Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • Imo PDP Guber candidate rejects result of Saturday’s poll

    Imo PDP Guber candidate rejects result of Saturday’s poll

    By Ugonne Uzoma

    The Governorship Candidate of PDP in Saturday’s election in Imo, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, has formally reacted to the outcome of the poll, saying it is unacceptable to him.

    Anyanwu spoke through a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of his Campaign Organisation, Mr Ikenna Onuoha, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday.

    He described INEC’s declaration of Gov. Hope Uzodimma of APC as the winner of the poll as “unacceptable”.

    Anyanwu alleged that the election was hijacked by thugs and urged INEC to cancel the election.

    He discredited the results announced by the electoral umpire, saying that they were obtained from areas where elections were not scheduled to take place.

    The PDP governorship hopeful advised INEC to redeem its image by reviewing the exercise or cancelling the election within seven days

    “Imo people should be bothered that INEC generated election results from areas it had earlier announced that election would not hold due to insecurity,” the statement added.

    It threatened that the PDP governorship candidate might be compelled to seek redress in Court, should INEC fail “to either review the election or cancel it entirely within seven days.

    “INEC is advised not to allow itself to be viewed as a willing tool to destabilise Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement read.

    Meanwhile, Anyanwu has denied the allegation in some quarters that he collected N2.5 billion from party leaders and financiers to induce voters to vote for the party in the election.

    He was reacting to the “rumour that he disbursed only ten per cent of the funds”.

    According to the statement, Anyanwu described the allegation as “blackmail from mischief makers and a vile attempt to malign his character”.

    It stated that the party did not subscribe to thuggery, vote buying and other electoral misconducts.

    “This allegation is not only misleading, ridiculous and mischievious but a big hoax.

    “It is pure blackmail from mischief makers with no iota of truth in it.

    “It is preposterous and utterly absurd for a sane person to allow himself to be used as a tool to malign his fellow humanbeing simply to pursue a vile and irrelevant motive.

    “That the PDP refused to be part of vote buying, thuggery and rigging, which is at variance with the Electoral Act, should not give anyone the temerity to propagate falsehood in order to score cheap political relevance,” the statement added.

    NAN

  • Labour Strike: Workers observe partial compliance in FCT

    Labour Strike: Workers observe partial compliance in FCT

    By Joan Nwagwu

    Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  observed partial compliance to the directive by the organised labour to it members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
    The Trade Union Congress(TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Nov. 13, directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
    The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the “non comment  by the Federal Government over the  brutalising of  the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo”.
    It would be recalled that the NLC had declared a protest in Imo, led by Ajaero on Nov.1, over alleged anti- workers policies by the state government .
    Ajaero was attacked and brutalised by security agents and hoodlums allegedly sent by the state government.
    NAN also reports that Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and the Nigeria Police had refuted the allegation.
    It also be recalled that the National Industrial Court had restrained organised labour from embarking on the planned nationwide strike.
    NAN observed that at the Federal Secretariat, workers were seen going  about.
    Also, at the Area one old Secretariat, workers were also seen going in and out of the place.
    Commercial banks such as Guaranty, Union, First Bank , among other banks in Area 3 and 8 were opened for operation as some customers were seen going in and out of the place.
    NAN also report that some schools were open and lessons were on going.
    Also, some workers who spoke with NAN said that the nationwide  indefinite strike was uncalled for.
    They said that people are already  suffering and the economy was not friendly and with the indefinite strike it would increase the hardship on the people.
    NAN
  • Gov Dauda should focus on his job and leave me alone – Matawalle

    Gov Dauda should focus on his job and leave me alone – Matawalle

    By Deborah Coker

    The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has advised Gov Dauda Lawal of Zamfara to focus on his job of governing the northwestern states and leave him alone.

    Matawalle gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abuja.

    He was reacting to some allegations by Dauda concerning his tenure as governor of the state.

    The allegations bordered on mismanagement of resources, heavy debts and non-payment of examination and school fees for students at home and abroad, among others.

    “I think the man is not ready for governance. He’s always shifting blame instead of him to concentrate and make sure that he delivers dividends of democracy to the people of Zamfara.

    “He only engages in fighting, looking back at what happened long ago; how many governors have governed the state? four or five of us.

    “Over the years, none of them has looked back and tried to rubbish their predecessor, but this one, instead of him to concentrate on the issue of security, he is playing blame games.

    “When students of Gusau University were kidnapped, Mr President mandated all of us, all the security agencies, to go to the place and console with the people of the state and the parents.

    “He wasn’t in the state. He was away. He was not in Nigeria. We called him, he did not respond. We had to go through a third party before we got his phone number and we called him.

    “He pleaded with the minister here, that he was away but that once he comes, he would tell us so that we can come.

    “This is a team that Mr President mandated to go to the state. Till today, no communication from this person.

    “He is just pushing blames instead of him to concentrate. My advice is to him is that he should remember that he was elected to tackle the issues in his state.

    “As Dauda’s predecessor, I always pray for him to succeed, to ensure that the issue of insecurity, terrorism and banditry become history in the state.

    “That is because no matter what it is, that is my state, my family and everybody is there, including my extended family.

    “So, I’m always praying each and everyday for God to free and protect us from this kind of situations.

    “As stakeholders, we must come together, team up and fight these criminalities.

    “I feel that they just want to distract me from my responsibility that was given to me as Minister of Defence. They don’t want me to oncentrate on my responsibility. I won’t allow them.

    “God knows I have done my best and I’m going to try to do more. And for Nigeria, we are working hard to make sure that all sort of criminalities will go.

    “I believe he should sit down, do a critical analysis, and he would know that the people advising him wrongly are his enemies.

    “With every complaint, people would begin to see the governor as a perpetual complainant.

    “He is not a woman, he is a man. Let him concentrate. Let him stand. Let him be firm on his responsibility. He should not be like a woman crying all the time.”

    The minister said that he would not respond to the governor again as the Northern Elders Forum and the Police had advised him not to.

    “Let him continue saying whatever he wants to say. I have said my own. We have so many things to say about him that I’m not going to say because our elders have talked about it. I respect them and I’ll make sure that I respect what they advised me to do.

    “I think all we need to do is to come up together and solve the issue of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly our geo-political zone.

    “There are so many challenges known to us, so why are we fighting ourselves?

    “I will concentrate to make sure that the people of the North-West are free from these criminals. This is what we’re supposed to do as leaders of that zone.

    “We should come together and fight these criminals together instead of engaging in fighting ourselves,” he added

    NAN

  • Off-circle elections: Clark urges INEC to investigate alleged irregularities

    Off-circle elections: Clark urges INEC to investigate alleged irregularities

    By Naomi Sharang

    Elder statesman Edwin Clark has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate alleged irregularities reported in the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship elections held on Saturday.

    Clark, who made the call when a group, South-South Diamond Ladies paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, said alleged discovery of completed result sheets with names of voters and so on was very unfortunate.

    Clark, who is also the Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) said that for INEC to redeem its image from the fallout of the 2023 general elections, the commission must investigate alleged irregularities reported in the three states.

    “This is an election to give the INEC the opportunity to redeem itself. Discovering completed result sheets with names of voters is very unfortunate.

    “INEC should investigate and make a public statement on this issue otherwise, they will be condemned as we did in the last general elections. I still believe the election will be free and fair to a greater extent.

    “The elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi. I think INEC should redeem its image.

    “What happened in the last election was very disappointing because if you say that you are going to use technology, you must use it because you provide it in your guideline and in the electoral law.

    “INEC should redeem its image Because without an effective, honest
    INEC, we are in trouble because democracy will not work in this country.”

    He also appreciated the group for the visit, advising them to continue to participate in the affairs of the country for the development of Nigeria.

    Earlier, the President of the group, Victoria Egelege, said the South-South Diamond Ladies was an association of the Niger Delta women aimed at providing social, educational and economic empowerment to women and children.

    “We also aim at safeguarding the rights of the children and provide for the wellbeing of children who are exposed to any form of abuse.”

    Egelege, who described Clark as a nation-builder with the interest of every Nigerian at heart, irrespective of geopolitical zones, also presented to him a merit award and bestowed upon him the position of Grand Patron of the group.

    NAN

  • Asari Dokubo, Jack-Rich sue for peace in Rivers, urge support for Tinubu

    Asari Dokubo, Jack-Rich sue for peace in Rivers, urge support for Tinubu

    By Aluta News

    Nov. 11, 2023

    Chief Asari Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, and Tein Jack-Rich, a humanitarian and politician, both sons of Rivers, have called for peace in the midst of the current political turmoil in the state.

    The two Niger Delta strongmen, who made the call on Friday when Jack-Rich paid Dokubo a courtesy visit at his home in Obuama, Degema Local Government Area (LGA), of Rivers, also called for support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Dokubo, who noted with concern the political impasse in the state, said though it was normal to have disagreements, the leaders should not continue on the “path of bearing grudges against each other’’.

    He said Rivers people could not also afford to be left behind at the federal level, and so must take advantage of Tinubu’s inclusive government, and give the president all the support he required to succeed.

    The Niger Delta warlord, who further dispelled rumours of a rift between him and the president said though he was not happy about certain things, he however, had put all that behind him and would continue to support Tinubu in his quest to restore the dignity of Nigeria.

    “I am not a regular politician; I am just a friend of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am not looking for appointment, but those seeking appointment made sacrifices and are looking up to me to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain.

    Dokubo, who recalled that his friendship with Tinubu dated back to the early 90s, said he had complete faith in the president’s capacity, leadership qualities and his passion for equity and justice.

    “I will not do anything that will cause the president pain, and so those around me can be rest assured that I am indeed a great supporter of the president,’’ he said.

    He further explained that though he also had some disagreements with Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, they had managed to resolve their differences and had agreed to work together in the best interest of Rivers.

    Dokubo therefore, called on Fubara and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to settle amicably whatever differences they had, and work together to ensure that Rivers people enjoyed the dividends of democracy, both at the federal and state levels.

    “And as our brother (Jack-Rich) said, we must always move forward and work for the good of Rivers,’’ he appealed.

    Speaking earlier, Jack-Rich lauded Tinubu for his timely intervention in the political crisis in the state.

    He said the president’s intervention had doused further tensions in the state, and restored confidence of hope for the people and also investors.

    “When it comes to the issue of Rivers, we are stakeholders and our interest is for the peace, economic survival, political and economic inclusion of Rivers.

    “Sometimes friends fight, parents and children might have disagreements, and they express such in their own ways; I am appealing to the FCT minister and our governor to work out their differences.

    “Crisis will drive away investors, and if there are no private investments, capital investments, there cannot be economic growth and our youths won’t be employed.’’

    Jack-Rich therefore, called for calm and understanding from both parties, for the sake of Rivers and the people.

    He pledged to join forces with Dokubu to achieve lasting peace between Wike and Fubara for the sustainable development of the state so opportunities could be harnessed by the people at all levels.

  • FG set to close financial gap

    FG set to close financial gap

    By Nana Musa

    The Federal Government says it will close the financial gap, build stronger climate commitments and tap into the potential of renewable energy, partnerships and collaboration.
    The Managing Director.  Bank of Industry (BOI), Dr Olasupo Olusi, made this known on Thursday in Abuja.
     Olusi spoke during the African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) and the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) Joint international CEO forum.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the event was “DFIs’ strategic role towards a climate smart future”.
    “ We are here today to consolidate our South-South engagements, engage in knowledge-sharing, strengthen our institutions and enhance our capacity to support inclusive growth and development in our respective jurisdictions.
    “ This year’s theme, premised on the need for a climate smart future is important given humanity’s increasing vulnerability to climate change.
    “ We live in a world where climatic events are claiming lives; disrupting food systems; limiting infrastructure and generally slowing down economic growth and development across member nations.
    “ Given the strategic role DFIs play in mobilising resources for national development, we are integralactors in the global response to the climate challenge,” he said.
    Olusi said that one of the primary drivers of BoI’s developmental strategy was to accelerate Nigeria’s development  by supporting environment-friendly and sustainable projects across the key sectors of the economy.
    “ We at BoI are committed to promoting this strategy to deliver on our mandate which is well aligned with l President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
    “ It is globally recognised that there is an opportunity for climate change mitigation and adaption to become the main driver of economic growth,  and there is no better time for DFIs to become the vehicles for this change.
    “ The four ways through which DFIs can play a key role: Closing the financing gap, stronger climate commitments, tapping into the potential of renewable energy, partnerships and collaboration, are the important ways that we must work together to achieve our climate ambitions,” he said.
    The Chairman AADFI and CEO of Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) Botswana, Mr Thabo Thamane, commended all the partners for their efforts and support.
    He said that the biennial event was aimed at building global partnerships to promote and finance development.  and to strengthen South-South cooperation.
    “ It is no longer news that the world is facing the negative impact of climate change.
    “Human health and safety, food and water security, and sustainable socio-economic development are threatened globally.
    “ Reports predict that if strategic actions are not taken to combat climate change, the world economy will lose more than 18 per cent of its current GDP by 2048, and the least developed countries, particularly those in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, will suffer the worst consequences.
    “ Africa, for instance, is estimated to lose five per cent to 15 per cent of its projected GDP by 2050, with a projected climate adaptation cost of 10 to 30 billion dollars annually by 2030.
    “At the same time, the Asia and ASEAN countries are projected to lose 26.5 per cent  and 37.4 per cent of their GDP by 2048 if immediate action is not taken to mitigate the effects of climate change,” Thamane said.
    According to him, the world is now in a climate emergency as highlighted in UNDP publications.
    “As we focus on addressing the challenges of climate change, we are also aware of the need for just transition,” the chairman said.
    Thamane said that the association of DFIs, the AADFI would continue to leverage partnership and collaboration in advancing the Paris Agreement.
     Thamane said that such cooperation would manifest in membership of the WFDFI by African countries.
    He said that it would also manifest relationship with colleagues in Asia and the Pacific, the African Financial Alliance on Climate Change(AFAC) and involvement in the Finance in Common Summit.
    It is a global coalition of over 500 Public Development Banks (PDBs).
    NAN
  • NUC approves programmes for Confluence University

    NUC approves programmes for Confluence University

    By Funmilayo Adeyemi

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has formally granted approval for the establishment of eight science and technology education programmes to Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.
    The new undergraduate programmes include Biology Education, Chemistry Education, Mathematics Education, Physics Education, Computer Science Education, Geography Education, Library and Information Science, and Technology Education among other programmes offered by the University.
    This is contained in a statement signed by the institution’s Registrar, Olufunke Hudson and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
    Hudson said the programmes were to run in a dedicated academic unit, Faculty of Science and Technology Education.
    According to her, the faculty is provided with necessary resources, human and material, in line with set standards to train professional teachers for the secondary and technical schools in the state and the country in general.
    “The establishment of the programmes has become very important in view of the state government’s determination to improve on quality and access to all levels of education in the state with the recent creation of more tertiary and technical educational institutions.
    “Besides, secondary and technical institutions are the providers of the basic inputs into tertiary institutions and with the expansion of tertiary education in general, high-quality inputs into the institutions are in greater demand.
    “It is therefore a compelling necessity that the quality of secondary and technical education should be strengthened to enable them to perform the expected role in the education sector,” she said.
    Hudson added that with the establishment of eight more programmes, CUSTECH, Osara now has a total number of 38 programmes, available for the on-going 2023/2024 admissions.
    She listed the existing programmes as Science-Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Geology and Applied Geophysics.
    Others are Computing-Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology; and Engineering-Chemical, Civil, Electrical/Electronics, Mechanical, Computer and Mining Engineering.
    Environmental- Architecture, Building, Surveying, Geoinformatics, Urban and Regional Planning, Geography.
    Also on the list are Management and Social Sciences-Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Human Resource Management, Transport and Logistics Management and Actuarial Science.
    She said all programmes are currently accessible on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) platform for interested candidates to select.
    “Candidates who are interested in any of the university’s programmes can effect change of their first-choice institution to Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara,” she said.
    NAN
  • FG declares zero tolerance for abandoned projects

    FG declares zero tolerance for abandoned projects

    By Perpetua Onuegbu

    The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa says the Federal Government will no longer tolerate abandoned projects across the country.
    Dangiwa, who said this during the familiarisation visit of project sites awarded in 2019, constructed by the government and its agencies in Abuja on Thursday, said that unserious developers and contractors would be edged out.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects inspected were the 1,250 units Estate, Jibi, FCT and a condominium of 24 units of flats, comprising 1, 2 and 3 bedroom flats also in FCT.
    The minister said the attitude of developers abandoning project sites would no longer be tolerated and advised that every project site should be cleared of weeds.
    “As of the moment, what we are telling most of the contractors is that we will no more tolerate any abandoned projects, we intend to recoup the investment done by the government earlier on.
    “So all construction sites that have been abandoned, we are inviting all the developers to come and sit down with us and know the reason why they abandoned it.’’
    He said that developers or contractors who did not have the managerial or financial capacity would be edged out while the serious ones would be brought in for constructions to take off.
    Dangiwa said the aim was to ensure that Nigerians were better as there are millions of Nigerians that need the houses, adding, ‘’President Bola Tinubu is passionate about providing affordable houses for Nigerians.’’
    He added that the action was one of the renewed efforts to ensure that all Nigerians could be accommodated with an affordable housing, high earn housing or social housing.
    “We are here in Brains and Hammers Estate, funded by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria; I think it’s one of the biggest estates (1,250 units) they have ever funded.
    “The impression now is that the houses are almost fully completed and off-takers have been gotten, that is the most important thing and the houses look affordable to Nigerians since it has been taken by Nigerians.’’
    Dangiwa commended the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for upscaling its performance to ensure that it provided more of such affordable houses for Nigerians and that they were fully completed within time.
    Speaking on challenge of variation of prices of materials that had affected the delivery time of the houses, Dangiwa advised the developers to engage FMBN that might have given them loans on reasons for the delay.
    He gave an insight into the intention of government to house citizens of all categories of earning and said that the ministry would soon commence ground breaking for the renewed cities project.
    “We are already on the supplementary budget, so within the couple of weeks, we will start ground breaking of some of the houses we intend to construct.
    “We intend to construct six mega cities, Renewed Hope cities round the country, one in each geopolitical zone of the country and we intend to construct the Renewed Hope estates in the remaining 30 states of the federation.
    “So depending on the regulatory outlay will we commence that construction.’’
    Dangiwa added that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with some of the developers who would provide funding would be engaged while the ministry would provide enabling environment for the project.
    According to him, we have already gone far with that, in FCT we are thinking about 10,000 housing units because the off-takers are already on ground both the high earners, middle and low income earners.
    Also, speaking at the inspection, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Madu Hamman, the project financier, said the first phase of the project (Brains and Hammers Estate) would be ready for off-take by December.
    According to Hamman, for the entire estate of 1250, the first phase of it which is 800 has been packaged while the delivery of the 450 units must be concluded as well.
    ‘’So the entire 1250 will be delivered; beyond that, we have the ministerial pilot housing scheme which is equally under the cluster 1 section,” he said.
    NAN
  • Governorship Election: Stay away from Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa, military warn troublemakers

    Governorship Election: Stay away from Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa, military warn troublemakers

    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    The Defence Headquarters has warned troublemakers to “stay away from the
    Nov. 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa or face injurious consequences from the military.”

    The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, gave the warning while briefing newsmen on the operations
    of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

    Buba said the military is aware of plans by some individuals to dress in military uniform to disrupt the electoral processes in the three states on Saturday.

    He said that “for the off season elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states this weekend, here is a message for those who planned to disrupt the process.

    “We are aware of your plans to dress in military gear to misled the public. Be assured of injurious consequences should you proceed with those plans.

    “We will not allow our image to be dragged to the mud. You’re warned.”

    The director said the military is determined to give the elections the seriousness it deserved, adding that troops and platforms were being moved to
    locations to reinforce security already in place in those states.

    He said security agencies are ready to identify and differentiate between real soldiers and the fake ones.

    Buba explained that troops had continued to exert pressure on groups that sought to derail any progress toward peace and security in the country.

    According to him, it is for these reason the military is inflicting severe damage on terrorists, insurgents and violent extremists through operations across the country.

    He added that “accordingly, we are targeting their leadership, infrastructure and foot soldiers.

    “The coordination between air and ground forces is like never seen before and yielding amazing results.

    “We are expecting new platforms that would further enhance our capabilities to further root out terrorists and destroy their military
    capabilities.”

    NAN