One of the priests at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, Ondo State, Rev Father Andrew Abayomi, has narrated how the church was attacked by terrorists on Sunday.
The cleric said the terrorists attacked as the day’s service was coming to an end.
Rev. Abayomi said, “We were about to round off service. I had even asked people to start leaving, that was how we started hearing gunshots from different angles.”
“We hid inside the church but some people had left when the attack happened. We locked ourselves in the church for 20 minutes. When we heard that they had left, we opened the church and rushed victims to the hospital.”
The World Bank has ranked Lagos ports as 358th out of 370 ports assessed globally, according to the latest Container Port Performance Index 2021 report.
The assessment was on ports with a minimum of 20 valid port calls within the 12-month period of the study.
Based on the assessment, the two top-ranked container ports in the CPPI 2021 are king Abdullah Port (Saudi Arabia) and the Port of Salalah (Oman).
In the foreword to the report, the Washington-based bank highlighted some of the consequences of poorly performing ports, which include scarcity, inflation, slower growth, unemployment and high international trading costs.
The foreword of the report read in part, “Maritime transport carries over 80 per cent of global merchandise trade by volume, and any impediment or friction at the port will have tangible repercussions for their respective hinterlands and populations.
“In the short term, this is likely to take the form of shortages of essential goods and higher prices, as we saw early in the pandemic. But over the medium to longer term, an inefficient port will result in slower economic growth, less employment, and higher costs for importers and exporters.”
The report further stated that poorly performing ports are often due to limitations in spatial and operating efficiency, limitations in maritime and landside access, inadequate oversight, and poor coordination between the public agencies involved, resulting in a lack of predictability and reliability.
The PUNCH reported on Thursday that there were indications that the nation may soon start experiencing more cargo diversions to neighbouring West African ports as well as an increase in freight rates due to the collapse of both Tin Can and Apapa quay aprons.
A quay is part of the port where cargo is lifted or vessels are loaded and unloaded.
In separate chats with our correspondent in Lagos, experts said that shipping companies would now be scared to berth at the affected ports, resulting in the diversion of cargoes to West African ports or a possible increase in freight charges.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Muhammad Bello-Koko, had raised the alarm that Tin Can Island port was collapsing, saying that more attention should be focused on rehabilitating the quay walls of the port.
The Secretary of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group, Benedict Obhiosa, identified some of the challenges including the gridlock in Apapa, port congestion, high shipping costs, and logistics costs.
He said, “The export issues are obvious. For example, the Apapa gridlock is an issue for exporters. Port congestion is another issue. The high cost of the fleet by shipping agencies is another issue. This has even quadrupled from what it used to be.”
President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday night met with all the aspirants for President on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), at State House, Abuja, urging them to hold consultations, and come up with a formidable candidate before the party holds its primary election between June 6-8, 2022.
The President said the meeting was a continuation of the on-going consultative process aimed at ensuring a smooth and strategic emergence of a standard bearer, who will lead the APC to a resounding victory in the upcoming presidential polls.
“Looking at this assemblage of personalities and considering your rich pedigree of accomplishments in life, I have come to the conclusion that our party, the APC, is rich in human resources and also that our nation is blessed with capable people that can successfully steer the ship of state into the future,” President Buhari said.
He added that with his first-hand knowledge of the demands of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the expectations of the citizens, “I must salute your courage and your selfless spirit, in volunteering to serve in the highest office of the land.”
The President added: “Our party, the APC, has won two successive presidential elections in 2015, first when we were in the opposition and in 2019 when I sought re-election. Both processes were achieved through unity of purpose, strategic alignment, consultation, fairness, determination and effective leadership. In both instances, national and party interests were overriding factors in our deliberations and decision-making.
“The 2023 General Elections are fast approaching in a global, regional and national environment that is constantly changing and challenging. This demands that our party should become more aware of the changing environment, be responsive to the yearnings of our citizens, re-evaluate our strategy and strengthen our internal mechanism so that we would sustain the electoral successes.
“I am pleased to note that the party, recognizing the significance of all these demands, has over time developed several democratically acceptable processes and policies, that promote consultation, internal cohesion and leadership to facilitate victories at the polls.”
The President recalled the consultation he had held with stakeholders “that would help the electoral fortunes of our party, beginning with the State Governors. This is the second in the series and I still look forward to meeting with party stakeholders. These steps are being taken to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party are sustained and to provide direction.
“Amongst others things, I reminded the APC Governors of the need for the party to proceed to the 2023 Presidential elections with strength, unity of purpose and to present a flag bearer who will give Nigerians a sense of hope and confidence, while ensuring victory for our party. I extend a similar reminder to all of you distinguished aspirants.”
Saying the APC will on Monday June 6, 2022 commence its national convention during which one candidate will be picked by delegates to fly the flag of the party for the 2023 Presidential Election, President Buhari said he was aware that there is anxiety among party members about the outcome of the process.
“Given these circumstances, I charge you to recognize the importance of the stability and unity of the party, which cannot be overemphasized.
“Similarly, I wish to remind you that our choice of flag bearer must be formidable, appealing to the electorate across the board and should command such ability to unify the country and capacity to address our critical challenges.
“Ahead of the Convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognizing this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst others, recommended that consensus building through consultation, be intensified.
“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members.”
The President assured that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would continue to provide effective leadership during the transition processes and on-going consultations, “until we successfully make the choice on the candidate that will fly the flag of our party for the presidential elections and make the party stronger. I seek your support in this all important responsibility.”
Earlier, National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu had promised that all stakeholders of the party would be reached in the consultation process.
Responding on behalf of the aspirants, former Governor of old Abia State and immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, and Vice President, ‘Yemi Osinbajo, thanked the President for his leadership and guidance, pledging that they would hold the consultations as counseled “for the unity and strength of our party, the APC.”
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that when he opposed the plan to foist a Muslim-Muslim presidency on Nigeria in 2014, he acted in the national interest with the belief that Nigeria is bigger than anybody’s ambition, including that of Bola Tinubu.
Saraki was responding to Tinubu’s speech in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, in which he claimed that the former Senate President and others opposed his desire to be running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 elections.
In a statement signed by the head of his Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, yesterday, Saraki stressed that he would oppose any plan that would cause a religious crisis in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“When other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and I stood against having a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2014, it was not a decision targeted at any individual or group, but one taken in the national interest. Tinubu knows this and he is just being mischievous by presenting this decision as something aimed at stopping his ambition.
“Let me make it clear that the decision to oppose the plans by some people to make APC present a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015 was in the national interest and I will take the same stand today, tomorrow and any other day. My stance is based on the fact that such a ticket is not good for the unity of the country and will further accentuate one of our fault lines,” he said.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to meet ruling All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants latest Sunday.
The president was said to be planning a trip to Ghana today (Saturday), without resolving the consensus crisis rocking the party.
A top government official told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity that the President would return to the country later in the day.
Nevertheless, the President, who returned from Spain on Friday afternoon, is expected to meet with the aspirants on Saturday night or Sunday.
“The President is expected to travel to Ghana tomorrow (today). After that, he is expected to meet with the aspirants and thereafter reveal his preferred candidate for the party’s ticket,” the source added.
Buhari met with the governors of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday ahead of the party’s convention.
The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made the outcome of the meeting known in a statement titled, ‘We must show positive qualities of APC at our convention, President Buhari charges governors’.
During the meeting held at State House, Abuja, Buhari told the governors that decisions that would enable the party to retain power at the centre should be taken.
The meeting came amid speculations that the president may anoint an aspirant before the convention.
Apart from former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, other aspirants are the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio, and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.
Serving governors who are also aspiring to be president are Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).
Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, and serving senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, and Rochas Okorocha.
President Buhari’s running mate in 2011, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also expected to face the party’s presidential screening panel.
He also charged the governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.
He said, “The processes for the 2023 General Elections have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful political parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes.
Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.
“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the party, I recognise the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.
“Such leadership is required so that the party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the centre, holds the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gain an additional number of states.
“In a few days, the party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the Presidential Flag Bearer for the 2023 General Elections. This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.
The President appealed to all the Governors “to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community.
“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of the candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”
Buhari assured the governors that the consultation process will continue, to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention, stressing that it would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control, “and that our party emerges stronger.”
Speaking on behalf of the state’s helmsmen, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum was quoted to say the party must build on successes of its recent elective convention, and the primaries conducted so far.
He also urged the party to “come up with a candidate who will walk in the footsteps of patriotism and love for the country, which Mr President has shown. We will support Mr President to have a very successful convention.”
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress’ presidential screening committee, John Oyegun, on Friday said 99 percent of its presidential aspirants agreed to support a consensus candidate.
Mr Oyegun made the remark while presenting the committee’s report to the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu.
“We engaged every aspirant on the issue of consensus,” he told Adamu. “It is a pleasant surprise that 99 percent agreed that the party is supreme. And that whatever the party decides – with proper consultation – they will likely accept.
“Only one exception, who said I will accept consensus only if it is for me. I think it is a point that needs to be made and emphasised.
“So that gives you a lot of leeway in the hours ahead to trim down even more drastically.
“But finally we think we should not be afraid of a contested primary if anybody insists on a contest.”
10 disqualified Mr Oyegun had announced that it disqualified 10 out of the 23 aspirants screened for the exercise.
According to Mr Oyegun, only 13 out of the 23 aspirants screened were cleared by the committee.
However when asked about the identity of the disqualified aspirants, Mr Oyegun declined to disclose the names.
Mr Oyegun added that contrary to rumours making the rounds, it didn’t screen former president Goodluck Jonathan.
The committee held the screening exercise between Monday and Tuesday this week.
Cleared aspirants are expected to contest the presidential primary at a scheduled special convention in Abuja between June 6 and 8.
A presidential aspirant and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said without him, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), would not have become the president in 2015.
Tinubu spoke at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, the state capital, while addressing the APC delegates ahead of the party’s primary.
The national leader was accompanied to Ogun by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Kano State counterpart, Umar Ganduje, and former Borno State governor, Kasim Shettima.
“You have not heard this from me before. This is the first place I am saying this,” Tinubu who addressed the delegates in Yoruba said.
Speaking on Buhari’s emergence, he said “If not for me that led the war front, Buhari won’t have emerged. He contested first, second and third times, but lost. He even said on television that he won’t contest again.
“But I went to his home in Katsina, I told him you would contest and win, but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yoruba.
“Since he has emerged I have not been appointed minister. I didn’t get nor request a contract. This time, it’s Yoruba turn and in Yorubaland, it’s my turn.”
He added, “since the time we started with the Action Congress, Action Congress of Nigeria, and now the All Progressives Congress, I wanted to contest for president that time.
“This is me telling you between me and God Almighty, Buhari called me to be his Vice President. He said because the first time he contested, he picked (Chuba) Okadigbo, flamboyant, Catholic, but Nigerians didn’t vote for him.
“The second time, he picked another Igbo, (Edwin) Ume-Ezeoke, Nigerians didn’t vote for him. And he said that even if he went to bring the Pope to run as his deputy, Nigerians won’t vote for him, but he said, ‘You, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my deputy”‘.
“He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that is why he wanted me as his deputy, but I told him to let us build the party first. And when we finished building the party after we brought in people from the PDP, (Bukola) Saraki now saw that those from the PDP would not get anything if Buhari, a Muslim, became the president and I, also a Muslim, became his deputy. He won’t get the Senate president because the Senate president cannot also be a Muslim; that was how they started the campaign of calumny against me.
“And I told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I could nominate so that the party would not break. That was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to him (Osinbajo).
“I was asked to submit three names, Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun, and Yemi Osinbajo, but I told them if I submit three names, they would play a game, they might make it four and pick the fourth one. I gave them one name and that was Osinbajo.”
Speaking on why he is the best choice among other aspirants in the South-West, he said, “It is my time, I’m educated, I’m experienced. I have been serving people for a long time. Bring me the presidency, it is my turn.”
Ahmed Idris, the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation arrested for money laundering, has been released from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s custody.
Confirming the development to Peoples Gazette, Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson of the anti-graft agency told Peoples Gazette that Mr Idris was released on Wednesday night.
“Yes he has been released, he was released on Wednesday night,” Mr Uwujaren said when asked if the embattled accountant general has been released.
Mr Uwujaren who declined to make further comments on the release however told The Gazette that he was not privy to information on the Accountant general’s condition for release.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Mr Idris on May 16 in Kano after he refused to respond to invitations to answer questions about the fraud charges.
The embattled accountant-general was subsequently suspended on May 18 by Ms Ahmed, who cited the EFCC’s allegation that he stole and laundered more than N80 billion. Later, reports of another N90 billion fraud was traced to the Mr Idris.
President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently appointed Anamekwe Nwabuoku to replace Mr Idris.
Mr Idris was appointed as the Federation’s Accountant-General on June 25, 2015 by Mr Buhari.
Mr Idris was reappointed for a second four-year term in June 2019, prompting considerable criticism that the controversial accountant general had exceeded the required service time.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has raised Nigeria crude oil quota from 1.772million barrels per day for June 2022 to 1.799m/d in July 2022.
It was upped by 27,000 barrels, resulting in 3.4% increase in the month of July.
The cartel broke the news in its press statement on its 29th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting was held via videoconference.
According to the statement, the organisation approved the highest production volume of 10.833mb/d for Saudi Arabia and Russia.
While United Arab Emirates is to produce 3.127mb/d, Iraq and Kuwait are to produce 4.580mb/d and 2.768mb/d respectively, OPEC approved 1.753 for Mexico and 1.680mb/d for Kazakhstan.
Nigeria topped African countries list followed by Angola that got approval for 1.502mb/d.
OPEC, said the meeting “advance the planned overall production adjustment for the month of September and redistribute equally the 0.432 mb/d production increase over the months of July and August 2022.
“Therefore, July production will be adjusted upward by 0.648 mb/d as per the attached schedule.”
The meeting, said the cartel, resolved to reaffirm the decision of the 10th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial meeting on 12 April 2020 and further endorsed in subsequent meetings, including the 19th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on the 18 July 2021.
It also reconfirmed the production adjustment plan and the monthly production adjustment mechanism approved at the 19th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting and the decision to adjust upward the monthly overall production by 0.432 mb/d for the month of July 2022.
It extended the compensation period until the end of December 2022 as requested by some underperforming countries and request that underperforming countries submit their plans by 17 June 2022.
Compensation plans, it said, should be submitted in accordance with the statement of the 15th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting.
It reiterated the critical importance of adhering to full conformity and to the compensation mechanism.
The meeting resolved to hold the 30th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on 30 June 2022.
Recalled that it had last month increased Nigeria’s quota for the month of June from by 1.8% from 1.753mb/d in May 2022.
More facts have emerged from the meetings held so far by the state governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on the consensus candidate to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential election. T
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at a meeting with the governors urged them to allow him to pick a consensus candidate as a “successor”.
Our Correspondent gathered that the governors have held two meetings so far, with another meeting expected to hold on or before Saturday.
During the first meeting, the governors were said to have deliberated on the idea of having a consensus candidate proposed by Buhari.
“Many of them agreed that it is an idea that can be tried,” a source privy to the meeting told our correspondent.
He, however, said during the second meeting, suggestions were given on who should be put forward as the APC consensus candidate.
The regional division marred the second meeting as some northern governors who spoke believed that a northern governor should be nominated as a consensus candidate.
Though the source did not specifically mention the name of the northern governor, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; and Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru, are in the presidential race.
After a South-West governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, raised an objection to the idea, it was learnt that two of the northern governors also said a governor from the South could be considered.
Governors from the South who are contesting the presidency in 2023 are the Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade; his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
Asked about the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, the source said, “Most of the argument was centred on a governor succeeding Buhari, for now. But southern governors are talking about power rotation.”
He continued, “When Akeredolu and other southern governors asked them to consider the unity of Nigeria, the northern governors proposed that two governors from the South and North should be considered.”
However, some governors at the meeting argued that a southern candidate may not defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku, who hails from Adamawa State in the northern part of Nigeria, had unsuccessfully contested five times for the Office of President of Nigeria in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.
In 1993, he contested the Social Democratic Party presidential primary losing to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe.
He was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress in the 2007 elections coming in third to Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP.
He contested the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2011 elections losing out to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2014, he joined the APC ahead of the 2015 presidential election and contested the presidential primary losing to Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2017, he returned to the Peoples Democratic Party and was the party presidential candidate during the 2019 elections, again losing to the incumbent President Buhari.
Efforts to reach the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Atiku Bagudu, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report. Calls made to his mobile number were not picked after they rang out.
When contacted, Governor Akeredolu’s spokesperson, Olabode Olatunde, said, “I was not part of the meeting. It was held among the governors behind closed doors, so I cannot give any details about it.”
Also, efforts to reach the media aides of Tinubu and Osinbajo proved abortive as they refused to pick up their calls or respond to text messages.
Buhari’s task The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had asked the Progressive Governors Forum to search for the right successor at a meeting in Aso Rock on Tuesday.
Buhari also informed the governors that he would be seeking reciprocity ahead of the presidential primary which comes up in the next six days.
He told the governors, “The party has successfully established internal policies that promote continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government levels.
“For example, first-term governors who have served credibly well have been encouraged to stand for re-election. Similarly, second-term governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“As we approach the convention, I appeal to all of you to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community.
“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of a candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”
