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Fuel Subsidy: We Played Politics With 2012 Occupy Nigeria – Ex-Ekiti Governor, Fayemi Admits

A former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has admitted that they played politics with 2012 Ocuppy Nigeria protest against removal of fuel subsidy.
Speaking on Tuesday, Fayemi said the protest that trailed the fuel subsidy removal during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 was due to political interests.
Fayemi said this in his keynote address delivered at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday celebration of the founding National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy and Fellow, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Professor Udenta Udenta in Abuja.
The programme was attended by Jonathan, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, among others.
The PUNCH reports that on January 1, 2012, President Goodluck announced the removal of fuel subsidy and adjusted the pump price of petrol from N65 per litre to N141.
The decision sparked mass protests, tagged ‘Occupy Nigeria’ across major cities of the country.
The price was later re-adjusted to N97, after more than a week of protests.
Petrol price was later reduced to N87 in 2015.
Jonathan faced serious backlash for the fuel price adjustment, especially from leaders of the All Progressives Congress, who were then in different opposition parties, including the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressives Congress, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and All Progressive Grand Alliance.
While condemning what he described as the “winners take all” style of Nigeria’s democracy, Fayemi said the challenges facing the nation today cannot be solved unless the country embraced proportional representation, where the spoils of elections are shared between contestants.
According to him, the last time Nigeria experienced economic development was during Jonathan’s administration
Fayemi said, “Today, I read former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview in The Cable saying our liberal democracy is not working and we need to revisit it, and I agree with him. We must move from the political alternatives. I think we are almost on a dead end of that.
 
“What we need is alternative politics and my own notion of alternative politics is that you can’t have 35 per cent of the vote and take 100 per cent. It won’t work! We must look at proportional representation so that the party that is said to have won 21 per cent of the votes will have 21 per cent of the government. Adversary politics bring division and enmity.
 
“All political parties in the country agreed and they even put in their manifesto that subsidy must be removed. We all said subsidy must be removed. But we in ACN at the time, in 2012, we know the truth Sir, but it is all politics.
 
“That is why we must ensure that everybody is a crucial stakeholder by stopping all these. Let the manifesto of PDP, APC and Labour Party, be put on the table and select all those who will pilot the programme from all parties.”
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Presidential Tribunal: Tinubu Not Worried, Sees No Need To Threaten Judges – Presidency

The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu didn’t threaten judges.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu is not worried about the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal set to deliver its ruling on Wednesday, September 6.
Speaking on Channels TV this evening September 4, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said;
“He (Tinubu) is not worried simply because he knows he won the election,” 
He said the President sees no need to threaten judicial officers, adding that the judiciary is in the best position to make independent decisions based on the merits of the case before it.
“The President sees no need to threaten judicial officers. He sees no need to raise speculations against the integrity of judicial officers; he believes in the sanctity and integrity of the Nigerian judicial system, he believes the great men and women on the panel will make their decisions based only on the facts before them.
 
He will continue to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the judgment is, he does his part and ensure that our institutions continue to be respected, not just by him, but all actors,” Ngelale said
The Tribunal’s judgment will be delivered while the President is away in New Delhi, India, for the G-20 Leaders’ Summit.
The Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Umar Bangari, said the Tribunal will on Wednesday, September 6, deliver its judgments on the cases before it challenging the victory of Tinubu, the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 poll.
The court also said the proceedings will be open to live broadcast by interested television stations.
Tinubu’s election is being challenged by Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
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Niger Coup: President Tinubu, Islamic Leaders Meet In Aso Rock

Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu is meeting with a delegation of Nigerian Muslim leaders (Ulama) led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, in Aso Rock, Abuja.

Recall that a group of Islamic leaders had recently offered to interface with the coup leaders in Niger Republic on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and they got the approval from President Tinubu.

They were in Niger to interact with the junta’s head, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

The Islamic clerics had advised against the use of military force by ECOWAS.

President Tinubu is the Chairman of the ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government and it’s expected that the Islamic leaders will brief the President on the outcome of their interactions with the military junta as well as their colleagues in Niger Republic as regards the political crisis

The ECOWAS had taken steps to show its disapproval of the military take over of power in Niger by imposing a series of sanctions and an ultimatum, which the body threatened could lead to an armed response.

ECOWAS has insisted that the military junta should reinstate the democratically-elected President.

The Ulama are opposed to war with the Nigerien military, as threatened by ECOWAS.

They said that apart from the dire consequences of armed conflict, they were enjoined by their religious faith and the Quran to seek mediation first in cases like this before resorting to war.

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JAMB Bans Schools From Selling Admission Forms For Distance Learning, NCE, Others

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has banned tertiary institutions from selling admission forms for First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma, and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full-Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich, and other related courses.

The board in a statement on Wednesday directed that all such admission processes must now pass through JAMB only as no institution is henceforth allowed to advertise or sell “application forms” for admissions into the programmes.

The statement noted that the move is part of measures to sanitize the process and urged all institutions to comply with the directive.

JAMB added that it would work with regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) as well as other professional regulatory agencies to ensure the policy is adhered to.

The full statement titled; ‘CESSATION OF ILLEGAL/IRREGULAR ADMISSION’ reads: “All applications of admissions to First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full-Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich, etc., must be processed ONLY through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

“No Institution should advertise or sell “application forms” for admissions into the programmes.

“Institutions should advertise candidates to apply to them through Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Duplication of application forms is NOT allowed.

“Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the three (3) Regulatory Agencies(National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) will ensure that all tertiary institutions comply with this policy directive.

“Other Professional Regulatory Agencies will also play a role in sanitizing the process.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu Appoints Coker-Odusote NIMC’s New DG

The Director-General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, was on Tuesday ordered to commence a 90-day pre-retirement leave by President Bola Tinubu.

 

The directive takes effect on August 24, 2023, leading to Aziz’s eventual retirement from service on November 24, 2023.

This was contained in a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Ajure Ngelale.

Tinubu has also approved the appointment of Bisoye Coker-Odusote as the acting Director-General and CEO of NIMC for a 90-day period.

His appointment takes effect on August 24, 2023, after which a full term of four years will begin as the substantive NIMC Director-General/CEO on November 24, 2023.

Furthermore, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub as the Director and CEO of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC).

This follows the recent expiration of the tenure of the former DTAC Director and CEO, Dr Pius Osunyikanmi.

This appointment takes immediate effect.

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Mosque Renamed to ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus’ in Dubai

A mosque has been renamed to ‘Mary Mother of Jesus’ mosque in Dubai.
The Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque in Al Mushrif, a district in Abu Dhabi, UAE, was renamed to ‘Mariam, Umm Eisa’ which translates from Arabic to English as ‘Mary Mother of Jesus’ on the order of Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi crown prince.
He said the reason is “to consolidate bonds of humanity between followers of different religions,” Gulf News reported.
Reacting to the development, a senior chaplain at St Andrew’s Church, Andrew Thompson, was quoted as saying, “We are delighted that we are celebrating something that we have in common between both our faiths.
“Mary, as the mother of Jesus, is of course a holy, special figure in our communities. She is a woman who symbolises obedience to God.
 
“We look forward to growing in deeper understanding with our neighbours, and we celebrate with them the new name of the mosque,” Thompson said.
Jeramie Rinne, senior pastor of the Evangelical Community Church in Abu Dhabi, also hailed the news.
 
“Mohammad has made another generous gesture of religious tolerance in renaming the mosque. 
 
“The UAE continues to set the pace in this region for peaceful coexistence and cooperation. We are very encouraged and feel blessed to be a part of this nation,” he said.
A church in Al Ain was said to have recently opened its doors for Maghrib prayers.
Church workers reportedly laid down carpets on the wooden floor for over 200 Asian Muslim workers to say their prayers.
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BREAKING: President Tinubu Fixes Date To Hold First FEC Meeting

President Bola Tinubu will hold his first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, on Wednesday, August 23.

This would be his first since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

The inaugural FEC will hold after the swearing-in of new ministers into his cabinet on Monday.

It was gathered that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume and the cabinet office are working on the focus of the first FEC which will be more like induction, where President Tinubu is expected to share his priorities under Renewed Hope Agenda with the new cabinet.

The FEC meeting may also approve Ministerial retreat, which is expected to hold immediately after, Western Post reports.

Recall that the SGF had in a statement on Wednesday confirmed that the president would on Monday swear in the 45 minister-designates who were confirmed by the Senate after undergoing screening on August 21.

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Makinde Declares Monday Public Holiday to Mark Isese Day

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has declared 20th August of every year as Isese Day in the state.
The Governor gave the approval on Friday.
Recall that traditional religion adherents in the state have in the last few years demanded their own public holiday.
They have asked the state government to declare 20th August as their own public holiday in commemoration of the Isese day.
The governor has now granted the request of the traditional religion adherents by declaring Monday, August 21, 2023 as the maiden public holiday to commemorate the day.
He added that every 20th August would be observed as a public holiday in commemoration of the Isese day in the state.
The governor made the declaration in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo.
The governor urged traditional worshippers in the state to use the occasion to pray for the peace, unity and stability of the state in particular and the country in general.
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Gov Makinde Approves Car Loan For Oyo Primary School Teachers

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has approved a car loan for primary school teachers across all zones in the State.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by the Coordinating Director, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Jacob Dairo.

He said the state government approved the car loan as a form of palliative to the teachers. Dairo explained further that the loan would be disbursed to all Oyo primary school teachers in tranches to cushion the effects of the economic crisis.

The public officeholder said Governor Makinde has since warned that there should be no favouritism in the disbursement of the loan.

The coordinating director advised the beneficiaries to use the loan for the intended purpose. The facility, which is to be granted by financial institutions, is to be redeemed within 40 months, he said.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed, has expressed readiness to work with all stakeholders in the education sector.

The commissioner gave the assurance when he paid a visit to the Directorate of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board on Thursday, Naija News understands.

Abdulwaheed said the state government would, in due course, recruit more teachers into the basic education sub-sector.

He added that the government would ensure the training of staff for all-round success, according to Dairo.

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ASUU Raises Alarm Over Rate Of Teenage Pregnancy At Benue IDP Camps

The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over the high rate of teenage pregnancies in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue.

The urged the Federal government to look into the crisis.

ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, made the call during ASUU’s humanitarian outreach to IDP camps at Abagana in Makurdi, the state capital.

Represented by Profs Ralph Ofokwu and Stellamarris Okey, the ASUU president lamented the inability to safely return the IDPs to their villages and homes now being occupied by armed herdsmen. The ASUU officials also brought food and clothing items to the IDPs.

Since January 2018, internally displaced persons across 12 camps in Benue fled their homes after killer herdsmen attacked the Logo and Guma local government areas, amongst other parts of the state.

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