Today's Headlines: Wike Begins mobilization to throw Atiku, Tambuwual out of PDP;Umahi to review augmentation cost of federal road contracts

GLatestSeptember 8, 2023

4 minutes read

Wike Begins mobilization to throw Atiku, Tambuwual out of PDP

Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has renewed his onslaught against fellow members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal it’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

This time, around, Wike is calling on the party’s National Working Committee to suspend Atiku, erstwhile Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Senator Waziri Tambuwal among others from the party.

Wike made the call in an interview on a Channels Television political programme, Politis Today, on Thursday.

He also dismissed former PDP presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, as politically irrelevant noting that Momodu can’t win an election in his local government area.

The former Rivers State Governor also used the opportunity to commend the Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Court for a job well done.

According to him, the judgment which affirmed President Bola Tinubu victory was profound as it was based on sound judgment in terms of technicality and practicality.

In response to a question on the subject, Wike said, The will of the people is determined through the ballot box. How could PDP have won the election when you consider the mood of the nation at that time?

“Look at the areas that the PDP did not win because of high-handedness, because of greed because of greed because of impunity. If the PDP had done what they were supposed to do, then you could have talked about that.

“There should be equity, there should be justice, there should be fairness and that is why I am calling on the National Working Committee they should suspend the presidential candidate, suspend people like Aminu Tambuwal so that they can rebuild the party (PDP).”

Attempts to get an official response from the PDP leadership were futile. However, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “ Wike is desperate for attention, we will not indulge him, at the appropriate time he will hear from the party.”

Source : Vanguard

Umahi to review augmentation cost of federal road contracts

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says he will review the increase in the cost of federal road contracts across Nigeria.

Umahi made the declaration on Thursday while inspecting the Mkporo (Ebonyi)/Ohafia/Abiriba (Abia) federal roads, insisting that such a review was not a probe.

The minister said the move was to enable him to ascertain the need for such augmentations, to establish whether they were merited or not.

“I will therefore be meeting with regional directors in the ministry alongside my team of consultants.

“I want to effectively provide answers when a road that was awarded at N2 billion for instance, would presently be executed at N10 billion.

“I want to knowledgeably answer such questions to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, Press and the Public,” he said.

He noted that even when the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) has approved such augmentation, the knowledge for such increment was still necessary.

“I am not against augmentations but will bring down the costs when such augmentations are not necessary.

“The House of Representatives recently met me on why the Abuja/Kaduna/Zaria/Kano road awarded at N155 billion should now coast N655 billion.

“I partly know the reason for the increment but want to be fully aware to explain more technically to the House,” he said.

Source : Daily Post

Alleged witchcraft: Couple starves 5-year-old daughter on pastor’s directive

The Anambra State Government says it has apprehended a couple, who starved their five-year-old daughter over allegations of witchcraft.

Mrs Ify Obinabo, state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, told journalists that she confirmed the arrest on Thursday.

The victim’s mother, Mrs Blessing Wosu, who confessed to the crime, said she was obeying her pastor’s prophecy, which said that her five-year-old daughter was a witch and did not deserve to live.

“It is our pastor who gave us a prophecy that she is a witch and does not deserve to live. We were told that she is responsible for her father’s downfall in business.”

Source: Daily Post

Ogun pays 40 per cent peculiar allowance to workers

Ogun State government has commenced payment of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance to civil servants in the State, as part of measures to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.

Secretary to State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, who announced this in Abeokuta, the State capital, said the Dapo Abiodun-led government in the State remains committed to recognising and appreciating, the diligent efforts of the workers.

Talabi, noted that “the Peculiar Allowance was paid in fulfilment of the promises by Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to cushion the effect of the economic hardship”.

The State’s scribe explained that the purpose of the allowance was to boost the capacity of the workers for better productivity at the present time, adding that conversion of the government buses to Compressed Natural Gas by the government would be an added advantage to ease workers’ and residents’ mobility.

According to him, “the plan to make the payment is what was agreed on with labour unions to cushion the effect on fuel subsidy removal, apart from the payment is what was agreed on with labour unions to cushion the effect on fuel subsidy removal, apart from the payment of N10,000 to the workers in the State for three months. Peculiar Allowance is also being paid to every civil servant and it is going to be for a while until the new minimum wage is put in place’’.

Meanwhile, workers in the State have expressed delight over the payment of the allowance which has reflected in their salaries.

It would be recalled that the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun promised the labour leaders in the wake of fuel subsidy that his government would pay 40 percent of the basic salary tagged, Peculiar Allowance, and additional payment of N10,000 palliatives for three months which commenced in July, 2023.

Consequently, an announcement that it had taken delivery of 3,000 bags of grains from the federal government which would be distributed to all, as a committee has been set up to ensure even and adequate distribution.

Speaking, a staff of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Niyi Akinbobola, commended the strides of the government towards enhancing workers’ welfare in all ramifications, saying,’’ payment of the peculiar allowance is a pleasant surprise.

Also speaking, Mrs. Doyin Okulalu of the Bureau of Lands and Survey noted that the workers would always be grateful to the present administration for its magnanimity in alleting the hard time that workers might be going through as a result of the subsidy removal.

Source : Vanguard