PRESIDENT TINUBU ANNOUNCES NEW MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT; DIRECTS MINOR AMENDMENTS TO MINISTRY NOMENCLATURE AND PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of Engr. Abubakar Momoh from the Federal Ministry of Youth to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Development.

The Federal Ministry of Youth is to be re-assigned to a Minister-Designate soon.

The Ministers-Designate allocated to the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Interior, and Marine & Blue Economy have been reshuffled as follows:

(A) H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy

(B) Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Interior

Furthermore, both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations:

(i) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources

(ii) Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources

The President approves the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as the Federal Ministry of Environment.

All aforementioned changes take immediate effect by these directives of the President.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

August 20, 2023

Gbajabiamila pledges FG’s commitment to South East development

The Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has urged stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State to embrace peace and unity to entrench the party in the state and the southeast in general.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila spoke on Saturday, when he received Abia APC stakeholders in his house on a thank-you visit on the election of Hon. Benjamin Kalu as the deputy speaker of the 10th House of Representatives and other Abia indigenes which included Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha, the incoming minister of State for Labour and Employment and Hon. Sam Onuigbo who was appointed a member of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) by President Tinubu.

According to Gbajabiamila, unity was a sine qua non to achieving the lofty ideals of the party in the south East as he assured that the doors of the federal government under President Tinubu were open to them at all times.

He however enjoined the stakeholders to work assiduously to make APC the number one party in the south east, assuring that it will boost the fortunes of the region in no small measures.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the stakeholders through their leaders, Senator Adighije, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, the former minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu and a member of APC National Caucus, Chief Sam Nkire expressed gratitude to Gbajabiamila for facilitating Kalu’s election, the appointment of Onyejiocha and Onuigbo amongst others.

While applauding Gbajabiamila for mentoring Kalu, the leaders recalled with nostalgia that the mentorship started in the early days of 9th House of Representatives when the Chief of Staff as the then speaker gave Kalu the opportunity to move the first motion on during the plenary session.

They said it was no surprise that Gbajabiamila later appointed Kalu the spokesman of the House, a position, they said prepared him for his current office.

The leaders also appealed to the chief of staff to use his good office to attract more appointments for both the state and the region, pledging their loyalty to the Tinubu led government.

Sunday, 20th August, 2023

Press Release

ISESE DAY 2023 – Elegushi praises government’s recognition

The traditional ruler of Ikate Kingdom, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi has praised the Lagos State Government and other state governors who accorded recognition to the traditional festival celebration, Isese Day, saying that such recognition will promote inclusion and equality.

Oba Elegushi, who was speaking at the celebration of the day in his palace, said the recognition was long due, as traditional worshipers, are part of the society, they belong to the same community as other faiths and it is only appropriate they get their own holiday as a mark of respect to their beliefs as it is with Christianity and Islam.

Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the traditonal ruler, Temitope Oyefeso, quoted the king as saying he his happy that after years of making the calls to the government, the date is now on the calendar and recognized by the Lagos state government and some other governors in the south west.

The king also appealed to the federal government to ensure that the date becomes a national holiday, adding that believers who are not of the two known faith, also contribute to the peace and progress of the country.

Isese day, a day set aside to recognize and celebrate traditional religion worhisp is celebrated annually on the 20th of August.

Signed:

Temitope Oyefeso,

Special Assistant, Public Affairs to HRM

—

‘Tope Oyefeso (Mr.)

Special Assistant, Public Affairs

Office of The Elegushi of Ikateland

08023839100

www.hrmelegushi.org

ARE MUSLIMS SHORTCHANGED IN SANWO-OLU’S CABINET LIST?

We, concerned Lagosians, have watched in the past few days with keen interest the unfortunate attempts by some groups of individuals, Muslim clerics and organizations to discredit the list of Cabinet nominees of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The aforementioned interests have criticized the proposed cabinet composition, alleging marginalization of Muslims. The clerics have resorted to various rough tactics to malign the image of the Governor by dangerously using the media with indiscretion to paint him in the colour of what Mr Governor is not.

It is of note that in the true spirit of a true leader and a genuine “omoluabi”, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has displayed remarkable calmness and confidence in the face of all this provocation, knowing well that the peace, progress and prosperity of Lagos are his primary focus.

We view all the actions so far, including a protest march on the House of Assembly, as uncharacteristic of the progressive people of Lagos, whose major preoccupation is peaceful cohabitation, growth and development.

For the records, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a completely detribalised individual and a man with an open heart whose religion is humanity. He has run Lagos for over four years now without any form of discrimination whatsoever.

Specifically, the claim by these groups of persons and interests about the number of Muslims in the proposed cabinet is not correct. It has no backing in facts; nor in logic. It is all sentiments and emotions that are unworthy of all we stand for as Lagosians. We will never be proud of such potentially destructive and divisive tendencies.

The claim, obviously out of ignorance, in many media reports is that there are only 8 Muslims among the 39 nominees. This is FALSE. There are 16 Muslims on that list, which is out there for anyone to check.

For the records, of the 7 Special Advisers (non-Cabinet) recently appointed, four are Muslims and 3 are Christians.

The newly composed Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board has seven members; six of them are Muslims and one a Christian. There are three Distinguished Senators from Lagos State, all of whom are Muslims. Of our House of Representatives members, the majority are Muslims, same with the House of Assembly and the Local Government Chairmen.

The truth is that to achieve the excellence that Lagos is famous for, the government, in our view, looks out for competence. The task of running a mega city like Lagos State deserves more from the driver’s seat than religion and other divisive and destructive tendencies.

If such retrogressive seeds are sown and allowed to grow and blossom in our dear state, we will lose our vision and leadership in the comity of states.

Imagine traditional worshippers with all their special groups, such as Ifa, Ogun and Obatala adherents, also protesting that they are excluded!

We would like to appeal to all Lagosians, especially some sections of the Muslim community, who are pushing the discrimination narrative, to allow the State to continue to enjoy the peaceful coexistence of all religious groups and not sow any seed of discord among residents who only crave for service, not minding the religious affiliation of whoever renders such service.

To those who feel genuinely aggrieved (without checking the facts), we implore them to show deep understanding; that is what these times require.

We are making history everyday. Those who want to plunge our peaceful and cosmopolitan state into a religious crisis should retrace their steps. It is uncivilized and dangerous. Lagos and Lagosians will not join such an empty campaign.

SIGNED:

Razaq Olokoba,

Campaign for Dignity in Governance;

Ramat Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Women in Islam Network

Nelson Ekujumi, Centre for Social and Economic Rights;

Ajayi Popoola, Centre for Socio Economic Rights

Linus Okoroji,

Humanity Services Project;

Raji Rasheed Oyewunmi, Yoruba Citizen Action for Change

Gbenga Soloki,

Campaign Against Impunity and Domestic Violence;

Alex Omotehinse, Centre for human Rights and Socio-Econimic Rights;

Awakulu Galadima,

Women Integrity Forum.

Ramat Abdukrazak,

Women Grassroots Network;

Ramat IYANDA

Centre for promotion of Work ethics and Values;

Oliseh Charles, Labour Veterans;

Princess Abidemu Dosunmu, Salamotu Dosunmu Skill Acquisition for Women and Underprivileged;

Funso M. AbdulGafar,

Islamic Unity Network;

Akin A. Jimoh ,

NATIONAL Engagements and Interactive Network

Alesta Wilcox, Professionals in Politics

Peter Oparah, Patriotism Awareness Forum

Gbenga Omage, Lagos Progressive Youths

Wosilat Alarape, Justice for Women and Youth Initiative

Mukaila Jimoh, Centre for Conflict and Peaceful Process

Shola Omololu, Centre for Leadership and Democratic Ethics.

KOGI STATE CARETAKER COMMITTEE (KGSCC)

The National Working Committee (NWC) of our Great Party, the PDP, after extensive consultations with the Kogi State Stakeholders, has approved the appointment of the following as the *KOGI STATE CARETAKER COMMITTEE* to run the affairs of our party in the state following the expiration of the tenure of the then-elected State Working Committee.

The composition of the KGSCC is: