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BREAKING: Adamu, Oshiomhole, APC Govs Hold ‘Crucial’ Meeting [PHOTOS]

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Security was beefed up at the headquarters of All Progressives Congress on Wednesday when the Deputy Director of APC Presidential Campaign Council and seven governors arrived for a crucial meeting with the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

There was a heavy presence of stern-looking policemen roving the area as the popular Blantyre Street was cordoned as a measure to control both human and vehicular traffic near the party secretariat.

In attendance at the meeting were Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; his counterpart in Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Jigawa Governor, Abubakar Badaru; Sani Bello of Niger State; Kano Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and members of the National Working Committee.

The meeting, which started at 12.00 noon, was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, sources said it may not be unconnected with the contentious 422-man list of the presidential campaign council.

But addressing journalists before the crucial political roundtable, Adamu said the meeting was to essentially interact with the APC governors who he described as custodians of the party in their various states.

He said, “Being the chief executive officers of their various states, the onus of our great party lies in the hands of God and in their hands because they are the commanders of the party fortunes in their various states. We cannot make meaningful progress without them in the affairs of these states, particularly in an election year that is approaching.

“We cannot plan without the buy-in of our governors so that we can stand together, believing that we share the same aspirations. We will plan together to see how best we can deliver the interest of the party and ensure that victory is ours in the 2023 general election that is by the corner. That is the essence of this meeting.”

Reacting to Adamu’s invitation for the meeting, Lalong, who stood in for Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu, said they found it heartwarming to return to the party after the last convention.

“We are very happy our party is moving well. Today we have an invitation of the national chairman and that invitation also went to the campaign council. So the Progressive Governors Forum invited the campaign council to a meeting and that is why you can see the meeting came jointly with progressive governors (who) are also part of the campaign council for proper briefing.

“When we were coming in, some governors were confused because they have not visited your office since you renovated it. We use this opportunity on behalf of governors to congratulate you. This is the real office of the party in government. I wish some people will see it and others will come and copy from us. Once again, I want to say we are here at your instance and also at your invitation.”

The development is coming barely 24 hours after a strategic planning committee of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council met behind closed doors in Abuja on Tuesday evening to review the growing membership list.

The meeting, chaired by Lalong, who is also the Director General of the council, started a bit late at the PCC office in Abuja.

A source told our correspondent that the agenda of the political roundtable was hinged on the need to properly vet the nominees’ list to avoid another backlash as witnessed in the outrage of aggrieved APC governors and members of the National Working Committee after the list was unveiled.

The PCC Director of Media and Communications, Bayo Onanuga confirmed the meeting was called by Lalong to “take another look at the list.”

 

BIG STORY

Oil Cabal Fought Back After Subsidy Removal — But Tinubu Didn’t Budge — VP Shettima

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Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu stood firm against pressures from oil sector cabals after the removal of petrol subsidy.

Shettima made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the newly elected executives of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) at the presidential villa.

The group was led by NACCIMA’s national president, Jani Ibrahim, according to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, spokesperson to the vice-president.

Shettima described the subsidy removal as long overdue, calling it a burden previous administrations could not handle.

“I want to assure you that the current administration is your own because the President speaks your language – the language of commerce,” he said.

He explained that the President understands the business environment, having worked as the financial controller at Mobil.

“And he (the President) has taken some bold initiatives. For instance, while fuel subsidy had been an albatross around the neck of successive administrations, he had the courage and the conviction to withdraw fuel subsidy.

“And we know the consequence of unveiling a masquerade. The oil cabal is richer than the Nigerian nation; they fought back, but he (President Tinubu) refused to budge.”

Shettima emphasized that the President stood his ground because his actions were in the “best interest of Nigerians”.

He reaffirmed the administration’s support for businesses and emphasized the importance of the private sector in achieving national development goals.

“This is how great nations build; this is how Korea became what it is,” he said.

Jani Ibrahim, speaking as the new NACCIMA president and OPS chairman, said he assumed office a month ago.

He praised Shettima for his leadership of critical economic institutions like the national economic council (NEC), National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

Ibrahim called for regular dialogue between the OPS and the vice-president’s office, proposing bi-annual meetings.

He also recommended including private sector representatives in technical and policy councils of the government.

On May 29, President Bola Tinubu officially announced the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Three months after, TheCable reported that the President was weighing the idea of a “temporary subsidy” on petrol due to rising crude oil prices and foreign exchange rates.

Though the federal government repeatedly denied any reintroduction of subsidy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited stated on August 19 that it was owed N7.8 trillion for under-recovery.

Nigeria completely ended subsidy payments in October 2024 following the deregulation of the downstream sector, which saw petrol prices at NNPC retail outlets exceed N1,000 per litre in line with market rates.

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Humanitarian Minister, Nentawe, Emerges APC National Chairman

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The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Yilwatda Nentawe, as the party’s substantive chairman.

Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State and chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, moved the motion during the ongoing 14th Committee meeting at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

The motion was supported by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The minister was sworn in immediately after.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

EFCC Declares 28-Yr-Old Woman Wanted Over Alleged Fraud, Theft

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared Oyinkansola Folashade Okanlawon, aged 28, wanted over alleged involvement in fraud and the illegal acquisition of funds.

The announcement was made through the Commission’s official X handle, stating that Okanlawon is being sought for reportedly obtaining money through false pretence and theft.

The notice reads: “The public is hereby notified that OYINKANSOLA FOLASHADE OKANLAWON, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of Stealing and Obtaining Money by False Pretence.

“She is 28 years old and a native of Ipokia LGA in Ogun State. Her last known address is 21 Hammed-Kasumu Street, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos.

“Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

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