Pakistan’s cabinet on Thursday approved a supplementary budget which plans to end exemptions on sales tax and levy new duties as part of fiscal tightening measures aimed at winning funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF approval is also a pivotal endorsement for Pakistan’s economy which is struggling with external and current account deficits, a depreciating currency, struggling foreign reserves and rising inflation. The IMF agreed last month to revive a stalled $6 billion funding programme but demanded further budgetary tightening from Pakistan before the next tranche could be approved. The IMF board meets on Jan. 12 to…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The South East Democratic Civil Society Coalition (SEDSOC), yesterday, rejected the purported endorsement of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, for the presidency in 2023. Former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara and Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, are among those said to be canvassing for Anyim to contest the presidency. But in a statement issued by National Convener of SEDSOC, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the coalition, which described Anyim’s endorsement as “hasty and self-serving,” demanded immediate withdrawal of the endorsement. “The South East has…
Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to start preparing his hand over note ahead of the 2023 general elections for what it described as his “failure to provide good governance and curb insecurity” in the state. Chairman of the party, Comrade John Iwuala, gave the advice, yesterday, while speaking at the funeral of Chairman of the Isiala Mbano Council of the party, Augustine Amucha. Iwuala, who also urged Imo citizens to work together and vote out Uzodimma in next election, said: “APGA is the only alternative political platform for any reasonable…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda, has accused the president’s relatives of causing him to abandon his true supporters to wallow in destitution and suffering in the last seven years. He said, “I need to reiterate that those that supported his Excellency the President Muhammadu Buhari have been displeased with him, they have been supporting him since 2002 with their lives and wealth. That was how they went around the country but have not benefitted anything from the government till today.” Kwamanda, who was one of the…
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Jigawa State has expressed confidence in winning the coming 2023 general election. The party chairman, Hon. Aminu Sani stated this at an event organized by the Jigawa North-west Senator, Dalladi Abdullahi Sankara. He said the commitments of APC’s administration and lawmakers in uplifting the living standard of the common man was a clear testimony of the party’s victory in the 2023 general election. The chairman noted that their contributions on education, water supply, empowerment, agricultural and other infrastructural projects were adding value to the APC popularity and acceptability among Jigawa State people. “Their contributions…
Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the Russian troop buildup near Ukraine during their second call in recent weeks amid little progress toward ending the smoldering crisis. Ahead of Thursday’s call, the White House indicated that Biden would make clear to Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Putin has stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe. But Biden will reiterate to Putin that for there to be real progress in talks they must be conducted in a context of…
The 2011 gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Lagos State, Ambassador Abayomi Nurain Mumuni has advised Nigerians to desist from criticizing Pastor Tunde Bakare for collecting loan to build his church. Mumuni described those who have been escalating the matter as enemies of Bakare, who are envious of his successes. It could be recalled that Bakare contested as Vice Presidential candidate on the platform of CPC when President Muhammadu Buhari contested as Presidential candidate of the party in the year 2011. The general overseer of Citadel Global Community Church formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has warned all the gubernatorial aspirants in the party to shun making public comments capable of bringing unnecessary the party into disrepute. Making this known through its Publicity Secretary, Ayodeji Areola on Wednesday in Osogbo, the Osun PDP maintained that the recent utterances of one of its gubernatorial aspirants was uncharitable. Areola advised all aspirants who were lacking in adequate knowledge of the party’s modus operandi to always seek clarifications before making public statements capable of misleading members and subjecting the party to undeserved ridicule. While calling on its gubernatorial aspirants to…
An All Progressives Congress leader and two-time Senatorial Candidate in Abia South Senatorial district during 2019 general election, Chris Nkwota, has resigned his membership of the party in Abia State. Nkwota, before his entry into the governing APC in Nigeria, contested for the Senate seat to represent Abia South Senatorial zone on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 and 2019 National Assembly elections and was defeated by the incumbent, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who was the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The frontline politician hailed from Akwaette in Ukwa East local government area…
The All Progressives Congress Youth Development and Solidarity Vanguard has issued warning to those it described as troublemakers to quit their quest to jeopardize Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Convention Planning Committee’s roadmap for the party. The group also vowed to stop anyone who imports thugs and miscreants into Abuja from Lagos or Kano States to stop the Committee from carrying out its duties to project the APC for victory ahead of 2023. The APC Youth, Development and Solidarity Vanguard issued the strong warning at a press conference in Abuja today. Speaking on behalf of the group, Hon. Tobias Ogbeh,…
Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader and Nevada’s longest-serving member of Congress, has died. He was 82. Reid died on Tuesday, peacefully and surrounded by friends following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Landra Reid said of her husband in a statement. Harry was a devout family man and deeply loyal friend, she said. “We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support from so many over these past few years. We are especially grateful for the doctors and nurses that cared for him. Please know that meant the world to him. Funeral arrangements would be announced in coming days,…
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami, says the amended electoral bill is supportive of insecurity and discriminatory for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law. President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The minister, who made this position known in a phone in programme on Radio Kano, monitored in Abuja, also maintained that the electoral bill had excessive cost implications, and hence would not be signed by the president. According to him, the new electoral bill has not captured the interest of all Nigerians, adding that…
Former Imo State Governor and serving Senator Rochas Okorocha, has described his successor Hope Uzodinma as a national embarrassment, hours after his son-in-law Uche Nwosu was arrested inside a church. Okorocha and Uzodinma have endured a frosty relationship. In early 2021, Uzodinma masterminded the arrest of Okorocha after the latter trespassed on a property the governor had sealed. After Nwosu was arrested by police officers during a service for his mother’s burial at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Umunwokwe, Eziama-Obaire Nkwerre local government area of Imo on Sunday, December 26, 2021, Okorocha immediately blamed Uzodinma for his in-law’s ordeal and…
A group the Movement for Election of Nigeria President of Igbo Extraction, has urged South-East politicians to work in unity to actualise the zone’s ambition to produce Nigerian President in 2023. The National Convener of the group, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday. Ezekwueme called on the leaders from the zone to foster unity with politicians from other zones of the country to achieve the “golden quest for a Nigeria President of South-East extraction come 2023.” According to him, actualising Nigeria president of south-east extraction is achievable…
The executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State Chapter, has condemned the recent move by a faction of the party to scuttle the peace being enjoyed by party members in the State. This is as it revealed that the recent destabilizing move was orchestrated by loyalists of Olasoji Adagunodo, a former embattled State party chairman and current National Vice Chairman South-West of the party. The state executive committee affirmed that Sunday Bisi remained State chairman of the party. Making this known via a press statement, Ayodeji Areola, the State Publicity Secretary, who spoke after an executive committee…
India has been facing the menace of narco-terrorism since several years now. This nexus between narcotics and terrorism has serious repercussions for Indias security. The ‘Golden Crescent comprising Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is the largest producer of illicit opium and Indias close proximity to the areas increases the threat it faces. And now it has become a matter of even greater concern after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Entire illegal drug trade is controlled by the Taliban, who work in connivance with Pakistan intelligence agents, military officers and politicians. After the fall of Afghanistan’s government this year and Taliban taking…
As reactions continue to trail President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said it is part of a plot to rig the 2023 general election. The PDP said there were other provisions in the document that would naturally sanitize the electoral system and if the document was assented and became functional, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will find it difficult to rig, hence, the Buhari-led government has resorted to cock and bull story. In a statement on Tuesday which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Nebo…
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki says he has forgiven Tony Adun, a.k.a. Tony Kabaka, an All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader in the state. Godwin Obaseki spoke on Tuesday while addressing People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Oredo Local Government Area. He reacted to comments trailing Christmas gifts – a cow and bags of rice – to Tony Kabaka who recently begged for pardon. The governor noted that he has been hearing lots of comments about the gesture. “I read some people who said they are my supporters and I felt bad. I say they are not my supporters.” He…
The Senator Kabiru Marafa-led factional All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned an attack on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during their congress in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, on Monday. Reacting to the attack through the APC factional Chairman, Hon. Sirajo Garba Maikatako, in a statement on Tuesday, said they received with shock the news of violence meted on the PDP which wrongly portrayed the state as being intolerant to opposition parties. The factional Chairman said he was reacting as a result of the Deputy Governor’s assertion that APC loyalists carried out the attack, while he exonerated loyalists of the…
Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has warned that the division and disunity among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State signals a bad omen that could deprive the party of victory in the 2022 governorship election. Ojudu said he decided to sacrifice his governorship ambition and maintain neutrality in 2022 to afford him the opportunity to mediate and resolve all nagging issues for the party to be victorious in the June 18 election. He gave the warning in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, while interacting with selected members of the APC and…