Politics
I’m not in opposition to destroy my country – Sen. Muhammed Onawo
By Lateef Taiwo
The Senator representing Nasarawa South, Mohammed Onawo has said he is not in opposition to destroy his country, but to offer alternative views that will bring rapid socio-economic development.
Onawo stated this while speaking with some journalists on the recent subsidy removal on premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol.
“If there is a government that comes up with any positive policy that will touch the lives of my people, I’m with them, but to come and say you want to start giving people N8,000, no! The N5,000 they shared, none entered my village until the thing finished”.
According to him, the removal of fuel subsidy was done with good intention, but “it was ill timed”.
“They said we were losing N400 billion monthly on subsidy and the palliative they are coming with is N500 billion to share N8,000 to 12 million people. How did they come about this figure of 12 million people? Is it on pro-rata basis by population per state or how?
“The N5,000 that was used for campaign as palliative, which was shared in markets as trader moni, where is the data? Who are the people that benefited from it? If we are going the same way, may be they are beginning to campaign for 2027 now with the N8,000. It is not sensible at all.
“The best thing to do, if it is for palliative, to solve the problem that the removal of fuel subsidy has created, why not think of something that will reduce hardship, especially as it concerns transportation.
“What stops the Federal Government to say, ok we have N500 billion we want to use for palliative. Let’s use this N500 billion to buy 2,500 buses. If you divide N500bn by N20m for 18 seater bus, it will buy 2,500 buses. If you divide 2,500 buses by 774 local governments , each LG will get 32 buses. There will be over 240 buses still remaining.
He said in the course of this, you will find that jobs will be created. With these 32 buses, each LG automatically creates 64 jobs i.e driver and conductor. Then look at the multiplier effects – mechanics, water sellers, etc will benefit from it.
He said perhaps, there are some states that don’t have 10 vehicles in their public transport fleet, but each LG will get 32 buses. There will be secretary, accountant, etc. In the long run you will have created 100 jobs, taking people off the streets and the transport cost would have been reduced.
“Instead of saying you are giving N8,000 to people, if you take N8,000 to the market today, what will you buy? May be pure water and pure water is coming up. So, if this is truly intended to help people, not to enrich the richer people, then the government will have to ha a rethink of what to do with this money”.
The senator said his people have sent him back to the National Assembly after he has been in the House of Representatives for 8 years because they saw how he “positively touched their lives in different ways and they have sent me back probably to do more than what I had done”.
“I’m here for quality representation, legislations that will touch their lives positively I’m not going to be here to support any legislation that will put peanuts on their tables, whatever we are going to do with my colleagues for the next four years are those things that will generally touch their lives and change the lives of Nigerians.
He promised to introduce a bill for a law to create a solid minerals development commission that will bring about the unification and improvement of solid minerals in Nigeria.
According to him Nigeria is a very rich nation naturally, adding that God has endowed us with almost everything but the way we are harnessing it is what is making our people poor by the day.
“We allow foreigners come, go to our localities, start mining without regards to the laws of the land and they take away millions on a daily basis, they go to our local governments, give our local chiefs 5,000 dollars, 10,000 dollars and they look at it as a lot of money”.
“Some of these things should be mined and processed here. When that is done our people are going to be better for it, employment will be created, there will be value addition. Above all, when these things are mined, our lands should not be left degraded, you will see particularly Chinese, go to every part of this country today mining without recourse to the laws of the land and when they finish getting what they are looking for, they disappear and there is no law that is holding anyone of them responsible”, he lamented.
Politics
Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan
By Francis Wilfred
President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,
He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.
According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.
Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy.
He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.
“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.
The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.
He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.
Politics
Kano Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.
By Jabiru Hassan.
The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.
In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali, stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.
He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.
Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".
He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.
Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
Politics
Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.
There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.
Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.
During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.
Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
-
Uncategorized6 years agoFG, states urged to harness flooding for ranching, others with technology – Agbaje
-
Headlines11 years agoBreaking: EFCC seals Borno House of Assembly, as Hon members take to their heels
-
News12 years agoNigeria Security Operatives Stage Manhunt For Homosexual Perpetrator
-
News10 years agoHow 21-year-old Girl fled community over accusation of lesbianism
-
News11 years agoYobe Gov Moves Against Deputy
-
Opinion7 years ago7 signs she has friend zoned you
-
Technology5 years ago
Online job placement company headhunts women
-
Headlines10 years agoBorno Dep Gov Abducts Another Church Leader
