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Kyari: CUPP, a political mediocre tool, toothless bulldog – Group

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2023

A foremost civil society group, the Network for Transparency and Good Governance (NTGG) has berated the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) for trying to play politics with the emotions of Nigerians and playing to the gutters over the recent fuel subsidy removal which has led to the temporary hike in the pump price of petrol.

CUPP, a political opposition group led by disgruntled members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had alleged that the fuel subsidy removal was a scam to cage Nigerians and is calling for the removal of Mr. Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer, GCEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

But, NTGG, in a statement co-signed by its national coordinator, Friday Imoni and national secretary, Gana Alkali, on Thursday said that ordinarily, it would have ignored CUPP-PDP for advertising “their lack of vision and empathy for Nigerians in these trying times which they brought upon the nation, but because of innocent Nigerians who may not be fully abreast with the current situation of things, it decided to respond.

According to the statement: “We read with dismay a spurious, sickening and nefarious statement credited to the failed and disgruntled Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) led and sponsored by members of the troubled and corrupt-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling for the removal of Mr. Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer, GCEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the recent subsidy removal

“It’s a statement of fact that CUPP has the unenviable mandate to try to intimidate and blackmail important state institutions such as the NNPCL, INEC, the judiciary, and security agencies, on behalf of PDP with the hope of gaining political advantage having been rejected by the majority of the people.

“As the current administration tackles our national challenges and at this period, we all should focus on issues of nation building, but the best PDP and its acolytes are offering is a distraction.

“Fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria is an economic necessity, as the subsidy funds could lead to major development gains. With the proper structure, such as building good infrastructure and a conducive environment for investors, removing subsidies is a blessing the economy needs right now.

“For instance, the amount paid out on subsidies from 2005 to 2021 is equivalent to the entire budget for health, education, agriculture, and defence in the last five years. The sum also equals the capital expenditure for 10 years between 2011 and 2020. The removal of subsidy will free allocations which can be channeled to the provision of infrastructure like roads, education, health service, power, security, creation of jobs, development of the downstream sector, improve our GDP growth, clamp down on product theft, pipeline vandalism, environmental pollution, foreign exchange shortages and provision of basic benefits for Nigerians.

“It’s however laughable that the personal interests and frustrations of the promoters of CUPP have beclouded their reasoning.

“The recent fuel pump price adjustment from N537 to N617 per litre was as a result of forces being determined by foreign exchange fluctuations induced by international market forces. The government is, however, working to mitigate the hardship occasioned by the increment in the fuel pump price.

While calling for the continued support and appealing to Nigerians for the temporary pains of the initiative, the group said: “Instead of the PDP and their minions to join hands with the current administration to salvage the economy, they have, in the name of opposition, continued to distract the government and Nigerians with their post-election delusions, salacious fictions, conjured rifts in government circle, and their spurious allegations against the NNPCL and its management.

“It’s worthy of note that NNPCL under the leadership of Mr. Kyari has witnessed massive transformation all around. The NNPCL chief has worked tirelessly to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“The oil giant has moved to a profit-making corporation owing to its culture of accountability, transparency, and innovation.

“Maybe we should remind CUPP that Kyari was a vocal advocate for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), a comprehensive reform package aimed at overhauling the industry’s regulatory framework and promoting investment and growth.

“Today, the NNPC has become a world-class institution capable of competing with the best and brightest in the global energy industry.

“While the CUPP-PDP wallows in its obscene conducts, Nigeria under the President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration will continue to strife to lead the country to economic boom once again.

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Christian police fellowship of Nigeria bestows award of excellence on PMF president, Bishop Anthony

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Bishop Chidi Anthony is the founder of Kings In Christ Power Ministries International and the president of Pentecostal Ministers Forum of Nigeria,PMF.

He is one of God’s generals that has impacted many as he propagates the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; uniting and fostering unity and togetherness among ministers of God through Pentecostal Ministers Forum of Nigeria which he happens to be the president, young ministers have benefited immensely from the organisation as PMF offers financial support to it’s members that are in need.

Christian Police fellowship of Nigeria decided to honour bishop Chidi Anthony for his marvelous and magnificent impact in the Christendom .CPFN bestowed an award on him yesterday at the police College,Ikeja.Bishop Anthony was there with his lovely wife,Rev.Nkiru Anthony to receive the award,his exhilaration was very conspicuous and he said “I’m really elated receiving this award today,I want to encourage people to keep doing good and impacting lives positively,you don’t know who is watching and taking note of you,I actually never envisaged receiving an award,I never knew that they were contious of my good works, I’m really enraptured,I want to show utmost gratitude to CPFN for the award and pray that God will continue to bless them ”

Finally,he advised churches in Nigeria, especially the popular ones with massive congratulations to help their members in this critical period of the nation because Christianity is about love and care ,he enunciated that you can’t preach Jesus to a hungry soul,you need to feed him first if you really want him to listen and accept Christ

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Uromi killing:stop going to other states with guns prophet Ikuru warns the Northern

Published

3 days ago

April 11, 2025

Sahara Weekly

By Collins Nkwocha

The prophetic hall of fame and Ambassador of peace, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has castigated the Northern people, especially the Fulanis for always travelling and entering other states with arms.

The prophet of the nation who outrightly condemned the killing of Northern people in Uromi also enunciated that it’s wrong for the Northern people to invade other states with arms based on the tensed security threat the nation is facing at the moment “I want to condemn the killing in Uromi because nobody has the right to take another person’s life,they should have been handed over to the security operatives, the killing in cruel and barbaric,but it’s wrong for the Northern people to keep invading other states with arms, the rate of insecurity in the nation is high, anyone seen with a gun is dreadful and harmful,Fulani Herdsmen have perpetuated so much heinous and callous act for people to be apprehensive of their presence,my in Law was a victim of their heinous act,they assaulted her in her farmland,their presence with arms is really terrifying and it’s making farmers to desert their farmlands, prompting food scarcity ”

The prophet of the nation advised the government to take a proper look at the possession of arms by these men and reiterated that the North is big enough for thousands of hunters and herdsmen to explore “travelling to other states with arms is not good, the North has got the largest landmass in the country,why leave the North to other states with little Landmass , the North is very massive, it’s very obvious that their is hidden agenda,why will someone leave a river to look for fish in a swimming pool, the government need to look at these area critically,arms should be prohibited, anyone that is not a security operative shouldn’t be seen with arms ”

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Rivers Crisis: Pro-Democracy Group Demands Reversal of LGA Appointments, Urge Tinubu To Rein in Sole Administrator

Published

5 days ago

April 9, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Budget Constraints, Infrastructure Woes Stall Diplomatic Deployment

Citizens for Democratic Watch (CDW), a pro-democracy group, has condemned the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas in Rivers State by the sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, describing it as “a dangerous abuse of power and a direct attack on the constitution”.

This latest action, which came just 24 hours after a federal high court restrained Ibas from making such appointments, has triggered widespread concern over what CDW calls “the rapid erosion of democratic institutions under the guise of emergency governance”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dr Hassan Dantani, Executive Director of CDW, called on President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene before the situation spirals out of control.

“Appointing 23 sole administrators in clear defiance of a federal court order is not only unlawful — it is tyrannical,” Dantani said.

“No state of emergency gives anyone the license to override the judiciary, erase local governance, and act above the law. This must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

Dantani noted that the local government system is a constitutionally recognised tier of government, and any attempt to run it without democratic structures sets a very dangerous precedent.

“This action by Ibok-Ete Ibas is a grave violation of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils,” he said.

“Our democracy cannot function if unelected individuals are imposed to run local governments under military-style appointments.”

CDW warned that if allowed to stand, the appointments could embolden future political actors to trample on the rule of law and weaken the judiciary.

“The blatant disregard for a valid court order should alarm every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation,” Dantani said.

“When leaders ignore court rulings and impose their will, what remains of the rule of law? If we allow this to stand in Rivers, it could happen anywhere else.”

The group called on the National Assembly to urgently summon the Rivers sole administrator to explain his actions and ensure that all constitutional boundaries are respected.

“We urge the Senate and House of Representatives to treat this matter as a priority,” he added.

“Democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency or political convenience.”

Dantani concluded by demanding the immediate reversal of the LGA appointments and a return to constitutional order.

“The people of Rivers State deserve legitimate, elected representation — not handpicked appointees. We must not normalise authoritarian shortcuts in a democratic society,” the group warned.