Nothing short of a return to the drawing board to include the zone in some of the critical development projects, from which they had been excluded by President Bola Tinubu, would assuage the feelings of governors from Nigeria’s North East, who are currently in anguish over the development.

Rising from the 10^th meeting of the North East Governors Forum (NEGF), in Bauchi, Bauchi State, on Saturday, the body bemoaned what it called the neglect of the region in the distribution of Federal Government’s capital projects, stating that the area had suffered immense neglect over the years.

Citing road and railway, as part of the arears they had been sidelined, the governors particularly named the economic corridors linking the area to other parts of the country, adding that despite the cries over the years, this situation had remained unresolved, with the people suffering the consequences.

Lamenting that the exclusion of the zone from the National Infrastructure Plan for the transition from PMS to Compressed Gas, the governors, said: “The Roads from Enugu to Maiduguri is in deplorable State and the railway from Enugu up to Maiduguri has been destroyed. This is a major route for regional trade and very important for integration, peace building and improving national unity.

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“The Forum is calling on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of these basic infrastructure along Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor and inclusion of NE in all National Development Plans and initiatives. Forum regrets the blackout experienced by the our over the lack of electricity experienced over the last one month and the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the TCN in addressing this issue of National importance for the security and development of the country.

“Forum is watching keenly the commitment made by TCN to restore power to all the state of the region by the 27th May, 2024; accordingly, the Forum urged the Federal Government to direct TCN to take immediate action. The Forum has resolved in the short term, to set up a solar power plant that can generate a minimum 10 Megawatts per State.

“The Forum notes with deep concern that the Northeast, is the only region in Nigeria that has one transmission line supplying six states with a land mass of nearly 300Km square and population of over 35 million. This has made the region the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged for industrial development and economic growth with over 70% of its population below 35 years of age.

“The Forum therefore calls on the Minister of Power and indeed the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to implement the extension of the 330KV transmission line from Makurdi – Gassol – Jalingo linking to Adamawa – Gombe – Bauchi and the extension of the 330KV line from Kano- Bauchi- Yobe, linking to Borno.

“The Forum resolved to maximise the existing hydropower generated in Kashimbilla and Dadin Kowa dam which the region has not been benefitting from because of the Ministry of Power has failed to extend the 330KV line of Makurdi Gassol- Jalingo line. Forum notes that climate change and environmental degradation remains a reality in the region.

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“The Forum appreciates the various states for the policies they are putting in place to reclaim the environment. It called for a more sustained and coordinated regional onslaught to reverse the speed of desertification in the region.

“The Forum also charges the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) to be consultative in its dealings, operation and project prioritisation. It calls on the NEDC to work with the States in the region for Energy Development to unlock the energy potentials of the region and lessen the energy paucity burden of the people.”

Nigeria is witnessing too much injustice and dishonesty that must be fought with everything by all good men in the country, Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the February 25, 2023 election has said.

Atiku, who claimed that he was still very much around and would always join in the battle to rid the nation of these vices, told BBC Hausa Service, on Friday, that it was for this reason that he had been meeting with people of like minds, including Peter Obi, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart and former running mate in the 2019 election.

Atiku, who had attempted the presidential race in Nigeria a record six times, told his host that he would not mind supporting Obi in the coming 2027 presidential election, acknowledging that there was a high-level discussion not only on creating a fresh working political alliance, but that he might be supporting the former Governor of Anambra State to emerge Nigerian President in 2027.

But the former VP, between 1999 and 2007, who said he was not retiring yet from partisan politics and would actually remain in it for as long as his strength would carry him, left a caveat to support his old ally – the PDP, must zone the presidency specifically to the South East for that to happen

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His words: “This is to anybody that thinks there is going to be a misunderstanding between me and Obi, let me assure you that not even a small issue is going to happen between us. Also we are going to be behind anybody that will be chosen to represent us in the forthcoming elections.

“I have made it clear in my previous speeches that if our parties are going to merge to agree on a candidate from the south-east, as long as he is qualified, we will allow it. At this moment we are meeting and making arrangements to unite the party and take it to a more promising point.

“If there is anybody thinking we would be moving backwards, keeping quiet to the dishonesty and injustice happening to the people of Nigeria, then I think he is daydreaming because I am still very much active in political activities.”

Here is the full interview:

You had a meeting with Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections. What was the reason for the meeting?

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It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often had, particularly we in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and for the country’s interest.

People are saying the meeting was to form a merger or alliance between your party, PDP, and Labour Party. Is that possible?

Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible and nothing can stop it if we so wish to achieve that.

But the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the effort?

That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t arise.

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Why do you think so?

I don’t think so, I know so. Believe me, the challenge will not arise. Or are you expecting it to arise? Just believe me that it won’t arise.

What if it’s required that both you and Peter Obi drop your ambition and support someone else? Will you and others support that?

I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

So if Peter Obi, being from the South-East, is the choice, will you support him?

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If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.

How is the merger talk going?

We are still discussing the issue, and in the right time we would make our position known.

When will you conclude the discussion?

I can’t disclose that for now because it’s not yet the right time to do that.

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After the 2023 elections you were expected to be quiet and observe, but you are still playing the opposition?

Yes, we can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place. It means you are not tired of politics of Nigeria? Not at all. I am still in active politics in Nigeria, at least, as long as God permits.

People are expecting you to give space to younger ones considering your age.

My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise.

So, there’s the possibility of you contesting 2027 elections?

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But that would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election.

But your interest is still there?

Until that time comes. Let’s just wait and see how it will turn out.

People are interpreting your recent meetings with various people as watering the ground for the next election.

It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practicing democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood.

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Many people lost their lives in the struggle. As a result, we would continue to ensure that democracy is strengthened in the country. We can’t watch from the sidelines as things are getting bad.

President Bola Tinubu killed the economy of Nigeria from the first minutes of his inauguration with his sudden announcement declaring the removal of subsidy on the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has said.

The former helmsman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who stressed that the raft of hurriedly and poorly thought-out policies implemented by the President, practically plunged Nigeria into economic ruins, added that the collapse started immediately by that pronouncement, which observers said was not contained in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023.

“The abrupt and shocking announcement of fuel subsidy removal by Tinubu on the day of inauguration is having a devastating ripple effect on the economy which Nigerians are now grappling with,” during his appearance on Daily Politics a programme on Trust TV, on Saturday, adding that the move was an aberration, especially when he was yet to form a cabinet.

The pronouncement, generated a cost push inflation due to the hike in transportation which is basically the engine of business for both the rich and common man in Nigeria, the former SGF, said, adding that the non-existence of the cabinet and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), worsened the situation, as there was no structure to address the consequences of such a harsh policy.

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Hear him: “I can only repeat what I said before. I’ve spoken on this before. First of all, I did say one time you came into government on the day you were inaugurated, After swearing in you embark on the first major policies that are very impactful on the lives of the society. It is like a cowboy, or macho man removing subsidy. At that time, he didn’t have a minister of planning, that should plan the outcome, the consequences to take care.

“You don’t have a minister of finance who will calculate the impact of this society. You did not even have the federal executive council that will approve that, you have nothing. As at that time, nobody to advise, nobody to break out ‘what ifs’ So immediately after that inauguration, Nigeria collapsed. It is like a balloon. Nigeria fell down. It deflated completely. Immediately transportation (fare) tripled.

“That week! I used to buy animal feed for my cows from Zaria, I used to pay N270,000 per truck. Immediately that week, I couldn’t buy anymore, because transportation alone was going to cost me N1 million,” he explained from his personal experience as a farmer. I couldn’t afford it because the cost of fuel just jumped up. Everything. Last week I bought some equipment for my farm. I wanted to transport it from Kano, they were asking me to pay N3 million to transport three tractors and only to be put in a trailer. One trailer carrying three tractors!. Everything has gone up. So that policy alone crashed everything.”

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