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26/06/2023

Just don't pass under any bridge

Just don't drive under any bridges! 🤣🤣
https://inspiringdesigns.net/semi-truck-rv-conversions-with-balconies/

23/11/2022

Woman Dies After Being Detained And Starved For A Year By Her Husband In Yobe (Photos)

A woman identified as Sadiya has died in a hospital after she was detained and starved for a year by her husband in Nguru, Yobe State,

Sadiya, a middle-aged housewife, was rescued by her mother Hadiza after she suspected something was not right when she spoke with her daughter over the phone.

Hadiya went from Kano, where she lives, to Yobe state and found her daughter looking emaciated.

She had been locked up and starved by her husband for a year.

Sadiya was rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital where she was receiving treatement until she died on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Yobe State Police Command, while acting on the warrant issued by Nguru Senior Magistrate Court, confirmed the arrest of Sadiya’s husband, Ibrahim Yunusa, over the alleged detaining and starving of his wife.

"The motive of this act is not known, but police have arrested Mr Ibrahim Yunusa and handed him over to the magistrate court," DSP Dungus confirmed.

Following Sadiya's death, Olumide Omosebi, the CEO of Gnosis Help Initiative, a non-governmental organization helping victims of domestic violence and abusive marriages, revealed that he was made aware of Sadiya's case last year.

He said that he advised her family to break into the house and rescue their daughter.

Sadly, they delayed until one year had passed and it was already too late.

"Was called on this case sometime last year by concerned persons and I advised that her family break into the house to get their daughter, but....!!!", he wrote.

31/10/2022

Russia reportedly fires missiles at Ukrainian cities

Russia fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine early Monday, with air alerts sounding in many parts of the country, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv, the north-eastern city of Kharkiv and the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhya.

Authorities called on people to seek safety in shelters.

There were reports of power cuts.

It has been 250 days since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has declared that it is targeting the neighbouring country’s energy infrastructure in particular.

Ukraine says Moscow’s intention is to plunge people into darkness, cold and fear, thus driving them to flee to the European Union.

“We will persevere. This disgrace will cost whole generations of Russians dearly,’’ Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said on Telegram.

NAN

08/10/2021

Nnamdi Kanu: Sen Abaribe Should Be In Prison – Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, has launched an attack on Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.
Adesina, who was referring to Abaribe, said the Senator should be in prison for supporting “someone bent on dismembering Nigeria.”
Abaribe from Abia South had stood as surety for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in 2017.
The lawmaker and two others’ stand led to an Abuja Federal High Court granting Kanu bail on April 25, 2017.
But, the Senate Minority Leader encountered some troubles after Kanu jumped bail and fled Nigeria the same year.
Kanu had claimed to have fled Nigeria after an alleged attempt on his life by soldiers in Abia in September 2017.
The pro-Biafra activist has since been rearrested and is currently locked up by the Department of State Services, DSS.
However, in a veiled response, Adesina accused Abaribe of using “foul language against those in leadership” while he supported those pushing for Nigeria’s breakup.
The article titled: “Weighty Matters About Our Country,” reads partly: “Some people incite violence through words or actions, thus exacerbating the security challenges we have. You wonder where they are from, and why they would further stoke a burning fire with incendiary materials.
“There is one funny Senator who talks about the mismanagement of our diversity as a country, yet he daily uses foul language against those in leadership. He stood surety for someone bent on the dismemberment of the country, and when that one vanished, and he should have been cooling his feet in prison, the Senator still spews rubbish. Chief’ mismanager’ of our diversity. And the President had words for him and his ilk, who exist around the country.
“We are ready to arrest and prosecute all persons inciting violence through words or action. Our resolve for a peaceful, united, and one Nigeria remains resolute and unwavering.
“The seeds of violence are planted in people’s heads through words. Reckless utterances of a few have led to losses of many innocent lives and destruction of properties.”

08/10/2021

Everywhere I Go , I’m Asked To Contest 2023 Presidential Seat – Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Wednesday expressed his willingness to contest the 2023 presidential election only if Nigerians canvassed his candidature.
The two-time governor of Abia State, however, said his ambition for now is to return to the Senate in 2023.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain, who is representing Abia South Senatorial District at the red chamber, stated this during an interaction session with journalists after receiving traditional title of Kibiya (Arrow) of Argungu Emirate from the Emir, Alhaji Mohammed Mera.
He said, “I don’t have Presidential ambition ahead of 2023 because my plan for now is to return to the Senate which to me. It is a very interesting place to mingle with other Nigerians and serve one’s father’s land.
“There are only two zones that have not produce the President of Nigeria, including the North-East. I have never thought of running for Presidency.
However, everywhere I go, everybody is asking me to contest in 2023. I have told the leadership of the Senate, my wife and my immediate family members, including my mother, that I want to come back to the Senate.
“My mother’s breasts are two. I want to have the first and the second breast. My first four years in the Senate will end in 2023. I will like to do the second term and retire from politics to become a farmer.
“Nigeria President is not what I want; they know how they arrange it, if the arrangement was done and I was picked; no problem.
“It takes a lot of consultations. Other regions must agree that I should run, it could be possible because I have the capacity and ability to do the job giving to me by every Nigerian not by some people.”
He, however said the unity of Nigeria should be the focus of all Nigerians now, than politics of 2023.
On the violent secessionist move in the South East , he said, “The agitations in the south east need to be addressed or tackled out of politics by way of setting up a committee for required pacification.
“The governors need to redouble their efforts in meeting those behind the agitations and violence just as the President needs to passionately listen to all concerned in the area, , he said.

08/10/2021

Court Sentences Maina’s Son , Faisal, To 14 Years Imprisonment

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced the son of former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, Faisal, to 14 years imprisonment.
The Court, in judgement that was delivered by trial Justice Okon Abang, found Faisal guilty on a three-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.
It held that the anti-graft agency successfully established that Faisal, operated a fictitious bank account with the United Bank for Africa, UBA, through which his father, Maina, laundered the sum of N58.1million.
The court noted that the said fund which was deposited into the account that was operated in the name of Alhaji Faisal Farm 2, was sequentially withdrawn by the Defendant and his father, between October 2013 and June 2019.
Justice Abang said he was satisfied that the EFCC proved all the essential ingredients of the charge, stressing that the Defendant reasonably ought to have known that inflows into the bank account formed proceeds of an unlawful act of corruption by his father.
While the court sentenced the Defendant to 5 years in count 1 and 3 of the charge, he was sentenced to 14 years on count 2 of the charge.
The court held that the charge would run concurrently, starting from Thursday.
The court ordered that the 21-year-old Faisal, who had since June 24, 2020, failed to appear for his trial, should be arrested anywhere he is found in Nigeria and remanded in any Correctional Service Center to serve his jail term immediately.
It further held that in the event that the Defendant traced to anywhere outside the country, the Federal Government, “shall legally or lawfully commence extradition proceeds to bring him into the country to serve the jail term”.
The court ordered that the company through which the fund was laundered, Alhaji Faisal Farm 2, be wound up, with funds in it forfeited to the government.
It will be recalled that the court had on November 24, 2020, issued a bench warrant for security agencies to arrest Faisal wherever he is found, shortly after his bail was revoked.
EFCC closed its case against him after it called three witnesses that testified in the matter.
It alleged that Maina’s son had sometimes between 2013 and 2019, received the sum of N58.11million, being proceeds of a corrupt act by his father.
He was also accused of failing to properly declare his assets before the EFCC.
Faisal had reportedly pulled a gun to challenge operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS that arrested his father at a hotel in Abuja on September 30, 2019.
The EFCC had ealier told the court that it got intelligence report that Faisal had escaped to the United States of America.

08/10/2021

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s hotel in Washington, where former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Senator Bukola Saraki lodged in January 2019 in the run-up to the election, is in dire financial straits.

The Trump International Hotel which is the favourite spot for his fawning supporters and foreign dignitaries bled millions of dollars during his time in office.

A U.S. House of Representatives panel said on Friday that the hotel lost $70 million during Trump’s time in office, though Trump reported that the hotel earned him more than $150 million.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform, dominated by Democrats also found that Trump concealed payments from foreign governments,

The Committee said recently obtained government documents raise “troubling” questions about the hotel, which is in a historic building the Trump Organization leases from the federal government.

The committee found that the hotel received over $3.7 million in payments from foreign governments — roughly equal to more than 7,400 nights at the hotel, posing a potential conflict of interest.

The hotel gave a portion of that money to the U.S. government but failed to provide full details of those payments to the GSA, the committee said.

The committee’s investigation was based on documents released by the General Services Administration, the U.S. government agency that manages federal properties.

Provisions in the U.S. Constitution prohibit the president from obtaining payments, or “emoluments,” from foreign governments.

Trump’s lawyers have argued in court cases that his ownership of the hotel did not violate these constitutional provisions.

A Trump Organization spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The GSA, likewise, did not immediately respond.

Congressional Democrats say the GSA stonewalled their investigation into Trump’s businesses while he was in office, but in July 2021 finally produced some of the documents they had been seeking.

The committee found that Trump moved millions of dollars through other businesses, complicating GSA’s ability to enforce provisions that prohibited him from collecting profits from the hotel.

The committee also found that he concealed debts when he was bidding for use of the property in 2011 and failed to disclose what it said were favourable loan terms from Deutsche Bank AG that financed renovations to the hotel. A Deutsche Bank representative decline to comment on the record.

In a dramatic move in January 2019, Atiku rushed to Washington to shatter widespread belief that he could be arrested if he set foot on U.S. soil.

Well he went 17-18 January 2019, lodged in Trump hotel, met with top U.S. diplomats and congressmen and he was not arrested.

But in a later report, Reuters claimed Atiku was able to enter U.S. because of a temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to two decade-old bribery scandals.

Several U.S. government officials said the travel ban was waived temporarily by the U.S. State Department after lobbyists mounted a campaign among congressional lawmakers arguing that the administration should not snub the leading challenger to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 16 election.

08/10/2021

2023: Nigerians Won’t Trust Igbo With Power Until Biafra Agitations Stop , Says APC Chieftain Igbokwe

All Progressives Congress chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, says Nigerians won’t trust Igbo with power in the 2023 presidential election until Biafra agitations stop.
According to him, nobody is going to vote for people who would use the same position to divide Nigeria.
Igbokwe, who is an aide to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated this in a PUNCH Live interview on Thursday.
He said the South-East geopolitical zone has indeed suffered “injustices”, adding that in “everything we share in this country, we get the least.”
He, therefore, urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to facilitate the creation of one more state to make states in the South-East six like other geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
States currently in the zone are Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi.
Speaking on the PUNCH Live programme, the politician, however, noted that despite the “injustices”, violent agitations and killings were not the way to press for justice, equity and fairness.
‘IPOB supports PDP, started agitation after 2015 elections’
Igbokwe lambasted members of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and other secessionists in the South-East geopolitical zone, saying they are going about their agitation in a wrong manner.
He alleged that IPOB members are supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, adding that the secessionists began agitations to leave the Nigerian entity after the PDP lost the 2015 presidential election.
The party stalwart said that only the PDP is currently campaigning in Anambra ahead of the November 6 governorship poll while other parties are allegedly being attacked.
He knocked Igbo leaders who are thirsty for the zone to produce a President in 2023, saying they should wake up and do the politicking and make friends in the other five geopolitical zones to achieve their goal.
As the 2023 general elections draw nearer, there have been intense political posturing, permutations and fireworks, especially as the eight-year regime of Buhari, who is from Katsina State, winds down.
The clamour for an Igbo President has since resonated with some 18 months to the general elections. Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has been consistent in its demand for an Igbo President in 2023.
The 17 Southern Governors had also met twice in the year and demanded power shift to their region while the 19 Northern Governors also met last week, opposing such move and noting that the candidate with the highest votes will emerge as President in the next general elections.
‘Igbo people must drop secession agitation to be considered for serious national posts’
Asked whether the agitation by IPOB and the other secessionists in the South-East would be laid to rest should the zone produce a President in 2023, Igbokew said it is not by force that the next Nigerian leader emerges from the zone.
He said Igbo politicians should do the work if they so desperately want the next Presidency, adding that Igbo people must drop Biafra agitation to be considered for serious national offices.
The 65-year-old Anambra indigene said, “If you want other Nigerians to vote for you, then you have to count how many bridges that you have built; bridges of understanding, bridges of communication, bridges of friendship.
“I want to see your bridges and you want them to vote for you? Nobody is going to vote for somebody who will use that position to divide Nigeria.
“You cannot be talking about secession and talking about producing the President of Nigeria. We need to settle the issue first; we need to say, ‘Look, we have given up this demand for Biafra, grant us justice’.
“Today, Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) is in the saddle. How did Buhari become the President of Nigeria? It was Asiwaju that wooed him in 2013 with Tony Momoh, with Baba Akande and they went to Daura to meet Buhari.
“They said, ‘Look, you scored 11 million votes in 2003, 11 million votes in 2007, 12 million votes in 2011. If I pull South-West, you will get 17 million votes and you will become President.
“They went there to build a bridge and the rest is now history and that was how Buhari that had lost hope became the President of Nigeria.
“Somebody connected, somebody had sleepless nights, somebody trusted.
“You will sit in one place and you are blackmailing other people, you are not making friends, you are not building bridges and you are threatening people.
“Drop your arms first and enter planes or luxurious buses to South-West and pledge your loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that, ‘Look, we have been able to settle issues in our home, we need to be President, we have not been President since after the civil war…
“Once you have settled that you have dropped this agitation, that you are part and parcel of Nigeria and we see it in your action and deeds, I am not talking about myself but other Nigerians because the issue now is trust – we (Easterners) cannot be trusted. Even with the happenings in the South-East, our leaders are playing politics with it.”
Igbokwe backs Malami, says Obiano can’t handle Anambra crisis
Igbokwe, who had claimed his house was burnt over the weekend by IPOB arsonists in Nnewi, further said he supports the planned imposition of a State of Emergency in Anambra, noting that Governor Willie Obiano has shown that he cannot handle what is playing out in the state.
“With this kind of fear, you can’t have election in Anambra…South-East is now a war zone, the police is helpless,” the APC member lamented, adding that a “State of Emergency is not out of place”.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government might declare a State of Emergency in Anambra to ensure that the November 6 governorship election in the state takes place.
But after a meeting with the President on Thursday, Obiano said Malami was on his own, adding that Buhari was not in support of an emergency rule in the state.
According to Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, a state of emergency is a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures in order to regain control.
A declared state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety.
The insecurity in Anambra worsened a few weeks ago with a declaration by IPOB that the November 6 governorship poll in the state would not hold.

08/10/2021

2023: Southern Govs’ Intimidation Won’t Make North Cede Power — Jaji
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Aminu Sani Jaji, has described the position of the Southern Governors’ Forum on zoning as untenable, saying the North will not be intimidated by anyone to cede power to the South in 2023.
Jaji, the immediate past chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Security and Intelligence, in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, said all the talks about fiscal federalism and collection of Value Added Tax, VAT by states are part of the grand scheme by southern governors to wrestle power from the North.
According to him, the idea of zoning is killing Nigeria’s democracy, and most advocates of zoning are only being sentimental.
His words: “When a group of people sat down and talk about zoning, it is about sentiments.
In politics, you don’t zone everything but because we are not yet mature and advanced, the issue of zoning is coming up. I think the issue of zoning always comes up because we want to remain as one.
“The political diversity we have today was because of regional politics we have been playing all the time since 1999 till date.
“Why I am saying regional leadership is because if our president comes from the North, it is believed that people from that place will benefit more from his leadership. That is why people are respecting the issue of zoning.
“On this issue of zoning, for now, that we have to allow it to happen is not the best. It is only killing our democracy.
“Because you cannot say you want somebody from the South or North to be president even to the detriment of other Nigerians. It is not possible. We are still learning but in a hard way.
“Let whoever is going to emerge as president in 2023 be on people’s mandate and not on zoning arrangements.”
Jaji also advised the APC to jettison the idea of zoning and throw its presidential contest open.
“That is the right thing to do, honestly. Whoever wants to contest let him contest. Because if you take Zamfara for example, the reason the governor said he wants to zone the ticket to central is that he has sentiments.
“Anybody who says he wants to zone presidency is because of sentiments and not interest of the followers. Because interest is allowed in politics and sentiments is a cancer in our politics.
“How many people sat on the table for agreement? Are they up to a million? The answer is no.
“Maybe they are not up to 10. So how can one million people sit and take a decision for more than 200 million people? Can that be possible? And we are saying we are in a democracy?
“It is not possible. But what I am saying is that the idea of zoning or power shift to the south, as I have kept on saying, can only be achieved in the name of national unity but not intimidation.
“If you say you want to intimidate somebody from the north, that you want to do this, it will not happen,” he stated.
VAT debate
According to him, the debate on the issue of collection of Value Added Tax VAT by states as being championed by Southern Governors is designed to for e the North to concede the presidency in 2023.
He said; “The reason that this zoning cannot work today is that what the southern governors are trying to do on the issue of VAT is to frustrate everybody from the north.
“Because what brought about this issue of VAT was embezzlement from the coffers that you and I have together. But somebody is claiming let us get this because you cannot get it from infrastructure.
“Who brought that infrastructure to your state? Who made it possible? It is not my money or your money.
“It is government money. That is the reason why I said earlier when the southern governors came together and said that we have agreed that power must go to the south. How can it be possible? There are PDP and APC, governors.”
Jaji added that the North is not afraid of the VAT agitations by the South, explaining that the North is only concerned about national unity.
“It is not that the North is afraid of VAT. The reason is because we said we are one. Why are they trying to remove themselves from the pot that we are eating together? So we are only jittery of the unity not because of what we are going to lose.
“We are not going to lose anything. If the VAT is controlled by some state governors, there is nothing we will suffer.
“The other arrangement if they come on board, they will see that the governors who said they want VAT will cry more than what you think.
“We are making plans on behalf of the North and if not because of the unity of the country, we are 100% ready to say let them have the VAT and you will see what is going to happen and our plans will 101% supersede their own arrangement. But because we believe in one Nigeria, if we are okay, what of the unborn children?
“So, we have to think of one Nigeria because it is important. Not VAT, or anything but one Nigeria.
“That is the reason you will see some of the governors from the North are making this noise about the VAT not because of anything.
“All the 19 governors will not yield that result. If you go to Nasarawa what you can do there does not require much investment. You do it and see results. It will spring up easily. We will all enjoy it.
“There are so many things and all we need to do is to continue to be one nation.
“Even the issue of fiscal federalism that people are talking about, all this is because of 2023. They are all saying this because of 2023. They feel the only way they can get it right or get the ticket or mandate is through intimidation.
“It will not work. You can only win somebody’s heart by being polite and friendly. But so long as you continue to pursue somebody with all sorts of intimidation and what have you, nobody will take it.
“Politics is a game of numbers. There is no way you can take away that word from politics. Look at how the previous people, Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Abiola, and others.
“The issues are all centred around 2023. After 2023, there will be Nigeria. There will be politics again.
“There is 2027 and beyond. We have to think of something that can work beyond 2023,” he added.

08/10/2021

UK Medication: Gbajabiamila, Govs, Others Spend Millions To Visit Tinubu
No fewer than 58 top politicians and political office holders in the country have spent millions of naira to visit the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in London, United Kingdom (UK), Daily Trust reports.
Tinubu, an influential member of the ruling party has been in London for medical attention in the last three months. Allies of the former Lagos State governor said he had undergone knee surgery and he is currently undertaking physiotherapy.
Since August 12, when President Muhammadu Buhari visited him at Duchess Mews, Portland Place, Central London home, his political godsons, admirers and supporters have turned the residence into a Mecca of a sort. Buhari was in the United Kingdom like Tinubu for medical attention.
Tinubu is one of the top shots of the APC said to be eyeing the presidency. There have been controversies over the reported pact between him and President Buhari on the 2023 presidency.
Governors who have so far visited include Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Umar Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), who was in the United Kingdom for his son’s graduation.
Ganduje, his son, Muhammad; two lawmakers- Kabiru Alhassan Rurum and Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi visited Tinubu.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila was also there. Traditionally, the speaker travels with some of his aides.
The Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa and Rep. James Faleke (APC, Ikeja) were also there.
After Sanwo-Olu’s visit, a delegation of Lagos State government, comprising the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde; Deputy Chief of Staff, Gboyega Soyannwo and Special Adviser on Education, Tokunbo Wahab was also there.
Others who have visited London to see the Asiwaju include Senators Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East); Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central); Adeola Solomon (Lagos Central), Adelere Oriolowo (Osun West) and Mohammed Sani (Niger East). Former APC National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), Adekunle Akanbi, National President of ALGON, Kolade Alabi and Lagos State secretary of the association, Rasaq Ajala.
The Isolo LCDA Chairman in Lagos, Otunba Adebayo Olasoju, Lagos lawmakers – Temitope Adewale (Ifako-Ijaiye 1); Nureni Akinsanya (Mushin 1); Sylvester Ogunkelu (Epe 2); a delegation of the Governors’ Advisory Council (GAC) comprising Senator Anthony Adefuye, Mr Wale Edun and Mrs Idiat Adebule, a former deputy governor, had also visited him.
Also in London for Tinubu were four former governors, Senator Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Senator Kashim Shettima (Borno). Senator Abu Ibrahim and Hon Usman Zanna were also there.
The latest visitors to him were members of the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives led by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase.
The entourage was made up of 20 lawmakers including the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata; Chairman, House Committee on the Army, Abdulrazak Namdas; Blessing Onuh (APC, Benue), daughter of former President of the Senate, David Mark; Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), Abubakar Lado Suleja (APC, Niger) and 13 others.

N265m spent on trips – Estimate

Minus President Buhari, Ganduje and three others who were in the United Kingdom for personal reasons, 53 persons were in London for the former Lagos State governor.
With the increasing prices of tickets, at least each visitor would have spent between N4m and N5m on First Class or Business Class return tickets to the UK, based on our findings from travel agents.
This put the money spent by those who visited Tinubu at N265m for the 53 politicians.
This is in addition to other expenses on hotel accommodation in London, feeding, among others. An average room in a hotel per night costs between 150 and 200 pounds (N90, 000 and N120, 000), according to information obtained from some travel and leisure companies.
A British Airways non-stop return first-class ticket from Nigeria to London costs between $7000 (N4m at the rate of N570 to a dollar) and $10000 (N5.7m).
A Business Class ticket on the other hand costs between $4000 and $6000 depending on the time the booking was done.
They spent public funds on trips – CSOs
While Tinubu is currently not holding any political office as he remains a private citizen, tongues have been wagging over the alleged deployment of taxpayers’ money by politicians to visit him.
A public affairs analyst, Comrade Toyin Raheem, said while there was nothing wrong in paying a visit to someone who is indisposed, the majority of those visiting must have spent public funds to embark on the visit.
Raheem, who is the Chairman of the Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), said the money could have been better spent on providing basic amenities that would benefit the masses.
He said, “In African culture, there is nothing wrong in visiting somebody that is sick but it shouldn’t be at the expense of the masses. Now, the majority of these people going to visit Tinubu used public funds. The money they spend does not belong to them.
“Has that now become part of their projects? There are a lot of things that need to be attended to. There are a lot of infrastructures that are crying for attention, yet many of them diverted money meant for the people to go and visit their leader. Nobody says they should not go and visit their leaders but it should be from their pocket, it shouldn’t be money that belongs to all of us as a people. It is wrong,” he said.
Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), said that those engaged in the trip to visit Tinubu in London and spending states resources would probably claim they are not using state resources.
“But it is also a pointer to the nature of the politics of our ruling class. How members of that class are beholden to a few people at every moment.
“For me, the bigger issue is the fact that public officers who have the opportunity to make a difference do not see the importance of fixing the country’s health system,” Onumah said.
On his part, Malam Hamza B. Lawal, the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE) and founder of the ‘Follow the Money’, said that by discussing whether or not politicians are using state resources to visit Tinubu, is dwelling on issues that should be of no importance in the national discourse.
He said, “There is no question that using taxpayers’ money for such trips is wrong, but what should concern us is the root cause of politicians acting with such impunity and if you ask me, it is lack of proper accountability.
“This is why we ‘Follow the Money’ so that it doesn’t enter private pockets or is misappropriated. Until we have solid institutions and systems where every naira and kobo used in public offices are accounted for, we are going to keep debating the moral justification or legal apparatus for government officials to use taxpayers’ money to visit their godfather abroad,” Lawal said.
No public fund spent on trips – Lagos gov, lawmakers
Reacting to the allegation that the trips were funded with public funds, the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Gboyega Akoshile, in a chat with Daily Trust, said those that who visited went on their own.
Contacted, one of the lawmakers who visited Tinubu, Abubakar Lado Suleja (APC, Niger), said each of the lawmakers spent around N1.2m.
“Everybody sponsored himself. We bought our tickets and booked for our hotels individually; nobody sponsored us. Haba! A lawmaker cannot travel to London and spend three or five days? We used our private monies,” he said yesterday.
Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker of the House, Muhammad Puma, debunked the allegation that his principal, Ahmed Idris Wase and other lawmakers spent public funds on their recent trip to London.
Puma, who described the allegation as laughable, maintained that federal lawmakers should be able to fund their trips.
“Can’t a lawmaker afford travelling to the UK? I don’t think this is an issue anybody should raise concerns about as far as I am concerned”, he said.
Ex-Lagos gov may return next week – Ally
An ally of Tinubu told one of our reporters that his friend is undergoing physiotherapy after knee surgery in London.
The associate, who does not want his name mentioned, said Tinubu may return to the country next week.
“He went through knee surgery and he is undergoing physiotherapy. He was walking with staff but now he is not walking with one. When President Buhari visited him, he was using it. During my visit recently, he was not. He walked for about seven minutes together with me,” he said.
Asked whether his friend’s presidential ambition is intact, he said, “I can’t say if he still has the ambition to contest for the presidency but I will prefer when he is fully healthy and that should be the determining factor. If he is healthy, he has the connection and political organisation that will help him to win the election. He told me he would be back next week as he can walk well now.”
According to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), it can take up to three months to recover completely from a knee surgical procedure. Patients can normally drive again after four to six weeks and return to work after six to eight weeks.