The opposition wing of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has urged the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to surrender himself to anti-grant agencies for investigation over alleged bribery of party officials and mismanagement of about N10bn realised from the sale of party’s nomination forms.

This is just as the CUPP-opposition wing called on the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) to, as a matter of urgency, reverse its earlier decision on Ayu and consider his immediate replacement.

Spokesperson of the CUPP-opposition wing, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement on Friday, expressed shock that Ayu and the party’s national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, were allegedly gradually looting over N10 billion realised by the party from nomination fees paid by aspirants for elective offices in 2023 elections.

“Just recently Ayu was again alleged to have received N1 billion from a presidential aspirant in Lagos, without remitting same to the party, and the money was said to be given to him to in order to influence proceedings ahead of the parties primaries in Abuja back in May.

“We are very worried about the constant allegations trailing the party under Ayu’s leadership. Ayu and Anyanwu continue stay in office is creating more crisis, disunity in the party and will hamper PDP chances in 2023. The duo’s sack including the deputy chair, North who were involved in sharing party funds will not only benefit and unite the party, it will also enable all aggrieved members to come together and work for the party’s victory in 2023,” Ugochinyere said.

He added that, “The two party leaders are carrying out internal anti and divisive activities which have been polarising the party. I call on the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to press it on chieftains of the party and Ayu on the need to save the party from further polarisation and loss of our base in the South. This can be achieved by ensuring that PDP Chairman, Senator Ayu quits the party now alongside the National Secretary, Anyanwu. Anyanwu is working hard for the Imo State Governor, Uzodinma, on a mission to destroy Imo PDP.”

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has appointed the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as Adviser on Party Integration and Reconciliation in his Presidential Campaign Council.

Buni’s appointment was contained in a letter signed by the former APC National Leader on August 8, 2022, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Saturday.

In the appointment note, Tinubu disclosed that the choice of Buni as adviser was necessitated by his impressive political achievement and exemplary leadership as governor and party member.

The letter partly read, “By way of this letter, we are pleased to formally convey your appointment as the Adviser on Party Integration & Reconciliation of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

“This appointment is fitting and appropriate given your impressive political achievement and the exemplary leadership you have demonstrated as governor of your state and as a party member.

“We are grateful that you have joined our campaign team. We know you will do your utmost in this new responsibility so we conduct an effective, message-driven campaign, leading us to victory in the 2023 presidential election.

“Together, not only can we ensure victory for our party in the February 2023 elections but we shall also move Nigeria along the path of national greatness by building on the achievements of our party and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) administration in providing progressive good governance to Nigerians.”

While wishing governor Buni God’s guidance, Tinubu congratulated the former Chairman of defunct APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has concluded the renewal of concession agreement with five terminal operators after the expiration of their leases.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, noted that the agreement would be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for final approval before the close of work on Oct. 4.

Bello-Koko said this during the visit of the Minister of Transportation, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, who conducted a familiarisation tour of the agency on Friday in Lagos.

He, however, said discussions among some terminal operators were inconclusive, while others were yet to give necessary feedback to the authority.

The NPA helsman lamented the 100 per cent physical examination of cargoes at the nation’s seaports, saying it affected efficient cargo inspection, and that manual cargo examination was cumbersome and inefficient.

Bello-Koko noted that the terminal operators had expressed the desire to purchase and maintain scanners at the Nigerian seaports, while Customs would operate it.

“If scanners are provided, it will make Nigerian seaports more competitive and the preferred destinations for cargoes in West and Central Africa.

“Manual examination of cargoes in our ports due to the absence of scanners is inefficient, not sustainable, cumbersome and can’t make our ports competitive.

“Terminal operators have, however, expressed readiness to purchase and maintain the scanners but the equipment will be maintained by the service and this will make our ports efficient in the sub-region,” he said.

The NPA MD, in his presentation to the minister, said the nation’s seaports needed to explore alternative sources of power generation to the seaport because of the rising cost of power.

He also called for the reconstruction of the collapsed quay apron at the Tin-Can Island port and collapsed jetty at Continental Shipyard.

“Some matters requiring urgent attention include the reconstruction of the quay apron at Tin Can Island Port complex and collapsed jetty at Continental Shipyard Ltd.

“Also, the reconstruction of collapsed berth at Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT) and fencing of common user port facility in line with the specification of International Ships and Ports Facility (ISPS), code.

“Also, reconstruction of collapsed breakwater at delta port and rising cost of power generation (electricity) in the port and the need to commence procurement of alternative source of power,” he said.

Responding, Sambo said there were so many issues that the NPA needed to handle, urging the management to priortise and come out with short, medium and long time term goals.

“For the medium and long term, they can lay the foundation and let people that will come after them to conclude.

“The most immediate burning issue for me is evacuation of cargo at the Lekki Deep Seaport.

“We have been talking about encouraging moving cargo by barges, this is the time we walk the talk.

“Happily it is NPA that licenses barge operations; so if they are satisfied with the barges that they license, they should encourage them,” he said.

Fellow Nigerians, I address you today, with a deep sense of gratitude to God and a high level of appreciation to all Nigerians whose tremendous goodwill gave me the opportunity to provide leadership for our great country at one of the trying times in her history.

Conscious that today’s address would be my last on an Independence Day as your President; I speak to the millions of Nigerians, who believed in me, propelled and stood by me in my quest to bequeath a country where all citizens have equal opportunities to achieve their lives desires in a peaceful atmosphere.

I am honoured to say that my story in the annals of Nigeria’s history is no household secret. My various attempts, failures and eventual success in being elected as a Democratic President in 2015 was made possible by the majority of Nigerians.

When you elected me, I readily acknowledged that the tasks before me were daunting but surmountable because of the growing national consensus that our chosen route to national development was democracy.

This democracy was to be anchored on a clear understanding, application and the principles of separation of powers supported by a reformed public service that is more effective.

I then pledged to Improve the Economy, Tackle Corruption and Fight Insecurity and this was further strengthened by my commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years as the central plank of my second term in 2019.

To the Glory of God and His Grace as well as the commitment and passion displayed by many Nigerian supporters, we have made appreciable progress in these areas but not yet at our destination.

One of the areas where we have made significant progress is in the eradication of deeply entrenched corruption that permeates all facets of our national development.

We strengthened the institutions for tackling corruption and also cultivated international support, which aided the repatriation of huge sums of money illegally kept outside the country.

The increasing number of prosecutions and convictions, with associated refunds of large sums of money is still ongoing. Furthermore, we would continue to block opportunities that encourage corrupt practices.

In order to address insecurity, we worked methodically in reducing Insurgency in the North East, Militancy in the Niger Delta, Ethnic and Religious Tensions in some sections of Nigeria along with other problems threatening our country.

Our efforts in re-setting the economy manifested in Nigeria exiting two economic recessions by the very practical and realistic monetary and fiscal measures to ensure effective public financial management. In addition, the effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account and cutting down on the cost of governance also facilitated early exits from recessions.

Fellow Nigerians, this administration removed several decades uncertainty for potential investors in the Oil & Gas sector with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021. This landmark legislation created opportunities for foreign investments in addition to improving transparency in the management of the sector.

Our administration has given the desired priority to the Agricultural Sector through a series of incentives to Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises that resulted in creating millions of jobs. Leading this initiative, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intervention in a number of areas as well as the Anchor Borrowers Programme had created the required leverages for Nigerians towards self-sufficiency in food and the necessary attraction for farming as a business.

The growing contribution of non-oil exports, especially in agriculture, information and communication technology as well as the performing arts to our national economy will enhance our foreign exchange earning capacity.

We are confronting current economic challenges such as debt burden, growing inflation, living standards and increasing unemployment accentuated by our growing youthful population. These problems are globally induced and we would continue to ensure that their negative effects are addressed in our policies.

This administration will continue to ensure that our fiscal policies are supported by a robust and contemporary monetary policy that recognises our peculiarities in the midst of the growing global economic difficulties.

This is evidenced by the recent Monetary Policy Committee decision to maintain all parameters, especially interest rates and marginally increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 14 per cent to 15.5 per cent and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from 27.5 per cent to 32.5 per cent. It is projected that this would further insulate our economy from over exposure to uncertainties at the international market by restraining growth in core inflation. 

As we continue to de-escalate the security challenges that confronted us at inception of this administration, newer forms alien to our country began to manifest especially in the areas of kidnappings, molestations/killings of innocent citizens, banditry, all of which are being addressed by our security forces.

I share the pains Nigerians are going through and I assure you that your resilience and patience would not be in vain as this administration continues to reposition as well as strengthen the security agencies to enable them to deal with all forms of security challenges.

At the inception of this administration in 2015, I provided the funding requirements of the security agencies which was also improved in my second tenure in 2019 to enable them to surmount security challenges. We will continue on this path until our efforts yield the desired results.

As we put in place all measures to ensure that Nigeria takes her place in the Comity of Nations, we recognise the importance of a well-educated populace as a panacea to most of the challenges we face.

We have, therefore, pursued policies and implemented programmes designed to create a literate and proficient society that ensures that citizens are availed with opportunities for life-long achievements.

I must confess that I am very pained by the recurring disruption to our tertiary education system and I am using this Independence Day celebration to re-iterate my call for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classroom while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limits of the scarce resources available. This administration has made appreciable progress in redressing these issues that have been lingering for over eleven years.

The Federal Government will continue to mobilise resources both internationally and nationally towards funding education to ensure that our citizens are well educated and skilled in various vocations in view of the fact that education is a leading determinant of economic growth and employment generation.

Fellow Nigerians, we have also improved our health facilities, especially during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which attracted commendation of the global community.

As you are aware, Nigeria was one of the countries that defied global predictions of the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic because of our resilience, commitment and passion with which we individually and collectively managed the pandemic. 

This administration embarked on addressing critical ecological challenges across the country in order to mitigate the impact of Climate Change manifesting in the form of flood, soil erosion, desertification, air pollution amongst others

We will continue to ensure that our infrastructure drive remains the key to Nigeria’s economic growth and for which every Nigerian will feel the impact.

The Federal Government is already expanding ports operations to ensure that they provide opportunities for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

We have also continued to accelerate our infrastructure development through serviceable and transparent borrowing, improved capital inflow & increased revenue generation by expanding the tax bases and prudent management of investment proceeds in the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

To further open up our communities to economic activities, we have continued to boost our railway infrastructure with the completion of a good number of critical railways and at the same time rehabilitating as well as upgrading obsolete equipment.

I am pleased to inform my fellow citizens that besides our emphasis on infrastructural development with its attendant opportunities for job creation, employment generation and subsequent poverty reduction, our focused intervention directly to Nigerians through the National Social Investment Programme is also yielding benefits.

There is hardly any ward, village or local government in Nigeria today that has not benefited from one of the following: N-Power, trader-moni, market moni, subsidized loans, business grants or Conditional Cash Transfers.

All the aforementioned programmes along with various interventions by the National Social Investment programme, direct support to victims of flooding and other forms of disasters have provided succor to the affected Nigerians.

Fellow Nigerians, no matter what gains we make, without a good governance system anchored on electing credible leaders on the basis of free, fair, credible and transparent elections, our efforts would not be enough.

It is for this reason that I have resolved to bequeath a sustainable democratic culture, which will remain lasting. The signing of the Electoral Act 2021 as amended with landmark provisions further assures us of a more transparent and inclusive Electoral Process.

Having witnessed at close quarters, the pains, anguish and disappointment of being a victim of an unfair electoral process, the pursuit of an electoral system and processes that guarantee election of leaders by citizens remains the guiding light as I prepare to wind down our administration.

You would all agree that the recent elections in the past two years in some states (notably Anambra, Ekiti and Osun) and a few federal constituencies have shown a high degree of credibility, transparency and freedom of choice with the people’s votes actually counting. This I promise would be improved upon as we move towards the 2023 General Elections.

As we begin the transition process to another democratically elected government, I want to implore all aspirants to conduct issues-based campaigns devoid of hate speeches as well as other negative and divisive tendencies.

I also want to express my wish that we see more female and youth participation in the forth-coming electoral cycle. I am sure that our teeming and energetic youths now realise that violence generally mar elections and so should desist from being used by politicians for this purpose.

Reforms in the public sector are already yielding results especially in the delivery of services.  On this note, I urge the general public to demand for citizen-centred services from the relevant authorities.  

On the international front, we have continued to take advantage of our bilateral and multilateral platforms to explore cooperation with friendly countries and partners whenever these areas of cooperation are to the advantage of Nigeria.

Fellow Nigerians, in the past few years we have witnessed and overcome a good number of challenges that would ordinarily have destroyed our Nation. However, the indefatigable spirit of the Nigerian people has ensured that we overcome our challenges.

It is in this spirit that I call on all of us to individually and collectively bring to the fore in dealing with all our development issues.

I was called to serve, along with my team, I saw an opportunity to create a better Nigeria which we have done with the support of Nigerians. Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria supported us in laying a solid foundation for the Nigeria of our dreams.

I thank you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said political parties in Nigeria are not allowed to receive campaign and electioneering donations from abroad.

“Section 225 of the Nigerian constitution makes it clear that no registered political party in Nigeria shall possess any funds outside the country,” INEC national commissioner Festus Okoye said during Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

Okoye’s statement means leading candidates in the Nigeria 2023 presidential election – Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and other candidates will not receive donations from their supporters outside Nigeria.

He explained that “a political party cannot open an account and have monies remitted into that particular account outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Secondly it makes it clear that no political party shall under any circumstance retain any funds remitted to it outside the country.

“And if such funds are remitted to the political party from outside the country, that particular political party has a constitutional and legal obligation to turn in such funds to INEC within a period of 21 days from the date of receipt of such funds.”

INEC’s stance on foreign donations comes two days after political parties officially began campaigns for their candidates contesting seats in the National Assembly and persons aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election.

The registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, has said attacks on schools by insurgents have claimed the lives of more than 2,295 teachers in the North East between 2009 and 2022.

Prof Ajiboye, who said this while delivering a paper at the 2022 National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), in Ibadan, called for the full implementation of the  Safe  Schools Declarations guidelines endorsed by Nigeria in 2015 and ratified by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

He further said that over 1,500 schools were forced to close due to insurgency and more than 600,000 children have lost access to education.

The TRCN boss, therefore, called on the federal government to review its security architecture to address the deteriorating security situation because of terrorism and violent attacks on education.

He noted that as a way forward, federal, state and local education authorities should facilitate the immediate implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence Free Schools (NPSSVFS) by making budgetary provisions.

Prof Ajiboye called for an increase in domestic education expenditure of 50 per cent over the next two years as committed at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Education Summit.

He said a school was considered to be safe if it is located in a violence-free environment.

President Muhammadu Buhari has scored the performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration high. 

Buhari in his last Independence Day Address this morning said the efforts in re-setting the economy manifested in Nigeria as it exited two economic recessions by the very practical and realistic monetary and fiscal measures to ensure effective public financial management. 

He added that the effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and cutting down on the cost of governance facilitated early exits from recessions.

President Buhari said his administration had given the desired priority to the agricultural sector through a series of incentives to micro, small and medium-scale enterprises that resulted in creating millions of jobs.

“Leading this initiative, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intervention in a number of areas as well as the Anchor Borrowers Programme had created the required leverages for Nigerians towards self-sufficiency in food and the necessary attraction for farming as a business,” he said.

ASUU must have a rethink

On the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), he said: “I must confess that I am very pained by the recurring disruption to our tertiary education system and I am using this Independence Day celebration to reiterate my call for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities to return to the classroom while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limits of the scarce resources available.

“This administration has made appreciable progress in redressing these issues that have been lingering for over eleven years.”

‘Only credible elections’

On the significance of credible leadership, the president said: “No matter what gains we make, without a good governance system anchored on electing credible leaders on the basis of free, fair, credible and transparent elections, our efforts would not be enough.”

While speaking on the country’s challenges, he said: “In the past few years, we have witnessed and overcome a good number of challenges that would ordinarily have destroyed our nation. However, the indefatigable spirit of the Nigerian people has ensured that we overcome our challenges.

“It is in this spirit that I call on all of us to individually and collectively bring to the fore in dealing with all our development issues.

“I was called to serve, along with my team, I saw an opportunity to create a better Nigeria which we have done with the support of Nigerians. Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria supported us in laying a solid foundation for the Nigeria of our dreams.”

‘All shall be well’

Meanwhile, prominent leaders have congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s 62nd Independence Day celebration, urging them to remain hopeful, resilient, united and patriotic despite challenges bedevilling the country.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan urged Nigerians to remain resolute in the defence of national unity and promote fairness, justice and peace.

Lawan, in his message to Nigerians on the country’s 62nd independence anniversary, said the National Assembly would “continue to work for good governance and to strengthen our bond as a nation.”

“The Almighty God in His infinite wisdom brought us together in our diversities. He has also preserved our union despite the challenges that we have encountered in nation-building and socio-economic development since our Independence in 1960.

“I salute fellow Nigerians for the resilience of our faith in our country in the face of those challenges,” Lawan was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi.

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, while rejoicing with Nigerians, said the country has come a long way and made tremendous progress in the 62 years of her independence, noting that the citizens have a lot to celebrate despite the challenges facing them.

He said as a nation, Nigeria remains a force to reckon with in the comity of nations, calling on both the leaders and followers to remain steadfast.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker expressed optimism that Nigeria and Nigerians would come out stronger in the face of daunting challenges, including insecurity.

Also, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has cautioned against violence and politics of bitterness in the 2023 general polls.

In a statement he personally signed to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, asked Nigerians to be patriotic and work for the unity of the country.

He also urged Nigerians to do their best for the country regardless of partisan affiliation, adding there is no need to undermine the national purpose in pursuit of narrow gain.

On his part, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Nigerians on the celebration of the 62nd Independence Day anniversary assuring that the nation will rise again.

Atiku in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday said the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day was an event that should reawaken citizens’ consciousness towards the consolidation of unity amongst the diverse people of the country.

The PDP presidential candidate, who said Nigeria has come a long way after her independence 62 years ago passing through different phases of challenges, noted, however, that “the democracy that we have is the requisite antidote to the current challenges that we face.”

Atiku said as the election approaches, “Nigerians should elect leaders who are individuals with proven track records of being protagonists of unity and peace.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on its part has urged Nigerians not to lose hope as the misrule of the “vicious, corrupt and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC) would soon come to an end.”

PDP in a statement by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party, said it is regrettable that “Nigerians are celebrating yet another Independence Anniversary under bondage and the harrowing stranglehold of the suppressive, cold-hearted, insensitive and inhumane APC which relishes in inflicting pain and anguish on the citizens.”

The PDP noted that in the last seven years, the APC “has balkanized and dislocated the unity of our country, promoted mutual distrust among the once happy and harmonious people; created a mass of internally displaced persons; the worst since the Civil War in our country.”

In the midst of all this, the party said it is mindful of the confidence Nigerians repose in it and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, “to rescue, rebuild and redirect our nation and return her to the path of peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity.”

Ahead of today’s Independence Day celebration, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the personnel of the force to protect all critical assets in the country and prevent any untoward situation throughout the period of the celebration and beyond.

Baba specifically directed the Strategic Police Managers comprising AIGs and Commissioners of Police in all the zonal and state commands including the FCT to ensure high visibility and confidence-boosting patrols around the venues of the celebrations.

The police chief, who spoke through the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued in Abuja, said they should ensure the safety of residential areas and other public places to prevent infiltration by hostile elements.

He explained that the deployment of adequate personnel of the force has become imperative in order to ensure the success of all activities lined up for the country’s 62nd Independence Anniversary.

Muideen Olaniyi, Abdullateef Salau, Itodo Daniel Sule, Saawua Terzungwe, Baba Martins & Idowu Isamotu