Folarin Kehinde

A staggering 68 aspirants have entered the fray, gearing up to contest for the Edo State governorship seat ahead of the imminent party primary elections.

Punch reports that the contenders are jostling for the tickets of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP).

According to the report, there 11 aspirants in the PDP, 29 in the APC, and 28 in the LP.

The APC’s decision against zoning the ticket to Edo Central has intensified the race, prompting diverse entries, including the unexpected participation of the state APC chairman, Col. David Imuse (retd), serving senators, House of Representatives members, and notable figures like former commissioner, Kassim Afegbua and former APC candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Renowned figures like Kenneth Imasuagbon in Labour Party, contesting for the fifth time under different political banners, advocate for experienced candidates, challenging the rising influence of political newcomers like Olumide Akpata and Dorry Okogie, sparking debates on the essence of political experience versus fresh perspectives.

Notably, the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, engaged in a power struggle with Governor Godwin Obaseki. He announced his intent, emphasising his 30 years in politics and determination to sustain his boss’s legacy.

An ally of the deputy governor, Immam Babangida, said that Shaibu could pick the PDP ticket if the party provided a level playing ground for all the aspirants.

He said: “I am happy that the governor said that it is the members of the party that will determine Shaibu’s fate. But Governor Obaseki and the PDP must ensure there is a level playing ground for everyone to operate. Shaibu has the pedigree to win the ticket at the primaries.

“He has done well throughout his career and he is the only one who can help the PDP to remain in the saddle in the state. Without him, the PDP cannot win the election.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a garnishee order, freezing at least 24 bank accounts belonging to the Kano State Government over N30 billion compensation to Incorporated Trustees of Masalachi Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association, for the demolition of their shops in the state

This order was granted in response to a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Masalachi Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association who sought compensation for the demolition which they deemed illegal and unjust.

The ruling was delivered on November 28, 2023, by Justice I. E. Ekwo, who presided over the case.

According to the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling signed by the Registrar, Chioma Chijioke, the action is aimed at satisfying the judgment in favour of the shop owners, following the alleged illegal demolition carried out by the state in June 2023.

Also, the court has mandated the garnishees to appear before it and provide cause, if any, against the order Nisi being made absolute. The Judge also stipulated that the judgment creditors should serve the defendants and Garnishees at least 14 days before the next hearing, scheduled for 18th January 2024.

The order by Justice Ekwo reads, “A garnishee order Nisi is hereby made attaching the funds (present and future) of Kano State Government, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA and Attorney General of Kano State (including but limited to Kano State FAAC Account and Account No. 1019716320 at UBA and Account No. 1790249410 Polaris Bank) and other accounts in the custody of the respective Garnishees to the tune of N30 billion in satisfaction of the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano per S. A Amobeda, J. dated the 29th September, 2023 herein being enforced in favour of the judgment creditors.

“Order is hereby made granting the sum of N2 million only being the cost of the Garnishees proceeding.

“The Garnishees herein are hereby ordered to appear before this court to show cause (if any) why the order Nisi should not be made absolute against them.
“Judgment creditors to serve the defendants and Garnishees at least 14 days before the next date of hearing.’’

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has cancelled his scheduled trip to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the COP28 Climate Change Summit.

Akpabio cancelled the trip following outrage that trailed Nigeria’s 1,411 delegates to the summit.

Nigerians have been aggrieved over the 1,411 delegates accompanying President Bola Tinubu to the summit.

The figure was comprised of government officials, representatives of the private sector, and civil society organisations.

Following the outcry, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said the government only funded 422 delegates.

While speaking at a one-day retreat on the 2024 budget in Abuja yesterday, Akpabio said criticisms from Nigerians made him cancel the trip.

He said he decided to focus on the 2024 budget defence sessions with government agencies.

“I have decided to stay back and I asked somebody from Cote d’Ivoire to represent me there,” Akpabio said.

Fintech company, Opay, has been down for over an hour as Nigerians cannot send money through its app on Monday evening.

This is even as Nigerians have gone to various social media platforms to express their fears.

A social media user, @8jagistplug tweeted: “I no understand weytin Opay Dey do this night make I just sleep wake up first. Abeg make nothing happen to my 1.5 Billion”

Another user, @iamvinicius_snr, said: “If opay crashes the amount of small businesses that would crash with it would be crazy.”

Also, @cajal_ebuara: “Please oh I made a transfer of 80k from my Opay and I haven’t gotten the money in my other account and the most scary thing is that it’s not showing in my transactions!”

Meanwhile, Opay, via its app had explained that it was undergoing maintenance, adding that all services will be restored soon.

The statement reads: “Dear user. The system is currently under maintenance and all services will be restored soon. Please bear with us.”

The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, says the N27.5trn 2024 budget estimates awaiting approval at the National Assembly is “way too small” to meet Nigeria’s needs but the government has to cut its coat according to its cloth.

“I’m always first to acknowledge that the budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria is way too small relative to our needs and our requirements but it is now a case of cutting out coat according to our cloth rather than our size,” Akabueze said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.

“The reason this budget is this small is because our public revenues are also too small. We also need to keep the focus on that.”

Akabueze spoke on the economic projections of the President Bola Tinubu government for 2024.

The Budget Office director general insisted that despite the criticisms against the 2024 budget estimates, the appropriation bill caters for the poor in terms of healthcare, security, education and the economy.

On November 29, 2023, the President presented his maiden budget estimates of N27.5trn for the year 2024 to the National Assembly.

Giving a breakdown of the budget estimates, the President fixed recurrent non-debit expenditure at N9.92trn, capital expenditure at N8.73trn, debt service at N8.25trn, revenue at N18.32trn, new borrowings at N7.83trn and deficit at N9.18trn.

According to the President, the economy is expected to grow by 3.76%, while “inflation is expected to moderate to 21.4 percent in 2024”.

The State House has earmarked N9.5bn for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, Sport Utility Vehicles, operational vehicles, plain cars and the construction of an office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.

Out of the sum, N2bn was earmarked for the replacement of SUV vehicles, N4 bn for the purchase of State House operational vehicles, N351m for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, jeeps, ambulances and N3.5bn for the construction of office complex for SAs and SSAs.

The details are contained in the 2024 Appropriation Bill released by the Budget Office of the Federation on Wednesday.

The PUNCH reports that the budget was presented by President Bola Tinubu to a joint session of the National Assembly on November 29.

Tinubu had christened the appropriation bill the ‘Budget of Renewed Hope.’

The PUNCH reports that the Tinubu-led administration has continued to come under fire following what experts have tagged as “frivolous spending” by the political class amidst the hardship currently being experienced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the proposed 2024 Appropriation Bill under review by the National Assembly has an allocation of N15.961 billion for international and domestic travel expenses for Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and their aides.

Tinubu’s travel budget amounts to N7.630bn, predominantly earmarked for foreign trips with N6.992bn designated for international travels and N638.535m set aside for domestic travel.

Shettima’s travel allowance is proposed at N1.847bn, split between N1.229bn for foreign trips and N618.399m for local travels.

Protesters have stormed the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding justice for the victims of a drone strike that killed over 90 villagers in Kaduna State on Sunday.

The protesters, led by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) North West Zone and the Arewa Youth Movement, besieged the entrance gate for over two hours, chanting slogans and demanding the resignation of the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru.

Recall that the drone attack on Sunday, which reportedly occurred during a Maulud celebration in Tudun Biri village, also left over 60 people injured.

The military also admitted responsibility for the incident.

Addressing the media, NYCN North West Zone leader Nasir Ishaku condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians and demanded a probe into the incident.

“We are here today to demand justice for the victims of this senseless attack,” Ishaku said. “The killing of innocent Nigerians, especially in the Northern part of the country, cannot be tolerated any more.”

Ishaku also criticised the Minister of Defence, accusing him of being incompetent and incapable of handling the security situation in the country.

“The security situation in Nigeria has been deteriorating ever since Mr. Badaru was appointed Minister of Defence,” Ishaku said. “We are calling on him to either wake up to his responsibilities or resign.”