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BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Fubara meeting wit Tinubu na sign say peace don dey near for Rivers politics?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meeting wit suspended Governor of Rivers State for im Lagos residence dey fuel speculations say di State of emergency declared for Rivers State and suspension of di fit dey lifted soon? Dis meeting wey hold bypass di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for di political tok-tok, wey dey fuel speculations wey dey make many pipo dey feel say di suspended governor fit dey reinstated soon. Di meeting, wey hold behind closed doors for di President private Bourdillon residence for Ikoyi, Lagos, mark di second known meeting between Tinubu and Fubara in recent times. Di first meeting na a four-hour meeting wey happun for London. E hold while di President bin dey recover from medical treatment in Germany. One tin wey dey noticeable from both meetings na di absence of Nyesom Wike, di political godfather and critic of Fubara, wey don also admit say e bin no dey aware of di President plan to declare a state of emergency for di State wey happen on 28 March 2025, more than two months ago. Wike later confam for one media chat say e no bin dey consulted bifor di suspension of democratic institutions in Rivers State. Di imposition of emergency rule for Rivers State, wey President Tinubu announce after prolonged political unrest, lead to suspension of all elected institutions and di appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator—a move wey don draw sharp criticisms from civil society groups, legal scholars, and opposition politicians. 'Handshake no mean anytin until di State of emergency dey lifted' - Ann Kio Briggs' One of such pesins wey don criticise dis imposition of di State of emergency and a elder for Rivers State na Ann Kio Briggs, a notable Niger Delta rights activist. She tell BBC Pidgin say a handshake between Governor Fubara and President fit mean a lot of tins but until di State of emergency dey lifted and democratic rules reinstated for di State, e no make sense. Ann Kio Briggs say di State of emergency for Rivers still no dey acceptable and wen she see di picture of di handshake between Fubara and Tinubu, e still no remove di reality of di impact of di state of emergency on di State and di pipo. "No be about a handshake wit di President but na about weda di President understand wetin dey go on for Rivers State. Na about di President listening to di pipo of Rivers State and more critically, na about wetin Governor Siminialayi Fubara dey prepared to do for di pipo of Rivers State and to realise say just becos pesin dey prepared to do somtin no mean say dat na di best tin for di pipo, if di pipo no agree wit am. Foto dem wey di presidency release afta di meeting show Tinubu and Fubara dey smile, a gesture wey many pipo feel say fit signal say negotiations dey progress behind di scenes. 'Na good sign for Rivers State' - Henry Ekine For Henry Ekine wey be lawyer and di National legal adviser, Committee for Human Rights, say di handshake between Fubara and Tinubu na good signal as govnor Fubara wey still be di elected govnor of Rivers State get right to visit and interact with di President. E tell BBC Pidgin say e dey okay to speculate say such visit fit give an indication of a possible truce and lifting of di suspension on di Governor. Ekine say Section 305 of di Constitution wey President Tinubu rely on to declare di State of emergency na to di effect say di State of emergency fit dey lifted at any time, even a day after di proclamation. So e no mean say e must complete di six months wey bin dey declared bifor di emergency fit dey lifted. "E dey possible say about three months into di State of emergency di President fit exercise dat discretion or power again to even lift di State of emergency, but e dey important to note say di President fit lift a part of dat State of emergency e declare. "Di possibility dey say di President fit lift di suspension of di Governor of Rivers State and di House of Assembly while di State of emergency go continue until di six months end. "I bin don tok bifor say di State of emergency fit dey declared without suspending di governor or di House of Assembly. So e mean say di governor fit dey called back to office and di State of emergency continue for di remaining three months. "Seeing di President and di govnor of Rivers State in dat very cordial posture for di picture na clear indication say peace fit dey very close, especially as di Governor sef don tok say discussions dey go on. Dat na di best for Rivers State." E tok. Any end in sight? Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Ibas Rtd still dey kontinu to act as usual, wey dey raise concerns say di emergency rule fit dey extended or institutionalized. On Tuesday, e announce di appointment of 11 new permanent secretaries for Rivers State, wey e swear in on wednesday and dis action dey further deepen fears say di interim arrangement fit become permanent. Despite public silence from both di presidency and di governor media teams regarding di meetings, political observers note say di timing, wey dey come just few days to Democracy Day, dey suggest a calculated effort to restore normalcy while managing di internal gbege within di PDP and di broader political implications for 2027. Wetin Wike don tok so far? For media chat on Monday, Wike say e no get any personal grudge against Fubara but insist say di govnor go align imself wit individuals e describe as "enemies of di State," wey include former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, former Transportation Minister Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and former lawmakers Austin Opara, Lee Maeba, and Celestine Omehia—eey hin be former allies but now don turn rival. Wike tok and contradictions don further shake di political waters for Rivers becos as e dey call for loyalty to President Tinubu leadership, e also dey lament say e dey sidelined from critical decisions regarding im home state. Wetin Governor Fubara don tok so far? Meanwhile, Governor Fubara dey mainly silent since all dis tins dey happun. Wen e handover of state affairs to di sole administrator, Fubara urge im supporters to remain calm and avoid divisive actions. During Late Pa Edwin Clark night of tributes, e lambast some of di pipo wey dey protest about di State of emergency and criticise to dey careful with wetin dem dey tok and to ask am weda eem don check with am to see if e gree with dem? E say im spirit don comot for Goment House but e still dey committed to di peace process and to work in di best interest of di State but say e for good if pipo no use dia actions and toks to spoil di peace process Wey dey ongoing. For im Democracy Day massage on 29 May, e praise Tinubu for intervening in di political crisis and tell di pipo of di State to keep hope alive. As June 12 dey approach, all eyes dey on di presidency to see weda President Tinubu go lift di emergency rule and restore democratic governance in Rivers - or e go kontinu to play di long game for di political gameboard? Na wetim di pipo dey wait to see.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: $17.1mln was delivered in cash to Emefiele through his aide — Witness
A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday alleged that $17.1 million was delivered in cash to the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele through one of his close aides over a three-year span. Testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court, an investigator with the EFCC, Assistant Commandant Alvan Gurumnaan, said the funds were handed over to Mr Monday Osazuwa, who delivered the said sum to Emefiele at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence. Gurumnaan further disclosed that the money was received in batches between September 2020 and June 2023 from a businessman at a Victoria Island address. He added that part of the cash was also delivered to Emefiele's co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on the former governor's instruction. 'The total money given was $17,100,000. Mr Osazuwa collected these sums in various tranches and delivered them to Mr Godwin Emefiele,' Gurumnaan stated. According to the investigator, the discovery emerged during a sweeping investigation into alleged procurement fraud and abuse of office under Emefiele's leadership at the apex bank. The EFCC probe, launched after receiving intelligence, involved document requests and interviews with key CBN departments such as Financial Markets, Legal, Currency Operations, Banking Supervision, Human Resources, and Trade and Exchange. Gurumnaan also mentioned Eric Odoh, Emefiele's former personal assistant, as a significant figure in the investigation. However, efforts to interrogate him have so far failed, he added. 'He absconded and was traced to the UK, Canada, and other countries, but we have not been able to locate him,' he said. Another witness, Mr John Adetola, who served as Emefiele's executive assistant, told the court he once received $400,000 on behalf of the ex-CBN boss in 2018 from one Mr John Ayoh, following WhatsApp instructions from Odoh. During cross-examination by defence counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Adetola admitted there were no documents or saved messages to support the claim. He also confirmed that he was neither under prosecution nor promised immunity in exchange for his cooperation. Adetola further revealed he spent 11 days in EFCC custody but was never confronted with either Emefiele or Ayoh. Emefiele and Omoile are facing a 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office and fraudulent transactions amounting to $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion. The case was adjourned to October 7, 8, and 9, 2025, for continuation of trial. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
New European
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New European
The problem with Michelin stars
Plenty of bold predictions from those in the know were being flung about ahead of this year's Michelin Guide ceremony in Glasgow. That most of them came true is great for the restaurants and staff involved – but it may present a problem for Michelin itself. Not everything came off. Numerous chefs, PRs and food writers suggested Ikoyi, the West African-inspired restaurant in London, would be bestowed with three stars in 2025. It didn't happen. More still fancied Jason Atherton's latest high-profile London venture, Row on 5, to get two stars, despite being open less than a year. It gained one, so the fans were still on the right track. Many more of the hottest tips were on the money. Countless people reckoned Lita, the expensive but unerringly brilliant restaurant in Marylebone would gain its first Michelin star this year. Irish chef – and devout Crystal Palace fan – Luke Ahearne is building something special. There were more winning bets when it came to upscale restaurants in London. The likes of Cornus, Oma, Mauro Colagreco at Raffles and Caractere, Emily Roux's Notting Hill venue, each won a star, as everyone thought they would. Each of these is commendable but for me, none is standout. To nobody's surprise, the Ritz Restaurant was finally awarded two stars: it was a long time coming, probably long overdue. A similar vibe was felt regarding restaurants outside of London. A total lack of astonishment that Lyla in Edinburgh, Stuart Ralston's fourth restaurant and his most upmarket to date, won a star. It is a glorious place, one that parades the finest Scottish shellfish with aplomb. It was the same story when stars came for Skof in Manchester, where chef Tom Barnes – ex-L'Enclume (three stars since 2022) – mans the stoves. And for Wilson's in Bristol, another example of lively, progressive and comforting modern cooking. Even the UK's latest three Michelin-star restaurant, Moor Hall in Aughton, West Lancashire, has been touted to win the highest honour for some years now. Certainly its third star is well deserved and exciting. I visited Mark Birchall's northern temple to gastronomy in 2021 and have thought about it ever since. Finally (finally!) it is considered by Michelin as being one of the greatest restaurants in the world. But its success this time was also predictable. I think the fact Michelin has become so linear in the UK says two things. The first is hugely positive: Britons are continuing on our forceful march to becoming a nation of true food fans, much like France, Spain and Italy (all so full of stars it's like looking at the night sky through a telescope). Our three-star restaurants now number ten, four behind Italy and six behind Spain, and we have Michelin-starred establishments from Bristol to Cardiff, Birmingham to Manchester, Edinburgh to Bury-St-Edmunds. There is nothing to do with this information but be celebratory. But second, and I say this much less enthusiastically, to be too predictable is to be boring. Like Manchester City used to before they started throwing goals in. Unlike some of my peers, I remain a fan of Michelin for the simple fact that it means so much to chefs. It changes their lives through recognition and business. Stars, thanks to exposure and reputation, get customers through the door. That being said, I fear that the brightness of these stars will start to fade if Michelin doesn't up the ante. Why is it that there were no shocks this year? When the London sushi restaurant The Araki went from three stars to zero in 2019, newspapers purred. It was not a trade story but a lead in the nationals. When Clare Smyth became the first female chef in the UK to win three stars in 2021, it was front-page stuff. Rightly so. This year, Michelin produced a video trumpeting female chefs in kitchens, but no new female chef was awarded a star, weirdly. Joké Bakare 12 months ago became the first black female chef in the UK to win the prestigious award. Fast-forward to now and we are without anything explosive. It might have even been a little perfunctory. I don't wish to detract from this year's winners. Each one is worthy of praise and has worked hard to earn their place. But I want more people in the UK, not only diehard food fans, to have a real interest in restaurants; for chefs to make the front page like they do on the continent. And for that to happen, guides such as Michelin need to go harder and go bigger. Chefs must be vocal in turn. UK restaurant successes are something to be proud of. In 2026, let's turn up the heat.
