Connect with us

Politics

Kwara Group Stages Massive Protest in Support for CCT trial of Saraki (photos)

Published

on

saraki

PROTESTPROTT

A non governmental organisation, Movement for Genuine Change on the state of affairs in Kwara State has declared their support for the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The group, which staged a peaceful rally at the Flower Garden, Ilorin yesterday urged federal government to repatriate all the alleged stolen money from the former governor to Kwara State for the payment of civil servants, pensioners and workers in the state.

They displayed different placards such as: “Buhari, No compromised on Corruption; Nigeria is bigger than anybody; Saraki killed Trade Bank; Return all stolen money to Kwara to pay pensioners, workers; Saraki resign now; No more hiding place for the thieves, among others.

While addressing journalists, the group spokesman, Alhaji Tunde Muhammed said Senator Saraki has brought shame to the people by all his actions and with his current trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”He has turned Kwarans to a laughing stock. However we, the People of Kwara are happy that he is now being prosecuted even though, we expected that long before now, he should have been made to face all corruption related matters that he is alleged to have committed.

“While we support Senator Saraki’ ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, we warn that nobody should attempt to erect any barrier against justice by trying to shield Saraki’s prosecution.

“While we support President Buhari’s anti-corruption war, we noted with sadness that it is only in this country that when the poor and the week transgress the law, the full weight of the law through its punitive mechanism is crushingly brought to bear on them but when the powerful, the mighty, and the rich” offend the law, they do so with relish without the mildest punitive reaction”. Muhammed added that before the emergence of Senator Saraki’s in Kwara state politics, the people of the state and their leaders have no history of “this type of indecent behaviours”.

“Senator Saraki’s case is that of shameless leadership that has always been jumping fence in the face of legitimate prosecution process.” He said the people of Kwara State are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari and law enforcement agencies for having the courage to take Saraki to court.

Meanwhile, the group alleged that the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Kwara State, Chief Iyiola Akogun was invited by the police for questions over their protest on Senator Saraki.

Muhammed who confirmed his arrest after the group protest said he received a phone call by OC Operation of the Kwara State Police to come and he honoured the invitation.

He told journalists that when he got there, he was asked whether the PDP is holding rally today and he said no but he was not released and was still in custody till the time of the rally was over.

When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Kwara State Command, ASP Ajayi Okasanmi denied the arrest of Chief Iyiola Akogun. He said there was nothing like that”.

culled

 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

BREAKING: President Tinubu Reshuffles NNPCL Leadership, Appoints New GCEO and Board Members

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and appointed Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as his replacement. Ahmadu Musa Kida has also been named the new non-executive chairman of the board.

Additionally, Tinubu has sacked all board members appointed alongside Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023. Adedapo Segun, who became Chief Financial Officer (CFO) last year, has been retained on the newly restructured board.

New Board Composition

The newly appointed board consists of six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones:

Bello Rabiu (North West)

Yusuf Usman (North East)

Babs Omotowa (North Central)

Austin Avuru (South-South)

David Ige (South West)

Henry Obih (South East)

Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Objectives of the Restructured Board

President Tinubu emphasized that the restructuring aims to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, boost local content, drive economic growth, and advance gas commercialization and diversification.

The new board has been tasked with the following objectives:

Conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPCL’s operated and joint venture assets to align with value maximization goals.

Increase oil sector investments from $17 billion (2023) to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.

Raise daily oil production to 2 million barrels by 2027 and 3 million barrels by 2030.

Boost gas production to 8 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.

Expand NNPCL’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels daily by 2027 and 500,000 barrels by 2030.

Profiles of Key Appointees

Ahmadu Musa Kida – New Board Chairman

Ahmadu Musa Kida, from Borno State, holds a degree in civil engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francais du Petrol (IFP) in Paris.

He began his oil industry career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria before joining Total Exploration and Production in 1985. In 2015, he became Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services at Total Nigeria. In 2023, he was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group. Outside the oil industry, he served as president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).

Bashir Bayo Ojulari – New GCEO

Ojulari, from Kwara State, was formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. He led the recent $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) by a consortium of indigenous energy firms.

A mechanical engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ojulari started his career at Elf Aquitaine and later joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria in 1991. He worked in various roles across Europe and the Middle East as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

Ojulari has also served as chairman and trustee of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Acknowledgment of Outgoing Board Members

President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board members for their service, particularly their contributions to rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which have resumed petroleum production after prolonged inactivity. He wished them success in their future endeavors.

The restructuring underscores Tinubu’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with ambitious goals for increased production and investment.

Continue Reading

News

Millions Believe Tinubu Can Fix Nigeria – Governor Uzodimma

Published

on

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s ability to transform Nigeria, stating that millions of Nigerians share this belief. He further emphasized that if Tinubu cannot fix the country, many would see it as a loss of hope.

Speaking on Saturday at the President’s 73rd birthday celebration in Abuja, Uzodimma highlighted Tinubu’s bold economic decisions as a testament to his commitment to addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

“Only a leader with strong conviction and genuine love for the nation could have made such bold yet necessary decisions. These decisions have averted economic collapse and are now restoring hope and confidence across the country,” Uzodimma stated.

He reiterated his stance, saying, “As I have said before, and I emphasize again tonight, millions of Nigerians believe that if you cannot fix this country, then all hope is lost. I am pleased to confirm that you have not let us down. Through your purposeful and transformative leadership, Nigeria is back on track and progressing with renewed determination toward a brighter future.”

Uzodimma credited Tinubu with reigniting the Nigerian spirit of ingenuity and resilience, restoring faith in the nation, and securing his place in history through bold reforms and dedicated service. He extended his best wishes to the President, praying for divine guidance and strength.

As Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum, Uzodimma underscored the importance of Tinubu’s leadership, noting that the nation still needs his direction. He assured the President of continued prayers for strength to fulfill his mission for Nigeria.

“We still rely on your leadership, Mr. President. While we may not have silver or gold to offer, we will always pray for you, asking God to strengthen your resolve to leave a lasting legacy for this generation and those yet to come,” he concluded.

Continue Reading

News

Ogun State Set to Acquire 9MW Hydro Power Plant for Improved Electricity Supply

Published

on

The Ogun State government, under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun, has announced plans to acquire a 9-megawatt hydro power plant located within the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority. This move aims to boost electricity supply across the state by leveraging renewable energy.

During an inspection of the facility, Governor Abiodun revealed that discussions with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) are underway to finalize the acquisition. He emphasized that integrating the hydro power plant with the state’s existing 30-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Onijanganjangan would create a more reliable and balanced energy mix, enhancing power distribution in Ogun State.

Commissioned in 1983, the hydro power plant has remained largely underutilized, despite its potential to support sustainable energy generation. The governor explained that the dam was originally designed for multiple purposes, including water management, irrigation, electricity generation, and agricultural development.

“Only one of the three turbines was ever commissioned, while the other two were never fully installed,” Abiodun noted. “We are actively working with the BPE to take over and fully optimize this power plant.”

As part of the Ogun State Light Up Project, engineers will soon assess the facility to determine the best approach for restoring its full capacity. This initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to establish power plants in key locations such as Abeokuta, Ijebu, Remo, and Yewa, ensuring more stable electricity access across the state.

Beyond electricity generation, the governor highlighted the immense agricultural potential of the River Basin. He suggested that the land could be developed into farm clusters to maximize irrigation benefits, further supporting food production. Additionally, he pointed out that the area is well-suited for cattle farming, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Food Initiative.

Governor Abiodun also commended the original vision behind the hydro power project but criticized the federal government’s inconsistency in project execution, which has led to the underutilization of key infrastructure.

Addressing concerns about frequent flooding in Isheri, he clarified that, according to the River Basin’s Managing Director, the dam is not responsible for the issue, which originates from other water sources.

This strategic acquisition marks a significant step toward Ogun State’s commitment to energy diversification and sustainable development.

Continue Reading

Trending