2023: Atiku, Shettima, Obi Proffer Solutions To Nigeria’s Challenges – Newstrends
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2023: Atiku, Shettima, Obi Proffer Solutions To Nigeria’s Challenges

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2 years ago

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Peter Obi, Kashim Shettima and Atiku Abubakar

Leading presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections have proffered solutions to some of the challenges facing the country.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, spoke yesterday at the opening plenary of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, did not attend the ceremony, while that of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was represented by Shettima.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),

Professor Peter Umeadi, also attended the conference.

The candidates were invited as panellists to speak on “Democratic Transitions in the 21st Century Nigeria: 2023 and Beyond”.

I’ll attract local, foreign investment in health, education – Atiku

Atiku, who lamented that Nigeria had never found itself in a critical point as it was today, called on the citizens to choose right in 2023 in order to address the challenges.

He said, “Today, we have all the negative indices. Today, we are all disunited in the nation. We had never experienced this level of poverty. We had never experienced this state of insecurity. We had never experienced this level of unemployment. We have recognised all these negative developments in our history.

“This is where history and experience beckon on us to make sure that we don’t get it wrong at this point in time; otherwise if we get it wrong, I don’t know when we will ever get it right.

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“I was involved in the struggle to return this country to democracy in the time of military days.  In fact, I can say I am lucky to be alive because so many of my contemporaries have been killed in this struggle, but by the grace of God I have survived till this point in time.”

The former VP proposed reforms to create an enabling environment for foreign and local investors to invest in various sectors, including healthcare and education.

He said the federal government did not have the resources to be solely responsible for development.

He submitted that, “The only way is to make sure that a conducive environment is available for the local and foreign investors to participate in the development of our country; whether it is infrastructure, education or healthcare.”

You should vote for competence, Obi tells citizens

Obi of the LP said the country’s woes had gotten so bad that the 2023 elections would not be about religion or tribe, but about who had the character and competence to deliver the country from its current mess.

He said, “Nigeria is in a mess. We got here simply because of the accumulative effects of bad leadership. The coming elections are not about tribe or religion, but about character and competence. We need a bold transition from a highly insecure state to a highly secure state.”

We’ll lead our troops to frontlines – Shettima

Shettima on his part promised that the APC would lead Nigerian troops in its fight against terrorists and bandits terrorising major parts of the country. He said his principal, Tinubu, would concentrate on the economy and transform it to be the best in Africa.

He further said, “Nigerians should follow the man who knows the road. From day one, we will hit the ground running. We will promptly address the issue of the economy, ecology and security. And we have the antecedence. I built some of the best schools in Nigeria. Go to Borno and see wonders; you will never believe that it is a state in a state of war. So, we are going to replicate our achievements in Lagos, in Borno and some of the frontline states so that our nation will be a better place.”

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Nigeria starved of heroes

Award-winning writer, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, who was the event’s keynote speaker, lamented that Nigeria was starved of heroes to mentor its citizens, particularly the youths. She said, “We are starved of heroes. Our young people do not find people to look up to anymore.”

The author of “Half of a Yellow Sun” called on Nigerians to embrace self-criticism and untangle the knot of injustice so that peace and good governance could thrive.

She said, “There is need for resurrection. We cannot avoid self-criticism, but criticise the government. We cannot hide our own institutional failure while demanding transparency from the government.”

Naira rains for female footballers

Meanwhile, the author mobilised participants at the event to raise over N3m for the female NBA team. During her address, she noted that there was “injustice” in the monetary compensation which the male and female NBA teams would receive in the football competition.

After her speech, several personalities, including the Director General (DG) of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, donated to raise the prize money of the female NBA team to N3.2m from the initial N200,000. The winning prize for the male team, it was learnt, is N500,000.

Shettima’s dress stirs social media buzz

The social media came alive yesterday as netizens shared their reactions on the outfit of Shettima at the NBA conference.

Shettima was dressed in a suit and tie, accompanied by a pair of gym shoes, which many people found odd.

No fewer than 13,000 lawyers nationwide attended the opening ceremony of the NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) which was declared open by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The CJN, who was represented by the Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State, Justice Kassim Alogba, said the conference was the largest gathering of lawyers on the face of the earth.

He commended the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, for his leadership qualities.

Lagos State Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The theme for this year’s NBA AGC is “Bold Transition” and is being held at the Lagos Eko Atlantic City between August 19 and 25.

Daily Trust

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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14 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

 

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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14 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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15 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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