Analysts Seek Better Security, Productivity as Inflation Rises to 12.82% Call for improved Forex liquidity James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Analysts yesterday urged the federal government to end the incessant bandit attacks
on farming communities as well as pursue an aggressive implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) to address the impact of rising inflation, which peaked
at 12.82 per cent in July. They charged both monetary and fiscal authorities to respectively deploy policy tools in tackling inflationary pressure as well as stimulate
the critical sectors of the economy to boost productivity and production. The analysts who spoke in separate interviews with THISDAY also urged the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to among other things focus on how to improve liquidity in the forex market, particularly through the ongoing unification of exchange rates.
The Consumer Price Index, (CPI), which measures inflation increased to 12.82 per cent (year-on-year) in Continued on page 31
Chairman of NAN, Wada Maida, Dies at 70...
Page 5
Tuesday 18 August, 2020 Vol 25. No 9262. Price: N250
www.thisdaylive.com TR
UT H
& RE A S O
N
FG May Sue Ghana over Closure of Nigerians’ Shops... Page 6
Diri Urges Calm, Heads for A’Court as Tribunal Nullifies Bayelsa Gov Election Optimistic of victory at appellate court ANDP fielded underage running mate, INEC insists Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday expressed optimism about upturning on appeal, the judgment of the State Election Petitions Tribunal, which earlier in the day nullified the election that brought him to office.
Diri, who was reacting to the tribunal’s nullification of the November 16, 2019 governorship election, said he had already instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal. In a split decision, the tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred
when it disqualified the candidate of the Advanced National Democratic Party (ANDP) from contesting the election for allegedly having an underage candidate as his running mate. But INEC yesterday insisted that the governorship candidate of the ANDP, Mr. Lucky King-George, was not properly nominated to run
for the election. King-George had asked the tribunal to cancel the election because he was excluded from it. INEC had explained that it excluded ANDP from the elections because Mr. David Esinkuma, the party’s initial deputy governorship candidate, was 34 years old and did not meet the age
requirement of 35 years as stipulated by the constitution to contest the election. But following INEC's observation on the ineligibility of Esinkuma on account of his age, ANDP had said he was duly substituted within the allowed time frame. The party, therefore, prayed the tribunal to order for a fresh governorship poll in the state.
On Saturday, a three-man panel of the tribunal had dismissed three petitions challenging Diri’s election on the grounds of incompetence and lacking merit. The tribunal in a unanimous decision dismissed the first petition that was filed by the Alliance for Democracy Continued on page 31
Oshiomhole Meets Buhari, Asks for Enhanced Security for Edo Poll Rules out APC national chairmanship comeback Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin Ousted National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, where he called for the deployment of more security agents in Edo State for the
September 19 governorship election. He also dismissed the allegation that he was plotting a comeback as the national chairman of the ruling party and wondered why he would seek to return to the office at the age of 68. He described those accusing him of plotting his return as Continued on page 32
STILL LOYAL... Former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari during Oshiomhole’s visit to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui
Nigeria Resumes International Flights August 29... Page 6