Obi Reveals Next Action If INEC Refuses To Obey Court Order To Inspect Materials

 Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi has revealed the next step he will take if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), fails to grant the party permission to inspect the sensitive materials used in the conduct of the February 25, presidential elections, IGBERETV reports.

Obi had gone to court to challenge the outcome and the result announced by INEC which declared APC's presidential candidate winner of the election.

While he was being interviewed on Arise TV today, Obi was asked about his next steps, as it was reported that INEC had refused to provide the electoral collating materials to be analysed by Labour Party as ordered by the court. 

In his reply, the former Anambra governor stated that he will go through both the legal process, by telling the court that INEC was in contempt by not obeying the order given to them, and by a peaceful march protest to INEC’s building to request the collation materials.

He however encouraged Nigerians to remain calm, saying “We will go through all legal peaceful means to bring about a new Nigeria.”

Naira Scarcity: NLC Threatens Strike, Gives FG Seven-day Ultimatum

 The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to end the naira scarcity in the country.

The labour union threatened to go on strike if the issue was not resolved at the expiration of the ultimatum.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, gave the ultimatum on Monday in Abuja, at the opening session of the Central Working Committee meeting of the labour union.

Ajaero, who frowned at the hardship being faced by Nigerians following the naira redesign policy of the Federal Government, warned that on the expiration of the seven days, workers would be directed to stay away from work if nothing was done to ameliorate the situation.

Ajaero also condemned the fuel scarcity in the country, lamenting that workers and Nigerians were being pushed to the wall.

“On this issue of fuel scarcity and cash crunch, the Congress wishes to inform the Federal Government that we will no longer keep quiet.

“The NLC is giving the Central Bank of Nigeria and the FG seven working days, if they fail to do the needful at the expiration of the seven days, all workers in Nigeria should stay at home,” Ajaero said before the meeting went into a closed-door session.

Obi Rejects Insinuations His Loss Is Divine

 Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has said the problem of Nigeria is accepting what is wrong and unacceptable as God’s wish for the country.

Obi said this on Monday, while featuring on ARISE Television’s Morning Show.

He was reacting to the position of some Nigerians that the outcome of this year’s presidential election, should be seen and accepted as the wish of God.

But Obi said God does not wish bad things for people and that this is what the Obidient Movement is trying to change.

“The problem of Nigeria is accepting what is unacceptable. That’s not God’s wish. God’s wish is when you do the right thing. Is it God’s wish that we remain poor as a country despite his abundant blessings on us?” Obi said.

On the possible partnership with the PDP, Obi said that there is nothing like that but that they are challenging a process that is wrong created by INEC to serve a particular purpose.

The former Anambra State governor said that Nigeria has remained decadent in a continuous state of moral decline
because many citizens keep accepting what is wrong and dragging God into it.

He, however, said the Obidient Movement is in the system to change it and create a new egalitarian society.

He said, “It is a saddening fact that after 63 years as a nation, Nigeria is yet unable to conduct a good election. The February 25 presidential election is the worst in Nigeria’s history considering that the Electoral Law of 2022 was enacted to ensure free, fair and credible elections.”

Obi said while he is pursuing his mandate through legal and peaceful means, it is disheartening that rule of law is being treated with levity by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is a public institution maintained by taxpayer’s money.

He said what he is challenging is the process and he does not hope to back out until the right thing is done because doing and accepting the wrong thing is what has kept the nation down.

On some insinuations on him from some aides speaking for their principals, Obi said since they were not on the ballot he would prefer to speak when those he contested with speak, but that the 97 percent votes he got in Anambra State should not disturb anybody because he was expecting 100 percent votes as the people know him and believe in him.

He also said that he has been truthful to the people, same for the South East and other states where he received the lion’s share of the votes cast because they believe and trust in him.

“They forgot that I got over 95 percent in Anambra State in 2019 when I was a running mate, in 2023 I was the main candidate, I am even surprised that I did not get 100 percent,” he said.

On the claim that he took away PDP votes and helped the APC’s Ahmed Bola Tinubu to win, Obi said he was not contesting to help anybody but to win and that by records, Nigerians made that happen despite the abracadabra by the INEC.

Obi also reiterated his support for LP governorship candidates in Enugu, Abia, Lagos, and Plateau states among others 100 percent, and directs his supporters to vote for them.

On the ethnic tension in Lagos State over his victory on the February 25 poll ahead of the March 18 governorship election, Obi said it is not ethnic but some mischievous persons trying to create such an impression, saying that many non-Igbos and Yorubas who share the aspiration for new Nigeria voted for him.

He said, “Even if Igbos voted for me, this is not the first time they are voting for people, they had voted massively like this for Olusegun Obasanjo even when he lost an election in his region and they also gave Jonathan more votes than South-South states and all these brouhahas did not happen.”

Lagos Guber: You Want One Nigeria, Yet You Want Igbos To Leave Lagos - Aloy

 Aloy Ejimakor, a Nigerian lawyer has condemned the hostility meted out to Igbos in Lagos by other Nigerians who claim they want a united Nigeria, IGBERETV reports.

Ejimakor wrote on his Twitter handle;

"Obama, a Kenyan became US President; Kenyans didn’t takeover US. Sunak, an Indian is UK PM; Indians didn’t takeover UK. But if Gbadebo, a Yoruba wins Lagos guber, Igbos will takeover Lagos because he’s married to an Igbo. So, you want Igbos to leave Lagos.

One Nigeria, ahoy!"

Have No Preferred Candidates For Senate Presidency - Tinubu

 The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has revealed that he has no preferred candidates for the leadership of both chambers who will constitute the 10th National Assembly.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President-Elect, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this at the meeting with new members-elect to the National Assembly.

A member-elect for Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Abdulmalik Bungudu, revealed this to our correspondent shortly after the meeting.

Bungudu, who spoke in the Hausa language, revealed that Tinubu told attendees that he had no preferred candidates for any of the principal offices of the 10th NASS.

According to him, “For now, he (Tinubu) said he doesn’t have anybody that he prefers to have as Senate President or Speaker, but consultations are going to continue to get the way out for the party and to also ensure the party emerges victorious in the forthcoming governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.”

CBN Says Old ₦200, ₦500, ₦1,000 Notes Remain Legal Tender

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday said old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes remain legal tender Till December 31, 2023.

The apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin stated this in a statement on Monday.

“In compliance with the established tradition of obedience to court orders and sustenance of the Rule of Law Principle that characterized the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as a regulator, Deposit Money Banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling of March 3, 2023.

“Accordingly, the CBN met with the Bankers’ Committee and has directed that the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes remain legal tender alongside the redesigned banknotes till December 31, 2023.

“Consequently, all concerned are directed to conform accordingly.”

The highest court of the land had on March 3 ordered that old N200, N500, and N1000 notes remain valid till December 31, 2023. This was after 16 states of the Federation instituted a suit to challenge the legality or otherwise of the introduction of the policy.

Nigerian Economy “Loses N20 Trillion” As 70% Of Cash Sucked Away From Economy

 The Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has said the Nigerian economy has lost N20 trillion as 70% of cash has been sucked away from the economy.

The Center also said that the protracted, acute cash scarcity being experienced in the country has not only crippled economic activities in the country but is now a major risk to the livelihoods of most Nigerians.  

Yusuf observed that retail transactions across sectors have become nerve-wracking and distressing as payment system challenges persist. He said since the onset of the cash crisis, the Nigerian economy has lost an estimated N20 trillion. 

These losses arose from the deceleration of economic activities, the crippling of trading activities, the stifling of the informal economy, the contraction in the agricultural sector, and the paralysis of the rural economy. There are also corresponding job losses in hundreds of thousands. 

The CPPE said millions of citizens have slipped into penury and destitution as a result of the disruptions and tribulations perpetrated by the currency redesign policy, especially the mopping up of over 70% of cash in the economy. It said Nigerians have not been this traumatized in recent history.  

In a press release by its chief executive, Dr. Muda Yusuf, the Center said the economy is gradually grinding to a halt because of the collapse of payment systems across all platforms.  

•“Digital platforms are performing sub-optimally because of congestion; physical cash is unavailable because the CBN has sucked away over 70% of cash in the economy; and the expected relief from the Supreme Court judgment has not materialized. The citizens are consequently left in a quandary,” he said. 

He stated that the commercial banks claim that the CBN has not officially communicated the Supreme Court’s judgment to them for any actions; the President has maintained a worrying muteness on the judgment; the market women and men are waiting to hear from President Buhari or the CBN governor on the legal tender status of old currency notes.

•“Curiously, there is an apparent reluctance or unwillingness by the federal government and the CBN to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement. This is very disturbing and inexplicable,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to groan in the adversity inflicted by the acute cash shortage amid the rejection of old currency notes by market operators, refusal by banks to accept the old notes, silence by the presidency on the supreme court judgment; and absence of official pronouncement by the CBN on the issue.

•“Evidently, President Buhari did not seem to appreciate the gravity and enormity of the suffering and pain that Nigerians have been experiencing since the onset of the currency redesign policy. We again plead with the President to immediately intervene to put an end to the devastating and traumatic outcomes of a repressive, poorly conceptualized, and badly implemented currency redesign policy. We request the following immediate actions”

•“The CBN should be directed to immediately inform the Nigerian public that the old currency notes [alongside the new notes] remain legal tender until the 31st of December 2023, in line with the Supreme Court judgment.”

•“The CBN should be directed to officially communicate the outcome of the Supreme Court’s judgment to the banks and affirm compliance with the judgment.”

•“The president should publicly empathize with Nigerians on the unwarranted and inexcusable pain and suffering that the currency redesign policy has wreaked on them.