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Speakership tussle: Wike’s ally, Chinda leads ‘283 coalition reps’ to work for APC

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A coalition of elected members for the 10th house of representatives says they will respect the zoning decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the speakership position and other principal offices.

In a statement released on Thursday, Usman Kumo, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Gombe; and Kingsley Chinda, a Peoples Democratic Party from Rivers, said the coalition is “committed to presenting a united front that will help the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu”.

Chinda — who is the co-chairperson of the coalition — is an associate of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state.

Early this month, Wike said the PDP in the state would support any candidate presented by the leadership of the APC for the position of speaker.

He made the promise when Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, led a delegation of lawmakers to visit him at the government house in Port Harcourt.

“The truth must be told that we are going to support the leadership of your party at the national level,” Wike told Wase.

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Chinda and Kumo said the coalition christened “joint task – 10th assembly” — comprises 283 members-elect from the APC, PDP, Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The lawmakers said the focus of the coalition is to promote equity and fairness among members-elect in the emergence of presiding and principal officers.

Chinda and Kumo said 14 APC governors, nine PDP governors, and “several” national working committee (NWC) members of the ruling and opposition political parties have endorsed the coalition.

“Already, 283 members-elect comprising both returning and new members have endorsed the coalition (and we now) await the decision of the ruling APC on the zoning of the various offices,” the statement reads.

“The forum is independent of the speakership ambition of any of the various aspirants but with determination to build a strong coalition of members-elect of the 10th house in readiness to support the majority party zoning of the speakership office towards building a rancour-free and people-oriented 10th Assembly and in line with best parliamentary practice.”

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‘THOSE CONSIDERING REBELLION SHOULD RETHINK’

The coalition said those who may want to defy the APC and have a “repeat of the 2015 rebellion” should remember the consequences of such action on governance “as the sour relationship between the leadership of the 8th national assembly and the executive left Nigeria and Nigerians at the receiving end”.

“Rebellion will deny the incoming Tinubu administration the opportunity to deliver on its mandate and the high expectations from Nigerians, especially under the current ethnic and religious tension in the country,” the lawmakers said.

“We are glad that the leadership of the ruling party recognises that the opposition political parties in the house are very key in the formation of the next leader of the house, hence this coalition shall continue to consult with all the opposition parties.

“We desire to see a Nigeria where all of us, the political actors, come together to put the country first, subduing our interest, to have a better country that we, our children, and our children’s children will be proud of.”

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FULL LIST: Multichoice increases DStv, GOtv subscription

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Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.

 

The company reviewed prices in its packages across the board. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024.

 

With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ went up from N19,800 to N25,000 while the Compact package increased from N12,500 to N15,700.

The Comfam package moved from N7,400 to N9,300. Yanga package moved up from 4,200 to N5,100 while Padi package increased from N2,950 to N3,600. HDPVR was increased from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.

 

Meanwhile, the Gotv Supa+ package moved from N12,500 to N15,700, Supa package from N7,600 to N9,600, and Max package from N5,700 to N7,200.

 

While the Jolli package was jacked up from N3,950 to N4,850, the Jinja package moved from N2,700 to N3,300, and Smallie package from N1,300 to N1,575.

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It will be recalled that the company implemented an upward review of prices in December 2023, days after announcing a $72m loss in its financial statement for the third quarter of the year.

 

Checks on the company’s reviewed price list then showed a 20 per cent per cent hike in the company’s packages across the board.

 

 

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NCAA grounds all Dana Air operations

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been directed by Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation, to suspend the operations of Dana Air, TheCable understands.

 

The directive followed the incident involving a Dana Air plane at Lagos airport on April 23, which veered off the Lagos airport runway.

 

This forced aviation authorities to divert flights from the local airport to the international terminal.

 

In a letter to the NCAA director general dated April 24, signed by Emmanuel Meribole, permanent secretary, ministry of aviation, and seen by TheCable, the ministry said Keyamo’s attention has been drawn to the “serious concerns” that followed the incident.

 

The ministry said the incident has raised concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of Dana Air operations.

 

“In light of these incidents and with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of our citizens and travelers, the Honourable Minister has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Airline’s fleet until a comprehensive audit can be conducted. This audit should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with our aviation regulations,” the ministry said.

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“The recent incidents have underscored the urgency of this matter, and it is imperative that swift and decisive action be taken to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders involved. I trust in your expertise and diligence in carrying out this audit thoroughly and expeditiously.”

 

On April 23, Dana Air said all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scare.

 

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Yahaya Bello took $720k from state coffers to pay his child’s school fees – Olukoyede

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The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, says Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, withdrew $720,000 from the state’s coffers to pay his child’s school fee in advance.

 

Olukoyede spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive session with media executives.

 

The EFCC boss alleged that the former Kogi governor transferred money from the state coffers to a bureau de change operator, and used the money for his child’s school fee in advance.

 

Olukoyede added that Bello made the payment in anticipation that his tenure was gradually coming to an end.

 

“A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to bureau de change and used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance,” the EFCC boss said.

 

“Over $720,000 in anticipation that he was going to leave the government house. In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes under the guise of ‘I’m being used’. Used by who? At this stage of my life.”

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Olukoyede said he inherited the case file of the former Kogi governor, noting that he did not initiate the investigation against Bello.

 

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him over alleged N80 billion fraud.

 

While the EFCC operatives were at Bello’s residence, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, came to visit his predecessor.

 

Shortly after Ododo departed from the residence, the EFCC operatives also left the house.

 

Bello was reportedly rescued by Ododo when he departed his residence located in the Wuse Zone 4 district of Abuja.

 

Subsequently, the anti-graft agency declared the former governor wanted.

 

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also placed Bello on a watchlist.

 

The anti-graft agency alleged that Bello, alongside Alli Bello, chief of staff to Ododo; and one Daudu Suleiman, diverted about N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.

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