Headline

PDP Moves To Rebuild, Seeks Consensus For New Chairman

Published

7 months ago

October 15, 2023

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) awaits the Supreme Court verdict on the 2023 presidential election, the tussle for leadership of the has begun amid realignment of power brokers within.

Checks revealed that the while the pro-Atiku Abubakar group are pushing to seize control of the party, the group loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike is also scheming to take the reins of the party.

It was learnt that the dilemma before the party is the search for a national chairman who can balance the interests within and enhance the fortunes of the party.

This comes as the prospect of a mini convention after the Supreme Court verdict is being discussed in some quarters.

The convention which is being projected to re-access the party’s fortunes after the 2023 polls might see the change of leadership.

It was further learnt that the recent visit of former president of the senate, Abubakar Saraki, to Wike was linked to the search for a consensus.

Wike and Saraki lost last year’s PDP presidential primary to Atiku.

However, Wike and four other governors worked for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) instead of Atiku during the election after their demand that a national chairman from the South should replace Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

Wike was however later to be rewarded with the FCT ministerial appointment.

Saraki was appointed into the PDP/Atiku’s campaign team.

A party source said despite calls for Wike’s sanction for working with the ruling party, the former governor’s group has insisted that they will not leave the party.

The source said the group had resolved to retain their influence in the party.

“One of the ways to do so is to be part of the power groups that will determine the future of the party by influencing who leads the party from next year,” the source said.

He added that the Wike and Saraki meeting was against the backdrop of the need by the camps to forge an understanding ahead of the tussle for party leadership.

“Failure to do this will lead to the emergence of a hostile chairman who may move against them. They know Saraki as a reconciliatory man, a bridge builder, somebody they can trust to be neutral and have the capacity and resources to rebuild the party.

“The meeting is the first step the Wike group is making. More governors and senators in the group will openly canvass support for Saraki and even visit. Many have silently visited him,” the source added.

When asked, another source close to the former senate president who pleaded not to be named, said he had not made up his mind on the chairmanship yet.

“His position is that we should wait till after the Supreme Court verdict on the Atiku case. Either way the case goes, the next assignment for the PDP is resolving leadership issues and reconciliation,” he said.

Headline

EFCC bars dollar transactions, orders embassies to charge in naira

Published

3 days ago

May 11, 2024

Desmond Ukafor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has barred foreign missions based in Nigeria from transacting in foreign currencies and mandated them to use Naira in their financial businesses.

The EFCC has also mandated Nigerian foreign missions domiciled abroad to accept Naira in their financial businesses.

The anti-graft agency said the move is to tackle the dollarisation of the Nigerian economy and the degradation of the naira

The Commission, therefore, asked the government to stop foreign missions in Nigeria from charging visa and other consular services in foreign denominations.

The EFCC gave the advisory in a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, for onward transmission to all foreign missions in the country.

In the letter, the EFCC said it issued the advisory because the practice of paying for consular services in dollars was in conflict with extant laws and financial regulations in Nigeria.

In a letter dated April 5, 2024, which was addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, titled: “EFCC Advisory to Foreign Missions against Invoicing in US Dollar,” the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede expressed dismay over the invoicing of consular services in Nigeria by foreign missions in dollars.

The EFCC cited Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which makes currencies issued by the apex bank the only legal tender in Nigeria.

The letter read, “I present to you the compliments of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and wish to notify you about the commission’s observation, with dismay, regarding the unhealthy practice by some foreign missions to invoice consular services to Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country in United States dollar ($).

“It states that ‘the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be the legal tender in Nigeria on their face value for the payment of any amount’.

“This presupposes that any transaction in currencies other than the naira anywhere in Nigeria contravenes the law and is, therefore, illegal.”

The commission further stated that the rejection of the naira for consular services in Nigeria by certain missions, along with non-compliance with foreign exchange regulations in determining service costs, is not just unlawful but also undermines the nation’s sovereignty embodied in its official currency.

The letter continues: “This trend can no longer be tolerated, especially in a volatile economic environment where the country’s macroeconomic policies are constantly under attack by all manner of state and non-state actors.

“In light of the above, you may wish to convey the commission’s displeasure to all missions in Nigeria and restate Nigeria’s desire for their operations not to conflict with extant laws and regulations in the country.”

Diplomatic sources said yesterday, May 10, that some embassies were wondering whether the EFCC’s advisory represented the position of the Federal Government.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

3 days ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.