General News
Senate okays Okotete’s nomination over laudable achievements in NEXIM Bank
The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, acknowledged the laudable achievements of the Executive Director (Business Development) of Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), Hon. Stella Okotete, in growing the non oil exports and business fortunes of the Bank.
The commendation came after the Senator representing Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone moved a motion at the ongoing ministerial screening exercise, urging his colleagues to allow Ms. Okotete take a bow and leave.
Hon. Okotete, former National Women Leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and currently serving as ED Business Development at NEXIM Bank, was President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee from Delta State.
Senator Dafinone, while moving the motion, said he had had opportunity of working with Ms. Okotete during his one year stay as Non-Executive Director with NEXIM, adding that the nominee was the engine room of the international reputable bank.
“What the nominee did not mention was that, her position as the Executive Director of Business Development Unit, means she was at the engine room of the bank. The Business Development Unit, is the operational department of the NEXIM Bank. So, she was in charge of the operations of the Bank and in that capacity, she was able to grow the balance sheet of the Bank and she has done exceptionally well.
“I want to add also, that as a young woman, she has also favoured the youth and women in her policies at the bank, aside the policies she had done at home, encouraging young people in various departments and empowerment programs.
“She has also been instrumental in growing non oil exports and as at today, the non oil exports are the key focus of this administration, as we protect the need to grow our economy in the background of dwindling oil reserves and in move globally away from foisting fuel, to a more sustainable forms of energy.
“My Colleagues said she has distinguished herself already, what I need to add is that, I speak for my 2 Colleagues from Delta State who are both fully in support of the nominee, and to ask Distinguished Members, if the nominee from Delta State, could please be recognized for her good work in NEXIM Bank, with the background that, she has served one complete term at NEXIM Bank and that the term has been renewed about a year ago, which shows she has distinguished herself at the Bank.
“With that Mr. President, I urge that Distinguished Members, do ask the nominee from Delta State to please take a bow”, Senator Dafinone told his Colleagues.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the ministerial screening, also attested to the role of Ms. Okotete in women and youth development as the Women Leader of the ruling party, APC.
He said, “honestly, when she mentioned that she was a women leader of the greatest party in Africa, I just remembered that we are all from political parties and in normal circumstances, the party is supreme”.
Akpabio also went further to poll the question for the nominee to take a bow and the response was in affirmative with overwhelming and resounding AYES.
Earlier, while giving a short profile of herself, the nominee, who was born in 1984, took the Senate through the journey of her career and achievements recorded, especially in women and youth development, as well as her exploits at the NEXIM Bank.
Her words: “The immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammad Buhari, in 2017, found me worthy and appointed me, in line with the Act of Export and Import Bank, sections 11, 8 and 14 , as Executive Director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), in charge of Business Development.
“The functions of the ED Business Development of the Bank, which I still hold till date, is to drive the business directorate of the Bank, to create quality risk assets and to also provide funding for exporters in the non-oil sector.
“When we resumed in 2017, we met a balance sheet size of N67bn. We had grown it to N256bn by 2022, when our tenure got renewed. We also met a bank that was already recording loses, year-in, year-out for 3 years. As at 2016, the bank had recorded over N6bn losses. Today, the Nigerian Export and Import Bank is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other global export banks and profitably as one of the leading export credit institutions in Africa.
“I was also the women representative, popularly known as the Women leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee in 2020.
“As Women Leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress at that time, I was able to bring to bear, quality representation to our women and we established new policy that helped shaped visibility for our women across board.
“One of it is the Progressive Women Academy, which was approved by the Apple Store and Google Store. It is an online academy where women can learn various self skills to make themselves not just visible in the business space but also in politics. I also understood, being a very young politician, that there was need to build bridges across the older women in politics and the younger ones, and I established the Progressive Young Women’s Forum, which was also a platform to groom future female Leaders and mentor them.
“I’m proud to say today that I have women who were part of my mentes, serving as Commissioners, elected as House of Assembly Members and also as Councilors and some of them are Special Advisers and Special Assistants currently at various state levels.
“I also created the lobby group of the APC Women and we were able to garvanise stakeholders to accept the responsibility to push for more visibility for our women. Based on that, when we did the review of the APC constitution, we were able to accomodate another seat for a woman in the NWC. Today, that’s the only party in Africa that gives 2 seats – Women Leader and Deputy Women Leader seats in the NWC.
“By the grace of God, I was also able to influence such platforms for women across the party structures at the state, local government and senatorial districts”.
US Property Scandal: Timi Frank Urges Tinubu To Suspend, Probe Wike Now
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Thursday, called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently suspend Nyesom Wike as minister of FCT and cause investigation to be carried out
on his US property scandal.
Frank who made this assertion in a statement in Abuja, called on the President to break his silence on the scandal and demonstrate the same commitment to accountability like the way he acted swiftly and unequivocally in suspending former cabinet minister Betta Edu over corruption charges far less serious than those now confronting Minister Wike.
According to media reports, Wike allegedly acquired property in Florida, and to hide the assets, he allegedly registered them under his wife’s name, Justice Eberechi Wike, and children, Joaquin, Jazmyne, and Jordan.
According to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle, President Tinubu’s silence in the face of overwhelming evidence of the houses in public domain is troubling.
“With detailed reports from credible sources such as People’s Gazette and Sahara Reporters, and with glaring evidence ignored by anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC, it sends a dangerous message that some officials are untouchable,” he lamented.
He urged the President to be aware that impunity and arrogance of government officials like Wike weakens citizens trust in governance and contribute to revolts like the Nepal uprising.
He commended Omoyele Sowore of Sahara Reporters and the Publishers of People’s Gazette for their courage in exposing corruption in the country, irrespective of serving government officials involved.
He warned Tinubu not to make any official in his cabinet feel as if they are untouchable or they are God.
He stated that the Presidency represents the integrity of Nigeria and must uphold the principle that no one is above the law, regardless of political alliances.
Frank added: “The reasons behind this continued inaction in the case are of Wike appear tied to the political calculations surrounding the 2027 presidential elections.
“However, allowing political ambition to shield corruption will irreparably harm Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
“The world is watching, and this selective justice undermines investor confidence and portrays Nigeria as a nation unable or unwilling to fight corruption—even within its highest offices.
“Furthermore, even when crises erupted in Rivers State, President Tinubu suspended only Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly members while leaving the Minister of FCT, Wike, untouched.
“This inconsistency fuels suspicions of favoritism and political shielding. Nigerians and the international community deserve to know why the President appears reluctant to confront alleged corruption linked to a close political ally.
“Selective enforcement of the law erodes national pride and makes Nigeria a laughing stock among peer nations, many of whom prosecute corruption allegations without hesitation.
“We urge President Tinubu to immediately suspend and commission an independent investigation into Minister Wike, just as was done with Betta Edu.
“The President should protect the dignity of Nigeria and the trust of its citizens by rejecting selective justice and political expediency. The integrity of Nigeria’s governance and its image on the global stage depend on it.”
From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja
The President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Rtn. Rosemond Favour Uche has advised Interactors to be selfless.
She also asked the Interactors to put service to the society above any gain.
She implored them to work peace wherever they may be because development thrives in a violence-free environment.
Rosemond gave the charge at a quiz and debate competition between the Interact clubs of J.S.S Dutse Alhaji 1 and Parliament School, Apo in Abuja.
“You are the future of Rotary International, I want to advise you to be selfless in whatever you do.
“You should know that until everyone is accommodated that there can be a just society. We don’t need divisions along ethnic or religious lines”, she said.
PHOTO CAPTION: The President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Rtn. Rosemond Favour Uche presenting a gift to Miss Civir-Ter Bemgba after a quiz competition organised for members of the Interact Clubs of J.S.S Dutse Alhaji 1 and Parliament School Apo on “Peace building and conflict prevention ” in Abuja while Rtn. Cynthia Igbokwe watches.
Rosemond pleaded with the young students to put service above any other pursuit.
She said: “You must put service above self. You should learn to serve the society to leave legacies instead of seeking personal gains.
“This is the main focus of Rotary International. We want a society where there will be a sense of belonging for all; we want a world where we will only serve and not expecting anything in return.”
The District Governor-elect, Dame Princess Joy Nky Okoro urged the Interactors to learn to be “good citizens. “
General News
Timi Frank welcomes Tinubu’s order releasing detained minors, urges FG to compensate victims
By Adeko Ukpa
African Telescope reports that a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Tuesday, described President Tinubu’s directive on the release of minors arrested and detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests as a step in the right direction.
Frank who made this assertion in a statement in Abuja, however, urged the President to equally order the release of all detainees being held for exercising their constitutional right to protest against bad policies of government because the “President is known to have embarked and led series of protests during the pro-democracy struggle and in 2012 when the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy.”
He urged the President to equally reverse some of his bad economic policies like the floating of the naira and outright removal of fuel subsidy which have brought untold hardship in the country and worsened the condition of living of majority of Nigerians.
He expressed commitment to commend the President when he takes a positive step in governance and criticize him when his action is against the wellbeing of the generality of Nigerians.
He called on the Federal Government to compensate the minors, after release, for violating their fundamental human rights and cruelty meted on them by the police who detained them for over three months under dehumanizing conditions without trial.
Frank said: “We warmly welcome President Bola Tinubu’s decision to order the immediate release of minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests from detention.
“The President’s action acknowledges the concerns of Nigerians and the international community regarding the treatment of protesters, especially minors.
“However, we also call for accountability and reform within the intelligence community.
“The fact that minors were detained for over 90 days without prompt attention from the President’s office raises concerns about the effectiveness of our intelligence agencies.
“We urge the President to investigate this lapse and consider replacing intelligence chiefs who failed to bring this matter to his attention.”
He demanded that the probe ordered by the President should start from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Commissioners of Police in-charge of Kano and Kaduna states who arrested the minors.
“This probe must not be swept under the rug, we shall monitor to ensure that the findings are made public and appropriate sanctions meted out to officers found to be complicit,” he said.
Besides, to ensure adequate justice for the victimised and oppressed minors, he urged the Federal Government to provide financial assistance to their families, offer the minors scholarships and enroll them in reputable boarding schools to help them overcome their traumatic experiences.
“The minors should also be availed the services of professional counsellors to address any emotional or psychological distress.
“By taking these steps, we can begin to heal the wounds of the past and build a more just and compassionate society for all Nigerians,” he said.
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