Tag: Bola Ahmed Tinubu

  • President Tinubu and Nigeria’s Economy Remodeling

    President Tinubu and Nigeria’s Economy Remodeling

    By Adefolarin A. Olamilekan

    “We shall remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty”

    The above quote was copy from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugural address on Monday at the Eagle Square in Abuja as the 16th President of Nigeria.
    Interestingly, the speech though was less motivating and disappointing to some of his critics. Considered to be rhetorical without substance.
    Meanwhile to his supporters and APC faithful, the speech is a deep reflection of what need to be done as a government ready to hit the ground running.
    Nevertheless, the speech did provides angle the new APC government under the leadership of President Tinubu want to take Nigerians through.
    Moreso, that it has assured Nigerians of his determination to “govern, rather than rule them, promising to engage in consultations and never to dictate to the people”.
    While declaring the administration’s readiness to remove fuel subsidy and re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions”.
    President Tinubu call on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to work towards having a unified exchange rate.
    According to President Tinubu Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.
    President Tinubu also promised to ensure budgetary reform, stimulating the economy without engendering inflation.
    He said there will be “an industrial policy that will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.
    In addition, to his plans is to make electricity more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Promising to double power generation and improve transmission and distribution networks improved. By also encouraging states to develop local power sources as well. His government would review all “multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions,”
    And promised to ensure that investors and foreign businesses “repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home”.
    Algain, he said his government would initiate bill to allow the administrations to embark on “labour-intensive infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly and vulnerable”,
    Meanwhile, he reiterate the administrations position to make agricultural a hubs of value-added processing sector.
    By also introducing best “modern practices in the livestock sector that would minimize the perennial conflict over land and water resources in this sector”.
    As well as creating a secured rural incomes through “commodity exchange boards. That would guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products” Yet still, he promised a proactive steps in strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies”,
    While he intend to effectively tackle the menace of insecurity, by reforming the security doctrine and its architecture. His administration shall “invest more in security personnel, increase there number. better training, equipment, pay and firepower.
    Tinubu presidency foreign policy objective is the peace and stability of the West African subregion and the African continent at large. Less we forget, the government promised to create meaningful opportunities for our youths by creating one million new jobs in the digital economy.
    Having said, the point of departure for this pieces is centred on government plans to remodeled the Nigeria’s Economy.
    A very laudable ambitious that reminds us of successive government action of the past in this same trajectories.
    A not too far voyage of this sort was the economic diversification of the Buhari administration. Although, set in it own Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP 2016-2018).
    The goals and objectives set were simple only to be complicated in terms implementation. So also is the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration. Well captured to take Nigeria’s out of our rentier crude oil dollar economy.
    Alaas, same fate of poorly implementation caused a reversal of the polices. From, this two experiences, there is nothing wrong in trying again or engaging in another policy initiative to salvage the economy.
    Particularly, as the past failure to have a functional economy remains the core critical crisis we are faced today
    Currently, the GDP ending quarter 1 going into second quarter is slow with 2.31%. Unemployment is soaring close to 37% with KPMG 43% projection steering us in the face.
    Our 133 million multidimensional poverty riding brothers and sisters are hangers in the neighborhood.
    Sadly also, food inflation of 19% is just too scary to contend with, not to mentioned the deficiency that manufacturing sector face with crippling cost of production and zero returned on investment.
    We don’t need to reminds President Tinubu, all these paths suffocated the economy. Instructively, it is our patriotic zeal that we let him understand that previous government also speak in this light, proposed a way out but caged it self through cosmetic programs called economic diversification or transformation.
    Now for president Tinubu it is remodeling our economy. Fine, it a welcoming and brilliant development ideas. Even has the president promised making public detail key aspects of his programme.
    Nevertheless, we see need to critically point out some core areas this remodeling of economy must not failed to appreciate. First, is science and technology that in today global economy. No emerging economies slack on this to move forward, there is already a road map through the 2021 – 2025 National development plan documents that incorporate science, technology and innovation into our economy volume. Secondly, is the aspect of localization of the industrial base sector through incentive of power, electricity, road infrastructure and human capital development. What this entails is encouraging needed facilities for rural and semi urban areas for the establishment of industries. Meanwhile this industry would be align to turn our raw material into finished product for local consumption and export.
    Lastly, this bordered on economic inter governmental relations between the federal and subnational government. Expressly, any economy remodeling that failed to incorporate subnational government is time bound to failed. A case in point is the transformation agenda policy and economic diversification.
    Tinubu speech may lack ingredients to delivered the economy, what is paramount is implementation and deliverable positive results.
    As late Nigeria’s foremost Economist Sir Henry Boyo would always say “May God save Nigeria’s Economy “

  • Buhari Confers GCFR, GCON Titles On Tinubu, Shettima

    Buhari Confers GCFR, GCON Titles On Tinubu, Shettima

    President Muhammadu Buhari will has conferred National Honours on president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima.

    Tinubu and Shettima were conferred with the National Honours of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).

    The investiture which took place at the State House Conference Center in Abuja, is part of a series of events lined up for the May 29 inauguration ceremony.

    Inauguration: DSS Warns Against Unruly Behaviours, Non-Adherence To Protocols

    Expected also to happen today is an official handover of Transition Documents to the incoming Administration, a process that some believe will be the most organized and seamless Presidential Transition in the history of Nigeria, enabled by Executive Order 14 signed by President Buhari.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha who doubles as Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council, had disclosed at a briefing last Thursday, that an Inauguration Lecture on the topic: Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development by His Excellency, Uhuru M. Kenyatta, former President of Kenya will take place on Saturday 27th May.

    This will be followed closely by a Children’s Day Program which would involve a parade and a party for the kids.

    As part of the schedule of activities marking the 2023 Presidential Inauguration, an Inter-denominational Church Service will hold Sunday the 28th at the National Christian Centre by 10:00am and an Inauguration Dinner/Gala Night will take place later on at the State House Conference Centre.

    The SGF further stated that on Monday, 29th May, the Inauguration Parade and Swearing-In exercise will take place at the Eagle Square by 10:00am, this is to be followed afterwards by a Post Inauguration Luncheon.

    Boss Mustapha assured that adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of all people throughout the inauguration period.

  • Tribunal Gives Obi, Atiku 3Weeks To Prove Case Against Tinubu

    Tribunal Gives Obi, Atiku 3Weeks To Prove Case Against Tinubu

    The Presidential Election Petition Court has given three weeks to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku; and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, to prove their cases regarding outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

    This was stated during a proceeding at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday.

    In order to ensure a speedy hearing of the petition, the court said there would be no oral examination of witnesses and that the adoption of witness statements will be required.

    For star (or expert) witnesses, 30 minutes shall be used for evidence in chief, while 20 minutes will be for cross-examination, and five minutes for re-examination.

    Peter Obi’s hearing is to commence on May 30 and end June 23.

    For the PDP’s part, Atiku was also given three weeks to prove his case, with hearing commencing on May 30 and ending on June 20.

    The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) was given one day to prove its case as it had only one witness to call.

    In line with Section 41(3) of the 1st Schedule of the Electoral Act, the court added that there shall be no oral examination of witnesses as witnesses will only be allowed to adopt their written statements.

    APM’s hearing will begin on May 30 to end July 3 and is expected to close its evidence on June 6.

    The First Respondent (INEC) was given two days, while the 2nd and 3rd respondents (Tinubu and APC) have five days.

    Hearing for the consolidated suit is to commence on May 30 across the board while Labour Party and the PDP would close theirs on June 23.

    The Tribunal is also expected to sit all week, including Saturdays.

  • Pro-APC Group Tasks Tinubu on Competency, Urges Him To Rescue Nigeria

    Pro-APC Group Tasks Tinubu on Competency, Urges Him To Rescue Nigeria

    By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

    Ahead of his May 29 inauguration, a socio-political group committed to liberal democratic government of national unity, has commended the President -elect, Mr Bola Tinubu, for his open declaration to run the new administration with competent Nigerians of all divides, irrespective of ethno-religious sensibilities.

    The organization, Abak Five- In – One Consolidated Movement (AFCM), in a communique after its enlarged meeting yesterday in Uyo, t
    decried pockets of petitions against the emergence of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket, describing such action as the handiwork of mischief makers with the sole aim of fanning the embers of ethnicity to overheat the polity.

    Urging the President-elect not to be wavered in his avowed mission to re-launch the country along the path of socio-economic recovery with the help of competent technocrats, the International President of the group, Prince Kokoette Ekpo, who read the communique, made a case for the former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Udom Ekpoudom, as the next cabinet member to represent Akwa Ibom State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), in the new dispensation.

    Ekpo, who applauded Tinubu, for rooting for the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President, recalled the role the former Police chief played for him (Akpabio) to emerge as the APC Senatorial candidate and subsequent victory at the polls, noting that such gesture should be rewarded.

    According to the communique, “we can recall that after the Supreme Court ruling gave victory to Senator Akpabio, DIG Ekpoudom, displayed true spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the outcome in good faith, and offered to work for the success of the party in all the elections, which ensured that Tinubu secured more votes and three National Assembly members emerged from the State.

    “Ekpoudom, is a loyal and committed party man, who has over the years worked for the unity, progress and development of the party at all levels. He is a detribilized Nigerian, who has paid his dues in public service, and we believe he would work to contribute diligently and positively towards the success of the incoming administration, as well as attracting the much – needed dividends of democracy to the people of the State and the country.”

    Besides, the group commended the APC National Working Committee (NWC), for zoning the Senate presidency slot to the South-South, and applauded Tinubu, for finding Akpabio worthy to occupy the stool in the parliamentary regime, and appealed to him not to succumb to political pressures to rescind his position.

    “South-South has never tasted such position since the return of democracy in 1999. Senator Akpabio, has all it takes to lead the Red Chamber, as a former Governor, Minority Whip, Minister, and a returning Senator. He is a true nationalist that will bring his ingenuity to bear in helping the incoming administration to recreate a new Nigeria of our dream.” The communique stressed.

  • Tinubu Returns To Nigeria After Europe Trip

    Tinubu Returns To Nigeria After Europe Trip

    President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Saturday returned to the country after a 10-day trip to Europe ahead of his inauguration on May 29.

    Tinubu had on May 10 left the country, just two weeks after he returned to the country from a three-country tour which saw him visiting London, Saudi Arabia and Paris.

    He was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and a host of others.

    According to an earlier statement from the Office of the President-elect signed by Tunde Rahman, the trip became necessary to allow Tinubu carry out some tasks without unnecessary pressure and distractions.

    “He will use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions”, Rahman had stated.

  • Tinubu Opposes Live Broadcast Of Presidential Tribunal Hearing

    Tinubu Opposes Live Broadcast Of Presidential Tribunal Hearing

    The President-elect Bola Tinubu has opposed the application by his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a live broadcast of the proceedings of the election petition.

    In response to the application, Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, through the team of their lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun said the application is an “abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

    They implored the Presidential Election Petition Court to dismiss the application, arguing that the relief demanded by the applicants is not such that the court could grant it.

    The respondents said, “With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

    They further said the request of Atiku and his party should not be thrown out because the court “is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.”

    They stated, in the counter affidavit, that the application was linked to policy formulation of the court, which is outside the PEPC’s jurisdiction as constituted.

    “The application also touches on the powers and jurisdiction invested in the President of the Court of Appeal by the Constitution, over which this honourable court as presently constituted cannot entertain.

    “The application touches on the administrative functions, which are exclusively reserved for the President of the Court of Appeal.

    “The application is aimed at dissipating the precious judicial time of this honourable court.

    “The said application does not have any bearing with the petition filed by the petitioners before this honourable court.

    “It is in the interest of justice for this honourable court to dismiss the said application filed by the petitioners,” they said.

    In an attached written address, the respondents criticised the applicants’ reference to the fact that virtual proceedings were allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    They argued that Atiku and the PDP failed to highlight the fact that practice directions were made by the respective courts for the exercise.

    “Another angle to this very curious application is the invitation it extends to the court to make an order that it cannot supervise.

    “The position of the law remains, and we do submit that the court, like nature, does not make an order in vain, or an order which is incapable of enforcement,” the respondents stated.

    They further said that “At the very best, this application is academic, very otiose, very unnecessary, very time-wasting, most unusual and most unexpected, particularly, from a set of petitioners, who should be praying for the expeditious trial of their petition.

    “Petitioners have brought their application under Section 36(3) of the Constitution which provides that the proceedings of a court/tribunal shall be held in public.

    “The word ‘public’ as applied under Section 36(3) of the Constitution has been defined in a plethora of judicial authorities to mean a place where members of the public have unhindered access, and the court itself, sitting behind open doors, not in the camera.

    “Even in situations where a class action is presented, the particular people constituting the class being represented by the plaintiffs or petitioners are always defined in the originating process.

    “Here, in this application, the public at whose behest this application has been presented is not defined, not known, not discernable.

    “Beyond all these, it is our submission that the court of law must and should always remain what it is, what it should be and what it is expected to be: a serene, disciplined, hallowed, tranquil, honourable and decorous institution and place.

    “It is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.

    “With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

  • Court Adjourns Obi’s Pre-Hearing Against Tinubu To May 19

    Court Adjourns Obi’s Pre-Hearing Against Tinubu To May 19

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned to Friday, May 19 for continuation of pre-hearing in the petition by presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi against the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu.

    LP National Chairman, Julius Abure was also in court on Wednesday. The party’s factional chairman, Lamidi Apapa was also present.

    The Tribunal had last week adjourned the pre-hearing session on Obi and the LP’s petition till May 17 at the instance of the petitioners.

    On Wednesday, the justices arrived to commence the day’s proceedings and also refused to acknowledge the representation of the party aside from Obi.

    A mild drama, however, ensured between the two camps of the Labour Party on which group should be in court.

    The Tribunal refused to take an appearance for the LP as acting National Chairman of the party, Lamidi Apapa, as well as the National Women’s Leader of the party, Dudu Manugu, tried to make an appearance for Labour Party when the petition was called.

    Justice Haruna Tsamani noted that if two persons are making an appearance for the party, they will not be put on record.

    Apapa had attempted to occupy the seat reserved for the Abure but was resisted.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel for Labour Party, Livy Uzoukwu informed the court that the scheduled meeting to agree on documents to be tendered for hearing hasn’t yielded much results as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has only made available 30% of the documents required from them.

    He added that this is contrary to commitment by the INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, that all documents required shall be made available.

    He further added that the party is yet to get documents with respect to Rivers State where he said the Resident Electoral Commissioner said there are no forms EC8A available to be given but is yet to put that in writing despite request to do so.

    Counsel for INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, however, said he is taken aback by the allegations of the counsel for the Labour party as they they did not show up for the meeting as agreed, and walked out of the rescheduled meeting.

    Abubakar added that the documents for Rivers and Sokoto states, where indeed provided, but the Labour Party refused to pay the sum of 1.5million naira for Sokoto State, and the Form EC8A for Rivers State, have not been given to them.

    He added that some documents were given to the party, but refused to collect it until it was complete.

    He assured the court that they were doing everything possible to assist the court in an open manner.

    He added that they are ready to pay any amount of money for a document.

  • Action Alliance Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu

    Action Alliance Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu

    The Action Alliance, AA, has withdrawn the petition it filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    The party, on Monday, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, applied to discontinue further proceedings in the matter, shortly after the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, kick-started its pre-hearing session.

    Oba, SAN, told the court that the petitioners filed a withdrawal notice on May 3.

    Meanwhile, following a no-objection stance by all the respondents in the matter, the Justice Haruna Tsammani led five-member panel dismissed the petition.

    Specifically, AA had in the petition marked CA/PEPC/01/2023, which it filed on March 16, insisted that though its candidate, Solomon Okanigbuan, was validly nominated to contest the presidential election, he was however unlawfully excluded by INEC.

    The party maintained that the presidential election was thus, “invalid for non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, as amended”.

    It argued that Tinubu “was thus not validly elected as his election contravenes the Electoral Act, the 1999 Constitution and INEC Guidelines for the 2023 general elections.”

    The petitioners told the court that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was cited as the 4th Respondent, was not a member of the AA and was not sponsored by the party, adding that he did not participate in its presidential primary election.

  • Alleged Drug Case: Why We Can’t Arrest And Prosecute Tinubu – NDLEA

    Alleged Drug Case: Why We Can’t Arrest And Prosecute Tinubu – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has filed a preliminary objection to a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a chieftain of the opposition party, Senator Dino Melaye, seeking an order of mandamus to compel the anti-drug agency to arrest and prosecute President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over alleged forfeiture of some funds in his bank accounts over two decades ago in the United States.

    Vanguard reports that in its notice of preliminary objection signed and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday April 26, by its Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Nbona Sunday, the NDLEA argued that the application by the PDP, which is the 1st applicant, with Melaye as 2nd, is incompetent, adding that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it and, as such, should be struck out.

    Listing its grounds for the objection, the NDLEA said both PDP and Dino Melaye “do not have a locus standi, they do not possess an interest peculiar to them and above the interests of all other Nigerians, adding that the investigation and prosecution of Tinubu were targeted at removing him as a bona-fide candidate in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

    The agency said that ;

    “Order of mandamus is an equitable remedy and should only be applied for in good faith and should not produce an indirect or underlying result. The Doctrine of Judicial Self-restraint precludes this Honourable Court from delving into matters with political colouration or matters aimed at getting direct or indirect political goals.”

    While noting that the foundation of the PDP application was the proceeding of the US District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division in the US, it said “the judgment in the said proceeding was given with prejudice, adding that “the said proceedings and judgment have no judicial value”, and as such “the supposed cause of action of this suit as constituted is baseless and legally unsustainable.”

    In a sworn affidavit in support of the NDLEA’s preliminary objection, a litigation officer attached to its Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services, Chia Cosmas Depunn, said that as an independent agency of government saddled with the responsibility to investigate, arrest and prosecute persons involved in drug trafficking and other related offences in Nigeria, the agency has a healthy relationship with the government of the United States, saying the name of Tinubu “by whatever acronyms or combination of names has never featured in the exchanges we had with the United States of America.”

  • Tinubu Finally Returns To Nigeria

    Tinubu Finally Returns To Nigeria

    President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has returned back to Nigeria after a long break abroad.

    Tinubu’s return to Nigeria was confirmed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga on Monday.