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Lalong apologises to Catholic bishops over comment on Pope
Plateau State Governor and Director-General of the Presidential Campaign team All Progressives Congress, Simon Lalong, has apologised to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria over his unpopular statement to the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
Lalong, while reacting to his recent appointment by the ruling APC to spearhead the presidential campaign of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said Pope had not disapproved his support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
His statement had attracted heavy criticisms from Catholic faithful across the country, with some calling for his suspension from the church.
Lalong’s apology was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, dated August 12.
In the letter, the Plateau governor said he realised that his comment had brought “embarrassment” to the Catholic Church, especially to the family of Papal Knights.
The letter read in part, “I have followed with some shock and deep regret, the reactions that have trailed my appointment as the Director-General of the Campaign Council for the Presidential Candidates of our Party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Ibrahim Shettima,” the letter reads.
“The appointment understandably was received with mixed reactions across the Christian community who genuinely feel aggrieved by the decision of our party to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“While many people commended me for the appointment and saw it as a way of remaining within the system to fight for our interests, others cast aspersions on it on the grounds that our faith had been insulted and denigrated.
“In the course of this, many of my opponents turned the issue into a political weapon with some spreading rumours and questioning the integrity of my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In trying to make my case, I have granted interviews to justify why I believe that the appointment did not in any way undermine my commitment to the Catholic Church.
“During the week, in the course of defending myself, I had cause to make reference to my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In the process, I made reference to the Holy Father.
“I now realise that this was an error on my part and has caused some level of concern and even embarrassment to many especially the Members of the family of Papal Knights to which I belong.
“I now understand that I may have overreached myself in the course of trying to defend my personal decision in accepting this appointment and thus, the reference to the holy father was not intended as an act of disrespect to his exalted and revered office.
“Your Grace, by this written letter, I wish to tender my unreserved apologies and ask for their understanding and forgiveness from my brothers in the Catholic faith and, through you, the entire members of the Bishops’ Conference, our Fathers and our Leaders. My commitment to the Catholic faith to which | belong remains unreserved and undiluted.
“I will continue to uphold the banner of my faith in public life as I have done over the years. You may recall, Your Grace that in the last five or so years, I have been at the forefront of facilitating our dialogue as politicians with you our fathers in the faith. I remain committed to this and pray that you will continue to encourage us as we ascend the slippery slope of politics. While soliciting your episcopal blessings.”
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Marketers react after NNPCL slashes petrol price to N899 per litre
Marketers react after NNPCL slashes petrol price to N899 per litre
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has praised Dangote Refinery’s management for bringing the price of its gasoline down to N899.50K per litre.
PETROAN spokesperson Joseph Obele said in a statement on Thursday that the action is a huge relief for drivers and Nigerians in general.
“This price reduction, a decrease of N71 per litre from the initial price of N970, is a significant relief for motorists and Nigerians at large, especially during the holiday season,” PETROAN stated.
According to PETROAN president, Billy Gillis-Harry, Dangote Refinery’s price cut would lessen Nigerians’ suffering and lower living expenses over the holiday season.
“The price reduction will alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and reduce the cost of living and transportation during this festive period,” he said.
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Anthony Chiejina, a company representative, stated that the price cut is intended to reduce transportation expenses during the holiday season. Additionally, the refinery stated that customers could purchase an extra litre of fuel on credit for every litre of fuel purchased with cash.
In November, the privately held refinery reduced the price of its gasoline to N970 per litre. “To alleviate transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery is offering a holiday discount on PMS. From today, our petrol will be available at N899.50 per litre at our truck loading gantry or SPM.
“Furthermore, for every litre purchased on a cash basis, consumers will have the opportunity to buy another litre on credit, backed by a bank guarantee from Access Bank, First Bank, or Zenith Bank,” said Chiejina.
News Direct earlier reported that oil marketers have continued to rely on imports to deliver gasoline across the country, even though two significant refineries in Nigeria started producing the fuel within the last three months.
According to data gathered last week, marketers imported 2.3 billion litres of gasoline between September 11 and December 5, 2024. This ongoing importation runs counter to previous declarations made by certain marketers who stated their intention to cease importing and instead concentrate on locally produced goods.
Marketers react after NNPCL slashes petrol price to N899 per litre
metro
Court stops customs from seizing imported rice in open market
Court stops customs from seizing imported rice in open market
A court of appeal in Kaduna has stopped the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from impounding foreign rice in the open market or on the highways.
Operatives of NCS are in the habit of staying on the road arresting people suspected to have smuggled imported rice. They also storm rice shops and markets to impound foreign rice.
In a judgment delivered on December 6, a three-member panel of justices led by Ntong Ntong held that existing laws restrict the enforcement by the customs to land borders only.
The judgment was delivered in an appeal filed by the NCS against a decision of the federal high court that acquitted one Suleiman Mohammed, a businessman, of charges related to the importation of rice.
Customs had arrested Mohammed after seizing a truck carrying 613 bags of foreign rice and 80 bags of millet belonging to the businessman on June 14, 2019, along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway.
Mohammed was charged and arraigned on a two-count charge.
However, in a judgment delivered on November 10, 2021, Z. B. Abubakar, trial judge, acquitted the defendants of the charges.
Abubakar held that the plaintiffs (customs) failed to give enough evidence to prove that the defendant imported the goods.
metro
Afe Babalola: Court grants Dele Farotimi bail, barred from media interviews
Afe Babalola: Court grants Dele Farotimi bail, barred from media interviews
Embattled human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦30 million.
A magistrate court in Ekiti State granted him bail on Friday about two weeks after he was remanded in prison custody.
He was remanded on December 7, 2024, after he was arraigned in court on 16 counts of criminal defamation, following the publication of his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
Farotimi arrived at the Magistrate Court with heavy security comprising policemen and other law enforcement agents.
Apart from the N30 million, the Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered him to provide three sureties with a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction; submit his international passport to the court as well as refrain from granting media interviews.
The case was adjourned to February 13, 2025.
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