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Hardship: Okonjo-Iweala Advises Tinubu to Provide Social Safety Nets for Poor Nigerians
The Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called on the Federal government to put social safety nets in place for poor Nigerians who are feeling the pains of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Okonjo-Iweala stated this on Thursday after a meeting with the president at the Aso Villa in Abuja.
Though she commended the president for the economic reforms including petrol subsidy removal and the unification of the foreign exchange windows, the former Nigerian finance minister said the government must put social safety nets in place for poor Nigerians to cope with the economic hardship occasioned by the government’s reforms.
In a chat with journalists after her meeting with the president, the WTO boss said: “We think that the President and his team has worked hard to stabilised the economy. You cannot really improve an economy unless it is stable. So, he has to be given the credit for the stability of the economy. The reforms have been in the right direction.
“What is needed next is growth; we now need to grow the economy and we need to put in social safety nets so that people who are feeling the pinch of the reforms can also have some supports to weather the hardship. That’s the next step.”
Tinubu, who launched a string of economic reforms when he assumed office in May 2023, has come under heavy criticisms in over two years, as many Nigerians have attributed soaring food inflation and skyrocketing cost of living to majorly his removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange windows.
Angry citizens have held a number of rallies to protest the hardship faced by the middle class and ordinary citizens in the last two years, the most prominent of them being the hunger protests or #EndBadGovernance demonstrations of August 2024.
The Nigerian president’s meeting with Okonjo-Iweala came two weeks before the expiration of her first term as WTO boss on August 31, 2025, and the commencement of her second term on September 1, 2025.
The renowned development economist and global finance expert made history in 2021 as the first African and first woman to lead the 164-nation-member WTO.
The WTO boss, who was in company of Trade Minister Jumoke Oduwole, also briefed the president on the progress made on the Women’s Exporters’ Fund for the digital economy.
Okonjo-Iweala said, “We came to brief him about something very joyful that we did today with the help of the first lady.
“We launched a Women’s Exporters’ Fund for the digital economy. This is a fund that is jointly managed by the World Trade Organisation and the International Trade Centre and support women to weather the storms of the economy and create jobs for themselves.
“It is part of the thinking of social safety net and what we can do to support Nigerian women to contribute more to the economy and to themselves.
“Nigeria competed and one, one of four countries that won globally to be part of this initiative.
“We have 67,000 Nigerian women who applied for this and 146 of them won and they are going to have money disbursed directly to them.
“16 of them won what we called the Booster Track; those who already have businesses but their businesses would be scaled up. They would receive technical and business supports from the WTO and the ITC for 18 months.
“Another 100 would get $5,000 each to start and strengthen their businesses, with 12-month reforms.”
Israel has expressed doubts about Pakistan’s ability to act as a credible mediator in the ongoing Middle East conflict. This comes as diplomatic interactions involving the United States and Pakistan continue, particularly regarding Iran and its allies. Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, made his position clear during a recent statement in New Delhi.
Ambassador Azar articulated that Israel does not recognise Pakistan as a dependable player in mediation. He elaborated that the United States’ decision to engage Pakistan in these diplomatic efforts is driven primarily by its own strategic interests.
During his remarks, Azar addressed the historical context in which the United States has previously involved countries like Qatar and Turkey to facilitate talks aimed at reaching agreements with groups such as Hamas. He indicated that these choices were made for pragmatic reasons rather than based on the reliability of the states involved.
US Strategy Involving Pakistan
The involvement of Pakistan by the United States is reportedly based on specific strategic calculations that align with its broader diplomatic goals in the region. Despite Israel’s scepticism, Washington appears committed to its course of diplomatic engagement, which includes Pakistan as a participant in discussions related to the conflict.
Ambassador Azar also emphasised the importance of coordination with the United States regarding the desired outcomes of these diplomatic efforts. He noted that maintaining alignment with US objectives is crucial for Israel as it navigates the complexities of the ongoing hostilities.
Moreover, Azar’s comments suggest that there is a level of caution within Israel regarding the potential implications of Pakistan’s involvement. The ambassador’s statements reflect a broader perspective among Israeli officials about the challenges of engaging with states that possess varied relationships with groups involved in the conflict.
Regional Implications of Mediation Roles
The rejection of Pakistan as a credible mediator raises questions about the future of diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. As the situation evolves, the roles of various nations in facilitating peace talks will remain under scrutiny. The perspectives of nations like Israel are central to understanding the dynamics of mediation in ongoing conflicts.
Ambassador Azar’s comments may influence how other countries view Pakistan’s involvement. As different nations weigh the potential effectiveness of various mediators, the confidence displayed by Israel could impact international diplomatic discussions going forward.
The current geopolitical landscape is complicated, with alliances and enmities frequently shifting. Israel’s firm stance against Pakistan’s mediation reflects deeper concerns about the reliability of diplomatic partners in a region marked by longstanding tensions and hostilities.
Source: thecsrjournal.in
By Eric Elezuo
On April 1, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by its Law Professor Chairman, Joash Amupitan, threw a shocker at Nigerians, derecognising the David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola led-leadership of the hitherto main opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The announcement has since generated chain reactions across board in the Nigerian body policy, creating divisive opinions for and against the electoral body.
Among other factors, the announcement put a question mark on the already planned April 14, 2026 National Convention of the ADC, prompting a question mark on whether or not the convention will hold as planned.
INEC had through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced the Commission’s decision to withdraw their recognition of the ADC leadership, with special emphasis to the Chairman, Senator David Mark and Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, in a statement.
It hinged its decision on a court order which directed the commission to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of David Mark’s leadership of the opposition party. But the maintenance of status quo was variously interpreted by interested parties to suit their various whims and caprice.
But the ADC has insisted on proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention despite the controversy surrounding its derecognition by INEC, a move the body said would amount to nullify if embarked upon.
ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, announced this while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, citing the party’s current leadership struggle.
Abdullahi stated that the party had already given INEC the required 21-day notice for its operations and that the commission acknowledged receipt of the notice.
He maintained that the ADC would not halt its internal processes regardless of INEC’s position, stressing that the party remains committed to carrying out its congresses and convention as scheduled.
The spokesman also expressed concern over what he described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democracy, warning against attempts to limit political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The electoral authority has also announced that it will not accept Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through the court.
He said, “If we’re in a military regime, we can understand it. We are finding ourselves in a situation where everything is being done to ensure that the election in 2027 is a fait accompli and that Nigerians will be left with no option or no choice. We’ve seen how this has ended in the past.
“So we are saying that we will go ahead with our congresses. We have given INEC 21 days’ notice. They have accepted the notice.
“So whether they come or not, we’ll continue with our congresses; we’ll continue with our convention.
“We are all Nigerians. We can see what is going on. We can see our democracy unravelling before our very eyes.”
Consequently, with only a few days left before the stipulated date for the convention, the ADC has gone ahead to set up a 361-man convention planning committee that would soon be inaugurated.
If hitches or changes do not occur in the coming moments, the former governor of Cross River State, Leyel Imoke will lead the 361-member National Convention Central Coordination Committee of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC.
Sources within the party informed that preparations for the convention were in full swing, with several committees already constituted to handle key aspects of the event.
The speedy plans attached to the Convention is borne out of the fact that the Mark-led NWC has rejected INEC’s interpretation of the judgement and insisted that it would proceed with the planned national convention and other internal party processes.
Prominent political figures backing the Mark camp including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; formwr Anambra State governor, and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 ele tions, Peter Obi; former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, had staged a protest to challenge INEC’s position.
Information reaching The Boss noted also that personalities like former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha; former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuba; FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe and other prominent members of the ADC have been listed to play key roles in the planning of the convention.
But fresh evidence coming from several sources has noted that the state congresses sheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2026, have been stalled, no thanks to the leadership crisis rocking the party amid internal wrangling and legal hurdles.
As at today, crises have fragmented the party into three camps led by former Senate President David Mark, former deputy National chairman, Nafiu Gombe and a bloc spearheaded by some state ADC chairmen, and led by the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu. This fragmentation has been the major reason that for the consequent de-recognition of the Mark-led National Working Committee by the INEC.
While some states have announced the suspension of their congresses, a few states have vowed to proceed with the election ahead of the party’s convention.
On Thursday, a faction led by Gombe stormed the INEC headquarters in Abuja, demanding formal recognition.
Gombe, accompanied by a Rep member from Kogi State, Leke Abejide, and hundreds of supporters, accused the David Mark-led leadership of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership in defiance of its constitution and internal processes.
Addressing officials of the electoral body during the protest, a barely-able-to-express-himself Gombe insisted that due process must be followed in resolving the leadership dispute.
Reading a prepared text, he said, “We are here to urge INEC to follow due process. You cannot come to the ADC through the window and expect to overturn the owners of the ADC. As democrats, we don’t want any moneybags to come and destroy democracy. The ADC is for all Nigerians from wards, states, to the national level.”
Also speaking, Abejide, who had said he would quit the ADC if the Mark NWC is finally recognised, called on the commission to resist what he described as an attempted takeover of the party, stressing that the ADC constitution clearly outlines eligibility requirements for leadership positions.
“We are here to urge INEC to do the right thing and rescue democracy from the hands of usurpers. How do you come to a party and attempt to hijack the leadership on the same day? Which political platform is that done?
“The party constitution is clear about this. You have to spend at least two years in the ADC as an active member before you can aspire for any position. The commission has not erred. These people are hijackers, and INEC must follow through on reverting to status quo ante bellum by recognising Nafiu Bala Gombe as the national chairman of the party,” he said.
Abejide has also filed a case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the permanent removal of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of the party. Hearing comes up on Monday, April 13.
Similarly, the ADC Director of Youths and Mobilisation, Mohammed Sahad, commended INEC for complying with a court order, but urged the commission to go further by affirming Gombe’s leadership.
“INEC has not erred in any way. In fact, we commend the commission for obeying the court order. But they need to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as the authentic national chairman of the ADC. INEC needs to do the right thing and do it now. That is why we are here,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the commission, INEC National Commissioner, Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, assured the protesters that their concerns would be reviewed.
“I am here on behalf of the chairman, and I believe INEC, as a commission, will look at your letter and give you feedback. Thank you for being orderly with your protest,” he said.
The protest comes barely 24 hours after a rival faction of the party, led by former Senate President David Mark, staged a large demonstration in Abuja under the banner of #OccupyINEC, accusing the electoral body of actions they claimed undermined democracy and the party’s internal leadership structure.
The back-to-back protests underscore the deepening rift within the ADC, raising concerns over the party’s stability ahead of future electoral contests.
In another development, Adamawa State chapter of the ADC has been barred from going ahead with the congress by a Yola High Court.
Justice Ahmed Isa, who presided over the case, ordered the suspension of the congresses, which was scheduled for Thursday until the determination of the case. The court subsequently adjourned the case to April 15, 2026, for continuation of the hearing, a day after the supposed National Convention.
The embattled ADC chairman in the State, Shehu Yohanna, had approached the court, seeking to stop the congresses due to alleged exclusion from the process.
Yohanna filed the suit against Sadiq Dasin, the state chairman of the transition committee.
According to a report on The PUNCH however, the North East Vice Chairman of the party and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, denied knowledge of the court ruling.
“I’m in Abuja, so I don’t know about the case. Go and ask those who were in court today. I don’t know anything about the court case,” he told The Punch.
In Anambra State, the party chairman, Patrick Obianyo, disclosed that the party has suspended the proposed congresses until further notice.
Obianyo said the party’s decision underscores its unwavering commitment to the rule of law, due process, and respect for judicial authority.
He, therefore, called on all party members and stakeholders to remain calm, law-abiding, and peaceful throughout this period.
He also informed the INEC not to recognise anything done by those parading themselves as ADC leaders in the state.
“The African Democratic Congress, the Anambra State chapter, has announced the immediate suspension of all planned and proposed congresses across the state, until further notice.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the tenure of the current ADC Executive Committee in Anambra State, as well as in other states, remains constitutionally valid and duly recognised by INEC.
“Consequently, the general public is strongly advised to disregard any directives, announcements, or actions from unauthorised individuals falsely parading themselves as party leaders.
“The party will duly communicate new dates for congresses and conventions following the conclusion of ongoing national consultations and meetings.’’
Similarly, the Ondo ADC has announced the suspension of its earlier scheduled Congresses following the re-recognition of the national leadership of the party.
The party had earlier scheduled to hold its ward, local government and state congresses this month, but disclosed that the exercises had been suspended.
This was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent by the state chairman of the party, Mr Wole Ademoyegun.
It said the suspension was in line with the directive of the INEC, which asked the party to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
“We reaffirm our unwavering respect for INEC as the constitutionally constituted regulatory authority for political parties and our firm commitment to due process and institutional order.
BACK TO COURT AFTER PROTESTS
Meanwhile, the David Mark, factional has returned to court after its elaborate protests, where they called for the removal of INEC boss, Amupitan, asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to overturn the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise his leadership of the party.
In a motion filed before Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, Mark is seeking orders compelling INEC to restore his name and that of Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party, respectively.
The motion on notice, dated and filed on April 7, was filed by Mark’s new lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, SAN.
The motion is in reaction to the March 12 Court of Appeal’s judgement in a suit instituted by Hon Nafiu Bala Gombe before Justice Nwite.
The motion, which sought three reliefs, was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019; the inherent jurisdiction of the court and under the equitable jurisdiction of the court to grant injunctive reliefs.
By every inch of explanation, all is not well with the ADC, and its quest to be on the ballot paper come 2027. The party has consistently blamed President Bola Tinubu for its woes, saying the president is muzzling opposition in a bid to be the only one contesting against himself; the only one on the ballot in 2027.
But will Nigerians allow the plot? Time will tell.
By Eric Elezuo
True to his words targeted at reshapening the economic narratives of the people of Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama, has paid a diplomatic and economic visit to France, where he held high level bilateral talks with his counterpart, Mr. Emmanuel Macron.
The Ghana President’s visit corresponds with his intention to maximize his second term in office towards making the Eldorado that it was during his first coming between 2012 and 2016.
The presidency.gov.gh, the authentic platform for activities of President Mahama, captured the visit as follows:
President John Dramani Mahama and his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, held high-level bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the deepening diplomatic and economic relationship between Ghana and France.
The meeting, held at the official invitation of President Macron, followed the successful conclusion of the One Health Summit in Lyon, which both leaders co-chaired on Tuesday.
During the deliberations, President Macron expressed his profound gratitude to President Mahama for his leadership in co-chairing the Lyon summit. Highlighting Ghana’s growing influence in global health policy, President Macron announced that Ghana has been selected as the first beneficiary of the newly introduced National Health Compact.
The French leader also lauded the Accra Reset Initiative, an ambitious framework introduced by President Mahama. Macron described the initiative as “very important,” noting that its principles were frequently referenced as a blueprint during the Lyon summit.
For his part, President Mahama expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and the opportunity to co-chair the One Health Summit, noting its critical importance to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and global pandemic preparedness.
On the economic front, President Mahama officially thanked France and China for their pivotal roles in supporting Ghana’s debt restructuring process. He informed President Macron that the Ghanaian economy has shown remarkable resilience, stating that “the economy has bounced back and is doing very well, with very positive indicators.”
The two leaders discussed a broad range of development cooperation, including building on years of support from the French Development Agency (AFD), the Accra-Kumasi Expressway, ensuring food security through year-round farming initiatives, advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and enhancing support for maternal health services.
President Mahama emphasised that the strength of the Ghana-France relationship is rooted in a shared commitment to democracy, the rules-based international system, and global peace.
“Ghana and France stand together on key issues of peace and security”, President Mahama stated, as the two leaders analysed the impact of global conflicts on distant regions and discussed strategies to maintain stability within the West African sub-region.
Prior to arriving at the Élysée Palace, President Mahama and his delegation met with the President of the French Senate.
