BIG STORY

Emefiele Deceived Buhari That Naira Redesign Will Curb Vote Buying — Oshiomole

Published

1 year ago

February 6, 2023

Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo, says Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “deceived” President Muhamadu Buhari that the naira redesign policy will curb vote buying during the elections.

Oshiomhole spoke on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television.

Over the past few days, Nigerians across the country have been battling with the scarcity of new naira notes — a development that has led to queues at banking halls and automated teller machines (ATMs).

The development has also led to protests in some parts of the country.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had given a deadline of January 31 for the use of old naira notes — but it was recently extended to February 10.

Speaking on the development, Oshiomhole described the policy as “senseless”, saying the decision was taken without any consultation with the government.

He said the absence of wisdom in the implementation of the policy is making vulnerable Nigerians spend days at ATM outlets to withdraw money.

The former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the CBN governor of deceiving the president that the policy would curb corrupt practices during February and March polls.

“There was no consultation, not even within the government, at least the minister of finance cried out and she warned that there could be economic consequences arising from this decision,” Oshiomhole said.

“We’re taught in basic leadership that whoever has power should pray for wisdom. And with wisdom you will recognise that (with) a population of 200 million people, you can’t change policy overnight as you change from generator to NEPA and vice versa.

“But even worse is that you want me to change my old clothes by fire by force. I’m willing to do so. You told me to remove the old clothes and that I’d need a new ones.

“I’ve removed the old clothes but the new ones are not available, and you leave me naked. And then you tell me that I can’t take more than N20,000 from my own money.

“So, if you spend N35,000 or N30,000 to buy a bag of rice, CBN has a policy that says you can’t take more than N20,000, that is where the ATM is working, which means you will have to queue all day to take money enough to pay for half a bag.

“And if you need a whole bag, you have to queue another day to raise N40,000 to buy a bag of rice. This is not sensible.

“Having worked as a chairman (APC), which enable me to work and relate directly with the president, I know the trick that the CBN played.

“We have a president who had told the world and I believe he was right that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria and he meant it.

“Even in informal talks, we do say that if you want the president to accede to something you must assure him that what you want him to approve will not in any way translate to a corrupt practice.

“I think I can guess because I was not there that in obtaining the approval which the president said he gave, I believe the CBN deceived the president by amplifying the need to have a corruption-free electioneering as if the election is the only project that this president has responsibility for.”

Post Views: 307

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BIG STORY

Avoid Panic Buying, We’re Not Changing Petrol Prices — NNPCL To Nigerians

Published

12 mins ago

April 25, 2024

PorscheClassy News

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says there is no place to change the prices of petroleum products.

In a statement on Thursday by Femi Soneye, its spokesperson, the NNPC asked Nigerians to avoid panic buying.

The national oil firm said the limited availability of petrol in certain regions of the nation is a result of logistical problems.

However, the company said the challenge has been fixed.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved,” the statement reads.

“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.

“It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country.”

On March 24, the NNPC denied adjusting the pump price of petrol across its retail outlets.

This came after the organisation had promised Nigerians that there would not be any increase in the cost of petrol on February 9.

The NNPC also reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the current sufficiency in the supply of petroleum products across all its retail stations in the country.

Post Views: 17

BIG STORY

Former Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi Wins Ondo PDP Gubernatorial Primary

Published

20 mins ago

April 25, 2024

PorscheClassy News

A former deputy governor of Ondo, Agboola Ajayi, has emerge winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary election in the state.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor of Bayelsa, who chaired the electoral committee that supervised the poll, announced the results on Thursday in Akure, the state capital.

Ewhrudjakpo said Ajayi scored 264 votes to defeat other aspirants.

“By virtue of the results, Ajayi Alfred Agboola having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner of this primary and hereby declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November 2024 election and is hereby returned as the candidate,” he said.

Ajayi was the deputy governor of Ondo state from 2017 to 2021.

Kolade Akinjo, who came second in the election scored 157 votes while Olusola Ebiseni polled 99 votes to clinch the third position.

On June 21, 2020, Ajayi, a lawyer and businessman, resigned his membership from the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the PDP.

He cited irreconcilable differences between him and his principal, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, the former governor of Ondo.

He then joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) after losing the PDP gubernatorial primary to Eyitayo Jegede and became the candidate of the party in 2020.

Ajayi had served as a councillor, chairman of Ese-Odo LGA, and house of representatives member before he was nominated by the late Akeredolu as his deputy in 2016.

Post Views: 13

BIG STORY

Former Senate Spokesperson Ayogu Eze Dies At 66

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Ayogu Eze, a former spokesperson for the Senate, passed away at the age of 66.

Eze, the senator from Enugu North Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015, died on Thursday in a hospital in Abuja following an undisclosed illness.

In May 2023, the Senate confirmed Eze as a federal Commissioner for Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Eze is also among the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

In his years at the Senate, he also served as the chairman of the Senate Committee of Works and a member of committees on Constitutional Amendment, Police Affairs, National Planning, Marine Transport and Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs.

Post Views: 30