Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

The Department of State Services has pleaded with the organised labour to shelve its planned nationwide protest over the high cost of living and other issues in the country in the interest of peace.

The organised labour, which is miffed by the hardship in Nigeria arising from the fuel subsidy removal by the administration, has served notice of two-day protests between 27th and 28th February, 2024.

 

But in a statement made available to Vanguard on Wednesday, the DSS said while it was the right of the labour movement to embark on protest, the body should not go ahead with the strike so as not to jeopardise the prevailing situation in the country.

 

The statement was signed by the DSS Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Dr. Peter Afunanya.

 

Part of the statement reads,” While the Service recognises such action as the legitimate right of the labour movement, it, however, urges the body to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order.

 

“The DSS further calls on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions.

 

“This is more so that the Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence. The development, without doubt, will worsen the socio-economic situation across the country.

 

“It is common knowledge that all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt.

 

“So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties. They should, therefore, be given the chance to handle the challenges at hand.

 

In this vein, citizens are encouraged to recognise that what remains unsolved in peace time, would not be attained in war-time. The timeless piece of the esteemed Poet, JP Clark, “The Casualties” is a resonating reminder to us on the possible dangers of escalated conflicts. In time of trouble, everyone will be a casualty.

 

ongoing wars in the global scene is a stark reminder of their catastrophic repercussions on the affected countries’ domestic environments thus, the critical need to protect and maintain our internal stability and unity.

 

“Those exploiting the fault lines in the country need to have a rethink as resort to negativities will endanger our peaceful coexistence with dire consequences.

 

“Similarly, parents and guardians are implored to exert authority in guiding their children and wards from inimical acts capable of jeopardising public safety and harmony.

 

“Additionally, all sectors, including political parties, opposition groups, religious and traditional institutions, civil society and non governmental bodies are called upon to eschew violence; demonstrate leadership and statesmanship in these challenging times.

 

Making political capital out of the current situation or involving in divisive utterances at a time like this, will be of no benefit to any peace-loving Nigerian. Citizens are advised to be vigilant and not allow fifth columnists and hostile forces or agents to use them to destabilise the peace of the nation.

 

“The DSS stands opposed to violence as a means of settling our present day challenges, be they economic, political or otherwise.

 

“Accordingly, the Service will work with sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that lasting peace is maintained in the country,” the Dr. Afunanya said.

Less than five days after it marginally reduced the Customs Exchange rate from N1515.48 to N1472.756 last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again, for the umpteenth time, increased the rate to N1605.82 per dollar.

The rate, which has already been reflected on the Customs portal today, February 21st, 2024, has further dampened the hope of the despondent customs brokers and their importers that the Apex bank has finally eased its foot on the pedal.

 

Recall that last Friday, February 16th, 2024, the CBN reduced the rate to N1,472.756 per dollar 24 hours after it raised it to N1,515.48.

 

 

Also recall that the reduction last week was in response to the appeal made by the members of the House of Representatives who frowned at the frivolous manner in which the apex bank has been jerking up the customs duty exchange rate.

 

 

The recent increase, which the stakeholders said will not be the last, has set tongues wagging about whether the CBN is sensitive to the pains, hunger and general sufferings in the country.

 

Customs brokers have lamented that the incessant increases have impacted negatively on their businesses as well as trade volume, as importers have abandoned their goods at the ports while others have diverted their cargoes to the ports of neighboring countries.

 

 

Recall that the CBN has increased the customs duty exchange rate more than five times in one month this year.

The accusations stem from comments purportedly made by the Senate President at an event, which Emefiele claims have unjustly maligned his character and portrayed him as the root cause of Nigeria’s current economic challenges.

In a dramatic turn of events, Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of making defamatory statements against him.

 

accusations stem from comments purportedly made by the Senate President at an event, which Emefiele claims have unjustly maligned his character and portrayed him as the root cause of Nigeria’s current economic challenges.

 

During the televised remarks, the Senate President suggested that the government was at a loss for what charges to bring against Emefiele, citing potential accusations ranging from causing economic turmoil to illegal possession of firearms and unauthorised printing of currency.

 

These remarks have sparked controversy and drawn attention to the former CBN governor’s ongoing legal battles, where he has pleaded not guilty and is actively defending his innocence.

 

Matthew Burkaa, SAN, legal representative for Emefiele, stated in a letter addressed to the Senate President, a copy of which was obtained by Vanguard in Abuja on Wednesday, that the former CBN governor considers these statements false, distorted, and made in bad faith. The statements were deemed to be aimed at disparaging his character.

 

The letter demanded an immediate retraction of the statement, a written apology, and the payment of twenty-five billion naira (N25,000,000,000) as compensation for the alleged defamation.

 

The legal team argued that the Senate President’s comments not only undermine the integrity of the judiciary by commenting on a matter currently under legal review but also fail to acknowledge Emefiele’s contributions to the Nigerian economy.

 

They highlighted his role in introducing banking sector innovations and his efforts in addressing the P&ID Saga, which had positive outcomes for Nigeria.

 

Furthermore, the letter emphasised that no policy was enacted under Emefiele’s tenure without the approval or directive of the President and the Federal Executive Council, of which Akpabio was a key member. This point underscored the complexity of attributing the country’s economic woes solely to Emefiele.

 

letter read in full: “We are Solicitors to Dr. Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “Our Client”), on whose brief and instruction, we write this letter to you as follows:

 

“Our Client’s attention has been drawn to a widely circulated statement made by you against him on Channels Television on or about the 18th February, 2024 which he considers false, distorted and clearly aimed at disparaging his character and indeed made in bad faith. The said statement is contained in a video and was made by you to a large gathering of persons and circulated globally via uncountable online media. The statement which has now gone viral had this heading attached to its preface ”we don’t know what crime to charge emefiele with” in the video, you stated clearly and unequivocally, among other things, as follows:

 

‘So the kind of debt and the kind of economic mess that we are in, a lot of people do not understand, I remember President Obama saying you cannot know Washington until you get to Washington. So by the time we went in to look at the economic state of the country it was terrible, so the Former Governor of Central of Bank of Nigeria we didn’t even know what to charge him, whether to charge him for putting foam on the … or to charge him for illegal possession of Fire Arms or to Charge him for printing notes without income, I don’t know what we are going to charge him with. But, what I know is that, yes there is hunger today because of the policies that they took.’

 

“The above statement, whether taken in their ordinary, figurative or literal meaning portrayed Our Client as:

 

The cause of the entire hardship in Nigeria today is as a result of the policies of the previous administration.

 

“A serial offender whose action is responsible for all the hardship experienced by Nigerians today.

 

“A person who has committed offences that are so numerous that the government is confused as to which of the offences to prefer a charge against him.

 

“Your Excellency, as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you certainly know, or have reasons to know that the Federal Government of Nigeria had since the 14th August, 2023 preferred Charges against Our Client to which he had long pleaded not guilty and is presently defending same to exonerate himself and show that he is not guilty of the said allegations.

 

“It is therefore disturbing, that such a statement would be made by the Head of the Legislature of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a matter that is clearly subjudice. Your statement, with the greatest respect, clearly undermines the honour and integrity of the Court and its independence and indeed has the propensity of prejudicing the case against Our Client. Having submitted to the jurisdiction of the Court, it is only fair and proper that the Court should be allowed to determine the issues submitted to it without unnecessary pressure from any other arm of Government.

 

Secondly Sir, as a Senior member of the Bar, a former Governor of a State, A Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Minister under the immediate past Administration, Your statement attributing the present economic woes of the country solely on Our Client is most appalling and exposes the inaccuracies in Your assertions, especially, as you were a major player in the immediate Past Administration and worked closely with Our Client and indeed witnessed the innovations he introduced in the banking sector and its impact on the economy whilst in office, as well as the role he played despite all odds in salvaging Nigeria in the P & ID Saga and the positive result it brought for Nigeria.

 

“You are also aware that no single policy was carried out by Our Client without the approval, directive or authorization of the President and/or the Federal Executive Council of which you were a key and powerful member.

 

“It is pursuant to the above and without delving into the matter presently pending in Court that Our Client has instructed that we write to Your good offices and demand the immediate retraction of Your statement which has gone viral and are considered clearly defamatory of Our Client

 

“These baseless and false allegations clearly defames the character of Our Client and has also caused him great pains and embarrassment as it has lowered his esteem before the right thinking members of the Society in addition to the obvious odium and opprobrium from the unsuspecting members of the Society as a result of the falsity contained in that statement.

 

“We therefore have Our Client’s further instruction to demand from you an unreserved apology in writing, published and circulated by the same medium with which you have defamed his character and the sum of Twenty-Five Billion Naira (N25,000,000,000) as reasonable compensation for the willful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard earned reputation. In the event that you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with this legitimate demand, Our Client will be at liberty to seek the appropriate redress available to him under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Whilst anticipating your compliance with the above, kindly accept the assurances of our best regards.”

 

The demand for a retraction and apology, coupled with the substantial compensation claim, has raised eyebrows across the nation, putting the spotlight on the role of past and present high-ranking officials in Nigeria’s economic health.

 

A staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Olabode Olawuyi was on Monday attacked and killed by a lion he was feeding.

 

Olabode, who works in the zoological department and was in charge of the Lion was said to be feeding it when he was attacked by the wild cat.

 

Efforts to rescue the man from the Lion by other staff in the department proved abortive which eventually led to Olabode’s death.

 

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the school, Abiodun Olarewaju said the deceased was attacked while feeding the nine-year-old lion in its den.

 

He said the news of the incident threw the University community into mourning as the management ended its meeting abruptly on hearing of the sad incident, saying the wild cat had been euthanized.

 

It reads, “Mr Olabode Olawuyi, a Veterinary Technologist, who has been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade, was attacked this afternoon, Monday, 19th February 2024, by a 9-year-old male lion when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological garden of the University.

 

“The other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.

 

“On hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, abruptly ended an ongoing meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, was informed, on arrival, by the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.

 

Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive lion has been euthanized.

 

“Mr Olawuyi has been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about 9 years ago but, tragically, the male Lion killed the man who had been feeding them.

 

“The University management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.

 

“Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”

 

 

 

 

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dennis Idahosa has emerged as the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 2024 Edo Governorship election.

 

Idahosa was declared the winner of the primary on Saturday in Benin by the Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee under the Chairmanship of

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

 

Idahosa polled over 40,000 votes to clinch the APC governorship ticket for the Edo September 2024 governorship election.

 

 

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting all 36 state governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Village, Abuja.

 

The meeting began after the President arrived at the chamber at 11:34am.

 

Thursday’s gathering is Tinubu’s second meeting with the state executives since he inaugurated the National Economic Council on June 15, 2023.

 

It follows the recent hike in food prices and economic hardship and pockets of insecurity recorded nationwide.

 

Days earlier, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party compared Nigeria’s economic situation to that of Venezuela, a South American country in the throes of hyperinflation, escalating starvation, disease, crime, and high mortality rates.

 

But the Presidency criticised the performance of the governors, pointing out their failure to pay salaries, pensions, and the N30,000 minimum wage.

 

Protests had broken out in different parts of the country in reaction to the high cost of living with citizens in Niger, Kano, Kogi, Ondo, and other states demanding solutions to the economic crisis.

organised Labour had also complained about the situation in the country, threatening to go on strike by February 23 if the Federal Government failed to release the promised palliatives and other assistance to mitigate the economic pains on workers.

 

Seated are Vice President Kashim Shettima, Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

 

Governors attending are those of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Imo, Hope Uzodinma; Borno, Prof. Babagana Zulum, Edo, Godwin Obaseki; Rivers, Sim Fubara; Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji, Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule and Anambra Prof. Charles Soludo.

 

Also present are the Governors of Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang; Kaduna, Uba Sani; Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri; Jigawa, Umar Namadi; Kogi, Ahmed Ododo; Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Niger, Mohammed Bago; Abia, Alex Otti; Enugu, Peter Mbah; Benue, Hyacinth Alia and Babajide Sandi-Olu of Lagos.

 

Meanwhile, the Governors of Delta, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Sokoto are Kano are represented by their deputies.

 

Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari; and Information, Mohammed Idris, were also seated.

 

Top on the agenda would be solutions to the economic and security crisis in the country.

The Federal Government and governors of the 36 states of the federation have agreed to set up state police as the nation struggles to curtail insecurity.

 

The agreement was reached during an emergency meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the governors, which took place at the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday.

 

Vice President Kashim Shettima was also in attendance.

The minister of information and national orientation, Idris Mohammed, disclosed the development to correspondents at a briefing after the meeting joined by Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ubah Sani (Kaduna) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta

While noting that both the federal and state governments are mulling the idea, Mohammed said a series of meetings are in the pipeline to determine the modalities for the setting up of the state police, noting therefore that nothing concrete has yet been determined.

 

Apart from security, Thursday’s meeting also dwelt on the food situation in the country with the minister disclosing that a committee had been set up to synthesize all that had been discussed at the meeting.

 

The government’s spokesman also signaled that there will be no import of food commodities contrary to the position earlier taken by the federal government.

 

He explained that the government wants to sustain the gains already made in local food production in the belief that the country can feed itself and also be a net exporter.

 

Details to come later….