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Subsidy removal, good policy wrongly implemented – Ezekwesili

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Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has described President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy as a good reform implemented wrongly, saying the policy has worsened poverty and inflation in Nigeria.

Speaking on Monday during a panel session at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association  conference in Enugu, Ezekwesili said defending the current administration was a “Herculean task” given its “wrong-headed policies.”

“You can have the right policies, but if you implement them the wrong way, there will be problems,” she said. “The subsidy removal was not prepared for. It was a good reform done the wrong way. Inflation is punishing the populace, and the poor have nowhere to run.”

She faulted President Tinubu’s abrupt declaration of “Subsidy is gone,” arguing that it plunged millions into penury. “Inflation hits the poor so hard. This was a reform done wrongly,” she insisted.

Ezekwesili also urged lawyers and the judiciary to resist prebendal politics and avoid endorsing practices that enrich the political elite at the expense of the masses.

“The idea that politics is the pathway to wealth is an anomaly,” she said. “Any profession that rewards such behaviour cannot claim to care about tomorrow. We have 133 million Nigerians living in poverty, yet the political class continues to fail them.

The legal profession must not reward prebendalism.”

In his keynote address, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, emphasised the need for Nigeria to prioritise research and development to drive sustainable economic growth.

“Four of the five biggest economies in the world are also the highest spenders on R&D,” he said. “A firm that fails to invest in research cannot grow beyond its research. In 2022, Nigeria spent 96.3 per cent of its revenue on debt servicing, leaving little for capital projects. We promoted consumption over investment and production, but we are working to correct that.”

Ojo urged lawyers to review outdated laws governing the fire service and correctional services, while stressing the importance of channeling resources into both infrastructure and research.

Another panelist, George Etomi, expressed concern about the judiciary’s independence.

“Our judiciary was more independent under the military,” he lamented. “Democracy is being abused today. We must protect the judiciary.”

Participants at the session also expressed dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s economic policies. When asked whether the country was on the right track, the majority responded “no.” Similarly, when asked if their hope had been renewed under the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” the answer was again a resounding “no.”

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Rep. Nkwonta Facilitates With Constituents, Nigerians On Easter

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 ……

Enjons Them  To Imbibe Christ -Like  Virtues

The Member, representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has enjoined his Constituents and Nigerians, to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, hope, patience, humility and love for humanity as exemplified by Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the real essence of Easter Celebration.

In a statement personally signed by the Legislator, he called on his Constituents and the Christian Community in Nigeria to demonstrate Christ-like virtues of love for humanity, hope for a better future, peaceful and harmonious disposition in their dealings with one another for a United Ukwa Federal Constituency and indeed Nigeria, where brotherly love reigns amongst Citizens.

He maintained that despite the prevailing temporary economic difficulties; there is light at the end of the tunnel and strong hope for a better, improved and secured economy within a short period of time.

Hon. Nkwonta, wished everyone a hitch free and joyous Easter Celebration!

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Police, Lawyer Trade Tackles Over Killing Of Peace Moses By Hit-And-Run Convoy

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The Rivers State Police Command has declared that the tragic death of a 26-year-old lady, Peace Moses, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was not reported in any of its divisions or units across the state.

Peace was knocked down last Monday evening by a convoy of about 15 fast-moving vehicles around Omega Junction along Ada-George Road in Port Harcourt.

She was returning from an evening service at her church, Love Channel Christian Centre, also located along Ada-George Road, when the tragic incident occurred.

Last Thursday, a candlelight procession was organised in her honour by her friends and neighbours.

Speaking with our correspondent  in Port Harcourt yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), wondered why neighbours could not report the incident to the Police.

Iringe-Koko stated that even the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Rumuepirikom Police Division was unaware of the tragic incident.

“Probably they didn’t report any such incident to the Police Station because the DPO in charge of that area is asking me where and when the incident occurred.

See, if they don’t report cases to the Police, how would the Police know? We are not magicians. I just spoke with the DPO, and she said she is not aware of anything like that.

“Somebody needs to report or anyhow, information needs to get through so that we too will get it,” she said.

But reacting to the claim by the Police, a human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu, said that, with or without a report on the tragic incident, the Police are duty-bound to investigate the matter.

Nsirimovu said: “The duty of the Nigerian police is to secure lives and properties, and where a life has been lost in such grievous circumstances, the police have a duty to investigate the matter on the basis of their mandate and the public need to prevent such a menace to human life.

“The Police have a duty to investigate the matter, with or without a petition.”

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Nigerians may seek third term for Tinubu – Oluwo

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The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Sunday said many Nigerians might seek a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Tinubu to remain in office beyond two terms.

The monarch, in a congratulatory message by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli, to celebrate Tinubu’s 74th birthday, described the President as a decisive leader who has laid a renewed foundation of hope for the country.

“Many Nigerians may beg for a constitutional review for Tinubu to spend more than two terms in office. He is a leader who knows what he is doing,” he said.

Oluwo said the President had distinguished himself through what he described as a firm campaign against illegalities that had stalled the country’s economic growth.

He added that the President’s administrative prowess had driven notable gains, citing improvements in the naira, a rise in foreign reserves from about $1bn to between $49.5bn and $50.45bn as of late February/March 2026, and strengthened economic indices.

The monarch attributed the gains to structural reforms, including exchange rate unification, increased oil output and higher foreign investment inflows.

Oluwo also commended Tinubu for granting local government autonomy, increasing allocations to states, expanding road infrastructure and improving palliative distribution at the grassroots.

According to him, past leaders attempted similar economic reforms but were overwhelmed by public and political pressure.

He said only a capable leader could implement tough but necessary decisions to reposition the economy.

‎Oluwo added that the President’s policies had begun to impact the standard of living, noting that the next phase would be stability.

‎He said, “You are not yet a capable leader until you make decisions and stand by them. Many past presidents attempted to remove obstacles to economic prosperity but were overrun by public outcries. Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon leadership through reforms.

‎“Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased to over $49.5bn from about $1bn. Local government autonomy is taking effect, states earn more, and road projects, including Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Sokoto-Badagry, are ongoing.”

 

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