BREAKING: CBN orders banks to begin over counter payment of new notes

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday ordered commercial banks to begin the payment of the new naira notes to customers over the counter.

This was confirmed in a statement issued and signed by the Bank’s Director, Corporate Communications Osita Nwanisobi.

Nwanisobi said the maximum daily payout limit is N20,000 only.

“In line with this resolve, the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) to commence the payment of the redesigned Naira notes over the counter, subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000,” the statement added.

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Court set for judgment in suit seeking Buhari’s removal from office Monday

All is now set for a Federal High Court in Abuja to deliver a landmark judgment on January 30 in a suit seeking the removal of President Muhammadu Buhari from office on account of alleged illegalities in the 2019 presidential election.

The judgment billed to be delivered by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo will also resolve a request seeking to stop the conduct of the 2023 Presidential election.

A notice for the judgment delivery just sighted by our correspondent at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja indicated that the verdict would be handed down by 9 am on Monday by Justice Ekwo.

The notice was directly served on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation for President Buhari.

A Presidential candidate in the 2019 election on the platform of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Ambrose Albert Owuru instituted the legal action against Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Among others, the Presidential candidate wants the court to determine the legality or otherwise of INEC’s decision in 2019 during which it shifted the election from February 16 to March 23, 2019.

He claimed that INEC acted against the constitution in illegal and unlawful ways and manners the presidential poll was shifted and the declaration of Mohammadu Buhari as a winner of the unlawful act should be declared null and void and of no effect.

Owuru, a British-trained constitutional lawyer and called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, however, asked the Federal High Court to declare him the winner of the poll.

The ground of his claim was predicated on the fact that the petition he lodged against Buhari had not been adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court as required by law.

The politician claimed that his petition at the Supreme Court was unjustly dismissed following his absence from the Apex Court occasioned by discrepancies in the hearing dates conveyed to him.
He, therefore, prayed the court to remove Buhari and declare him (Owuru) the authentic President and that Buhari should be compelled to refund all monies he collected as salaries, emoluments and security votes.

The HDP Presidential candidate also asked the court to order his inauguration for a four-year tenure of office upon removal of Buhari from office and that the Federal High Court should stop INEC from conducting the 2023 presidential election.

Justice Ekwo had on November 4 last year fixed January 30 as the judgment date following the adoption of final addresses by President Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the plaintiff, Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru.

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2023: Fresh crisis in Kano threatens Tinubu, APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State is facing a fresh crisis that is threatening the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu.

This time, there is sharp disagreement between some members of the House of Representatives, led by the Majority Leader, Ado Doguwa, and the Deputy Gubernatorial candidate of the party, Muritala Garo.

We recalls that during the week, Garo had alleged that he was assaulted by the majority leader, who he claimed disrupted an ongoing meeting by some stakeholders in the State.

However, Doguwa had also countered the claim, stating that Garo is leading the capturing of the State apparatus and excluding members of the National Assembly.

According to people familiar with the matter, the deputy governorship candidate, who is from a famous Garo Family, was the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, a position that allowed him to amass considerable power in the State. He is also reported to be married to the daughter of Atiku Abubakar.

Garo also indicated interest to contest for the governorship election, however, Governor Umar Ganduje settled for Nasiru Gawuna. To appeal to the young Garo, he was offered the running mate slot.

On the other hand, Doguwa has been in the House of Representatives since 2003 and he is one of the lawmakers expected to indicate interest in the speakership of the 10th Assembly if he is elected.

This latest row may indicate a major problem in the party considering that Doguwa won the 2019 elections after a rerun, and he faces the battle to return to the House.

It would be recalled that during the primaries, the Kano APC almost collapsed due to an internal crisis that led to several politicians decamping to the NNPP. To stem the flow, Ganduje suspended his senatorial ambition by allowing two senators from the State to return during the primaries.

However, the crisis in the State appears to have returned, and both Atiku and Rabiu Kwankwaso are waiting to pick from the fallout from the crisis.

Kano and 2023 race

For years, Kano State remained the largest voting State, and the votes from the State have decided the outcome of several presidential elections. In 2019, Buhari won Kano State with 1,464,768 (78.9 percent) of the total votes cast to beat Atiku, who polled 391,593 votes.

With Buhari out of the picture, Kwankwaso and his NNPP is one of the favourites in the State, alongside Mr Atiku of the PDP.

For months, Tinubu has prioritised the State ahead of the elections. Aside from Lagos and Abuja, Tinubu has spent more time in Kano than any other State since he declared to run for president.

In his timetable for campaign activities, he is going to have two rallies in Kano State, one in January and another before the grand finale in Lagos State.

During a press briefing on Thursday at the National Assembly, Doguwa said despite the side talks, Rabiu Kwankwaso remains powerful in the State, adding that APC will lose the State if the crisis is allowed to linger.

“Before becoming the running mate, he (Garo) was the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs. I am sure you journalists know what we call those ministries in the State. We call them the ministry of petroleum resources. This is someone that got the opportunity to serve in a ministry that has a stupendous amount of money.

“His last wife now is the daughter of Atiku Abubakar. When he was not given the ticket, I visited him, and he told me that since you have messed me up, I will rather become an inlaw to the president than a deputy governor who will make me just like a messenger. He has no interest to work for the APC, he is working to become an in-law to the next president,” he said.

Doguwa in the press briefing also praised Kwankwaso, stating that he would be ready to reconcile with the former governor of the State if he is willing to reach out to him.

He explained that his grievance with Kwankwaso is a personal one, not political. He stated that a single phone call from the ex-governor will resolve the crisis between the duo.

Doguwa stressed that if the leadership of the party is not ready to intervene, APC should forget Kano.

For Tinubu, the bickering between Messrs Doguwa and Garo could cost the party the 5,927,565 votes in the State.

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BREAKING! Tinubu Projected To Win APC Primary, Osinbajo Leaves Eagle Square

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is projected to win the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress, following the declaration of support for his candidacy by two governors Kayode Fayemi and Badaru Abubakar and five other aspirants.

The big boost for Tinubu’s candidacy must have disappointed Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who had high hopes of President Buhari’s anointment.

But the anointment didn’t materialise.

Just before 7.am Wednesday morning, Osinbajo left the venue, about five hours after President Buhari and his wife also left.

Osinbajo left while voting was yet to be completed at the Eagle Square, the venue of the convention.

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PRESIDENT BUHARI TO APC PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS: CONSULT, BUILD CONSENSUS, AND COME UP WITH FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO APC PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS: CONSULT, BUILD CONSENSUS, AND COME UP WITH FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE

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.”

 

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

June 4, 2022

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