Politics
Again, Reps Give CBN Governor Two Days To Appear Over Withdrawal Limit
The House of Representatives has again given two days ultimatum, for the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, to appear before it, to explain the new policy of cash withdrawal limit.
The House gave the ultimatum in Abuja yesterday, while reading a letter by Emefiele, explaining why he could not appear today during plenary.
The Tide source reports that this was due to his inability to appear before the House during the first summon, sequel to the resolution passed by the House on December 15 for him to appear to explain the new policy.
The speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the House should resolve to invite the CBN Governor, to brief it on December 22, or invite his deputy, who is well equipped, to come and brief the House on the new policy.
In his letter, Emefiele had said that he was unavoidably absent, as he was in the US with the President, on official visit, adding that the House should give him another date.
Gbajabiamila said, “ The earlier date is today, at 10 a.m, and just yesterday, the clerk received a letter where it was stated that the CBN Governor was regrettably unavailable because he has other official engagement.”
In his contribution, Rep. Yusuf Gadgi (APC-Plateau), said there was need for public officers to account for their activities before the national assembly, whenever they were called upon.
According to him, public officers should know that it was not the speaker or any member that was inviting the CBN Governor to come and explain some of the policies that Nigerians need to know.
“I am not against the policy, but against disrespect for the speaker, who is the symbol of this House.
“We have name to protect, we should be mindful of the impression the House is given, coming back to address some of these policies is important and we will not tolerate further excuses,” he said.
Responding, Rep. Femi Bamishile (APC-Ekiti), appealed to members of the house, to exercise patience, adding that the letter to the CBN Governor came when he was out of the country
He said a new date could be given to the CBN Governor, while urging the speaker to give him a new date.
On his part, Rep Cook Olododo (SDP-Kwara), asked if the Speaker of the House was sure that the CBN Governor would be available on the new date.
Rep Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority Leader of the House, said the house had taken a position, adding that the issue of inviting the CBN Governor was just to fulfil all rigthousness.
“We have asked him to stop the implementation of the policy. What we should be looking at, is whether he will disregard the resolution and go ahead with the policy,” he said.
Al-Hassan Doguwa, the Majority leader of the House, said it would not be too bad if the governor should come and explain the new policy before the house.
He added that in this case, questions could be raised when he comes, adding that it would help the house to make informed decision.
The speaker, however, said the important thing was to get proper briefing and based on the law, the governor should brief this house.
“At this point we will be requesting for the official assignment that will keep the CBN governor away from the country for that long.
Gbajabiamila later clarified that the invitation to Emefiele was not from the speaker, but from the House, adding that his refusal to come today should not be seen as disrespect to him.
Politics
Senegal: Faye Set To Become Youngest Elected African President As Rival Concedes Defeat
Senegalese politician, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, (44), is set to become the youngest elected leader on the African continent.
While Faye’s main rival, Amadou Ba, from the ruling coalition had said a run-off might happen to determine the winner, at least five of the 19 candidates in the race had issued statements to congratulate Faye as of early Monday.
“For our part, and considering the feedback of the results from our team of experts, we are certain that, in the worst case scenario, we will go to a run-off,” Ba, a former Senegalese Prime Minister, had said.
But as Faye’s lead got wider, Ba called to concede victory in Sunday’s presidential elections, BBC quoted a government official to have said.
Faye’s lead had spurred his followers to troop out in celebration on the streets of the capital, Dakar, on Sunday.
Reports revealed that millions took part in a peaceful day of voting to elect Senegal’s fifth president after three years of unprecedented political turbulence that triggered violent anti-government protests and bolstered support for the opposition.
Faye is a Senegalese politician and a former tax inspector, who also served as the General Secretary of dissolved PASTEF.
He contested the highest political position in the West African country in place of disqualified candidate Ousmane Sonko.
Senegalese voters had a choice among 19 contenders to replace Sall, who is stepping down after a second term marred by unrest over the prosecution of opposition leader Sonko.
The incumbent was not on the ballot for the first time in Senegal’s history. His ruling coalition picked Ba, 62, as its candidate.
In a country of over 18 million people, 7.3 million people were registered to vote, and about 71 percent voter turnout was recorded, Senegal’s State TV reported.
Politics
Writing Judgment For Presidential Election Tribunal Allegation, FG Arraigns One
The Federal Government has arraigned one Chike Ibezim for allegedly defaming Babatunde Fashola, former Minister of Works and Housing.
Ibezim is one of three individuals who alleged that Fashola had written the judgments of the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) that dismissed the petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibezim was arraigned on Monday before a federal high court in Abuja on a six-count charge.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023, borders on criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation, among others.
The matter is before Bolaji Olajuwon and has been adjourned till April 15 for continuation of trial.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit an illegal Act to wit: criminal conspiracy; when you jointly agreed to publish a defamatory statement of false allegations in your online social media, the reportera.ng news, against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.”
However, Fashola said the allegation was “baseless and defamatory”.
The former minister described those behind the allegations as “agents of destabilisation”.
Politics
Soludo’s Performance Assessment, APGA Tackles LP Chieftain
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has faulted a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Valentine Ozigbo, over his comments that the performance of Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, after two years in office, was “not impressive.”
Mr Ozigbo, who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, now a chieftain of the LP, stated during an interactive session with journalists last weekend that he was not impressed about Governor Soludo’s performance and has therefore decided to contest the 2025 governorship election in the state.
He said, “We have seen the leadership of Soludo in two years, and some of you may be impressed, but I am not. After the last election in 2021, I called and wished him well and moved on, and we have never spoken again. My decision was to assess him after two years, and having seen it, I am not impressed, and I want to start holding him accountable.
“I am here to share my thoughts with you, what I think, and no matter how you see what he (Soludo) is doing, you will be more proud when I mount the saddle.
“We need to change the narrative and look for a way to survive. We must fight to rescue Anambra. I am a non-transactional politician. I have several things I can do, but my worry is how we can recover the state and put her on the path of development.
“Zoning is a good thing. But it must be combined with competence to make sense. Don’t pick a renegade just because he is from a certain zone, and don’t pick the best, when you know you can pick one that is better.”
Mr Ozigbo said further, “I respect zoning, and I will be making a case for a single term of four years. Anyone who sees what Alex Otti is doing in Abia State will know that four years is enough time to do a lot of work.
“I will honour that principle of zoning, and I will not need anyone’s push or prompting to do otherwise. I will be ready to do an agreement and do an undertaking that I will do just one term. I also wish to tell you that Peter Obi has been consistent that a southerner who emerges will only do one term.
“It is a settled matter that I intend to run for just one term. I intend to keep faith with the agreement.”
But reacting to the development in a telephone interview with The Tide’s source on Monday, APGA spokesman, Tony Olisa-Mbeki, dismissed Mr Ozigbo’s utterances, insisting he has nothing to offer the people of the state.
Mr Olisa-Mbeki said, “He is a political stooge. What could he possibly bring in? Last I checked, he only managed Transcorp Hotel. Is that a qualification to be a governor in Anambra State? Soludo runs an inclusive government in Anambra; that is why he holds town hall meetings with different sectors. What other approach to governance is Ozigbo talking about?
“Anambra State governance is not for learners like Ozigbo. Ozigbo can’t even give a good lecture; he would be better suited working as a PA to any governor. Ozigbo’s aspirations in the previous gubernatorial contest in Anambra found him trailing in third place under the banner of the PDP, despite the staunch endorsement from former APGA governor, Peter Obi.
“That alone should tell him that APGA is like an apostle’s creed to Ndi Anambra. However, what reforms could Ozigbo propose? Anambra State, under Governor Soludo’s leadership, is a testament to political and socio-economic ingenuity.”
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