Category: Politics and Governance

Barely 48 hours after the expulsion of 83 members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the party for alleged anti-party activities, the leadership of the party again, on Thursday, suspended another 26 of its members for the same offence.

 

Out of the suspended members were the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salami; former SSG, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Former National House of Assembly member, Senator Mudasiru Hussain; Former party Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi; Former Commissioner for Information, Mr Adelani Baderinwa; Former Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun, Former Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, Barrister Gbenga Akano, Former Commissioner for land, Mr. Kunle Ige.

 

Others are the party chieftains: Engr. Kazeem Salami, Alhaji Adesiji Azeez, Mr. Biodun Agboola, Barr. Gbenga Awosode, Mr. Rasheed Opatola, Hon. Gbenga Ogunkanmi, Hon. Israel Oyekunle, Hon. MBO Ibraheem, Mr. Akeem Olaoye, Hon. Francis Famurewa, Hon. Tajudeen Famuyide, Hon. (Mrs.) Adenike Abioye, Hon. Wasiu Adebayo, Hon. Rasheed Afolabi, Mr. Segun Olanibi, Mr. Tunde Ajilore, Mr Ganiyu Ismaila Opeyemi and Mr Zakariah Khalid, Olaoluwa-South LCDA.

Meanwhile, all suspended party members were the former minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola loyalists who served under his administration while he was the state governor.

 

The state party Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal who made the announcement of the suspension in a statement in Osogbo, stated, “Following complaints of anti-party activities, the State Executive Committee of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the allegations against some of its members.”

 

“This disciplinary measure came in response to the allegations of misconduct bordering on factionalisation of the party and creating parallel party organ.”

 

 

 

“The Disciplinary Committee undertook a thorough and impartial review of the allegations and the findings were carefully deliberated upon by the State Executive Committee.”

 

“After a comprehensive assessment of the evidence and consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the State Executive Committee has taken the difficult yet necessary step of suspending the members indefinitely.

As we move forward, we enjoin our members to remain focused on our goals and continue working together to serve the interests of our constituents and our State. Our commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and adherence to our party’s core values remains unwavering”, he submitted.

At least 110 top bank executives and junior staff members have been sacked for fraud-related cases in the past two years, findings by The PUNCH have shown.

 

These were contained in the ‘Reports of Fraud and Forgeries in Nigerian Banks’’ released by the Financial Institutions Training Centre between the second quarter of 2021 and Q2 2023.

 

FITC’s institutional members are members of the Nigerian Banker’s Committee, which comprises the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and all licensed banks in Nigeria.

 

A breakdown showed that while only four bank officials were sacked in Q2 2021, the figure rose by 175 per cent to 11 in Q2 2023

The highest number of sacked top bank executives and junior staff members was recorded in Q3 2022. Twenty officials were fired.

 

The PUNCH observed that between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022, 52 bank staff members were sacked for fraud-related issues.

 

However, between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023, 58 bank staff members were sacked for the same reason

Also, within the period under review, the sacked staff members were involved in a total of 967 fraud cases.

 

The highest number of cases was recorded in Q4 2021, with 410 cases involving bank staff, while the lowest was recorded in Q3 2021, with 32 cases.

 

The PUNCH further observed that between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022, bank staff were involved in 657 cases, while between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023, they were involved in 310 cases.

 

Also, about N18.01bn was lost due to fraud committed by bank staff and outsiders within the reviewed period out of a total of N81.69bn involved in fraud cases.

 

The PUNCH learnt that the highest amount lost was N5.79bn in Q2 2023, while the lowest amount lost was N472.28m in Q1 2023.

 

For the total amount involved, the highest amount was N34.78bn in Q3 2021, while the lowest amount was N1.18bn in Q2 2022.

 

The PUNCH further observed that mobile fraud, computer/web fraud, and P0S-related fraud were the most prevalent types of fraud, and this trend persisted in Q2 2023.

In June 2022, the PUNCH reported the continued trial of three former workers with the First Bank of Nigeria facing attempted fraud charges before a Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.

 

The defendants, Ozioma Ugorji, 35; Ugwu Emeka, 32; and Obike Chukwuka, 38, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission for allegedly attempting to steal N20bn from the bank.

 

The PUNCH learnt that the defendants conspired to tap into the bank’s server to grant access to a syndicate.

They were, however, apprehended by the EFCC on March 6, 2021, following an intelligence report.

 

In June this year, four men were arraigned at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding their employer, Think Finance Microfinance Bank of N150m in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State.

 

The defendants include the company’s Head of Risk Management, Ojimi Ayodeji, the Loan Officer, Isaac Eddy, Joseph Setonji and Juwon Irinyemi, and were arraigned before Magistrate Patrick Nwaka on three counts of theft.

 

The PUNCH had reported recently that four Nigerian deposit money banks lost a total of N1.77bn to fraudulent activities involving the banks’ employees and consumers in 2021.

This was contained in the 2021 financial statements of the banks, which included Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, First Monument City Bank, and Wema Bank.

 

The PUNCH also reported that Access Bank, GTB and Fidelity Bank recorded 26,877 fraud cases in the first six months of this year, according to analyses of their financial reports for the first half of 2022.

 

This was a 56.45 per cent decrease from the 61,715 fraud cases that were recorded by the banks between June and December, 2021.

 

The President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr Uju Ogunbunka, recently urged banks to educate their staff and create protective measures that would discourage fraud.

 

Commenting, ICT expert and Senior Partner of e86 Limited, Olugbenga Odeyemi, recently said several fraud cases needed insiders from banks.

 

He stated, “Some of the hacking and fraud cases that we’ve seen, happened not because of the lack of security on the banks’ electronic platforms, but because of poverty, greed, and sometimes the lack of education on the part of the customers.

 

“Other than asking banks to invest more in the security of their platforms, it’s equally important that banks spend more resources on educating their customers.

That said, several fraud cases couldn’t have happened without the help of insiders in some of the banks. I think Nigerian banks should spend more money on the welfare of their staff while making appropriate changes to their internal processes, starting from their hiring processes.”

 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, recently urged the CBN to introduce sanctions and eliminate policies that promote corruption.

 

He said, “I think what they can do is to activate sanctions on anyone found wanting. Aside from the tracking, there must be evidence. And once there is evidence, they should close in on anyone they find. Cyber fraud is the biggest threat in the banking industry.’’

 

The FITC advised banks to strengthen their security protocols and utilise advanced fraud detection systems.

 

It said, “Considering the rise in the total amount involved in fraud cases and the amount lost, Nigerian banks should strengthen their security protocols and systems to prevent unauthorised access to customer accounts and sensitive information. This may involve incorporating measures such as multi-factor authentication, implementing strong encryption techniques, and ensuring regular security updates are in place.”

The Legislative Council of Ijebu East local government area of Ogun State, has suspended the Council Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo for a period of three months over what it described as ‘financial maladministration’.

The LG lawmakers, in a letter titled, “Financial Maladministration of Hon. Wale Adedayo as Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Ogbere, Ijebu”, said the Council legislators had received several allegations against the Chairman Mr. Adedayo.

The letter was signed by the Leader of the House, Hon. Fasheyi Akindele Adesuji and six other Councillors.

 

While directing Mr. Adedayo to hand over all the Council property in his care to the Council Vice Chairman, the Councillors noted that the three months suspension will enable them carry out necessary investigation of the Chairman.

 

Some of the allegations levelled against Mr. Adedayo included; that the Chairman withdrew N4million from the local government account for empowerment in 2022, but no empowerment was done till date, wastage of N2milion naira on August 20, 2022 on Isese festival, N250,000 duty tour allowance for the Chairman and other top functionaries in June 2023 and nother N250,000 duty tour allowance for the Chairman and other top officials engagement.

 

Others allegations are; the Chairman purportedly spent N426,000 on production of report on 2020 ‘Jigbo’ festival in Ijebu East, when we were even yet elected, inauguration expenses of Women in Politics in ljebu East LG N350,000 in 2022, but no money was released to the women group.

 

“Entertainment and other logistics expenses during the commissioning of Legislative Building building N350k on 18th of April 2023. Another entertainment on the same commissioning of the Legislative Building N295k same day, 18th of April 2023”.

 

“The second 8.2 million sent from phase 2 of the project (tables and the chairs for schools) 20 (twenty) chairs were made with N8.2m. (Eight million two hundred thousand naira)”.

 

“Another N20 million sent from state is nowhere to be found.”

Another N15 million sent from the state went same way without any project to show for it.

Award of two boreholes at a scandalous price of N1.8 milliom each, totaling N3.6 million for just two boreholes, August 2023, while he collects N3 million monthly as security votes, he has held on to the N300,000 monthly security vote of the Vice Chairman for about five months. He has refused to pay up, despite several interventions and meetings on the issue by the ALGON Executives, led by Hon. Tunde Emiola Gazal and inability to account for over N2.5m left in the project Account of the council by the previous administration for the completion of a school at Kajola, Ogbere, and the school still

remain uncompleted till date”.

 

Mr. Adedayo was also accused of Iilegal tax collection from Ijebu East Okada riders and drivers via what he called “levy” without the approval of the Legislative Council, which is double taxation for the people of ljebu East at this tough period.

 

The letter read, “having received the above allegations, there is need for thorough investigation by the House. The House therefore resolved as follows: That the Chairman steps aside for the proper conduct of investigations.

 

“The Council Chairman, Hon. Wale Adedayo, is hereby suspended for three months pending the conclusion of the investigations and therefore directed to handover all the properties of the Council in his possession to the Vice Chairman, who will act as the Chairman during the suspension of the Chairman as provided in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“The Council Chairman is directed to appear before the House on the next sitting of the House on Thursday, September 14, 2023.

 

“That the Council Treasurer, through the Head of the Local Government Administration (HOLGA) should furnish the House with financial/bank statement of the Council in the last two years, along with other relevant documents and vouchers as the House may require in order to aid investigations.

 

“That the above Resolutions be copied to the Governor of Ogun State and the Ogun State

House of Assembly”.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun on Wednesday, announced the expulsion of 84 of its members for engaging in alleged anti-party activities.

 

In a statement by the Osun APC Chairman, Sooko Lawal, the party took the decision following complaints of anti-party activities against those expelled.

Following complaints of anti-party activities, the State Executive Committee of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate the allegations against some members.

This disciplinary measure came in response to the allegations of misconduct and actions that embarrassed and brought the party to disrepute.

 

“The disciplinary committee undertook a thorough and impartial review of the allegations and the findings were carefully deliberated upon by the State Executive Committee.

 

“After a comprehensive assessment of the evidence and consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the State Executive Committee has taken the difficult yet necessary step of expelling the following members:

 

“Akibu Olaiya – Iwo LG, Yekeen Ajoke Nafisat – Iwo LG, Wakeel Mutaleeb Adekunle – Iwo East LCDA, Olufunke Akano – Iwo East LCDA, Olatunji Idowu Ajoke- Iwo West LCDA, Ajala Abayomi – Ayedire LG.

 

“Adegboyega Semiu Adeniyi – Ayedire LG, Sabitu Rofiat Omolayo – Ayedire South LCDA, Oladeji Ismail – Ayedire South LCDA, Tajudeen Akanbi – Olaoluwa LG, Oyediran Quasim – Olaoluwa LG, Ajetunmobi Moshood – Olaoluwa South LCDA.

 

“Akintoye Opeyemi – Irewole LG, Akerele Sunday – Irewole LG, Pastor Peter Olaawo – Irewole LCDA, Orisatola Surajudeen A. – Irewole LCDA, Shariat O. Olaniyi – Ayedaade LG, Akeem Olodude – Ayedaade LG.

 

“Raji Sikiru – Ayedaade South LCDA, Isaac Adeyemi Aderinoye – Ayedaade South LCDA, Oyedeji Tawab O. – Osogbo LG, Aderemi Tajudeen – Osogbo LG, Kamoru Afusat Bolanle – Osogbo South LCDA.

Ibrahim Mumini Tunde – Osogbo South LCDA, Olayinka Musiliu Shina – Osogbo West LCDA, Adewumi Ademola Taofeeq – Osogbo West LCDA, Ajala Oladiran – Olorunda LG, Abiola Omotosho – Olorunda LG, Ganiyu Aliu O. – Olorunda North LCDA.

Lawal Olalekan – Olorunda North LCDA, Ganiyu Adebayo A. – Olorunda Area Council, Afolabi Olaniyi Olatunde – Olorunda Area Council, Serifat Olayiwola – Ifelodun LG, Olawale Morufu Adebukola – Ifelodun LG.

 

“Ajibade Olatunji Ganiyu – Ifelodun North LCDA, Oladunjoye Rasheed Taye – Ifelodun North LCDA, Wale Agboola – Ifelodun Area Council, Sulaiman Akeem – Ifelodun Area Council, Odetayo Olubunmi – Odo Otin LG.

 

“Agboola Dayo Remilekun – Odo Otin LG, David Ajiboso – Odo Otin North LCDA, Ajala Richard Folashade – Odo Otin North LCDA, Ogunkanmi Adekunle – Odo Otin South LCDA, Adepoju Kabiru – Odo Otin South LCDA.

 

“Fadunmola Fatai A. – Boluwaduro LG, Aina Olusola – Boluwaduro LG, Oyekanmi Hajarat Adenike – Boluwaduro East LCDA, Adewumi O. Olufemi – Boluwaduro East LCDA, Teniola Alaba – Ilesa East LG.

Muraina Fatai Olusegun – Ilesa East LG, Alaka Bode Olakunle – Ilesa North East LCDA, Ojediran Folasade Kehinde – Ilesa North East LCDA, Raji Azeez – Ilesa West LG, Afolayan Kafayat – Ilesa West LG.

 

“Kabir Ademola Hameed – Ilesa West Central LCDA, Kazeem Kafayat – Ilesa West Central LCDA, Agunlejika Adejuyigbe – Atakumosa West LG, Ogundele Sesan Opeyemi – Atakumosa West LG, Omidiji Olaolu – Atakumosa West LCDA.

 

“Adejare Israel – Atakumosa West LCDA, Oni Abiodun – Ife Central LG, Ismail Busayo Alabelewe – Ife Central LG, Chief Titus Awofesobi – Ife Central West LCDA, Alhaji Akeem Oyeleye – Ife Central West LCDA.

 

“Alhaji Omisakin Bisi – Ife East LG, Ogunrinola Sayo – Ife East LG, Oyewole Rafiu – Ife Ooye LCDA, Adefioye Adegboyega – Ife Ooye LCDA, Sangolade Olawale – Ife East Area Office, Adekunle Toyin Asabi – Ife East Area Office.

 

“Adeyeye Yinusa O. – Oriade LG, Mathew Olamuyiwa Samuel – Oriade LG, Samson Fakinyede Oladipo – Oriade South LCDA, Oyediran Mikail – Oriade South LCDA, Lamidi Oyeyemi – Obokun LG.

Dare Adarayaki- Obokun LG, Oluseyi Oyinloye – Obokun LCDA, Ogundele Ogunsanmi – Obokun LCDA, Ismail Elewedi – Ejigbo Central LCDA, Yekeen Adewale – Oyebisi Ejigbo South LCDA, Muraina Atanda Adeleke – Ejigbo South LCDA.

 

“Alhaja Temilade Olokungboye Halid – Osogbo West LCDA, Biyi Odunlade – Ife Central LGA, Rasak Salinsile – Iwo LGA.

 

“As we move forward, we enjoin our members to remain focused on our goals and continue working together to serve the interests of our constituents and our State.

 

“Our commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and adherence to our party’s core values remains unwavering.” the statement reads

Flowerbudnews

By Biola Lawal

Abuja (Flowerbudnews): Ministers of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil &Gas) have enjoined staffers of the Ministry to dedicate themselves to the achievement of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) made the call during a formal meeting with the staffers on Tuesday in Abuja.

The two Ministers emphasized the need to reshape the narrative within the oil and gas sector, a statement by Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, Deputy Director/Head, Press and Public Relations Unit disclosed.

Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo underscored the Ministry’s significance in Nigeria’s economic growth and urged the staff to contribute their expertise to fulfill their mandates.

“We are here to work alongside you, understand you, and encourage you to bring your skills to bear,” he expressed.

He further outlined their shared objective of expanding domestic gas penetration, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), for the betterment of the nation.

Minister Lokpobiri echoed the Ministry’s vital role in Nigeria’s survival and emphasized the need for effective performance to address the nation’s challenges.

He noted that having two Ministers in the Ministry was a strategic decision to propel change and expand investments in the Oil and Gas sector.

The Petroleum Industry Act was highlighted as a facilitating factor, and he assured the staff that collaboration between him and Minister Ekpo would lead to the realization of the President’s directive.

He stated that during a visit to the refinery, the contractors working on the Port Harcourt refinery’s rehabilitation indicated that the initial phase would be completed by December 2023. Minister Lokpobiri also expressed his willingness to engage stakeholders in the creeks to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, expressed confidence in the staff’s capability to achieve the Ministers’ goals.

He highlighted initiatives such as providing staff buses to ease transportation and transitioning same to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to align with environmental concerns. Aduda stressed leveraging the Ministers’ experience to advance the industry and announced plans for frequent Town Hall Meetings to enhance communication and collaboration within the Ministry.

The engaging Town Hall Meeting was attended by Directors and Staff from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, showcasing the Ministry’s dedication to transparency, collaboration, and the administration’s overarching agenda. (Flowerbudnews)

Introduction

Achieving stability in government is a complex challenge faced by nations worldwide, and Africa is no exception. The continent has a rich history of diverse cultures, languages, and political systems, but it has also faced significant governance and stability issues. This article explores the unique challenges Africa encounters in achieving government stability and outlines strategies for addressing these challenges.

**1. Historical Context: Legacy of Colonialism**

One of the enduring challenges to stability in African governments is the legacy of colonialism. The arbitrary borders created by colonial powers often divided ethnic groups and regions, creating tensions that persist to this day. Moreover, the institutions and administrative systems imposed during the colonial era were often ill-suited to the needs and aspirations of the African people.

**2. Ethnic and Tribal Dynamics**

Africa is incredibly diverse, with thousands of ethnic groups and languages. While this diversity is a source of cultural richness, it can also be a challenge to governance. Ethnic and tribal divisions have at times fueled conflicts, hindered national unity, and undermined political stability.

**3. Corruption and Governance**

Corruption is a pervasive issue in many African governments. It erodes public trust, diverts resources away from critical services, and fosters an environment of impunity. Addressing corruption is essential for building stable governments that serve the interests of their citizens.

**4. Political Instability**

Africa has experienced its share of political instability, including coups, civil wars, and disputed elections. These events often have far-reaching consequences, leading to humanitarian crises and long-lasting political and economic instability.

**5. Economic Factors**

Economic instability and poverty can contribute to political instability. High levels of unemployment, income inequality, and inadequate access to basic services can lead to social unrest and undermine the legitimacy of governments.

**6. Education and Empowerment**

Ensuring that citizens are well-educated and informed is crucial for achieving stable governments. Education promotes civic engagement, critical thinking, and the ability to hold leaders accountable. Empowered citizens are more likely to participate in the democratic process and demand good governance.

**7. Strategies for Achieving Stability in African Governments**

Despite these challenges, there are several strategies that African nations can pursue to achieve stability in government:

**a. Strengthening Institutions**

African governments must invest in building strong and transparent institutions. This includes an independent judiciary, an impartial civil service, and effective law enforcement agencies. Strong institutions are essential for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that citizens have confidence in the government.

**b. Promoting Inclusivity**

Governments should strive to be inclusive, representing the diverse interests of their populations. This means addressing ethnic and tribal divisions through policies that promote social cohesion and national unity. Inclusivity also involves gender equality and the representation of marginalized groups in political processes.

**c. Fighting Corruption**

African nations should take decisive steps to combat corruption. This includes implementing anti-corruption measures, strengthening oversight bodies, and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors.

**d. Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding**

Efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully and prevent them from escalating into violence are crucial. Mediation, diplomacy, and peacebuilding initiatives can help mitigate political and ethnic tensions.

**e. Economic Development**

Investing in economic development and job creation is vital for stability. Governments can prioritize infrastructure development, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and promote economic diversification to reduce reliance on a single sector.

**f. Education and Civic Engagement**

Education should be a priority, with investments in both formal and informal education systems. Civic education programs can empower citizens to participate in political processes, vote knowledgeably, and hold leaders accountable.

**g. Strengthening Regional Cooperation**

African nations can benefit from increased regional cooperation and integration. Regional organizations like the African Union can play a pivotal role in conflict resolution, economic integration, and political stability.

**h. Encouraging Democratic Governance**

The promotion of democracy and respect for human rights are fundamental to government stability. African nations should uphold democratic principles, including free and fair elections, a free press, and an independent civil society.

**Conclusion: A Collective Effort for a Stable Future**

Achieving stability in African governments is a complex, multifaceted challenge that requires a collective effort. It involves addressing historical legacies, promoting good governance, and investing in the well-being and education of the continent’s people. While the road to stability may be fraught with challenges, Africa’s rich cultural diversity, resilient populations, and vast potential make it well-positioned to build a future characterized by stable, inclusive, and accountable governments. By embracing these strategies and working together, African nations can pave the way for a brighter, more stable future.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been appointed as a member of All Progressives Congress Campaign Council for Bayelsa State governorship election.

 

The council is chaired by the Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya. The Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, will serve as co-chairmen.