'The Youth of a Nation are the trustees of posterity'.These evergreen words of British Statesman, Benjamin Disraeli,readily came to mind,following the rousing welcome that greeted Hon. Leke Kuye,as he declared his ambition for the Chairmanship seat of Ijebu Ode local government. The businessman and the Bamesho of Egbe Bobamaiyegun Okunrin Akile Ijebu,made this known,on Tuesday when he visited the party secretariat in Ijebu Ode.

While receiving the aspirant and his entourage, the APC party Chairman in the LG area, Hon Logere said Hon Kuye has come to add quality, excellence and dependability to the Chairmanship race.

He described the youthful aspirant as a visionary, resourceful and a thoroughbred grassroots politician who is well known to all and sundry in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area.

Going back to the memory lane, the party Chairman disclosed that Hon Kuye has over the years identified with the yearnings and need of the people, adding that if he is eventually elected, Ijebu Ode will witness a rapid development.

“Hon Kuye, you have a remarkable antecedent which earned you the respect and class among our people today. Without sounding immodest, Hon Leke Kuye, you deserve to be the next Ijebu Ode LG Chairman”, he concluded”.

Meanwhile, Hon Kuye while addressing the party faithful and exco members, he promised to operate an open door policy in a bid to welcome divergent but key agendas for the benefit of the people of Ijebu Ode.

He promised to serve the local government in line with his blueprint which was painstakingly designed to turnaround things in the council area.

Speaking further, Kuye said he intended to serve in order to complement the good work of Governor Dapo Abiodun who according to him has performed excellently in developing the state.

“I have always been interested in serving the masses of the people with the knowledge and experience that it has pleased the Almighty God to endow me with. Also, my resolve to serve the people and community at large is borne out of my desire to complement the good work of our performing governor, the architect of modern Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.” Kuye stated.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-08-21

#EndBadGovernanceWhy i fully s

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last general elections,on Sunday, expressed his support for the nationwide protest scheduled for August, saying protest is allowed in the country’s constitution.

According to Obi, the Nigerian Constitution allows room for protest as it is the right of citizens.

The former Anambra state governor, however, warned protesters to shun violence, saying such demonstrations tagged #EndBadGovernance should be done within the confines of the law.

Obi, while speaking to journalists during a courtesy visit to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, identified hunger, and hopelessness among the youths as the sponsors of the protest, calling on the Nigerian authorities to engage and give a listing listening ear to the protesters.

“In Nigerian Constitution, protest is allowed,” Obi said.

“All I plea for those who are protesting is to do so within the law and in a civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law.

“We all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through and I thank our governor (Alex Otti) for doing so. It is important,” Obi added, acknowledging that things are difficult in the country.

Continuing, the LP presidential candidate in 2023 called on security agencies to provide cover for the protesters, urging them to operate within the ambit of the law.

“What I will say to security agencies is that they manage the situation again within the law. We should not strive to be overbearing.

“There is nothing wrong (with protesting). Protest is allowed everywhere globally. I also say (that) people protest in my house. It is for us to listen to those who are protesting.

“Why are they protesting? Engage them, that is what governance is all about. You talk with them, there is nothing wrong in that,” he added.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-07-29

US President Joe Biden has addressed the nation, after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, urging Americans to “lower the temperature” and to resolve differences at the ballot box and not through bullets. “We cannot allow this violence to be normalised,” "There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever. Period. No exceptions. We can't allow this violence to be normalized,he said at the Oval office,on Sunday.

Biden and Trump spoke to each other on Saturday night after the shooting. First Lady Jill Biden also spoke with former First Lady Melania Trump on Sunday afternoon, said a White House official.The FBI said the motive of the suspected gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park,Pennsylvania, remains unclear and that it is investigating the shooting as “potential domestic terrorism”.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-07-15

A video has surfaced in which President Bola Tinubu made a passionate appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience over the biting economic conditions in the country.

In the video posted by the official X handle of the President, which did not reference the #EndBadGovernance protest, the president affirmed that the present suffering is temporary.

Tinubu conceded that there is an unavoidable lag between the removal of the petrol subsidy and the coming to fruition of the policies to ameliorate the effects.

The president expressed his commitment to ensuring the greater good for a greater number of people, assuring that there will be a glorious dawn after the current “darkness.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-08-08

Just as she is getting a deluge of endorsements from top democrats.US VIce President Kamala Harris,has also shattered fund raising record raising over $81 million in the first 24 hours after launching her presidential bid and raking in more than $100 million over the past two days.

The Kamala Harris' presidential campaign raked in more than $100 million between Sunday afternoon and Monday evening, the campaign said early Tuesday. Harris launched her campaign after President Biden ended his bid for reelection and endorsed her on Sunday.

The eye-popping haul includes money raised across Harris' campaign, the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising committees, and underscores the vice president's enormous financial advantage over any potential challengers for the Democratic nomination.

The campaign said earlier it took in $81 million in the 24 hours after Mr. Biden dropped out. It was the largest amount of money raised in a 24-hour span in presidential history, according to Team Harris.

The campaign said more than 888,000 grassroots donors contributed in that 24 hour span and for 60% of them, it was their first contribution of the 2024 election cycle. A call hosted by the group "Win with Black Women" brought in $1.6 million alone, Team Harris said.

The $100 million haul came from more than 1.1 million unique donors, including 62% first-time donors, according to the campaign..

"The historic outpouring of support for Vice President Harris represents exactly the kind of grassroots energy and enthusiasm that wins elections," said Kevin Munoz, spokesperson for Harris' campaign. "Already, we are seeing a broad and diverse coalition come together to support our critical work of talking to the voters that will decide this election."

Munoz said there is a "groundswell" of support for Harris. Alan Solomont, the former ambassador to Spain and a top Democratic fundraiser, told CBS News, "I have gotten several emails [from donors] saying let me know when I can contribute to the Harris campaign." 

Steve Israel, a former Democratic congressman from New York and former chair of the House Democrats' campaign arm, serves on the DNC platform committee. He said earlier this week he expected a "fairly efficient consolidation" around Harris, "who has the most advanced infrastructure and fundraising advantage." Democrats, he said, are making "a realistic assessment that with 107 days before the election, we don't have a long runway to get our campaign airborne and at full speed."

Jon Henes, who was the finance director for Harris' 2020 presidential campaign and is today one of her biggest fundraisers, said, "I had over 400 texts, e-mails, and phone calls from people saying, 'I want to raise money. I want to donate money. Let's go with this. How can I help?'" 

"I actually see this short amount of time between now and the election to be a good thing," Henes says, "because we are all coming together as a party."

Ray McGuire, president of the financial firm Lazard and one of Wall Street's top Black executives, predicted, "Many Wall Street leaders will rally to support her. They recognize what's on the line. The credibility she has will resonate from Wall Street to Main Street."

"Harris is an impressive talent who happens to be a Black woman. She has a proven track record with President Biden of getting support for strategic initiatives that are fundamental to America's survival," McGuire said, pointing to initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act.

The vice president officially launched her presidential campaign on Sunday, hours after Mr. Biden announced he would be exiting the 2024 presidential race. The president quickly endorsed Harris for the Democratic presidential nominee and a slew of other high-profile Democrats swiftly announced their backing for the vice president. The Biden campaign quickly filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission renaming itself "Harris for President."

By Monday evening, Harris secured the support of at least 27 state delegations — surpassing the majority of Democratic delegates she will need to win the Democratic presidential nomination. If those endorsements hold, delegations will officially nominate Harris for president during a virtual roll call early next month, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Among those who have thrown their support behind Harris are rising stars in the party who were considered possible successors to Mr. Biden, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

The president's withdrawal from the campaign came after dozens of Democrats urged him to step aside in the wake of his disastrous debate performance in late June. His showing in the face-off with Trump raised concerns about his fitness for a second term in office and whether he could defeat the Republican presidential nominee in November.

Trump's campaign previously reported raising $331 million in Q2, compared to $264 million raised by the Biden campaign in that quarter.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-07-23

The Labour Party of the United Kingdom,has secured a landslide victory,in the July 4th election,to end 14years pf Conservative rule.“We did it!” Keir Starmer, the  Labour leader and incoming prime minister, said in his victory speech. “Change begins now.” Also,the outgoing Conservative Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has accepted defeat, he lamented it was difficult night,has called Starmer to congratulate him.

Meanwhile, as the final figures come in, Labour is expected to win 410 seats, with the Conservatives on 144.

On the election results, Sunak said it was a “sobering verdict” adding “I am sorry”.

After winning his seat in Holborn and St Pancras, Starmer said “the change begins right here…it is time for us to deliver”.

… Conservatives’ lost seats

In the highest-profile Conservative losses so far,  South West Norfolk - former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss has been defeated by Labour.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Penny Mordaunt lost to Labour.

Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, becomes an MP for the first time, winning Clacton, while the party’s Richard Tice and Lee Anderson also won.

Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn won Islington North as an independent, and Labour’s Jon Ashworth lost to an independent.

George Galloway of the Workers Party lost the seat he won earlier this year.

Also, Carla Denyer won for the Green Party in Bristol Central, while the SNP is forecast to go from 43 seats before the election to just six. BBC

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-07-05

The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has fixed November 16 for elections into the 20 local government areas in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of OGSIEC, Babatunde Osibodu, made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

Osibodu said guidelines for the conduct of the elections and stakeholder meetings will be held on August 8, while campaigns by political parties will commence on Friday, August 9.

He also stated that political parties are to hold party primaries from Monday, August 26, through September 9, 2024.

The statement read, “In accordance with Section 10 (1) of the Ogun State Electoral Law 2007, the general populace is hereby informed that elections for the positions of Chairmen of the Twenty (20) Local Governments and Councilors of the Two Hundred and Thirty-six (236) Wards of Ogun State of Nigeria will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm.

“Prospective candidates must obtain Nomination Forms for the Local Government Council Elections from the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) headquarters at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, no later than Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Completed forms must be submitted by Friday, November 1, 2024.

“The names of all successful candidates will be published by November 4, 2024; such candidates so published shall be deemed qualified to contest in the elections.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-08-06

Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has set aside the impeachment of Comrade Phillip Shuaibu as Edo State Deputy Governor by the State House of Assembly.

The Court, in its judgement on Wednesday, held that Shuaibu’s impeachment and subsequent removal from office violated the provisions of the law.

Having declared the removal as unlawful, the court subsequently ordered his reinstatement as deputy governor of the state.

Justice Omotosho, while delivering judgment in the suit, ordered that Shaibu be reinstated to office because the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in impeaching him.

Justice Omotosho also set aside the appointment of the new Deputy Governor who replaced Shaibu.

Besides, the court ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to restore his security details as deputy governor.

Following the reinstatement,the State Government has filed a stay of execution of the judgement before the Court of Appeal.

It also insisted that Omobayo Marvellous Godwins remains the State’s deputy governor pending the final determination of the case.

The State’s Commissioner for Orientation and Communication, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said, “Pending the hearing of the appeal of the judgement, the incumbent Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins remains and continues to serve as the valid deputy Governor of Edo State.

“He will continue to serve in this capacity and would be recognized as such. The government hereby calls on the people of Edo State to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-07-17

As the debate of Local Government autonomy rages on,Hon. Wale Adedayo,a former chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, share his experience,of how Governor Dapo Abiodun,dealt with him, for being vocal,in demanding access to local government funds. In this interview, he states that the Attorney General of the Federation going to the Supreme Court, may not be the recipe for Local Government autonomy, among other issues. CHIBUIKE CHUKWU brings the excerpts. 

 It’s like the AGF is now sharing your call for the autonomy of Local Government Areas; can you explain when you started the call? 

Talking about the AGF suit, I don’t think the LG autonomy can be achieved through the Supreme Court. It is a constitutional matter and there is no autonomy of local government in the constitution. I don’t pray that any conscientious Nigerian who is in an elective office should experience what I experienced as local government chairman. Before you get into an elective position or you become a chairman, you must have promised the people that you’ll do this and that. But getting into the office, you don’t get a dime to do what you were elected to do or what you promised the people that you were going to do. You’ll understandably feel frustrated and feel that you are on another planet. In Ogun State, it was not like this before but in this period, it is certainly bad. Presently, we seem to have people who are so scared of those in authority and virtually everything local government ought to do is being done by the state government. We have twenty local government in Ogun State; we have been complaining and talking to some leaders here and there; sadly in Ogun State, it seems the APC doesn’t have quality leaders, with due respect to those who are there but none of them has come out to intervene and talk to Mr. Governor that what he is doing is not good. What he’s doing is not right because I’ve been there before. I’ve worked with a governor before and I know how this thing works. The thing is that during this period, every day is completely different. In Ogun State, it’s as if no local government is working. It’s as if there is no local government administration in the real sense of it. A few things that people (local government chairmen) are doing are just cosmetic. We go out of our way to borrow money, maybe begging some people to do one or two things. The normal monthly allocation is not coming and as you know from the constitution, there’s a certain percentage of the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that should be going down to the local government. Ten percent of what the state makes in a month ought to be given to the local government but it is zero over there. Before President Buhari left the stage, he made some emergency funds available, more than ten billion naira got to Ogun State alone, but not a dime came to any of our local government areas. The whole thing was just hanged in Abeokuta, the state capital, none trickled down to the local government. So, it was a very bitter experience to all of us and a lot of my friends were telling me that Wale, ‘you shouldn’t have gone there, but I told them no, if you want to serve, the best place to serve and truly impact the people is at the local government level, not House of Assembly, not National Assembly and all other higher positions. It must be the local government because that is where you have the majority of poor people and me as an Afenifere, I prefer that background. I prefer that grassroots level as a form of service to the people. 

When you said not even a dime, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean that during the period you were there, not a single money was made available to you? 

That is what I’m telling you. The reality is that some of their media people will come out tomorrow and want to say this or that. The books are there. I’ve submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but I don’t know what they’re doing about it. Let them do a forensic audit and determine where all the money went. They don’t give us money. Normally we have the monthly allocation meeting but at such meetings, it was just like a briefing. A meeting is supposed to be a discussion between two, three or more parties but it’s not, it’s just like a briefing. They would come there, distribute some papers to us and before you even sit, you would have signed that you attended the meeting. You sign before the meeting starts. The essence is to give the impression that you actually attended and that you agreed with everything discussed there. They bring out the paper to show how much came in and how much had been spent. That is how they do it. It’s not as if we go there and that this is what is due to your local government and the same is credited to your local government account tomorrow or next, or in a short period of time. They’ll say they have paid salaries, they’ve paid dues and they’ve paid this or that. It is not their responsibility for God’s sake, it’s our responsibility to do that so that whatever remains after the payments, we use it to do projects for the people in our respective local government areas; that should be our mandate to them. That is the way it’s done in a sane environment but that’s not done in Ogun State. The whole thing is handled by the state government and not even a dime gets to the local government areas, at least as at the period that I was there; not a dime came to us. In a particular instance of my case, we had been having meetings as local government chairmen and it got to a point that the ALGON chairman in Ogun State called me one day that a few of them had on some things like we have been discussing before. He said; ‘Wale you are the only journalist among us, why not put all these things together and let’s roll with Chief Osoba, Maybe he is going to act this time around’. So I put them together, edited and sent them to Chief Osoba. Unfortunately, a senior colleague that we have been discussing the Ogun State matter with who is also from Ogun but based his children in Abuja, a very senior to me as a journalist, sent it to the media. We didn’t send it to the media but we all agreed on it as chairmen. Of course when the whole issue gathered dust, everybody backed out. I am coming from a different background, I mean I cannot be scared of any earthly authority but they were all scared and I told them, look ‘this man (governor) cannot remove even ten local government chairmen at a go but they were so scared. Really I don’t know what makes Nigerians to be so afraid of those in authority. Even this money we are talking about is not meant for me Wale Adedayo; it is not meant for any of the local government chairmen as their personal money. It is money meant for the development of our respective areas for the people and in accordance with the promises we made during elections. So if somebody is blocking such money, we should do whatever it takes to shout and reach out to the people for the right thing to be done. But my colleagues were scared and until tomorrow, they’re still scared. Their tenure will end by next month or something like that but after that, what happens? If you’re going to vie for another higher position, what are you going to tell the people that you did in the last three years? What will you present as your scorecard to the people that you did that will warrant their votes for you? My experience has been very bad in this respect. 

Will you say that your experience is also applicable to other local government chairmen not just in Ogun State but other parts of the country? 

I want to believe that throughout the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, it should be virtually the same thing. However, I learnt that in Kaduna State when El Rufai was there, he was doing the right thing although I don’t know if that is still being done right now. That is the only state I can single out that they were getting their money unless someone there then could come and say something contrary to what I have just said. Apart from this, I think my experience cuts across the whole country. I heard El Rufai ensured that the local government chairmen were getting their allocations and he was even adding extra for them to ensure they serve the people through project execution but in Ogun State, it was not like that. Funnily it’s not even the local government chairmen alone that will confirm this, the people at the grassroots in Ogun will tell you what is going on. Normally if the local government is functioning, it’ll impact the economy and there should be a reprieve for the people at the grassroots because there will be small jobs, what people call contracts. There will be something like, ‘that school is broken down, you go and do it; that primary healthcare centre is broken down, the other person goes and do it’. There’s no way either a bricklayer or a carpenter that goes there, makes money and that money will not go back and help the local economy. But it’s not happening. Everybody is talking about whether the president didn’t do this or that, no. The governors are messing up. 

You said in the LG autonomy, it’s not about the AGF going to the Supreme Court because Supreme Court may not be able to do anything in this regard, but the AGF is asking the apex court to invoke sections 1, 4, 5, 7 and 14 of the constitution to declare that governors and the State Assemblies are obliged to ensure democratic system at the third tier of government. So is it the autonomy alone that you’re afraid the Supreme Court won’t be able to address, what about other summons and pleas that the AGF is asking? 

Other aspects are ok but the autonomy may not sail because if you go to Sections 167 Subsection 6 of the constitution, the joint account for local government and the state is clearly stated in the constitution but it takes a governor with conscience, a governor who believes in God, a governor who believes that he is there to serve the people on God’s behalf, to do the right thing. People are suffering and they’re not bothered. Where do they think they’re going to end up? They’re not going to live one thousand years or live like Methuselah. As a governor or public office holder, if you believe that one day you’re going to die and give account of how you live to God, whatever that is due to the people, you give it to them. Let them have it so that their lives can improve. When the people are praying to God, it is not as if God is going to come down, No. God is going to answer those prayers through elections of people into offices for them to solve the problems of the people. When you as a public office holder are not serving the people, that means you’re anti-God, you’re against God. If you believe that one day you’ll die and answer God on how you lived your life, you should be able to give money that belongs to them for their own benefit and not to keep it. We go to church and we go to mosque but we don’t exhibit the character of those who believe in God. If you’re keeping money that is meant for development, for what purpose for Christ sake. People are suffering and going through a lot in this country and yet you’re contributing to that suffering. You should be ready for whatever punishment that will come. 

During your time as chairman, did you have access to your LG account and did you have any control over the account? 

You know every month, there is a FAAC meeting in Abuja and a few days after that, there is a JAAC meeting at the state level involving state and LGAs which we attend. But what I discovered was that my LG account which the local government money goes into was domiciled with Access Bank just like other LGAs but I as the chairman didn’t have access to that account. Debit and credit alerts come to my phone as the chairman. I remember in 2022, the ALGON chairman in Ogun State, while we were having a meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government, said, ‘Commissioner, last week almost N300 million entered into the account of Ijebu Ode Local Government but towards evening, the account was reading zero. What happened sir’? And I told him, egbon, my own local government was even worse, we had something close to N500 million in that account, the credit alert came to me but by evening, it remained about 12 naira or thereabout, without me as the local government chairman okaying that such money be removed. Everything is being done from Abeokuta in terms of withdrawals and crediting but we as chairmen get both debit and credit alerts. I’ve sent a petition to EFCC and I have no doubt that if they do what is expected of them through proper forensic audits, after his tenure, somebody will go to jail. They created accounts in our names which we were not signatories to. When you come in, they put your phone numbers there so that you get credit alerts as well as debit alerts so that it looks as if we’re the ones running the accounts, we’re not. They run the account and do whatever they like with it. 

On the joint account issue, will you say that the framers of the constitution intended it to ensure that the governors control the local governments? 

Not that the governors should control the funding of the local governments. From my background as a political editor, I want to believe that the intention of the framers of the constitution was that the states should have local governments under them. I have no problem with that. But the attitude is like having employees denied working tools. So if people of conscience are there, whether with a joint account or not, whatever that is due to the local government will go to them. They shouldn’t let greed kill them. They shouldn’t let greed bring curses upon their generations after they’ve gone because each time people cry to God, there’s no way their cries won’t reach the ears of God. If the local government areas are run properly and their funds get to them as it should be, there is no way the level of hardship in Nigeria will be at the level it is right now because Federal Government will be doing its own, state government will be doing its own and the local governments which are the closest to the people will be doing their own and through that, things will be alright as everything will be functioning properly. People will get jobs to do and parents will have money to feed their children, but that is not happening because some people are just playing greed, forgetting that tomorrow their lives may end. They don’t remember that tomorrow, they will answer to judgment. Maybe our political parties should see that people with conscience and not just someone going to church or mosque and given one title or the other in churches and mosques are governors. People with conscience should be governors in Nigeria but I don’t see any of them presently with conscience and that is the truth. 

But will you suggest scrapping that aspect of the constitution that talks about joint accounts so that these funds will go directly to the LGAs? 

Exactly, that is what the Attorney General should do. That section of the constitution must go and he has a lot of work to do on that because the last time efforts were made towards this, the governors frustrated it. I think we had about 21 or 22 in support and we needed about 24 or 25 states to achieve that. That aspect of the constitution, that section 162 subsection 6 should go. There shouldn’t be a need for a joint account; if the money is coming from the federation account and the state is getting its own directly, let the local governments get their own directly too. But right now, what we need is not this Supreme Court thing; pastors, imams and traditional rulers should tell these governors that they should stop these shenanigans they are doing. 

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-05-31

Full Speech by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the nationwide protest.

DATE: SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST 2024

My fellow Nigerians,

1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.

2. Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.

3. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country. The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.

4. I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction.

5. As President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.

6. Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.

7. Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.

8. My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.

 9. For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.

10. These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate. These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.

11. In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience.

12. My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.

13. This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.

14. We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration

15. Our once-declining oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence on the back of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to address the gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act. Last month, we increased our oil production to 1.61million barrels per day, and our gas assets are receiving the attention they deserve. Investors are coming back, and we have already seen two Foreign Direct Investments signed of over half a billion dollars since then.

16. Fellow Nigerians, we are a country blessed with both oil and gas resources, but we met a country that had been dependent solely on oil-based petrol, neglecting its gas resources to power the economy. We were also using our hard-earned foreign exchange to pay for, and subsidise its use. To address this, we immediately launched our Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy and bring costs down. This will save over two trillion Naira a month, being used to import PMS and AGO and free up our resources for more investment in healthcare and education.

17. To this end, we will be distributing a million kits of extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods and who currently consume 80% of the imported PMS and AGO.

18. We have started the distribution of conversion kits and setting up of conversion centres across the country in conjunction with the private sector. We believe that this CNG initiative will reduce transportation costs by approximately 60 per cent and help to curb inflation.

19. Our administration has shown its commitment to the youth by setting up the student loan scheme. To date, 45.6billion Naira has already been processed for payment to students and their respective institutions

20. I encourage more of our vibrant youth population to take advantage of this opportunity. We established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200billion to help Nigerians to acquire essential products without the need for immediate cash payments, making life easier for millions of households. This will consequently reduce corruption and eliminate cash and opaque transactions. This week, I ordered the release of an additional N50billion Naira each for NELFUND – the student loan, and Credit Corporation from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC

21. Additionally, we have secured $620million under the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) – a programme to empower our young people, creating millions of IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive. These programmes include the 3Million Technical Talents scheme. Unfortunately, one of the digital centres was vandalised during the protests in Kano. What a shame!

22. In addition, we have introduced the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA); and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).

23. Also, more than N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit.

24. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive our N1million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans,  starting this month. We have also built 10 MSME hubs within the past year, created 240,000 jobs through them and 5 more hubs are in progress which will be ready by October this year.

25. Payments of N1billion each are also being made to large manufacturers under our single-digit loans to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth.

26. I signed the National Minimum Wage into law last week, and the lowest-earning workers will now earn at least N70,000 a month.

27. Six months ago in Karsana, Abuja, I inaugurated the first phase of our ambitious housing initiative, the Renewed Hope City and Estate. This project is the first of six we have planned across the nation’s geopolitical zones. Each of these cities will include a minimum of 1,000 housing units, with Karsana itself set to deliver 3,212 units

28. In addition to these city projects, we are also launching the Renewed Hope Estates in every state, each comprising 500 housing units. Our goal is to complete a total of 100,000 housing units over the next three years. This initiative is not only about providing homes but also about creating thousands of jobs across the nation as well as stimulating economic growth.

29. We are providing incentives to farmers to increase food production at affordable prices. I have directed that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next 6 months, in the first instance, to help drive down the prices.

30. I have been meeting with our Governors and key Ministers to accelerate food production. We have distributed fertilisers. Our target is to cultivate more than 10 million hectares of land to grow what we eat. The Federal Government will provide all necessary incentives for this initiative, whilst the states provide the land, which will put millions of our people to work and further increase food production. In the past few months, we have also ordered mechanized farming equipment such as tractors and planters, worth billions of Naira from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil. I can confirm to you that the equipment is on the way.

31. My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.

32. But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity.

33. The task before us is a collective one, and I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of work has gone into stabilising our economy and I must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.

34. My administration is working very hard to improve and expand our national infrastructure and create more opportunities for our young people.

35. Let nobody misinform and miseducate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you. Although there have been many dashed hopes in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope. We are working hard for you, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.

Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen.

Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!

37. In conclusion, security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in our country following the necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount.

38. Thank God — and Thank you for your attention, and may God continue to bless our great Nation. Thank you very much.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-08-04

It is now very obvious lack of introspection,which led Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi,and his cohorts,who went on a wild goose chase,years back,to change Ibadan chieftancy law may gradually be setting on the current administration of Engr Seyi Makinde.The 2023 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration,as amended by the Oyo state Government,has a clause,that is brewing a fresh crisis.

Many alleged,it was targetted at prevent the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja, from becoming the Olubadan,as the former governor of the state, is the most senior High Chief in Ibadan as at today.

Our correspondent gathered that the Otun Olubadan line where Ladoja comes from is the line to produce the next Olubadan.

Part of the declaration,were part of the programme,during the the coronation of Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1,as the 43rd Olubadan, on Friday, 12th July 2024.

As printed, Section 4 of 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration stated that, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line”.

However, Section 4 of the new law, christened New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, stated that the phrase “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” has been replaced with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line”.

The section stated that, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line.”

The hue,is that  Ladoja is the only High Chief among the recognised kingmakers of Ibadanland who refused to wear beaded crown,as it was an aberration to history.

Going by this new development, Ladoja may be prevented from becoming Olubadan.

Among growing resentment among Ibadan indegenes,an Ibadan-based legal practitioner, Barrister Abiodun Amole, has condemned the newly amended 2023 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

The legal practitioner also described the amendment as discriminatory and vindictive.Amole, told Daily Post,that the new law is obviously aimed at preventing the current Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, from becoming Olubadan.

He added that as at the time Ladoja joined the race for the Olubadan stool several years back, what was in Section 4 of the applicable Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 is the phrase, “the most senior High Chief” and not the “most senior Beaded Crown Oba”.

The statement said, “The so-called amended Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 2023 is extremely repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

“It is discriminatory and vindictive & should be condemned by all men of goodwill. It’s obviously aimed at preventing Senator Rashid Ladoja from realising his life-long ambition of becoming the Olubadan.

“A Chieftaincy Declaration is in the nature of customary law and the law is well settled that any customary law that offends natural justice, equity and good conscience as in the instant case is null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“The so-called amendment is caught by the doctrine of estoppel by conduct as codified in Section 169 of the Evidence Act, in that as at the time Senator Ladoja joined the race for the Olubadan stool several years back, what was in Section 4 of the applicable Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 is the phrase, “the most senior High Chief” and not the ” most senior Beaded Crown Oba” surreptitiously inserted in the unjust and draconian amendment. It amounts to changing the rules when a contest has already commenced and is in fact about to end. It’s most unfair and should be condemned by all men of goodwill.

“There is a saying in Yoruba that if a society or household witnesses peace and harmony, it simply means that the bastards therein have not come of age, it now appears that the bastards in Ibadanland have not only come of age, they have in fact grabbed political power and things may not be the same again with the hitherto unique & crisis/rancour-free ascension to the Olubadan throne.

“It will be on record for eternity and generations of Ibadan indigenes yet unborn will get to know that it was during the tenure of Governor Seyi Makinde that a gazette that attempted to destroy the traditional institution in Ibadanland was made. History will not be fair to the governor in that regard.”

An indigene of Ibadan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that Ladoja may likely go to court to challenge the new law.

Another indigene, who also asked not to be named, noted that the people of Ibadan will reject the new law.

“How can they say Ladoja will not become Olubadan? Ladoja is the most senior High Chief. He is the last man standing. He rejected the beaded crown because it is an aberration. It is an aberration. The people of Ibadan will reject the new law. Someone who has been on the line over 30 years ago. It is another crisis yet to start.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-07-16

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it had reinstated the suspended social investment programme, disclosing the scheme would provide direct payments to 75 million Nigerians in 50 million households to reduce the suffering of citizens, especially vulnerable groups.

It stated that the cash transfer programme was overhauled to tackle fraud.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this at the ministerial sectoral briefing to mark the first year in office of the President Bola Tinubu administration in Abuja.

On January 12,  Tinubu suspended all the programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency for six weeks, as part of a probe of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and the scheme.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-05-29