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Lagos- Calabar Coastal Project: Peter Obi inciting Igbos against Tinubu Govt

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The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has alleged that Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, is inciting people of the southeast, especially those who are not well informed, against the government.
Umahi claimed that Obi would not fight for the people even after getting them into trouble.
He made the statement on Wednesday while speaking during an event to compensate property owners affected by the Lagos- Calabar coastal road prospect.
The exercise was organized by the Federal Ministry of Work.
The 700-kilometre coastal highway has been enmeshed in controversy following the demolition of Landmark Beach Resort, valued at $200 million, to create a right of way for the project which is estimated to cost the federal government N15 trillion.
After the demolition, a visibly worried Paul Onwuanibe, the Group CEO of Landmark, told BusinessDay that about 70 percent of the beach was destroyed by the government bulldozer, describing the action as “insensitive.”
“What is left of these businesses are the rubbles you can see (in video clips he captured while the demolition was going on). Those are people’s investments and means of livelihood reduced to mere rubbles; so many jobs have been lost and many Nigerian families are in for it,” Onwuanibe said.
On his part, Obi slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for going on with the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project in defiance of public outcry.
The presidential candidate expressed displeasure that the government is embarking on a job-losing project at a time of rampant unemployment.
Obi said it was not too late to discontinue the Lagos-Calabar highway project, adding that urgent necessities are nationwide security, poverty eradication, healthcare, and education, especially for the poor and underprivileged.
He had also described the reported demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project as insensitive and heart-wrenching, lamenting that livelihoods were being wiped away, lifetime investments wasted, and jobs disappearing as a result of the demolition.
In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said: “The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due to the current situation in the country. However, reports as of yesterday indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.
“The sight of this insensitive demolition is heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers.
“This hasty flag-off defies the widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners directly affected by the project. Nobody knows the outcry that will accompany this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.
“Thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with investments above $200 million at risk. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4000 mostly youth employees.”
However, Umahi insisted there was no inhumanity meted to Landmark and that the matter should be buried because he was actively involved.
The former Ebonyi State Governor alleged that Obi goes around to condemn people, thereby bringing judgment upon himself.
He said: “It brings to some of the comments made by my brother, his Excellency Mr Peter Obi, I am not supposed to comment about it because some people have already done the work. And I know what Arise Television brought courtesy of Channels Television, they were bringing similar scenarios when His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement saying ”Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.” That’s what he said.
“But look at me, by the human face of the renewed hope agenda administration, we are even paying for people who are illegally staying on the coastal line, and don’t have valid infrastructure and valid documents. That is mercy, that’s mercy… You know some people darken counsel without knowledge. You know there’s the devil in the details.
“When you condemn people, you bring judgment upon yourself. And that is what he (Obi) has done. And I think he’s inciting some of the south east people that are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble. And he doesn’t go to fight for them. Wisdom is a defence. And I want our people to have wisdom because I am involved.
“There’s is no inhumanity meted to Landmark, that matters should be buried because I was there. And so we fought everything possible. Even some people donated property to save his two big infrastructures. That’s appreciation. But some people have taken sides along with him to play politics.

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FG Raises Duty Tour Allowances, Others for Public Officials

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The Federal Government has approved an upward review of allowances for officers in public service.

Some of the allowances under review include Duty Tour Allowance, transport allowances, uniform allowances, and overtime allowances.

The decision was reached at the 46th meeting of the National Council on Establishment, chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack.

The NCE, which serves as the highest policy-making body for public service matters, is chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and includes the Heads of Service from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The meeting was preceded by a two-day technical session chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office.

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Soun of Ogbomoso Urge Subjects Resident In Plateau To Promote Unity, Peace

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The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye has tasked the people of Ogbomosoland residing in Plateau State to unite and corporate with the government.of day both at the state and federal so as to move the Nation forward.

Oba Olaoye who gave the charge at grand reception organised to welcome him to Plateau State by the sins and daughters of Ogbomosho land residing in Plateau State advocated for national unity and peace of the nation.

” I urge you all to cooperate with the Government of the day and respect constituted authorities. “

” I implore that we sustain our exemplary good work ethics and strive to uphold the integrity of the land at all times,”

Olaoye urged the sons and daughters of Ogbomoso residing in the state to join hands in supporting his quest to develop the town.

He said, “To achieve this, it’s crucial that the indigenous people embrace their town with love and pride. I believe this is the foundation for meaningful growth.

He said to achieve a great country, Nigerians must commit to patriotism and rededication to the ideals of nation-building.

Speaking further, Oba Olaoye said” I did not know I was going to be King, until God revealed it to me, and that was the reason why I left the United States of America. “

Oba Olaoye emphasized that his aim is to put Ogbomosho in its rightful place and that there is the need for the people in the town to unite with him for the development of the town and that it was God that sent him to rebuild the city and to work for the progress of the city.

“ We are working to ensure that Ogbomosho would be different. In terms of development, Ogbomoso will be different in terms of peace, Ogbomoso will be different. I want you to know it is a new thing in Ogbomosoland.

“We cannot solely rely on the government. While the government will contribute significantly, much of the effort will come from us. It is time for us to unite, roll up our sleeves, and work together to develop our town.”

Speaking earlier the Asiwaju Yoruba of Plateau Chief Olajide Olagbemiro welcomed the Traditional ruler to the state and restated their commitment to peaceful coexistence with their host communities.

Jide said, “The Yourbas are peaceful people who obey constituted authorities .

We would continue to stay peaceful with our host communities, he added.

Our correspondent reports that the Soun of Ogbomosholand also paid a courtesy call on his Royal highness Da Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos.

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BREAKING: Namibia Elects First Female President

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Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was declared winner Tuesday of last week’s disputed elections, ushering in the southern African country’s first woman president after a disputed vote that the main opposition has already said it does not recognise.

Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took just over 57 percent of ballots followed by the candidate for the main opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) with 25.5 percent, the election authority announced.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, becomes the first woman to rule the mineral-rich southern African country that has been governed by the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) since independence in 1990.

The November 27 election was extended twice as logistical and technical problems, including a shortage of ballot papers, led to long queues.

Some voters gave up on the first day of voting after waiting for up to 12 hours.

The IPC has already said this was a deliberate attempt to frustrate voters and it would not accept the results of the elections.

Its presidential candidate Panduleni Itula, 67, said last week there were a “multitude of irregularities”.

No matter the result, “the IPC shall not recognise the outcome of that election”, he said on Saturday, the last day of the extended vote.

Opposition Rejects Poll
Itula said the IPC would “fight… to nullify the elections through the processes that are established within our electoral process”.

An organisation of southern African human rights lawyers serving as election monitors said the delays at the ballot box were intentional and widespread.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) admitted to failures in the organisation of the vote, including a shortage of ballot papers and the overheating of electronic tablets used to register voters.

Of the nearly 1.5 million registered voters in the sparsely populated country, nearly 77 percent had cast ballots in the presidential vote, it said Tuesday.

The election was seen as a key test for SWAPO after other liberation-era movements in the region have lost favour with young voters.

In the past six months, South Africa’s African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted after almost six decades in power.

Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but analysts say not many of its nearly three million people have benefited from that wealth in terms of improved infrastructure and job opportunities.

Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest official figures from 2018, which is almost triple the national average.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, a SWAPO stalwart known by her initials NNN, will be among the few women leaders on the continent.

The conservative daughter of an Anglican pastor, she became vice president in February this year.

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