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Buhari, Peter Obi to Inaugurate Wike’s Projects in Rivers
President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, will be guests to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on November 18 and 16, 2022, respectively to inaugurate projects in Rivers State.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, had last week announced the fresh round of commissioning beginning from Monday, November 14, 2022, by the Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero.
Similarly, the former Governor of Edo State and erstwhile National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has also been scheduled to inaugurate the Rumepirikon Flyover on November 15, 2022.
President Buhari who will be represented is billed to augurate the Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, on November 18.
On Sunday, the spokesperson for the LP presidential campaign council, Yunusa Tanko, announced on Twitter that the party’s flagbearer Obi had been invited by the Rivers State Government to inaugurate a project in the state on Thursday.
Tanko, who posted a flyer of the invite on his page, said the LP was inching closer to reclaiming Nigeria for Nigerians.
The project to be inaugurated is the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo Flyover Bridge and the inauguration is scheduled to be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo junction, Ikwerre road, Phalga, Rivers State.
Tanko tweeted, “We are inching closer to reclaiming Nigeria for the Nigerian People… Join us Rivers State People!!!. We keep moving Obidently & Yusfuly. Destination Aso villa.”
This is not the first time Wike will be inviting members of opposition parties to inaugurate projects in Rivers.
In August, the Rivers governor invited his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to inaugurate the Orochiri-Worukwo (Waterline Junction) flyover in Port Harcourt.
Wike had also invited Babatunde Fashola and Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.
Also in October, Wike honoured an invitation by the Lagos State Government to attend a women’s conference, where he endorsed the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Sanwo-Olu, for second term.
For months, crisis has rocked the Peoples Democratic Party as Wike and four other PDP governors known as the G5 have demanded the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, saying northerners should not be the PDP national chairman and presidential candidate.
The other governors making up the G5 are; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Also, the Chief Justice of the Federation is scheduled to open the newly completed Federal Judicial Commission Liaison Office and Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute while the Inspector-General of Police is scheduled to inaugurate the Police Intelligence Centre, all in Rivers State.
Other projects to be inaugurated but are yet to be assigned include; the Nbutanwo Internal roads, Rukpoku-Rumuapu-Igwuruta Link Road, Akpabu-Itu-Umudiagha Road, Rukpakwulusi-Eliogbolo community new layout road.
Also in the list sighted by our correspondent are Basic Clinical Science Building, Renal and Dialysis Centre at RSUTH, Rumuodogho 1 and 2 and Mgbuoaimini Road.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has offered to meet the bail conditions of human rights lawyer, Mr. Dele Farotimi, according a statement by Tanko Yunusa, on X.
An Ekiti court has said Farotimi can be released on bail in a case where he’s accused of damaging Afe Babalola’s reputation.
The bail requirements are as follows: N30 million bond, two people to vouch for him (and one must own a house), give up his passport, and agree not to talk to the media.
Yunusa, who is an ally of the former presidential candidate, wrote that Obi believes in following the law and wants to see this situation resolved in a way that works for everyone.
Yunusa quoted Obi’s offer directly: “I consulted His Excellency, Peter Obi, as the leader of the Obidient Movement. As a respecter of the rule of law, due process, and order, he offered to take Dele Farotimi on the bail conditions.”
Yunusa also mentioned that Obi thanked the courts and everyone involved, saying Obi wants to see the situation resolved fairly for all parties while respecting the legal system.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, denied ownership of a piece of land purportedly allocated to him by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) in Abuja.
Media reports indicate that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the ownership of 762 plots of land in the Maitama 1 District of Abuja, citing non-payment of statutory fees.
According to the trending reports, high-profile figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, are among those affected.
The FCTA had also issued a two-week ultimatum to 614 other individuals and organisations, demanding they settle outstanding Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) fees or risk losing their plots.
However, debunking the reports, the former President stated he is “not the owner of the said plot of land which is allocated in the name of a ‘Muhammadu Buhari Foundation.’”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, the former President explained that he turned down the offer by the administration when it was presented to him.
The media aide further clarified: “When he and his cabinet members were invited to fill the forms and obtain land during his tenure in office, he returned the form without filling it, saying that he already had a plot of land in the FCT and that those who did not have should be given. He, therefore, turned down the offer.
“All those jumping up and down in the digital space talking about the rightfulness or the lack of it on the reported seizure of Buhari’s land in Abuja to get their facts right and stop dragging down the name of the former president.
“As with anything Buhari—and there is no surprise in this at all—there is a lot of buzz in the media on the reported seizure of a piece of land by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, FCTA, allegedly belonging to the former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Former President Buhari is personally not the owner of the said plot of land, which is allocated in the name of a ‘Muhammadu Buhari Foundation.
“The Foundation was itself floated by some utilitarian individuals around him who, it must be said, went about it in a lawful manner with the support of a number of well-meaning persons.
“But they ran into a roadblock in the land department of the FCDA, which handed them an outrageous bill for the issuance of the certificate of occupancy, very high in cost that did not at all compare with the bills given to similar organisations.
“It may have been that this was not erroneous, but a deliberate mistake, making the revocation of the land no surprise to anyone.
“As a person, the former President has a plot of land to his name in Abuja,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, presented the proposed 2025 federal budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.
The N47.9 trillion budget saw a whopping N3.5 trillion allocated to the education sector.
Other sectors that got higher allocations include defence and security – N4.91tn, infrastructure – N4.06tn and health – N2.4tn.
“It is with great pleasure that I lay before this distinguished joint session of the National Assembly, the 2025 Budget of the National Assembly of Nigeria titled, ‘The Restoration Budget’ security peace, building prosperity,” Tinubu said as he concluded his 30-minute presentation at 1:10pm.
This budget highlights the government’s focus on improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure, in line with its ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ aimed at boosting the economy and addressing key national priorities.
The live broadcast of the budget presentation today revealed the government’s plans for the next fiscal year. With a strong emphasis on human capital development, the president highlighted the budget’s commitment to improving the nation’s economic foundation.
Education sector receives major funding
A significant portion of the 2025 budget is dedicated to education, with N3.5 trillion allocated to the sector. President Tinubu stated that part of this funding would be directed toward infrastructure development, including support for Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and the establishment of nine new higher educational institutions.
“We have made provision for N826.90 billion for infrastructural development in the education sector,” Tinubu said.
This allocation aims to improve educational facilities and support ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s educational system.
Focus on human capital development
During the presentation, the president emphasized the importance of investing in Nigeria’s human capital. “Human capital development, our people are our greatest resource. That is why we are breaking record investment in education, healthcare, our social services,” he remarked.
Tinubu also pointed to the N34 billion already disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to assist over 300,000 students.
The budget includes continued investments in healthcare and social services as part of the broader goal of enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians.
Strengthening the economy and national security
Tinubu highlighted that the 2025 budget is designed to build a robust economy while addressing critical sectors necessary for growth and security.
“This budget reflects the huge commitment to strengthening the foundation of a robust economy, while addressing the critical sectors essential for the growth and development we envision; and secure our nation,” he said.
The budget aims to tackle key challenges and foster long-term economic stability by prioritizing infrastructure and development in key sectors.
Healthcare and social services allocations
In addition to education, Tinubu focused on the allocation for healthcare and social services. The government plans to increase investments in healthcare infrastructure and services to ensure broader access to essential healthcare for Nigerians.
These investments are part of the administration’s strategy to improve overall living conditions and enhance public health across the country.
President Tinubu’s proposed 2025 budget is said to reflect the administration’s commitment to achieving its development objectives, with a focus on economic growth, human capital development, and infrastructure improvement.
As the National Assembly reviews the budget, the president reiterated his administration’s resolve to address the nation’s most pressing needs.
Source: Nairametrics
