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It’s an injustice to blame Tinubu over economic hardship – Sanusi

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By Francesca Hangeior

Former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mohammed Sanusi, has said it is an injustice to blame the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the current economic hardship the country is facing.

Sanusi said the country is battling a failing economy due to mismanaged economic policies of the past eight years.

He stated this while speaking virtually on Sunday at a religious event in Abuja.

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He said he would not join those who are bent on criticising Tinubu over the current economic challenges in the country.

Sanusi said, “I have been, over the years, talking about the pending crisis ahead of the current economic hardship. Any economist who has studied monetary policy in the last eight years knows that Nigerians will fall into this difficult situation.

“The difficult situation Nigerians are facing is just the beginning (if the right decision is not put in place) because Nigeria is not exceptional; such situations happened in Germany, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Venezuela.

“The previous administration turned adamant about our appeal for corrective measures (on the economic policy). I have said in the presence of the now sitting president in Kaduna state, any politician who tells you that things will be easy, don’t vote for him because he is lying. People merely dismissed my advisory as a political statement.

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“If I am to be fair and just to President Bola Tinubu, he is not to blame for the current hardship; for eight years, we were living a fake lifestyle with huge debt from foreign and domestic debts. The Central Bank of Nigeria owes over N30 trillion, which resulted in debt service surpassing 100 percent.

“I can’t join other Nigerians criticising Tinubu on the current economic hardship, and I am not saying he is a saint free from wrongdoing, but in this current economic situation, President Tinubu is not to be blamed. I will also speak if I see any wrong economic policy of the Tinubu administration in the future, Stated.

He added that Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy should be applauded.

He said, “It’s injustice for anyone to blame the Tinubu administration for the current economic hardship because there is no other alternative than the removal of the fuel subsidy. After all, Nigeria cannot even afford to pay the subsidy. In the last eight years, the Central Bank continued to print more money, and the naira continued to depreciate. There is too much naira in circulation because the CBN is printing the currency without restraint.

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“The economy was poorly managed, and they are not willing to take advice; in the last eight years, apart from sycophancy, nothing has been done; those sycophants are those buying the dollar at the rate of N400 and selling it at the rate of N600 to N700.

“A boy who has no record of service has a private jet and owns houses in Dubai and England just because he is buying dollars at so a rate and selling them.

“I can only plead with the people to endure the hardship, and those who have the means to help the downtrodden should do so.

“I am also pleading with commoners to live according to their earnings; we must not peg our lives above our earnings in this difficult situation where people are looking for what to eat.”

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During his inaugural speech in 2023 after the general elections, Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy.

He stated that the country could no longer maintain it, noting that the trillions of naira yearly spent to sustain the subsidy were meant to better the healthcare and transportation sector, schools, housing, and national security, among others.

However, following the removal, Nigerians had been thrown into hardship from the soaring cost of food to increased drug prices.

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China Reaffirms One-China Principle, Commend Support From Nigeria

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…caution against engaging Taiwan’s unofficial representative office in Lagos
 
By Gloria Ikibah 
 
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has strongly reaffirmed China’s long-standing stance on the Taiwan issue, urging media professionals and the general public in Nigeria to continue supporting the One-China Principle as a matter of international law and diplomatic integrity.
 
Speaking during an interactive session, Ambassador Yu offered a detailed historical context behind the Taiwan question, tracing it back to the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki when Taiwan was ceded to Japan after China’s defeat. 
 
He emphasised that Taiwan was returned to China in 1945 following Japan’s defeat in World War II, citing two major international treaties. 
 
He said: “Which is not an equal agreement because China was defeated. So, according to the agreement, Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895. So that’s why, if you go to Taiwan, many people speak Chinese, even nowadays.
 
“Taiwan was returned to China in 1945, after the Second World War, because Japan was defeated. There are two international treaties. The first one is the Post-Taiwan Declaration. The second one is the Post-Taiwan Proclamation. According to those two international declarations, Japan should, under no condition, return Taiwan, and its adjacent islands, including Penghu and Jinmen and other islands, back to China. So it’s specified in international laws”.
 
The Chinese envoy also referenced the 1971 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognised the People’s Republic of China as the only legal representative of China in the UN. 
 
Yu praised Nigeria for its consistent and clear support of the One-China Principle.
 
“The UNGA took the Resolution 2758, which got the support of African countries, and that restored China’s seat in the UN, and expelled the Kuomintang from the UN, Taiwan from the UN. And recognized that Taiwan is part of China.
 
 “For Nigeria, Nigeria has followed, has abided by the One-China Principle very strictly. There is no ambiguity, no other room, there is no other interpretation. So we appreciate that,” he added.
 
He further noted the joint statement issued by President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, reaffirming Nigeria’s support for China’s reunification efforts. 
 
“When it comes to the Taiwan issue, you know, he said that Nigeria recognizes Taiwan, there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is part of China. The People’s Republic of China is the sole legal representative of China. And it also adds that the Nigerian government opposes any form of Taiwan independence. And the Nigerian government supports all the efforts of the Chinese government to achieve its reunification.”
 
 
He stressed that the Taiwan issue is 
“the core interest of China” and called for caution in how the issue is handled by Nigerian media and institutions. 
 
“It’s a red line. I would ask all of you, number one, you know, to follow this One-China Principle, as the government has done. That means that you will be very careful when it comes to the Taiwan issue. For instance, how do you use the name? You will see that Taiwan-China, or Taiwan-Province-China, or Taiwan-Region. It’s all fine. But not, you know, see Taiwan as a country.”
 
Ambassador Yu also warned against engaging with Taiwan’s unofficial representative office in Lagos. 
 
“Because there is still a three-representative office in Lagos, which was actually moved out from Abuja to Lagos. But still, the representative there is trying to make troubles. From time to time, you know, he tried to advocate the separation of Taiwan and Taiwan independence. So that’s why I would ask all of you to be very careful not to engage in any, how to say, activity with the government. Because he will try to use particular media as a platform to expand his, you know, ideas”, he warned.
 
This statement from the Chinese envoy comes as Nigeria and China continue to deepen bilateral ties under the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
 
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Senator Natasha on FB listed 3 politicians that should be arrested if anything happens to her

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The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken to her verified Facebook page to raise a serious alarm, alleging that her life is in danger following a reported attack on her family house in Kogi State.

In the strongly worded post, the Kogi-born lawmaker fingered some high-ranking political figures in Nigeria, declaring that should anything happen to her, the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and the current state Governor, Usman Ododo, should be held accountable.

“Nigeria Police, I reiterate, should any harm befall me, Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ex Gov. Yahaya Bello & Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi state should be held responsible,” she posted.

Her statement comes, hours after her family home in Kogi was attacked, although details surrounding the incident remain sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that this is not the first time the Kogi senator is making such allegations against the trio. She made the same statement few weeks ago during her homecoming to Kogi State where she accused the senate president, Akpabio and Yahaya Bello for plotting evil against her.

Senator Natasha has been a vocal political figure and critic of the ruling establishment in Kogi, and this latest development adds to the growing tension in the state and national political landscape.

Authorities are yet to issue an official response to her recent allegations.

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Emergency Rule: We should be thankful to President Tinubu -Wike

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, saying he wanted the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the oil-rich state.

In a move that has continued to divide opinions, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly following months of political crisis in Rivers State.

But Wike said the president’s move saved Rivers from implosion, arguing that the decision to appoint a sole administrator following Fubara’s suspension was a step in the right direction.

The former Rivers governor said this on Friday in Abuja during a media parley with select journalists.

“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.” Wike said.

However, people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.

“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”

In February, the Supreme Court waded into the months-long political crisis in Rivers State, asking the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the state’s House of Assembly to resume sitting.

The apex court also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop releasing funds to the Rivers State government over what it labelled as disregard for court orders. It dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker and asked the governor to re-present the budget to the lawmakers.

After weeks of back and forth between Amaewhule and the lawmakers over the budget re-presentation and moves to impeach Fubara, President Tinubu stepped in.

He suspended Fubara and his deputy and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, citing security reasons. Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator, a step Wike said saved Rivers.

“Mr president came in and saved the situation, saved Rivers people from that calamity and anarchy,” the FCT minister argued.

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