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Nigeria’s Unity, Not Negotiable -President-elect
The President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that he remains committed to the united Nigeria, saying that the country’s unity is not negotiable.
Tinubu made the declaration yesterday in Port Harcourt while inaugurating the Rivers State Magistrate Court complex, constructed by the Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike-led administration.
The President-elect said: “I promise Nigerians, the unity of this country is not negotiable. That is what Wike and I are promoting jointly. I promise I will be fair to all.”
He lauded Wike for fighting corruption through the provision of conducive working environment for the Judiciary.
Tinubu said: “To what Wike has done here today, he is fighting corruption. That is the way to fight corruption. He has been contributing very well to this.
“You don’t expect your judges to live in squalor, to operate in squalor, to dispense justice in squalor. This is part of the changes that is necessary in our policy think-tank. We must fight corruption and we definitely must look at the other side of the coin.
“If you don’t want your judges to be corrupt, you have to pay attention to their welfare. If you want fair dispensation of justice, you will not want them to operate in a hazardous condition. Let’s take value for value.
“If I don’t have consumer credit and you want me to pay for a car that I needed at once, 5 million or 6 million, very big temptation, corruption.
“But, if you have consumer credit, that will deal with the propensity for corruption. We don’t want our judges to play foul, to compromise justice. Not just the books, but do something0 now. I promise you we are going to review all of these in our policy think-tank.”
He stated that his visit to Rivers State was in fulfilment of the promise he made to the people of the state when he came for campaign in the state, ahead of the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The President-elect said: “Today, I am concluding a two-day and final leg of a visit to Rivers State. I was proud to deliver the 12th historic and iconic flyover yesterday. Whatever you say about owing or not owing, I am personally grateful to the man who brought me here.
“He didn’t ask for a personal commitment, he asked for a policy commitment, which an incoming President has not authority to offer and approve. There can only be one President at a time.
“I cannot commit to expenditure on behalf of our great President when my tenure has not started. I have fulfilled a promise that I made to the people of Rivers State and that is what I intend to do in all policy formations coming up.”
Earlier in his speech, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, thanked Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to visit Rivers State after victory at the polls.
Wike said: “Let me on behalf of the government and people of Rivers State thank you once more for coming to honour us by fulfilling the promise you made to the people of the state when you came for your campaign. Just yesterday, you commissioned the 12th flyover.
“We want to say again, congratulations on your victory in the last presidential election on February 25, 2023. Your Excellency, this is another promised made and promise kept. I thank God almighty that today, God has made it possible that the dream was accomplished.”
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.