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Tag: APC Governors

  • New Notes: Anxiety as Supreme court resume hearing of APC Governors, FG today

    New Notes: Anxiety as Supreme court resume hearing of APC Governors, FG today

    Following the growing Naira shortage bedeviling the country owing to the introduced new notes that are still scarce and not properly circulated, the Supreme court today  (Wednesday) will resume the legal fireworks between the three northern States controlled by the All Progressives Congress, APC, (Zamfara, Kaduna and Kogi) and the federal government.

    Recall that last week the supreme court gave an interim injunction suspending the February 10 deadline given by the CBN for the old notes to be legal tender in the country.

    The Apex Court will hear the merit of the main application brought by the applicant (Zamfara, Kaduna and Kogi) and decide whether to vacate the interlocutory injunction it had earlier granted against the CBN.

    A seven-member panel of the court, led by Justice John Okoro, gave the order of interim injunction amidst an acute scarcity of the newly redesigned N200, N500, and N1,000 currency notes.

    The court temporarily gave the order, cancelling the CBN’s February 10 deadline to end the validity of the old versions of the banknotes based on an ex parte application filed by three northern States controlled by the ruling APC.

    Three State governments, Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, had sued the federal government at the Supreme Court over the hardship occasioned by the scarcity of the redesigned naira notes.

    The States, in their applications, prayed the Supreme Court for an order to restrain the CBN from ending the use of the old currency notes on February 10 as threatened by the bank.

    They cited the suffering the scarcity of the new banknotes had brought upon many Nigerians.

    They said, “many citizens have to date not seen the newly redesigned naira notes, let alone exchanged their old notes for the new ones,” despite the government’s assurances to make the currency available.

    After listening to the applicants’ lawyer, Justice Okoro granted the application as prayed, a decision he said his panel took after “careful consideration”.

    He also issued an order of interim injunction “restraining the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the commercial banks from suspending or determining or ending on February 10, the time frame with which the now older version of the 200, 500 and 1,000 denominations of the naira may no longer be legal tender pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction”.

    Checks by TheNewsGuru correspondents in Lagos and Ogun states show that the scarcity of the new note is still biting very hard.

    Many businesses have been forced to close down owing to lack of fund to power it on.

    Banks in many metropolis are either shut down or not transacting monetary business as Automated Teller Machines ATMs are either not dispensing and totally out of service or reduced to just doing transfers and checking balance only.

    Our correspondent spoke to the staffers of Sterling bank in Magboro in Ogun state and they said they can’t say when they will be re-opening the banking hall for business for fear of being attacked. The bank is the only one serving the commodity and it’s has been closed down for almost a week now.

    A branch of Access bank in Ibafo is also under lock and keys with resumption date not in sight.

    However, Zenith Bank and Eco bank inside the Mountain of Fire Ministries Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are opened for business but only issuing out few new notes to customers.

    Findings also show that many banks in the Berger area of Lagos are still under lock and keys with their ATMs not working.

    According to the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele the deadline for the old notes to cease to be legal tender remains unchanged.

    Findings also show that many business owners are insisting on new notes or no business for their customers in many areas in Lagos and Ogun states.

     

  • Buhari hosts APC governors at Villa

    Buhari hosts APC governors at Villa

    As the 25 February 2023 date for the general elections in Nigeria draws near and electorates are to elect the President and Vice President and members of the Senate and House of Representatives, the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, is currently meeting with members of the Progressives Governors Forum at the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the meeting started few minutes past 10:00am after some of the governors were spotted entering the chamber.

    Present are governors of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Zamfara State, Bello Matawale; Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Yobe State, Mai Bala-Buni; Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje; Niger State, Sani Bello and Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

    Buhari hosts APC governors at Villa

    Meet the 2023 presidential candidates

    Kola Abiola (PRP)
    Kola Abiola is the son of the late Nigerian business tycoon and politician Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 elections which were cancelled by the country’s military rulers.

    A businessman like his father, his vice-presidential candidate is Zego Haruna, running for the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).

    Atiku Abubakar (PDP)
    A former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar is running for the presidency for the sixth time.

    He served for two-terms as deputy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of the southern Delta state, is his vice-presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Adebayo Adewole (SDP)
    Adebayo Adewole is a lawyer, politician and businessman from western Ondo state. He is representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), with his running mate Buhari Yusuf.

    Malik Ado-Ibrahim (YPP)
    Malik Ado-Ibrahim is a prince from the central state of Kogi state and the owner of energy company Bicenergy. He is also the founder of Formula One team Arrows A20.

    In 2020, he was in the news for his marriage to Indimi Adama, daughter of billionaire oil businessman and philanthropist Mohammed Indimi.

    He is representing the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and his vice-presidential candidate is Enyinna Kasarachi.

    Okwudili Anyajike (NRM)
    Okwudili Anyadike won the ticket of the National Rescue Mission (NRM), defeating closest rival Bendicta Egbo to clinch the party’s ticket.

    He is contesting with Kyabo Muhammad as his vice-presidential candidate.

    Ojei Chichi (APM)
    Ojei Chichi is the only female presidential candidate in this year’s election and will represent the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

    An administrator and politician from the southern state of Delta, her running mate is Ibrahim Mohammed.

    Christopher Imumolen (AP)
    Christopher Imumolen is a professor of engineering.

    At 39, he is the youngest candidate on the ballot. He holds a PhD in engineering research and educational management. He is standing for the Accord Party (AP), with Bello Maru as his running mate.

    Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC)
    Dumebi Kachikwu is a businessman who owns local Roots Television.

    He is running on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Buhari Ahmed as his vice-presidential candidate.

    Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NNPP)
    Rabiu Kwankwaso is the former governor of the north-western Kano state. A two-term governor, he was a senator between 2015-2019.

    Under Nigeria’s first democratically elected president, he served as minister of defence.

    This is the third time he is seeking the country’s highest office. His first two attempts failed in the party primaries.

    Alongside him on the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) ticket is Odiri Idahosa as vice-presidential candidate.

    Hamza al-Mustapha (AA)
    Hamza al-Mustapha is a former chief security officer to former military leader General Sani Abacha.

    After Abacha’s death, he was jailed for more than 10 years over the killing of Moshood Abiola’s wife, Kudirat.

    He defeated one other candidate to emerge as flag-bearer for the Action Alliance (AA).

    His vice-presidential candidate is Johnson Chukwuka.

    Daniel Nwanyanwu (ZLP)
    Daniel Nwanyanwu is both presidential flag-bearer and national chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    He is contesting with Abubakar Ramalan as his vice-presidential candidate.

    Peter Obi (LP)
    A former governor of south-eastern Anambra state, Peter Obi became the flag-bearer of the Labour Party (LP), requiring former aspirant and professor of political economy and management Pat Utomi to step down in order to make way for him.

    He is on the presidential ticket for the second time. His first attempt was as deputy for PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar in 2019.

    Adenuga Oluwafemi (BP)
    Adenuga Oluwafemi is running on behalf of the Boot Party (BP), alongside Mustapha Turaki as his vice-presidential candidate.

    Nnadi Osita (APP)
    Nnadi Osita is contesting with Hamisu Isah for vice-president on behalf of the Action Peoples Party (APP).

    Omoyele Sowore (AAC)
    Omoyele Sowore is the founder and publisher of US-based news site, Sahara Reporters.

    He is running for a second time after his previous attempt in 2019.

    The publisher was arrested years ago for his “Revolution Now” protest which he intended to take across the country.

    He shares the African Action Congress (AAC) ticket with Magashi Garba as the vice-presidential candidate.

    Bola Tinubu (APC)
    Bola Tinubu is former two-term governor of the south-western Lagos state.

    Briefly a senator in the early 1990s, he is contesting the presidential election for the first time on the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Kashim Shettima, former governor of the north-eastern state of Borno, is his running mate.

    Peter Umeadi (APGA)
    Former chief judge of Anambra state, Peter Umeadi is also a professor of law.

    Hi is representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), with Mohammed Koli as his running mate.

    Sani Yusuf (ADP)
    A politician and businessman from the north-western Kano state, Sani Yusuf plans to end “systemic corruption” in Nigeria.

    He is standing for the Action Democratic Party (ADP), alongside his vice-presidential candidate Udo Okoro.

  • Consensus candidate: APC Governors rally round Osinbajo

    After president Muhammadu Buhari revealed his plans to pick a successor to be the All Progressive Congress APC’s flag bearer in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

    The APC Governors are beginning to rally round Vice president Yemi Osinbajo to be the consensus candidate of the party.

    Several APC governors were sighted in the Presidential Villa meeting with Osinbajo and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, in what sources say may be a move likely to result in a consensus presidential candidate for the party.

    It was gathered that governors of Ogun, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa Ebonyi and Kano were sighted in the Villa between Wednesday and Saturday..

    Findings show that  a clear majority of the 22 governors on the platform of the ruling party under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum appeared to have agreed on supporting the candidature of Osinbajo, ahead of the primaries commencing on Monday.

    The governors held series of meetings at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, on Tuesday, after meeting with the president.

    Reports say that  more northern governors including those of Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa and Gombe are said to be opposed to a northern presidential candidate for APC.

    The meetings were initially deadlocked on who to support as APC presidential flag bearer.

    However, after reconvening, reports emanating from the meeting indicated that the governors had agreed that the presidency should be zoned to the South, with Osinbajo as candidate.

    ” The heroes of this whole thing are the governors of Borno, Nasarawa and Gombe who even though are from the North, argued that the vice president from the South fits the bill perfectly.

    ” Kaduna and Borno governors were also of the same view but the Kaduna governor has not been seen in the Villa this week.

    ” He was represented by his deputy at the meeting with the president on Tuesday,” the reports quoted a source as saying.

    The source, according to the reports, said that some governors had first insisted that the party’s presidency should be zoned to the North because the main opposition party had settled for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at its convention.

    “It was a very heated argument between the governors.

    ” Some governors wanted a northern candidate to challenge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate but some other northern governors kicked against it.

    ” They said that the it is morally right for power to return to the South.

    “The governors represented different interests at the meeting and were all pushing for their candidate but there were more governors who were loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and who wanted to reciprocate the president’s gesture.

    “There were others who also insisted that Mr VP was the most popular candidate based on the feedback that the governors got from delegates in their states and they were almost certain and very confident he would defeat candidates from other parties including Atiku,” the source was quoted as saying.

    The reports also quoted an aide of one of the governors present at the meeting as disclosing that certain governors were asked to reach out to some notable aspirants to urge them to step down for the vice president.

    “It was indeed a difficult call as some governors were asked to reach out to their candidates to relate the choice of the governors and to also tell them to step down their ambition so that the party can present a united front at the convention,” the aide was quoted in the reports as saying.

    It would be recalled that the president at Tuesday’s meeting with the governors had called for reciprocity in choosing his successor.

    “In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

    “I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention.

    ” This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger,” Buhari said.

  • Buhari receives APC governors in Daura, begs historians to be fair in documenting his administration

    Buhari receives APC governors in Daura, begs historians to be fair in documenting his administration

    President Muhammadu Buhari is calling on the country’s historians and intellectuals to be fair in documenting his government, asking them to reflect on the level of insecurity in Nigeria before he assumed office.

    He said this on Thursday when some governors under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) paid Sallah homage to him in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State.

    The 78-year-old noted that it would be unfortunate to mislead the electorate with lies, and personal bias, emphasising the need to put the larger interest of the country beyond other considerations.

    “For the time remaining, and for those who have one more term in office based on the provision of the constitution, the elections are important to the parties,” one of his media aides, Garba Shehu, quoted him as saying.

    “Intellectuals and historians should be fair to us so that those who are looking for leadership positions will not exploit the political ignorance or lack of knowledge of the people.”

    President Buhari recalled that oil prices fell from more than $100 dollars to less than $38 under his government, with the output that was 2.1 million barrels a day dropping to about 500,000 barrels. In spite of these, he said his government was able to achieve much.

    When compared to what his admiration met on the ground in 2015, Buhari argued that his government has done credibly well to secure the nation.

    “The subsequent development in the North West is the most amazing, where people who lived together, spoke same language and shared common faith started killing each other and rustling cows,” the Nigerian leader added as he called on the governors to be steadfast in delivering quality governance to their people.

    “I had to change the security chiefs and we had to get down to the fundamentals of providing security. If you look at the situation in relation to time and resources, you will find out what we have been able to achieve.”

    Governors who visited Buhari’s country home included Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who is Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, Solomon Lalong of Plateau and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.

    Others are Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa States.

  • Only Buhari can fix date for National Convention – APC Governors

    Only Buhari can fix date for National Convention – APC Governors

    Governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have said that the onus of fixing date of the party’s National Convention rests solely on President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Chairman Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State disclosed this on Wednesday night after a crucial meeting of the Forum in Abuja.

    Briefing newsmen after the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, Bagudu said the chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, told the meeting the timetable for Congresses and National Convention are before President Buhari.

    Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John James Akpanduoehehe, had earlier said Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC Governors and critical stakeholders will determine the date for the Convention.

    Bagudu said: “There is a proposal before Mr. President and once he approves it, the National Caretaker Committee will announce the date.”

    He said the forum considered the timetable proposal by the Committee and made some inputs into it so that the exercise will comply with Electoral Law and the Constitution of the party.

    According to Bagudu: “We considered the timetable and we have made some inputs particularly to comply with the Electoral Law and the party’s constitution. Remember we governors are just one organ of the party (though a very important organ).”

    But when asked if the meeting agreed on a specific date for the Convention, Bagudu simply said: “There is a proposal before Mr. President and once he approves it, the National Caretaker Committee will announce the date.”

    He however added the Forum advised the Caretaker Committee “to ensure that they consult with all, so that at the end of the day, the final output will be such that all party members will be happy.”

    Bagudu further said the Forum passed vote of confidence on the Gov. Buni- led National Caretaker Committee for the progress recorded by the party under its leadership.

    Akpanduoehehe last week told newsmen the Committee had approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the party’s Congresses from ward to zonal level but was silent on the National Convention.

    However a week after directing the party’s Director of Organization, Prof. Al-Mustspha Ussiju Medaner to release the timetable, the party is keeping the timetable for the Congresses to its chest.

    At the December 8, 2020 emergency meeting of APC National Executive Committee (NEC), the party directed the Committee to ensure completion of its assignment and emergence of a new National Working Committee (NWC).

  • Defection: APC Governors Forum officially welcome Ayade into party

    Defection: APC Governors Forum officially welcome Ayade into party

    The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) representing governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade for joining their fold.

    Ayade dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC, which came as a shock to his colleagues in the opposition party.

    He contested under the PDP platform in 2015 and won. The Cross River governor also actualised his second term ambition under the opposition party in 2019.

    Reacting via a statement issued on Friday, the PGF Chairman and Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said Ayade’s decision to join the APC is a testament of “our party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the APC is a platform to unite all Nigerians.”

    He described the ruling party as one “that is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders.”

    “Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development. We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party.

    “With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.”

    See the full statement issued by the Progressives Governors on the defection of Governor Ben Ayade to the ruling APC below:

    The Progressive Reinforcement Continues

    Welcoming Mr. Ben Ayade to the APC

    The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) welcome His Excellency, Mr. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State to the All Progressives Congress (APC). We join all leaders and members to welcome this illustrious Nigerian into our great party. The decision of Mr. Ayade to join the APC is a testament of our party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the APC is a platform to unite all Nigerians. The coming of Mr. Ayade into the APC further reinforces the process of membership and leadership recruitment at all levels.

    We congratulate our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose sterling qualities and fair mindedness endear patriotic Nigerians to the party. Mr. President’s credentials as a fair leader who is impartial will continue to promote our party and serve as a major source of electoral advantage. As Progressive Governors, we will remain steadfast in supporting the efforts and initiatives of Mr. President to build our party, APC, as a strong and democratic political party in the country.

    Also, we salute our members of the APC National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee under the leadership of HE Mai Mala Buni for this milestone achievement of once again getting another experienced leader in the person of His Excellency Ben Ayade to join the APC. We welcome Mr. Ben Ayade for taking the courageous decision of leaving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to join our party, the All Progressives Congress. The movement of our compatriot to the APC is indicative of his principles, commitment and conviction to the development of Nigeria.

    Given all his achievements in Cross River State, Mr. Ayade is only coming home where he belongs. APC is indeed the party that will provide him and his people, and indeed all Nigerians the viable platform for political aspirations and negotiations. Together with Mr. Ayade and all our leaders in the APC, our party’s capacity to serve the collective interests of all Nigerians through effective representation will be strengthened and reinforced.

    Our party, APC, is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders. Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development. We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party. With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.

    APC belongs to all Nigerians. Everyone, from every part of the country is free to aspire for any position in the party in line with provisions of our party’s constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The guiding philosophy as enshrined in the provisions of our manifesto is economic, social and political development of Nigeria.

    The Progressive Reinforcement of our party continues. We look forward to receiving more patriots and progressive minded Nigerians into the APC!

     

    Signed

     

    HE Abubakar Atiku Bagudu

    Chairman

    For and on Behalf of Progressive Governors

  • APC governors disown Obaseki over allegation of currency printing

    APC governors disown Obaseki over allegation of currency printing

    The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) has debunked claims by Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo that the Federal Government printed between N50 billion – N60 billion in March.

     

    The forum in a statement by its chairman, Gov.Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi on Sunday in Abuja, said Obaseki’s claims did not reflect the true position of things.

     

    Obaseki had claimed that the Federal Government printed the amount to bridge the shortfall in the distribution of federation revenues to the three tiers of government in March.

     

    But Bagudu said at first, the impression the forum got was that it was an off-the-record remark made in a private meeting by Obaseki.

     

    He, however, said the forum was shocked to see yet another response from Obaseki to the rebuttal by the Finance Minister, insisting that the March 2021 FAAC was augmented via the printing of currency.

     

    “Given the significance of the statement from a sitting governor and the possible negative impact it has brought to the credibility of both the Federal and State Governments in managing government finances.

     

    “The forum is obliged to put a statement out to set the records clear, and to the best of our knowledge, the total distributable statutory revenue for the month of March 2021 was N596.94 billion,” he said.

     

    Bagudu explained that due to the shortfall in gross statutory revenues by N43.34 billion compared to the previous month, an augmentation was made in the sum of N8.65 billion from the Forex Equalization Fund Account.

     

    He added that this brought the total distributable revenue to N605.59 billion.

     

    He further added that federation revenues distributed monthly primarily consisted of mineral revenues from the sales of oil and gas, as well as non-mineral revenues from customs and excise duties, company income tax and value added tax.

     

    He, however, admitted that there were periods when the country experienced significant fiscal shocks in federation revenues, but said the shocks were offset by other savings.

     

    These, the PGF chairman said were serviced from the federation account, including distributions from the domestic excess crude proceeds and the foreign excess crude savings account.

     

    “These payments started since 2008 when the country first experienced fiscal shocks from the fallouts of the global financial crisis of 2008 to 2009.

     

    “As a trained economist who has been a governor since 2016, Obaseki is aware of all the support states have received from President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

     

    This, he noted was especially in coping with the shocks that had resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant economic recession.

     

    He added that not only had states received budget support from the Federal Government, but they had also received bail-out support to meet salary obligations and infrastructure refunds.

     

    He said this was implemented in the overall interest of Nigerians without discrimination on the basis of party affiliation.

     

    “This is why it’s unfortunate and disingenuous to allege preferential treatment of APC states when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governed states are even greater beneficiaries of all the support,” the PGF chairman said.

     

    He said there was nothing exceptional in this current review of economic orthodoxy because almost every Central Bank in the world had taken steps to support their governments in coping with the effects of COVID-19.

     

    “This unfortunate and inaccurate assertion by Gov. Obaseki becomes even more worrisome when juxtaposed with the official statement released after the meeting of PDP governors last week,” he said.

     

    He recalled that the PDP governors at its meeting had called for restructuring and greater devolution of powers to the states.

     

    He said it appeared that matters that required collective resolve of all leaders had been turned into purely partisan affairs.

     

    Bagudu said while the right to criticise and hold alternative views was acknowledged, all state governments had been equitably treated by both the Federal Government and national institutions, particularly the CBN.

     

    He said the CBN had designed and implemented various interventions which helped in stimulating economic activity in all states and had contributed to the country’s quick emergence from recession in 2016 and 2021.

     

    “Such interventions include the Anchor Borrowers Programme, Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme, Small and medium scale enterprises support scheme as well as expansion of pre-existing Programme such as Commercial Agriculture Credit.

     

    “The world economy had been challenged in the last few years with fiscal and monetary authorities responding in various ways to support their respective economies.

     

    “In all situations the Central Banks had responded to ease credit and in a number of cases where interest rates were near zero, quantitative easing measures were undertaken to expand money supply to the economy.

     

    “Given the constraints faced by the Nigerian economy, the CBN had responded commendably well while still working hard on exchange and interest rates,” Bagudu said.

     

    He urged the CBN governor, management and staff not be distracted and expressed gratitude to President Buhari and his team for the support and partnership extended to all the federating units.

     

    He noted that in addition to occasional meetings with President Buhari, the National Economic Council, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, meet monthly to discuss all issues transparently and exhaustively.

     

    “It would therefore be helpful to admonish ourselves as leaders to work collaboratively in tackling these challenges rather than resort to cheap and demagogic point scoring in our quest to rescue the economy,” he said.

  • Amidst fresh defection reports, Fani-Kayode visits two APC governors in Abuja [Photos]

    Amidst fresh defection reports, Fani-Kayode visits two APC governors in Abuja [Photos]

    A former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Femi Fani-Kayode, may be on his way back to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) six years after dumping the party for the PDP.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Fani-Kayode, a strong critic of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party, left APC for PDP on June 2, 2014, barely a year to the general elections which brought Buhari and APC to power.

    Announcing his resignation from APC in 2014, the former Minister said, “I wish to inform the general public that as at today, 2nd June 2014, I have left the APC and gone back to the PDP. I wish the APC well in all their endeavours, but as at today, we have parted ways forever and my spirit has left them.”

    However, there seems to be a new development when Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Monday received Fani-Kayode at his Abuja residence, appealing to Nigerians to practice politics without bitterness.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Onogwu Muhammed, quoted Bello in a statement as saying that embracing politics without bitterness would boost nation building and promote national integration.

    Bello described Fani Kayode’s visit as a welcome development, stressing that all hands must be on deck to ensure that Nigeria remained an indivisible entity.

    The governor said also that stakeholders must ensure that the fight against insecurity was fought without ethnic and regional biases.

    “The support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in fighting insecurity and poverty in the country must be holistic, irrespective of party differences.”

    “The All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the hope of Nigeria and it is important for everyone to support Buhari’s administration for the development of Nigeria as a country.

    Also speaking, Fani-Kayode described Bello as a phenomenal leader and bridge builder, saying that he had a fruitful discussion with the governor.

    “It was an honour to have spent quality time with the governor — my friend and brother.

    “We had a frank, candid, fruitful and productive discussion on the way forward for our country.

    “This is a clear case of politics without bitterness and of building bridges. This is a time that we as Nigerians must all come together as one to save our country,” Fani-Kayode said.

    The governor and the former minister also visited Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who is also the Caretaker Chairman of the APC.

  • Lamido tackles APC governors on plot to prepare Jonathan for 2023 presidency

    Lamido tackles APC governors on plot to prepare Jonathan for 2023 presidency

    Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido says some governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2023 presidency under its banner are hypocrites.

    Some governors of the APC are said to have visited Jonathan on his birthday, secretly trying the persuade him to join the APC to contest the 2023 presidency.

    Lamido, in an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday said he read the story in the newspapers, saying “are we really serious? This is somebody who offered himself, a very humble person, somebody you can reach and somebody you can talk to anytime, yet Nigerians vilified him and called him clueless and he was defeated.

    ”Come on, for God’s sake, It is unfair, this was somebody who was demonised, who was called all kinds of names, now you want him back? Why was he defeated in the first instance? The people who went to him are APC governors. Are they trying to caress his mentality? This is what they call mental caressing.

    ”They wanted to defeat him, they wanted to flush him out, they wanted to flush PDP out, now they are going back to him again? Are they saying Buhari failed? Are they saying in the entire APC there is no presidential materials? This is what I call hypocrisy.”

    Lamido said the APC, over the years brought hatred among Nigerians and “a divided Nigeria full of insecurity with a culture of hate. What the APC says in the north is different from what it says in the South. APC is a party of double talk.”

    He said “Before the APC, Nigerians were united, but look at what it has done to a once united country. Before the APC, Nigerians were living in brotherly and sisterly lifestyles. Look at the level of insecurity now, look at the hatred in the country.”

    On the Fulani issue, Lamido said they were being persecuted during the Buhari administration, saying it was uncalled for.

  • Show us what you have done in your states, Wike mocks APC Governors

    Show us what you have done in your states, Wike mocks APC Governors

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday said All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have failed their states.

    He challenged them to showcase projects they delivered.

    Wike spoke when the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, inaugurated the rehabilitated and expanded Tombia Road, Ndoni Street and Amaji Street in New GRA Phase 2, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state as part of an urban renewal programme.

    Both governors accused the APC of suppressing the opposition and scheming for a one-party state.

    The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said only PDP governors were developing and delivering infrastructural projects.

    Wike was quoted as saying: “A few weeks ago, I was invited by the governor of Benue State to and commission some projects. I went and I did commission not less than three road projects.

    “They received us very well and I did say to him that the people of Rivers State will also like him to come and also commission projects in the state so that Nigerians will know that the opposition party is the party that means well for the development of this country.

    “We challenge the ruling party to roll out projects and invite people to come and commission them.”

    Wike described his Benue counterpart as a forthright, courageous man, committed to the development of his people.

    He explained that when Ortom was undergoing persecution and intimidation, he stood firm, and stayed with the people, a quality he said endeared him to the Benue governor.

    Wike said his relationship with Ortom was designed to make both states and the PDP to move forward.

    He said: “One of the reasons I invited the governor of Benue here is to let people know that there are people who are committed to the growth and development of this country.

    “There are people who will never be intimidated because of their views; who stand against injustice in this country.

    “Governor Ortom is one of those governors that will stand firm in whatever he believes in. He does not care whether you’ll deny the people of Benue State what is due to them.

    “He will still say the truth as it is. You all know what has happened in Benue, what he has passed through, how they have tried to intimidate him but he has stood firm and said no.

    “That’s the same thing we are doing here. No matter all the intimidation and what they are trying to do to us, we have stood firm to defend the interest of our state.

    “So, I will like to associate with people like this and that will make our state, our party and will make our country to move forward.”

    Ortom said God destined him and Wike to work together as brothers and friends in speaking up for the voiceless and marginalised people in the country.

    He said Nigeria had since 2015 ceased to be a country where equity, justice and fairness were promoted.

    Ortom said when PDP was the ruling party, it never suppressed other parties, alleging that the APC was driving the country along one party line.