Featured
Buhari Practicing Nuclear Nepotism – Secondus …As President Bows To Pressure To Review Appointment
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, says that Nigeria was going through what it never bargained for in All Progressives Congress (APC) administration with its “nuclear nepotism form of government.”
The PDP boss told the party’s caucus at the National Assembly, last Tuesday night, that all hands must be on deck to save this country from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Secondus described the Buhari government as “a monumental disaster”.
A statement issued by the Media Adviser to the PDP chairman, Mr Ike Abonyi, in Abuja, last Wednesday, said that Secondus, who led other members of the National Working Committee of the party to the National Assembly, said they came to rub minds and see how “we can save this country.”
Secondus said, “I have come with members of the NWC of our party to thank you for the mandate you gave us at the successful National Convention, last year, and to charge you to redouble your efforts for the eventual humiliation of the APC in 2019.
“The National Assembly is the centre of national politics; Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder waiting to explode; only the PDP can save it.”
Secondus said that Nigerians had seen what they never bargained for in the last 32 months of the APC administration, adding that “people are being killed on a daily basis, nuclear nepotism is in vogue, and you have to come from Daura to be appointed into a federal position.
“This is the time for all to stand up to save this country, and all eyes are on the PDP to lead the way. I am ready and determined even to be arrested for us to regain our liberty in this land.
“What we have, ruling Nigeria today at the Villa is a broken party and a broken government, spiritually, the APC has already left the Villa, what we must fine tune is the physical accomplishment.”
The PDP chairman charged its NASS members to brace for the challenges ahead since they were the leaders of the party at the grassroots.
He assured them that the NWC under his leadership “is not going to be in Wadata, we are taking the party to the grassroots where the true owners reside.”
The meeting was attended by all the PDP members in the Senate and House of Representatives, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the Minority Senate Leader, Godswill Akpabio.
Meanwhile, a lawyer, Mr Francis Moneke, has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly ignoring the principle of federal character in the appointment of security chiefs.
The lawyer, in his suit, accused the President of being nepotistic in his key appointments by allegedly favouring northerners.
Moneke claimed that “the pattern of appointments of key and strategic security, intelligence and law enforcement office-holders, clearly shows favouritism and nepotism on the part of the 1st respondent (Buhari) in favour of the people from the northern part of the country where he comes from, against me and people from the southern part of the country, especially the South-East, where I come from.”
He claimed to have been put at a disadvantage on account of the alleged nepotism on the part of the President.
He argued that with the alleged nepotism, the President had violated his (Moneke’s) fundamental right to freedom from discrimination guaranteed under Section 42 (1) & (2) of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally bowed to intense pressure from millions of Nigerians on his lopsided appointment of security chiefs under his administration.
Consequently, Buhari has told Catholic bishops in Abuja, yesterday, that he would take a second look at appointments made by the Federal Government to redress issues being raised.
He said the review will be done after a compendium of all appointments has been submitted to him.
The president told the bishops, under the aegis of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, that no ethnic group or political zone has been deliberately marginalised in the appointments made so far by his administration.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
-
News4 days agoAkpabio Seeks Nigeria, Serbia Parliamentary Collaboration
-
Rivers4 days agoNCSU Hails Release Of Fubara’s Supporters
-
Maritime4 days agoTin Can NCS Generates N303.9bn In Q1
-
News4 days agoOur Policies Aligning With Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Mantra For Nigeria -Gov Fubara
-
Business4 days agoPaper Industry’s Economic Contribution Hits N398bn
-
News4 days agoPolice Attribute Societal Decay To Parents’ Too Much Love For Children
-
Sports4 days agoTennis: Abuja Set To Host Davis Cup
-
Niger Delta4 days agoHYPREP’s Livelihood Training: Dana Air Employs Three Ogoni Youths