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Buhari seeks EU Support to fight Corruption, Oil theft

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday sought greater support from the European Union for Nigeria’s efforts to curb the theft of its crude oil and corruption in its oil and gas sector.

Buhari made the call while addressing a special session of the parliament in Strasbourg, France.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President asked the union to also assist his government in its efforts aimed at recovering looted funds.

“Nigeria is facing the challenges of oil-theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta as well as recovery of illicit funds.   In this regard, Nigeria solicits the cooperation of the European Parliament to support the efforts aimed at stemming these vices.

“Our attempt to restore security, curb corruption and fight crime will result not only in improving social stability in Nigeria but will re-open the doors for full economic relations with Europe and the rest of the world.

“Those who wish to invest in our country have immense opportunities and we intend to guarantee the security of people and investments brought to Nigeria,”  Buhari was reported to have said.

The President also assured the union that his administration was doing its best to protect the fundamental human rights of persons in the theatre of operations against Boko Haram.

He said his government shared the union’s commitment to peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy and good governance, equality and tolerance, as ways of developing prosperous and strong societies.

Buhari said, “For our part, we have updated our rules of engagement in fighting terrorism and pay very close attention during operations to the treatment of captured terrorists, civilians caught up in the conflict and in general, safeguarding property.

“Our aim is to use minimum force necessary in our fight against terrorists,” President Buhari assured members of the parliament and the European Union Commission.

The President also spoke of Nigeria’s concerns about the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, collectively endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States.

He said Nigeria was yet to sign the agreement because pertinent technical issues raised by the Federal Government have not been satisfactorily addressed.

“Giving due consideration to the mismatch of the two regions (Europe-ECOWAS) in terms of technology and manufacturing experience, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Associated Trade Unions raised concerns over the negative impact of the agreement on Nigeria’s industrialisation programme.

“Nigeria is working towards addressing her own side of the issues and I therefore urge our European Union partners to also address our own concerns to allow for an Economic Partnership Agreement that is mutually beneficial and can contribute to the prosperity of our people, in the context of our shared values and interest at promoting cordial bilateral trade relations,” Buhari said.

He also assured the parliament that Nigeria will collaborate with the EU to address illegal migration to Europe.

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“Political Hushpuppi” Ugochinyere is one of PDP’s aberrations, he is only cashing out – Wike’s Aide

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Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described House of Representatives member from Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, as a “political hushpuppi” who was produced by part of the aberrations in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that must be made to stop.

Olayinka, who told Ugochinyere to “stop going about masturbating about anything Wike,” admonished him to face the reason for which he was elected into the House of Representatives so that his constituents will stop seeing him as a failure and consistently passing votes of no confidence against him.

While featuring on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday, Ugochinyere, had said that the FCT Minister and other G5 Governors like Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) were determined to destroy the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, Olayinka said; “This is one of the things you get when people who joined the PDP today are awarded the ticket of the party tomorrow morning. If not for the aberration in the PDP that produced a character like Ugochinyere, someone who only joined the party in 2022 won’t be the one to lecture us about who is loyal to the party and who’s not.

“If PDP had functioned properly, would a ‘political hushpuppi’ like Ugochinyere have gotten the party’s ticket while still in another party? Even till today, as a PDP Rep member, Ugochinyere is still holding on to his Action Peoples Party (APP), using it to cash-out in Rivers State.

“Therefore, we on this side are not bothered because we understand why Ugochinyere must now mount the podium and accuse Wike of playing childish and kindergarten politics. He must satisfy those feeding him from the resources of Rivers State.”

While mocking Ugochinyere for always having an organization to speak for to carry out his political hustle, Olayinka said; “In saner climes, such character would have been arrested, tried and jailed for impersonation.

“When he got to the House of Representatives and there was no title under which his political hushpuppism would continue, he awarded to himself a non-existing title of ‘Spokesperson of Opposition Lawmakers Coalition in the 10th National Assembly,’ claiming to have been so appointed by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

“But the questions are, is CUPP a political party with members in the House of Representatives? Where and when was CUPP registered? Apart from the positions of Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip, is there anything like spokesperson of opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly?

“Being a political hustler that he has always been, Ugochinyere, knew that he will be contravening the rules of the National Assembly by allocating to himself, a non-existing position, but he just must have a title to keep his hustle going, and indeed, it has been booming.

“Impersonating as spokesperson of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Ugochinyere has been cashing out in Rivers State in particular. If he is not using his former party, APP, to cash-out, he will be using his amorphous opposition lawmakers to chop from inside the Rivers.”

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‘‘Not an inch of our land will be ceded to Lagos, Ondo” – Gov Abiodun

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Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has assured the people of Waterside Local Government that his administration would not cede any part of the state to other states in the country.

Governor Abiodun gave the assurance at a meeting with representatives of the local government, made up of traditional rulers, technocrats, and prominent government functionaries, at Government House, Abeokuta.

The former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Segun Awonusi, said the governor has taken note of reported incursions into parts of the state from neighbouring states and has taken steps to address the issue.

Prof. Awonusi said: “We have come here to discuss the affairs of the local government with the governor. We appreciate him for what he has done so far, and we urge him to do more.

“Because of reports of incursions from Lagos and Ondo states on Ode-Omi and Makun to seize parts of our land, the governor has promised that he will ensure that not an inch of Ogun State is lost to any other state.

“He has also promised to provide adequate security so that our people can live in peace.”

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Governor Alia and the 19 States’ Suit Against EFCC, ICPC and NFIU

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Two days ago, Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, suspended the State Attorney General, Barr. Fidelis Mynin.

His Offense? The Attorney General joined the suit challenging the legality of EFCC, ICPC and NFIU without INFORMING the governor.

Benue State joined the suit on October 8, 2024, with 14 other States. This was widely reported in the media.

On October 22, the matter came up again at the Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, October 23, Benue State Governor suspended the Attorney General of the State, claiming that he was not aware of the State joining the suit.

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