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Naira’s Value, Fuel Scarcity, Inflation Threaten Political Campaigns

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In Nigeria, from time, electioneering campaigns time is usually a jamboree, akin to Christmas festivities. Colourful streets rallies, with generous distributions of various gift items, including foodstuffs, always added colours to the season. Then, there was usually, a beehive of activities around the country. The colourful campaign rallies, the various women’s groups singing and dancing, the coterie of ubiquitous army of vendors, selling various party’s memorabilia, T-shirts, scarves, hats and endless other gear would be over the place. These coupled with the accompanying fleet of branded parties’ vehicles, always create an exciting atmosphere. But now, that was then, a once upon a time folklores for the bedtime tales. All these, sadly, with the drastic downturn in the purchasing power of the nation’s currency, Naira, are fast fading into an oblivion, a part of the nation’s past.

Therefore, in the run up to a major election in the past, especially general elections, involving the presidential contest, when it is some few weeks to the kick off of the balloting, the whole country would have been turned into a huge beehive of political jamboree. Parties would be feverishly organising campaign rallies, talks, jingles in the media, but the hard time in the country, seems to have hugely impacted on the activities of the parties, as most of the parties have toned down their activities most drastically.

Now rather than the colourful huge rallies, most political parties are now adopting a novel informal new ideas, like the town hall meetings, groups’ engagements and more, media most particularly by deploying heavy social media arsenal and the broadcast fireworks.

By the scheduled Time Table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the parties were to start their campaigns towards the general elections by September 28. But till date, its being a lukewarm approach to open campaigns by the parties.

According to INEC, eighteen parties were officially registered by the electoral commission for the coming general elections. Of the eighteen registered parties, as at the close of nominations for the presidential candidates in June, only sixteen of them have concluded their primaries elections to nominate their presidential candidates. And more most unexplainable is the fact that in the gubernatorial contests, no state have more than five parties battling for the governorship seat. The front-runners in the coming general elections appeared to be the usual ones; the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leads the pack with the rival main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With the defection of the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi to the Labour Party, the hitherto party has become active and vibrant. It has suddenly feasted on the support base of the PDP and now a driving force as th e nation snails gradually towards the February 25 general elections. There is also the fledging New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) to complete the quartet of presidential aspirants who may appear in the first four on the list when the results are announced.

In the race towards the coming elections, as it has always been, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Accord Party (AP), Advanced Democratic Party (ADC), are mostly a loosed wretched platforms for disgruntled aspirants who failed in the major parties to either test their popularity at the polls, or to out rightly play a spoiler’s game.

Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have released the final list of the presidential candidates it cleared to contest the 25 February election. Among those cleared are the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said the sixteen of the eighteen registered political parties fielded candidates for the presidential election.

He also disclosed that only 1,101 candidates are vying for the 109 senatorial seats while 3,122 candidates are vying for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives. These figures are far cry from the 1,962 that were suppose to be vying for the Senate and 6,480 for the Federal House of Representatives if all the parties had fielded candidates across the states.

The electoral body gave the names of the presidential candidates of all the parties participating in the next year presidential elections as:

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP)and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Osita Nnadi, presidential candidate of Action Peoples Party (APP) and his running mate, Isa Hamisu.

Abiola Kolawole, presidential candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and his running mate, Ribi Marshal

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party and his running mate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa.

Yabagi Sani, presidential candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and his running mate, Udo Okey -Okoro

Ado-Ibrahim Abdulmalik, presidential candidate, Young Progressives Party (YPP) and his running mate, Enyinna Kasarachi.

Omoyele Sowere, presidential candidate African Action Congress (AAC ) and his running mate, Garba Magashi

Mamman Dantalle, presidential candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and his running mate Ojei Princess

Chukwudi Umeadi presidential candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his running mate Koli Mohammed.

Oluwafemi Adenuga, presidential candidate of Boot Party (BP) and the running mate Turaku Mustapha

Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu, presidential candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the running mate, Ramalan Abubakar

Dumebi Kachikwu presidential candidate, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his running mate, Ahmed Mani.

Hamsa Almustafa, presidential candidate, Action Aliance (AA) and his running mate Chukwuka Johnson among others.

Electoral contests in Nigeria is purely a financial warfare. It is usually the party and candidates with the heaviest financial war chest that triumphs at the polls. At all levels, insane sums of money are involved. From political mobilization, to media campaigns, publicity materials, to compromising the system, both security and electoral personnel, it is always, financial muscle flexing. The candidate with the deepest pockets survive the hurricane.

An analyst, Mr. John Adekoya recounted the hard experience of President Muhammadu Buhari during the campaigns towards the general elections in 2011. ‘The then presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate had a scheduled campaign in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, but was stuck in Kaduna. He could not mobilized enough funds to charter flights to Ibadan. He lost the election. That was when naira exchanged for 180 to a US dollars and fuel was 65 naira per litre. Not now when all have shot out of the roofs’, he added.

An analysis of the campaigns expenditures were mind rendering. The presidential contest, by conservative estimates may gulp some one hundred and twenty billion (#125b) naira. This is by sending an average of three billion naira (#3b) to each state, while noting that some states like Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Oyo may take more than the 3 billion naira. At the Federal level, the candidate would dispense nothing less than twenty-five billion (#25b) naira. This is factoring in that the candidate shall recruit agents in all the seven hundred and seventy four (774) local government areas of the country.

This humongous sum is outside the governorship candidates’ spending. A state like Lagos, with her complexities, may gulp up to six – seven billion (#6-7b) naira to prosecute the gubernatorial elections. Other states like Kaduna, Rivers, Oyo and Kano may require up to four billion naira (#4b). All stages of the contests, the Senate, the Federal House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly, will also consume its budgets seperately.

The candidate of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu started with the launching of his ‘Vision and Agenda’ entitled ‘Hope Renewed’ on October 21, in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. Thereafter, he was in Jos, Plateau State to launch his campaigns for the presidency. Since then, the party has resorted to town hall meetings and other informal discussions with various interest groups.

The main opposition party, PDP, after the internecine brickbats between critical stakeholders over selction of candidates and zoning of offices, launched its campaigns. There has been lull in activities around the party since then.

At the states’ level, not much is happening within the parties. The hues and cries are all about poor funding.

As the nation, slowly moves towards the general elections, the poor purchasing power of the country’s currency, Naira, the disruptive fuel scarcity and hyper-inflation in the country, are combining to wreck a debilitating onslaught on the campaigns and others preparations by all the political parties towards the coming general elections in February, 2023.

Now that the nation is nearing the peak of the campaigns, the tripodal factors of low value of the Naira against major international currencies, the disruptive fuel scarcity and the sky-rocketing inflation in the country are threatening to ground the campaigns of some of the parties.

A chieftain of one of the major parties, bemoaned the cruel fate poor finances are having on the campaigns schedule of his candidates. He told www.focusmagazineonline.com in Lagos Thursday (30 November) ‘if we loose this coming elections, is not because of want of efforts or trying, but the poor economy of the country that has almost grounded all sectors, hence our inability to raise funds for our campaigns’

The chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity said: ‘The crises within our party is not even helping us. Lagos is important to us. But here are we, no funds to work with’

He continued: ‘If these unnecessary crises are not there, we can go round and solicit for funds. But now, all are in different camps, and we do not even know who to approach for funding assistance’.

By close of work Friday (2 December) naira, Nigeria’s currency was officially quoted to exchanged for four hundred and fifty naira (450.00) and seven hundred and twenty (720-00) naira at the parallel market, the notorious black market. The implication of this on the current electioneering campaigns is huge. Equally hampering the party’s activities, www.focusmagazineonline.com investigations revealed is the current hyper-inflation in the country.

All the parties, not even those with access to state’s resources, are feeling the heat and are therefore, rescheduling their itineraries and programmes and even reducing their campaign personnel. Most of the party’s stalwarts going out with them for campaigns are unemployed. They take care of them on daily basis.

A contestant disclosed to www.focusmagazinesoline.com that he spends an average of five thousand naira on each of each campaign team daily. He provides food once and gives them three thousand naira when they return from tour everyday. He has been forced to cut down the numbers of party men and women in his team.

To further worsen the issue, the current fuel scarcity has disrupted the schedules of many candidates and parties. The products sold for between two hundred and twenty naira and three hundred naira per litre, both at the gas stations and streets’ vendors.

With these, most of the candidates hardly can move around. At the Oregun Office of the Labour Party’s candidate, Mr. Gbolahan Rhodes-Vivour, www.focusmagazineonline.com learnt that ‘convey movements have been reduced for now. Only the candidates and few important officials now go for tours’.

At the Onipetsi Office of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), www.focusmagazineonline.com gathered that the party is yet to start any serious campaigns, save the tours currently embarked upon by the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Olajide Adediran and his running mate, Mrs. Funke Akindele. The party is yet to come out with an official campaign schedule.

Those spoken to blamed the hazy preparation of lack of funds. ‘The little available cannot even carry the party round five local governments areas’, he said. All efforts to speak with the State Chairman, Mr. Olabode Aivoji were futile, as he was said to be out on meetings.

The situation was not different at the ACME Road Office of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). There was not much activities going on in the secretariat. A source told www.focusmagazineonline.com that ‘since Asiwaju Tinubu is contesting, we have to synchronize our campaigns properly with his. Already, we have launched the State governorship campaigns on Saturday, November 26, once the Governor starts, all will fall in line’.

He also confessed to our correspondents that funds have not been released to the office for campaigns.

The Lagos State chapter of the Committee of Afenifere is backing a former Commissioner for Energy under the governorship administration of Mr. Akin Ambode, Mr. Wale Oluwo of the BOOT Party. The party Wednesday (30 November) inaugurated its campaigns in Lagos. In a very low-keyed event at Antony area of Lagos Mainland, the Director-General of the Campaign, Lanre Anjolaiya said the party represented new ideas, new opportunities, new innovation, adding that “our campaign will be unconventional and it will be unconventional and it will be issue-biased.”

The governorship candidate of the party in Lagos State, Mr Wale Oluwo, a former Commissioner for Energy under the administration of the immediate past governor of the State, Mr. Akin Ambode, said the his party, would based its campaign a weekly media event to proffer solutions to the challenges confronting Lagos State and Nigeria, particularly with regard to the 2023 elections. The media event is named: on BOOT Party Solutions Series.

The event, which took place at Anthony area of the state, had in attendance, the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Balogun; the BP National Chairman, Mr Sunday Adenuga; Chairman, the Lagos chapter of Afenifere, Otunba Tunde Onakoya; DG, Wale Oluwo Campaign Organisation, Mr Lanre Anjolaiya, among others.

What all these dancing around issues by the parties means is that the huge funds to prosecute a flamboyant campaigns are not just there, and in cases where the contestants have access to State funds, high costs of campaign materials and fuelling of campaigns vehicles have destroyed all pre-campaign financial calculations.

A senior member of the APC told www.focusmagazineonline.com that he was interested in coming out for a position when the nomination forms were open, ‘but that when i did my calculatiuons, i simply decided to support whoever can afford to throw such huge amounts up’.

According to him, ‘governorship contest in Lagos State may gulped between eight-ten billion naira, while the Senatorial contest may consumed four billion naira. House of Representatives contest would set the contestant back by not less than one billion naira’, he said.

Now presently, naira is enduring a free fall against the major currency of the World, oscillating between 700 and 800 to a US dollar at the parallel market, while fuel is almost 300 naira per litre, across the nation, many candidates are groaning about the big holes the costs of the campaigns are creating in their finances.

www.focusmagazineonline.com (C2022)

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Tinubu’s Bold Moves Against Poverty, Insecurity

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The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu got cranky late Friday (9 June, 2023). He has been working at breathtaking speed all week long. He had held strategic meetings, focusing mainly on how to resurge the flailing economy. He summoned the Security Chiefs to the Presidential Conference Room in Aso Rock to look also at the worrisome state of insecurity in the country. He surely means business.

His task is well defined. He too blurted out at the inaugural dinner later in the day after the swearing-I ceremonies: “Please do not pity me”. He is focus on revving up the economy, stem the dangerous tide of insecurity across the country, bring the spiralling inflation and bring back the laughter and smiles to the faces of the over two hundred million traumatized Nigerians. 

He pledged defiantly at an interactive session with the Royal Fathers under the aegis of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) at the Aso Villa, Friday (9 June) that “any roadblock in the way of the progress of the Nigerian people would be removed by his government”.

The President for the umpteenth time justified the removal of fuel subsidy, saying that the country cannot continue feeding smugglers and acting as Father Christmas to neighbouring countries, saying “the decision to remove fuel subsidy, improve security, create jobs, and sustain the environment”.

In between all these, he was able to squeezed in time to meet the newly elected  parliamentarians, both at the Upper and Lower Chambers of the National Assembly, to moderate boiling tempers over the zoning of the Principal Officers of the National Assembly. Behold the hurricane Asiwaju is on the prowl.

After the meeting with the newly elected parliamentarians, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, a newly elected Labour Party member to represent Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State, was aghast. He could not hide his admiration for the President. He told newsmen: “I never knew Tinubu is so intelligent” 

He went further: “This Is my President,  Today is my best day. After listening to him speak today. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is so intelligent and is prepared to serve this country. I saw the love and hope today”

The President’s avowed determination to frontally combat and crush the twin issues of poverty and insecurity holding down the country by the jugulars. He surely meant business. This crusade he had started with the inaugural address to the nation. He had simply declared: “Now that the subsidy is gone”. He also went further to vowed that that he intended to unify the exchange rate.

The reverberating effects of that simple declarations quickly resonated across the four poles holding the country. it simply jerked everybody up from their lethargy. He had since met with both the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Emmanuel Emefiele and the Managing Director of the NNPCL PLC, Mele Kyari to discuss modalities for achieving these targets.

However, it is not hyperbolic to state that Nigeria’s economy is on the edge of the precipice, if not down there already. This trend, the newly inaugurated President Tinubu fully takes cognizance of in his inaugural address to the nation. The need to revamp the economy is urgent, and pressing. He has started the revamping by halting further subsidies of fuel, a move that have trigger multi-dimensional responses across the country.

Part of the President first step was the call on the members of the European Union to assist Nigeria and Africa in strengthening its security and economic development to alleviate poverty in the continent. The President spoke during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria and the whole of Africa would require the help and partnership of her friends and development partners like the EU to address the excruciating poverty in the continent.

 While requesting the EU to look at specific areas of security challenge like the Lake Chad and coastal areas, the Nigerian leader promised to remain in contact with the European Union and other member states.

 He said poverty and insecurity were priority areas for his administration and he would do all that is required to address them.

Also, the President has expressly directed the National Economic Council (NEC) led by Vice President Kashim Shettima to device an approach and begin the process of working on interventions to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on the Nigerians.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) confirmed in Lagos during the week that “once the Dangote Refinery starts pumping out refined petroleum products from late July or early August, the Corporation will cut down on its imports of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol”.

NNPCL is currently the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria, a task which it had shouldered for several years. Other oil marketers stopped importing the product due to their inability to access the United States dollars at the official rate.

The NNPCL also owned 20 per cent stake in the Dangote Refinery. The 650,000 barrels per day single line, crude oil processing refinery was inaugurated on May 22, 2023 by former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who described the facility as a “game-changer” in the World’s oil market.

The promoter, Aliko Dangote stated at the occasion that the refinery would start delivering refined products to the Nigerian market from late July or Early August this year.

When contacted by our correspondent and asked about what would happen to the NNPCL fuel imports programme once the Dangote Refinery began to push out products in August, the national oil firm’s spokesperson, Garba-Deen Muhammad, said emphatically that this would change.

According to him, “NNPC Limited is bringing in products from outside Nigeria as a matter of necessity, not as a matter of choice. We would have preferred that we produce here, refine here and we sell and provide the energy security that the country needs.

“Because of the circumstances that surround our refineries, we cannot allow the country to be grounded. So we have to buy wherever we can get and sell. So if Dangote products are available, why should we not buy from Dangote?

“There is absolutely no reason. And that is the reason why we are interested in the Dangote Refinery. We are co-owners, shouldn’t we do business with our partners rather than do it with other people?”

While President Tinubu faces these hydra-headed demons head-on, certainly heads must roll. There must be scape goats from the mess of the past. After days of speculation, the hammer eventually fell on the CBN Governor, Emefiele Friday (9 June, 2023). The man was on his seat all day, held meetings and closed for the long weekend, Monday (June 12, 2023) being a public holiday, was headed for home. He had hardly settled down when he heard the news of his immediate suspension. 

According to a terse press statement by Willie Bassey, Director of Information Office, of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Emefiele was 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. 

The suspension, according to the statement is “sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy”. 

But in a dramatic twist, minutes after his suspension as CBN Governor, the state secret police (DSS) was alleged to have him. He was said to have been arrested by the men of the DSS late  Friday. 

But prior to CBN’s suspension, the DSS, on December 7, 2022, in an exparte application with reference no: FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022, sought an order of the Federal High Court to effect his arrest.

The security agency had accused the embattled CBN Governor of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security dimension.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice J. T Tsoho, however, refused to grant the application of the DSS. The court said such an application should have been accompanied with the presidential approval because of the grave implications for the Nigerian economy if the CBN governor is arrested and detained. But late Friday, he was sent on indefinite suspension and then the arrest.

But on Saturday (10 June, 2023), the service tweet that “currently, Emefiele is not with the DSS”.

While the CBN’s Governor unfolds on, there are also strong speculations about the safety of the job of the Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari at the weekend. It was speculated that the President intended to clean the old rot and refocus and reposition the economy, especially the financial and oil sector.

Later Saturday afternoon the Service released another tweet confirming the arrest of the CBN Governor. 

According to the Service, the DSS has finally confirmed that the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele is now in their custody.

A tweet from the agency reads: “…DSS hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is now in its custody for some investigative reasons.

Meanwhile www.focusmagazineonline.com investigations across the country revealed that in less than a fortnight after putting an end into the fuel subsidy regime, reports across the country indicate a mixed reaction by the generality of the people. 

The major hope is that once the Dangote Refinery starts production late July or early August, prices of fuel is expected drastically since there wont be need for US dollars exchange in transactions any longer.

© www.focusmagazineonline.com 2023

 

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Democracy Day 2023: Full text of President Bola Tinubu’s address

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Fellow Nigerians,

  1. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative government of the people.
  2. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the country’s political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999.
  3. In rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
  4. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian, Arnold Toynbee’s eternal postulation, that civilization and societies experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society, leading ultimately to the attainment of our ‘second independence’ as exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999.
  5. Fellow compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nation’s history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a silver platter.
  6. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defence of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.
  7. Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today.
  8. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it.
  9. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value.
  10. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.

 

  1. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.
  2. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.
  3. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal.
  4. It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.
  5. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started.
  6. The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.
  7. It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.
  8. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.
  9. The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993.
  10. On this year’s Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises.
  11. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
  12. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.
  13. On this note, I wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be extinguished in our land.
  14. Thank you all and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Governance Grounded in Ondo State as Akeredolu Refuses to Hand Over to Deputy 

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Governance and all Governmental activities seemed to have grounded to a standstill in Ondo State since the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (CON, SAN), became indisposed. He has also refused to transmute power to his deputy, despite several pleadings.

The Governor is said to be holed up in his private home in Ibadan, Oyo State capital since he was moved out of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where only his trusted aides have access to him.

The Governor according to reliable sources in government circle in Akure, Ondo State was rushed to Germany towards the end of last year for an undisclosed illness. He was said to be in Germany for about two months, before coming back to the country early this year. Upon returning to the country, he was said to had been headed straight for Abuja, where he was said to be “resting”, before moving to Ibadan.

Sources within government circle told www.focusmagazineonline.com that since he was hurriedly driven out of Akure, towards the end of last year, all governmental activities have come to a halt. His close circle was said to be against his transmuting power to his deputy, as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The Deputy Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, is said to be in a quandary about happenings in the State Government. Sources disclosed to our correspondent that he had gone to see the ailing Governor in his Ibadan home several times, but was not allowed by the Governor’s aides to see him. Several files needing urgent attention by the Governor are said to have piled up on his table in Ibadan unattended to.

For over a week now there have been some cold rumours circulating in hush tones about the health and condition of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The absence became more noticeable when State Governors of the federation had the inaugural meeting with the President, Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock last week at State House, Abuja. At the meeting, it was only the Ondo State Governor that was conspicuously missing. The deputy could not attend.

www.focusmagazineonline.com checks in Akure, Ondo State revealed however, that the Governor has refused bluntly to transmute power to his deputy, despite being aware of his health conditions since last year. Sections 189, 190 and  191 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) clearly stated with the Governor should transmute power to his deputy. 

The man popularly called “Aketi” has been out of circulation since March, immediately the general elections were done with. He was first reported to have gone to Germany for medical attention, but upon return, he made straight for Abuja. He was later said to have been moved from his abode in Abuja to his private home in Ibadan.

These conflicting reports about the condition of the Governor however, took a dangerous turn Saturday (3 June, 2023) when a news blog published reports of his death and someone also circulated a viral picture announcing his death. The State Government however, moved swiftly to dispel the rumours of his death as carried by a news blog.

But www.focusmagazineonline.com learnt that the Governor, according to some very reliable sources very close to him, is said to be in ‘a very critical condition in his private home in Ibadan’, capital of Oyo state. 

His close aides spoken to refused to give more on the ailing condition of the Governor, other than his condition has worsen since last week Friday (2 June 2023) evening. He is said to have become almost incapacitated. 

The Governor, was born on 21 July 1956, known widely as Aketi, is a vibrant lawyer and politician has been in office since 24 February 2017. Another Governorship election is due in October 2024. 

Responding to the rumours of his passing, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde released some video clips of the ailing Governor praising God.

In one of the videos, the Governor was seen dancing and singing. The lines of the lyrics showed governor Akeredolu who was joyous and full of praises to God for keeping him alive

Governor Akeredolu, left the country for Germany shortly after the APC convention in March. When he came back, he relocated to Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ‘to rest’, before moving down to his house in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He officially wrote the State House of Assembly to take permission before embarking on an annual leave.

His adopted prefix is “Arakunrin”, while his nickname is “Aketi”. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008. Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria. On 21 July 2020, he was declared as the Ondo governorship candidate after the primary elections under the platform of the APC. He is the current Governor of Ondo State and doubles as the chairman of Southwest Governors Forum.

© www.focusmagazineonline.com 2023

 

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