Allwell Ihunda, Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Rivers State, narrowly escaped an attack by agitated youths at the council secretariat on Tuesday.

Ihunda, also the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, encountered the angry crowd while approaching the secretariat with his aides and security personnel.

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Upon alighting from his vehicle, he was confronted by youths who blocked the entrance.

As the youths rushed towards him, Ihunda quickly retreated to his vehicle, aided by his security details who fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.

He managed to flee the scene in a black SUV, followed by two other vehicles, including a white Hilux Van, amidst a barrage of insults from the protesters.

Some of the youths were heard shouting, “That’s him, Allwell. Chase him. Who is he? Look at him, Mayor, is running. Chase him. Don’t run, come you will see pressure. We are not afraid of you.”

Despite attempts by his security to calm the situation, the youths persisted in their pursuit.

Ihunda had previously declared his intention to remain in office beyond the June 17th expiration of his tenure, citing a local government amendment law passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

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This law extended the terms of the local government chairmen by six months due to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to conduct local government elections.

A statue of Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was dismantled by protesters in the Obi Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions over the tenure of local government chairmen.

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The protest, led by angry youths, signifies the ongoing political conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.

The two political figures, once allies, have been at odds since Fubara succeeded Wike as governor.

While their public disputes had momentarily subsided, the issue of local government chairmen’s tenure has reignited the discord.

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Governor Fubara had ordered all 23 local government chairmen, who are loyal to Wike, to vacate their positions due to the expiration of their tenure.

However, these chairmen have refused to comply, citing a six-month extension granted by the Wike-aligned faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which argued that the extension was necessary due to the Fubara administration’s failure to conduct local government elections.

In response to Fubara’s statewide broadcast on Tuesday, directing the chairmen to hand over to their respective Heads of Administration, large numbers of youths mobilized to local government secretariats across the state.

In Obi Akpor, where Wike had served as chairman for two terms, protesters demolished a statue erected in his honor.

The demonstrators chanted “No more Wike” as they destroyed the statue, with one individual notably smashing the hat from the statue onto the ground.

The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized former deputy governor Philip Shaibu for his recent remarks against the party’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, labeling Ighodalo as an outsider.

The PDP urged Shaibu to resign from the party, citing his contradictory stance of undermining the party while remaining a member.

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Shaibu, who is still a PDP member, announced his support on Sunday for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the upcoming September
21 governorship election.

Shaibu argued that Okpebholo, being a local candidate, understood the state’s challenges better than Ighodalo, whom he described as an outsider and a product of godfatherism.

“We don’t want an outsider. We have experimented with an outsider and it is not working, so this time, we want a homeboy. We have only two homeboys in the major political parties; one is in the Labour Party and one is in the All Progressives Congress.”

“I chose to follow the homeboy in the APC. The man they are parading in the PDP is an outsider and we have also agreed that no more godfatherism in Edo. The man the PDP is parading is the godson of Obaseki and there is no way a godson can be governor of Edo State again,” Shaibu stated.

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In response, Rev. Olu Martin, the Deputy Director General of the media arm of the Edo PDP Governorship Campaign Council, dismissed Shaibu’s rationale as unfounded. Martin argued that Ighodalo’s background does not make him a stranger to his state.

“Because the candidate didn’t grow up in Edo, doesn’t make him a stranger in his own state. I thought Shaibu would tell us that the candidate he wants to support has the capacity, intelligence, knack for excellence, and smartness, which are the hallmarks of a great leader,” Martin said in a voice note sent to journalists on Monday.

Martin further criticized Shaibu for his contradictory position, urging him to resign from the PDP if he chooses to support the APC candidate. He emphasized that Shaibu’s argument is weak and lacks merit.

Shaibu had contested for the PDP governorship ticket but lost to Ighodalo, who has the endorsement of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

President Bola Tinubu will submit a supplementary budget of N6.6 trillion to the Senate for approval upon the legislature’s resumption in July.

Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu confirmed that the budget, currently being finalized by the executive, would be presented after the Sallah recess.

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Adaramodu stated, “The budget will be sent anytime we resume after the Sallah recess. I believe the bill and other important executive communications will be sent to the National Assembly when we resume in July.”

The supplementary budget aims to fund several key projects, including part of the coastal road.

During a briefing with the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, indicated that the budget was still being prepared but would address significant infrastructural needs.

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Bagudu explained that the supplementary budget arose from President Tinubu’s memo to the Federal Executive Council, where he highlighted the importance of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, housed within the National Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority.

The President identified transformational projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Road, and the completion of ongoing railway projects as key areas of focus.

Additionally, the supplementary budget will fund the rehabilitation and expansion of dams and irrigation schemes to boost agricultural production and support the use of CNG and LNG.

Bagudu noted, “The three roads, dams and irrigation, and railways are what Mr. President designated as infrastructure, renewed health infrastructure priority items.”

The minister also mentioned that the draft of the supplementary appropriation bill had not yet been submitted to the Federal Executive Council.

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He added that various stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, had shown interest in the budget and its alignment with the administration’s renewed hope agenda.

In his May 29 address to the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives, President Tinubu had indicated his intention to present the supplementary budget for the 2024 fiscal year, emphasizing its importance for national development.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the recent general elections, has strongly criticized the federal government for considering the acquisition of additional aircraft for the presidential fleet.

In a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi expressed that such a decision is both unacceptable and insensitive given the current economic challenges facing Nigerians.

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Obi highlighted that the move comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe economic issues, including high inflation, a depreciating currency, and widespread poverty.

He stated, “This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles. With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people.”

He emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens over luxury expenditures.

Obi pointed out that the presidential jets, which have an average age of 12 years, were purchased when the economic situation was more stable.

He contrasted Nigeria’s approach with that of the United States, where the vice president resides in a house valued at approximately $7.5 million, compared to the $15 million spent on Nigeria’s vice president’s residence.

Obi further criticized the high cost of governance, citing the example of refurbishments and the expenditure on new residences for government officials.

He called for an end to what he termed as “impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness,” urging the government to refocus on critical areas such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

He concluded, “It’s time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few.”

Obi’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among Nigerians who are demanding greater accountability and prudent use of resources from their leaders during these challenging times.

Former Accountant General of Nigeria, Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, has died in the United Kingdom, according to reports from The Street Journal.

Otunla passed away shortly after celebrating his 70th birthday.

Born on June 12, 1955, Otunla was appointed as the Accountant General of the Federation by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on June 28, 2011.

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He held the position until 2015 when he was removed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Otunla was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with two major cases.

He was alleged to have diverted approximately N24 billion intended for the severance pay of disengaged staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Additionally, he was accused of receiving N2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for personal use.

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In a bid to avoid prosecution for these allegations, Otunla reportedly refunded N6.3 billion to the Federal Government.

Aside from his role as Accountant General, Otunla served as a board member of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He retired from the Civil Service on June 12, 2015, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Otunla’s death marks the end of a controversial chapter in Nigeria’s public service history, as he was embroiled in significant financial misconduct allegations up until his passing.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has called for the establishment of a unified four-year tenure for elected local government officials nationwide. ALGON’s National President, Aminu Maifata, made this appeal during an interview with journalists on Monday in Lafia.

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Maifata argued that a standardized four-year term would enhance governance and ensure quality representation at the grassroots level.

He urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution to reflect this change, emphasizing the need for consistency across all states.

“The tenure of local government officials should be standardized to four years to allow us to fulfill our campaign promises to the electorate,” Maifata stated.

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“It’s unfortunate that in some states, local government officials serve only one or two-year terms. Such short periods make it challenging to deliver effective governance.”

Regarding the proposed N62,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, Maifata called for an increase in the monthly allocations to the 774 local government areas.

He stressed that this adjustment is necessary for councils to afford the new minimum wage once it becomes law.

Maifata, who also serves as the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, praised Governor Abdullahi Sule for granting autonomy to the local councils.

He urged other governors to follow Sule’s example to promote development, particularly at the grassroots level.

Discussing security measures in Lafia, Maifata explained the partial curfew imposed to curb the rising incidents of kidnapping and other crimes in the state capital.

He noted that the movement of motorcycles is restricted between 6 PM and 6 AM, and tricycles between 8 PM and 6 AM, based on security reports indicating that criminal gangs use these vehicles to commit crimes during the restricted hours.

“The security situation in Lafia has improved significantly,” Maifata reported.

“We will continue to adopt better strategies to ensure the safety of lives and property.”

Maifata concluded by affirming ALGON’s commitment to advocating for policies that support good governance and development at the local government level.