General News
Sen Kalu declares ;Tinubu will Win second Term ….Says IBB’s account of June 12 incomplete
Chairman, Senate committee on South-East Development Commission SEDC ), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will complete his two terms in office considering the level of successes he recorded in bold economic, social and political policies.
The Abia-North Lawmaker stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions from the Senate Journalists, who ambushed him at the lobby of the National Assembly.
Among other responses, the former Senate Chief Whip faulted narrative of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election given by the former military president Ibrahim Babangida in his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service describing IBB’S account as incomplete.
According to the former Abia Governor Babangida failed to mention the names of the Principal Actors that led to the annulment of the election widely adjudged as the freest, fairest, and most credible poll in the history of the country, that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, was the winner.
Giving more reasons why believed that President Tinubu will win a second term in office in 2027, Kalu pointed out that the ruling Party the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) remains firm in its decision to cede its 2027 Presidential Ticket to Tinubu in line with the zoning arrangement to maintain a North-South power balance.
Additionally Kalu mentioned the economic reform Policies of the President which he said iis already delivering positive economic results.
Using the Manufacturing sector as an example Kalu stated that the cost of production had reduced to 18.5 percent from 23 percent which it was last year.
He said; ” The good news is that we shall win again and President Tinubu will return.
“To be honest with you Asiwaju will win, many Presidents in Nigeria who have not done very well—I won’t call any names and they won their second term. We are appealing to Nigerians to support us.
“We are not going to ruffle ourselves with the APC convention. We have only one Presidential candidate which is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In line with democratic ethics we are not looking for any other person or candidate but the problem of Nigeria is that you people don’t like to consolidate gains of reforms.
Asking Nigerians to exercise more patience with the administration, Kalu said the stability in the exchange rate is also another indication that the President’s reforms are yielding positive results.
“It might be very difficult today, very hard and people are complaining but the reform is trickling down, somebody just told me this morning that the Dollar is 1490, so the reform is working but we should be patient.
“I am a manufacturer and I can tell you that Manufacturing costs have gone up, last year it was 23 percent but early this year it has gone down to about 18.5 percent. You can confirm from the The Lagos Chamber Of Commerce And Industry (LCCCI) what I am giving you is the real fact.
“I believe that there is hope in these reforms. It is difficult everywhere in the world but the most important thing is that initially they were done in a hurry now the President is taking time with his economic team and you can see that the President is making wilder consultations.
Speaking on a recent Book released by former Military president Ibrahim Babangida, Kalu stressed that he anticipates a second edition as IBB’S account of June 12 failed to capture the entire events that led the annulment of the 1993 Presidential elections.
Though Kalu appreciated the President for admitting that Moshood Abiola was the true winner of the election, he however said that the former Military president ought to have mentioned the names of those behind the annulment including the courageous role played by the then National Electoral Commission (NEC), Humphrey Nwosu.
He said; “Ibrahim Babangida is my Master and everybody knows and I am going to visit him very soon and discuss with him.
“I am waiting for the second edition. The first edition did not reveal all the realities of what happened, especially when it concerns Humprey Nwosu and INEC.
Babangida should tell us , not only Abacha, he should mention names of those who stopped him from declaring Abiola as the winner.
“I was there and I know what happened, he published a second edition and mentioned their names and Nigerians will know what really happened.
Kalu also thanked Babangida for erasing the false narrative that the Igbo Tribe orchestrated the 1966 coup events that led to the military mutiny that ousted the then civilian administration led by Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa.
“Because people are thinking that Babangida lied but I am very grateful the coup they called Igbo coup has been clarified , although I don’t need Babangida to tell me that the Coup was not executed by the Igbos , that is why I am a true Nigerian.
“That coup was a Nigerian coup planned and executed by the Military and some people failed to do their job and their Igbos are bearing the brunt and that is not fair to the Igbos.
Following the confession of Ibrahim Babangida, Kalu appealed to President Tinubu to accord the Late Presidential Candidate Moshood Abiola full Presidential honours.
Kalu urged Tinubu to swear in Abiol as the duly elected President of the June 12 , 1993 Presidential election in Postmortem and including the inclusion of his Presidential portrait among other Past Presidents of the Country.
According to Kalu through such the Abiola family will be healed and compensated from the electoral tragedy which befell them and the nation.
“Abiola won the election and there is no doubt about that , I want them to put Abiola’s picture where other former President’s pictures are placed. I will appeal to President Tinubu to swear him in Postmortem.
“I am thankful to President Buhari who gave him the National Award but he should be sworn in Postmortem so the family will be healed and given the rights they give to former President’s.
Kalu urged Nigerians to protect the Nation’s democracy, he also paid solidarity to the Nigerian Army for the sacrifices while calling for investment in the Agricultural sector as well as the elimination of Terrorists occupying the Nation’s land areas.
Kalu discouraged the disbursements of cash grants to individuals to solve the economic challenges;
“The Nigerian democracy has come to stay and I am very grateful to the Nigerian Army and their sacrifices. Some of them are being killed in the battlefield trying to safeguard our Nation.
“We must go back to Agriculture to make progress. We must retrieve our lands occupied by bandits and other Terrorists. Dashing of money should stop. We should put those money to Agriculture and other productive ventures, Kalu said.
When asked for his opinion of the face off between Senator Natasha Akpoti and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio over sitting arrangement, Kalu declined to comment saying that the incident was a matter that will be settled within the Senate Chambers as it would be an error to discuss such matter in public.
General News
Fubara Inspects New Commissioners Quarters Sets Completion date for November 2026
By George Mgbeleke
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that the new residential accommodation being built by the state government for Commissioners and Special Advisers will be completed and ready for use by November 2026.
The governor who disclosed this during an inspection of the project on Thursday, stated that his administration embarked on the construction of a centralised residential quarters for senior officials to eliminate the heavy financial burden rented accommodation has placed on the state government.
He said that besides eliminating the burden of exorbitant rent, the new quarters will help the state government to save cost on security as it will provide adequate arrangement for the security of these high calibre of personnel at one location.
“It looks so embarrassing that the government will be spending a lot of money renting places for these senior officials.
“So we decided to embark on this project, believing that when this project is completed, and accommodation provided for our very productive officers, efficiency will be an issue of top priority.
“When they are all living together, I think it makes it easy for us to have just one unit of security and this multiple arrangement of carrying police here and there will also stop,” he said.
The project, which is being handled by Shaanxi Construction Engineering Nigeria Limited, consists of 25 units of six-bedroom flats. It is located within the Rainbow Housing Estate along the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout in Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara who defied the rain and muddy terrain to inspect the project, was conducted round the construction site by the Commissioner for Special Projects, Hon. Tonye Belgam and officials of the construction company.
The governor commended the efforts of the contractors and their commitment towards meeting the timeline of November 2026.
General News
Tinubu, Kekere-Ekun, Akpabio, Mornachs To Grace Ukala’s Book Presentation April 29.
. By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi
Eminent Nigerians comprising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Kudirat Tomori Kekere-Ekun and Senate President, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio are expected at the public presentation of of a Book by legal luminary, Chief Emmanuel Ukala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN in Abuja on April 29.
The book titled “Ukala’s Manual on Appellate Practice for Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Nigeria will be unveiled at the Bola Ahmed International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Sources close to the Book Launch Planning Committee said that the former governor of Rivers state and currently Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike will lead top dignitaries in Abuja to the ceremony.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN will grace the occasion with leading lawyers in the country.
Also expected are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of the Federal High Court as well as the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The source indicated that some state governors, federal and state lawmakers will also be at the ceremony.
Besides, captains of industries and eminent legal scholars across the country, traditional rulers and frontline politicians are also billed to honour the legal giant with attendance.
The Book is said to be edited by a famous publishing Company, Bar and Bench Press Limited based in Abuja.
The source hinted that adequate arrangements have been put in place to make the book unveiling hitchfree.
General News
PC-NCG Welcomes Findings as U.S. Coast Guard Wraps Up Nigeria Port Inspection
By David Owei,Bayelsa
Further to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) delegation’s port facility inspection visit to Nigeria, the Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG), has acknowledged the team’s honest and constructive assessment. The PC-NCG views the outcome as validation of ongoing reforms and a foundation for technical cooperation ahead of the Coast Guard Bill’s passage.
A statement issued by the Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo in Abuja on Monday, quoted the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of PC-NCG, Captain Noah Ichaba, as describing the outcome of the visit as a positive step toward deepening bilateral maritime security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States Coast Guard.
“PC-NCG counts the remark made by NIMASA BOSS that much work still need to be done regarding ports safety and security and that all identified gaps would be addressed to ensure that Nigeria meets global best practices as an honest statement made by the delegation and their host.
Accordingly, PC-NCG sincerely enjoins relevant authorities and concerned individuals to accept that the era of whitewashing the surface and diluting the functions and substantial responsibilities of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard is over. As such, it should be that a Coast Guard of another country visiting Nigeria is expected to meet with the Coast Guard of Nigeria.
“The absence of the prestigious reputation and presence of the Coast Guard Agency from the Nigerian Maritime Space had created such identified gaps and non conformity to acceptable international standards. It is time to close all existing vacuum by doing the needful of having to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard so as to place Nigeria at per with other maritime nations.
“Talking without fitting action avails nothing order than self humiliation. Be it measurable process as indicated or not, if the nation should objectively track losses that she has been suffering all these years due to the absence of Coast Guard, it would be concluded that far more greater would have been achieved with Coast Guard within the same period.
“The facts and factors are not far fetched because port safety and security is not the only duty that Coast Guard would be performing, given the fact that securing ships and crews are a fraction of its core mandate.
“So the measurable process in that regard was only an ad valorem quantification because it did not align fully with international maritime standards which Nigeria as a maritime nation needs to align with, to upgrade her maritime security framework and advance the country’s competitiveness in global shipping and port operations as well as keep fate with global best practices.
“Whatever the current arrangement and milestone achievement, the truth steers Nigeria in the face, and that is, without Coast Guard as the true steward in the maritime safety and security operations, to provide the much needed stewardship, operation and nurturing of the marine environment and resources; as a reliable guardian of the nation’s maritime commercial businesses, to foster realistic economic growth, safety and security, all efforts would still remain inappropriate activities,” Captain Ichaba maintained.
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