would be well known. 

[Legit]

*Tinubu tours Presidential Villa 

*S’Court dismisses PDP’s suit seeking to stop president-elect, Shettima

*Age, perjury, citizenship suit also dismissed at high court 

*FG declares May 29 public holiday
*Buhari directs outgoing officials to declare assets

Preparatory to his resumption of office next Monday, President-elect Bola Tinubu was yesterday taken on a tour of the State House, the seat of the federal government, by outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari.
On the same day, legal hurdles before the inauguration of Tinubu and Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima were cleared by both the Supreme Court and a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The federal government has also declared Monday May 29 work free for all workers in the country, to commemorate the inauguration of the nation’s 16th President.
Yesterday afternoon, Buhari and Tinubu walked into the Press Gallery of the State House after participating in the Jumat prayers at the State House Mosque, to begin the tour of the State House.
Followed by a large entourage of state officials and security personnel, Tinubu was guided on the tour by the State House Chief of Protocols (SCoP), Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.

At the Press Gallery, which is an adjoining office to the Council Chambers of the State House, the two leaders who stood for a couple of minutes, listening to their guide, Kazaure, however, did not speak to reporters who were itching to ask them probing questions.
Before the tour of the Villa, Tinubu joined Buhari for the Juma’at prayers at the State House Mosque, as part of nationwide special prayers marking the inauguration of the incoming administration.

Speaking after observing the prayers, Tinubu said he had come to join President Buhari to offer prayers to Almighty Allah to support him to carry out the task of governance successfully.
He said he would drink from the fountain of knowledge and wisdom of the Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwahid Abubakar Suleiman who reminded leaders of the burden of trust in leadership.
The formal handover ceremonies started Thursday with the investiture of the President-elect and the Vice president-elect with highest national honours and presentation of the handover documents to the incoming president.
The events will climax on Monday May 29 when the former Lagos governor takes the oath of office as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Legal Hurdles Cleared

Legal hurdles before the inauguration of Tinubu as President and Kashim Shettima as Vice President were cleared yesterday by both the Supreme Court and a Federal High Court in Abuja, in two separate judgements.
While the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment dismissed the appeal by the People’s Democratic Party seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the February 25 presidential election over alleged double nomination of Shettima, the Federal High Court in its own ruling dismissed the suit on alleged perjury by Tinubu.
PDP had approached the apex court to set aside the concurrent judgement of the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court, which dismissed its suit against Tinubu for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

PDP is claiming that the APC breached the law when it nominated Shettima as senatorial candidate for Borno Central and as Vice Presidential candidate.
In the suit filed on July 28, 2022, the plaintiff specifically challenged the validity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for the 2023 presidential election, arguing that Shettima’s nomination as the running mate was in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).
But Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in his judgement on January 13, held that the PDP lacked the locus standi to have instituted the suit in the first place.

Dissatisfied, PDP approached the appellate court which in its own judgement affirmed the decision of Justice Ekwo, forcing the PDP to again approach the apex court.
Delivering judgement in the appeal yesterday, the apex court in a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, held that the case of the PDP was incompetent and lacking in merit because it lacked the necessary legal authority to initiate the suit in the first place.
The five-member panel of Justices agreed with Tinubu’s lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, that “PDP acted as busy body and meddlesome interloper in the ways and manners it dabbled into APC’S affairs unjustly.”

While Fagbemi and the other respondents had argued that Section 285(14)(c) of the Constitution does not permit a political party to interfere in the internal affairs of another political party, the Supreme Court held that the PDP not being a member of the APC cannot challenge how the APC produced its candidates for an election.

While holding that the PDP lacked the necessary locus standi to file the suit, having not been an aspirant, a member of APC, the apex court said that the PDP did not reveal any harm it suffered as a result of the nomination of Shettima as VP candidate.
According to the apex court, “no matter how manifestly bad a process is, it is only a person with locus standi that can file a suit against it”, adding that, “no matter how pained the PDP may be, it must keep mum and remain an onlooker.”

The apex court also pointed out that the case of Nwosu relied upon by the appellant was not applicable because Nwosu was nominated by two different political parties while in the instant appeal, Shettima was nominated by just one political party, the APC.
Similarly, the apex court agreed with Fagbemi that the PDP failed to prove that Shettima knowingly presented himself for double nomination, when there was evidence that he withdrew his candidate from the Borno Central Senatorial race, after he was nominated by Tinubu as running mate.
It is the position of the apex court that Shettima could not have contested two different constituency elections, when in actual fact no primary election was conducted for the position of Vice President.

The apex court affirmed the N2 million cost awarded against the appellant in favour of the respondents, which are INEC, APC, Tinubu and shettima.
Meanwhile, barely four hours after the Supreme Court dismissed a suit challenging the qualification of Tinubu for the February 25 presidential election, a Federal High Court in Abuja has also dismissed another suit by three individuals seeking to stop the May 29 inauguration, on alleged perjury.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling dismissed the suit on the grounds that it is incompetent and lacking in merit.

The plaintiffs, Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Pastor Paul Isaac Audu and Anongu Moses, had approached the court for an order halting the inauguration of Tinubu as President of Nigeria, on the grounds that Tinubu supplied false information to INEC about his age and citizenship status.
But in his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to initiate the suit in the first place, adding that the court also lacked necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit since it relates to a presidential election.

After holding that the case of the plaintiffs was frivolous and abuse of court process, the judge accordingly slammed a total cost of N17 million against the plaintiffs and their lawyers to serve as deterrent to others who may want to bring such frivolous, vexatious and time-wasting processes before the court.
While the three litigants are to jointly pay the President-elect a sum of N10 million and another N5 million to the APC, the lawyer who filed the suit, Daniel Elomah, was ordered to pay Tinubu and APC N1 million each.

Justice Omotoso also ordered that an interest of 10 percent be placed on the judgement debt per year until when finally liquidated.
At the proceedings yesterday, their counsel had pleaded profusely to pardon his clients and advised that the court should counsel them against filing frivolous suits in future.
Legal luminary, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, who is Tinubu’s Counsel, had argued that the suit be dismissed on the ground that the three plaintiffs lacked locus standi to institute it.

The senior lawyer informed the Court that none of the plaintiffs participated in the primary election that produced the President-elect but chose to harass, intimidate and irritate Tinubu through a frivolous suit.
Fagbemi, further argued that the litigants engaged in gross abuse of court by their multiple cases against Tinubu and the APC in various courts without any reasonable cause of action.

Atiku: S’Court Decision Will Not Affect My Petition

The Presidential candidate of the PDP in the February 25 Presidential election, Atiku Abubakar yesterday said that the dismissal of the suit on double nomination against Shettima will in no way affect his petition in the Presidential Election Tribunal.
He said his legal team will robustly defend his petition, describing the Presidential Election as manifestly fraudulent.

Atiku maintained that the Presidential Election did not mèet the set guidelines for the election.
Atiku, who took to his twitter handle said, “The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case of the @OfficialPDPNig is not a setback to my quest for justice.
“Our legal team is primed to robustly prove that the election of February 25 was fraudulent, did not comply with the constitutional requirements and the electoral guidelines…”

FG Declares May 29 Holiday

The federal government has declared next Monday work free for all workers in the country, to commemorate the inauguration of the nation’s 16th President.
The declaration was made yesterday by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in Abuja in a statement on behalf of the federal government.
The Minister, in the statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, felicitated with all Nigerians on the momentous occasion, commending them for their faith in democracy as expressed in the nationwide election that produced the President and his Deputy that would be inaugurated, and other elected representatives across the states.
He enjoined them to continue to support and promote democracy through adherence to the rule of law and uphold all democratic institutions.

Buhari Directs Outgoing Officials to Declare Assets

President Buhari has directed all outgoing officials to declare their assets.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, Buhari said his strict adherence to the constitutional requirement of assets declaration before and after taking office was aimed at strengthening best practices.
Speaking in Abuja after collecting his form from Isah Mohammed, chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Buhari said no one was excluded from the constitutional duty of assets declaration.

The president noted that asset declaration raises moral standards in public service and helps to build integrity and combat corruption.
Buhari said: “I signed, collected and acknowledged receiving my form. From here, I will ask my bank manager in Kaduna to show me what has gone in and out of my account.
“Nobody is excluded from declaring their assets. I expect everyone from the Vice-President downwards to follow the system.”

[ThisDay]

THE Presidency has said ministers will not be allowed to leave office with their official vehicles.

It said they would only get what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission prescribes as their severance benefits.

It noted further that Buhari and the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), would also leave behind their armoured, luxury vehicles, which would be taken over by their successors, Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, respectively.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, gave the clarification in an interview with PUNCH, following the usual practice of government officials leaving office with their official vehicles.

He said, “As we speak today, nobody is entitled to official cars. What they use are project vehicles. These ones can only be boarded and sold after four years of usage. That is when the book value has been exhausted.

“This is as far as the law recommends as we speak. So, don’t expect that because ministers are leaving, they will carry their vehicles under Buhari. It is not going to happen. If the ministers are not taking their vehicles along, you don’t expect the president to take any. It is not going to happen.”

The presidential spokesperson explained that the law already provides for former presidents and their deputies to get a certain number of vehicles at certain intervals, and that there was no need for them to take government vehicles.

He stated, “Former Heads of State have a prescribed number of vehicles they are entitled to, which may be changed after a certain number of years. And the President has kept to this by supplying that number of vehicles to all former Heads of State each time it is due. The President will not place himself above the others; that I can assure you.”

[NaijaTimes]

Last modified on Saturday, 27 May 2023 08:50

• Improved Security, Stability In Education System Top Demands
• FG Expresses Worry As Number Of Almajiri Children Hit Nine Million
• NGO Tasks Govt On Welfare Of Children In IDP Camps
*• NAPSS Seeks Comprehensive Agenda For Children On Health, Education

As the curtain falls on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, Nigerian children have scored the outgoing government low in the handling of security challenges besetting the nation.

The children who bore their minds to The Guardian, as the world marks this year’s Children’s Day celebration today, urged the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure the happiness of the greater number of Nigerians as he takes the reins on Monday.   

Specifically, 15-year-old Senior Secondary 2 (SS2) student, Jude Ovwure, told The Guardian in Asaba, the Delta State capital that recurring strike actions by public university lecturers are a threat to his future educational pursuits, urging the government to do all within its powers to solve the problem.
  
“I want the Federal Government to settle its differences with the ASUU so that when it’s time for me to enter the university, there would be no problem. I don’t want to wait at home after finishing secondary school.”
  
He queried: “Why can’t government and ASUU agree for our sake since most government officials send their children abroad to study? It is we whose parents cannot afford such that suffer as a result of the incessant strike actions. The government should settle its rift with ASUU,” he said. 
  
On his part, Okpe Johnson, who wants the government to reduce the cost of living, lamented: “Even the packet of biscuits that we used to buy for N20 is now N50, and is smaller. Before now, N100 was enough for our snacks in school, but now, even the N200 my parents give to me for that purpose is not enough

  He also wants the government to address the issue of cultism in schools, “because some members of the cult groups have been threatening us to join them, and we are sometimes afraid to report them to the school authorities.”
  
Master Somtochukwu Okwara, a Primary 2 pupil of Shalom Academy, Asaba, Delta State, appealed to the incoming president to ensure that there is a constant power supply in the country, saying: “I want the president to reduce the prices of everything, especially food items and school fees. 
  
Michelle Chibuikem, a pupil of St. Jude International School, Asaba, simply said: “I want the government to offer free education and scholarship for us.  For Echezona Emmanuel and Ijeh Joy Chukwufunogo, both Junior Secondary 2 (JSS2) students of Unity Secondary School, Asaba, the government should provide free education and inculcate discipline among teachers and students, who are in the habit of coming late to school.
  
According to them, truancy among students and lateness by teachers don’t add value to education, hence such vices should be stopped.  Echezona asked the government to provide accommodation through housing estates for parents who are unable to afford one to make life easy for many families.
 
For Umar Farouk, a student of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja: “The Nigeria of my dream is a country where there is justice and fairness. I want a country where there is peace, progress, honesty, and development. We should have quality and affordable health services, and we need a good healthcare system. I want a Nigeria where youths are allowed to contribute their quota to the development of the country. Above all, I want a Nigeria where there is no ASUU strike; where youths enter the university and graduate at the appropriate time; where indigent students are given credit facilities, scholarships, and bursary allowances to enable them to go to school. Most government schools are dilapidated and don’t have enough teachers. We need good schools and qualified teachers. I also want a secure Nigeria, where children are protected.”  
  
Many children in the South East geo-political zone said they want the incoming administration to end the weekly Monday sit-at-home in the region to ensure that students conduct their normal academic activities like their counterparts in other states of the federation.
  
Speaking with The Guardian, an SS2 student of the Queen’s School, Enugu, Mary Onyegbula, noted that like other sectors, education in the region is grappling with the challenge of insecurity due to the wave of kidnappings, abductions, and killings carried out by outlaws.

Her words: “I am worried that my fellow students go to school and end up being abducted, raped, or killed and the government appears helpless. The kind of leadership that I wish for the country is the one that will guarantee the security of lives and property. There is no reason for people to invade schools to attack or kidnap innocent students. We have not forgotten about the Chibok girls who were abducted from their school. While most of them returned with painful stories, others till now have not come back. It is a sad thing.
  
“Here in the South East, it is not easy for us. Students board their school buses but do not end up in their schools because some will be waylaid, kidnapped, raped and what have you. There is also the weekly Monday sit-at-home that has seriously affected our curricula. So, let our new government think of bettering the lives of young people. It is a bad thing that we are not free as students.”
  
John Ugwuja, who is an SS3 student at Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu, while acknowledging the need for the government to protect students, called for a better welfare scheme for Nigerians. 
  
“It is becoming increasingly difficult for my parents to meet their responsibilities at home. The cost of living is too high and this is affecting the provision of my school needs. So, let the government come up with policies that would turn things around in this country. It is not a wrong thing to provide scholarships for students; it is not a wrong thing to provide us with books and writing materials. Doing so will equip us to concentrate on our studies. So, my advice to the new government is to help reduce the sufferings of Nigerians,” he said.
  
Nkechinyere Njoku, an SS1 student of the Federal Government College (FGC), Enugu, is looking forward to a new government that would lift the standard of education by tackling dilapidation in schools.
  
“Some of the schools in the country don’t have required facilities, including libraries and laboratories. Instead of pure practical, we are now doing alternatives to practical. This is not healthy for our development,” he said.
  
Meanwhile, with the number of Almajiris in the country said to be over nine million currently, the Federal Government has admitted that the menace was assuming a frightening dimension.
  
The government lamented that the values originally attached to caring for the almajiris have degraded not only the children but also the caregivers, thus subjecting the children to a higher level of vulnerability.
  
The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, while speaking at the commemoration of the Almajiri Children Right Day, yesterday, in Abuja, noted that apart from reducing the religious essence of the almajiri practice, the socio-economic implication of the almajiri phenomenon was enormous in a country that is facing harsh economic realities.

 

  
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Child Development in the ministry, Ali Maidugu, stated that while stakeholders were working to proffer solutions to address the almajiri question, the Federal Government was also setting up other programmes such as the Alternate School Programme for out-of-school children, especially almajiris. 
  
He pointed out that the Home Grown School Feeding Programme was another way to encourage enrolment, retention, and graduation, especially from primary school and junior secondary school.
 
 The Executive Director, of Almajiri Child Right Initiative (ACRI), Mohammed Keena, in his remarks, said the Almajiri Child Rights Day 2023 was observed to raise awareness of the urgent need for transformative action to address the plight of almajiri children in northern Nigeria. 
  
He said the theme for this year’s commemoration, “Transformative Action to Address Situations of Almajiri Children,” emphasises the need for a thorough and long-lasting strategy to address difficulties faced by these defenseless kids.
  
While noting that the almajiri system has long been a subject of concern due to adverse conditions that it often subject children to, including inadequate access to education, health, and basic social services, he stated that although the Federal Government has made commendable efforts in the past to address these issues through various policies and initiatives, it was crucial to recognise that short-term fixes alone are insufficient to bring about lasting change.

 

Keena stressed that a system change approach that tackles the root causes of the problem was essential.  He called on the incoming administration to prioritise the issue and increase investment in education, particularly in rural areas, adding that by investing in education at the grassroots level, the country could provide almajiri children with the opportunity for a brighter future and a path to contribute positively to society.
  
He also called on the government to undertake a comprehensive review of existing policies and initiatives on almajiri, with a focus on enhancing access to quality education, improving living conditions, and addressing social and economic challenges faced by almajiri children and their families.
  
According to him, the review should involve consultation with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organisations, religious leaders, educators and communities directly affected by the issue.
  
In a related development, a non-governmental organisation, Eko Smile Support and Empowerment Initiative (ESSEi) has celebrated with children in the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Maraban-Rido, Kaduna State, during which they called on the government to step up its care programmes for the children.
  
Founder/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Blessing Eko Sunday, said she visited the camp with her team to ensure that the children celebrate the day with joy and happiness like other children in the country.
 
 According to her, the organisation chose to celebrate with the children at the camp because a majority of them were orphans. Blessing called on the Federal Government to work harder toward improving the welfare of IDPs in the country. She equally called on wealthy individuals both in the country and abroad to support women with skills that could help them to take care of their children. 
  
“They need everyone’s help,” she appealed. Some of the activities carried out at the camp include reading, writing, and dancing competitions, which produced winners that were rewarded with prizes, and the cutting of Children’s Day Cake.
  
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), has also called on stakeholders and governments at all levels to set a comprehensive agenda that caters to the education, health, and safety needs of all Nigerian children. 

President of NAPSS, Chief Yomi Otubela, made the call yesterday in a statement to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.  Otubela extended NAPSS heartfelt congratulations to all the children in the country and saluted their courage, resilience, and zeal in the face of vulnerabilities and threats that they are constantly being exposed to, which they must overcome to face the future with hope.
  
Otubela said the theme for this year’s Children’s Day celebration “Investing In our Future is Investing in our Children”, is a reminder of the need for governments and education stakeholders to set a comprehensive agenda that caters to the education, health, and safety and well-being of the children. 
  He pointed out that investing in children implies that the nation is investing in the future.

 “The nation and the world at large cannot prosper if children of today are not healthy, educated, protected, and properly nurtured to face the future.
  
“Moreover, investing in the education and well-being of children is important not just to a family, but to society as a whole. These children are the leaders of tomorrow, and the outcome of our society depends on what we make out of our children today.
  
“We must note that just as the rights of citizens are enshrined in the constitution, so are the rights of children to good health, education, shelter, security, rights to basic things of life, and many more. 
  
“As the vulnerable ones in society, children need to be protected and provided for by the laws of our country,” he said.

[Guardian]

After 8 years in the saddle, President Muhammadu Buhari will exit the stage and hand over to Bola Tinubu on May 29.

Supporters of the President describe him as the “greatest President,” while his critics have more unflattering words to describe him.

In this report, DAILY POST reviews the most controversial moments under President Buhari in the past 8 years.

 

Twitter ban

For over six months, Nigerians depended on VPN to access Twitter following the controversial ban of the platform by President Buhari.

Twitter had deleted a post by Buhari which many, particularly from the Southeast, deemed offensive.

“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” Buhari had said in reference to agitators in the Southeast.

The six months ban was tough for many that relied on the platform for economic activities, and even journalists that use it for gathering news.

EndSARS- Lekki Toll Gate

October 20 Lekki Toll gate event is perhaps the most controversial moment in the country. To some, a massacre was carried out by the military against young Nigerians protesting police brutality.

The EndSARS protesters have since transformed into a powerful movement that played a significant role in the just concluded election.

Whereas, there are government supporters that believe the shooting was a hoax by critics to discredit the government. This event ranks highest on the list of controversial issues.

Invasion of judges’ houses

On the 6th of March 2016, men of Nigeria’s secret police invaded the homes of several senior judicial officers in a Gestapo manner.

During the invasion, the houses of two Justices of the Supreme Court – Justices Walter Onnoghen and Sylvester Ngwuta were invaded, while the Houses of two federal High Court Justices, Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba were also invaded with the arrest of the former.

While the administration tagged it as a fight against corruption in the judiciary, the backlash was loud from Nigerians, who saw the move as clamping down on the judiciary.

Shutdown of border

About three months after the commencement of the second term of his administration, President Buhari ordered the shutdown of the nation’s land borders; his reason was to curb the smuggling of produce from neighbouring countries.

This policy had an instant impact on the prices of food, particularly rice, and cars. While the administration credits the policy for the “rice revolution”, however, to many Nigerians, the policy is tagged “anti-trade” policy.

Invasion of Nnamdi Kanu House

In the Southeast zone, the government is sharing its authority with non-state actors that have successfully made Mondays a “public holiday”. The region has become a killing field and a gigantic kidnappers’ den.

The origin of the situation in the Southeast could be traced to the invasion of the house of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017.

The invasion happened barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army announced the start of its second phase of Operation Python Dance II in the South-Eastern states.

Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), subsequently eloped and the crisis in the region increased. His forced reparation and incarceration have exacerbated the insecurity in the region. President Buhari has rejected every plea for the release of Kanu.

Nomination of dead people

In 2017, Buhari nominated about six dead persons for appointments— perhaps a possible record.

Some of the persons nominated include— Francis Okpozo, a senator in the second republic; Donald Ugbaja, a retired deputy inspector-general of police; and Ahmed Bunza, former sole administrator of Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi state.

Others were Christopher Utov, a former proprietor of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko; and Kabir Umar, a former emir of Katagum in Bauchi state.

Shi’a El-Zakzaky

An incident involving the former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s convoy reportedly left over 1,000 Shi’a members dead and the arrest of Its leader, Ibrahim Elzakzaky and his wife.

The controversial Elzakzaky reportedly lost some of his children to the confrontation.

For years, he was detained alongside his wife, leading to protests by his followers, and sometimes confrontation with the police operatives.

Invasion of National Assembly by DSS

Once upon a time, the DSS was headed by the powerful Lawal Daura, who ordered a siege of the National Assembly complex in Abuja, an event that even the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo was not aware of.

To many, the invasion was aimed at undermining Osinbajo; however, Daura was subsequently arrested and removed from office by Osinbajo.

Despite the action taken by Osinbajo, the daring move by the secret police was a direct affront to the legislature.

Naira scarcity

For about two months, Nigerians grappled with crippling Naira scarcity caused by the redesigning of the Naira embarked upon by the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The epic failure of the policy almost crippled the economy— some Nigerians died, banks were burnt and almost led to a violent uprising.

The Nation was tense, even the Supreme Court had to make a pronouncement on the policy.

The policy even divided the ruling party, with speculation that deep state actors were planning a hostile takeover of the government. Within this period, Nigerians experienced hardship.

[DailyPost]

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has faulted Friday’s decision of the Supreme Court on the double nomination case against the joint ticket of the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached Court to invalidate the joint ticket.

Reacting to the judgement through a statement, Timi Frank said the court that is meant to be the last hope of the citizenry has become a place of the highest bidder, wondering whom Nigerians offended.

According to the activist, one would be tempted to ask if there is hope in the ongoing Election Petition Tribunal. Would we be surprised if the aggrieved parties are at the end of the day described as busy bodies?

He said: “It is a sad day in Nigeria. The court that is meant to be the last hope of the citizenry has become a place of the highest bidder. Who did we offend as a country? Where in the world do you see judges jump into the arena in delivering judgments? Why would you not decide the cases on their merit?

“This ruling has clearly shown that they are partisan. The hope of the country has been dashed by this singular act. Why would our court’s decisions be premised on sentiments?

“One thing I will say to our judicial officers today is; many days for the thief but one day for the owner.

“My hope is that, God will one day, rescue Nigeria from the shackles of these justices, whereby they will no longer determine who governs us as we expect that our elections will be manned by men and women of integrity, unlike Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his cohorts.

“It is a fact that in Nigeria of today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will beg people to go to court because they know our courts have been compromised.

“What happened to the days of Justice Niki Tobi, Justice Anthony Aniagolu, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice Tabai and many more? – Who stood against the military and many odds to deliver very sound judgments that were seen to be fair and just.”

 

While asking Nigerians not to lose hope, Timi Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, said Nigerians should not relent and not be defeated in the face of injustice in the country.

“Are Nigerians surprised? I would say no. I only thought, the Supreme Court will take a cue from Kenya to redeem their image as men of integrity.

“In the past few weeks, I have read where the Chief Justice of Nigeria charged the Justices and other judicial officers to be fair and just to all in the delivery of their judgments. As good as this may sound, we would not be deceived with the tomfoolery.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said more than that, yet administered the worst election in the history of Nigeria.

“We as a people, reject today’s judgment in its entirety as it epitomizes compromise and it’s a show of shame to Nigeria and the entire world. It is good to state at this point that our spirit as Nigerias is very high. We shall not relent and we will not be defeated!

[NationalDaily]

…asks his cabinet to work till May 29

 

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State says he is not afraid of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and is willing to submit himself to the anti-graft agency if called upon.

He also reiterated that he is open to scrutiny because he has not soiled his hands nor have anything to hide.

The Governor made the declaration on Friday during the valedictory session for members of the State Executive Council and other top government appointees held at the old banquet hall of Government House, Makurdi.

He also advised his appointees to be prepared to face the anti-graft agency if invited for questioning assuring that he has no skeleton in his cupboard.


He said: “Anytime you are invited by EFCC, don’t be afraid to go. As for me, I am not a coward to run away from EFCC, if they come for me I will follow them. I don’t have any investment in Europe all I have are in this state.

“If anyone accuses me of committing any crime let the person come and show me how it happened because I have nothing to fear and I have no skeleton in my cupboard.”

The Governor who said he was not dissolving his cabinet asked his Commissioners to stay put on their jobs until the day of handover.

He said: “By noon of May 29 when the new government takes over everyone will formally vacate their positions. So everyone should stay put till then.”

The Governor thanked members of the Council for contributing to the successes recorded by his administration and also appreciated them for the kind words they poured on him promising that their relationships would be sustained even after government.

Earlier, the members of the Council took turns to appreciate the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve and contribute to the development of the state.

They collectively assured him that they would also be with him as a family and support him in his future endeavors.

Last modified on Saturday, 27 May 2023 07:12

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari has opened up about her public criticism of some of her husband’s policies.

Aisha’s revelation is coming a few days before President Muhammadu Buhari’s handing over power to his successor, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on May 29, 2023.


Aisha in an interview with The Sun explained her motivations behind her outspoken comments, saying that she voiced her critique to safeguard the reputation of her family and to provide assistance to her husband.

The First Lady when ask for being an outspoken critic in the Villa said, “For me, any decision that is taken for the interest of one person and not for the general public’s interests, I normally step aside and go against it.


“Because they did not know how we came in, we came in because of the love Nigerian people have for my husband, the trust, you know, and then after coming in, the expectations. So, I told myself we cannot afford that, I just knew my husband needed help.”

Speaking on the criticising being aimed at helping her husband, Aisha said, “Yes, to help us maintain the name that we came in with. Right? That is why I am here as a First Lady and as a wife.

“I don’t like people who want to make money to rubbish the image of the family, the hard-earned name of my husband, you know, and then we keep quiet and look at the person. So that’s why I normally step in and speak up.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, directed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and all other outgoing officials to declare their assets

The President also received his Declaration of Assets Form from Prof. Isah Mohammed, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

The Declaration of Assets Form was presented to the President at the presidential villa, Abuja.

It’s a constitutional requirement for public officeholders to declare their assets before taking office.

Speaking when he received the form, President Buhari said his strict adherence to the constitutional requirement of assets declaration before and after taking office is aimed at strengthening best practices, raising moral standards in Public Service, helping to build integrity and combating corruption.

Consequently, he directed that all outgoing officials, elected and appointed from the Vice President downwards must collect the assets declaration form, fill and return it as he has done.

While collecting his form from Professor Mohammed, President Buhari said no one is excluded from the Constitutional duty of assets declaration.

According to him, “I signed, collected and acknowledged receiving my form. From here, I will ask my bank Manager in Kaduna to show me what has gone in and out of my account. Nobody is excluded from declaring their assets. I expected everyone from the Vice President downwards to follow the system.”

Professor Mohammed said compliance by the President in the last eight years and the support he had given to the Bureau had enabled it to achieve 99% compliance by elected and appointed officials.

He also acknowledged the support of the President in the achievement of the digitization of its services and operations thereby helping the organisation to open investigation of cases with greater efficiency.

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