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Atiku accuses Tinubu of awarding Lagos-Calabar coastal highway contract to his ally

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Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of awarding the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway to an ally, and without any competitive bidding.

Atiku who made the accusation in a statement issued on his behalf on Sunday by his Media Coordinator, Paul Ibe, alleged that the company that won the 47.47 kilometres highway dual carriageway contract, Hitech Construction Company Ltd, is owned by a crony of the President.

He added that in awarding the contract to the company, Tinubu had put his personal business interests before Nigerian infrastructure by engaging in questionable dealings at the detriment of the country.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi had revealed last werk that work on the much anticipated Lagos-Calabar coastal highway would soon commence with the award of the contract to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, Umahi said the contractor had commenced work following the formal handover of the initial phase of the project comprising 47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway to Hitech.

But while reacting to the Minister’s statement, Atiku said the project was allocated to Hitech Construction Company Limited owned by billionaire businessman, Gilbert Chagoury, whom he described as an ally of President Tinubu “devoid of any documented competitive bidding process or decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

READ ALSO  2027: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu - Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Election Results

“The so-called pilot phase from Eko Atlantic to Lekki Deep Sea Port was initially conceived as a Lagos State Government project but because of its huge cost coupled with the fact that Lagos State has a huge debt burden no thanks to Tinubu, the Federal Government is now implementing it under the guise of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” Atiku said.

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“This perhaps explains why there are fears that the project will never get to Calabar, and this is the same reason the project is beginning from Lagos and not Calabar.

“Despite not revealing the cost of this entire project, the Tinubu administration is now on the verge of setting up a so-called Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, a fund targeted at constructing capital projects without the usual budgeting process.

“More curious is the fact that the entire pilot phase of this project begins and ends in Lagos, especially within the axis of Bola Tinubu’s business interests. It is no secret that both Tinubu and Chagoury are business partners.

“This same Hitech, owned by Chagoury, was unable to complete the 50km Lekki-Epe Expressway. Despite installing two tollgates along the axis, Hitech which was part of the Lekki Concession Company consortium, was only able to construct about 20km, forcing the Lagos State Government to buy it back at the cost of N7.5bn ($50 million at the time) in 2013, which came at a loss to the people of Lagos.

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“Tinubu has once again put his personal business interest ahead of that of the Nigerian people in violation of his oath of office where he swore that ‘I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions’.

“Umahi refused to reveal how much the project would cost. He only explained that it would run through nine states and would have a railroad running through the middle.

“Most importantly, the works minister said the project would come at zero cost to Nigeria, which is currently facing an all-time high level of debt.

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“The build, operate, and transfer indicates that Hitech would construct the road, operate it for a certain period, recoup its investment through tollgates, and subsequently return it to the Nigerian government.

“Because the project did not require public funds, it did not go through approval from the National Assembly, which holds the power of appropriation.

READ ALSO  BADLUCK: Father Mbaka's Prophecy On Goodluck Jonathan Resurfaces Amid 2027 Presidential Ambition [VIDEO]

“Also, the project only went through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission with no record of a competitive bidding since Chagoury’s firm was to fund the project 100 per cent.

“However, to the shock of many Nigerians, Umahi returned to FEC with a memo in March 2024 seeking the approval of N1.06tn that would be paid to Chagoury’s firm for the first phase of the project which is wholly in Lagos.

“This pilot phase was to begin from the edge of Chagoury’s Eko Atlantic City on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, and terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Ibeju-Lekki, a distance of 47.47km.

“Till date, the Tinubu administration has refused to reveal how much the project will cost in total. Umahi, who even came on Channels Television recently, evaded questions as to the total cost of the project.

“But if 47.47km costs about N1.06tn, it means each kilometre is being built at N22.5bn or $18m. For a project that is going to be 700km, it means the total cost could be N15.7tn or $12.56bn, which is higher than previous estimates,” Atiku said.

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Source: RIPPLESNIGERIA

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Politics

2027 Election: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu – Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Results

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2024 Budget

The race for the 2027 elections in Nigeria has clearly begun this year, with key political stakeholders aligning themselves and defecting to parties they believe will enhance their chances of success.

Atiku Abubakar remains a prominent contender in the presidential race, but he is not alone. Other candidates, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and even former President Goodluck Jonathan, are emerging with a common goal to unseat Tinubu in 2027.click link to continue reading 

READ ALSO  BADLUCK: Father Mbaka's Prophecy On Goodluck Jonathan Resurfaces Amid 2027 Presidential Ambition [VIDEO]

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2027 Election: ADC’s Coalition Dumps Peter Obi, Amaechi As Party Set To Persuades Atiku Over Jonathan

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The recent return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the political arena has significantly altered the focus and strategic planning within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as it seeks a presidential candidate for the upcoming 2027 elections.

This shift has resulted in less attention on other prominent figures from the southern region, such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, who had previously been seen as strong contenders. click link for full details 

READ ALSO  2027: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu - Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Election Results

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2027: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu – Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Election Results

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2024 Budget

The race to the 2027 elections in Nigeria has clearly commenced this year, with key political stakeholders aligning themselves and defecting to parties that they believe will bolster their chances of success.

Atiku Abubakar remains a prominent contender seeking the presidency, but he is not alone. Other candidates, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and even former President Goodluck Jonathan, are emerging with a singular goal: to unseat Tinubu in 2027. …Click link to continue reading

READ ALSO  2027: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu - Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Election Results

 

 

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BADLUCK: Father Mbaka’s Prophecy On Goodluck Jonathan Resurfaces Amid 2027 Presidential Ambition [VIDEO]

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VIDEO: Tension as Father Mbaka releases scary prophecy, sends strong message to Tinubu ahead 2027

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, discussions and prophecies regarding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential candidacy have intensified.

A video featuring Father Mbaka, a prominent and often controversial cleric, has attracted considerable attention.

In this resurfaced prophetic message, Mbaka warns that Goodluck Jonathan is undergoing a transformation into what he refers to as “Badluck.”

READ ALSO  2027 Election: ADC's Coalition Dumps Peter Obi, Amaechi As Party Set To Persuades Atiku Over Jonathan

This warning is particularly significant as Jonathan aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 election.click link for Mbaka’s video here

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One Day, One Tr0uble: Court Stops David Mark, Aregbesola From Assuming ADC Leadership

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A Federal High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), respectively.

The order, granted on Thursday, also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the duo or their associates in those roles, pending the hearing of a motion already filed in the matter.

READ ALSO  2027 Election: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu - Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Results

Aregbesola To Dump APC, Set To Announce New Party

The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, who is challenging the recognition of the new leadership by INEC. Bala insists he remains the authentic chairman of the ADC.

Earlier, INEC had updated its records, listing Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary alongside other members of the new National Working Committee. The electoral body’s recognition followed the dissolution of the previous NWC led by Chief Ralph Nwosu at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja.

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VIDEO: Father Mbaka’s Prophecy On Goodluck Jonathan Resurfaces Amid 2027 Presidential Ambition

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VIDEO: Tension as Father Mbaka releases scary prophecy, sends strong message to Tinubu ahead 2027

As the political landscape in Nigeria gears up for the 2027 election, discussions and prophecies regarding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential candidacy have intensified.

A video featuring Father Mbaka, a well-known and often controversial cleric, has captured significant attention.

In this resurfaced prophetic message, Mbaka warns that the Goodluck Jonathan is now facing a transformation into what he labels “Badluck.”

This comes amidst the ambition of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s to face President Bola Tinubu in 2027 election.

Read: Mr. Mbaka gave this sermon to thousands of parishioners at his Adoration Prayer Ground in Enugu, Thursday, saying President Jonathan had failed to stem the tide of insecurity and corruption in the country.

In the year 2014, we had a lot of bloodshed in this country. People were dying like rats without anybody asking about them. This country suffered a lot of blood experience. Many of us witnessed that people were in tears. Just like the ancient world, the year 2014, the 4 in it had the queen in it, which had to do with death. Our leaders failedus with reckless abandon and nobody asked them question.

My message is in two branches (folds). Number one branch, the theme of this first message to my fellow countrymen is from good luck to bad luck. Once upon a time, the whole countrymen were crying for a leader who will help us move forward with our economy, have an authentic democracy, give our unemployed youths jobs, enable our power to be steady, who will industrialize Nigerians, who will encourage mass education and agriculturalize Nigeria.

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Having in view that oil will soon drop, give us security in a maximum level. By the grace of God, there emerged a Goodluck, all of us were happy, the Goodluck met Yar’ Adua and Yar’ Adua died. May the Holy Spirit help me as I utter this message, I know many will misunderstand it, but it will stand the test of time and you will know I’m speaking the truth.

The Goodluck met Yar’Adua and Yar’Adua died. Before you know it, the Goodluck met our oil and the oil had a bad luck and poured away, before we knew it, the Goodluck met our naira, our naira had a bad luck. Where are we going? What is the fate of this country? Shall we continue like this, we need change (shout of change from the congregation).

As I’m speaking with you, most of our civil servants did not celebrate their Christmas. The Christmas season that should be a Goodluck time became a bad luck time for our Nigerians forgetting that very soon, from 3rd January, the children will go back to school and the parent are going to pay school fees. From where? Are they going to use their urine to pay? (Shout of NO from the congregation). But where is the good water even if they are going to use their urine. Are they going to use their stool to pay the school fees of their children? (Shout of NO from the congregation). You have to eat well to defecate.

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What is the fate of our children? Tears fill my eyes when I see our young graduates hoping and walking our streets. What is the meaning of kidnapping? Kidnapping is the grandson of unemployment. Boko Haram is a grand great child of the same unemployment, mass looting, and poor governance.

I’m not saying that Goodluck is a bad man. He is a good man. But he cannot lead Nigeria. As things stand right now, from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, Jonathan should honourably resign quietly and let Nigeria be. The destiny of Nigeria is greater than Goodluck Jonathan. The Goodluck in Jonathan has become a bad luck to Nigerians. Whatever brought him in should send him back and let Nigeria be.

By this time in few months to come, many are going to lose their jobs and there is no alternative. During election, Jonathan will answer Azikiwe, Ebele and become an Igbo man and after election, the Ebele, the Azikiwe and Goodluck will vanish from his identity. Who is fooling who actually?

Look at our federal roads, we are not even asking for new ones, roads built by Buhari and Babangidas —  the so called Hausa people— cannot be maintained. Follow Enugu here to Onitsha, children born some years ago do not know that there was a lane along the other side of Isiagwu and we are all saying continue. The continuity of Jonathan means disaster to Nigeria.

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We need change. May the Holy Spirit help me to vocalize what he has shown to me while I was waiting on him to give me a message for my people? I’m worried about the future of you my children. Go to school, go to school, mention any government school functioning in Nigeria now? Our schools are dilapidated. Nigeria is like an egg about to break in the hands of Jonathan Goodluck and we cannot allow it to happen. It is so unfortunate that pastors are becoming vultures around the president. Pastors are becoming hawks around him, eating the porridge of Jacob and selling their prophetic rights. And anointing is being merchandised in Aso Rock, carrying our nairas, turning it to dollars and carrying it in jets moving out of the country.

READ ALSO  2027 Election: ADC's Coalition Dumps Peter Obi, Amaechi As Party Set To Persuades Atiku Over Jonathan

Listen, this is the voice on the pulpit: all these men of God, who are telling Jonathan to continue because they are benefitting one thing or the other, you should question your apostolic, prophetic anointing. What the Bible say is that Samson did not know that the Holy Spirit had left him. Let them watch if the Holy Spirit is still in them.

Listen, they will begin to tell us this one is a Christian the other one is a Muslim. I don’t believe in that. Who is a Christian more than Judas? Did Judas not betray Jesus? Judas was not just a Christian, he was not just a mere apostle, he was a super apostle like a cardinal but at a time he messed up and Bible says his office, let another take. That is the normal thing.

The way Nigeria is going right now, the office of Goodluck Jonathan let another take. I’m not campaigning for anybody. I’m filled with tears over what is happening in Nigeria. Some of us who have nongovernmental organisations funding charity, I know what I’m suffering. The more they are looting our resources, the more they are rending you unemployed, the more some of us suffer the more. If I have been paying for the school fees of 500 people, it would now jack up to 3000, or more.

 

What the government should do, individuals are struggling to achieve. When there is no road, no power, all this fake promises… where is the power? That Onitsha Bridge, has it now been built? No. After 6 years, and Goodluck has what it takes to do whatever. He surrounded himself with hooligans. By the time he comes down, he won’t have anybody to work with. He played himself into the hands of hooligans.

My interest is about the wellness of this country. Nigeria must survive what we are passing through by the help of God. The same God who saved us from Ebola will save us from this bad luck season (shouts of AMEN from the congregation).

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Look at it, there was a time there was an argument about pension fund – such billions. Who is talking about it now? Billions and we were hearing it… from excess crude oil money, where is the impact of the excess crude oil money? Now from oil boom, it has met a bad luck; it’s now oil doom. If my father will be my leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family be. All I’m trying to tell you is that we have not entered into any covenant with anybody.

READ ALSO  2027: Why It Would Be Difficult For Tinubu - Fresh Analysis Predicts Possible Election Results

Last time, the First Lady came here. We are not partisan; we welcomed her. We did a spiritual drama here. Lifted four birds to fly up, the main one that should fly up refused to go. I did everything possible and that one is the healthiest of them all but refused to fly and the spirit of God said, don’t disturb him.

When God rejected Saul, David took over. Let me tell you, in the history of Nigeria, we have never experience bloodshed as we have in the time of Goodluck. If Goodluck means bloodshed for Nigerians are you waiting until your own blood is shed? (shouts of No from the congregation).

We need change, however God will do it. Look at the insecurity if you go to the northern part of Nigeria.

My fellow priest, my fellow pastors, don’t just stand up to attack this message, because you have mouth. Think well before you put your mouth, the voice is beyond your own contribution. Listen, are you waiting for your own church to be bombed before you speak out? If you go to Maiduguri, some parishes have closed down. Go to Potiskum. People no longer go to church on Sundays in many parts of this country. Now imagine a scenario where a president cannot fight a simple insurgence. This is not an external country attack o. It is not like another country invaded Nigeria. It is an intra distraction. And many of us are claiming that it was because Buhari said that he was going to make Jonathan’s government ungovernable. Listen, let’s assume Buhari said something like that, even though it’s not Buhari who said it. So if you are the president and somebody say something like that, will you not arrest such a person?

The video

 

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