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Peter Obi condemned the government plan to buy New presidential jet describing it as being extremely insensitive to the struggles of average Nigerians at this unprecedented economic crisis in Nigeria

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At a time when our country is trending on the global media for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government’s plan to buy new presidential jets demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.

With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect between the government and the people. It is unacceptable and demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing citizens’ welfare.

It’s on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford basic necessities. Now, as our country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, our citizens are in even greater need.

Instead of adding to our luxuries, we should be focused on alleviating their suffering and finding solutions to their problems. For long, our bad leadership has made our priorities, as leaders, to be at variance to the needs of society, which is why we are headed now south, as a nation.

To elucidate further, despite dropping down to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $252 billion and a per capita income of $1,080, with huge debt burdens and borrowing to service debts, yet, we are spending $15 million for our Vice President’s residence, while the USA, the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $25 trillion, about 100 times our GDP, and a per capita income of $80,000, about 80 times ours, still houses their Vice President in Number 1 Observatory Circle, a house built over 100 years ago, and whose value is obviously less than the $15 million we are spending on our VP’s residence.

A reputable real estate company, actually, reports that the US Vice President’s Official Residence is valued at about $7.5 million today.

While we had earlier refurbished the old VP residence with $2 million, the over 100 years old US Vice President’s house has only undergone wide scale renovations twice, funded by tax payers money; in 1993 and in 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his personal funds.

It’s, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty.

Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few. Let’s rise to the challenge, and build this new Nigeria which is now more possible than ever before. -PO

Politics

Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party

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Kenneth Okonkwo
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By Henry Oduah

Actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his resignation from the Labour Party effective February 25, 2025.

Okonkwo said on Tuesday in a lengthy post on X that his decision to resign from the party was because the party is “non-existent as presently constituted.”

He wrote, “In the Constitution of Labour Party, the tenure of the ward, local government, and state party executives is three years (See Article 15(2)(3)(4) of the Labour Party Constitution). Having conducted no congresses at these levels within the constitutionally allowed tenure of the executives, their regimes have effectively expired.

“The former National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, and his former National Working Committee, having conducted no national convention known to law, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the courts having held that the issue of the leadership of a political party is the internal affair of a political party for which the courts do not have the jurisdiction to entertain, there’s no effective leadership of Labour Party at the national level.

“The Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which was duly and legally set up by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party, after the non-recognition of Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) by INEC, and was given six months to conduct congresses and the convention, was the only viable option towards salvaging the Labour Party.

“Unfortunately, Abure and his colleagues, with the collaboration of outside forces, expectedly, being political jobbers, launched unnecessary legal challenges against this Caretaker Committee that have inhibited it from functioning.”

Okonkwo, also a lawyer, said that if Abure was interested in the emergence of a southern candidate in Labour Party to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, he would cede the position of national chairman to the north.

“Since the party is non-existent as presently constituted, I am constrained to resign my membership of the party to all Nigerians of goodwill who supported us when we needed them most and to pledge my continued loyalty to the Nigerian people in all I will decide to do in my political future,” Okonkwo added.

“This resignation takes effect from the 25th of February, 2025, which marks the second anniversary of the presidential election of 2023, after which I will be at liberty to join other well meaning, and like minded Nigerians in charting a great future of good governance for this great country blessed by God.”

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Kogi Assembly Speaker declares Dekina/Okura State Constituency seat vacant

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The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Aliyu Umar Yusuf, has declared vacant the seat for Dekina/Okura State Constituency in the current eight Assembly.

This is sequel to the death of the Deputy Speaker and member representing Dekina/Okura State Constituency, Enema Paul.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Enema Paul, who died on 14 December 2024 at a private hospital in Abuja, had since been buried according to Christian rite.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Yusuf noted that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives him the power to declare the seat vacant following the demise of the former Deputy Speaker.

“By the power conferred on me as the Speaker of the eight Assembly, I hereby declare the seat for Dekina/Okura State Constituency vacant so that the people can have a representation in this hallow chamber,” he stated.

The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the development to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, so that a bye-election can be conducted for Dekina/Okura State Constituency.

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PDP federal lawmaker defects to APC

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A member of the House of Representatives, Amos Gwamna Magaji, has left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Magaji, who represents Java/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, cited internal conflicts within the PDP as his reason for switching parties.

Magaji, a two-term lawmaker, serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Health Care Services and leads the Kaduna caucus in the House.

He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Restructuring Government Agencies, which is reviewing the Stephen Oronsaye report.

Amos Gwamna Magaji

Over the years, he has been involved in committees handling defense, police affairs, constitution review, and other key legislative matters.

This marks the third defection of a PDP member to the APC since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, following Chris Nkwonta and Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu.

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