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2023: After Obi, Wike pledges logistics support for Kwankwaso

Published

1 year ago

November 21, 2022

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pledged to provide logistics support for the campaigns of the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso within the state.

Wike made this known on Monday when the NNPP candidate inaugurated the Mgbutanwo Internal Roads in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers.

Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who invited Kwankwaso to the event, described him as a man of integrity who meant well for Nigeria.

He said Kano is very important for the victory of PDP in the 2023 presidential election next February but all his entreaties to PDP stalwarts not to let Kwankwaso go proved abortive.

The Rivers governor said he persuaded Kwankwaso not to dump the PDP earlier in March but enemies within the party pushed him out.

Wike said the former governor of Kano State has what is required to put Nigeria together, saying it is unfortunate that they are no longer in the same party.

READ Abba Yusuf forms Kano elders council, names Ganduje, Kwankwaso as members

He said, “You are a man of integrity. It is unfortunate we are not in the same party but God will help at the appropriate time. People like this are people that should talk about the leadership of the country. I have no apologies to make to anybody.

“I said it to Peter Obi when he came and I also want to tell you that if you are coming for campaign here, I will give you the logistics support to campaign. You are a former governor and a former minister, so why will I not accord you all the necessary support? I am not afraid to say I will give you all the logistics support.

“These are people who mean well for this country. You are not preaching ethnicity, religion; you are selling yourself to Nigerians based on what you can do.”

He told the NNPP candidate to remember Rivers people if he wins, saying the Integrity Group will continue to support whatever is right and help the country.

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Kwankwaso was in Rivers alongside his running mate, Isaac Idahosa as well as NNPP chieftain, Buba Galadima.

Similarly, last Thursday, Wike pledged to provide “logistics support” for the campaigns of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi in Rivers, saying the former Anambra State governor has all the characteristics to lead Nigeria.

For months, Wike and four other PDP governors known as the G5 have demanded the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as PDP national chairman as a precondition to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

While Wike and his allies have not been seen to campaign for Atiku, it is not clear whether they will support Kwankwaso; Obi; or Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the contest for Aso Rock’s top job which has been described by analysts and keen observers as a three-horse race.

Kano, with over 1.8 million votes – the highest number of voters in the 2019 presidential election, has recently witnessed mass defections between the APC, the PDP and the NNPP amid intense permutations for the 2023 general elections.

READ BREAKING: Nigeria Labour Congress suspends strike in Kaduna

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BREAKING: FG, states, LGs share N1.123tn in March

Published

7 hours ago

April 19, 2024

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The Federation Account Allocation Committee has disbursed a total of N1.123tn to the federal, state, and local governments for March 2024.

The allocation, derived from a gross total of N1.867tn, marks a critical distribution of funds aimed at supporting various government tiers.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, on Friday.

FAAC has the duty of examining and approving the distribution of financial resources to the states and the Federal Government.

Monthly, this committee is tasked with the disbursement of funds across Nigeria’s 36 states and its 774 local government areas.

This allocation is anticipated to drive progress and support governmental bodies across various tiers in executing their duties.

The FAAC shared N1.152.trn to the three tiers of government for February 2024 from a gross total of N2.326.14trn.

Manga stated that the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, chaired the meeting and highlighted the importance of the allocation.

READ Presidential election: Wike worked against me in Rivers – Obi

This distribution is pivotal in ensuring that all government levels have the necessary funds to continue their development projects and provide essential services to the citizens,” the statement read.

The statement noted that the Federal Government received N345.890bn, states, and local governments received N398.689bn and N288.688bn, respectively, while oil-producing states received N90.224bn as 13 per cent mineral revenue derivation.

The FAAC statement also noted an increase in the gross revenue from Value Added Tax for March 2024, amounting to N549.698bn—an N89.210bn rise from the previous month.

This increase reflects the country’s economic growth and improved tax compliance.

Despite the positive trend in VAT, the Gross Statutory Revenue of N1.017tn for March was lower than February’s N1.192tn by N175.212bn.

The decrease has been attributed to reductions in excise duty, oil royalty, petroleum profit tax, customs external tariff levies, and electronic money transfer levy.

The balance in the Excess Crude Account as of April 2024 stands at $473,754.57, indicating a reserve for future financial stability.

READ Defeating Boko Haram, restoring peace your best legacy, Wike tells Buhari

The statement noted that the FAAC’s decision to allocate these funds is expected to bolster economic activities across the nation and support the government’s efforts in improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other vital sectors.

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Tinubu appoints Emomotimi Agama as SEC DG

Published

7 hours ago

April 19, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Emomotimi Agama as the director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Details later…

READ Wike roars again, says 'PDP governors betrayed me over Lawan, Gbajabiamila'

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Army releases Delta monarch declared wanted over Okuama killings

Published

11 hours ago

April 19, 2024

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The army has released Clement Ikolo, a traditional ruler in Delta state, who was arrested over the murder of 17 officers in Okuama community.

Ikolo was released on Friday during a briefing by Onyema Nwachukwu, director, army public relations, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

The army personnel were killed on March 14 during a peacekeeping operation in the community.

The Defence Headquarters had declared Ikolo among eight persons wanted in connection to the murder.

The monarch subsequently turned himself in after releasing a statement to plead his innocence.

Ikolo said taking lives is against his philosophy and faith as a Catholic, and urged the army to look elsewhere for the culprits.

The monarch was released to Ede Dafinone, senator representing Delta central, who stood as surety.

Nwachukwu said Ikolo’s release did not amount to exoneration but was only facilitated after the senator testified to his character.

READ Wike breaks silence, blames Fubara for Rivers political crisis

Others declared wanted over the murder are Ekpekpo Arthur, a professor of physics at the Delta State University; Akeywiru Omotegbono, Andaowei Bakrikri, Igoli Ebi, a lady; Akata David, Sinclear Oliki, and Reuben Baru.

After the killing of the officers, President Bola Tinubu and the military high command promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.