Dear partners, this is to officially inform you that our own His Excellency Barr Nyesom Wike Governor of Rivers state and leading Presidential Aspirant will be in calabar today by 11am
We are expected to mobilise in our numbers to the calabar Airport by 10am to recieved and accord our August visitor a resounding welcome to calabar.
Give this information very wide publicity. Thank you and God bless you all.
Joe obi Bisong
DG
Caterpillar Movement
The die is cast. 2023, another year of political transition is here with us. Cross River, like most states in Nigeria, is bracing up for a fresh governorship election and contenders for the two topmost political positions in the state are not in short supply.
A candidate shall definitely emerge in the All Progressives Congress, APC. But what is also critical, is who will play the deputising role for the governor?
For the sake of argument, they are those who have been parroting the claim that as a party now in power in the state, it has not won a major election, except for the recently conducted senatorial by-election in the Northern Senatorial District of the state. However, before then, the APC won Abi-Yakurr federal seat as an opposition.
So as the APC warms up for what will no doubt be its first major election for the office of the governor come 2023, the choice of a tag team partner with the governorship candidate of the party is key, as whoever is chosen should be one with something to bring to the table.
It is against this background that the name Anthony Odey Ochicha is a fit and proper one for deputy governor.
Odey Ochicha has become a recurring decimal on the lips of a broad spectrum of Cross Riverians of like-mind who insist that there is an inextricable nexus between integrity and good governance.
For the good of Cross River, recruitment and enthronement of quality leaders that will take over the baton from His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade on May 29, 2023, is one task that must not be shirked or treated with levity, thus John Quincy Adams’ treatise on leadership ready comes to mind here.
In climes where good governance and service delivery are the meat of democratic ethos, Quincy’s prescription forms the fulcrum upon which the leadership selection process rests.
According to Quincy Adams, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
This timeless quote clinically mirrors the character traits of Anthony Odey Ochicha. It also offers a veritable barometer to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River to hinge on while carefully sieving through the galaxy of gladiators in its fold currently angling for the two topmost political positions in the state- Governorship and Deputy Governorship.
While zoning arrangement in Cross River APC may have technically precluded Ochicha from gunning for the number one position, even though he flew the party’s flag in the 2015 gubernatorial election, his wealth of experience, patriotic fervour, selflessness, rock-solid integrity and unflinching loyalty to the party highly recommend him for the Deputy Governorship position.
Cross Riverians are desirous of leaders who are well acquainted with the socio-political and economic anatomy of the state, ones that know the nitty-gritty of governance and are committed to consolidating the gains of His Excellency, Governor Ayade’s administration. Ochicha perfectly fits this bill.
There is no doubt that if paired with whoever the APC eventually endorses as flagbearer, Ochicha will provide a robust bulwark against maladministration.
Here is an incorruptible character, a man who places integrity, honesty and morality above self-aggrandisement.
A few years ago, as a senior staff of NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the NNPC, before he resigned to vie for Cross River governorship, Ochicha refused to do what most public servants would have gleefully done.
He was supposed to travel to the US for a training program on the bill of his employers (NAPIMS)
NAPIMS had already paid him millions of Naira upfront as travel allowance to cover his stay there. However, knowing that his mind was already made up for politics, he declined to attend the training because he wanted to attend a scheduled APC meeting in Lagos, Ochicha promptly returned the humongous travelling allowance to NAPIMS.
As is the lurid norm in the public/civil service, Ochicha, if he had wanted, could have decided not to return the money as others that did not attend the training program oversea did but it was not in his character to swim in corruption.
In all he does, Ochicha puts Cross River first. For him, love of the state transcends political and pecuniary benefits which was why shortly after Ayade, his main challenger in the 2015 governorship election, was declared the winner of the exercise, he wasted no time in conceding defeat and congratulating the winner.
Of course, moving the state forward rather than dissipating energy on legal tussle or toxic opposition was paramount to him. Like the governor himself, Ochicha’s political philosophy is rooted in the principle of politics with ethics.
A consummate party man, his fidelity and loyalty to the APC contributed to a large extent the reason the party didn’t go into extinction following the debilitating crisis that rocked it before and after its defeat in the 2019 guber election.
Even when it became fashionable for some chieftains to switch allegiance to the then ruling party in Cross River, the PDP, Ochicha hugged the APC tightly, helping to navigate it through that perilous phase to its current position of strength as the ruling party following the entrance of Governor Ayade.
Ochicha’s unwavering loyalty to the party was to catch the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari hence he was appointed by Mr President to serve his fatherland as Chairman of the governing Board of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.
However, the President, knowing Ochicha’s pedigree, no doubt will be happy to see him serve Cross River as Deputy Governor.
A native of Bekwarra local government in Northern Cross River, in the spirit of equity, fair play and natural justice, Ochicha’s Deputy Governorship will go a long in assuaging the hurt that the local government has felt over the years following its mindless marginalisation politically as well as unexplained denial of basic amenities.
Jerry Ekpo, a chieftain of the APC, wrote in from Abuja
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has congratulated the State Governor and His Deputy over the validation of their Defection to the ruling All Progressive Congress by an Abuja High Court, today April 7th 2022 describing it as a “mandate to Purpose Fulfilling Mission”.
In a Press State Issued and Signed by the Director General, she described the purported failed and premature ejection of the State Governor and His Deputy as a divine authentication procedure meant to solidify the identity of the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade as one of the most loved leaders in the history of Cross River State, urged him to remain committed in the actualization of his goals which is aimed at enhancing the lives of Cross Riverians.
She used the opportunity to thank the state Governor for his numerous life enhancing programs in the Health sector which has signalled a revolutionary trend across the Country since his inauguration in 2015, urging the state to show support especially in the forthcoming Outbreak response against Poliomyelitis slated for 9th – 14th of April 2022.
“Total, history is made in Cross River State as the Judiciary did not only stand for the truth and proclaimed it’s unbiased opinion to the issue of Defection and other constitutional rights of Citizens, but it solidified the image of the state Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade as one of the most loved, cherished and celebrated leaders in the state and the Country at large.
The Unprecedented wave of support from party men and concerned citizens is an equivocal evidence that, truth cannot remain unspoken and a shinning light can never be hidden especially at a moment when the nation needs the expertise of visionary leaders like His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade.
He has shown all of these magnanimity in the innovations in the Health sector and as of today, Cross River State has become a model for national programs implementation seeing to the ever growing quest for Universal Health Coverage.
Since 2015, the state has witnessed reduced rate of child and maternal mortality, improved healthcare Facility utilization, increased enrollment and Community acceptability of our programs, to this light, I wish to remind all of our parents and caregivers of the forthcoming Outbreak Response Campaign Against Poliomyelitis coming up for our children within the ages of 0-5 years old in this month of April, we hope our children will partake in this History making Court Judgement by receiving doses of vaccines and other suplimentary products”.
Once Again, Congratulations His Excellencies, Senator Ben Ayade and Professor Ivara Esu.
Dr Janet Ekpenyong
Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency
*PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE*
1st April 2022.
Press Statement
*Bukola Saraki Campaign Advocacy Council Visits Party Secretariat*
……Solicits Support for Saraki’s Presidential ambition.
Earlier today, the State Working Committee members of our party received in audience the Campaign Advocacy Council of Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki led by Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher. The Campaign Council arrived the Secretariat around 9am.
Speaking during the consultative meeting, the Spokesperson of the campaign council, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher thanked the leadership of the Party for the reception accorded them, stressing that Cross River State has always been a good neighboring state to the North, especially North Central. Speaking about Bukola Saraki’s Presidential ambition, the Spokesperson declared that hope has arrived with the coming of Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“I want you to rejoice with us because hope has arrived. Nigerians are victims of broken promises. We are faced with leadership failure. Failure to provide good leadership to manage the resources of this country. We have bad leaders with bad management taking loans without concrete plans on how to repay. This is the time to look for qualitative leadership to pull Nigeria to the greatest height. A president that is not a product of Zoning but competence. For even if we are to talk about zoning, North Central where Bukola Saraki hail from, is yet to produce a president. For Bukola Saraki, he will serve as a nexus between the young and old as he is relatively young. His experience as former Governor and Senate President is another considerable advantage”
Reacting to the comment made by the Spokesperson, the State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Barr. Venatius Ikem thanked the campaign council for coming to Cross River State. He reiterated the commitment of the party to competence and capacity.
“My path with your Principal has crossed even to the other generation. I coordinated for Bukola’s father, Oloye when he ran for Presidency in 1992. I was the Chairman of the Electoral Panel that delivered Bukola Saraki as Governorship Candidate. By the grace of God, I will be here to assist him become President. So, I welcome you specially, especially on this agenda, the Saraki Agenda. We in Cross River State like you’ve heard had an accident that has tagged us an opposition State but the reality on ground will always testify differently. We are the surest State for PDP. I am delighted whenever I see a team with people of high intellectual capabilities and experience. As Chairman, I have to manage all the contending aspiration that comes to us but ultimately, it is God that gives power. Within the Chairmen forum, there’s a lot of talk about capacity because we have all seen what just Politics has done to us. Last year, Nigeria used 4trillion Naira just to service debt, not to repay debt, and if you remember, our budget was about 12trillion Naira. Which means, very soon we will be using half of our budget to service debt. This is a serious disaster and I fear for tomorrow. So, we need people with the capacity to navigate their way through the economy and other sectors”
Signed
Prince Mike Ojisi
(State Publicity Secretary)
An Aspirant for Boki II State Constituency for the Cross River State House of Assembly Polls in 2023, Mr Bajie Odu Ekum, has commenced his consultation across the six wards of the state constituency, starting with Kakwagom/Bawop ward.
The aspirants was well received by the chiefs, youths and women of the ward.
Accordingly, he received their support, prayers and encouragement needed to be afloat on the race.
The frontline aspirant also visited the Commissioner for Aviation in the state, Dr Jake Otu-Enyia, who described his aspiration as ‘timely’, giving the fact that the time for Kakwagom/Bawop ward to produce the next house of assembly representative is now.
Dr Jake told Bajie and his supporters that what would stand him out are his qualities which he mentioned to include; humility, intelligent, accessibility, integrity, and above all, having the fear of God in him.
He assured Bajie of his support, thereby advising him to tour the nook and crannies of Boki II to canvass for a wider support and acceptability of all stakeholders ahead of the primaries and the general elections.
BY George Prints
Councilors in Cross River State have threatened to dump the APC to the PDP over what they described as “poor funding and none release of funds for their legislative activities” by the Cross River State Government.
The lawmakers, after a meeting held in Ikom local government area, also agreed that they were going to commence the immediate impeachment of all the Local Government Chairmen in the state.
According to them, over N150million have been released to each Local Government Chairman as capital projects, yet no Councilor have been carried along or given any project.
They lamented that out of the 22 months they have been in office, they have only received Legislative Votes for six months, a situation they described as “painful and worrisome”.
Other issues deliberated at the meeting include;
1. Refusal of CRS government to accommodate councilors on the LGA capital projects
2. None release of councilors Furniture/Wardrobe allowances.
3. None payment of councilors monthly legislative votes. (6 LV in 22 months in government)
4. Lack of legislative training to enhanced legislative proceedings
K J Jeddy-Agba Media
The leading aspirant for Obudu /Obanlikwu /Bekwarra Federal Constituency, Prince KJ Jeddy-Agba, consults Obudu and Obanliku chapters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and informed them of his ambition to represent them at the National Assembly.
Addressing the ward and chapter executives of Obudu and Obanliku separately, KJ Jeddy-Agba insisted that the PDP needs people with credible and outstanding track records to be able to win the general election taking into account the fact the party is in opposition.
At Obanliku, KJ Jeddy-Agba used the opportunity to acknowledge the relentless efforts of the former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, whose contribution to the development of Nigeria and Obanliku in particular, speaks volumes.
His words “I want us to observe a minute silence for late Joseph wayas, whom I described as the political bulldozer.
“I am one of you, a son of the soil. I am not a visitor in Obanliku, I was born and brought up here, and so, I have come to seek for your mandate and support. I trust Obanliku very much that I know I will not be disappointed here having met with the ward and chapter executives who form the bulk of the delegates and some principal officers of the party.
“I have been a committed party man since 1999, and I have been a Caretaker Committee member of PDP in Cross River State that midwived the current State executives after the defection of Gov Ben Ayade.
“We are in the opposition and as such, we need capable hands like myself to win the election and not people who cannot match the opposition because, politics is no longer business as usual.
“I admonish you all to go get your PVCs because elections can no longer be rigged in Nigeria especially with the BVAS machine”.
Responding, Mr Goodwin Ukpangvum, a former PDP Chapter Secretary of Obanliku described K J Jeddy-Agba, as a man who is humble and not in a hurry about life but understands the times and season.
The PDP Chapter Chairman of Obanliku, Hon Justine Ejiekpese described K J Jeddy-Agba, as the owner of the land and assured him that, he will not come and consult in Obanliku again, having done that previously.
In his words” you are the first aspirant to have received ancestral prayers from my people which shows that you are the choosen one and am assuring you that the whole delegates will cast their votes for you”
While at Obudu local Government Area, K J Jeddy-Agba, also made known his intention to serve his people at the house of representatives. He charged them to be decisive and resolute in the choice of the best among those aspiring to represent them during the primaries election.
On his part, the PDP Chapter Chairman of Obudu, Hon Francis Atsu, appreciated K J Jeddy-Agba to have deemed it fit to consult his people on his intention to contest the house of representatives election.
He however assured that, having evaluated him kindly, they’re really ready to send him to National Assembly comes 2023.
In his words “we will never let you or turn you down for there is no better aspirant for the race other than you”.
Atsua used the opportunity to ask God to direct the affairs of K J Jeddy-Agba as he pursue his ambition.
A front line contender for the Obudu State Constituency election comes 2023, Dr Godwin Agbor has stated that look up to Sen Prof Ben Ayade then when he was in the private sector. He started by giving scholarship where some of my close relations benefited. He became my role model looking at the trajectory of what he has achieved and done for our people.
Dr Agbor disclosed to TheLumineNews in an interview:
TLN: Can we meet you please?
Dr Agbor: I am Dr Godwin Agbor, Medical Director, Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity, Okundi-Boki LGA. Currently, I am the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Cross River State chapter. Businessman and politician.
I hail from Utugwang South, Obudu LGA of Cross River State. I am a member of the All Progressive Congress APC and was the party flag bearer for the December 2020 bye-election for Obudu State Constituency.
I served as the Supervisor, APC membership revalidation/registration exercise for Obudu, 2021. I also served in the reconciliatory committee that harmonized the previous factions in the party in Obudu.
I was the poineer ward Secretary of the defunct All People’s Party APP in 1999, during which time I donated an apartment for the ward secretariat, opposite St Paul’s Primary School, Ukpada. I am a Knight of St Molumba Nigeria, as the Sub Council Physician for St Patrick’s Parish Kakwagom, Boki Local Government Area.
TLN: What is your motivation to serve?
Dr Agbor: I have a strong passion to serving humanity. That is why I chose medical profession whose motive is ‘service to humanity’ This I have been quitely doing for more than a decade now. Quite a number of our constituents used to receive assistance by way of the health needs and empowerment. I feel fulfilled at providing such services.
Secondly, when I was still in the primary school, in 1989, I took first in a gifted scholarship exams, Organised by the then Minister of Education, Prof Jubril. Then our late Elderstatesman , Denis Akwaji, addressed and gave me support to be kind to our people after completion of my studies. He used to attract a lot of infrastructural and manpower development to Obudu and Nigeria at large. So he became my role model and I got inspired to aspire into position which I can serve my constituency to the best of my ability with God on my side.
Thirdly, l look up to Sen Prof Ben Ayade then when he was in the private sector. He started by giving scholarship where some of my close relations benefited. He became my role model looking at the trajectory of what he has achieved and done for our people. He has raised the bar beyond what any of us can think of as far as Obudu is concerned.
TLN: What is your plans for youth inclusiveness in your policy formulation and implementation?
Dr Agbor: I am a youth to start with. I don’t think my policy trust will be fair without the very strata I belong. The youths deserve to be fully involved in all level of governance because they constitute more than 60 percent of the entire population. The youth have the energy, the mental alertness and the proficiency to drive any process. Just as my leader, mentor and role model, Prof Ben Ayade has shown that 80 percent of his administrative drive constitutes the youths. I shall ensure that if voted into office to represent the good people of Obudu, sponsor bills that are youths centered in areas of Information and Communication Technology ICT, agriculture, entertainment and sports development.
TLN: How do you intend to harness the vast potentials in the youths to solving the myriads of challenges confronting us using the Tech Solution?
Dr Agbor: You have said it all that the youths are energetic, full of wisdom and they explore a lot as seen in ICT. It is unfortunate that some bad elements among us indulged in cyber Yahoo Yahoo activities, which is a criminal cyber security issue. I think this trend can be reversed. Those boys can be engaged, retrained by psychologists as to use same knowledge and ideas to provide modern security in technology, by government at all levels, private organizations or individuals instead of allowing them idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”
TLN: How do you intend to advance the course of empowerment in your constituency?
Dr Agbor: Giving of motorcycles, sewing machines and grinding machines is not a bad idea. But I will go a step further to include giving scholarship to intellectually sound constituents, skills acquisition, craftsmanship and business training to enhance small and medium enterprise as well as partner with organizations that provide credit facility for my constituents.
TLN: Bearing in mind that your constituents are predominantly peasant farmers, what is your plan to advance their livelihood?
Dr Agbor: The APC led government already have in place programmes like the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, which have seen a lots of our people cultivate more rice and cereal crops. I will facilitate more of my constituents to benefit from such programmes by working very closely with my leaders at the centre. This can improve their means of livelihood in poultry, fisheries, cassava farming etc.
TLN: How do you intend to change the narrative of poor stakeholder’s engagement in your constituency?
Dr Agbor: I wouldn’t agree with you completely on this, but I think more robust contributions from stakeholder’s engagement is the way to go. Yes our leaders need to be properly engaged, carry along with the policies of government to avoid friction in the politics. I will hold meetings regularly so that what the people want, government can provide with the limited available resources. Don’t forget, Cross River State has been denied her God given resources in the political lost of her 76 Oil wells to our sister state, Akwa Ibom. In the same vein, Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon. This by extension has drastically reduced our revenue base. I use to wonder what this present administration of Sen Prof Ben Ayade is doing that he has achieved so much with limited resources.
TLN: Your party, the All Progressive Congress APC, in recent times is known for consensus, do you have the confidence that the party will provide a level playing ground for you to advance your aspiration?
Dr Agbor: Yes I am very confident that my party, APC leaders, critical stakeholders and members will give us the level playing ground for all of us who want to aspire to achieve it. I am qualified by training, by political experiences, and what I have done as a private medical practitioner to my people.
I have no doubt in my mind that which ever modalities my party adopts for the primaries election, I will be supported again. And don’t forget, the last bye-election, for Obudu State Constituency, 2020, I emerged party flag bearer via a consensus.
More importantly, the APC led Chairman in the state, Barr Alphonsus Ogar Eba have shown tremendous capacity. He is a man who is simple and accessable who have galvanized the party and will want the popular person to emerge through a transparent, fair and level playing process, so that the APC can win the general election.
TLN: How have you impacted your people previously?
Dr Agbor: My dear, I think that question will have rather being for my people to answer, knowing what I have done for them so far. However, don’t forget I told you that I have been reaching out to numerous persons in my medical practice at Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity Okundi-Boki, through free medical outreaches, organised sporting activities and graded 5km road from Eshankpe to Mbube in my community, just to mention but a few. I have a penchant to do more for not only my constituency Obudu, but for mankind at large, if given the opportunity to serve. This service will not be about me, but the people.
TLN: What is your campaign ideology and your advice to your supporters?
Dr Agbor: It is simply the ideology of my party which together we can do for Obudu “Yes we can”
I want to appeal to them to remain committed to this aspiration which is a collective decision for the good people of Obudu. They should continue to propagate our aspiration to all nooks and crannies of Obudu. I count on their prayers to ensure that collectively, we will achieve our aspiration.
Thank you and God bless you.
The wife of Nigerian President, Dr. Aisha Buhari has endorsed a frontline aspirant for National Women Leader, Barr Mary Ekpere for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the National Convention.
The news broke out after President Muhammadu Buhari had a close door meeting last night, 23rd March, 2022, with party stakeholders at the Presidential Villa.
A source at the villa disclosed that the President wife had always expressed her readiness to work with the past immediate Director General of the National Center for Women Development.
The meeting which had in attendance some Governors of the All Progressives Congress who are said to be loyal to the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transportation, Rt.Hon Chibuike Rotimi, adopted Sen. Adamu as the consensus National Chairman and also Mary Ekpere who is the president’s wife interest as the consensus Women Leader.
However, according to LeadershipNg, the governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, had picked Dr. Betta Edu for the National Women Leader against the interest of the general APC members in the state, raising tension amongst party faithfuls as many threatened to defect if Betta is imposed on them.
While news filtered in that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other South-South leaders met yesterday night, the aforementioned names have debunked the news to be fake, noting that there was no meeting of such to project a unity list from the region.
The Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governor’s forum held its meeting on Wednesday, 23rd March, 2022, at Aba, Abia State.
The meeting reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering being meted out to Nigerians by a failed APC led Federal Government; the near collapse of the APC as a viable political party, the readiness of the PDP to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation and issued the following Communique:
1. We lament the terrible pain and hardship facing Nigerians in virtually all aspects of life. The meeting noted that life was much better in 2015 under the PDP than today under the APC as exemplified in the following Comparative Indicators obtained mainly from the National Bureau of Statistics:
a. Diesel which is critical for running of SMEs was N131.47 in 2015, it now costs above N700
b. Fuel: Official and Black-Market was N87/155 in 2015, it now costs N167/350.
c. Aviation Fuel/Air Ticket Rate on Domestic Flights was N110 per Litre/N18,000 in 2015, it now hovers around N700 per Litre/N70,000, where available. Indeed, the scarcity of fuel which has resulted in loss of several man hours is a disgrace to Nigeria.
d. The collapse of the National Grid (126 times in 7 years – (June 2015 to March 2022) and its consequences for non-availability of power is most unfortunate.
e. Kerosene (NHK) used by the ordinary Nigerian for cooking and power was N180 in 2015, it now sells at ₦450.
f. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – 12.5kg Cylinder sold for N2,400 in 2015, is now sold at between N8,750 and N10, 000.
g. Prices of basic food stuffs are now three times higher than what they used to be in 2015. Staple foods such as rice, beans, cassava flakes are now slipping out of the hands of average Nigerians. Indeed, a Bag of Rice sold for N8500 in 2015 is now N39,000.
h. Electricity was N14.23 per kilowatt in 2015, it is now N38.530, and not even available.
i. Unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2015, it is now over 33%, one the highest in the world.
j. The poverty rate in 2015 was 11.3% but now about 42.8%.
k. Accumulated Inflation in 2015 was about 4%, it is now 15.50%; Inflation Rate was 9.01% in 2015 and now 15.7%.
l. Perhaps the Exchange Rate has been one of the most disastrous. N150 to a dollar was the parallel market (patronised by most businessmen and Nigerians) rate in 2015, it is now about N580 to $1 in the parrel market and still rising.
m. Debt and Debt Servicing:
Domestic Debt of N8.4T and External Debt of USD 7.3b was incurred between 1999-2015.
While Domestic Debt of N7.63T (June 2015-Dec 2020) and USD28.57b as at Dec 2020 was incurred. External debt of USD21.27b was incurred between June 2015 and 2021.
n. National Debt to GDP Ratio was 23.41% (2016) it is now 36.88% (2022).
o. The Corruption Index has risen from 136 in 2015 to 150 now.
p. Nigeria’s Misery Index, an indicator used in determining how economically well off the citizens of a country are, is usually calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate, has moved from 14.75 percent in 2015 to 50.48 (2021).
q. The major threat to the agricultural sector and food security in Nigeria is insecurity. In the northeast of Nigeria, it is estimated that no fewer than 70,000 hectares of arable farmland have been abandoned in the affected States and Local Government areas. The trend is the same all over the country. This further contributes to food inflation. The APC led Federal Government must take steps to cooperate with States to bring security down to the grassroots.
2. The Forum is surprised that in the face of these statistics of complete failure in all ramifications and areas, the APC still wants to be on the ballot in 2023.
This shows how uncaring and insensitive the APC is.
3. The Forum urges Nigerians to reject the APC, a party run undemocratically by a Committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr. President regularly issuing instructions and dictates. It is impossible for a party so disorganized to offer good governance to the people of Nigeria.
4. The meeting expressed concern and alarm over various reports and claims of incidents of stealing of crude oil ranging from 80% to 95% of production made by industry practitioners and called on the Federal Government to set up an appropriate mechanism to reverse this trend and bring perpetrators to account.
5. The PDP Governors once again decried the inability of the NNPC to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, inspite of Oil selling at above $110. It is patently unconstitutional for NNPC to determine at its whim and discretion when and what to pay to the Federation Account, as it is a mere trustee of the funds for the three tiers of Government: Federal, States and Local Governments. We once again, call for investigations and audit of the quantity of consumption of fuel ascribed to Nigerians and for deployment of technology at the filling stations to determine in a transparent manner the volume of consumption.
The Governors would resist any further attempt by NNPC to ascribe unsubstantiated subsidy claims to other tiers of government.
6. Furthermore, S.162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be
paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation…”
and S.162 (10) states that “For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, “revenue” means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes –
(a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law;
(b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation;
(c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body”
a. As of today, 18 (Eighteen) Federation Revenue Agencies are not paying/remitting any revenue to the FAAC Account. These include (i) Central Bank of Nigeria (ii) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (iii) Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) (iv) Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) (v) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (vi) NPA (vii) Security and Exchange Commission etc
(b) FIRS and DPR takes cost of collection of 4% (Four percent) of Revenue collected while Customs collects 7%. In March 2022 for instance, FIRS took N15.4Billion as cost of collection and Customs took N8.4b. If these are annualised, FIRS and Customs collects about N1.84Billion and Customs N100B per annum. Obviously, some states of the Federation’s capital budget does not come close to these.
(c) Nigeria Federation has 49% shareholding in NLNG. According to the Minister of Finance during the 2020 budget performance brief at the National Assembly stated that the federation received dividend of N144billion (One Hundred and Forty Four Billion) from NLNG. These figure to the best of our knowledge was never paid into the Federation Account.
(d)) NNPC deducts N8.33Billion monthly for the rehabilitation of the Refineries in Nigeria. Till date no refinery is working.
(e) On priority projects of the Nation’s oil industry, NNPC deducted N788.78Billion for various investments between 2018-2021 without recourse to FAAC.
(f) NNPC in 2021 alone claimed to have paid over One Trillion Naira as petroleum subsidy. Indeed, the month of March 2022, N220Billion was deducted as oil subsidy with a promise that N328Billion will be deducted in April 2022. This is unacceptable.
(g) NNPC and FIRS as well as other remitting Agencies continue to apply an exchange rate of N389/$1 as against the Import and Export window of N416/$1. The extent of this leakage can be better felt, if this rate is compared to the current N570/$1.
(h) From available records about N7.6T is withheld between 2012 and 2021, by NNPC from the Federation Account. All these are said to be payments for oil subsidy.
(i) Conclusively, we believe that all these leakages in NNPC have been made possible because the President is also the Minister of Petroleum. The urgent separation of these two portfolios have become necessary
7. The Forum noted the approval by the PDP NEC of the Time Table and Timelines for Congresses and Convention of the Party and urged all party members and party leadership to remain focused and united to win power in 2023, to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country.
8. The PDP Governors congratulated the host, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the PDP Governors’ Forum Vice Chairman, for his generosity and hospitality in the hosting of the meeting.