News / politics

APC rakes in N2.63b from presidential forms

The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday, ended its sale of nomination and expression of interest forms, with no fewer than 25 aspirants jostling for its presidential ticket.

Although, the directorate of organization was still computing the figures of aspirants including those who picked forms in their states as of press time, Vanguard gathered that there are no fewer than 105 governorship aspirants, nearly a thousand National Assembly aspirants and more than 1,500 aspirants for states Houses of Assembly.

A revised timetable issued the National Organizing Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, fixed the last day for submission of completed forms and accompanying documents is now set for today, May 11, 2022.

“Also, Congresses to elect Local Government Area (LGA), State and National Delegates will now be held from Thursday,  May 12 to Saturday, May 14, 2022”.  27 presidential aspirants

  1. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
  2. Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
  3. Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi
  4. Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba
  5. Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi
  6. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio
  7. Madam Uju Kennedy – N30m
  8. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
  9. Former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole
  10. Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun
  11. Former National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
  12. Former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani
  13. Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar
  14. Labour and Employment Minister, Senator Chris Ngige
  15. Senator Rochas Okorocha
  16. Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade
  17. Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi
  18. Mr Tein Jack-Rich
  19. CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
  20. Science and Technology Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
  21. Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva
  22. Former President Goodluck Jonathan
  23. Dr Akinwumi Adesina
  24. Senator Robert Ajayi Borroffice
  25. Pastor Tunde Bakare
  26. Pastor Nicholas Felix Nwagbo
  27. Senator Ken Nnamani
    • Total = N2.630 billion

    Why APC should cede presidency to South-West, says Sanwo-Olu

    Submitting his forms on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged stakeholders to cede the APC presidential ticket to the South-West.

    On why the recent meeting of some South-West APC

…
Education / News / politics

ASUU Executive Committee announces extension of strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has extended its ongoing strike by 12 weeks.

The decision, announced on in the early hours of Monday, was taken at an emergency National Executive Council meeting held at ASUU Secretariat in Abuja.

The President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed the development on Monday.

Osodeke said the Federal Government was not sincere with the union and its officials were yet to meet with it. The emergency meeting, which had in attendance principal officers and branch chairmen, started on Sunday and ended early Monday morning.

The initial warning strike was declared on March 14, 2022.

ASUU’s demands include the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action signed with the Federal Government in December 2020 on funding for revitalisation of public universities (both federal and states) and renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

Others are earned academic allowances, state universities, promotion arrears, withheld salaries, non-remittance of third-party deductions and rejection of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution that ASUU technical team developed to replace the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System.…

News / politics

Southern Presidency inevitable, North has more to gain – Ndume

The Senator representing Borno South in the red chamber, Ali Ndume, has said that the Northern region of Nigeria has more to gain from a Southern Presidency, which he described as “inevitable”.

Ndume, who is a former leader of the Northern Caucus of the All Progressives Congress, insisted that the ruling matter must zone its 2023 Presidency to the Southern region comprising the South-West, South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

The Senator spoke on Tuesday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programs. Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, said the APC would ignite self-inflicted crises if it refused to unequivocally zone the 2023 Presidency to the South. Speaking on Tuesday, Ndume said, “I am a Nigerian, I am from the north and I believe in justice, equity and fairness. What Akeredolu said is my advice to the party. Even if they delayed it a bit, it doesn’t change the position; it is an inevitable one because the national chairman, in principle, not in writing was agreed from the north after the south has been the chairman. And as you can see, nobody contested the chairmanship of the APC from the south. “In 2015, when it was also agreed in principle that the presidency should come from the north, nobody from the South-West, South-South went into the contest. It’s not because there were no capable hands here but (it was) based on this principle. So, this time around, I don’t think that should change.

“The principle of federal character is a constitutional matter. In fact, federal character is more encompassing than zoning; you zone based on federal character.

“If APC zones it and it should zone it to the south, then other parties can zone it to wherever they want and it is Nigerians that would choose whoever they want.

“Personally, I feel we will be better of with a President coming from the South. The current President comes from the North and if you look at it analytically, …

News / politics

Lagos 2023: Ambode may pick APC governorship nomination form — Source

Baring any last-minute changes, former governor of Lagos State,  Akinwunmi Ambode, may pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, on Friday, to contest the 2023 governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ambode was governor of Lagos state for one term. He lost the APC ticket in the build-up to the 2019 elections to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, current governor of the state.

But a close ally of Ambode told Vanguard that the former governor has concluded plans to pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest on the APC platform, this week.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “I am talking to you as a friend that he (Ambode) may likely come out this week on the platform of the APC. From what I know, he may likely contest against Sanwo-Olu at the governorship primary.

“Before the close of the sale of forms, oga (Ambode) will pick the Nomination and Expression of Interest Form. There is a likelihood that he will buy the forms on Friday.”

Similarly, a former Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group, Olawale Oluwo, said the former governor’s intentions will be revealed soon.

Oluwo, who spoke to ARISE News about Ambode’s intentions for the upcoming election, noted that structures are in place to challenge Governor Sanwo-Olu for the APC governorship ticket.

The Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group said that Ambode will “announce his political ambitions by Friday”.

He also dismissed reports that the Ambode campaign group has been banned.

“Governor Ambode will announce his plans within the week. I think the closing for the sale of forms is Friday.

“Even the president of Nigeria, can he ban an association? When the constitution of Nigeria says that there is freedom of association, we are all members of the party (APC).

“To be able to ban an association, there is a process and there must be probable cause that the association is engaging in criminality or treason or bad things that threaten …

News / Oil & Gas / politics

IPMAN urges government to clamp down on illegal refineries operators

IPMAN’s President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Friday in Lagos.

Okoronkwo said the recent explosion at one of the illegal refineries at Abaezi forest in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State had again brought to the forefront the dangers of engaging in such nefarious activities.

He said: “IPMAN as a body commiserates with the government and people of Imo over the deaths and injuries recorded in the incident.

“We are, therefore, calling on the local, state and federal governments to intensify efforts to check the operations of these illegal refineries within their domains.”

Okoronkwo said Nigeria was losing billions of naira to crude oil thieves, a conduct he lamented was affecting the nation’s economy negatively.

He added that the environmental degradation being caused by their activities could not be overemphasized, especially in the Niger Delta region.

Okoronkwo urged other state governors to emulate Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Woke, who had taken the campaign against oil bunkering in the state very seriously.

He said on its part, IPMAN would continue to work with the government, security agencies and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the challenges confronting the oil and gas industry.

“We believe that part of the ways we can reduce their activities is for governments to begin the establishment of modular refineries in some of these areas.

“If these people are positively engaged, the pro…

News / politics

Insecurity threatens Nigeria’s foundations of nationhood – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the current security challenges in Nigeria are a threat to the foundations of the country’s nationhood.

The Speaker, however, noted that the Nigerian Government has responded to the challenges by taking certain measures such as increasing funding for the police and the military, recruiting personnel for security agencies, among others.

Gbajabiamila spoke when he delivered a paper titled ‘Democracy in Challenging Times: The Role of African Parliaments in Safeguarding and Delivering on the Dividends of Democracy’ at the School of Oriental Studies, London on Wednesday as part of his ongoing official visit to the UK.

Speaking on the challenges facing Nigeria, Gbajabiamila said: “The most pressing of these challenges today is the national security crisis that threatens the foundations of our nationhood and portends great danger for Africa and the world if it persists. The Speaker, however, said: “First, to address present challenges and then to build resilient institutions that can withstand uncertainty in troubled times, more than anything else, our focus must remain on the young and vibrant youth of Nigeria and Africa who have so much to offer the world and who have proven that they can thrive under challenging circumstances given half a chance.

“However we cannot do this for as long as our present national security challenges persist.

“The government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has responded to the reality of our present challenges by increasing funding provisions for the police and armed forces, accelerating recruitment and training to put more boots on the ground and also acquiring weapons systems designed to give the security agencies an advantage.”

The Speaker said upon the resumption of the 9th House, “the scope of our challenges was evident, matched only by our confidence that we would do what was required to overcome those difficulties and deliver the dividends of democracy for our people.

“Now the topic of this paper speaks to ‘dividends of democracy,’ a term that has been loosely and broadly interpreted to mean different …

News / politics

How Tambuwal’s senatorial ambition forced only Sokoto PDP senator to defect to APC

Facts have emerged that the secret ambition of the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, to come to the Senate if he eventually loses the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party forced the Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Ibrahim Danbaba, to defect to the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Tambuwal and Senator Danbaba are from same Senator District: Sokoto South Senatorial District.

There are indications that Tambuwal has bought both presidential and senatorial Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the PDP.

In order to avoid facing Tambuwal in a senatorial race, Danbaba was said to have taken the easy way out, with assurances from the APC that he would be given the ticket. The lawmaker’s decision to join to the APC was conveyed in a letter read at the start of plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday.

Danbaba was nominated by the PDP on July 15, 2021 for the position of Deputy Minority Whip following the defection of the former Deputy Whip, Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u, representing Zamfara North Senatorial District, from the PDP to the APC.

Danbaba’s defection brings the total number of APC Senators in the upper chamber to 71, and PDP 37.

The lawmaker, in his letter, explained that his decision to leave the PDP was informed by the lingering and multifaceted crisis at the zonal level.

Senator Danbaba’s letter reads: “I write to formally inform you and distinguished colleagues of my decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“My decision is anchored on the continuing multifaceted crisis that have bedeviled the PDP, especially at the zonal level which has created not only credibility problems, but has undermined party discipline, cohesion and focus.

“The situation at the state level has not helped matters either as depicted by lack of political sanity, focus and credible leadership.

“I have in APC, the political ideology in consonance with my personal political philosophy. This Ideology also seems the best suited to meet the expectations and aspirations of my constituents.…

Education / News / politics

ASUU strike: Varsity lecturers making negotiation difficult – Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has blamed the Academic Staff Union of Universities for prolonging the industrial strike in the country.

The minister said the union had made negotiation difficult for both parties.

Ngige disclosed this in a statement by Patience Onuobia, Acting Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister was reacting to the insinuations that he was responsible for the ongoing action by the union.  Ngige, however, said he had done what many could not do to forestall strikes by ASUU.

According to him, negotiation now is being made impossible by ASUU.

He said: “For example, ASUU insists that National Information and Technology Development Agency should take the payment platform, University Transparency Accountability Solution that it developed.

“That they should deploy it for payment in the university whether it is good or bad, whether it failed integrity and vulnerability test or not.

“ASUU members know that fraud committed on payment platforms can run into billions.

“If a hacker adds zeros to hundreds, it becomes billions.”

Ngige noted that NITDA brought out the report of its test on UTAS, noting that it passed the user acceptability but failed vulnerability and integrity tests that were the two critical tests that prevented fraud.

He said: “As a conciliator, I spoke to ASUU and NITDA to continue the test and see whether they could make up the lapses and arrive at 100 per cent because that is what NITDA insists on.

“NITDA said they cannot even take the platform at 99.9 per cent of vulnerability and integrity.

“That they can’t take that risk on a payment system, that it can be hacked into.

“These are the issues.

“So if you hear someone saying Ngige is responsible, it is wrong.

“I’m not the one that implements.

“I’m the conciliator.

“I conciliate, so that there will be no more warfare and even in conciliation, once I apprehend, the parties go back to status quo ante, which means, you call off the strike.

“ASUU …

News / politics

2023: I’ll never drop presidential ambition – Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor-Kalu, has said that he did not drop his 2023 presidential ambition, as reported by some sections of the media.

He said he would contest the presidential ticket of the All Progressive Congress if the party zoned it to the South-East.

Kalu, who cleared the air over a statement he released on Tuesday, maintained that equity demanded that the South East should be supported to get the presidential ticket of the APC.

He said, “My stand is very clear, I didn’t drop my presidential ambition and I will never drop it. “I only urged our brothers from the South-South and South-West geo-political zones who came out en masse to contest for the office of the president to drop their ambition and support us because of equity.…

News / politics

Just In: Supreme Court voids Andy Uba’s participation in Anambra governorship poll

The Supreme Court has voided the participation of Andy Uba in the last governorship election in Anambra State as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A five-member panel of the court, held in a judgment on Tuesday, that the APC breached its guidelines for the conduct of primaries and thus, failed to conduct valid primary from which Uba emerged as the party’s candidate in the Anambra governorship election.

The Supreme Court affirmed the February 23, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the December 20, 2021 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The apex court proceeded to dismiss the appeals filed by Andy Uba and the APC – marked: SC/CV/240/2022 and SC/CV/241/2022. In the December 20, 2021 judgment, Justice Ekwo held among others that Uba was never a candidate in the election held on November 6, 2021 having emerged from an illegally conducted primary election held by the APC.

Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff, in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/648/201, George Moghalu (an APC aspirant for the election) succeeded in proving that the APC did not conduct a valid primary election from which Uba claimed to have emerged as the party’s candidate.

Details Shortly……

Fraud / Law / News / politics

Probe: Court orders CCT Chairman to appear before Senate

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to appear before the Senate.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the order was to allow Umar to face his probe over alleged public misconduct.

The judge held that Umar is answerable to the Senate on moral standards and conduct as a public officer administering the law.

Justice Ekwo stated that Umar’s suit seeking to stop his probe by the Senate lacked merit and was consequently dismissed.

The Senate asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by Umar seeking to stop his probe for alleged misconduct.

Umar had initially gone to court to challenge the powers of the Senate to investigate him over an alleged assault he perpetrated against a security guard at the Banex Plaza.

He was alleged to have publicly assaulted one Sargwak, a security guard at the Banex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, following a disagreement between them over a parking space on the premises.

Details later……

News / politics

Pro-Buhari organisation distributes rice to vulnerable people in Kebbi

The Buhari For All Organization (BUFAO), has begun the distribution of rice, loaded in five trucks, to less-privileged people in Kebbi.

While briefing newsmen at the distribution point, the Former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Bello Dantani, who is the State Coordinator of the organization, said that the gesture is to assist the less-privileged people in the society.

“The exercise is just the beginning of the distribution of five trucks of 25-kg rice off-loaded by the organization in the state.

“Today, orphans, persons living with disabilities, widows and the less-privileged people within the society are going home with bags of rice as assistance to them from the organization,” he said. Dantani urged the beneficiaries to continue to pray for the unity of the country and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to surmount its challenges before the end of its tenure.

The coordinator also urged the beneficiaries to use the items received judiciously in order to cushion the effect of some hardships they faced during the Ramadan period.

In his remarks while flagging off the distribution of the rice, Gov. Atiku Bagudu commended the organization for its benevolence in reaching out to orphans, widows and the less-privileged in the spirit of social service to the citizenry.

Bagudu, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Maigari Dakingari, said his administration attached premium to enhancing the welfare of the less privileged and the indigent in the state with emphasis on orphans and similar groups.

He further stated that the distribution of the rice by the organization is in line with the policy of the incumbent administration to uplift the social and economic well-being of the people.

The governor also said that the government has already distributed food items throughout the 21 local government areas as Ramadan palliative.

Also speaking, the National Co-ordinator of the organization, Alhaji Aminu Sani-Tagi, represented by Alhaji Muhammad Umar, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Arts and Culture, described the method adopted by the state chapter of the organization as the best in the country. …

News / politics

LG poll: APC wins in 31 of 34 LGAs in Katsina — KTSIEC

The Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission has declared the ruling All Progressives Congress as winner in 31 out of the 34 local government areas of the state in Monday’s local government poll.

The Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Lawal Faskari, made the announcement in the early hours of Tuesday in Katsina.

Faskari said the election was not completed in Daura and Funtua local government areas.

He also said that election was cancelled in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area due to some challenges, adding that the exercise was peaceful in all other areas. He added: “The exercise was peaceful, and no fewer than 12 registered political parties participated, except in Dutsin-Ma, where challenges forced the commission to use Section 60 of the Katsina State Local Government Elections Law, 2002 to stop the process.

“The commission has so far received complete results from 31 local government areas, 328 wards, awaiting that of Funtua and Daura, while elections in Dutsin-Ma has been cancelled.

“The commission, therefore, wishes to announce that APC has won all the 31 chairmanship and 328 councilorship seats so far collated.”

He congratulated the winners of the election and appreciated the political parties’ high level of maturity and sportsmanship exhibited during and after the exercise.

Faskari added: “KTSIEC also wishes to express its gratitude to the electorate and other stakeholders, and the entire people of the state for the overwhelming support and cooperation extended to it.”…

News / politics / Security

Ex-NHIS boss urges youths to unite against insecurity, bad governance

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has called on Nigerian youths to unite against insecurity and bad governance.

Yusuf gave the charge, Saturday night, during a virtual youths summit organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Americas (NIDO) and Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN).

The event, which was monitored by newsmen in Abuja, was titled: “Youth and National Development in Nigeria.”

Yusuf said the recent Abuja-Kaduna bound train attack was a mortal existential threat to the country, saying that it was disheartening that the elders are disconnected from the youths. The ex-NHIS boss, who recalled the bond of love and understanding that existed among Muslim and Christian students while growing up, charged the youths to unite together irrespective of religious, ethnic, language or political barrier.

“This country, Nigeria, has given my generation so much that we can never give back.

“I am an optimist and wherever I go, I tell the youths my history.

“I attended a Catholic school and I was the only Muslim in my class.

“We went into the world and competed favourably. The so-called village school we went were better than the best school presently.

“This was the Nigeria of my time. We had bond of relationship between Christians, Muslins and different tribes,” Yusuf said.

The former NHIS boss who decried the rate of insecurity in the country, called on the youths to unite against it, recalling the time he went with Sheik Ahmad Gumi into the forests to persuade the bandits to change from their bad ways.

He expressed concern at the rate the youths in Nigeria now get involved in criminalities like the Boko Haram, ISWAP, IPOB and the destruction that followed the #ENDSARS protest, among others.

“Nigeria has changed,” he said.

According to him, public service is seeing as a way to enrich our pocket and not for the interest of the country.

Yusuf, who emphasized the importance of youths’ involvement in nation building, urged them to be ready to actively participate in the political process.…

News / politics

Breaking: Finally, Osinbajo declares for 2023 presidential race + Video

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has finally declared his intention to stand for the 2023 presidential election.

The declaration, in the early hours of Monday, comes after several months of waiting by Nigerians for Osinbajo.

He made the declaration via his Twitter handle at about 7am on Monday.

This came a few hours after he met Governors elected on the platform of the APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday. He broke the Ramadan fast with the Governors.

Among those in attendance were the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Others included Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

In a tweet accompanied by a video of four minutes 40 seconds, Osinbajo said: “I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.

“At the direction of Mr. President, I have represented our country in several international engagements.

“I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms.

“I have visited our gallant troops in the North-East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps.”

…

News / Oil & Gas / politics

Buhari seeks National Assembly’s approval for N4t fuel subsidy

President Muhammadu Buhari has formally requested the National Assembly’s approval of N4 trillion for fuel subsidy in the proposed amendment to the 2022 Fiscal Framework.

Buhari made the request in a letter sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Speaker read the letter during plenary on Thursday.

The letter said: “As you are aware, there have been new developments both in the global economy as well as in the domestic economy which have necessitated the revision of the 2022 Fiscal Framework on which the 2022 Budget was based. “These developments include spikes in the market price of crude oil, aggravated by the Russian Ukraine war, significantly lower oil production volume due principally to production shut-ins as a result of massive theft of crude oil between the production platforms and the terminals.

“The decision to suspend the removal of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy at a time when high crude oil prices have elevated the subsidy cost has significantly eroded government revenues. There is also the need to make adequate provisions for the recent enhancements of allowances for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to boost their morale as they grapple with heightened security challenges in the country.

“Following these developments, it has become necessary to adjust the fiscal framework and accordingly amend the 2022 Appropriation Act to ensure its successful implementation.

“The adjustments to the 2022 Fiscal Framework include an increase in the project oil price benchmark by US$11 per barrel, from US$62 per barrel to US$73 per barrel. A reduction in the projected oil production volume by 283,000 barrels per day from 1.883 million barrels per day to 1.600 million barrels per day.

“An increase in the Estimated provision for PMS subsidy for 2022 by N3.557 trillion from N442.72 billion to N4.00 trillion. A cut in the provision for Federally-funded upstream projects is being implemented by N200 billion. from N352.80 billion to N152.80 billion.

“An increase in the projection for Federal Government independent revenue by N400 billion; and an additional provision …

Agriculture / News / politics / Production

Ghana grows the ‘best’ weed; Why are we not capitalizing on it? – John Dumelo

Dumelo, who is also a farmer, posted on Twitter that the impending benefits Germany is about to gain from legalizing the plant should make Ghanaian authorities rethink.

This is because, in his view, Ghana should not be borrowing from western countries that act swiftly to gain from their resources when the country has more of such resources.

“Germany is set to make billions of Euros from taxes by legalizing marijuana. Then we will turn around and go and borrow that same money with interest for our development, forgetting that we (Ghana) grow the best marijuana in the world. Ain’t we smart?”

He has therefore urged Ghana’s government to consider legalizing the planting and commercial use of marijuana in the country.

To him, when this is done, the country can reap a lot of revenue from it.

He believes marijuana can create the most viable source of revenue for the country than any other crop if it is considered carefully.

A Neuroscientist Drug Researcher at the University of Columbia, Professor Carl Hart, urged Ghana to reevaluate its position on the plant in 2019.

At the time when the legalization of the drug generated enormous public attention and the Bill had not yet been passed by Parliament, the Professor said,

“People are making money out of this and we have to implement it and improve on its education.”

Other advocates did not hide their desire to see the decriminalization of the drug.

A Former Executive Secretary of Ghana’s Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Akrasi Sarpong, spoke to the BBC when he was the head of the Board and said that the “war” being waged on marijuana is destined to fail because a lot of people believe “what you are fighting is not a

…
News / politics

2023 PDP presidential ticket: I was quoted out of context ― Ortom

The Benue State Governor and Chairman of the Zoning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Ortom, has said that he was quoted out of context on the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket for the 2023 election.

The position of the Governor was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, on Wednesday.

Ikyur said Ortom spoke on an Arise TV program: “Morning Show.”

The Governor was quoted as having said: “So I want to clear the insinuation that the zoning committee has thrown open the presidential ticket. “I did inform the media yesterday that the committee had adopted a unanimous position to be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

“Where did I say that the committee has thrown open the presidential ticket?

“The committee will present the report to NEC.

“It is NEC that has the final authority on the zoning of positions.

“As far as the committee was concerned, there were arguments that the presidential ticket should go to the South.

“Some said it should go to the Northern part of the country.

“There were others who were of the opinion that it should be thrown open to allow the best candidate who will be able to deliver good governance and make Nigerians feel like human beings again, contest.

“As the chairman of the committee, I did not say it has been thrown up.

“So it is very wrong for anyone to insinuate that we have thrown the presidential ticket open.

“I am still repeating that, whatever we did, we have submitted our report to NEC.

“So it is wrong for the media to come out with a position despite the fact that they were not members of the committee.

“So it is wrong completely.

“I did not say that.

“And like I said, NEC is the final authority on deciding where the position will be zoned to.

“And the party leadership is consciously working towards ensuring that the party gets it right this time.

“I believe that at the …

News / politics

National NURTW sacks MC Oluomo, dissolves Lagos council

The National Union of Road Transport Workers has dissolved its Lagos State council under Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo.

The National Administrative Council of the union made this known in a statement titled ‘Dissolution of Lagos State Administrative Council’, jointly signed by its national president, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and general secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.

The union said the decision was based on the provisions of the union’s constitution.

The union’s secretary in Lagos State, Seyi Bankole, was subsequently announced as the new head of NURTW in Lagos. “MC Oluomo has been sacked as Lagos chairman. We had a meeting last night. We have replaced him,” a national officer of the union told The PUNCH.

When asked about Oluomo’s earlier withdrawal from the union, he replied, “It holds no ground. That’s unacceptable to us.”

The PUNCH had reported that there is a leadership crisis rocking the NURTW in Lagos, leading to MC Oluomo and his supporters pulling out of the union on March 10.

MC Oluomo, who had been in a running battle with the national body of the union in Abuja, was earlier suspended for alleged insubordination.

NAC explained that MC Oluomo was granted a pardon after the mediation of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other leaders but he refused to apologise.

“The National Administrative Council during its meeting of March 15, 2022, graciously passed a resolution to grant pardon to the suspended state chairman if he shows remorse and tenders unreserved apology to the union.

“However, up until this moment the suspended chairman has bluntly refused to do so; hence, the decision to take action against the Lagos State administrative council by dissolving same,” the statement read in part.

“The National administrative council in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 17, section 2. subsections (i) and (ii) of the constitution of the union, during its meeting of April 5th, 2022, has dissolved the Lagos State administrative council forthwith.

“In view of the fact that nature abhors a vacuum …

News / politics

2023: Don’t vote for anyone claiming his form was bought for him — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has told Nigerians not to vote for any presidential aspirant “lying” that some persons bought their Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for them.

Obasanjo said during a colloquium with the theme: “The African Christian Leadership: Radical Transformation in Unsettled Times.”

The colloquium in Lagos on Thursday was to mark the 61st birthday of Pastor Itua Ighodalo.

Obasanjo said: “Today, they are paying N40 million. “Some of them (aspirants) even said it is some youths who bought it for them.

“In fact anybody who would come out to tell you such a lie, you shouldn’t vote for him.

“Which youths gathered N40 million?

“If you want to buy it, buy it and tell us.

“You don’t need to lie to us.”…