UP until the build-up to the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, were in a chummy relationship.
But in an instance of the instability of human relationships, the bond between them appears to have waned because against popular expectation, Fintiri chose to support Atiku against Wike, who the former eventually defeated to emerge winner.
Since then, Fintiri has left no one in doubt about his support for Atiku’s presidential ambition as they have been going in and out together. At Atiku’s campaign rallies, the Adamawa State governor has been visible, eulogising the presidential candidate as an experienced politician and illustrious son of the state, who should be supported in his quest to become the nation’s number one man. In return, Atiku has showered encomiums on the Adamawa State governor at public gatherings and eloquently recommended him for a second term as governor.
But in spite of Atiku’s praises and recommendation, the challenge posed by the candidacy of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Aishatu Binani, is not lost on Fintiri as she continues to pull huge crowds particularly among the youths and women in the state. She is also loved by many Christians in the state. Her support base was further boosted when President Muhammadu Buhari visited Adamawa State recently and told the residents to make history by electing the first female governor in the country.
Jolted by Binani’s growing popularity and crowd pulling rallies, Fintiri felt a desperate need to neutralise it by any means possible. Since he already has a sizable support from the Muslim community in the state, he hit on the idea of appealing to the Christian community and resorted to wooing the Christian voters, particularly those of them who are leaning towards the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi. During one of his campaign rallies in a predominantly Christian community, he chose to say some kind words about Obi, believing that his listeners would be persuaded by that to embrace him.
Well, how much vote the Obi card would fetch him in the governorship election remains a matter of conjecture. What is certain, however, is that his kind words on Obi has landed him in trouble with Atiku and the national secretariat of the PDP, who were said to be miffed by the gesture. Kind words for Obi in Adamawa, the territory of Atiku, Turaki Adamawa, and from a PDP governor? What sacrilege!
While the party has demanded an explanation from the Adamawa governor, Atiku’s loyalists are livid and are baying for his blood. Atiku was said to have wondered if the bug of Wike, who is leading the G5 governors in their opposition to his candidacy, has also beaten Fintiri. “Is that what Wike asked him to do here?” the PDP presidential candidate reportedly asked.
THE nation was treated to a mild drama in October last year when the news of plan by the Central Bank of Nigeria to redesign the naira hit the airwaves. Forty-eight hours after the announcement, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, who was at the Senate to defend budget estimates for her ministry, had denied any knowledge of the plan, saying she was not consulted.
But before Nigerians could recover from the shock provoked by her claim, President Muhammadu Buhari came out and declared that he gave the directive for the policy. Of course, the President’s declaration naturally sent tongues wagging as observers wondered why an economic policy of that magnitude would be initiated without the knowledge of the Minister of Finance. Others readily pointed to it as an evidence of disconnect in government.
Well, no one knows what has transpired between then and now. In more civilised climes, the shabby treatment she received when the policy was being formulated would be enough grounds to throw in the towel. But this is Nigeria. The reality, however, is that the minister has now turned the chief defender of the policy that has turned into a national nightmare, a monumental disaster.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents when she featured at the 65th session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja during the week, Ahmed said the current hardship, though temporary, is required to stifle corruption and gradually transition into a cashless economy.
She said: “Of course we are worried, we are not happy that citizens have to queue and struggle to get their cash but this is a temporary situation.
“Let me give you an analogy, this situation can be compared to a patient having a sore and while treating the sore, you must apply some iodine or spirit which is usually very painful.
“It is something that needs to be done at this time. But the Central Bank has been responsive in terms of providing some extension and also some explanation that before the closing date, it is not all over. There are still opportunities for citizens as provided for under Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, for people to take their old currency to the CBN for redemption.
“Mr President is not happy that citizens are suffering but there is also the positive side to it, which is that a lot of currency has been mopped up back into the system.”
Who has saddled the minister with the arduous task of cleaning up the vomits of the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in spite of contradictory moves and pronouncements? For instance, when he appeared before the House of Reps panel on Tuesday, Emefiele tactically blamed the banks for the hardship occasioned by the introduction of the new notes, knowing full well that the banks would not reply him.
On Thursday, however, he confirmed what everybody knew has been the cause of the hardship: scarcity of the new notes. In a directive it issued to the banks, the CBN had asked them to pay N20,000 of the new notes across the counter. The question is why 20,000 when an individual, by the CBN policy, can withdraw up to N100,000 across the counter per day and N500,000 in a week? The answer is simple: scarcity of the new notes.
By the CBN directive on Thursday, Emefiele unknowingly absolved the banks and now admitted that the CBN has been shoddy in its execution of the policy. Surprisingly yesterday, Buhari blamed the banks for the scarcity.
Speaking at a meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum who were at the Presidential Villa yesterday to seek solutions to the cash crunch which they said was threatening the good records of the administration in transforming the economy, Buhari said: “Some banks are inefficient and only concerned about themselves,” adding that “even if a year is added, problems associated with selfishness and greed won’t go away.” Poor bankers!
Tale of two political opponents
BOTH are renowned and respected in the traditional town of one of the North Central states. One is wealthy and the other a tested technocrat. They have mutual respect for each other, but they are eyeing the same seat in the next National Assembly. It is one race that has caught the attention of analysts and political observers and both are throwing everything they have into the contest.
The less endowed of the contestants is harping on honesty, probity and untainted riches as values while the wealthier is reminding the voters of service, empathy, and provision of amenities as factors to consider. Today in the ancient city, his philanthropy is unparalleled and the people seem to love him.
Sensing that this can be a factor in the race, the one harping on untainted riches is asking voters to ask his opponent how he came about his wealth. It is not enough to flaunt wealth, the source of it must be interrogated, he tells those who care to listen.
His opponent, on his part, is asking the voters to ask his fellow contestant why he didn’t ask that question when he assisted him financially not long ago. As the verbal missiles continue, SENTRY is poised to bring you the juicy details.