Tinubu Taunt Atiku: I won’t be a part-time president shuttling Dubai, Nigeria

 

Tinubu and Atiku

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, took an indirect swipe at his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar while wooing the electorate in Kano State.

The former Lagos governor who vowed to devote 100 per cent of his time and energy to serving Nigerians if elected, however, stated that he would not be a part-time president that would spend 50 per cent of his time ruling the country from Dubai.

Recall Atiku is infamous for spending most of his time in Dubai.

The aforesaid remark was obtained in a statement released in Abuja by Tinubu’s Media Officer, Tunde Rahman, shortly after his (Tinubu) interactive session with members of the popular Tijjaniyyah sect in Kano.

The statement reads, “I won’t be a part-time President who will share time between living in Dubai and Nigeria. I would concentrate attention and energy on confronting and surmounting Nigeria’s pressing challenges.”

In attendance at the session held inside Kano Government House were his running mate, Kashim Shettima, and at least six Progressive Governors like Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos), former APC Interim Chairman, Bisi Akande and some of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members.

Members of the Tijjaniyyah sect led by leader, Sheikh Bashir Tijjani Usman Zangon Bareebah, presented a long list of issues, during the meeting, the sect wants the APC presidential candidate to address when he gets to office.

Top on the list includes improved electricity, full security, giving agriculture full attention including provision and completion of dams and improved quality education for Nigerians.

Responding, Tinubu argued that the answers to some of the demands were contained in his manifesto that has been unfolded to the whole world last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He stressed that he is running to be president because of his commitment to better the lives of all Nigerians.

While assuring the northern business leaders of better business environment with well-thought-out policies that will revitalise industries and open up new opportunities, Tinubu identified the link between Kano as a centre of commerce and his economic plan for Nigeria.

He said: “I promise to devote 100 per cent of my time and energy to serving Nigeria. You will have it better with me, not 50 per cent in Dubai in the United Arab Emirate, 50 per cent in Nigeria.”

“There is a strong nexus between the place of Kano as a centre of prosperity and my plan for Nigeria. What I pledge is a revamped economy which will renew the hope of our people. Our country needs multiple centres of prosperity, and we intend to achieve that by adding value across all sectors of our economy.

“As I said during my speech at the Arewa House, Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine. There is no state in Nigeria that is lacking in one resources or the other. We are determined to explore and exploit these resources to the maximum benefits of our people.

“Kano, for example, has huge agricultural potentials and important mineral resources underneath its ground like gold, silver, nickel, tin ore and columbite. Each of these, if properly harnessed, can add significantly to our economy as a country.

The APC flagbearer added that Kano’s arable land and its comparative advantage in agriculture will be further expanded to make the state and northern region industrial hubs in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The state’s vast arable land and other agricultural potentials, if added to its population will make Kano a force to reckon with in sub-saharan African agro-market. Those who listen to my speech in Kaduna would have heard about my plan for agriculture.

“Aside working with the private sector to make input available that would guarantee greater yield, among other incentives, we will ensure all categories of farmers have easy access to finance through appropriate government and private sector initiatives.

“We have seen the wonders from the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative. We will consolidate on those gains. Kano’s famous dams such Tiga, Chalawa Gorge, Thomas, Kusalla, etc that are not being maximally tapped will get special attention from my government.

“We will invest in the expansion of irrigation land, channelization of the water, among other initiatives that will ensure we cultivate these lands all year round.

“We will not stop in investing and boosting our agricultural potentials, we will add value throughout the value chain.

Through Commodity Exchange markets, we will link markets like Dawanau in Kano and Gujungu in Jigawa with international markets and boost return on investment for our farmers.

“The overall aim is to move the nation from import oriented to export-oriented economy where grains from Kano will be exported to the world market rather than us buying from other countries.

“I know of the commercial exploits of some of you, traders and businessmen in Kwari Textile Market, Sabongari Market, Singer Market and the famous grain market in Dawanau which transacts with the rest of West Africa. These commercial activities alone can provide the state with enough IGR to maintain itself with the right support and policies.

“Beyond trading and commerce, I have a special interest in addressing the problem of the dead or comatose Kano industrial estates in Sharada, Bompai, Panshekara, Jogana, etc, which were vibrant in 70s and 80s. We understand the reason why those companies collapsed and we have a plan to revive them and make them competitive.

“We will provide incentives for industrial development nationwide through institutions like the Bank of Industry. There will be a deliberate policy to create industrial hubs and free zones specific to every region. For Kano, we will give attention to agro-allied industries such as textiles, tomato paste, rice processing, animal feeds, etc, in line with the state’s competitive advantages,” he promised.

BREAKING: Obi Is The Right Man To Fix Nigeria

Governor Ortom. 

Governor  Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has emphasized deeply  his call for the presidential candidates of the major political parties, to rally behind the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, who he described as a noble man in all ramifications of life, tested and trusted, and has the needed integrity, character and capacity to fix the nation.

Ortom made the call when Obi visited him to commiserate with him over the destruction of lives and means of livelihood, by the recent floods which swept through Benue and some other states in Nigeria. He lamented that Nigeria was surviving on life support and needs a true leader who can turn things around for the nation. He said that if the people did not live above ethnic, tribal and partisan sentiments, they would not be able to vote in the true leader who is most qualified to lead the nation.

“Nigeria is sick and surviving on oxygen. The country is on life support and everything is in disarray. Let us therefore put aside partisanship and join hands to salvage the country. I have said before and I am repeating this again, we must look at the 3 major candidates and see who has the capacity to deliver this country and make things work. Let us be frank with ourselves because we are toying with the future of 200 million people.Nigeria deserves a better leadership that is proactive, foresighted and visionary and Obi is that man.”

What is your thought?

Peter Obi Outlines His Plan For The North

 

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday outlined some of his plans for the Northern region if elected next year.

Mr Obi made the revelations during his talk at the Arewa Joint Committee Interactive Session in Kaduna.

He noted that improving security, agriculture and education will be some of his top targets for the region.

“We will offer immediate and decisive long-lasting and permanent-effect resolution of all security challenges in the North,” he said

“Ensure that farmers return to all farmlands for the 2023 farming Season. We will make Nigeria’s arable land in the North her new oil and gold;

“As part of our Marshall Plan for Education, we will foster Federal intervention in education at all levels in the North and partnership with State Governments and international organizations in order to improve access to affordable and quality education at all levels.”

He added that his administration will “ensure very adequate representation in government, equitable appointments especially in the Security and Economic Sectors.”

Mr Obi noted that he will also work on reviving the “moribund cotton and textile industries” and “ensure very generous deployment and allocation of economic and social projects and infrastructure in the North.”

 

Read Mr Obi’s full speech below:

It is an honour to return to the City of Kaduna and to participate in the Arewa Joint Committee Interactive Session, and rub minds on some fundamental issues germane to the future of Nigeria.

I thank the leadership and stakeholders of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for their gracious invitation.

I wish to preface my remarks by setting out our mission and vision. We are all Nigerians. I am a Nigerian running for the Nigerian Presidency to serve every Nigerian. I continue to insist on a show of respect for every candidate, ethnicity, religion and person.

The mission and vision of the incoming Obi-Datti Administration is to give full expression to our democracy by moving our country from consumption to production; we shall achieve this by giving primacy to implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our dear country today has become a shadow of itself. Indeed, there is evidence that Nigeria exhibits two known indices of a failed state; parlous economy and loss of territory and emergence of ungoverned spaces.

The purpose of politics and governance is to generate economic and social progress for the citizens in larger freedom. But the status quo is the reverse. This is more so here in the North, where poverty, unemployment and insecurity are the new normal.

The North has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. It has highest number of school kidnappings in the world. The North also has the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

The vast agricultural lands of the north -the so-called food basket of the nation stand desolate and abandoned. This situation is painful and needs to be fixed. Great nations are built through visionary policies, programmes and projects, anchored on the people.

This was always the hope and wishes for Nigeria by our founding fathers. Sadly, things changed. Our leaders became selfish, myopic and stopped listening and caring for the common man. Bad leadership, divisive rhetoric, and impunity became the norm.

Nigerians have suffered; they have lost jobs, and lost their farms and herds and their trust in our leaders. That narrative must change.

The Nigerian people want solutions to the many problems confronting them. After all economic prosperity for all is an all important aspect of a successful leadership, there is hope. We know this for sure. A new Nigeria is Possible.

But we must return to dreams of our founding fathers to create an egalitarian society. The Nigeria we seek will be a United and Secure Nigeria that symbolizes the spirit, letters, and exhorting ethos of our national anthem – “one nation bound in freedom,

peace and unity” where “peace and justice shall reign.” As we seek to come to power in May 2023, we are aware of the daunting array of domestic and external challenges confronting our dear nation, and we are fully prepared to lead from the front.

We are cognizant of the domestic policy challenges that have accumulated over time; and that the lack of adequate public policy responses has made them worse, with a devastating impact on national unity, social cohesion, public trust in government, and economic performance. We have a grasp of prevailing challenges.

Nigeria’s needs and unmet needs are very huge. Yet hunger, insecurity, poverty and deprivation know no tribe, religion or gender.

With all sense of urgency, we will, pursue aggressively policies programmes and projects to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of all the sectors of the Nigerian economy.

For the North we will do the following:

a, We will offer immediate and decisive long-lasting and permanent-effect resolution of all security challenges in the North;

b, Ensure that farmers return to all farmlands for the 2023 farming Season. We will make Nigeria’s arable land in the North her new oil and gold;

c, As part of our Marshall Plan for Education, we will foster Federal intervention in education at all levels in the North and partnership with State Governments and international organizations in order to improve access to affordable and quality education at all levels;

d, Ensure very adequate representation in government, equitable appointments especially in the Security and Economic Sectors;

e, Incentivize the resuscitation of the moribund cotton and textile industries; and full exploration of the cattle economy value chain, notably the $75b global hide and skin economy. Nigeria’s share of the global industry is envisaged to generate over $1bn by 2025; and finally,

f, We will ensure very generous deployment and allocation of economic and social projects and infrastructure in the North – with keen attention to Roads, Energy, Power, and Dams- and Solar energy from Sunlight.

In closing, let me say this on record. I have come in peace to develop, to secure, and to unite, and I will do so with every commitment to the growth of Nigeria, as one great and united country.

We shall pay as much attention to the development of the North as to the development of all other parts of the country; but with much greater emphasis on the development of the Agricultural resources.

The North remains where the biggest ad sustainable wealth of this great Nation lies.

If elected President, I shall govern with the fear of God and with all good conscience and intent. The Constitution and the rule of law will always prevail. I thank you for your kind attention. May Almighty God bless you all and bless Nigeria. – PO

Flamingos hand new NFF Board first World Cup victory

The Flamingos celebrate after their victory against New Zealand… yesterday 

•Thrash New Zealand 4-0

•Germany Overrun Chile 6-0

After failing to beat Germany in their first group match at the ongoing FIFA U-17 women’s World Cup in India, Nigeria’s Flamingos got their campaign back on track yesterday with a comfortable 4-0 victory against New Zealand in their second Group B game.

On Tuesday, the Flamingos went down 1-2 to Germany in their group opener, but the girls vented their anger on Chile yesterday and secured victory through the efforts of Amina Bello, Miracle Usani in the first half, while Taiwo Afolabi and Etim Edidiong added two goals in the second half.

The Flamingos, cheered by the new NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, took the lead in the 16 minutes through Bello, who headed in a cross from Tumininu Adeshina.

And in the 34th minute, Usani made it 2-0 before Afolabi added the third goal with 15 minutes left. In the 90th minute, Edidiong registered the fourth goal to give the Gusau-led NFF board its first international victory since the September elective congress in Benin City, Edo State.

Gusau and undisclosed number of NFF officials were said to have left for India to cheer the girls after their inaugural board meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Gusau had charged the players on Thursday to do everything possible to beat New Zealand. The victory yesterday restored Nigeria’s hope of making it to the next round of the World Cup.

The Flamingos will face Chile on Monday in their final group game.

Germany thrashed Chile 6-0 in the second match yesterday to remain top of the group.

Lifeless Body of a Young Lady Found By Lagos Road Side

Nairaland

It appears that women have become targets of suspected ritual murders these days as many of them have been found dead and their corpses dumped on the streets of Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that barely two weeks after two young women were found dead in Abaranje and Igando roads in Ikotun and their corpses dumped on the streets, another has been discovered dead and dumped in another place within the area.

This time, the residents of Isheri Oshun woke up on Monday morning and found the corpse of a lady in a blue trouser and T-shirt dumped on the street.

The incident happened at Ajibade Odetayo street in Isheri Oshun beside Revonia petrol Station in the outskirt of Lagos.

According to the residents, the corpse found in the morning was suspected to be a victim of ritual murder and dumped in the place.

The identity of the victim was not known as the residents who were present said they did not know such a face in the area.

The cause of her death was not yet known because autopsy has not been carried out on her.

However, the residents suspected that the victim might have been killed for ritual purposes.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim’s nose was stuffed with white cotton which suggested that she might have been used for ritual purpose and dumped on the road site.

When P.M.EXPRESS visited the scene, the corpse was still there and it appeared that there was no response yet as to removing the corpse.

The residents said that they have contacted the police and other relevant agencies who promised to come to evacuate the corpse and deposit at the mortuary for autopsy report.

When our reporter contacted the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, CSP Camellius Emordi, he was said not to be around to comment on the matter.

However, police source confirmed that they were aware and were making efforts to attend to the situation.

JUST IN: State Governors Reveals Schools Resumption Date.

The six south-west states have agreed to reopen schools in August to enable graduating students sit for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The states are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.

The states’ commissioners for education and special advisers on education and State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) reached the agreement at a virtual meeting organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission on Wednesday.

They agreed on the need for south-west states to implement a 2016 plan to establish a regional examination body similar to the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) in the north.

A statement by the DAWN commission said the south-west states will reopen schools for SS3 pupils on August 3 with COVID-19 preventive measures put in place.

DAWN said the states will approach the federal government to seek a postponement of the WASSCE by at least three weeks from the proposed resumption date.

The states will later approach WAEC to seek a postponement of the examination to the week beginning August 24.

On resumption, they said schools are to appoint incident managers and classroom wardens while there will also be a designation of quality assurance department for each state to issue a safety compliance certificate to each of the schools before reopening.

They also added that each state will encourage intensive advocacy campaigns to stakeholders, including parents, teachers, caregivers, school owners and pupils on what is expected of them when schools reopen.

They also called on WAEC to encourage Computer-Based Tests (CBT) in the future.

Earlier in the month, the federal government reversed its decision to reopen schools. It also withdrew students of Unity Schools from writing the WASSCE scheduled for August 5 and September 5.

The examination was initially postponed indefinitely to check the spread of COVID-19.

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, minister of state for education who broke the news, appealed to state governments who have agreed to reopen schools to reconsider the action due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nwajiuba also reiterated on Wednesday that schools should remain shut and not take part in the examination as it is not yet safe for academic activities to resume in schools across the country.

Shocking Revelation why Tammy chose England Over Nigeria

A former England international has revealed the secret behind the Tammy's decision to shun Gernot Rohr’s invitation and feature

Super Eagle's Victor Osimen crushed Lesotho at Maseru

Gernot Rohr's men once again fought back from a goal deficit to thrash

Senate confirm nominees for the Niger Delta Development Commission board.

The  Senate on Tuesday confirmed  President Muhammadu’s   nominees for the  Niger Delta Development Commission  board.

The upper chamber cleared 15 nominees and rejected one.

Ex-Edo State

More income as Buhari Sign Amended Deep Offshore Act

More income as Buhari signs amended Deep Offshore Act

President Muhammadu Buhari

Wike: Kidnapping Has Become A Lucrative business

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on Monday that it is difficult to end kidnapping because it has become lucrative.

Wike spoke when the

I Rape My Daughter To Test My Manhood.- Full Story Inside

The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested one Joseph Sunday for allegedly raping two of his underaged daughters aged nine and thirteen years respectively.

The accused, a native of Obot Ideng, in Ibesikpo local government area, according to reports, started

Disband The NDDC Interim Management Committee Now Or We will...

The Ijaw Youth Council has threatened to ground activities at the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

We Have Dismantled All Devils in Government House.

Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue says he has dismantled all devils in the Government House and

President Buhari Departs Makkah, Saudi Arabia For UK

President Muhammadu Buharihas departed Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where he successfully completed Umrah service, lesser hajj, for the

Buhari may run for third term :2023 Election- Galadima

An estranged political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of Reformed All Progressives Congress, rAPC, Alhaji Buba Galadima, has declared that Nigerians should not be

Army Begin Operation Positive Identification Despite Criticism

There are  strong indications that the  Nigerian Army will not suspend Operation Positive Identifi

Nigerians Urged President; It's time to fulfill Election promises

Nigerians were unanimous in urging Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to accept the Supreme Court verdict in good fate. They congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the validation of his election and urged him to match electoral promises with action. They spoke in different interviews with Augustine Ehikioya, Sanni Onogu, Tony Akowe, Adebisi Onanuga, Robert Egbe, Yusufu Aminu, Musa Odoshimokhe, Victor Oluwasegun and AbdulGafar Alabelewe.

Eminent Nigerians on Wednesday urged former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to accept the Supreme Court verdict in good fate.

It was as Atiku said his spirit was not broken by the verdict. He rather sees the judgment as part of democratic challenges to be faced.

Golden Eaglets Star Matches Nwankwo Kanu’s Record On A Day Of Comebacks

Brazil, Nigeria and Angola become the first teams to qualify for the knockout stage
Australia and Hungary share the spoils
Goals galore (15) in the second round of matches in Groups A and B

Lebanese arrested in N1.8b Lagos home(Laundered N33b)

•Accomplice Mompha ‘kept 51 bank accounts’ •N60m wristwatches seized

A LEBANESE Hamza Koudeih and two other suspected accomplices of social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (a.k.a. Mompha), have been arrested in Lagos.

Koudeih was arrested at the weekend after a three-hour stand-off at his N1.8 billion luxury apartment in the 33-storey Eko Atlantic Pearl Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Mompha, Koudeih and the others are suspected to be kingpins of a network of cyber criminals who laundered N33 billion through three firms.

His arrest by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), followed intelligence unearthed after Mompha’s arrest last Tuesday.

The Nation learnt that when the anti-graft agency’s operatives arrived at his luxury suite, Koudeih and his wife refused to open the door.

The couple also did not respond to appeals from the building’s chief security officer.

But the operatives, who had been monitoring the premises and had it surrounded, knew the Lebanese was inside. His cars were parked in the garage downstairs.

The apartment was fortified with triple reinforced fire-proof door and closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and they could not gain entrance.

It was gathered that the EFCC investigators battled for three hours to break down the door using breaching tools.

When they gained access, they met his wife who claimed Koudeih had escaped through the window.

But Koudeih’s apartment is on one of the topmost floors of Eko Atlantic Pearl Tower, said to be the tallest apartment building in Nigeria.

“Our officials knew that he was still inside and they were even hoping to persuade him not to jump out through the window because it would be suicide,” EFCC Lagos Zonal Head, Mr. Mohammed Rabo, who confirmed the arrest, told The Nation.

But they did not find Koudeih in any of the rooms until they observed that a part of the ceiling in his bedroom had been artificially sealed.

They pushed it open and found Koudeih hiding in the ceiling.

Read Also: EFCC cracks fraud syndicate, arrests four
Further search of his bedroom revealed a fire-proof safe containing different charms and talismans in calabashes.

According to the EFCC, the Lebanese admitted they were his “prayer objects”.  Two luxury cars were also recovered from him.

Rabo said the commission was investigating Koudeih and his wife’s immigration status and the result was being expected.

He said it had been confirmed that they had Lebanese ancestry but it was not known if they had any other nationality.

The nationality of the two other suspects, he explained, was not yet known.

Rabo stated that local and international law enforcement agencies had indicated interest to collaborate in the investigation.

He said the operation that led to Koudeih’s arrest was “an offshoot of the collaboration between the EFCC and the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” but that Koudeih was arrested based on “purely EFCC intelligence”.

Rabo added: “Actionable intelligence received from local and international law enforcement agencies had revealed that Koudeih and Mompha alongside their collaborators are high valued targets in Organised Cyber Syndicate Network (OCSN).

“Investigations have also revealed that Mompha uses a firm known as Ismalob Global Investments Limited to perpetrate about N14 billion money laundering while Koudeih also operate two firms namely: THK Services Limited and CHK properties Limited to launder about N19 billion.”

It was also learnt that the EFCC discovered 51 Nigerian bank accounts opened by Mompha for money laundering.

The commission also revealed that  the five wristwatches recovered from Mompha at his arrest on Tuesday are worth over N60 million, rather than the N20 million earlier thought.

According to the EFCC, Mompha, “a premium and first-class customer of one of the popular international airlines, was arrested on Friday 18, October 2019 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to Dubai Emirate following [a] series of intelligence reports received by the Commission.”