Human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned the new fuel price increase by the Federal Government, describing it as illegal, immoral and insensitive. He said the government lacks statutory power to increase fuel pump price as the body empowered to take such decision is yet to be constituted. Falana, who stated this in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, May 12, asked the government to revert to the old pump price. He said the Muhammadu Buhari administration acted against its promises not to remove subsidy in order to inflict undue pains on Nigerians. The lawyer stressed…
Author: David Folami
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has assured Nigerians that the removal of fuel subsidy would crash the price of petrol from the new price of N145 per litre to an unimaginable price over the next six months. Speaking on Thursday, May 12, on Channels TV’s programme, Sunrise Daily, Kachikwu said that the subsidy removal became necessary in roder to end the fuel scarcity in the country. According to him, the market dynamics would drive down the price of petrol in the long run “because there are a lot of Nigerians who are very active, very…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, May 12, raided the Abuja residence of former director of publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode. The EFCC had stormed Fani-Kayode’s last Friday following an invitation asking him to report to the agency’s headquarters on Monday, May 9, for questioning over alleged “criminal conspiracy, fraud and money laundering”. He honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation, but was detained. According to Fani-Kayode’s media aide, Jude Ndukwe, the Thursday raid on his boss’ residence was the fourth in the last one week. “Earlier today, the EFCC invaded…
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has said that the new fuel pump price is a necessary pain Nigerians must endure temporarily. Tinubu, who stated this in a statement issued by his media office, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking “a bold step”. According to him, the new ‘no subsidy’ regime will purge the petroleum sector of the rot undermining it benefits, and push out “fake businessmen who became true billionaires over night.” “We all want fuel at a cheaper price under the subsidy, we got the right price but not the fuel,” Tinubu was quoted…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has said that he will not support the 2019 presidential bid of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff. The governor however added that he would gladly serve as the PDP’s vice presidential candidate if chosen. Fayose made the comment on Monday, May 9, 2016, during his monthly media chat, The Nation reports. “I will not support Ali Modu Sheriff for President in 2019. I am qualified to be VP if it is the will of God. God is taking me to a higher place, how, I don’t know,” he said. “If he gives…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised members of the Senate for purchasing cars, after they were given loans for that purpose. The former President said the move by the lawmakers is absolute nonsense. You will recall that Obasanjo in a letter dated January 13, 2016, criticised the legislators for being insensitive to the economic situation in the country. A move that saw the Senator representing Kogi west, Dino Melaye accusing the former President of introducing corruption into the national assembly in his bid to run for a third term in office. Obasanjo who spoke on Monday, May 9, 2016, at…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has said that he is qualified to be Nigeria’s Vice President. Fayose made the comment on Monday, May 9, 2016, during his monthly media chat, The Nation reports.f “I will not support Ali Modu Sheriff for President in 2019. I am qualified to be VP if it is the will of God. God is taking me to a higher place, how, I don’t know,” the governor said. “If he gives me the VP slot, it is a good thing for Ekiti people even though, you cannot set out to say you want to be VP.…
The South-East Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged militants in the Niger Delta not to punish President Muhammadu Buhari for the sins of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan. The call was made by caucus spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu in Abuja on Monday, May 9, 2016. “The escalation of bombings of the Niger Delta region is an ill-wind which blows no one good; not the least the good people of Niger Delta whom the Avengers claim to avenge their age-long ills,” he said. “Otherwise, may we honestly ask the Niger Delta Avengers, where they were, when our dear former President,…
Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido has said that he is willing to serve as Nigeria’s president. Lamido also spoke on the need to restructure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He made the comments during a recent interview with The Nation. Excerpts below: What are you doing to effect reconciliation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? You don’t know what we are doing and how hard we are working within the party, who we are reaching out, who we are talking to and people we are trying to reconcile. You don’t need to see it on the face book or…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pegged the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for all aspirants for the Edo State Governorship run at N5.5 million. The state’s governorship election is slated for September 10, 2016. The National Organising Secretary of the party, Osita Izunaso, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, May 10, while addressing newsmen. He said the the nomination form will cost N5 million while the expression of interest form is fixed at N500,000.00. However, Izunaso said female aspirants will be given the forms free of charge. He also added that in line with the Electoral…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is doing its best to get back into the saddle of governance at the federal level come 2019. The party’s resolve to capture the realms of power in the next presidential election was also expressed by the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike. According to Premium Times, Governor Wike announced that PDP will return to power in 2019, adding that the party is re-organising itself for the challenge ahead. He said “The PDP will return to the seat of power at the Federal level by 2019. This congress is part of the process of repositioning the…
The media aide to Ogun State Senator, Buruji Kashamu has denied reports that his boss is trying to seize control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos. Kashamu has been accused of tampering with the structure put in place by PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George, according to reports. “How can anyone say he is causing division in Lagos PDP? They should carry their cross and stop looking for people to blame for the crisis,” the senator’s aide, Austin Oniyokor said. “Who does not know that PDP in Lagos has been divided for long between Chief Bode George and Senator…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he chose prominent pastor, Tunde Bakare as his running mate in 2011 in a bid to dismiss claims that he was a fanatic. Buhari made the comment on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, while speaking at the Katsina State Economic and Investment Summit, The Cable reports. “One of the four attempts to get here was with Tunde Bakare, when people said I’m a religious bigot, I decided to take a pastor so that I can shut their mouths up. So Tunde Bakare has decided to be with me all the time,” the president said. Bakare…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, condemned the newly announced pump price of petrol, saying the move means that President Muhammadu Buhari hates Nigerians. Reacting to the announcement in a statement issued by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, the Governor accused the Federal Government of deliberately orchestrating the fuel scarcity that experienced in the country in the last three months, so as to pave way for the increment. Fayose said the All Progressives Congress (APC) deceived Nigerians to get to power by promising to reduce petrol price to N45. “When they were seeking for votes from Nigerians, they promised to reduce petrol…
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) group under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders has warned Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state not to attack President Buhari. The Concerned PDP Stakeholders also said the President has good intentions for Nigeria. Reports have it that the patron of the group, Prof. T Akinyemi, said Fayose is making a fool of himself by constantly attacking Buhari verbally. Akinyemi issued an official statement saying “We would like Fayose to stop ridiculing himself in his efforts to attack Buhari. Buhari has good intentions and he is a man we all respect, irrespective of his political…
Governor Ayo Fayose has blamed President Buhari for the comments made by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron. The British PM was caught on video, describing Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world, adding that the country is fantastically corrupt. Fayose said the President’s utterances about the nation when he travels outside Nigeria, gave Cameron the audacity to make such statements. The Governor also said Buhari should apologise to Nigerians for ‘demarketing’ the country in international circles. Fayose, in a statement signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, said “What do you expect from the international…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has said that the Muhammadu Buhari administration created the fuel scarcity in order to increase the price of petrol. Fayose made the comment on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, via a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Punch reports. The statement reads: “Nigerians are now left at the mercy of political liars who took over power by deception and are governing by deceit. “When they were seeking votes from Nigerians, they promised to reduce petrol pump price from N87 to N45 per litre, they promised to create three…
More reactions have been trailing the comment made by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, describing Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. Transparency International, a group whose focus is on fighting corruption across the globe, faulted the British PM’s comment, and called on Britain to make stricter rules that will stop looters from hiding money in the country. Nigerians also aired their opinion on the matter on various social media platforms, especially on Twitter. The London chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wasted no time to also condemn Cameron’s comment, describing it as rash.…
The wife of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has said that her husband doesn’t joke with money. Mrs Bola Obasanjo is said to have made the comment while speaking at the Ogun State 3rd Investors Forum, according to The Cable. “I thank God that I am with baba. Don’t think that it is because of his money, not at all, he doesn’t joke or mess around with his money,” she said. “If he says he loves you, you must be hardworking. We nicknamed baba, wole joko jeun (enter, sit and eat) because of his busy nature. He is always attending to…
Renato Sanches paid tribute to Benfica after the confirmation of his transfer to Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The 18-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions and will join at the end of the season for €35million – a fee which could rise to €80m depending on success-related bonuses. Sanches expressed his pride at having secured a move to Bayern but insisted he remains fully focused on Benfica’s quest for a domestic double, with the leaders ending their league campaign against Nacional on Sunday before the Taca da Liga final against Maritimo next weekend. “I want to thank…