Folarin Kehinde

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and all Muslims across Nigeria on the occasion of Eid-el-Maulud.

The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a message to the Muslim faithful on behalf of CAN and the Christian community at large, called for promotion of mutual respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence among all religion.

“As we commemorate this significant festival, we acknowledge Nigeria’s diverse society, comprising individuals from various ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. It is within this rich diversity that our strength as a nation resides.

“Consequently, we must persist in promoting mutual respect, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among all religious communities.

“Once more, on behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria, I wish the Muslim faithful in Nigeria a peaceful celebration,” the statement read.

The Eid-El-Maulud celebration is for the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

The aviation and banking industries have thrown their support as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike starting October 3, 2023.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the unions are protesting the government’s failure to address the plight of Nigerian workers.

The unions are demanding wage increases, the implementation of relief measures, tax exemptions, and improved allowances for public sector workers, as well as a review of the minimum wage.

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has confirmed that its members will join the strike, which is expected to ground flights across the country.

The president of NAAPE said, ”Of course, we’d be joining the strike, we’re an affiliate of the NLC. We just finished a meeting, everybody is part of it.”

Asked if activities at the airport would be grounded, he said, “Yes, everywhere.”

Similarly, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) have also said that their members will participate in the strike.

Also, the President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Ben Nnabue, confirmed it will also down its tools in accordance with the NLC declaration.

He said, “Yes, we are an affiliate of NLC, so we’d be joining the strike.”

The Head of Media of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr. John Ikemefule, has also affirmed that maritime workers would down tools from Tuesday.

He stated, “It has been confirmed that the union will be joining the NLC and TUC to shut down the country from October 3rd. There will be a total and indefinite shutdown of the country. We are going to withdraw our members from jetties and terminals.’’

Pedro Obaseki, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, as Satan’s second in command.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obaseki declared that it was time to sanction Wike for the many atrocities he committed against the PDP.

Obaseki, who is also the Director of Research and Documentation of the defunct Party’s presidential campaign council, said Wike crossed the line with his call for the expulsion of Atiku Abubakar from the Party.

According to him, Wike is an incorrigible traitor who formed the group of five governors that committed series of anti-party activities against the PDP during the February 25 election.

“Wike coming out to ask for the expulsion of the number one leader of the party and the presidential flagbearer of the party and the recipient of the mandate of the Nigerian people as declared in INEC’s submission that we won 21 states and asking Atiku to be expelled from the party, Wike has crossed the red line and now, he should be ready.

“He has all the money to fight us back because we are coming at him like a thousand bricks.

“He has unleashed the dogs of war and we will not sit back and watch him ride rough over the party and majority of Nigerians like he did for eight years over the humility of the Rivers people. That can no longer suffice,” he posited.

The chieftain also challenged Wike to publish his bank account when he assumed office as Governor and after his eight years tenure.

“Wike is a member of the APC, a sitting Minister of an APC government. Wike openly campaigned against the PDP. You see, by their fruits, we shall know them. By all intents and purposes, Wike is not a member of the PDP.

“If you remember clearly, just a few months to the election, Barrister Nyesom Wike, then the governor of Rivers State ran to the court to get an injunction to preclude and stop the PDP from expelling him from the party.

“If he was so untouchable and bigger than the entire party machinery, why did he do that? Whether we like it or not, Wike is Satan lieutenant.

“Maybe that is what reduced the propensity of the leaders of the party to do the needful. And because many of them are doves-men of peace (not everyone is a hawk like Wike), let us see whether he would come around. PDP is not a party of brigands.”

The new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Yemi Cardoso, has assured Nigerians that the apex bank will not be hijacked under his watch.

Speaking during his screening by the upper chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday, he said he and his deputies would not allow politicians distract them while performing their obligations for the country.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had asked Cardoso whether he would be controlled, influenced and hijacked by politicians.

Cardoso and four others nominated by President Bola Tinubu to occupy principal offices of the apex bank appeared before the Red Chamber on Tuesday.

Responding to the question asked by Akpabio before his confirmation, Cardoso, said, “It is important that we, who are considered for this position today, understand that this is a position of trust.

“With that comes a huge responsibility to meet up with that trust. I know that a lot of time and effort has gone into choosing the people who are standing here for nomination today.

“As far as I am concerned, under my leadership, we will not be hijacked by anybody. The idea is to ensure that we do what is right, when it is right, and how it is right. We’ve seen what the effect of not doing right has been, and we do not intend for that to be repeated.”

The Senate confirmed Cardoso as the CBN governor on the floor of the country’s upper legislative arm.

Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello were also confirmed as the deputies of the CBN governor.

There are allegations that politicians had undue influence on Godwin Emefiele, Cardoso’s predecessor.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved payment for procuring 12 attack helicopters for the Nigerian Army.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja made this known at the maiden Nigerian Army Aviation Seminar in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that the 12 MD 530F Cayuse attack helicopters would operationalise the Nigerian Army aviation unit, which was set up to improve ground troops’ agility, responsiveness and efficacy during operations.

The COAS added that it would also contribute to the overall operational success of joint and coalition troops.

Lagbaja explained that army aviation was generally separate from a nation’s dedicated air force but usually equipped with helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.

He appreciated the president for buying into the aspiration of the Nigerian Army to have an equipped aviation unit which would support ground troops as they focus on tactical and operational engagements.

According to him, the experiences of nations like the United States, Pakistan, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda are instructive in this area.

“The army aviation arms of these countries have shown effectiveness in countering contemporary security threats and providing vital support to ground forces.

“In view of the need to realise this, and in its bid to appropriately respond to contemporary and emerging security threats, the Nigerian Army resuscitated its aviation aspiration in 2014.

“I am happy to inform this gathering that the Nigerian Army is willing to learn from the army aviation journeys of the countries mentioned earlier.

“Our willingness to learn from them is to adapt their best practices to suit our unique operational environment and avoid their mistakes.

“I can proudly report that since 2014, the Nigerian Army has made commendable progress in training pilots, aircraft engineers, technicians and other ground support crew,” he said.

The COAS also said the Army had submitted the aviation outfit to the Nigerian Air Force for proper mentoring.