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LP Lawmaker who supported N160Million SUV For Lawmakers, Says Nigeria Needs To Reduce Cost Of Governance

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11 months ago

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Mr Benedict Etanabene, a member of the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives, has said there is a need for Nigeria to reduce the cost of governance to move the country forward.

The lawmaker said this when he appeared as a guest on a live programme aired by Arise News TV, stating that corruption and reckless spending of public funds by political officeholders are to be blamed for the country’s lack of growth.

He said, “I have said it severally and we all agreed that the way we are running the government is too expensive. We must adjust everywhere.

Let me give one clear example: governments shout every day that they are doing bunkering, who are those that do bunkering? The same big men in government in Abuja here. People sell crude more than what the Nigerian government is selling.

We are not even meeting our quota in OPEC. So if we cut down (governance) and corruption, we will gain a lot of money.”

Meanwhile, Benedict was among the lawmakers who lost their voices when the leadership of the 10th National Assembly bought luxurious SUVs valued at about N160 million each for over 460 lawmakers in 2023.

The purchase of these vehicles was a subject of public condemnation, yet none of the lawmakers publicly objected to it as the National Assembly went ahead with the extravagant spending.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project filed a lawsuit against the purchase of the vehicles by the lawmakers

The civil group filed the action on the heels of the statement by Senate President Mr Godswill Akpabio that the Clerk of the National Assembly had sent “holiday allowances” into the “various bank accounts of senators” while the current government had pushed about millions of Nigerians into abject poverty.

In suit numbered FHC/L/CS/1606/2023 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP seeks: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to review and reduce the N40 billion budgeted to buy 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.

An order restraining Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas from demanding or receiving the N40 billion to buy 465 SUVs and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials until an assessment of the socio-economic impact of the spending on the 137 million poor Nigerians is carried out in the public interest.

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Politics

2027: No single candidate can defeat Tinubu – Kenneth Okonkwo warns Atiku, Peter Obi

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4 hours ago

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April 28, 2025

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Kenneth Okonkwo (ANDY)
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A former presidential spokesperson for the Labour Party, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said that no single candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He said the only choice before the opposition leaders in the country is a coalition.

Speaking on the wave of defections by politicians across party lines, with political heavyweights switching allegiance to the ruling party, Okonkwo said politicians moving to the APC are doing so for personal gains.

 

Ekwutosblog reports that many Nigerians are questioning the strength and stability of the party system in the country.

There are also fears that Nigeria could be drifting towards a one party state.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo expressed confidence that the coalition would be formed, though he could not specify who would lead it.

“Moving to 2027, I know that there will be a coalition. Whether it is going to be between Peter Obi and Atiku, I don’t know, but there will be a coalition.

“Why? Because that will be the only choice the opposition has to make any impact,” Okonkwo said.

He, however, made it clear that a failure to form the coalition would make Tinubu unbeatable, adding that the President would return to power “outrightly, he will just walk into it.”

Okonkwo strongly believes that that no one single candidate can win Tinubu in 2027 because “in Nigeria, we have entered into the unfortunacy that you will not only win but you have to secure your victory.”

He added that if the elites can come together like they did in 2014 to confront Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, they will unseat Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking on the reason for the recent defection of opposition party members to the APC, Okonkwo said it is the belief that the APC will write election results for them in 2027.

He said that “it is an absurdity that people will see a sinking house and be running into it for shelter,” adding that they were making the believe that “APC will write results for them.”

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori recently became the latest sitting governor to officially dump the PDP for the ruling party.

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Tinubu has failed woefully, might end up as one-term president – APC chieftain, Onokpasa

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5 hours ago

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April 28, 2025

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Jesutega Onokpasa
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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jesutega Onokpasa says President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully based on the performance of his administration.

Onokpasa stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, warning that the president may end up being a one-term president if he did not improve in his performance.

Onokpasa also expressed school why Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who he referred to as his cousin, defected to the APC.

According to him, the governor’s defection to the ruling party does not add any value to the APC or the state.

The APC chieftain reiterated that the ruling party should not focus on the defection of opposition politicians into its fold but on good governance.

Onokpasa added that the defections of opposition leaders to the APC negate the principles of democracy.

“It is not a question of people defecting to our party. It is a question of are we ruling well? In that sense, we failed woefully.

“President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully to rule well, provide food for Nigerians, and give succour in these hard times.

“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently defected to our party, is actually my cousin. I don’t have the slightest idea why he defected to our party. He did not inform me. I wish him well,” he said.

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Don’t expect anything good from Tinubu – Ex-APC chieftain to Nigerians

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6 hours ago

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April 28, 2025

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A former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has cautioned Nigerians against expecting anything good from President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

Lukman warned that Tinubu can’t achieve anything significant before May 2027.

He disclosed this while featuring as a guest on the Sunday edition of Channels TV’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akanda.

Lukman said Tinubu is not the kind of progressive leader he once believed him to be.

He maintained that Tinubu is governing Nigeria differently from how he ruled Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.

According to Lukman: “For you to even expect something very wonderful to happen before May 2027, I will say you are a dreamer, I will wish you luck in your dream, but if it happens, it will be a pleasant surprise.

“For me, I have reached the conclusion that I don’t think anything good is going to come out and which is why we have to start organising.

“I have said so, this country can be fixed in our lifetime, and I pray to God to give us the strength and courage to engage our leaders.”

He pointed out that the failure of the APC has made it necessary for the coalition currently being formed to be built on a very strong foundation.

“If having gone through the APC and failed, we now organise another coalition that will become business as usual, which is why this initial negotiation we are really engaging ourselves.

“So, we really have to, we owe it to Nigerians, and I am telling Nigerians that look, it is possible to fix this country in our lifetime,” he said.

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