Politics

Chief Adebanjo Tells Osinbajo, Tinubu To Drop Their Presidential Bids

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2022

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said that presidential aspirants from the South-West geopolitical zone including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, should forget their presidential ambitions.

The Leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere said it was the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s next President after the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in May 2023.

According to him, it is an injustice for a South-West President to emerge in 2023 as ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from Ogun State ruled from 1999 to 2007; while Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, also from Ogun State, has been in government since May 2015 and would have spent eight years in power by May 2023.

Acvordinf to the Punch, the 94-year old elder statesman added that the South-South zone has also had a shot at both President and Vice-President positions with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan between 2007 and 2010 (as VP) and from 2010 to 2015 (as President).

Adebanjo, however, said for Nigeria to have another President, the country must first be secured.

The nonagenarian said, “Right now, is there a country for them to be President? There must be one country first before you can talk of an election. Is this the country Jonathan handed over to Buhari? Whether a Southern or a Northern candidate, let us unite everyone. We can’t get everyone united until we change this constitution.

“Are you safe? Talk about security. How am I sure that I won’t be shocked when I go to the police station, when electoral officers, soldiers, and policemen are being shot dead and I can’t travel to Maiduguri safely?

“All those who are clamouring for Presidency, be it Jagaban (Tinubu) or Osinbajo, they should assure us of our safety first, that the country is safe, that we are one, then we talk of who is going to be President. They should forget about their ambitions now until there is safety. Nobody can go to the South-East now, and we are all living in denial.”

Asked if he was supporting Tinubu, Osinbajo, or any President from the South-West, the Afenifere leader said, “How can I back a South-West candidate? That is not equity. Has Obasanjo not done so for eight years? Has Osinbajo not done eight years as VP? Has Jonathan not done five years as President? Is the South-East not part of Nigeria?

“We want peace and equity. It is the turn of the South-East. I don’t talk ambiguously. It is the South-East that the thing must go; there is no doubt about that but my anxiety now is that before we say, South-East, have we got a country? Let us settle that before we say South-East is the answer. I am not ambivalent about it at all.”

Politics

Fuel Scarcity Will Soon Be Over – Senate Leader Says

Published

5 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has assured Nigerians that the fuel crisis being experienced in the country will soon be a thing of the past.

Bamidele gave this assurance in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Oil Technology Conference in Houston, Texas on Friday.

He said the legislature is working tirelessly to ensure that fuel scarcity and frequent queues at filling stations are resolved and that there were plans to involve more private-sector players in the construction of new refineries.

In his words;
“The Senate is working to ensure that more private-sector players are licensed to own and operate refineries. This is to support other smaller ones that are springing up in several parts of the country.

“In addition to licensing new refinery operators, the Federal Government and Senate are working to ensure that the existing refineries are turned around with repairs and replacement of parts carried out where necessary,” he said.

Bamidele said the Senate had received an assurance from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited that two of its refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt would come on stream before the end of the year.

Opeyemi maintained that the focus was to ensure that Nigeria meets its OPEC production quota.

He further explained that achieving such milestones would provide more revenue for the government and halt lack and borrowings.

Politics

Senate Amends NDLEA Act, Approves Death Penalty For Dangerous Drugs Manufacturers And 15 Years Imprisonment For Users

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

The Senate has input ‘Death penalty’ as punishment for those involved in the manufacture, processing and trafficking of dangerous and hard drugs in the country.

The Senate has also approved fifteen years imprisonment without the option of fine for those who consume the hard drugs in view of the havoc being created by substance and drug abuse in the country.

This development is to aid the hard drugs situation to be nipped in the bud as neglecting it has always had the potential of destroying the future of the country.

Approvals by the Upper Chamber was sequel to the consideration of Report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics on the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (HB. 472) presented by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North.

According to the Senate, the amendment became very imperative because it is the majority of the youth that are engaged in the drug and substance abuse.

Prior to the passage, the senate dissolved into a committee of the whole for a clause by clause consideration of the report.

During the review process of the Committee ‘s recommendations and especially with regard to issue of the penalty provisions towards strengthening the operations of the agency, a proposed amendment to award death sentence to drug traffickers rather than just a life sentence was raised by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South and the Deputy Whip, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, APC, Ebonyi North under clause 11.

When the matter was put to a voice vote, it appeared the nays had it, however when the question was put for a second vote, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North who presided ruled in favour of the I’s.

Politics

Lagos Water Corporation Starts Protest Against Sack Of Workers

Published

3 days ago

May 8, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

Some workers’ unions have commenced a protest over the sack of workers of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC) by the state government.

On Wednesday, the workers commenced the protest rally at the Ikeja under-bridge while heading towards the Lagos house of assembly complex in Alausa.

Workers under the aegis of the Amalgamated Unions of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and other unions are at the protest.

In April, the Lagos government announced the disengagement of 391 LWC workers “as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and meeting the evolving demands of the organisation”.

The state government said the corporation has been battling “financial and operational challenges, struggling to generate adequate revenue to meet its obligations”.