Stop Attack On Tinubu Or Lose Election In 2027 – North-East Elders Warn Ndume

The Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Ali Ndume, has been warned by the Coalition of Northeast Elders Forum (CNEF) to stop attacking President Bola Tinubu. The coalition, which alleged that Ndume’s 20 years in the National Assembly have not helped Borno State, threatened to mobilize voters against him in 2027 if he keeps attacking the President. According to the elders, Ndume should rather support his brother from Borno, Vice President Kashim Shettima, instead of speaking against Tinubu. The Northeast elders who asked Ndume to render an account of his stewardship were angry at the Senator’s recent outburst about President Tinubu’s administration, which they described as unnecessary. The Coalition of North-East Elders Forum questioned the rationale behind such, when he is expected to support the President to tackle insecurity and other challenges caused by insurgents and bandits in Borno and the Northern region. The elders alleged, “Senator Ndume did attack the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it’s run by kakistocrats—those deemed the least qualified and most unscrupulous citizens—and kleptocrats, who are merely in power to steal.” In reaction to the outburst, the group, in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Ali Ibrahim Sheriff, said what was “expected from Senator Ali Ndume now is to work closely with the President; Vice President, who is from same Borno with him and security agencies to address the unprovoked attacks by insurgents and bandits in the North. “As concerned elders from the Northeast geo-political zone, we wonder why during the days of President Buhari he chose to be silent amid heightened problems of insecurity; pervasive hunger, looting of public funds and bad governance.” While telling the Chief Whip of the Senate to be sensitive to the yearnings of his people in Borno and the entire North, they asked him to give an account of his stewardship over the last 20 years as a lawmaker. They said, “If leadership is as easy as that, we make bold to ask, all these years, how many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has he trained, educated and empowered with funds allocated to him?” “Ndume should come out boldly to render an account of his stewardship or we mobilise voters against him come 2027.” The elders, however, called on Northerners to shun what they termed, “Ndume’s divisive vituperations” and support the Tinubu and Shettima’s administration to tackle the security challenges in the North and in other parts of the country.

FULL LIST:PenCom, NSITF, ICRC… Tinubu makes spree of appointments in one day

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new leaders for 10 federal agencies and a national project. On Saturday, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointments in a series of press statements. Some of the appointments are subject to senate confirmation. ADEYANJU TO HEAD NLTF Tinubu appointed Tosin Adeyanju as the new executive secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF). “Adeyanju is an accomplished administrator and good governance advocate,” the statement reads. “The President expects the new Chief Executive Officer to ensure transparency and efficiency in the operations of the agency to actualise the objective of the NLTF as a driver of good causes in Nigeria.” OLOWORARAN APPOINTED TO HEAD PenCom The president appointed Omolola Oloworaran as the new director-general (DG) of the National Pension Commission (PenCom). Ngelale said Oloworaran’s appointment is subject to senate confirmation. “Ms Oloworaran is a finance and banking expert with many years of experience,” the statement said. “The President anticipates goal-oriented leadership to drive efficiency and superlative performance in the National Pension Commission as the prime regulator of the Nigerian pension industry.” AGARA APPOINTED NDE DG Ngelale said Tinubu also approved the appointment of Silas Agara as the new DG of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). Agara previously served as the deputy governor of Nasarawa state under Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and was also a former special adviser on sports. The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu anticipates an overhaul of the NDE under Agara for optimal performance in designing and implementing programmes to combat mass unemployment in the country. UMAR MOHAMMED IS NEW NIHSA DG Tinubu approved the appointment of Umar Mohammed as the DG of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). “Mr. Mohammed is an architect, and also, a construction technology and environment professional,” the statement said. “The President expects improved outcomes in the agency’s objective of operating and maintaining hydrological stations nationwide, as well as carrying out groundwater exploration and monitoring using various scientific techniques in order to provide hydrological and hydrogeological data needed for the planning, design, execution, and management of water resources and allied projects.” DAN AGUNDI TO LEAD NPC Also, the president approved the appointment of Baffa Dan Agundi as the new DG of the National Productivity Centre (NPC). Dan Agundi was a former majority leader of the Kano state house of assembly. He was also the principal registrar of the Kano high court of justice. Ngelale said the president anticipates the DG’s utmost dedication and patriotic zeal in driving the centre’s mandate of developing a national culture of excellence in operational efficiency. According to Ngelale, Tinubu also expects a performance-driven orientation toward measurable productivity in the citizenry for the overall enhancement of service delivery and quality of life across the nation. UMAR KOGO TO OVERSEE CCT Mainasara Umar Kogo was appointed as chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). “Kogo is a seasoned lawyer and analyst in the fields of law, security, economy, politics, and international diplomacy,” the statement said. “The President anticipates professionalism, integrity, and fidelity to the nation in the discharge of the functions of the Office of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).” EWALEFOH TO HEAD ICRC Ngelale also said Jobson Ewalefoh has been appointed as the new DG of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). “Ewalefoh is a professional with years of experience in government and development organizations, in addition to expertise in public-private partnerships, public policy reform, and development,” Ngelale said. The presidential spokesperson said the appointment is subject to

‘Nigeria is so complex to govern’ says Buhari

Given the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria, the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, said there is nothing much anyone can do to salvage the situation as Nigeria is a complex country to govern.  The former president gave the remark when he received the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and members of the management team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Daura, Katsina State, at the weekend. Buhari maintained that his successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has performed very well since his assumption of office nine months ago. Addressing Adeniyi and his team, Buhari said Nigeria is a hard nut to crack, enjoining the citizens to endure the economic hardship in the country and support the policies and programmes of the current administration. “I thank you very much for coming. I very much appreciate it. I thought Tinubu has done very well,” Buhari said. “Nigeria is so complex. Really, there isn’t much anybody can do.” Tinubu has faced wide criticism over some of his economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of the exchange rate windows. Reacting, Adeniyi thanked the former president for his unprecedented role in supporting the NCS Act 2023. The CGC also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Dr Farouk Umar Farouk. “This legislative milestone grants the NCS expanded authority to implement policies aimed at bolstering revenue generation and facilitating trade, thus contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth trajectory,” Adeniyi said. He also spoke about trucks carrying food items seized at the border, saying, “I will also use this occasion to brief you on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives that all trucks of food carrying exports across borders that were seized by customs be returned to the traders with the hope that they would plow them back into the Nigerian markets.” It should be noted that this was not the first time Buhari made a remark about Nigeria being a tough job for leaders to govern. In November 2023, during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Buhari said the country was difficult to rule. “Nigerians are extremely difficult. People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. So, they monitor virtually your every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure you are competent enough,” he said.

Tinubu Swears In 3 New Cabinet Members

President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to three new ministers during the second Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. The newly appointed cabinet members are as follows: Malam Balarabe Lawal from Kaduna State as the Minister of Environment, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim from Kwara as the Minister of Youths, and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo as the Minister of State for Youths. These appointments follow the creation of the Ministry of Youths, with Tinubu nominating these individuals to lead it and serve as a replacement for former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai. Recall that El-Rufai’s nomination was previously rejected during the Senate ministerial screening due to a petition against him. Tinubu, who chaired the FEC meeting, oversaw the swearing-in ceremony and also posed for photographs with the new cabinet members. The council also observed a minute of silence in honor of Late Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, a former member of the cabinet who served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. This second FEC meeting further solidified the administration’s commitment to delivering on its “Renewed Hope Agenda” and addressing the eight-point economic agenda unveiled by President Tinubu during the inaugural meeting held in August. The Federal Executive Council serves as a constitutional institution where government policies are discussed and endorsed by ministers, with the President serving as the Chairman and the Vice President as the Vice Chairman.

Igbo Group Knocks Peter Obi’s Remarks on Tinubu’s Certificate Case

The Omalegwuoku Progressive Initiative, an Igbo socio-political group, has criticized Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), for his recent comments about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group called on Obi to refrain from making divisive remarks and challenging President Tinubu to reveal his personal details. During a news briefing in Abuja, Ambassador Ginika Tor, the Global President of the group and a Commissioner with the Federal Character Commission (FCC), expressed her disappointment. She argued that the President should focus on leading the country towards progress and development rather than engaging in discussions about his background. Tor stated, “It is an insult to Nigeria as a nation for you to call out our president… to say he is from this state, from this country, from this region, from this locality? Does he owe us that? What the President owes us now is to take us to our destination of choice.” She expressed her disappointment in Peter Obi, whom she had respected and referred to as her brother. Tor urged Obi to avoid divisive statements and consider the potential consequences of his actions on the future of the Igbo people. “We are telling our brother, Obi, to calm down. If God wanted you to be there, He would have made you the President. He did not. There are many distractions around this President. Are you not bothered with the issues around the world?”

Insecurity: Tinubu Urges Heightened Military Vigilance At NDA’s Graduation Ceremony

In a solemn and poignant ceremony, President Bola Tinubu addressed the Nigerian Defence Academy’s (NDA) Passing Out Parade, where 707 cadets took their oath of duty. The event, which was held in Kaduna on Saturday, marked a significant moment in the nation’s security landscape, with Tinubu emphasizing the importance of vigilance in safeguarding the country. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu underscored his administration’s unwavering commitment to addressing security challenges and pledged full support to the military in this endeavour. He acknowledged that without vigilance, the goal of fortifying and stabilizing the country would remain elusive. The newly commissioned military officers, hailing from the 70 Regular Course, Direct Short Service Course 27 (Army), and Direct Short Service Course 31 (Air Force), were reminded that they would face a dynamic and challenging landscape, vastly different from that encountered by their predecessors. President Tinubu emphasized that the future of Nigeria depends not only on their courage but also on the educational foundation provided to warriors and scholars alike. In a testament to his administration’s commitment to national security, President Tinubu announced plans to empower citizens to combat issues such as poverty, criminality, and terrorism. He also acknowledged the impending food security crisis resulting from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, banditry attacks on farmers, natural disasters, and the repercussions of military coups. He assured the nation that his government remained vigilant in devising solutions to mitigate these challenges and enhance national security. At this pivotal juncture, the President revealed a new era in Nigeria’s national defense and security strategy, emphasizing a resolute commitment to confront significant threats within the West African subregion. He directed all heads of defense and security institutions to unite in their efforts to protect the nation’s integrity and well-being. President Tinubu, who also serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS, shared that the regional body was diligently working to enhance conflict management and development mechanisms in West Africa. He stressed that forging a path towards greater peace, stability, and progress across the region was non-negotiable. Furthermore, the President addressed the removal of fuel subsidies, assuring the nation of tangible measures to alleviate hardships caused by this decision. These measures include reducing taxes on strategic manufacturing industries, distributing grains from the national reserve to vulnerable demographics, providing fertilizer and farm inputs, and extending soft loans to small and medium-scale industries. In closing, Tinubu commended the NDA for its significant contributions to national security and called on the institution to invest in scientific research, technological innovations, and the development of prototypes and concepts to enhance national security. The Passing Out Parade not only marked the commencement of new journeys for the cadets but also underscored the government’s commitment to securing the nation’s future and empowering its citizens to thrive in challenging times. President Tinubu’s words served as a rallying call for vigilance, resilience, and dedication in the pursuit of a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

Niger Crisis: Tinubu urges diplomatic measures from ECOWAS leaders

President Bola Tinubu, as the Chair of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, has called upon the leaders of member countries to continue pursuing diplomatic solutions to the political turmoil in the Republic of Niger. His remarks were delivered during the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in Niger held in Abuja on Thursday. Tinubu emphasized the importance of assessing the effectiveness of interventions undertaken and identifying any obstacles that may have impeded progress. He stressed, “Only through this comprehensive assessment can we collectively chart a sustainable path toward lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in Niger.” In his address, he reaffirmed the commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the Nigerien people. He underscored the necessity of prioritizing diplomatic negotiations and dialogue to reach a resolution. “We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum. It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger,” Tinubu asserted. While urging the leaders to recognize the impact of the political crisis on Niger’s stability and the broader sub-region, he advocated adherence to democratic principles, good governance, and the rule of law to restore peace and prosperity. Tinubu also regarded the summit as a momentous occasion to reinforce West Africa’s unity and resilience. “Let us seize this opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of our fellow Africans as we strive to build a future defined by peace, progress, and prosperity,” he remarked. He commended the diplomatic envoys deployed to mediate in Niger, Libya, and other partner countries. The summit attendees included Presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau, Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, Macky Sall of Senegal, and Patrice Talon of Benin Republic. Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Babagana Kingibe, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad III, were also present. In response to the military coup in Niger, ECOWAS had implemented a no-flight zone over the country, aiming to curb the junta’s influence. Immediate financial sanctions were imposed, and the junta was given a week to relinquish power, with the possibility of a military intervention if necessary. ECOWAS maintained recognition of President Mohamed Bazoum and called upon member states and the international community to uphold these decisions to restore peace and stability. Speaking at the emergency meeting, President Tinubu condemned the coup and asserted that Africa had reached a new level of maturity.

Tinubu to address Nigerians amid nationwide hardship

On Monday, July 31, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver a broadcast to the nation at 7 pm. The announcement was made on Monday morning by Dele Alake, the presidential spokesman, urging television, radio stations, and other electronic media outlets to tune in to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast. Though the specific content of the address remains undisclosed, it comes at a time when the country is grappling with widespread hardship due to the removal of fuel subsidy, leading to an increase in petrol prices. President Tinubu has consistently appealed for calm, assuring the public that the government is diligently working to improve living conditions and alleviate the prevailing challenges. Interestingly, this address coincides with an upcoming nationwide protest by the organized labour, which is parleying civil society organisations as they prepare for an industrial action on August 2, and the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The NARD has rejected the recent 25% increment in basic salary announced by the federal government, demanding the full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its original value as approved in 2009. The association, represented by its president, Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent, secretary-general Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, and publicity and social secretary Dr. Umar Musa, vows to continue the nationwide total and indefinite strike action until the government takes significant steps to address their demands, including the release of the circular on the One-for-One policy for the replacement of exited clinical workers to ease work overload caused by brain drain. As Nigerians await President Tinubu’s address on Monday night, the nation is at a crucial juncture, grappling with pressing issues that demand immediate attention and resolution.

Subsidy Removal: Reps approve Tinubu’s N500bn palliative

A bill for an Act to authorise the issuance of N500 billion from the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations for the provision of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by the Executive, was presented on the floor of the house by the Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere at Thursday’s plenary. Leading the debate, Ihonvbere said that at a certain point, each nation took time out to reflect on its programmes and policies. He said that many members of the parliament had moved motion for the provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. The rep said that the request of the executive was a clear indication that “we have a government that listens”. Ihonvbere saith that the bill, when passed into law, would provide support for Nigerians to weather the effect. He urged members to support the passage of the request in the spirit of collaboration with the executive. Ihonvbere said that everyone was feeling the effect of subsidy removal, saying that Nigerians were waiting to see how the matter would be handled and if the parliament had the interest of the people at heart. Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC-Borno) commended the executive for taking the bull by the horns and for taking a painful decision to remove the subsidy in the interest of Nigerians. The lawmaker said that it was one to provide funds and another for the funds to be used for the purpose it was meant. He said that budget and supplementary budget were passed yearly but it was not often used for the purpose intended. Jaha said that as soon as it e passed, the house should ensure the money was used and implemented accordingly, saying that all 360 constituencies should no longer feel the effect of the subsidy removal. Rep. Akin Adeyemi (APC-Oyo) said that government had done the needful and that the monster subsidy was gone. “We should not only be supporting this initiative but also be looking at providing additional funds to cushion the effect of the removal.” He commended labour unions and opposition parties for understanding with the government on the matter. Rep. Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau) said it was not in doubt that Nigerians were going through unbearing hardship and commended the president for the initiative. “But what is the nature of the palliatives, how will the 500 billion be spent. “I move we set up an ad hoc committee to recommend the nature of the palliative and how it should be implemented,” she said. Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC-Oyo) said that the parliament should do its job and ensure proper oversight when the funds were released. Also, Rep. Regina Akume (APC-Benue) said that there was need for the house to form an ad hoc committee to oversight it.  “I have confidence in Presidnet Bola Tinubu, he has demonstrated capacity over time.” Rep. Sani Madaki (APC-Kano State) commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative. He said he had called for palliatives and the president had acted, urging the parliament to do the needful for constituents to enjoy the outcome. The Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, said the yardstick to measure any government was its responsiveness. He commended the president for being responsive, saying that the house would want to see a palliative that would make a possible impact. “We want living wage, not minimum wage; do not suffocate us, school fees are high, the electricity bill is high, and so on. “We do not want to see N5,000 handout to Nigerians on the street; this is a fast case for the administration and we do not want them to fail,” he said. He, however, urged the house to pass the bill with the speed of light. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, called for voice votes on the bill and members unanimously voted and the bill was passed.