The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has kicked against what he termed interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria by the European Union (EU).

He also rejected the position of the EU Observation Mission on the recently concluded general election in Nigeria.

Mr Wike who is also the immediate past governor of Rivers State, spoke on Monday while receiving the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, in his office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

A statement by Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the Minister, said Mr Wike observed that the Mission did not have adequate personnel in the country to cover the elections, particularly in Rivers State where he was governor.

He described the EU Mission’s position that the government stifled the opposition in the state at the time as inaccurate.

“Even though we have passed that era, I think that I sincerely do not agree with the European Union on their stand on the past election in Nigeria. I do seriously take exception to their stand because we thought there was no need for you to interfere in Nigeria. Rather, you observe and make a recommendation. And your interference came when there were electoral tribunals going on.

“Like in Rivers State, I asked how many of you were in Rivers State to visit the 6,886 or thereabout number of polling units. Sometimes, you send in one or two persons and I ask you, how do you know?

‘So, if you have seen some infractions in about 20 polling units, is that enough to make a general conclusion? I felt that as a sitting governor, you were trying to indict me for not allowing the state to have a free democratic process. That is not correct.”

In her response, Ms Isopi explained that the report on the outcome of the elections in Nigeria was that of the EU Election Observation Mission, which is an independent observation mission deployed by the EU at the request of the Nigerian government.

The ambassador stated that the purpose of the mission and many other missions in other countries, is to assess the process of the elections against international agreements and treaties signed and ratified by Nigeria.

The purpose, she said, was not to determine whether the elections were legitimate or not but to analyse the process and afterwards make recommendations, adding that the report had offered 26 recommendations.

On the areas of cooperation with Nigeria and the FCT, Ms Isopi said the EU was refocusing its cooperation on improving agricultural value chains to assist with the economic diversification agenda of the country and is also working on renewable energy projects in the country.

Mr Wike called for partnerships and viable economic relations with the EU in the areas of Agriculture, tourism and security to grow the economy of the nation’s capital.

He said the FCT is open to cooperation and investments in these areas to address the economic challenges of the Territory.

The minister, who expressed the hope that increased cooperation and partnership in these areas would help to unlock the economic potentials of the FCT and create jobs for the teeming populace of the city, said, “I wholeheartedly invite your member countries to pay us a courtesy call.”

Mr Wike stated further: “When I was governor, one of the things I’ve always said is that I don’t believe in mere visits. I want us to concretize whatever we are going to do, not just come to tell me we are here to partner with you, we are here to work with you. It’s good, but at the end of the day, the people will want to see what are the achievements, which for me is a priority.

“You know that Abuja is one of the best cities in terms of available facilities. The landscape is beautiful, it’s a tourist and agricultural area. These are areas we can partner with you sincerely. Maybe, when we meet with the member countries, it becomes specific, which of these areas we can deal with, maybe agriculture, tourism and security as the case may be,” he added.

Umahi Calls for Objective Monitoring of Road

Minister of Works, David Umahi has Called for Objective Monitoring of Road and other Infrastructural Projects by Nigerians

He says this is pivotal to the realization of Renewed Hope Agenda being vigorously pursued by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR.

The minister stated this in an interaction with State House correspondents, shortly after paying a courtesy visit to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, in her office at the State House, Abuja.

The Minister who described the decay in road infrastructure in the country as frightening said tackling the challenges on ground require courage

“We are tackling the challenges. We know the reasons, but I must commend the past administration on their thoughtfulness in the number of projects they earmarked and awarded. They are key projects that will crystallize into economic revolution.

The Former Governor of Ebonyi state highlighted lack of effective supervision and dishonesty of contractors as some of the major challenges the Federal Government has to contend with.

“The President, Minister and Governors have good setting. We have paid for these roads. It is up to us Nigerians to ensure that things are rightly done for the benefit of all of us. And so where there are failures we should place the blames rightly where it belongs, not when people don’t do their work, then leadership is blamed.”

The Minister commended the First Lady for all that she has so far undertaken, through her Initiative, Renewed Hope Initiative

 

SIGNED

Busola Kukoyi

SA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

9th October,2023

 

President Tinubu Pledges 500,000 Jobs as Ajaokuta Steel Nears Completion

*Flags off Kogi APC governorship campaign*

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on Sunday that with the hitherto abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex now nearing completion, the project will have the capacity to employ 500,000 Nigerians once designated as a free trade zone.

The President further promised to fully harness the potentials of the Complex once it is completed, as it would boost Nigeria’s foreign direct investment and provide avenue for the creation of the much-needed conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President, made this known at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The governorship poll in the state is slated for November 11.

Addressing a mammoth crowd in Lokoja, VP Shettima also noted that Tinubu remained committed to completing the constructions of the River Niger, the Kabba-Lokoja and the Abuja-Lokoja roads.

President Tinubu, VP Shettima stated, is a man of plenty ideas who is determined to reposition the nation in its rightful place, especially as it borders on restructuring and stimulating the Nigerian economy.

“Given Mr President’s commitment to the development of Kogi State and indeed the entirety of Nigeria, Kogi in particular being a confluence state, cannot afford to have a governor who is hostile to the center. We must be partners in progress and work hand in hand to develop this great nation,” the Vice President said.

He further hinted about plans by the Tinubu administration to make the Itakpe crop processing project a dream come true, just as he promised jobs and affordable education under the present government.

Reemphasising that the welfare of the citizenry would never be willfully compromised, VP Shettima called on Kogi citizens to come out en masse on November 11 to vote for the candidate of the APC, Ahmed Usman Ododo, in order to consolidate on the achievements of the APC government in the state.

He added that the natural endowments of Kogi State would be harnessed for the development of the state and the nation at large, adding that President Tinubu had further given his nod for the rehabilitation of Obajana-Okene road in Kogi State.

Speaking earlier, Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, thanked President Tinubu for accepting to flag off the governorship campaign in his state, disclosing that his administration has achieved a lot, and it is time for consolidation in order to move the state forward.

“We have done a lot in the area of security, education and health, among others. We want to consolidate on that. I am, therefore, calling on the people of our dear state to vote for our candidate in order to move Kogi State forward,” he said.

For his part, APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, said because Governor Yahaya Bello has provided good governance to the people of Kogi, the state cannot afford to be left behind by giving power to another party different from the one at the center.

Also, the Chairman of the APC Campaign Council for Kogi State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, enjoined the people of Kogi State to clean up their voter cards and turn out in numbers to vote for the candidate of the APC in the November 11 governorship election.

On his part, Kogi State APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo, pledged to carry the people of the state along if elected, saying he remained committed to the development agenda of Kogi State.

“We will build on the legacies of my mentor, Governor Yahaya Bello. We will give attention to security, education, agriculture and health. Our women will also be empowered,” he said.

Other dignitaries at the campaign rally were the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and members of the National Working Committee of the APC, among others.

The Vice President’s engagements in Kogi had started with an audience with traditional rulers and other stakeholders of the state ahead of the November 11 governorship election.

At the audience with the stakeholders, VP Shettima also solicited support for the APC candidate in the forthcoming election.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the President, Kogi State Traditional Council and the Attah of Igala, HRH Mathew Ipaluwa, pledged their support for President Bola Tinubu.

The royal father commended the state governor, Yahaya Bello, for working hard in addressing security challenges in the state.

 

*Stanley Nkwocha*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications*
*(Office of the Vice President)*
*8th October, 2023*