During Jonathan’s visit, he explained why his administration did not implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.

Jonathan said that the political situation in Nigeria at the time was too turbulent to accommodate presentation of the recommendations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adebanjo died on Feb. 14, 2025, in Lagos.

He was aged 96.

Jonathan and Abubakar were received at different times by the children of the late elder stateman led by Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo.

Members of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, led by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, were also present during the visits.

Jonathan, accompanied by Sierra Leone’s ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and other political stalwarts, arrived at Adebanjo’s Lekki residence at 1.57 p.m.

Abubakar, who arrived about 3.00 p.m. was also accompanied by some PDP chieftains, including Chief Dele Momodu and Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, the 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State.

At a meeting with the children of the deceased and members of Afenifere, Jonathan described Adebanjo as a Nigerian leader, not just an Afenifere leader.

Jonathan said: “Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone. He was a leader of this country.

“He was a man with enormous wisdom, courage and willingness to do the right thing for this country.

“He believed in truth and justice. No nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice.

“Those were the things he was known for. We are not surprised that he led the Afenifere credibly well.”

Jonathan said that the 2014 National Conference would not have come up without the contributions of people such as the late Adebanjo.

“He meant the best for this country,” he added.

According to the former president, when a nation is not moving as expected, there is the need for a comprehensive dialogue.

He said that those who participated at the conference were credible.

Jonathan said, “I gave them total authority to discuss what is good for this country.”

He said that a number of people had kept asking why he did not implement the recommendations of the conference.

According to him, most Nigerians do not know that there was a lot of political turbulence in the country at that period.

He said that a key member of the legislature, who was in his party, mobilised against him and moved to another party.

Jonathan added that some persons were ready to bring his administration down at that time.

“It was not the time we could present such a document.

“Thank God for everything. We believe that one day, one government will review it and take everything,” he said.

He said that the recommendations came from credible Nigerians who were not politically influenced.

“We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”

Speaking, Abubakar also described Adebanjo as a great leader.

He said that Adebanjo’s death was a huge loss to his immediate family and those who admired him.

“It is quite true that this house has hosted me a couple of times. I took away from this house virtues that Pa Adebanjo stood for and preached all his life.

“It is a matter of honour that after his demise, we should come and pay respect for his contributions to the unity and peaceful co-existence of this country.

“It is my singular honour and privilege to identify with his immediate family at this difficult time. We thank God that he lived a worthy life.

“We are here to condole with the family to let them know that we share in the loss because he was also a father to us. He was an adviser and a guide in what we are set to do for this country,” Abubakar said.

According to him, the late Afenifere leader always told the truth.

He said that his team would continue to honour Adebanjo and stand by his family.

“We will continue to work together so that the dreams and aspirations of the late Papa will continue to flourish,” he added.

Responding during Jonathan’s visit, the son of the deceased, Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo, responded: “Baba was very grateful to you (Jonathan) for your courage to constitute the 2014 National Conference and for him being part of it.

“He always celebrated you (Jonathan) for being the one that had the courage and wisdom to put that together.

“He was also very happy when you said the blood of a single Nigerian was not worth your ambition.

“All those things resonated with Baba. I want to welcome you for coming to condole with us,” he said.

Ayo-Adebanjo also commiserated with Jonathan over the death of Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader.

Clark died three days after Adebanjo’s death.

Responding during Abubakar’s visit, one of the daughters of the deceased, Dr Sade Ayo-Adebanjo, commended the former vice-president for identifying with the family.

Also speaking, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Acting Leader of Afenifere, applauded Jonathan for simplicity and humility.

“You (Jonathan) are a special specie. You are uncommon,” Olaitan said. (NAN)

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored some banks’ ATM gallery in Abuja and environs on Sunday, reports that some customers were lamenting about the increase.

NAN reports that all the banks’ ATM visited had monies loaded in them.

Mr Luke Abudu, a customer seen at First Bank along Nyanya-Jikwoyi road, said the implementation would only affect the poor masses who were struggling to make a living.

Abudu said the move would discourage customers from lodging monies in the banks.

”I came to withdraw N20,000 but I found out that I was charged N100 for the withdrawal.

‘”This is too much for a small business owner like me,” he said.

Another customer, Mrs Victoria Adejo, seen at Zenith Bank, Mararaba branch said that withdrawal from Point of Sale (PoS) agent was now cheaper than using an ATM.

”It is unfortunate that our government formulate policies without feeling the pulse of the people.

”I read that the CBN said the decision is in response to rising cost and to improve efficiency of ATM services but banks still bill us for service charge.

”They (banks) declare profit in billions and trillions from our monies and the CBN does not consider that.

”This is not good enough at all, ” she said.

Mr Nurudeen Ehimotor, a customer at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Asokoro, said he was at the bank to use the ATM due to the bank’s poor online network.

”I came to use ATM because I tried to transfer money from my bank using USSD since yesterday but it didn’t go through.

”I have an issue with my app, so I have been using USSD codes for my transfer.

”I think they (the bank’s) are trying to make people use ATM now for them to make more money,” he said.

Ehimotor appealed to banks to reduce incessant charges on customers account.

NAN reports that the CBN had on Feb. 10, released a circular to all banks and other financial institutions to apply the fees with effect from March 1.

CBN in the circular with title ‘Review of ATM transaction fees’ said the move was in response to rising cost and the need to improve efficiency of ATM services in the banking industry.

On-Us (customers withdrawing at the ATM of the customer’s financial institution) in Nigeria, no charge.

”Not-on-Us ( withdrawal from another institution’s ATM) in Nigeria; On-site-ATMs: A charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal.

”Off-site ATMs: A charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 per N20,000 withdrawal.

”The income which is an income of the ATM acquirer/deployer, shall be disclosed at point of withdrawal to the consumer,” it said.

Meanwhile, banks had informed their customers through various electronic mails (e-mails) of the increase.

GTB told its customers in addition to the ATM transaction fee, that the free monthly withdrawals usually enjoyed by them would no longer be applied.

”Please note that the three free monthly withdrawals at other banks’ ATMs (for GTBank customers) and GTBank ATMs ( for other bank customers) will no longer apply,” the bank said.

Also, Access Bank in their official X handle told customers that ”All Access Cards now work seamlessly across all ATMs and POS machines, so you can make payments without hassle”. (NAN)

According to them, IPMAN should consider the masses by putting their interest above theirs.

They spoke to the News Agency we of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the chairman, IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, had on Monday gave the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) a seven-day ultimatum to pay up the more than N100 billion debt.

According to him, failure to settle the outstanding claims will result im the shutdown of depots and the withdrawal of services.

A civil servant, Mr Anderson Eze, said that if they go ahead with the planned strike, it would affect the economy and the vulnerable citizens more.

” Low income earners will suffer more and it will make life difficult for us, I advice they settle this in amicably.

” This will also affect business, most businesses are not thriving and this will affect the economy as well,” he said.

Eze said that in spite the subsidy removal, they still want to go on strike, the marketers make more money now because of deregulation.

He urged the Federal Government to intervene in the matter that was threatening the peace of the country. 13

Mr Mayowa Lasisi, a taxi driver, recounted his frustration during the scarcity, how he arrived the petrol station at 8:00 a.m. and was only able to get fuel at 6:30 p.m.

” During that time, I spent all my day at the petro station and left late, this will make me not work and if I do not work how will my family feed?.

Lasisi urged the government to intervene to ensure a lasting solution.

Another taxi driver, Mr Sani Bello, said the strike would affect his means of livelihood.

“I will be running at a loss because I spend hours on the queue and still buy fuel at a high cost, how do I balance this?

“My family depends on my daily returns, and it has not been easy meeting up. I do not know what to do.

“I am begging President Bola Tinubu to do something fast about the suffering Nigerians are passing through as a result of this fuel issue, In spite the full deregulation of the sector.

“It is not easy for a lot of us anymore,” Bello said.

NAN recalls that the national president of IPMAN), had in a statement issued on Thursday said that the Federal Government had promised to pay the outstanding bridging claims as well as resolve other issues soon. (NAN)