News

Cabinet Reshuffle: Party members unhappy over Tinubu’s refusal to sack Eko boys

Published

4 months ago

October 26, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The recent cabinet reshuffle carried out by President Bola Tinubu had been condemned by some stalwarts of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), while lamenting that those who should have been shown the way out were left in the saddle.

Some party loyalists who spoke with Saturday Telegraph and who were visibly angry argued that Tinubu should have sacked some of his so-called ‘Lagos Boys’, whom they see as bench warmers and hangers on.

One of the party loyalists, who happened to be a state official in one of the South West states, explained that it would have been a good step, if the President had started the cabinet cleansing with his own boys.

“He is pampering his so-called Lagos boys with kid gloves. What exactly are the achievements of the managers of the economy? They have made the economy worse than they met it. Why is he keeping his cousin, Oyetola? Has Oyetola performed better than Tahir?

Another source, who, a few years ago, was an executive official in another South West state, argued that Tinubu is only using his personality to shield his own loyalists. The source even went further to say that some of the Lagos Boys are not card-carrying members of the party.

“If we want to be sincere, none of his boys are spectacular. Dele Alake has not shown any special indication that he is brilliantly performing. If you want to break it down, they are not even members of our party.

“Where did they register as members of the party? Let them show us their cards and their wards. The one in FCCPC, Tunji Bello, has not highlighted one important policy that could be applauded; yet, they are all left untouched while Uju and Tahir were booted out like sacrificial lambs.

Afenifere fumes

IN his opinion, the National Publicity of Afenifere, Gboyega Adejumo, said the notion that the President is pampering his Lagos Boys speaks for itself.

“Do I have to make an input? Does anyone have to make an input? In the actions and deeds of Mr. President, his Lagos Boys are the greatest beneficiaries of his government.

Let me make a caveat; If they are competent and have the capacity and they are dedicated and they have all it takes, naturally, I don’t have issues with that.

“I have a problem with not updating your knowledge but the problem is what have these people done since they left their workplaces? Mr. President needs to know what other capacity they have acquired and how they have even updated their knowledge base for them to fit into higher offices. This is my grouse.

“So far, nothing has convinced me that the people managing the economy who are those you call the Lagos Boys are the very best that can be thrown into the situation that we have found ourselves in. Sincerely, I am yet to be convinced that they can deliver the goods.

Nothing will change -Galadima

A chieftain of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Engr. Buba Galadima also carpeted the exercise, saying the move will achieve nothing in terms of turning the fortunes of the country around if he wants to.

Speaking in a telephone chat with Saturday Telegraph yesterday, Galadima expressed no worries over the cabinet reshuffle.

He said: “Anyone working for the President is an employee of the President. Anybody working for the governor is an employee of the governor. In the same token, anybody working for the council chairman is an employee of the council chairman.

“I don’t bother myself with what has happened because, as far as I am concerned, what has happened will not change anything. What have these people been doing? If the president wants Nigeria to work, it will, but if he doesn’t want, no amount of white washing can make it look bright.

“I’m indifferent and every Nigerian should be indifferent. If the president likes, he can even go ahead to appoint his children into positions of government. That is his prerogative,” he said.

Falls short of expectations -APC ChieftainAnother chieftain of the APC also slammed Tinubu on his ministerial reshuffling, stating that it would have no impact. The Abuja based chieftain said Nigerians were expecting the reshuffling in the areas of economy, security and Petroleum which they are suffering from.

According to him, there is nothing negative to Nigerians in Women Affairs, Niger Delta Youth Development, etc that the President concentrated on.

“The President just took Nigerians on a wide goose chase journey in rejigging the cabinet, he didn’t touch economy and he didn’t touch Defence. These are the problems we have.

“There were no changes there. So, what was the essence of rejigging? The essence of the cabinet reshuffling was to help correct economic and security issues.

“So, what was the noise of rejigging the cabinet when the people handling the economy and security are still there? Is it regional planning and Niger Delta that are the problems of the government?

The problems of the government are economy and security. Finance, he didn’t touch; economic issues he didn’t touch. In the petroleum sector there is a problem. So who is he fooling and why did he go that route to say he was rejigging the cabinet.

President in order, says NWC member

However, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that the party has no ill feeling over the cabinet reshuffle

According to the member who sought for anonymity, the appointments and reshuffling of the Ministers are the prerogative of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He however dismissed the belief that the Presidency was not working with the members of the APC NWC.

He said that they only heard of cabinet reshuffling in their meeting and nobody expressed ill-feeling over it in the meeting. The NWC member also dismissed the insinuation that the Presidency was not working in consonance with the party leadership and that there were members of NWC to be sacked.

According to him, people should stop creating news where there is none. Asked how the NWC felt about the reshuffling of the Federal Executive and the alleged disappointment of the party leadership that the Ministers from Lagos State were not touched.

The NWC member said: “Let me tell you, that is the statement of some person’s imagination. In fact, there was no discussion in respect to ministerial appointment or rescheduling, except there are individuals that have their own opinions.

“There was no discussion on that. It is the prerogative of the President to determine whoever is going to work with him to achieve the economic and infrastructural developmental gains of democratic system that he is heading.

“So, we cannot decide for him. Individuals might have their ambitions including some of the NWC members or other party chieftains. Anybody generalizing it is just trying to state what was not discussed.

News

NSCDC, Tantita intensify joint efforts to combat oil theft in Niger Delta

Published

5 hours ago

February 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) have intensified their joint efforts to eliminate economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda set forth by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

As part of his inspection of NSCDC operations in the area, Commandant-General Dr. Abubakar Audi led a group of senior officers to meet with Chief Kestin Pondi, Managing Director of TSSL, and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, commonly referred to as Tompolo, in Warri and Oporoza, Delta State.

Audi and his team also toured the operational facilities of NSCDC operatives working with Tantita in far-flung creeks of the Niger Delta and other formations to assess their activities and encourage the frontline security agents.

The Commandant-General while paying a courtesy visit to Pondi said his operational tour of the Niger Delta was to enable him get first hand information of his men on ground and strengthen the relationship between the corps and Tantita.

Audi said the NSCDC would celebrate the gallantry of his men on March 1st adding that the occasion would recognise fallen heroes of the corps and empower the families of deceased officers.

He said: “We place high premium on the welfare of our staff that is why every March 1st we recognise our personnel who died on active duty by assisting their families through payment of life insurance benefits and other empowerment schemes.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Tantita Security Services Ltd, Mr Kestin Pondi, heaped praises on President Ahmed Tinubu for providing the enabling environment to fight oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

He assured of closer collaboration with security forces including the NSCDC in the ongoing efforts to tackle pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

Pondi said without the collaborative efforts of the NSCDC and other security agencies, the success record would have been impossible.

He said prior to Tantita’s involvement in combating oil theft, production levels hovered around 800,000 barrels per day, adding that the increased production was because of the collaboration with NSCDC.

He said: “The success recorded in the recent past is not without the collaborative efforts of NSCDC. At the moment we have over 450 personnel in our organisation who have been providing collaborative services to our personnel.

“It is worthy of note that as at the time we came on board, the nation was producing between 600000 – 800000 barrels per day in 2022, but as at today we have gone over 2 million barrels per day and this is largely due to our collaboration with you.

A former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, hailed NSCDC and Tantita for their mutual relationship saying their operational style was in line with President Tinubu’s leadership approach of community and stakeholders’ engagements.

Describing President Tinubu as a community man, Eradiri said Tinubu’s approach was centered around the people adding that in similar way Tantita and NSCDC approach instilled confidence in people to protect oil facilities within their domain.

“This is in line with President Tinubu’s leadership style. President Tinubu is a community man. His approach has always been about the people. For some of us who have known him for years ago, we are not surprised that he is doing things differently.

“Recall that when he was campaigning he came to the Gbaramatu Kingdom. President Tinubu expanded the relationship with Tantita and consolidated on what he met and that is why the trajectory has been smooth. President Tinubu is the reason Tantita is succeeding and we want to commend him for believing in Tompolo and the people,” he said.

News

Imo govt warns nightclub, lounge proprietors against selling hard drugs to customers

Published

5 hours ago

February 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Imo Government has issued a stern warning to hotel owners and nightclub operators, urging them to refrain from permitting the use of hard drugs within their establishments.

This announcement was made in a statement signed by Chief Ezechukwu Obonna, the Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodinma on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring, and was shared with journalists in Owerri on Saturday.

According to Obonna, the state government has observed that hard drugs, especially cannabis, popularly called ‘loud’, are now being freely sold and consumed in public places, especially in lounges and nightclubs in the state, as if the drug is no longer prohibited by law.

He warned operators of nightclubs and lounges to immediately put an end to the consumption and sale of hard drugs, particularly in their business areas.

He said that any establishment found to be enabling or permitting the use of hard drugs would face severe consequences.

“The government is issuing this stern warning to lounge and nightclub owners across the state to note that the government will no longer tolerate the use of private businesses as havens for illicit drug use.

“We urge all lounge and nightclub owners to take responsibility for ensuring their patrons are not engaging in illicit activities.

“The Imo State Government is committed to protecting the health and well-being of its citizens, and we will not hesitate to take action against those who compromise this effort,” he said.

He added that the International Narcotics Control Board had expressed concerns about the growing trend of drug use and its impact on public health.

According to him, the Imo Government is taking proactive steps to address this issue and ensure a safer, healthier environment for all citizens.

“We appeal to all lounge and nightclub owners to cooperate with the government in this effort and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities immediately. Together, we can create a safer, more responsible tourism and entertainment industry in Imo,” he said.