Connect with us

National

Naira redesign: Ex-Ohaneze President General, Nwodo applauds Buhari on new policy

Published

on

Share this story

***LP is now like NADECO, with Obi leading Nigeria out of Bondage, says Ayo Adebanjo

The immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and former Minister of Information Chief John Nwodo has lauded Peesident Muhammadu Buhari for the new policy of Naira redesign which has mopped up excess money in circulation for election riggers to buy votes
Speaking at an extraordinary meeting organized by the Southern and Middle Balt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) comprising, the Middle Belt forum, Afenifere, PANDEF, and Ohaneze Ndigbo he said what ever wrong the President has committed in the past his stand in this very issue has vindicated him.

“I want to congratulate President Buhari on the current policy in ensuring that this election is not monetized. What is going on in the country now is the change of currency. It is limiting squandermania. “Election is no longer a bazaar in which you buy the conscience of our people by sharing ill gotten wealth among them. It is now a task of using your bait to determine your fish.
“Whatever wrong the head of state has done in the past this one has vindicated him, I salute him.
Nwodo and other leaders of the forum and all members of their various organizations had thrown their weight behind Peter Obi/Ahmed Datti to be President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the banner of the labour Party.
Nwodo who spoke at the event expressed gratitude to Chief Edwin Clark who founded the forum more than ten years ago when he brought them together and they  began to become a strong united pressure group in Nigeria dealing with the salient issues of the country.
When I grew up as a child, when I could touch my ear with my hand I was allowed to start primary school. I went to a primary school which had a good football field. I could tell what 100 yards was, I could tell what 440 was. We had a farm that each one of us owned farms I knew the yam species, the beans species.
“We will clean the blackboard when it was your turn, you wrote the date, we know the inches of the rainfall in the rainy season and the direction of the wind because there was a beaker calibrated in inches in our school, because there was a wind mill which showed you the direction of the wind
“When I went to secondary school, I was in the same class with two beneficiaries of my father’s scholarship. My father was a minister. It is not possible now
“If I had married 9 years ago when my wife died I doubt if my drivers children will afford the same school as mine. I have made it a point of duty however to ensure that my drivers children are the best schools. Two of them are in a Federal school and I pay their school fees. However, he said Nigeria has lost it, recalling how the country started with every one equal.
“The regions had their autonomy and they faired better. The groundnut pyramids have disappeared, the palm oil and the Palm kernel oils have disappeared, the rubber has disappeared, the pyramids of coconut have disappeared.

He said the leaders have now learnt how to be thieves, “we learnt how to steal them and destroyed the future of our  children.

“We have lost the reality of life. We are just living when we have money to buy a status symbol and go about gloating ourselves as if we are nothing but empty vessels.
“We have been challenged, we have come to the crunch of taking our country back into our hands and the only way is to have a free and fair election, to choose the best man.
“The few who went to Chatham House they saw the celebration of excellence in Chatham House. If the English men were voting for Nigeria it is clear whom they would have voted for.
“How can I follow somebody who doesn’t inspire me? How can I vote for a man that I can not confide in, to leave my destiny and my future with. This is what the Southern and Middle Belt leadership have come to do today. It doesn’t matter that I am Ibo and Peter Obi is Ibo but when you see what is right go for it
“Let us go and popularize this, let us go into the trenches and work to bring the soul of Nigeria and save the future of our children

The Leader of Afenifera PA Ayo Adebanjo said, ” The battle is on. We are in a war and our opponents are not sleeping at all. They’ve underrated us in the past but they are now seeing the stuff we are made of now.

“They are making all sorts of devices to ensure that power remains in a particular part of the country. That’s why they are not even supporting the candidate of their own party.

“You are fighting for your freedom. Don’t joke with your freedom. Don’t be deceived. They are not going to organise any election. We are fighting to get out of slavery and bondage.

“We all living in denials. Even among the Igbo. The impunity is too much and you don’t want those who are dissatisfied to leave the country.

“Obi’s phenomenon is not just about Labour Party. LP is now like NADECO. Obi Is leading the crusade to get us out of bondage of serious oppression.

“They don’t want to leave office. I’m saying it openly here. It is not a joke that they want to scuttle the election. You must be prepared for post election.

“We will give it what it takes. It is either bend or break. If Obi does not win, forget a country called Nigeria.

“If we lose this election, there will be no opportunity for a non Christian, a non Northerner to be president again.

“Right now they are planning to vote for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party by jettisoning their candidate in the Labour Party.

“They want another northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. How they want to do it, I don’t know but we must all be prepared for a war.

“Have it at the back of your mind that Obi must be declared president. Anything contrary to this, we should forget about Nigeria. “

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

AGOA/CBI: Okonjo-Iweala, Senator Natasha in Geneva discus trade

Published

on

By

Share this story

At the ongoing 148th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) holding at the International Conference Centre, Geneva, Switzerland, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Senate Chairman on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have taken time out to discuss trade

Senator Natasha who has been at the forefront of advocacy of export opportunities for Nigeria urged Dr Okonjo-Iweala to help facilitate access to global markets for Nigerian businesses, and enhance export capabilities to bolster economic growth and diversification.

She urged Nigeria to take advantage of the opportunities that African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) offer, respectively.

“It is my earnest expectation under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to see Nigeria take advantage of these export opportunities through your support and by working closely with my office as the Senate Chairman on Local Contents,” she stated.

She expressed the believe that Nigeria amid the acute dollar shortages can tap the opportunities to boost its non-oil exports under AGOA to earn the much-needed foreign exchange for its economy.

In her remarks, the WTO Director-General lauded Senator Natasha for her valuable contributions and promised to look into her recommendations.

She also assured her readiness to collaborate with the Kogi lawmaker for the greater good of Nigeria, especially in the area of trade and commerce.

AGOA, a US trade initiative established in 2000, allows African nations to export various products, especially non-oil goods, to the United States on favourable terms, thereby promoting economic development and trade on the continent.

It has been a crucial lifeline for many African economies, offering opportunities to access the vast American market.

South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Lesotho, and Ghana dominated the 2022 non-oil AGOA exports, accounting for 90 per cent of the total non-oil AGOA exports in 2022, with Nigeria missing on the list.

Continue Reading

National

Obi tackles AG over insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians

Published

on

By

Share this story

The Labour Party’s standard bearer in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has callout the Accountant General of the Federation over his insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians for staging a Workshop in London
He described the action as the highest level of insensitivity of the office in the face of the economic reality in the country.

Obi said Nigerians must resist and denounce such recklessness which he describef a clear a show of feelinglessness

Writing on his X handle on Saturday Obi said “Nigerians must vehemently denounce and condemn the decision of Nigeria’s Accountant-General’s Office to hold a workshop in London. This decision is not only unacceptable but also deeply troubling on multiple levels.

“Given the prevailing hardship in the country and the pitiable State of our national currency, any public function abroad amounts to insensitivity on the part of the government and any agency or individuals involved.

“First and foremost, it represents a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility and prudent expenditure of public funds. At a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic challenges, including inflation, currency devaluation, and a widening budget deficit, it is utterly irresponsible to squander taxpayer money on extravagant overseas workshops. The resources allocated for such purposes should be directed towards addressing pressing domestic needs, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation.

“Furthermore, holding a workshop in London sends the wrong message to the Nigerian people and the international community. It perpetuates the perception of government officials indulging in luxury and extravagance at the expense of the common citizen. It fosters a culture of elitism and detachment from the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians, who struggle daily to make ends meet amidst rising living costs and limited access to essential services.

“Moreover, there are serious questions regarding the necessity and effectiveness of conducting a workshop abroad, particularly in a city as expensive as London. Nigeria is home to numerous highly qualified professionals and experts who are more than capable of providing the required training and expertise. By outsourcing such activities to foreign countries the government not only undermines local expertise but also fails to leverage the wealth of knowledge and experience within its borders.

“Additionally, holding a workshop in London raises concerns about transparency and accountability in government procurement processes. There must be full disclosure and justification for why London was chosen as the venue, as well as how the selection of vendors and contractors was made. Any hint of impropriety or favouritism in awarding contracts for such events must be thoroughly investigated and addressed.”

He cocluded by saying that a new Nigeria is possible.

Continue Reading

National

Beam searchlight on INEC Chairman over Election Funds, ex – IPAC Chief urges EFCC

Published

on

By

Share this story

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commision(EFCC) has been urged to investigate the national Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakub, over his handlung of the funds released for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

A former National Legal Adviser of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) , Barrister Chukwudi Ezeobika who made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, said many Nigerians, especially youths were displeased with the conduct of the 2023 general elections by the INEC.

Ezeobika, explained that mass exodus of youths out of the country shortly after the election was due to poor performance of the INEC.

He insisted that the INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood “has remained the main reason why the Nigerian youths, have completely lost hope in the entity called Nigeria and have resorted to leaving the country in droves (JAPA Syndrome).”

In the statement, Ezeobika said that Prof. Mahmood, and the electoral body’s commissioners at the national and state levels “have not only destroyed the future of many youths in Nigeria by remaining partisan in the conduct of elections but has consistently, wilfully and deliberately misled the electorate on its programmes and schedule for elections since his appointment as the Chairman of INEC.

“From its bold supervision of parallel party primaries across the States of the Federation to its declaration of false and or unpopular Candidates as winners of elections and party primaries in Nigeria, the recklessness of the electoral umpire under Prof. Yakub Mahmood can not be overemphasized.

“The misinformation to and false education of Nigerians by Prof. Mahmood Yakub-led INEC on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which is an electronic device designed to read Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticate voters simultaneously as well as iReV which allows members of the public to create personal accounts and monitor uploaded results, increasing the transparency and integrity of the electoral process, has remained the greatest scam and falsehood in the history of elections in Nigeria.

“The cost of the inadequacies, inept and incompetence of Prof. Yakub Mahmood, in the discharge of his duties as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, can not be overemphasised.

“From personal costs on litigation to Nigerians (Nominees and Candidates alike), which runs into several billions of Naira yearly, due to their participation in the primaries and elections monitored and conducted by INEC, to the huge financial burden on taxpayers money budgeted yearly by the Nigerian government in prosecuting civil and criminal cases which stem from the unwholesome activities of the electoral body in the discharge of its constitutional duties, it is now evidently obvious that the continued retention of Prof. Yakub Mahmood, as the Chairman of INEC in Nigeria, is not only insulting but acutely reprehensible.

“In view of the foregoing, I call on the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede to redeem the corrupt and battered image of the electoral system in Nigeria by promptly investigating billions of taxpayers’ money budgeted and released to INEC under Prof. Yakub Mahmood for the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

“I call on the Commission to further investigate personal financial activities of Prof. Yakub Mahmood, as well as that of the Commissioners under him since their appointments

Continue Reading

Trending