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BREAKING: Tinubu mum on Nnamdi Kanu, fail to proclaim new minimum wage
For Nigerians, especially from the South East who had believed that President Bola Tinubu, would use the occasion of June 12 Democracy Day to announce freedom for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, their expectations, came to naught, as nothing was said about the matter in the 56-paragraph national broadcast the President made to Nigerians, on Wednesday.
Also likely to be disappointed are workers in Nigeria, who had embarked on a stifling two-day national strike, last week to press home their demand for a new minimum wage, away from the current N30,000 that was introduced five years ago, as Tinubu also skirted on the subject, without announcing a figure, even with the threat of a fresh strike still hanging.
The Democracy Day, was instituted in 2018 by the Federal Government in honour of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, winner of the popular June 12, 1993 presidential election, who died in office on July 7, 1998, in controversial circumstances, a month after the equally controversial death of Sani Abacha, the military despot, who as Nigeria’s Head of State, ordered his detention, leading to his spending four years in a solitary confinement in Abuja, for insisting on his mandate, despite local and international outcries and pleas for his release, in a similar manner Kanu’s case is going.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, alongside other Igbo leaders of thought have remained resolute in their attempt to get Kanu released through a government rapprochement rather than the dreary legal process, a move which failed with Muhammadu Buhari, who rebuffed the option, but rekindled with Tinubu, in the hope that he would be more amenable since he was not directly involved in the schism that led to the current situation.
The belief in the South East, is that criminals and other fifth columnists have either infiltrated the IPOB, or completely seized the momentum from the organisation to commit atrocious crimes and the release of their leader, would douse the tension and mitigate the parlous situation, especially by restoring a clear leadership identity to the self-determination body.
Even with claims of back-channel moves, including from the Igbo leaders in government, including governors, Tinubu’s cabinet and the National Assembly, as confirmed by Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, nothing seems to have come out of the move, at least as yet, as Tinubu was clearly silent on the matter.
The lawmaker, the highest-ranking Igbo in Nigerian government hierarchy, who hails from Abia State, was quoted as saying during an appearance on FLO FM, Umuahia: “The last time I was with Mr President, I discussed with him the need for the elders of Igbo land to come, sit, and engage with him. I know that one of the topics that will come up there is our brother and the South East Development Commission.
“I will not truncate legal processes, but some of us are not afraid to identify with him and to ask for him to be released. Any other thing can follow up after that. So, that is what is going on at the moment, and those who are close to him will assure you that we are working closely on this mandate. Is it achievable? The answer is yes.
“And I am happy with the statement that he (Kanu) made the last time he was in court. He said all those who are causing violence are not IPOB people and that anybody who is using his name to be causing violence is a hater of Ndi Igbo. Look, Igbos are not known for violence. We are known for trade and being creative. Call it Nollywood, we are the engine room that started the creative industry. We are not thieves, not known for violence. We put our energy towards creating wealth. We are not life killers, and anybody coming now to introduce what is strange to us. It’s either the person is not an Igbo man, or we should question where he is coming from.”
But while Tinubu was totally silent on Kanu, he offered explanation on the minimum wage issue, saying the government was readying all the papers to send its proposal to the National Assembly to promulgate a new package, but failed to name a figure, after offering N62,000 last week, which organised labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organised labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less,” Tinubu, told an expectant nation Wednesday.
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
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