Come Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the members-elect of the House of Representatives, will file out, to elect the minority leader of the lower house of the National Assembly.

Already, Rivers State member elect, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, has been nominated to fill the role by some interests.

Hon. Chinda, who is representing Obio/Akpor Constituency has since been seen as the main contender for the position until Wednesday when a section of the PDP members-elect started a campaign to stop him.

Recall that the Minority caucus in the House comprises of NNPP, PDP, LP and SDP. The PDP has been allowed by the caucus to produce the Minority Leader of the house since it has the largest number of elected members-116.

But rising from a meeting on Wednesday, a section of the PDP members-elect, have started a campaign against the candidacy of Chinda.

The members-elect argue that the PDP NWC and Leaders should not destroy PDP by rewarding ex-Gov. Nyesom Wike with the Minority Leader slot after he(Wike) rebelled against the party and cost them the presidential election.

They also posit that for justice and equity, the Minority Leader, should be zoned to the South West.

Right now, the PDP members-elect are rallying their colleagues, LP, NNPP and SDP members to consider Hon. Wole Oke from Osun State. Hon. Wole Oke, is representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State.

In the alternative, a chieftain of PDP from Kaduna State Alhaji Sanni Umaru is asking the PDP members-elect campaigning against Chinda to allow the position to go to Hon. Fred Egbedi Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency), Bayelsa State or Hon. Idem Unyimen, Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

The suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has arrived in Abuja accompanied by the operatives of Department of State Service as they have confirmed.

His arrest was confirmed in a statement by the spokesman of the secret Police on Saturday June 10, 2023.

Mr Emefiele was on Friday June 9, 2023 suspended by President Tinubu following investigations into some of the activities by his office.

Willie Bassey, Director, Information, who signed the letter on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the suspension is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.

Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.

Similarly, the Department of State Services (DSS) this Saturday confirmed that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.

Mr Afunaya, spokesman of the secret police advised the public, particularly the Media, enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.

The department of State Services, DSS have arrested Godwin Emefiele, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

His arrest is coming shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered his suspension and directed that he immediately hands over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor in charge of Operations Directorate, who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of an investigation and the reforms.

The Street Journal had reported extensively on how the secret police had done everything within its power to effect his arrest unsuccessfully.

The DSS had filed its case (ex-parte motion) against Emefiele on December 7, 2022, seeking permission to arrest, probe and detain him. However, on December 9, a federal high court sitting in Abuja, declined the application filed by the DSS.

In declining the motion ex-parte filed by the secret police, Justice J.T. Tsoho, the chief judge, said that the DSS did not provide any concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes.

The court said that such an application should have been accompanied with the presidential approval because of the grave implications for the economy if the CBN governor was arrested and detained.

Emefiele was accused by the DSS of financing terrorism, aiding and abetting terrorism, and committing other economic crimes.

The DSS alleged that Emefiele funded the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB with both the resources he raised for his failed presidential bid on the platform of the Al Progressives Congress, APC, last year and funds diverted from government coffers.

The secret police also accused Emefiele of fraud, money laundering, round tripping and conferment of financial benefit to self and others.

It said that he mismanaged public funds under his control.

By: Celestine Ukah 

86 million Nigerians now living without electricity supply in the country due to lack of supply and connectivity to residents.

According to the International Energy Agency, IEA, Nigeria ranks number one in the world with countries without electricity with 80 person in Sub-Sahara Africa.

However it is expected that with the signing of the electricity Act amendment by President Bola Tunubu power generation and distribution by States would enable States to key into power generation and distribution, though it is only three States in Nigeria that have taking advantage of the electricity law which are Lagos, Kaduna and Edo States.

It is also a Wake up call for the States rich with oil and gas in Nigeria to establish their own electricity distribution management boards in order to help improve electricity generation supply in their various states .

By: Celestine Ukah 

The Warri Grassroot Political Movement, WGPM, celebrates seasoned administrator and a Grassroot politician, Amb. Dr. Toyin Agbolaya JP describing him as a devoted and a unique personality whose strategic support and advises has led to several successes and victory of the PDP.

WGPM, while felicitating with Amb. Dr. Agboloya posited that he has shown capacity, competent and total commitment to the advancement and breakthrough of his party which has given upliftment to Warri and people around joy and assurance every time.

The political pressure group expressed joy to God for Amb. Agbolaya and prayed God to sustain and lift him for his ambition actualisation going forward.

They wished Amb. Agbolaya plenty celebrations and good health to excel in all endeavours, saying his humility, kindness and loyalty is first to be known by all.

,,,Says, It’s ploy to compromise Them

The Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, South South Youth Vanguard, has condemned the move by President Bola Tinubu to meet with minority NASS members during the week.

In a statement issued by the group after a meeting in Asaba on Sunday, the group said it “has noted with utter dismay, the attempt by the President, to turn the country into a one party state just few days after he took office.”

The statement signed by the Spokes person. Mr James Akpofure further accused the President of trying to “corruptly compromise the NASS members with the view of erasing opposition in the country.”

The group argued that even though the President can invite anyone across party lines to a meeting, it can only be justified after the NASS members had taken oath of office. “The President is trying to lead the executive and the Legislature at the same time which is outside his powers”.

The PDP youth vanguard noted that it waa particularly wrong for the President to invite opposition legislators especially PDP members to meetings when the party was already in court challenging his emergence as president.”

The griup went further to ask PDP NASS members-elect, to boycott such meetings which they claim is against the position of their party and against the spirit of democratic governance.

Citing the remarks of the presidential candidate of the party at a meeting held in Bauchi on Friday, the PDP South South Youth Vanguard said that their party(PDP), will reclaim majority in NASS after all election petitions were concluded. #End

Former Director General of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, the Earl Osao Onaiwu, has congratulated Zenith Bank CEO, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu for winning the “Best Banking CEO in Africa” award.

Onaiwu said he was particularly thrilled that Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, was doing their alma mater- Auchi Polytechnic proud with his numerous achievements.

According to the Edo State-born businessman and politician, Onyeagwu has consistently shone the light in his progress in the business world, especially in Banking.

A big player in the Nigerian political circle, Onaiwu who said the award of “Best Banking CEO in Africa”, at the International Banker 2023 Banking Awards 2023, confirms that the Zenith Bank GMD/CEO is a shining example of what the products of Auchi Polytechnic exemplifies, said he was not surprised as Onyeagwu had exhibited these traits while in school.

Onaiwu who is also a society patriarch and big player in the entertainment industry, also congratulated Zenith Bank for its consistency as one of the leading financial institutions in the country. He also extended his commendation to the founder and chairman of the bank, Dr. Jim Ovia who he said built a viable institution that is playing big in the economy of Nigeria and the African continent.

A Legal Practitioner/human rights activist and public affairs analyst Chief Robinson Ariyo has urged the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to eschew the predominance of persons from a few ethnic or sectional groups in the composition of his Government.

While Addressing newsmen Tuesday June 6, 2023 at his country home in Ubeji, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Robinson Ariyo posited: thus, “It is the intention of the founding fathers of Nigeria that every government should promote national unity and the feeling of inclusion. Permit me to commend Section 14 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which provides; “The composition of the Government of a State or any of the agencies of such Government …, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government …or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation”.

He further argued that the State Governor, having taken oath to discharge his duties to the best of his ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it would be too early in the day to begin manifesting traits that appear to reflect the contrary. Chief Robinson Ariyo observed: stating “I am particularly disturbed that the allegory “Ukodo” which the Governor assured Delta would be equitably shared appears to have left out a very critical ethnic nationality that contributes a chunk of the oil resources of Delta State and indeed the country. Several sensitive appointments have so far been made and while some ethnic groups already have two or more, the Itsekiris do not have any”.

The Warri based lawyer who is also a peace building expert and development consultant, has urged all well-meaning Itsekiri leaders to close ranks and think beyond their personal interests and think of their collective interest instead. According to him “In every society there is usually a tension between the individualistic and communal interest but prosperity never forget those who perpetually sacrifice communal interest for their personal interest. I have observed many influential Itsekiris constantly sacrificing the communal for their personal interests and seek to give the impression that they are patriots; there is nothing that can be more deceitful. We must begin to think more of what we can do for the community than what we can do for ourselves”; He noted

According to Chief Ariyo; “we cannot go to church every Sunday and sit on front row while the cardinal doctrine of Christianity; love thy neighbour as thy self does not resonate in us. We must begin to give effect to what we preach and claim to stand for.

The level of hypocrisy in our land is unprecedented. Let us remember the last words of Late Dele Giwa; “No evil deed will go unpunished; any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if not now then certainly later; if not by man, then by God for the victory of evil over good is temporary”; He stressed .

*Meets with labour unions, sets up wage review committee

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has shown commitment to review salaries of civil servants in the state, as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the oil subsidy removal by the Federal Government.

The development came barely 48 hours to the commencement of the proposed nationwide strike by labor unions across the country.

Consequently, the governor has set up a committee comprising both representatives of the labor unions and the state government.

They include, the Head of Service, HoS, Permanent Secretary, Service Matters; Permanent Secretary, Establishment; Director Service Matters, Director, Establishment; Accountant General of the state, and Permanent Secretary, Finance.

On the side of the organised labor are, the Nigeria Labor Congress NLC, Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Nigeria Union of Pensioners NUP, Joint Health Sector Union JOHESU and Joint Negotiating Council, JNC and the Chairman, Association of Senior Staff.

The governor, while meeting with leadership of the unions in the state at the Executive Council Chambers yesterday, gave the Committee eight weeks to come up with a workable minimum wage.

Makinde said: “For this administration, with all sincererity, we think it’s time to engage and ensure that we are proactive irrespective of what is happening or coming at the national level, we already prepared for it here and we can run our programme.”

“If you all remembered, I said there is nothing stopping Oyo state from paying more than the national minimum wage if we had the resources,if we can expand our economy to that extent and I still believe we can do it.”

“We can pay in Oyo State beyond the national minimum wage and we have to expand our economy and ensure that the relationship between the leadership of the labor unions and government remain cordial.”