The Peoples Democratic Party has suffered a serious loss in Plateau State as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of their 11 members in the state House of Assembly.

In a unanimous decision, the panel led by Justice Okon Abang, held that all the sacked lawmakers scored wasted votes at the time of the March 2023 general election due to lack of party structure.

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He added that the PDP violated section 177 of the 1999 constitution, hence could not sponsor candidates in an election.

The court however declared all the second runners up in the March 18 elections as winners.

Those sacked are; Hon Timothy Dantong (Riyom), Hon. Rimyat Nanbol, (Langtang North Central), Moses Sule (Mikang), Salome Waklek,-Pankshin, Hon. Bala Fwangji (Mangu South), Hon. Maren Ishaku (Bokkos), Hon. Dagogot (Quaanpan North) and Nannim Langyi,-(Langtang North North).

Others are Nimchak Rims (Langtang South) Hon. Danjuma Azi (Jos North West) Gwottson Fom (Jos South) and Hon. Abubakar Sani idris (Mangu North).

There was confusion in Kano State on Tuesday with the emergence of a Certified True Copy of the Court of Appeal judgment on the state gvernorship election.

While the widely reported verdict of the court last Friday indicated that the appelate court upheld the decision of the petition tribunal sacking Governor Abba Yusuf, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa-Dederi, argued that CTC of the judgment showed that Yusuf’s Victory at the poll was affirmed by the appeal court.

Isa-Dederi disclosed this while addressing a presa conference on Tuesday night.

He said as indicated in the written judgment, the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment of the Kano Election Petition Tribunal for lacking in merit.

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“The evidence contained on page 67 of the the copy of the Appeal Court judgment released on Tuesday and signed by Registrar, Jameel Ibrahim Umar, appellate court upheld the victory of Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party as duly elected Governor of Kano,” he said.

The three member panel of the appeal court, on Friday, November 17, 2023, had dismissed the appeal filed by the governor on the basis of his membership status.

The appellate court subsequently affirmed Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of March 25, 2023 governorship poll in the state.

Dederi noted that page 67 of the certified true copy of the judgment clearly indicated that the tribunal’s ruling that sacked the governor was set aside.

The commissioner insisted that contrary to what the justices read to the public in the courtroom on November 17, the written evidence has vindicated Yusuf as legitimate governor of the state.

Our correspondent obtained a copy of the CTC and noticed what appears to be a mix up in the conclusions.

According to the CTC, in his lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein, wrote, “I will conclude by stating that the live issues in this appeal are hereby resolved in favour of the first respondent and against the appellant.”

Having been earlier sacked by the state governorship election Petitions tribunal, the governor who approached the Court of Appeal seeking to upturn the tribunal’s judgment is the appellant before the appellate court.

According to the CTC, Justice Adumein continued, “In the circumstances, I resolve all the issues in favour of the appellant and against the first respondent.

“Therefore, I find no merit in this appeal which is liable to be and is hereby dismissed.

The judgment of the tribunal in Petition No.: EPT/KN/GOV/01/2023 between: AL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) v. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 2 ORS. delivered on the 20th day of September, 2023 is hereby set aside.

“The sum of N1,000,000.00 (one million naira only) is hereby awarded as costs in favour of the appellant and against the 1st respondent.”

In resolving all issues in favour of the appellant (Yusuf), it means the Court of Appeal granted the governor’s appeal to quash his sacking by the tribunal.

But in concluding that he found no merit in the appeal while dismissing it also means that he upheld the decision of the tribunal sacking the governor.

The mix up in the judgment became more pronounced with the judge’s final declaration that the judgment of the tribunal delivered on September 25 sacking the governor is set aside while awarding N1m in favour of the governor and against the first respondent (APC).

The two other justices of the appeal court, Justice Bitrus Sanga and Justice Lateef Ganiyu, agreed with the lead judgment.

Without adopting and fully implementing the report of the 2014 National Conference, progress in all facets may continue to elude Nigeria, as the document contains the antidote to the political and socio-economic problems confronting the country.

This was the consensus of the opinions of political, economic and academic leaders who converged on Lagos during the public launch and presentation of the autobiography of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, “Brutally Frank.”

Among the speakers were Clark himself, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chief Mrs Kofo Bucknor- Akerele among others.

According to them, the over 600 decisions arrived at during the conference were done with the consent of over 70 percent of the delegates.

They also emphasised the need for the country to be restructured and that true federalism be entrenched for all the federating units to progress at their own pace.

Speaking from Abuja via Zoom, Clark said that as a matter of urgency, the nation must toe the path of restructuring for her to achieve her potential.

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“For over 70 years, I have participated in governance at various levels in this country. I talked about my family so that people would know where I am coming from and why I have been outspoken and have been a fighter. When I clocked 90, my boss, General Yakubu Gowon sent a message to me where he wrote “E.K, that is what I used to call you, you are a very forthright Nigerian and who is brutally frank”. That is where I took the title from.

“I want a Nigeria where everybody is equal, where every citizen can aspire to any position in the country even becoming the president. Restructuring is vital for the survival of the country. Without restructuring, there may be no Nigeria. It is what Nigeria needs urgently. The regions must develop at their own pace,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Pa Adebanjo said history would be kind to former President Goodluck Jonathan for the assemblage of people who took part in the conference and the decisions they took and the report they wrote.

“I implore Nigerians not to play with the report and recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. Whether we like it or not, President Goodluck Jonathan meant well for the country regarding that conference and history will be kind to him. You cannot get such a group of people to come together again for such national assignment.

“The greatest job we have on hand today is to change the current constitution to be in accordance with the 2014 conference. Nigeria should not waste money on any conference again. We are going nowhere if we don’t implement the report and recommendations of the conference,” he opined.

Also speaking, Prof Anya O. Anya, said it was to the credit of people like Clark, Adebanjo, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and others that the decisions arrived at during the conference were done with more than 70 percent of the delegates concurring.

“History is not made in a day. I must give kudos to Chief Edwin Clark for his role in the conference. He is multi-dimensional and he truly loves this country. I recall that after the Nigerian civil war, Chief Clark helped the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to restart. I beg Nigerian youths not to lose confidence in the country. It will be celebrated for righteousness soon,” he noted.

Prof. Utomi lauded Clark for speaking out on national issues unlike some elders who would keep quiet when things are going wrong in the society.

He said only competitive federalism would make Nigeria develop, as all units would be competing to achieve greatness for their people.

Former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, noted that during the conference, a commitment was given President Jonathan that there would be no walk out and that it would end in success.

He described the enthusiasm and passion with which Clark took the conference assignment as commendable.

‘He was never late to the conference and the Chairman, Justice Kutigi used to cite him as an example to the younger ones who would come late for the proceedings,” he stated.

The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Anthony Adefuye, described Clark as a nationalist and somebody who has tried to bring the people of the Southern part of the country together.

“We have people of different political foundations and views here today, this is because Chief Edwin Clark is a nationalist. Nobody has done more than him to bring the people of the South together. He was the brain behind the 2014 National Conference. If the decisions were adopted and implemented, Nigeria would not have been where it is today.

“It is unfortunate that the decisions were not sent to the National Assembly before the then President left office. But I can tell you that some of the things being done at the National Assembly have their roots in the 2014 conference. We need another Edwin Clark and I hope he comes soon,” he said.

In his message to the occasion read by Chief Densol Kentebe, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said he was happy that Clark has joined the league of authors.

While saying that he was closer to Clark’s younger brother, the late Prof. John P. Clark, he added that the honour being done the author was meritable.

The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said that the ongoing legal battles surrounding his tenure are not merely personal attacks but rather attempts to undermine the political legacy of his mentor, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He stated this late Sunday during a stakeholders meeting of the Kwankwasiyya movement and other party supporters in Kano.

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Yusuf who spoke at length for the first time since the appellate court affirmed the judgement of the tribunal that sacked him, said,

“All his political travails including his losses at the Elections Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal are targeted attacks against his mentor and political godfather, Eng. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.”

The meeting, which was held at the instance of Kwankwaso, also had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ismail Falgore; federal lawmaker for Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Kano State cabinet members and top government officials.

“We are going to continue working under his (Kwankwaso) guidance and leadership to do the needful, God willing,” Yusuf declared, emphasising his unwavering loyalty to his political mentor.

The governor expressed his deep gratitude to Kwankwaso, acknowledging his pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Kano.

“Even if the world says they are not going to give us anything because of his (Kwankwaso) vision, we are not going to turn our back on him and his vision,” he asserted.

In a message to his supporters, Yusuf urged them to remain steadfast and avoid engaging in divisive rhetoric. “We must not exchange bitter words with anyone but to channel our energy to motivating Kano people,” he advised.

Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Kano, pledging to continue the people-centered projects he has initiated, including initiatives focused on women’s and children’s welfare, as well as payment of outstanding backlogs of pension and gratuity entitlement.

Ahead of the Appeal Court judgment on the governorship election in Nasarawa State, Muslim and Christian supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state on Monday, commenced a seven-day joint prayer session for the party’s governorship candidate, Dr David Ombugadu.

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had on October 2, 2023, sacked Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress, and declared the PDP candidate, winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

Delivering the judgment via zoom, the Chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, nullified Sule’s election and held that the petitioners (Ombugadu and the PDP) duly proved their petition before the tribunal.

The seven-day prayer session, according to the participants, is also to ask God to protect the appeal court judges from any evil influence while they discharge their duties.

Speaking on Monday, one of the leaders of the prayer group, Suleiman Abdullahi, expressed confidence that justice will be served to the people of the state at the appeal court.

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He said, “Allah is the creator of the universe. He neither discriminates nor fail in his promises. So, the moves to change the wishes of the people against the overwhelming mandate given to those they want will not stand.

“We genuinely gave our mandate to the PDP candidate, Dr David Ombugadu, to ensure a positive change in Nasarawa State. We will continue to pray to Allah because we know that he will listen to our supplications and do his will in Nasarawa State.”

“The axe of God is waiting for anyone challenging his power and will in this case. It is said in the Book of Isaiah 58:11 that ‘The Lord will guide his people, satisfy their desire and make their bones strong. They shall be like a watered garden, like spring water, whose work does not fail.’”

Bako, therefore urged the judges handling the case not to be partial in justice delivery, but to serve justice to the people of the state so that God Almighty will be pleased with their actions.

Other participants who spoke about the prayer session said they agreed to pray at their respective homes to avert any form of violence from political groups in the state.

Appeal court had reserved its judgment in the case filed by Sule, challenging the declaration of Ombugadu as the duly elected governor in the March 18 election in the state by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has expressed displeasure over the non-release of the certified true copy (CTC) of the Kano gubernatorial verdict delivered by the court of appeal.

On Friday, the court of appeal sitting in Abuja affirmed the verdict of the Kano state governorship election petition tribunal.

The tribunal had sacked Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of the state.

Yusuf described the tribunal and court of appeal verdicts as a “miscarriage of justice”, saying he had informed his lawyers to proceed to the supreme court to challenge the judgment.

In a statement on Monday, Abba Ali, NNPP national chairperson, said the party was worried over the inability of the court to release the CTC of the judgment to the legal team to enable them proceed to the supreme court.

“This concern being expressed by the leadership of NNPP stems from the report from our legal team that all efforts to collect the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement which will aid the process of filing their appeal have not yielded any fruits, four days after the judgement was delivered in Abuja,” the statement reads.

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“It is a known fact that the issues of days and time are very germane in the preparation of processes for an appeal in such a situation.

“For the purpose of emphasis, it is an established fact that an Appellant only has a window of Fourteen (14) days to get his/her processes completed, and frittering away 4 days out of these 14 days is like setting a booby trap for the Appellant.”

Ali said the setback creates the impression that there are deliberate efforts in place to frustrate the the governor and the party in their quest to get “justice”.

The party chairperson said the NNPP had suffered “several cases of injustice”, even in the run-up to the general election, and called for the appeal court to treat the issue as a matter of urgency.

Senator Abba Moro representing Benue South senatorial district, has emerged as the Senate Minority Leader.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio made his appointment known at the plenary on Tuesday.

The two-term Benue senator is a lawmaker from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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He took over from Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon representing Plateau North Senatorial District who was removed by the Appeal Court.

The PDP lawmakers had agreed to zone the position to the North-Central in the interest of fairness and equity.

Moro served as Minister of Interior under the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Moses Thomas Sule, has resigned his position as speaker

.

The deputy speaker, Hon Gwottaon Fom, has also resigned his position.

The member representing Pankshin North Gabriel Dawang, has been elected as the new speaker.

Hon Timothy Dantong representing Riyom constituency is now the new deputy speaker of Assembly.

Our correspondent reports that the development could be connected to the sacking governor Caleb Mutfwang and some PDP lawmakers in the state assembly.

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21st November, 2023

“CHANGING GEARS: THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA BEGINS”

CHARLES CHUKWUMA SOLUDO, CFR
GOVERNOR

AN ADDRESS TO THE ANAMBRA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT 2024 STATE BUDGET; NOVEMBER 21, 2023.
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PROTOCOL

Umu nne m Ndi Anambra!

1. Let me start by once again congratulating all of you, members of the 8th Assembly and the leadership of the House for your elections. Yours is a historic call to serve Ndi Anambra. As I always remind all of us: we have only one state and our development focus is summarized by the mantra, “One State, One People, One Agenda”. I want to thank you for your cooperation and collaboration so far. Together, we shall leave this state far better than we met it.

2. On November 10, 2022, I was here to present the draft 2023 budget, captioned budget of acceleration. It was our first full year budget in office. Over the past 20 months since our swearing-in on March 17, 2022, we have intentionally focused on judiciously implementing the budgets to address several of the foundational challenges and the results are beginning to show. Anambra is today ranked the number one among the 17 southern states on Ease of Doing Business; number two as state with lowest infant mortality rate; best performing students in JAMB and NECO are from Anambra, while BudgIT has recently also ranked Anambra among the top 5 states on fiscal sustainability.

3. During our second-year anniversary on March 17, 2024, we shall present a comprehensive scorecard to our people. Suffice it to say that Anambra is indeed on the march. Our security is getting stronger by the day, and the eight local governments that were in total control by the so-called Unknown Gunmen have been largely liberated. Anambra, by every measure, is certainly one of the safest states in Nigeria today. Over 400 kilometres of roads plus two flyovers are under construction in all the 21 LGAs and in a few weeks we shall embark upon commissioning of the finished ones. Anambra had a severe road crisis, and I promised during the electioneering campaigns to declare a state of emergency on roads. With the state of decay, even if we spend the entire year’s budget on roads in one local government, it would still be a scratch. We are strategic in the choice of game-changing roads that impact on the productivity of our people, especially in connecting hitherto neglected/abandoned people, LGAs and communities. We are breaking the 32-year-old jinx and Anambra will soon have proper and befitting government house and governor’s lodge at Awka. Power is improving; we are winning the war on waste management/de-silting of drainages, traffic management, anti-touting, law and order.

4. The Oba Open Drug Market (Africa’s biggest open drug market) is under construction, and Pharmaceutical Industrial Park, Ogboji is under development with 15 manufacturers out of expected 100 already signed up. Our regenerative agricultural revolution is on the move, and so far, we have distributed 1,100,000 hybrid coconut and palm seedlings to over 100,000 households in our drive towards zero poverty, neo agro-industrialization, and a green and environmentally sustainable state. We will distribute at least one million seedlings per annum in the coming years as we target 500,000 households with each earning millions of Naira per annum in a few years to come. Some 25,000 diesel powered streetlights have been converted into solar light— saving cost and powering the night economy.

5. Our human capital remains Anambra’s greatest asset and we are very intentional in building a resource that is productive at home and exportable abroad. Basic education is now truly free of all charges and levies in all public schools in Anambra. We are ending the phenomenon of schools without teachers by recruiting 5,000 teachers within the first 9 months in office and ongoing recruitment of an additional 3,000 teachers. The target for our schools is smart education. Our schools, teachers and students won several national and international prizes this year. We are also ending the era of hospitals without doctors and nurses by recruiting almost 1,000 health workers—doctors, consultants, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, etc to power our general hospitals and primary health centres. Four new general hospitals are under construction and several others under reconstruction. Pregnant women now have free antennal and delivery services in Anambra.

6. Building the capacity and empowerment of our youths to take care of their future remains our priority. Our pioneering One Youth, Two Skills programme has just graduated its first batch of 5,000 youths and they have been empowered with N2 billion as seed capital to start their own businesses. We have also established the Solution Innovation District for digital skills, startups, research commercialization, and creative talents. Over 20,000 youths have been trained on different digital skills. Earlier this morning, the SID organized the Opening ceremony/Orientation for 2,500 youths selected out of the over 10,000 applicants for the training programme on coding, tagged “Code Anambra”. We expect tens of thousands of youths to go through our unprecedented menu of youth empowerment programmes each year. Our vision is to teach Anambra youths how to fish and turn them from job seekers to job creators. We are also resourcing the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA) to be able to provide required cheap credit to these budding entrepreneurs.

7. We are driving towards a more transparent E-governance system, with our mantra of “technology everywhere, and everything technology”. Our local government system is being reformed to strengthen its service delivery at the grassroots, while our tax administration is systematically going digital. Our land registry is going digital, and transfer of land titles can now be completed within a week rather than over six months previously. The environment remains Anambra’s number one existential threat. Flooding is a menace, and Anambra remains the gully erosion capital of the world. We have launched the Clean, Green and Sustainable Anambra project, and it will receive greater impetus in the coming years. The list is long!

8. Mr. Speaker, Honorable members, it is important to remind us that the government has implemented a far-reaching, comprehensive set of palliatives to ameliorate the economic hardship on the citizens as a consequence of the inevitable removal of petroleum subsidy. As you are aware, the Federal Government gave each state a loan of N2 billion (with a grant element of 52%) to assist in funding the palliatives.

9. Ours is a government on the foundation of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). We are progressives, and the welfare of the ordinary Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable, remains our primary focus. The motto is: “Be your brother’s and sister’s keeper”. For us, there is no better time to rise up to the full essence of our motto and ideological stance on behalf of ordinary people than now.

10. Consequently, even before the removal of subsidy, we had earlier increased the salary of public servants by 10% effective from January 2023, and this translates to over N2 billion in 2023 (excluding local governments and teachers). We also granted all public servants and pensioners (about 59,000 persons) a non-taxable cash award of N12,000 per month spanning September to December 2023. This amounts to about N2.83 billion. Beginning from today, 200,000 bags of 10kg bags of rice will be distributed to vulnerable persons across the 326 wards in Anambra (costing over N2 billion). Upon assumption of office, we met 4-year gratuity arrears for state and local government retirees. We have been systematically clearing the arrears while everyone who retires since our assumption of office is assured of prompt payment of gratuity. Pensions and salaries are paid as at when due. We have also exempted the highly vulnerable persons from all forms of taxation/levies: hawkers, wheelbarrow and truck pushers; vulcanizers; artisans, okada drivers, and petty traders with capital less than N100,000. Furthermore, we reduced by 20% IGR payments by all transporters—keke, minibus, etc. Our free education policy and free medical services programme were also announced during this period. As committed progressives, we are determined to let the poor not only to breath but also to stand up and run. This is the essence of our mission.

11. Hon Speaker, Honourable members, Umu nne m Ndi Anambra!
After 20 months of systematic programmes to take back our state from non-state actors and addressing key aspects of the foundational challenges, it is now time to change gear. I am here to present the draft 2024 budget. With this budget, we are making an announcement that Anambra is Changing Gear, and that the promised Transformation Agenda now begins…! The transformation agenda is one that intentionally executes a new Masterplan of the state designed to turn Anambra into a livable and prosperous smart megacity. We are determined to change Anambra’s narrative from its current status as a “departure lounge” to a “destination of choice”: preferred destination to live, work, invest, learn and relax and enjoy!

12. Evidently, Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment remains challenging due largely to the missteps of the past. Sub-national governments are obviously constrained by the larger macro environment. However, we are determined to maximize the limited headroom available to create value for Ndi Anambra.

13. Consequently, and in spite of the humongous need, we present a modest budget of N410,132,225,272 for fiscal year, 2024, compared to N258,984,875,905 for 2023 (about 57.8% increase). Recurrent expenditure accounts for N96.2 billion (23.46%) while capital expenditure is N313.9 billion (76.54%). Budget deficit is estimated at N120.8 billion. Relative to 2023, some key sectors have significant increases: Administrative sector (50.85%); Economic sector (103.43%); Judiciary Sector (72.9%); Social Sector (60.24%); Education (140.88%); Health (169.55%); Infrastructure investment (119.84%); overhead costs (34.1%); etc.

14. While consolidating and expanding the ongoing programmes and projects, the emphasis on the sectors as indicated above signal new vistas. Three new cities are part of the new Masterplan for Anambra: Awka 2.0; Onitsha 2.0; and a new Industrial City (with Export Emporium and potentials for a possible future airport). An industrial masterplan is being finalized while the railway masterplan/feasibility study is also being completed. The US$200 million project development, advisory and financing agreement signed recently with Afreximbank is part of this new agenda. We will continue to address the Ease of Doing Business. With the completion of the Fun City, the myriad of infrastructural development as well as the coming of a branded international hotel in Awka, both Awka 1.0 and Awka 2.0 will merge to give Anambra a befitting capital city. Urban regeneration will be aggressively pursued. The environment remains our existential threat, and under the 2024 budget, we will intentionally accelerate our agenda on Clean, Green, Planned and Sustainable Anambra. Smart, Green cities is our goal. Our infrastructural development will deliberately target the provision of transportation system that will serve the next generations by targeting the dualization of key highways and modernizing our mass transport systems. A new electricity market will be created, and our security operations will be upgraded with high technology applications even with barely 4% of the budget for security. The 2024 budget signals a significant investment in urban and semi-urban water schemes, and we expect Ndi Anambra to see taps running again in 2024.

15. Yes, in the 2024, our students and teachers will smile as never before. Our youths and Anambra students in tertiary institutions will smile even more. The poor and the vulnerable persons have their back covered. Another 100,000 households or more will receive 10 or more seedlings of coconut, palm, ukwa, pawpaw, soursop, etc per household. We are mainstreaming the sports economy, and the state football team will debut in 2024. Several creative sectors other than tech will also be promoted. Yes, we will deepen our structural reforms regarding the delivery mechanism that emphasizes public-private-community partnerships (PPCP) especially in service delivery to the grassroots including the zero-pothole programme.

16. Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, I don’t want to bore you with all the deliverables in the budget. The full document is before you now. Suffice it to note that the size of the budget is indeed small — in real terms (purchasing power) or even in US dollars— when compared to some years ago. Prices of critical inputs, especially for infrastructure delivery, are galloping. But in spite of this, we are determined to maximize value for Ndi Anambra as we are currently doing. Recall that the 7th Assembly approved in 2022 for us to borrow N100 billion for infrastructure. We didn’t do so in 2022. For the ongoing 2023 budget, it was assumed that we would borrow N90 billion to fund the budget. Up until now, we have still not borrowed a kobo, and won’t borrow until the end of the year. In the proposed 2024 budget, there is a deficit of N120 billion expected to be funded through a facility from financial institution(s). Be rest assured that we won’t borrow unless it satisfies two stringent criteria we have set: a) it must be a concessionary loan; and b) it must be deployed to projects that we can show how they would pay back the loan in the future. Even with an estimated 66% budget performance for 2023, we insist on not borrowing unless it satisfies our set criteria.

17. Our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) remains a fundamental challenge. In the 2023 budget, we expected a monthly revenue of N4 billion. So far, we are averaging N2 billion, and we are still projecting N4.2 billion per month in 2024. This is a wake-up call to all residents of Anambra, and all Ndi Anambra wherever they may live. We can’t build the envisioned livable and prosperous homeland with our saliva. With the abundant resources that God has blessed Ndi Anambra with, there is literally nothing that we collectively set our minds to that we cannot achieve for our homeland. We have the Plan and the organization to execute. But we need resources. If each of us pays just 5-10% of our annual income as tax to the State, the Anambra of our dream will be fast-tracked.

18. Many people keep asking how we manage to fund the huge infrastructure projects and other programmes/projects without borrowing over the past 20 months given the state of treasury when we assumed office. The answer is simple: “Doing more with less”! It has involved extreme austerity and cutting cost of governance to bare bones. As can be seen from the proposed 2024 budget, recurrent expenditure is only 23% while capital expenditure is 77%. This makes a bold statement. Yes, we have been in office for 20 months but we have not taken any salary and have not bought any vehicle for the First Lady of Anambra. Before we assumed office, it cost about N137 million to clean public offices per month, but it currently costs N11 million to do the same job, with a monthly savings of N126 million per month. That’s how we do it here.

19. I want to especially appreciate members of the Solution Team, the honourable members, members of the judiciary and all stakeholders for their sacrifice in the service of our homeland. You are the generation of public servants largely paying to serve. We will never take your sacrifices for granted. We appreciate all the stakeholders in the Anambra project: community leaders, traditional rulers, church leaders, the private sector, international community, federal government, the media, NGOs, the youths, women, students, etc for their support. Your continued partnership and support will be critical in the delivery of the 2024 budget outcomes. I want to assure Ndi Anambra that every kobo you entrust in our hands will be judiciously deployed to maximize value for you. You have employed Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim and I to serve you, and together with our Solution Team, we will continue to work 24/7 to do just that.

20. Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, Umu nne m Ndi Anambra! Let me end by reiterating that this budget is your budget. The agenda is about your future and the future of the unborn generations. For me, we are not just working for the present and next generation, we are planning for many generations unborn. Say “I will” and great powers will come to your aid. Today, and in 2024, let us agree that it will be done. The journey has only just begun!

May God bless Anambra State!

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!

Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday was plunged into another round of crisis barely one month after the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara was threatened with an impeachment threat.

This time, armed police men again took over the complex as members loyal to both factions of Rt. Hon Edison Ehie and Rt. Hon Martin’s Amaewhule allegedly held separate sittings at different locations.

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No fewer than four police patrol vans were stationed at the entrance of the Assembly complex located along Moscow Road, even as human and vehicular movement along that Axis of the Assembly were restricted.

Sources said that about 25 lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule, sat early on Tuesday and reportedly deliberated on two items concerning the suspension of the strike by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PSAN.

The lawmakers apparently loyal to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike also called on the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate the explosion at the Assembly which razed the hallowed Chamber and destroyed several property.

On the other hand, lawmakers led by factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, passed a vote of confidence on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that they will swim or float with him.

Rising from a sitting on Tuesday from an unknown location, they commended the governor on his developmental strides and security initiatives to keep the state peaceful.

Ehie, in a statement signed by Legislative Aide, Ken Uchendu, said “it takes a man of vision to steer the ship of development for the benefit of the people of the State”.

They resolved to continuously give the governor the required support to accomplish his consolidation and continuity agenda to benefit the State.

The lawmakers also condemned the attack on Ehie’s residence on Sunday night as well as the burning of the House of Assembly and appealed to the governor to commence the rehabilitation works as soon as possible.

“Furthermore, the house impressed on the need for the Inspector General of police, and other related security apparatus of the state to investigate these attacks and bring the culprits to book,” they said.