Politics
APC colluding with attackers of Benue people – Ortom
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of colluding with armed Fulani herders to attack the people of the State.
Governor Ortom also said the leaders of the party in the State are prone to jumping to the defence of the killer herders whenever people are attacked, noting that the armed herders operate like a militia wing of the party.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Terver Akase, the government said the APC in Benue State has demonstrated that it has no value for human lives, as they cared only about how to get power.
Governor Ortom maintained that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the Livestock Guards, which the APC and their herder allies desperately wanted to see scrapped, have come to stay.
The statement further noted that the party has never shown empathy towards victims of the humanitarian crisis in the State, insisting that there is no evidence the party had taken relief materials to any of the IDP camps, noting that the only time the party delegation visited the camp in Daudu was before the 2019 elections with the sole purpose of campaigning for votes.
The statement read: “We read the text of a press conference the Benue State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC and others addressed yesterday, January 24, 2023, in Makurdi in which they levelled all manner of accusations on Governor Samuel Ortom, whom they said has been using the state Livestock Guards to rustle Fulani cattle, among several other mischievous allegations.
“By their outing, the APC in Benue State has left no one in doubt that they are working closely with those who invade communities of the State and attack innocent people. This is not the first time that leaders of the party have come out to take sides with killer herders. The APC in Benue State has often accused Benue people of attacking and killing themselves. Not too long ago, the sacked governorship candidate of the party re-echoed the accusation that the party’s leader first made four years ago, absolving herdsmen of any responsibility in the series of attacks on the Benue people. It is clear that the leader of APC in Benue State, Senator George Akume was behind the said press conference, which was a tactical way of diverting attention from the removal of his puppet governorship candidate by the Court of Appeal.
”As far as the APC in Benue State is concerned, the lives of cows are more valuable than human lives. This is why in the said press statement, their emphasis was on cattle rustling as they frantically tried to justify why the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law should be reviewed to grant easy passage and access to Fulani herders with their animals to lands across the State. The APC’s line of reasoning resonates with the thinking of Fulani pastoralists such as Miyetti Allah, who insist that until the law is repealed, they will not stop sponsoring attacks on the State.
”The APC in Benue State has again proven that it has no value for human lives, and as long as they get power, Benue can go up in flames. A political party that turns to accuse the people of the State it hopes to govern lacks humanity and the conscience to lead.
”APC has never condemned the genocide Fulani herders have visited on Benue State in nearly a decade. Leaders of the party are often quick to jump to the defence of the killer herders whenever people are attacked in parts of the State, with the armed herders operating like a militia wing of the party. The opposition party has never shown empathy towards victims of the humanitarian crisis in the State. There is no evidence that they have taken relief materials to any of the IDP camps, even once in the last five years. The only time a delegation of the party visited the camp located in Daudu was before the 2019 elections with the sole purpose of campaigning for votes.
”The timing of the APC press conference coming barely 24 hours after the Appeal Court judgment, which nullified their phoney governorship primary election, was calculated to divert attention from the devastating situation that the party does not have a gubernatorial candidate at the moment. But we expected the APC to direct their frustration to the appropriate quarters, not on Governor Ortom. The Governor did not advise them to conduct what their appeal panel described as yahoo yahoo primary election, and he was neither a member of the panel of justices that nullified the fraud called nomination.
”Though we cannot stop the APC in Benue from further conspiracy with enemies of the State, we must reiterate that their plans will always fail. The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the Livestock Guards, which the APC and their herder allies desperately want to see scrapped, have come to stay. Anyone who wants to rear cattle in Benue State must do so within the confines of ranches and be prepared to face the long arm of the law in the event of any breaches.
”We reassure the people of the State that Governor Samuel Ortom remains committed to the security of his people, and no amount of blackmail or smear campaign from the opposition can make him compromise.”
Politics
2025 budget cannot address Nigeria’s economic challenges – Atiku
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that the 2025 budget proposal lacks the structural and fiscal discipline needed to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges.
The former vice president made this disclosure in a statement on Sunday, reacting to the 2025 budget proposal.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week presented a N49.7 trillion 2025 budget to the National Assembly. The President had based the budget on key economic assumptions, including a N36.36 trillion revenue target, inflation reduction to 15.75 per cent, an exchange rate of N1,500 per dollar, oil production at 2.06 million barrels per day, a crude oil price of $70 per barrel, and a N13.39 trillion budget deficit.
Reacting to the budget, Atiku stated that it reflects a continuation of business-as-usual fiscal practices where budgets fail to impact the lives of citizens.
According to him, the 2025 budget’s ability to foster sustainable economic growth and tackle Nigeria’s deep-rooted challenges is questionable.
Atiku also criticised the budget’s reliance on N13 trillion in borrowing to fund the deficit.
“Weak Budgetary Foundations: The 2024 budget’s underperformance signals poor budget execution. By Q3 of the fiscal year, less than 35 per cent of the allocated capital expenditure for MDAs had been disbursed, despite claims of 85 per cent budget execution. This underperformance in capital spending, crucial for fostering economic transformation, raises concerns about the execution of the 2025 budget.
“Disproportionate Debt Servicing: Debt servicing, which accounts for N15.8 trillion (33 per cent of the total expenditure), is nearly equal to the planned capital expenditure (N16 trillion, or 34 per cent). Moreover, debt servicing surpasses spending on key priority sectors such as defence (N4.91 trillion), infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion), and health (N2.4 trillion). This imbalance will likely crowd out essential investments and perpetuate a cycle of increasing borrowing and debt accumulation, undermining fiscal stability.
“Unsustainable Government Expenditure: The government’s recurrent expenditure remains disproportionately high, with over N14 trillion (30 per cent of the budget) allocated to operating an oversized bureaucracy and supporting inefficient public enterprises. The lack of concrete steps to curb wastage and enhance the efficiency of public spending exacerbates fiscal challenges, leaving limited resources for development.
“Insufficient Capital Investment: After accounting for debt servicing and recurrent expenditure, the remaining allocation for capital spending—ranging from 25 per cent to 34 per cent of the total budget—is insufficient to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate growth. This amounts to an average capital allocation of approximately N80,000 (US$45) per capita, which is insufficient to meet the demands of a nation grappling with slow growth and infrastructural underdevelopment.
“Regressive Taxation and Economic Strain: The administration’s decision to increase the VAT rate from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent is a retrogressive measure that will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and impede economic growth. By imposing additional tax burdens on an already struggling populace while failing to address governance inefficiencies, the government risks stifling domestic consumption and further deepening economic hardship.
“The 2025 budget lacks the structural reforms and fiscal discipline required to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges. To enhance the budget’s credibility, the administration must prioritise the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations, tackle contract inflation, and focus on long-term fiscal sustainability rather than perpetuating unsustainable borrowing and recurrent spending patterns. A shift toward a more disciplined and growth-oriented fiscal policy is essential for the nation’s economic recovery,” he stated.
Politics
Edo Poll Tribunal: Ighodalo, PDP, Okpebholo, APC, INEC to call 290 witnesses
The election petition tribunal sitting in Benin City has disclosed that Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Governor Monday Okpebholo will be calling 290 witnesses during the hearing of their petition.
According to reports, the tribunal is adjudicating on the declaration of Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of APC winner of the last September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State by Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate.
Asue Ighodalo and his party, PDP are challenging the declaration of Monday Okpebholo and his party winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to reports, the chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Wilfred Ikpochi disclosed this at the weekend during the presentation of the pre-hearing reports and scheduling to parties in the petition.
Ikpochi did not, however, give the breakdown of the number of witnesses that each of the petitioners and respondents would call during the trial.
He said the 290 witnesses were proposed by the parties in the harmonized proposal for the pre-hearing conference.
He said the parties will only call witnesses whose statements on oath have been frontloaded and subpoenaed witnesses where necessary.
The court added that the petitioners shall call their witnesses within 21 days or less while each of the respondents shall be allowed 10 days or less to call their witnesses.
“The parties may call expert witnesses as indicated in their pre-hearing answers.
“All pleading documents shall be rendered and admitted by the tribunal while objections thereto shall be filled separately during final addresses. Objections to such documents during trial shall be noted and rulings reserved appropriately, “he said.
He also added that all frivolous and unnecessary applications for adjournments shall not be granted by the tribunal as the election petitions are time-bound.
According to him, whenever, it becomes very expedient to fast-track the proceedings, the tribunal shall bridge the time for doing anything in accordance with the rules as prescribed by the Electoral Act 2022.
Justice Kpochi, further added that on no account should any written address filed by counsel be more than 40 pages.
He said the address should be of double spacing format with 14 font size.
He, however, advised all counsel to imbibe the spirit of good brief writing in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
Others presented in the reports by the tribunal are that there shall be no consolidation of the petition with any other petition as there was no application in respect thereof and there shall be no amendment of amendment as none is required.
“There shall be no further particulars or admissions save the application by the petitioners for interrogatories directed to the INEC, Monday Okpebholo as first and second respondents requesting for particulars articulated in the copies of the proposed interrogatories that have been filed along with the application in motion No-EPT/ED/GOV/02/M10/2024 filed on December 6, 2024, that has been granted.
The tribunal chairman, who adjourned to January 13, 2025, for hearing, said the court shall be sitting from day to day from 10am except on Sundays and other public holidays gazetted by law.
He, however, stated that the sitting period is subject to reviews as the exigencies of the workload permit.
DAILYPOST
Politics
Shutdown: Republican Party taking order from Elon Musk – Hillary Clinton
United States former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has sounded off about Elon Musk’s influence over the spending drama on Capitol Hill.
Clinton’s comments come as House Democrats claim that ‘Extreme MAGA’ Republicans were driving the country to a government shutdown.
“If you’re just catching up: the Republican Party, taking orders from the world’s richest man, is on course to shut down the government over the holidays.
“Stopping paychecks for our troops and nutrition benefits for low-income families just in time for Christmas,” Clinton wrote in a post on X.
Fox News reports that the U.S government will go into partial shutdown at midnight Saturday if there’s no passable deal to kick the government funding deadline to March and continue spending at 2024 levels.
According to the report, Musk had come out in strong opposition to the original spending deal House Speaker, Mike Johnson, negotiated with Democrats.
However, the world richest man threatened to back a primary challenge to any Republican who voted for it.
Meanwhile, House Republicans on Thursday came out with a new version, which was substantially shorter and included both disaster aid and a suspension of the debt ceiling for two years, as President-elect Donald Trump had requested.
But the measure failed in the House, with some Republicans refusing to back it and Democrats uniting against it, with many apparently unhappy with Musk’s apparent influence.
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