Politics
New Naira: APC Govs Mulling Out-of-Court Settlement – Atiku Loyalist
Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that a group of APC governors who are unhappy with the party leadership, are pressuring President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his decision on the old N500 and N1,000 notes.
According to Frank, the governors are hoping that the President’s reconsideration will lead to an out-of-court settlement on their grievances.
Timi Frank, who is known to be a supporter of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, expressed concerns that the pressure from the group of dissatisfied APC governors to settle the cases over the naira redesign policy outside of the Supreme Court was so intense that he worried President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, might give in to their demands.
Frank made this claim in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
Timi Frank’s concern was voiced after a crucial meeting on Sunday between the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, and the governors of the party, which took place at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
The meeting commenced at approximately 2:37 pm and was attended by 12 governors and two deputies. Later on, the APC’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, joined the meeting at around 4:45 pm. As reported by BIZTELLERS.
After the meeting, the APC and the Progressive Governors Forum issued a statement calling on Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to uphold the Supreme Court’s decision on the naira redesign policy.
On Monday, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu had another meeting behind closed doors with the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the three APC governors who filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government, seeking a restraining order to halt the full implementation of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The governors in question were Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).
The meeting between Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, Abubakar Malami, and the three aggrieved APC governors took place for just over an hour, starting at approximately 1:35 pm on Monday. However, after the meeting, none of the attendees agreed to speak to the press.
Timi Frank responded to the recent developments by claiming that he received intelligence indicating that the Attorney General of the Federation was considering the APC’s request to resolve the case outside of court before the upcoming election on Saturday.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to remain mindful of his promise to ensure free, fair, and credible elections as his parting legacy to Nigerians. Frank also urged Abubakar Malami to uphold the people’s interests by not succumbing to the intense pressure from the group of dissatisfied governors.
He said, “Buhari must keep to his words by not bowing to the unholy pressure of the APC’s governors to settle out of court and to have N1,000 and N500 notes reintroduced.
“APC governors don’t have the interest of Nigerians at heart. We have seen how they have serially blackmailed the president to do their bidding in recent past.
“Now they are trying to blackmail the AGF to withdraw his suit challenging their own case for an out-of-court settlement during the sitting of the apex court on Wednesday.”
“Nigerians should know that we have only three days to go. Let us bear the pains for the next three days.Otherwise, the elections would be compromised through massive vote-buying by the APC and its governors and the present order of cluelessness and hardship would continue.”
The Chief Spokesman for the APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, responded to the possibility of an out-of-court settlement by stating that nothing is impossible in law.
He added that it was best to wait and see what happens, saying “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
With permutations for 2027 elections already play high on the cards of Nigerian politicians, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is banking on Edo and Delta States to team up and swing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Biztellers reports that his calculation is informed by the massive defection of notable politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in both States.
Gov Okpebholo made the assertion while welcoming the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chiedu Ebie, who led the members of the Unity Group to join the APC.
Notable among other party stalwarts at the occasion were the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and the party’s South-South leaders.
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According to Okpebholo “just like Edo, Delta is ready to witness practical governance under APC.”
Beaming with joy, Gov Okpebholo added, “It is our turn to shine in the South South. It is now your turn in Delta. It is happening here, as it happened in Edo State. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing very well for the nation. He is repairing the foundation of the country for better prosperity. Because of that, in Edo State, we have started. We said 2027 is already possible. It is also possible here in Delta. I am here to welcome my brother, Chiedu Ebie.
“Chiedu is an intelligent young man who knows when to move. It is time for Delta to move, and it is starting here with Ika people.”
Receiving the decampees, Alh Ganduje, described the Delta Unity Group as great fighters of democracy, who have provided a strong vehicle that will lead APC to the Delta State Government House in 2027.
According to the APC national Chairman, “we have the three Senators now. We have members of the House of Representatives and State Assembly members, and over 60 percent of the followers of PDP have now joined the APC. We are assured of taking over this State come next election.
“We are not surprised because of the timber and caliber of politicians you have in Delta State in the APC. What we require now is unity. Unity of purpose and unity to win election. So we can provide quality governance to the people of Delta State.
“Very soon, we will organize a stakeholders meeting for all those major stakeholders because they are all good people. They are all wise people. They are all intelligent people, and they are all democrats. So, all of them will be convened for unity, like the Delta Unity Group.”
On his part, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Ebie, noted that their conviction to join the party was borne out of the love for good governance and party inclusiveness which the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated.
Earlier, while at the Palace of the Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Keagborekuzi the first, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure peace and security across the country for the needed development in the country.
Present at the rally were Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko; Chairman House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Teke Ibori-Swenu; former Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege, among other party big wigs.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has assured that his administration would do everything within its powers to take care of Edo State civil servants and make them happy.
He made the pledge on Friday when he received Executives of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Chapter, led by its Acting State Chairman, Comrade Bernard Egwekhide.
Egwekhide said they were in Government House to congratulate the Governor on his recent victory at the governorship election tribunal that affirmed his victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
On his part, the Governor said whatever Edo State workers are enjoying in the state is the responsibility of his administration to do because it is worker friendly.
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Okpebholo said, “Whatever we are doing, which is favouring Edo workers, is done because it is our responsibility as a government. Edo people voted for us to work for them, and that is what we are doing to ensure life is made better for our people, including the workers.
“We embrace transparency in all what we do as a government to enable the people to trust us as we are not afraid of criticism. Positive criticism will put us on our toes to work harder for Edo people.
“The renewed hope agenda of the president has given us room and platform to perform and serve Edo people better as we embark on practical governance.
“We are doing everything in the State to ensure peace, unity, growth, and development. That is why we ensure smooth collaboration amongst the three tires of government. In all we do in the State, we ensure the three Senatorial zones are carried along.”
The NLC acting chairman, Egwekhide, commended the Governor for his developmental strides and the friendly environment created for Edo State workers to operate.
He said the visit was necessary as the body had come to congratulate the Governor for his deserved victory at the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
According to him, “Workers in Edo State are proud of you for the developmental strides in the State. You have created a friendly relationship between your administration and Edo workers as you have always taken steps to favour Edo State workers.
“Without asking, workers received their 13th month. You raised the subvention of Ambrose Ali University (AAU) from N41 to N500 million. You regularized casual workers in Edo State. You increased what is due pensioners monthly from N50 million to N1 billion naira for both local and State pensioners.”
He noted that a committee has been set up to look into the compulsory pension scheme, which has become a burden on retired civil servants, adding that the report will be submitted to him for his action.
“We thank the governor for several employments given to our people in the very short time in office,” he added.
In a related development, Gov Monday Okpebholo also received the new branch controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Edo State, Apanke Utande who was on a courtesy visit to Government House, where the Governor urged him to collaborate with his administration to improve the lives of Edo people.
Sir Jude Idimogu, a former two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has strongly stated that there will be “no vacancy” in Aso Rock come 2027, reaffirming his commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Idimogu, who served as the representative of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II from 2015 to 2023, shared his views during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
His comments followed the recent declaration from an opposition group promising to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
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A steadfast member of the APC and deputy leader of the Ndigbo socio-cultural group in Lagos, Idimogu dismissed the opposition’s chances of defeating President Tinubu in 2027, asserting that no coalition of opposition leaders could pose a significant challenge to the president’s second-term aspirations.
“The ruling party has strong leadership and unwavering grassroots support that will carry us through to victory in 2027,” Idimogu stated, branding the opposition’s efforts as “futile.”
He further noted that power rotation between the North and South made it clear that it was the South’s turn to complete its eight years in office.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock come 2027, and I am appealing to all Northerners in the APC to support the president in completing his eight years,” he added.
In his assessment of the current administration’s progress, Idimogu lauded President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, citing positive developments such as better power supply, the strengthening of the naira against the dollar, and the implementation of policies that have helped reduce food prices and boost agricultural output.
“With the restoration of the naira-for-crude deal and the export drive, we are seeing tangible results. I don’t see any opposition candidate who can present a policy better than what Tinubu’s administration is already doing,” he explained.
Looking ahead to 2027, Idimogu expressed his firm belief that he would be among those advocating for President Tinubu’s re-election, given the progress already made under his leadership.
Idimogu concluded by urging the opposition coalition to reconsider its stance, suggesting that they join forces with the president for the greater good of the nation.
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