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Why Akeredolu operates out of Ibadan – His aide explains

Tosin Ranks
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Why Akeredolu operates out of Ibadan – His aide explains

The Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Doyin Odebowale, explained on Channels Television’s Politics Today that Governor Akeredolu is not working from the state capital, Akure, due to accommodation challenges.

Akeredolu, who returned in September, can no longer use the two-bedroom apartment at the Presidential Lodge. Instead, the Governor’s Lodge, now used as an office, is unavailable for his residence.

As a result, a new and more suitable residence is being prepared for the governor due to his current health condition.

Governor Akeredolu has been away from the state since returning from a medical vacation abroad and has chosen to work remotely from Ibadan, Oyo State.

This decision has caused controversy within Ondo State, with protests from the youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party.

In response to the criticism, Odebowale argued that the governor’s physical presence at a construction site or political events is not necessary for governance.

He emphasized that civil servants have been paid their salaries, and the governor has been actively signing laws since his return.

Odebowale also addressed the idea of protests, stating that it’s perfectly acceptable for citizens to request to see the governor. However, he questioned the motive behind the protests and suggested that they are politically motivated.

He argued that there is no need for the governor to address these protests directly at the opposition party’s secretariat.

Furthermore, Odebowale emphasized that the governor’s health condition necessitates suitable accommodation for his recovery, as he has been residing in a two-bedroom apartment for the past six years.

In summary, the governor is working remotely due to accommodation challenges and his health condition, which requires better living arrangements, while critics and protests have raised questions about his absence from the state.

Odebowale defends the governor’s actions and insists that he is in charge of the state’s affairs despite his remote working.

 

PalmPay and Poppin collaborate to advance fintech education

Tosin Ranks
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0
PalmPay and Poppin collaborate to advance fintech education

PalmPay, a leading and innovative Fintech platform, has officially announced a collaboration with the chat platform Poppin.

Together, they are embarking on a groundbreaking initiative known as the “Pop&Pay” Campus Dance Competition, which will traverse across 10 universities in Nigeria.

This unique endeavor aims to blend the worlds of financial technology and communication solutions, with the goal of inspiring and educating the next generation of tech enthusiasts.

Participating universities in this exciting campaign include the University of Calabar, University of Ibadan, University of Port-Harcourt, University of Abuja, University of Lagos, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology, among others.

The campaign kicked off on October 11 and will run until December 15, 2023. During these two months, participants have the chance to win various prizes, including mobile phones, cash awards, and valuable coupons.

The grand prize awaits the ultimate champion who distinguishes themselves among the talented participants.

The University of Calabar in Cross River was the stage for the first event, running from October 11th to October 13th.

Enthusiastic students eager to join can register for free by getting in touch with their university’s Student Union Government, Director of Socials, or the Department Director of Socials.

This joint campus tour symbolizes the shared vision of PalmPay and Poppin to drive innovation and nurture technological advancements within the Nigerian tech ecosystem.

The tour will encompass a series of interactive product demonstrations and workshops aimed at enlightening students.

By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, this campus tour strives to equip students with the necessary tools to thrive in the ever-evolving technology landscape while fostering a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Tinubu’s cabinet members will undergo their initial evaluation in January

Tosin Ranks
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0
Tinubu’s cabinet members will undergo their initial evaluation in January

The Federal Government is set to initiate quarterly assessments of the 48 ministers’ performance starting in January when they will have received the 2024 fiscal year budget for their ministries.

This move, as explained by Ms. Hadiza Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, involves periodic retreats during which performance evaluations will be conducted based on key performance indicators.

In an interview on TVC television, Usman elaborated, We plan to kick off the assessment of ministries in January 2024, implementing a quarterly performance evaluation that will culminate in an annual scorecard.

However, prior to this, a cabinet retreat in early November will see Federal Executive Council members define the key performance index, and ministers will sign a performance bond.

According to Usman, This performance bond will outline the specific goals each ministry aims to achieve within the 2024 budget cycle. It will serve as the benchmark for tracking each minister’s performance.

She emphasized the importance of citizen engagement in this process, mentioning the deployment of an application to allow citizens to report on project-based deliverables.

While the precise deliverables for each ministry were not specified, Usman assured that they must align with the 2024 budgetary provisions.

The process involved bilateral discussions with all ministries to establish ownership of their respective deliverables and ensure alignment with budgetary provisions, with a focus on coherence with the upcoming 2024 budget.

Ultimately, this initiative aims to enhance accountability, transparency, and the alignment of government actions with the needs and expectations of the Nigerian citizens.

 

A man has been apprehended for sexually assaulting a prophetess within a church in Ogun state

Tosin Ranks
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0
A man has been apprehended for sexually assaulting a prophetess within a church in Ogun state

A 40-year-old mason named Lekan Sunday has been apprehended on allegations of raping a prophetess inside a church in Ogun State.

The incident reportedly occurred last Thursday, and he was successfully apprehended by the state authorities on Monday.

According to our sources, the suspect forcibly entered the Orioke Aanu Oluwa Gbohunmi church, situated in the Ilogbo Adu area of Kemta, Abeokuta, armed with weapons.

He discovered the victim asleep and proceeded to hold her captive, wielding a knife and threatening to harm her if she resisted.

Despite her calls for help from those nearby, the prophetess received no assistance, leading her to plead with the assailant.

Despite her pleas, the suspect continued to insist on sexual intercourse.

After coercing her into submission and allegedly committing the assault, the victim sought help at a nearby police station, where she reported the incident.

Following the complaint, the police initiated a search for the suspect, who had fled the scene.

He was ultimately arrested on the subsequent Monday.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the occurrence, stating that the prophetess recognized the suspect as a mason and laborer in the vicinity.

She also mentioned that the preliminary investigation into the case is currently in progress

 

Tinubu designates Aliyu as the head of ICPC

Tosin Ranks
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0
Tinubu designates Aliyu as the head of ICPC

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, granted his approval for the appointment of a new leadership team for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, pending confirmation by the Senate.

The appointed individuals are Dr. Musa Aliyu, who will serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the ICPC, and Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, who will take on the role of Secretary to the Commission.

Additionally, President Tinubu granted the pre-end of tenure leave request for the outgoing Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye.

This leave will commence on November 4, 2023, in advance of his tenure’s conclusion on February 3, 2024.

This authority to make these appointments and decisions was exercised by the President in accordance with Section 3(6) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new ICPC management team; approves 90-day pre-end-of-tenure leave for outgoing ICPC Chairman.’

It’s important to note that while the Senate needs to confirm the Chairman, the position of Secretary to the Commission doesn’t require confirmation, and thus, Mr. Oparaodu’s appointment is effective immediately, as noted by Ngelale.

Dr. Musa Aliyu, who has been serving as the Attorney-General of Jigawa State since September 2019, possesses a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law.

He was also designated as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in October 2023.

On the other hand, Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, with over 30 years of legal experience, has held roles in the public service, including being a Member of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.

The President has urged the new ICPC management team to uphold the highest standards of integrity as they carry out their responsibilities without bias or favor in all matters brought before them, as stated in the issued statement.

The court has postponed the trial of Stella Oduah to November 14th

Tosin Ranks
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0
The court has postponed the trial of Stella Oduah to November 14th

The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation over an alleged N7.9bn fraud at a Federal High Court in Abuja has been adjourned.

Initially scheduled for October 17, 2023, the court rescheduled the trial to November 14, citing time constraints.

Stella Oduah was notably absent in court without a provided reason, while her lawyer and the Federal Government’s representative were present.

Oduah and the China Construction giant are currently facing prosecution for alleged crimes of fraud, money laundering, and bribery, amounting to N7.9bn.

These charges encompass conspiracy, money laundering, and the maintenance of anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

For instance, one of the charges outlines that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) directly transferred N500M from its account with Guaranty Trust Bank to a private banking nominee account with First Bank between March 31 and April 1, 2014, potentially involving proceeds from unlawful activities.

A similar transaction of N868.4M was mentioned, taking place between March 5 and May 30, 2014.

On July 21, 2023, Oduah and eight others pleaded not guilty to these charges after being arraigned.

Without The Kerosene Lamp, Some Of Us Would Not Be Where We Are Today.

Ranks-Staff
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Without The Kerosene Lamp, Some Of Us Would Not Be Where We Are Today.

To my young compatriots…

 

Without the kerosene lamp, some of us would not be where we are today. With the help of this lamp, we were able to study and do our assignments.

 

Close to four decades ago, the humble kerosene lamp was my main source of light whenever the almighty NEPA struck. Sadly, millions still rely on this lamp today for illumination.

 

In perspective, the first generating power plant was installed in Lagos in 1898, just seventeen years after its introduction in England. 125 years afterwards, we are still in darkness!

 

Against all odds, with the kerosene lamp, we passed our WAEC exams in flying colours even though we did not have enough teachers or covered the syllabus fully.

 

We studied on our own. My classmates here on my friends list would bear me witness. We read A. F Abbott and M. Nelkon Physics texts cover to cover. We chewed Holderness/Lambert and Ababio Chemistry texts cover to cover.

 

Additional mathematics was devoured whole with great ferocity on our own. Same thing for ordinary mathematics, English language, Geography, Economics, Agricultural science and Biology.

 

What was the driver? Well, we reasoned that the only ticket out of the quagmire we were in was to pass our exams with distinctions and escape. My WAEC result paved the way for the full Soviet Union scholarship I obtained.

 

My dear young compatriots, you may be feeling that you have been let down by our country (Nigeria) in terms of opportunities and better life. You are probably thinking that the older generations got a better deal and they once enjoyed good life.

 

Sure, some very few with rich parents did enjoy good life in the past just like some are doing right now, however most did not. Nigeria has always been a very tough and difficult place to survive in and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

 

However, once you are literate, the acquisition of knowledge is your responsibility. Most brilliant scholars are self taught.

 

Some of my colleagues with whom I burned the midnight oil are now professors. Some are medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, bankers etc practising their professions in Nigeria, Europe, the US, Canada etc.

 

You now have the Internet – a global library in your pocket. In my days, access to information was very difficult. The few libraries around had only archaic books most of which were in terrible state and often in tatters. Use the Internet to find opportunities and gain knowledge.

 

There are scholarships, internships, business opportunities hiding in plain sight. Seek them out and take advantage of the opportunities. There are also free educational videos from Ivy league universities in the US, Oxford/Cambridge etc on YouTube and other platforms. Find them and improve your knowledge.

 

Guess what? If you manage to finish successfully from any Nigerian school under these hardships, you can never fail any exam in Europe, the US, China, Japan etc even if you had already made a pact with failure itself.

 

Ire o!

 

Credit: Olobe Yonyon

IMF suggests that South Africa could surpass Nigeria to become the largest economy in Africa

Tosin Ranks
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0
IMF suggests that South Africa could surpass Nigeria to become the largest economy in Africa

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has put forth a forecast indicating that South Africa may potentially outpace Nigeria to become the largest economy on the African continent.

According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, South Africa, known for its strong industrial base in Africa, is expected to reach a gross domestic product (GDP) of $401 billion by 2024.

In contrast, the IMF’s calculations suggest that Nigeria and Egypt, based on current prices, have GDPs of $395 billion and $358 billion, respectively.

The IMF also foresees a brief period during which South Africa might temporarily surpass Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, for a year before eventually trailing behind again.

Their report, released last week, indicates the possibility of South Africa slipping to third place, with Egypt taking the lead in 2026.

This development aligns with actions by the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, who has initiated substantial policy reforms.

These reforms, in conjunction with a decline in oil production, have posed challenges for Nigerians, including inflation and the devaluation of the naira.

Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to rejuvenate the economy through measures such as the removal of fuel subsidies and addressing foreign exchange system issues aim to alleviate dollar shortages and boost tax revenue.

While these measures present initial challenges in Nigeria, they are anticipated to yield more substantial benefits in the future.

The IMF anticipates a GDP growth of 3.1% for the next year, compared to 2.9% in 2023.

Daniel Leigh, the division chief in the IMF’s research department, elaborated during the fund’s annual meetings in Marrakech, Morocco last week that these reforms are expected to result in “vigorous and more inclusive economic growth.

How the process of selecting monarchs in Yorubaland is influenced by litigation – Insights from the Olubadan

Tosin Ranks
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0
How the process of selecting monarchs in Yorubaland is influenced by litigation – Insights from the Olubadan

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, shared insights on why legal disputes frequently accompany the selection of kings in certain regions of Yorubaland during a press conference at his Alarere residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of the festivities marking his 81st birthday.

Balogun emphasized that when those responsible for the election or appointment of monarchs fail to fulfill their traditional duties, candidates who feel aggrieved will continue to seek legal recourse.

He explained that litigation is an inherent aspect of democracy and will persist as long as injustice exists in the selection of monarchs in Yorubaland, serving as a safeguard against such injustices.

Regarding the reported confrontation between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the state, the monarch, who holds Obasanjo in high regard, clarified that the issue had been blown out of proportion.

He described Obasanjo as a respectful figure when it comes to traditional rulers in Nigeria and dismissed allegations of disrespect.

He characterized their relationship as one of brotherhood and friendship and attributed the unfortunate incident at the function in Iseyin, where Obasanjo appeared to be acting out of order toward members of the Council of Obas and Chiefs, as a misrepresentation by the media.

On the occasion of his 81st birthday, the Olubadan expressed profound gratitude to God, noting that there had been nothing he had asked of God that had not been granted to him.

Ortom disputes Alia’s assertion of inheriting a N359 billion debt

Tosin Ranks
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0
Ortom disputes Alia’s assertion of inheriting a N359 billion debt

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, strongly refutes the claim made by his successor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, that they inherited a massive N359 billion debt.

Ortom’s media aide, Terver Akase, insists that this narrative is not only false but a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

According to Ortom, at the point of his exit, he asserted that he was handing over a debt of N187 billion to his successor.

Ortom further clarified that during his tenure, his administration took proactive steps to negotiate and significantly reduce the debt, including a Debt Swap between Benue State and the Federal Government.

The total debt swap for the state and local government councils amounted to N71.6 billion.

Additionally, Ortom mentioned that they were expecting substantial inflows, such as accumulated Stamp Duties and refunds from Debt Swap with the Federal Government, which would have further reduced the debt profile to N45.2 billion.

Furthermore, Ortom’s administration had outstanding approvals awaiting disbursement from the federal government, including a balance of N41 billion in bailout funds and a N20 billion Central Bank of Nigeria facility.

They were also anticipating a refund of N9 billion for withdrawals related to subsidy and SURE-P.

Ortom highlighted their efforts in addressing the pension issue by domesticating federal government reforms through the Benue State Pension Law, 2019, which introduced the Contributory Pension Scheme.

They had raised over N8 billion under the scheme and were on the verge of meeting the requirements for full implementation.

Ortom emphasized that inheriting both assets and liabilities is a common occurrence in successive administrations, as it had also happened with previous governors.

He challenges the Alia administration to provide concrete evidence if they want the public to believe their claim that he left them with a N359 billion debt.

Lastly, Ortom questions the Alia administration’s transparency, urging them to disclose their federal allocations, internal revenue, and the state’s monthly wage bill, especially considering the increased federal allocations to states following the removal of oil subsidies.

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