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Atiku: I will Unite Nigeria if Elected President

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  • Atiku: I will Unite Nigeria if Elected President

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, on Thursday in Enugu State vowed to unite Nigeria if elected president in 2019, lamenting that the country has never been “this divided in its history from independence till date.”

Atiku, who is also one of the politicians seeking the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 presidential election, stated this when he took his nationwide tour to the state where he met with party leaders at the party’s secretariat.

The former vice president who literally shut down the Coal City state, having driven through major roads from the Akanu Ibiam International airport with thousands of supporters to the party office, declared that he remained the most prepared of all the aspirants to pull the country out of its present decrepit level.

While urging Nigerians to unite against the re-election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2019, Atiku lamented that the administration had almost destroyed all the fabrics holding the country together and as such, does not deserve a second mandate.

He said the present administration had totally abandoned all its electioneering promises of enthroning genuine change in the country, adding that while insecurity had assumed a higher proportion, the economy had totally crumbled.

The presidential aspirant appealed to party leaders and delegates from the state PDP to support his bid to clinch the party’s ticket during its primary election later in the year, insisting that he possessed the political, economic and administrative acumen to lead Nigeria from poverty to prosperity.

The ex-VP expressed dismay that the present administration had grounded the economy from economic growth rate of seven percent it inherited from former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to less than two percent.

He added that unemployment was on the increase, while every year, since 2015 when APC took over the reins of governance, about three million jobs had been lost annually.

“So if you are looking for an experienced politician, I’m here. If you are looking for a politician who has the experience of governing, I’m also here. If you are looking for a politician who is a business man, who can create jobs for you, who can bring about investment for this country, I’m also here. If you are looking for a politician who can unite this country, whether you are Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or Fulani, whatever you are, I’m also here.

“So, my brothers and sisters of Enugu State, we are facing challenging times in our country. Today, our economy is at its lowest ebb. You know what? The last PDP government of President Jonathan achieved an economic growth of over seven percent; this government took it over and crashed it to less than two percent.

“This government has brought the worst insecurity in this country. Today, in my part of the country, our traders cannot go to the market, our farmers cannot farm simply because they might be kidnapped and killed,” he lamented.

Some of the party leaders who spoke at the event, including former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia; Senator. Fidelis Okolo, Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi and the state Chairman of PDP, Chief Augustine Nnamani, represented by his deputy, Mr. Innocent Ezeoha, extolled the leadership credentials of the former vice president.

According, to them, the presidential aspirant possessed the wherewithal to lead the country out of the woods and to economic prosperity.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Government

Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for 3 Months Over Budget Padding Allegations

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The Senate has announced the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central and chairs the Senate Committee on Population, had made the claims in a recent interview with the Hausa service of the BBC.

During a plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion to address Ningi’s allegations, citing the urgent need to address what he termed as “false allegations.”

The transcript of Ningi’s interview was read on the Senate floor, prompting deliberation on the appropriate action to take.

Initially, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi, but Senator Chris Ekpeyong moved to reduce it to six months.

Eventually, Senator Garba Maidoki amended the motion further, suggesting a three-month suspension.

The amended motion was put to a voice vote, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision to suspend Ningi for three months.

Following the ruling, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by the Sergeants-at-arms.

The suspension comes amidst division within the Senate over Ningi’s claims, with some senators disowning his allegations and calling for a thorough investigation.

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Ekiti Governor Unveils Multi-Billion Naira Relief Programmes Amid Economic Crisis

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Biodun Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has announced a comprehensive relief package aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the people of the state.

The relief programs encompass various sectors to cushion the impact of the economic downturn.

One of the key initiatives entails clearing salary arrears amounting to over N2.7 billion owed to both State and Local Government workers.

This move signifies the government’s commitment to addressing the financial burdens faced by its workforce.

Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji has approved a substantial increase of N600 million per month in the subvention of autonomous institutions, including the Judiciary and tertiary institutions.

This augmentation is intended to enable these institutions to implement wage awards in alignment with State and Local Government workers’ salaries.

In addition to addressing salary arrears, the relief programs extend to pensioners, with the approval of payments totaling N1.5 billion for two months’ pension arrears.

Moreover, an increase in the monthly gratuity payment to state pensioners and local government pensioners will provide additional financial support, totaling N200 million monthly.

The relief initiatives also encompass agricultural and small-scale business sectors.

The allocation of funds for food production and livestock transformation projects underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and economic sustainability at the grassroots level.

Governor Oyebanji emphasized that these relief programs are part of the state’s concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the economic downturn and foster shared prosperity.

The comprehensive nature of the initiatives reflects a proactive approach towards addressing the challenges faced by Ekiti State residents.

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President Tinubu Orders Immediate Settlement of N342m Electricity Bill for Presidential Villa

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the prompt settlement of a N342 million outstanding electricity bill owed by the Presidential Villa to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

This move comes in response to the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC.

The AEDC had earlier threatened to disconnect electricity services to the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over a total outstanding debt of N47.20 billion as of December 2023.

Contrary to the initial claim by the AEDC that the State House owed N923 million in electricity bills, the Presidency clarified that the actual outstanding amount is N342.35 million.

This discrepancy underscores the importance of accurate accounting and reconciliation between entities.

In a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency affirmed the commitment to settle the debt promptly.

Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila assured that the debt would be paid to the AEDC before the end of the week.

The directive from the Presidency extends beyond the State House, as Gbajabiamila urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with the AEDC and settle their outstanding electricity bills.

The AEDC, on its part, issued a 10-day notice to the affected government agencies to settle their debts or face disconnection.

This development highlights the importance of financial accountability and responsible management of public utilities.

It also underscores the necessity for government entities to fulfill their financial obligations to service providers promptly, ensuring uninterrupted services and avoiding potential disruptions.

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