Politics
Palliative: We are yet to receive rice – S/South NASS members

Some members of the National Assembly in the South South have stated that no rice or fund was released by the Federal Government for constituents in the areas during the yuletide.
Reacting to the viral video making rounds on social media, the legislators and residents in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers said they were yet to receive such Christmas gifts.
The video claimed that the members of House of Representatives received N100 million while the Senate received N200 million for rice to be shared to their respective constituents.
The video showcased Mr Dekeri Anamero, Member Representing Etsako Federal Constituency in Edo inspecting truckload of rice meant for his constituents, while appreciating President Tinubu for 2,400 bags of rice for the people of his constituency.
But the lawmaker, representing Abak federal constituency in Akwa Ibom, Mr Clement Jimbo said that President Tinubu was yet to release N100 million to the Lawmakers as speculated in the video.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu or the Federal Government of Nigeria has not released any N100 million to the House of Representatives members or N200 million to the senators.
“I am a house member, the person in question is my colleague and the video is a lie because no such things happened.’’
Jimbo alleged that the Anamero was aspiring to be the Governor of Edo state, which made him bought rice and shared to his constituents .
He further alleged that the lawmaker tagged the rice with the President to curry favor from him and the party for his personal ambition of becoming the governor of Edo state.
Jimbo, however, said that the President and the federal government had plans to give the lawmakers palliatives for their constituents but the plans were yet to be actualized.
He added that the process had not been concluded to release any money or palliatives to the lawmakers, stressing that ‘’when it is done and money released, Nigerians will be informed.’’
Similarly in Cross River, Sen Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing the state’s Southern Senatorial District, said that no NASS member from Cross River received any rice consignment from the Federal Government as palliative for the festive season.
Ekpenyong, who spoke through his Media Aide, Mr Charles Ekanem in a telephone interview said that he distributed close to 2,000 bags of rice during the Yuletide in his senatorial district,
He explained that the rice was not from the President but from his personal expenditure and a gift for his constituents for the festive season.
“I contracted someone in Cross River who is a rice miller to package close to 2,000 bags of rice which were shared among my constituents, that was from my personal expenditure.
“The purported one from the President to the house of representatives members and senators has not been delivered yet, it is still in the pipeline.
“Although some house of representatives members have gotten theirs, I think it is those that have fulfilled the logistics requirements for the rice and it has been delivered to them, not everyone has received it,” he said.
On his part, Mr Bassey Akiba, member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency said he had not received any rice consignment from the Federal Government.
According to him, when he does, he would make it open to the public in line with his policy thrust of transparency and accountability.
He added that what he distributed to his constituents during the Yuletide as gift was a personal act of love and compassion and not from the Federal Government.
In the same vein, some residents in Rivers said they were yet to benefit from alleged ‘Palliative Rice’ from the federal government.
Mr Titus Jones, Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers, said that there was no Presidential palliative from the lawmakers during the yuletide celebrations.
According to him, we heard that President Bola Tinubu had requested the federal ministry of agriculture to disburse rice equivalent to N100m and N200m respectively to House of Representative members and the Senators.
“We are yet to get confirmation from the lawmaker representing our constituency as to when we should expect our disbursement, that’s if the rumour is true,” he said.
Similarly, a traditional ruler who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that some bags of rice were distributed during the general meeting of Chiefs’ Council held on Dec. 28.
He noted that such rice distribution during the yuletide celebrations had since been understood as a demonstration of benevolence by politicians and well-meaning individuals.
“Last year, we got some bags of rice from some politicians, the governor, Siminialaye Fubara and even the former governor, Nyesom Wike.
“None of the grains distributed was said to have come from the Presidency,” he added.
On his part, Rivers Information Commissioner, Mr Joseph Johnson said that he was not aware of a presidential palliative during the festive season.
He, however, said that he was also looking forward to seeing the state benefit from such support from the Presidency.
Politics
I won’t go on exile despite being told I’ll be arrested – El-Rufai

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has said that he has heard about his possible arrest.
A leader in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who was denied ministerial clearance by the Senate in 2023 on failure to pass security screening, has been locked in a war of words with some members of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The spat intensified after el-Rufai criticised the APC for ‘straying from its core values’.
In a post on X on Tuesday, El-Rufai, who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 17 July 2003 to 27 July 2007, said his adversaries intended to force him out of the country.
Responding to a post from X user, Imran Wakili on the alleged plot to arrest and detain him, El-Rufai, who disclosed that he is currently in Egypt, said he would return to the country before 20 February.
He wrote: ‘I will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.
‘They have sent such similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile.
‘I have now put all my previous academic and language-learning plans on hold. Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option.
‘The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.
‘There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it is when Allah destines it, and it is ultimately the date of every human.
‘For the attention of the pathetic characters that don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of Pres IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for 20th February.
‘We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah. We always hope for the best but plan for the worst’.
El-Rufai has since become an ardent critic of the APC government of President Bola Tinubu government
News
Another PDP lawmaker defects to APC

Amos Gwamna Magaji, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Magaji, who represents the Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, attributed his decision to unresolved crises within the PDP at both the national and local levels.
Magaji, a two-term lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Health Care Services, is also the Kaduna caucus leader in the House of Representatives. He serves as Deputy Chairman of the House Special Ad-hoc Committee on the Restructuring of Government Agencies and Commissions, which is reviewing the Stephen Oronsaye report. Additionally, he has been a member of several House committees, including Defense, Reformation Institutions, Rules & Business, Christian Pilgrimage, Police Affairs, FCT Area Councils, and Constitution Review.
Magaji’s defection makes him the third PDP member to cross over to the APC since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, following Chris Nkwonta and Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu.
However, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda objected to Magaji’s defection and called on the Speaker to declare his seat vacant. Citing Section 68(1g) of the Constitution, Chinda argued that while lawmakers are permitted to leave the platform on which they were elected, the law stipulates consequences, including the loss of their seat.
Chinda emphasized, “Members of the House are lawmakers, not lawbreakers. The lawmaker has not complied with the provisions of the law and should therefore be made to lose his seat.”
Politics
Kenneth Okonkwo resigns from Labour Party over leadership crises

Former Labour Party, LP, Presidential Campaign Council, spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has officially resigned from the party.
Okonkwo said his resignation from the party will take effect from February 25, 2025.
In a statement he issued, the Nollywood veteran said LP has been impacted by ongoing internal conflicts and challenges in leadership.
He vowed to join other well-meaning Nigerians to chart a way forward for the country in the area of governance.
The statement reads: “My entrance to politics is for good governance, and I will continue to work for it to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country of incorruptible men. This aim can no longer be realised within Labour Party as presently constituted.
“This resignation takes effect from the 25th of February, 2025, which marks the second anniversary of the presidential election of 2023, after which I will be at liberty to join other well-meaning, and like minded Nigerians in charting a great future of good governance for this great country blessed by God.”
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