Prince Abubakar University Teaching Hospital Anyigba currently under construction by the administration of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. *** Governor Yahaya Bello at work on the age-old erosion ravaged section of the road from Anyigba to the headquarters of Dekina LG and to the neighboring Bassa LG.*** Ultra-modern General Hospital, Under Construction At Isanlu-Yagba East LGA-Kogi State. Similar projects ongoing simultaneously in two (2) other locations in the state, ie, Gegu in Kogi LGA and Eganyi in Ajaokuta LGA*** The World Bank commended Governor Yahaya Bello for refunding $4.63 million surplus funds under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP)***  This app, is an Audio/visual excursion into the stewardship of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello*** 

Federal Government

FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU 29 MAY 2023

THE NIGERIAN IDEAL

My Fellow Citizens,

I stand before you honoured to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, unwavering. And my faith in God Almighty, absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity.

This day is bold and majestic yet bright and full of spirit, as is our precious nation.

As a nation, we have long ago decided to march beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope.

The question we now ask ourselves is whether to remain faithful to the work inherent in building a better society or retreat into the shadows of our unmet potential.

For me, there is but one answer. We are too great a nation and too grounded as a people to rob ourselves of our finest destiny.

This nation’s journey has been shaped by the prayers of millions, and the collective sacrifices of us all.

We have endured hardships that would have made other societies crumble.

Yet, we have shouldered the heavy burden to arrive at this SUBLIME moment where the prospect of a better future merges with our improved capacity to create that future.

To the surprise of many but not to ourselves, we have more firmly established this land as a democracy in both word and deed.

The peaceful transition from one government to another is now our political tradition. This handover symbolizes our trust in God, our enduring faith in representative governance and our belief in our ability to reshape this nation into the society it was always meant to be.

Here, permit me to say a few words to my predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr President, you have been an honest, patriotic leader who has done his best for the nation you love. On a more personal note, you are a worthy partner and friend. May History be kind to you.

For many years, Nigeria’s critics have trafficked the rumour that our nation will break apart, even perish.

Yet here we are. We have stumbled at times, but our resilience and diversity have kept us going.

Our burdens may make us bend at times, but they shall never break us.

Instead, we stand forth as Africa’s most populous nation and as the best hope and strongest champion of the Black Race.

As citizens, we declare as one unified people devoted to one unified national cause, that as long as this world exists, NIGERIA SHALL EXIST.

Today, Fate and Destiny join together to place the torch of human progress in our very hands. We dare not let it slip.

We lift high this torch so that it might shine on every household and in every heart that calls itself Nigerian. We hold this beam aloft because it lights our path with compassion, brotherhood, and peace. May this great light never EXTINGUISH.

Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it.

In this vein, may I offer a few comments regarding the election that brought us to this juncture. It was a hard fought contest. And it was also fairly won. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has not held an election of better quality.

The outcome reflected the will of the people. However, my victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.

They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore.

They have taken their concerns to court. Seeking legal redress is their right and I fully defend their exercise of this right. This is the essence of the rule of law.

Over six decades ago, our founding fathers gave bravely of themselves to place Nigeria on the map as an independent nation.

We must never allow the labor of those who came before us to wither in vain but to blossom and bring forth a better reality.

Let us take the next great step in the journey they began and believed in.

Today, let us recommit our very selves to placing Nigeria in our hearts as the indispensable home for each and every one of us regardless of creed, ethnicity, or place of birth.

My supporters, I thank you. To those who voted otherwise, I extend my hand across the political divide. I ask you to grasp it in national affinity and brotherhood. For me, political coloration has faded away. All I see are Nigerians.

May we uphold these fitting and excellent notions as the new Nigerian ideal.

My fellow compatriots,

The Nigerian ideal which I speak of is more than just an improvement in economic and other statistics. These things are important; but they can never convey the fullness of our story.

Our mission is to improve our way of life in a manner that nurtures our humanity, encourages compassion toward one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us.

Our constitution and laws give us a nation on paper. We must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding. Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity.

The South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests are served when good comes to the North. The North must see the South likewise.

Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people. As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.

In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme. Today, permit me to outline in broad terms a few initiatives that define our concept of progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal:

The principles that will guide our administration are simple:

1. Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.

2. We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our subregion.

3. We shall remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty.

4. In our administration, Women and youth will feature prominently.

5. Our government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.

SECURITY

Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE.

We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay and firepower.

THE ECONOMY

On the economy, we target a higher GDP growth and to significantly reduce unemployment.

We intend to accomplish this by taking the following steps:

First, budgetary reform stimulating the economy without engendering inflation will be instituted.

Second, industrial policy will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.

Third, electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well.

I have a message for our investors, local and foreign: our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions.

We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home.

JOBS

My administration must create meaningful opportunities for our youth. We shall honour our campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.

Our government also shall work with the National Assembly to fashion an omnibus Jobs and Prosperity bill. This bill will give our administration the policy space to embark on labour-intensive infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly and vulnerable.

Agriculture

Rural incomes shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products. A nationwide programme for storage and other facilities to reduce spoilage and waste will be undertaken.

Agricultural hubs will be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processing. The livestock sector will be introduced to best modern practices and steps taken to minimize the perennial conflict over land and water resources in this sector.

Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less.

INFRASTRUCTURE

We shall continue the efforts of the Buhari administration on infrastructure. Progress toward national networks of roads, rail and ports shall get priority attention.

FUEL SUBSIDY

We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.

MONETARY POLICY

Monetary policy needs thorough housecleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy.

Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.

Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians. The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.

FOREIGN POLICY

Given the world in which we reside, please permit a few comments regarding foreign policy.

The crisis in Sudan and the turn from democracy by several nations in our immediate neighbourhood are of pressing concern.

As such, my primary foreign policy objective must be the peace and stability of the West African subregion and the African continent. We shall work with ECOWAS, the AU and willing partners in the international community to end extant conflicts and to resolve new ones.

As we contain threats to peace, we shall also retool our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental quest for collective prosperity.

Conclusion

This is the proudest day of my life. But this day does not belong to me. It belongs to you, the people of Nigeria.

On this day, Nigeria affirms its rightful place among the world’s great democracies. There, Nigeria shall reside forever.

The course of our past and the promise of the future have brought us to this exceptional moment.

In this spirit, I ask you to join me in making Nigeria a more perfect nation and democracy such that the Nigerian ideal becomes and forever remains the Nigerian reality.

With full confidence in our ability, I declare that these things are within our proximate reach because my name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

May God bless you and May He bless our beloved land.

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT

Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara States lead the way, as Supreme Court Decides Implementation of Naira Redesign Policy

The Nigerian Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment on March 3rd, 2023 on the Federal Government’s naira redesign policy, bringing an end to a sharp but serious legal skirmish between some state governments led by the trio of Kogi, Kaduna and Zamfara and the federal government of Nigeria on the controversial implementation of the Naira Redesign policy by the later.

In a nutshell, the apex court nullified the policy and declared it an affront to the 1999 Constitution. The Court also ordered that the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes should remain in circulation until the 23rd of December, 2023.

It would be recalled that the naira redesign policy was announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take control of the naira in circulation, manage inflation, combat counterfeiting, and ransom payment. However, the acute scarcity of the new notes made the deadline unfeasible, prompting the bank, with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, to extend the legal tender status of the old notes until 10 February.

Three state governments (Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara) sued the federal government at the Supreme Court for a reversal of the policy on 3 February, citing the hardship the continued scarcity of naira notes brought to their people. The number of plaintiffs rose to 16 after six new states were added to the three initial plaintiffs during the hearing of the case on 22 February, three days to the national elections held on 25 February.

The biting cash crunch featured as a major issue in the lead-up to the elections, with many fearing that it could derail the process. The National Assembly asked the CBN to extend the deadline for acceptance of the old naira notes by six months, but the apex bank only extended it by ten days, citing that the deadline was not going to be extended further.

While the CBN’s redesign of the banknotes was done with the best of intentions, it was met with opposition from Nigeria’s finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, and APC presidential candidate, Mr Tinubu, who said during his campaigns that the policy was orchestrated to ensure his defeat in the election. The World Bank, IMF, and other international development agencies also advised the federal government to avoid implementing such a heavily disruptive policy with such haste, but all entreaties were ignored.

The Supreme Court’s interim order suspended the implementation of the deadline set by the federal government and directed that the old and new notes should continue to circulate. However, the CBN insisted that the old notes had stopped being legal tender after the 8 February deadline, while the scarcity of the new notes persisted. The stage was set for an epic battle at the Supreme Court.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court declared that the demonetization policy of the Federal Government was inconsistent with the CBN Act. It also declared that the President cannot make a unilateral policy without carrying the Plaintiffs along and that in issuing the policy, the President was under an obligation to carry the National Council of States along. The Court further stated that the policy had impeded the functions of state governments and that the directive of the President was illegal.

The Nigerian apex court’s decision has provided critical clarity on the legality of the naira redesign policy and its implementation. The decision by the three state governments to take the matter to the Supreme Court was a bold move and has certainly expanded the constitutional liberties of present and future Nigerians.

The judgment is a clear indication that executive powers must be exercised in accordance with the law and the constitution. It is hoped that this decision will set a precedent for future cases and will ensure that the rule of law is upheld in Nigeria.

Click on the images below to view the PDF version of the Supreme Court judgement on the Naira redesign policy.

Kogi governor, shield of APC, says Senate President

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday, described the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as the “shield” of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

According to a statement on Thursday, Lawan spoke during the inauguration of Senator Yakubu Oseni’s constituency projects across Kogi Central.

“The Governor of Kogi State, , Alhaji Yahaya Bello is the Shield of APC in Nigeria, and therefore he is the Sarkin Yaki of APC in Nigeria,” the Senate President was quoted as saying.

He also commended Oseni for being invaluable to the 9th Senate despite being a first term lawmaker, noting that he had gathered robust experience, which automatically placed him in vantage position to lead the sensitive Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology/Cyber security, including membership of other committees.

He noted that the 600 capacity JAMB CBT centre facilitated by Oseni would have generational impacts on the teeming youths of Kogi Central who seek admission to schools of higher learning.

Bello had earlier highlighted the successes of APC in the state, just as he reaffirmed that his administration would not relent in supporting visionary leaders that could impact positively on the people in line with his party’s vision.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Edward Onoja, also noted that Oseni’s legacy projects across Kogi Central had been unprecedented.

In his response, Oseni commended the governor for supporting his dream to serve the people of Kogi Central as Senator, while emphasising that he would never act in a way that would jeopardise the confidence reposed in him.

2023: Group storms Lagos, says Yahaya Bello ‘ll fix Nigeria’s problems

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A group under the auspices of Rescue Nigeria Mission, RenMiss, has urged the youths in the South West region of Nigeria to support the 2023 presidential aspiration of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello inorder to ensure vibrant representation in changing the political narrative of Nigeria in the interest of the masses.

The group, along with thousands of youths from across the six states of the South-West, gave the urge on Saturday, when they converged on Lagos to boost support for Governor Bello 2023 presidential bid, as well as the need for Bello to contest in the poll.

RenMiss which insisted that it was Bello or no other person for President in 2023, vowed to rewrite what they described as “Nigeria’s political history” of “recycling old, tired politicians”, vowed that they were ready to also disgrace money bags with their money.

The group, affirmed that like their counterparts in the Northern states, they were ready to mobilise heavily for the Kogi State Governor no matter what happens within his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

South West Coordinator of the youths, Shola Saheed, speaking at the South West Zonal launch and induction programme, stressed that; “We are excited today that all our youths are keying in. As we speak today, over 20 million youths (PVC holders), at home and abroad, are already actively involved in the struggle to install our own, Governor Yahaya Bello, as President. Others are already trooping in.

“We are set to change the political narrative, rewrite political history of Nigeria. We will not listen to godfathers (‘Baba sope’), we will collect their billions if they bring it, but we assure you, we will put Yahaya Bello there with our numbers. Bello is the only man in the race who can fix Nigeria myriad problems.

“Don’t ask me how we will do it. Just watch and see how we would rescue this nation resolutely and peacefully.”

Sajeed maintained that the youths’ involvement in politics was not tied to any political party, noting that with the capacity Governor Bello had displayed in Kogi State and within his party, they would queue behind him to rescue Nigeria.

“Mark today’s date. This is the Lagos declaration of Nigerian youths for Yahaya Bello. We will say we said so after his inauguration in 2023,” he noted.

The Chief of Staff to Bello, Abdulkareem Asuku, who was invited to witness the South-West declaration, commended the youths for their unflinching support for his principal and promised that he would not let them down on the call on him to contest.

He said, “Governor Yahaya Bello is the face of the youth in the Nigerian government system. Kogi State is the centre of Nigeria, being the only state bordering 10 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Hahaha Bello came on board as governor and governed Kogi State without a porous border.

“The economy and Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of Kogi State tripled within the short period. Such a man who has been able to transform the economy of Kogi State, unite the people and fix security issues in record time is the man Nigeria needs.

“The South-West youths of Nigeria are here in Lagos to call for a replication of what is happening in Kogi State in the larger Nigeria. Thank you for standing by the truth. Only the truth can address the challenges of Nigeria,” he affirmed.

South South lawmakers endorse Bello, pass vote of confidence in Buni

Forum of members of State Houses of Assembly in the South South zone of the country, on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), have endorsed Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for presidency in 2023.

The legislators declared the support of the zone in Calabar, a few days after APC legislators from all zones declared their support for the governor and also passed a vote of confidence in the chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

Rising from its extraordinary meeting in Calabar, capital of Cross River, yesterday, the forum said it would be the best decision for the leadership of APC to zone the presidency to the North Central in the spirit of fairness and justice.

The legislators, elected by the people of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, agreed that the North Central had been marginalised since the nation gained independence, adding that allowing it to produce the next president would be fair.

The lawmakers commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his purposeful leadership and also eulogised Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, for promptly connecting the state to the centre and for being the first in the South South geopolitical zone.

grow the party and attract eminent Nigerians into its folds.

Part of the communique issued by the forum read: “That we have painstakingly brainstormed on the political developments in APC, vis-a-vis the need for Nigeria to chart a course to a more secure and prosperous country and, therefore, decided to throw our weight behind the presidential bid of the Governor Bello.

“That we acknowledge that Governor Bello has, against all odds, forged ahead in his quest for the office of the president in 2023, and therefore, thank him for his tenacity.

“We assure him of our support. The meeting also agreed to call on the leadership of APC to zone the presidency to the North.”

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