Category: News - Page 14 - African News Today

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

28May

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Elections, Justice, News, Nigeria

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

An open letter from a frontline legal practitioner to the CJN My Lord, I write, as a concerned member of the Nigerian bar, regarding a subject which has generated controversy among members of the bar and indeed the larger public in the past week. Confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low. On 22 May 2023, at the opening ceremony of the annual conference of the National Association of Women Judges, Your Lordship urged judges sitting in election petition matters across the country to do substantive justice and eschew technicalities, in order to restore the confidence of the public in the judiciary. It is against this backdrop that I write in relation to the directive of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), prohibiting mobile phones and other electronic d...

Opinion: Nigeria’s Election Highlights Anglo-American Missteps – M. Page

28May

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Elections, News, Nigeria, United States of America

Opinion: Nigeria’s Election Highlights Anglo-American Missteps – M. Page

Nigeria’s just concluded presidential elections have been focusing minds in London and Washington. Like tens of millions of Nigerian voters, Anglo-American officials realized what was at stake. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and is on track to be the third most populous country in the world by 2045. The UK and the US have enduring strategic interests in Nigeria, which are threatened by Nigeria’s kleptocratic ruling class’s tolerance of – and complicity in – democratic backsliding, grand corruption and gross human rights violations. The new administration faces a daunting array of challenges, from underdevelopment to insecurity, fiscal pressures and poor governance, which went unaddressed under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari. But over the last several years, the UK and US h...

Inauguration: FG Restricts Movements Around Eagle Square

26May

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Elections, News, Nigeria

Inauguration: FG Restricts Movements Around Eagle Square

The Federal Government has directed the restriction of movements around the Eagle Square, the venue of the inauguration parade, from 2 p.m. on Friday till Tuesday. This move is in preparation for the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, on May 29. A circular issued by Ngozi Onwudiwe, a permanent secretary at the Head of the Civil Service, stated that the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives ahead of the ceremony. The government has been conducting military drills in the past few weeks in preparation for the inauguration ceremony. The Inauguration Parade and Swearing-in of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the Programme, will t...

Femi Gbajabiamila Clashes with Deputy over Control of the House

25May

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Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Femi Gbajabiamila Clashes with Deputy over Control of the House

A crisis appears to be brewing in Nigeria's House of Representatives over who presides over the 10th assembly. Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Ahmed Wase, clashed during the plenary session on Wednesday, leading to speculations that the race for the key position is getting messier by the day. The Guardian reported that Wase is eyeing the seat of the Speaker and is a member of the G-7, a group of aspirants who are not comfortable with the zoning arrangement of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Gbajabiamila, on the other hand, had recommended Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, leading to their endorsement by the APC. The trouble started when Gbajabiamila asked Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulat...

DSS Raises Alarm Over Plans to Disrupt Handover Ceremonies in Nigeria

25May

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Elections, News, Nigeria, Security

DSS Raises Alarm Over Plans to Disrupt Handover Ceremonies in Nigeria

The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised an alarm over plans by some subversive elements to disrupt the handover ceremonies in some parts of the country. The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The DSS stated that these elements plan to undermine the efforts of the security agencies as well as cause panic among the citizens. The DSS has urged citizens to adhere to the laid down protocols for the events across the country to ensure a peaceful and successful ceremony. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council had announced activities for the Presidential inauguration on May 29, 2023, in Abuja. On the same date, new Governors will also be inaugurated in m...

We’ll Tell Dangote to Provide Forex to Nigeria at Good Rates – Emefiele

25May

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Economy, Finance, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Petroleum, Trade

We’ll Tell Dangote to Provide Forex to Nigeria at Good Rates – Emefiele

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has disclosed that the Dangote Refinery will be encouraged to sell foreign exchange earnings to banks at a good rate. Speaking after the 291st Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, Emefiele stated that his team would engage with Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the promoter of the refinery, to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the venture. He noted that the CBN, the Federal Government, and the country had helped Dangote set up the refinery, adding that with local refining, the country would save about 20 per cent of the total cost of importing petroleum products, thereby reducing prices in the long run. Emefiele expressed optimism that the refinery would ease foreign exchange scarcity in Nigeria, adding that by the time ...

Ibikunle Amosun Denies Allegations Over Dangote Refinery Relocation

25May

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Economy, Employment, Labour, News, Nigeria, Petroleum, Trade

Ibikunle Amosun Denies Allegations Over Dangote Refinery Relocation

The former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has refuted claims by his successor, Dapo Abiodun, that he was responsible for the relocation of the $19bn Dangote refinery from Ogun to Lagos State. In a statement issued through his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, Amosun labelled Abiodun's allegations as "lies." He argued that the decision to move the refinery was made by Alhaji Aliko Dangote himself according to his business strategy and risk assessment. Amosun also clarified that the Olokola Free Trade Zone project was a Joint Venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria (which owned the majority 51%), Ondo State Government (14.5%), Ogun State Government (14.5%), strategic core investors (20%), and Alhaji Aliko Dangote who subsequently bought and took over the 20% equity...

A Word to the Dogs of Opposition – Femi Fani-Kayode

25Mar

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Elections, News, Nigeria

A Word to the Dogs of Opposition – Femi Fani-Kayode

Trust me when I tell you that if there is any foul play in this matter or any conspiracy to thwart the people's will we will make this nation ungovernable. - Femi Fani-Kayode As a consequence of the events of the last few days I am constrained to say that, like a rabid and mad dog that is foaming at the mouth, the Nigerian opposition, represented by the followers of Atiku Abubakar (Atikulators) and the followers of Peter Obi (Obidients), have lost control of their senses. They need to get a grip before it is too late. They are attempting to start something that they cannot finish and that they cannot possibly fathom the end of. They are beating the drums of war and are indulging in a level of irresponsible and downright dangerous behaviour that has NEVER been witnessed before i...

Opinion: The Vindication of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Biafra Question – P. Omonua

24Mar

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Biafra, Elections, News, Nigeria

Opinion: The Vindication of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Biafra Question – P. Omonua

"The trio of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) and Professor Banji Akintoye, all of whom have advocated for the creation of separate independent Nations are not eccentric nor delusional." Someone forwarded an audio recording to me few days ago which must have been preserved for more than 57 years. It was the voice of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (SLA), the last Premier of the Western Region and the 13th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland The voice was unmistakable, in his distinctive Ogbomosho accent. The summary of what he said, which I have transcribed from Yoruba to English as best as I could was: “…. Let us the Yorubas come together. Let the Ibos not ‘disorganize’ us with this election. We must not allow them to use this election to destroy our land, take over ...

Atiku Indicates Willingness to Form Alliance with Obi

3Mar

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Elections, News, Nigeria

Atiku Indicates Willingness to Form Alliance with Obi

Atiku Abubakar, who was the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded Nigerian general elections, has expressed his willingness to form an alliance with Peter Obi, who contested on the platform of the Labour Party (LP). Atiku made this statement during a press conference on Thursday. Atiku stated that he believes that there will be no problem if Peter Obi decides to dialogue with the PDP to form an alliance or not. It is important to note that Peter Obi was Atiku’s running mate during the 2019 Presidential election. However, this time around, both men were competing for the PDP ticket before Peter Obi decamped to the LP. See Also: Election: Atiku To Win Without G-5 Govs – Campaign Council In the official results declared by the Indepen...