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Again, Buhari summonses Emefiele, meets govs, over cash crunch

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For the second time in two weeks, President Muhammmadu Buhari, on Tuesday held a closed door meeting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, apparently to find an immediate solution to the biting crunch in Nigeria, on a day commercial banks closed their doors to customers seeking for cash.

The meeting also had the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari in attendance, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF)  Atiku Bagudu Abubakar, Governor of Kebbi State.

The meeting held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, was against the backdrop of the biting scarcity of naira notes, which has not only worsened in recent days, but elicited protests in various parts of the country.

Last Friday, the President had implored citizens to give him a seven-day window which lapsed on February 10 to resolve the currency crunch that had emanated from the implementation of the Central Bank policy to change high value Naira notes with newly designed ones after a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.

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Buhari had equally assured that he would be meeting with both the CBN and the Security and Minting Company and a decision would be taken based on current realities in the best interest of the people.

The governors of the ruling party had asked that the President directed an adequate injection of the new notes and the continued utilisation of the old ones until the end of the year to cushion the negative effects which the policy decision to redesign the currency had on their constituencies.

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Meanwhile, the governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states have sued the federal government and the CBN before the Supreme Court over the currency redesigning and “de-monetisation” policy.

They are asking the court to make a declaration that the three-month notice given by the federal government and the CBN under the directive of the president, the expiration of which will render the old bank notes inadmissible as legal tender, is in gross violation of the provisions of Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007, which specifies that reasonable notice must be given before such a policy and that the limit cannot be outside that provided under Section 22(1) of the CBN Act 2007.

However, an FCT High Court had on Monday restrained the CBN, President Buhari and 27 commercial banks from extending or sabotaging the currency redesigning and cash withdrawal limit policy in the country.

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The political parties that went to court included Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and National Rescue Movement (NRM).

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Democracy in Africa, alive and well – Tinubu *Hails Faye, Senegal President-elect

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An upbeat President Bola Tinubu has hailed the current level of democratic culture in Africa, saying that the recent seamless polls in Senegal and Liberia, were indicative of how alive and well the culture had become, a development, which he said would serve the continent positively.

Tinubu, currently the Chairman of the Authority of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of Government, particularly congratulated Bassirou Diomaye Faye on his election as the president of the Republic of Senegal, in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale on Wednesday, March 27.

The statement read: “President Tinubu notes that President-elect Faye comes with great promise and a sterling record, wishing him success as he takes on this important job of leading the good people of Senegal.

“The President also congratulates His Excellency, President Macky Sall, for overseeing an election that has been widely adjudged as peaceful and transparent. President Tinubu states that the success of the presidential election in Senegal and the successful conduct of the general election in Liberia a few months ago have affirmed his long-held conviction that the taproot of democracy is deeply established in West Africa and will only grow stronger as it is watered by good governance, justice, and fairness to all.

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“As the chairman of ECOWAS, the President affirms that the successful conduct of the Senegal election is a boost to the sub-regional organization in its efforts to promote peace and constitutional order, as well as strengthen ties among member states. President Tinubu congratulates the people of Senegal and assures them of Nigeria’s best wishes and support.”

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Aiyedatiwa names seven Akerodolu’s commissioners in new cabinet

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Seven commissioners who served the government of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, have found their way into the list of the new cabinet of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, comprising of 12 Commissioner nominees, which was forwarded to the Assembly for approval, on Wednesday.

Ebenezer Adeniyan, spokesman to the governor, named the new nominees as: Segun Ayerin, Olaolu Akindolire, Hamidu Takuro, Banji Ajaka, Boye Ologbese, Sunday Akinwalere, Lola Fagbemi, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, Rasheed Badmus, Olayato Aribo, Adewale Akinlosotu and Gbenga Olaniyi.

A letter containing the list of the nominees to the Speaker Hon. Olamide Oladiji, urged the lawmakers to give expedited consideration to the confirmation of the nominees.

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Military to Okuama killers: We’ll get you *21 children, orphaned, 10 widowed – COAS

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From Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), came a definite message on Wednesday to those involved in the killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama, in Delta State, a fortnight ago – you can run, but you cannot hide – we will get you, wherever you are holing up.

Musa a General, who spoke at the burial ceremony of the fallen soldiers, held at the National Cemetery in Abuja, promised that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be brought to justice, as nothing would be left undone to hunt them down from their hiding places.

The highest Nigerian military boss, said at the ceremony, supervised by President Bola Tinubu: “To the perpetrators of violence who seek to sow division and fear among our people, know this: our resolve will not waver. We will hunt you down, we will bring you to justice, and we will restore peace and security to every nook and cranny of our dear nation.”

The slain officers, including Lt. Col. A.H Ali, Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, were given posthumous honours by Tinubu, who announced other largesse, including houses for the families and scholarship up to university level for their children, including the unborn babies from their pregnant wives.

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Ali, Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348), whose names had earlier been released by Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Military, were awarded with Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), while the other ranks, were given the award of the Officer of the Niger.

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They included: SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290); LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).

Taoreed Lagbaja, a Lieutenant General and Chief of Army Staff, who also spoke at the event, described the killing of military personnel as demoralizing, adding that it was sad that those responsible for their deaths were the same people the soldiers, who were on legitimate duty at the time of their death swore to protect.

Lamenting that that a total of 21 children had been orphaned and 10 women widowed by the actions of the culprits, Lagbaja, also, sought the cooperation of the community to apprehend the culprits of the heinous crime, while promising that neither the army nor the Nigerian people would abandon the families they left behind.

He said: “The Okuama killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Army and, by extension, the Nigeria state – 10 windows (three of whom are 4, 5, and 8 months pregnant), 21 orphans, and many other dependents which include parents. While commiserating with the families of these gallant soldiers, I assure them that the Nigerian Army and the good people of this country will not leave them in the cold. We shall do all within our power to provide succor to them and preserve the memories of their departed loved ones.”

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