Pope Urges IMF, W’Bank to Cut Poor Nations’ Debts Global agreement saved oil market, says OPEC Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Pope Francis yesterday urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to cut the debt burden of poor countries hit by the
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and give their governments a greater say in global-decision-making. In a letter to the participants of the IMF and World Bank's annual spring meeting, the
pope said the pandemic had forced the world to come to terms with interrelated socio-economic, ecological, and political crises. This is coming as the Organisation of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) has told the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) via Videoconference that the global oil market was on the verge of collapse before its intervention
to stabilise it. The Pope called for a new "global plan" that "necessarily means giving poorer and less developed nations an effective share in decision-making and facilitating access to the
international market." In the letter, the pope noted that a spirit of global solidarity demands at the least a significant reduction in the Continued on page 10
Dangote, Flour Mills, BUA at War over New Sugar Refinery... Page 8 Friday 9 April, 2021 Vol 26. No 9497. Price: N250
www.thisdaylive.com TR
UT H
& RE A S O
N
Aisha is Presidency’s Voice of Conscience, Says Tinubu Osinbajo: She is an unusual first lady Deji Elumoye in Abuja National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has
described the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, as a woman of deep convictions and feelings for what she believes in, saying she is the voice of conscience
Raises N150m at biography presentation
in the presidency. This is just as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) also described the president's wife as an unusual first lady.
Both spoke at the presentation of Aisha's biography during which over N150 million was realised. Also speaking at the
public presentation of the book, "Aisha Buhari: Being Different," authored by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration
and Women Affairs, Dr. Hajo Sani, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described her Continued on page 12
FG Fingers Insecurity as Trigger for Rising Secessionist Agitations ACF expresses disappointment over unending strife Olawale Ajimotokan and John Shiklam in Kaduna The federal government yesterday stated that the general state of insecurity
in the country has triggered a rising call for secession as well as politicisation of ethnic and religious differences. This is coming as the Kaduna State Governor,
Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has declared that a situation in which security agencies only reacted to cases of banditry and abductions is unacceptable and urged them to take the
war to the doorsteps of the criminals. Speaking yesterday during a Town Hall Meeting on National Security, held at the Kaduna State University
(KASU), Kaduna, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed concern about the general state of insecurity in the country occasioned
by incidences of farmers/ herders clashes, Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, ethno-religious clashes and Continued on page 10
THE FLAGSHIP STORY... L-R: Head of Michael Ibru Dynasty, Chief Oskar Ibru; Publisher, The Guardian, Mrs. Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman, THISADY Newspaper/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie; Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr. Charles Aniagwu; and Executive Director, The Guardian, Mr. Toke Ibru, at the launch of the book, “The making of the Nigerian Flagship: The story of the Guardian,” and celebration of the life of the founding publisher of the newspaper, Dr. Alex Ibru, in Lagos…yesterday