Between 18th and 21st January, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) at its National Headquarters, Abuja held a four day Strategic Workshop for its State Directors of Security and Heads of Institutions. The workshop was part of the Service’s preparedness for the general elections.
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During the exercise, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu presented a keynote address on the preparation of the Commission towards the election. He assured the Service of the Commission’s determination to deliver free, fair and credible election. Also, the Commission, through its Director of Legal, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, educated participants on the Electoral Act 2022 and its implications for Security agencies. The Service reviewed the security situation in the country and assured INEC of its support which is in line with the President’s pronouncement to the world to bequeath a free and fair election.
As part of related trainings and courses outlined for personnel for the period, a capacity building seminar in Public Relations was declared open by the DGSS today, 23rd January, 2023 for mid-level officers drawn from the State Commands. Resource persons from the media, public relations practice and the academia are participating in the seminar.
The DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi CFR fwc used the occasions to reiterate the need for professionalism and neutrality of personnel in the discharge of the Service’s mandate before, during and after the general elections. Of note was that at the end of the strategic workshop, participants pledged to work in collaboration with sister agencies, INEC and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that peaceful elections are conducted across the country.
In a related development, the DSS on 16th January, 2023, commenced a two week Joint Service training programme at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja. Participants are drawn from the country’s Armed Forces, Police and other law enforcement and response agencies. The Course was initiated by the Service to strengthen interagency relations in view of their separate and combined roles in the forthcoming elections. The Joint Service Course is designed to promote interagency collaboration and efficiency during the elections.
Bauchi State Police Command has uncovered the armory of suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunitions In its recent sustained operations, which in recent days recorded a tremendous success by denying the miscreants a breathing space to carry out their nefarious activities in the State.
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Police Public Relations Officer SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil stated this in a statement he distributed to reporters in Bauchi, He said “Operatives attached to the command acted on credible intelligence and uncovered an armory of suspected kidnappers.
Wakil said “On the 22nd January 2023, a patrol team attached to Liman Katagum Divisional Police headquarters led by the DPO while on patrol around the Tudun Wada area of Liman Katagum, Bauchi LGA.
He said, “an underground armory was uncovered, and the following items were recovered, Three (3) AK47 rifles, One (1) LAR rifle, Forty-nine (49) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, Nine (9) AK47 magazines
One (1) pair of army camouflage jacket
One (1) pair of Police camouflage trousers”.
While commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police CP Aminu Alhassan ordered round-the-clock surveillance around the area in a bid to arrest the miscreants
Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed that four people have been killed , one person abducted by unknown Gunmen in Gambar Sabon Layi community in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State.
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SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil A Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement, He said “A distress call was received by the command on the 22nd January 2022 at about 3;45am indicates that on the same date at about 2:00h, some unknown gunmen invaded Gambar Sabon layi village and attacked innocent residents.
on receiving the report, detectives of the command were drafted to the scene led by the Divisional police officer DPO Tafawa Balewa Divisional Police Headquarters evacuated the victims to the Tafawa Balewa General Hospital for medical treatment.
Unfortunately, four victims were certified dead by the medical doctor, while one person sustained various degrees of injury during the attack.”
Wakil said , one person was confirmed to have been kidnapped to an unknown destination by the assailants.
The Commissioner of Police CP Aminu Alhassan psc directed a discreet investigation to commence in earnest to arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face the wrath of the law.
Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen also kidnapped one person.
In their separate reaction resident of the community told journalists that the gunmen came in the night and shot sporadically into the air to scare residents away before carrying out their nefarious activities.
Another eyewitness, Mr Manasseh Danladi, said: “Yesterday (Saturday), some people came to our village and killed village head, my uncle and two others .
District head of Darazo, Alhaji Muhammadu Bababa, has appealed to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to construct the road, which links the Republic of Cameroon and neighboring States of Adamawa and Gombe, to Darazo that l would ease the sufferings of travellers especially those going to Kano and Sokoto States for business.
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Bababa stated this when he received thr Governor in his Palace in Darazo, He urged the Governor to construct dilapidated Darazo to Basirka bridge road up to Gombe State border with Gombe State to ease the suffering of the people.
He said the dilapidated nature of the road has brought untold hardship to travellers and the people of Darazo’ alike.
“From our estimate, from Cameroon people travel to Mubi, Gombe, Dukku and Kano they come through Darazo. Same for those coming from Sokoto to Adawaa they have to pass through Darazo
“The road from Darazo to Dutse Tajarin and Gadan Barssirka Tajarin is terrible and we would be grateful if God gives you the opportunity to construct it”
He urged the governor to also complete the Darazo to Gabchiari road linking the area to communities in Gombe.
The District head thanked the Governor for all his support to the people.of Darazo.
He revealed that the Governor had been supporting the people.of Darazo when he was minister of Federal Capital.Terrritory (FCT).
He said Governor Bala constructed the Darazo Central mosque which was in a dilapidated State for years as FCT minister nine years ago.
The monarch said over 2000 people worship at the mosque today and thanked the governor for the gesture.
He recalled that the Governor also assisted the people.of Darazo when the area was affected by flood that destroyed houses and displaced l hundreds.
“Our governor went from house to house to sympathised with the victims.
“We will never forget. He brought relief materials through SEMA worth N30 million worth :
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He said the people Darazo are witness that he was the governor that
Governor Bala received a rosy welcome in Darazo town in continuation of his campaign tour of Bauchi Central,
Speaking earlier , the governor said he was at the palace.to seek the royal blessings of the monarch in his quest to seek for his second term reelection.
Governor Bala appealed to the people of Darazo to support his reelection and the election of all the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, notable Atiku Abubakar and Senator Abdul Ningi assuring that they would deliver dividends of democracy.
From the Palace Governor Bala addressed a campaign rally at Darazo Stadium, where he pledged to do more if elected in to power.
He urged the people of Darazo to elect Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, national assembly candidates to enable thr state get more from the Federal Government.
A World Press conference by the Directorate of Strategic Communications, ATIKU ABUBAKAR PCC
Dear Nigerians, we are currently at a crossroads and the wrong decision could spell doom for this great nation forever. Nigeria is battling many problems at the moment. We have banditry and terrorism ravaging many towns in the north, militants attacking oil facilities and bringing the country’s economy to its knees in the Niger Delta while secessionists are holding the southeast to ransom. It will be a huge disaster to add state sponsored drug trafficking into the mix.
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It is no longer news that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has direct ties to drug lords and was used as a conduit pipe to launder their funds.
Court records show that Nigerian drug kingpin, Adegboyega Muiz Akande, ran an elaborate network of heroin traffickers in Chicago, Illinois, in the 1980s.
“This investigation has revealed the identity of other individuals including relatives who have worked for Akande with various duties in the distribution organisation. One of these individuals has been identified by the investigation as Bola Tinubu,” said Kevin Moss, a special agent with the Inland Revenue Service.
Court records showed that Akande took Tinubu to First Heritage Bank where he opened an account for himself and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in 1989. Tinubu revealed in documents that he worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited and his salary was $2,400 and he had no other sources of income whatsoever.
But records from his First Heritage Bank account showed that in 1990, Tinubu deposited $661,000 into his individual money market account and in 1991 deposited $1,216,500 into the same money market account. Mobil representatives told US authorities that even though Tinubu was a treasurer, he had no direct access to the company’s cash and thus could not deposit funds on behalf of the firm.
Tinubu, the political Maradona, quickly entered into an agreement with US authorities and forfeited $460,000 in order to avoid jail before running back to Nigeria. But this has not changed the fact that he was in cahoots with drug dealers and was their bagman.
Nigerian law is clear. Criminal cases have no statute of limitation and can be re-opened at anytime especially for the sake of national interest. We hereby call on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to immediately arrest Bola Ahmed Tinubu and prosecute him for drug trafficking.
Apart from the criminal angle to this call, there is also the national security aspect. The world will recall what happened to Panama when Manuel Noriega, a known drug lord, became President in 1983. During his six-year rule, Panama became a narcos state as Noriega became an ally of the notorious Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel.
In the unfortunate event of a Bola Tinubu Presidency, Nigerians will be plunged into a drug crisis that would make the Colombia situation a child’s play. With easy access to drugs, there will be an increase in violence. Nigerians cannot risk this.
In fact, on March 20, 2021, the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) said the South-West had the highest drug abuse cases in the country at 22.4%. On October 28, 2021, the Principal Staff Officer in charge of Treatment and Rehabilitation, NDLEA, Oyo State Command, Titilope Asiru, said in Ibadan at a drug-free symposium organised for secondary school students that Lagos State had the highest drug use prevalence in the southwest and by extension, Nigeria which is 33%. Curiously, this is the state that has been ruled by a man with alleged drug ties since 1999. Nigerians are free to make up their minds.
Alpha Beta
Tinubu has also continued to brag about how he transformed the finances of Lagos State but this story is not completely accurate. As seen in court affidavits sworn to by Dapo Apara, a former Managing Director of Alpha Beta Consulting, Tinubu has continued to corner the finances of the state through this firm.
In the writ of summons marked LD/7330GCMW/2020, Apara narrated how Alpha Beta was formed in 2002 when Tinubu was still the governor, in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. Apara noted that he was the one who came up with the idea of a consulting firm helping the state government to collect taxes.
He said Tinubu accepted the proposal but gave many conditions including that his own people would own 70 per cent stakes in the company. Apara said Tinubu nominated Adegboyega Oyetola (later governor of Osun State) and one Olumide Ogunmola who would hold 70% of the shares of Alpha Beta
Apara stated that Tinubu as a sitting governor in 2002,controlled Alpha Beta which was receiving 10 per cent of tax collected on behalf of the state.
The claimant stated that in 2010 or thereabout, Tinubu directed that the incorporation structure of the Alpha-Beta Consulting Ltd be changed from a limited liability company to a limited liability partnership under a newly promulgated law in Lagos State. He said the aim of the move was to shield Tinubu’s involvement from public scrutiny.
Apara said as the head of the company, he began looking into its finances and he made many startling discoveries such as mysterious transfers of billions of naira including a payment of N1bn to Vintage Press, publishers of The Nation newspaper.
The former Alpha Beta boss said he realised that all the payments were sanctioned by the partners nominated by Tinubu and they were done without his knowledge contrary to the terms of their partnership.
He stated, “The claimant avers that some of the suspicious transfers to third parties amongst many others unknown to the claimant are as follows: a) N500,000,000 payment to SW8 Investment Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 30/12/13; (b) $2,989,063.33 payment to Summit Integrated Services Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 18/3/1.5.
“(c) $1,407,000 USD payment to Summit Integrated Services Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 18/3/15; (d) N25million payment to Halizview International Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 18/3/15; (e)N39million payment to Halizview International Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 3/3/15; (I) N38million payment to Halizview International Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 6/3/15.
“(g) N550million payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 15/5/18 (h) N850million payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 14/3/15; (i) N1 billion in Afkar printing Press together with Vintage Press Limited and Lagoon Press Limited in October 2017; (J) N1 billion Ocean and Oil Investment Limited (OANDO) various times; (k) N3.5 billion in OCEANIC BANK avow ECOBANK) various times; (I) N100 million IBILE HOLDINGS LAND Plot 16/17 BLOCK VI (ONIRU ESTATE) (m) N500 million STARCOMMS (Aranda Resources) 100,000,000 SHARES (n) N1.4 billion Sterling Asset Management (o) N960 million HITV 300,000,000 shares (p) N11.9 billion SW8 (WEMA BANK)30,909,090 shares.”
A subsequent investigation by The PUNCH later revealed that some of the aforementioned companies, including Ocean Trust Limited, which received N850 million on a single day from the account of Alpha Beta, was nothing but a shell company, a special purpose vehicle. Incidentally, Ocean Trust, which is now technically defunct, is located at 684 Idowu Taylor Street which is the same address of Freedom House, Tinubu’s organisation.
Another company, Summit Integrated Services Limited, which received $2,989,063.33 on 18/3/2015 and $1,407,000 on 18/3/15 from Alpha Beta on the order of Tinubu, is a UK registered “engineering services” company whose directors all live in Colombia.
“Summit Integrated Services” is a briefcase company created through a company creation service called Quality Company Formations (QCF Secretaries Limited).
It is owned by one Eparquio Jose Gonzalez Oliveros and his children, all based in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. Barranquilla in north-western Colombia is a hub for global drug trade. Due to the rise of drug cartels in the 80s and 90s and its maritime proximity to the US and Central America, its port is a major cocaine export hub.
More importantly, why did Alpha Beta Consultants, a business owned by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a known drug trafficker, transfer $4,396, 063.33 to this briefcase entity owned by an unknown Colombian “entrepreneur” based in Barranquilla, a major global cocaine export hub on 18/03/2015?
These are the questions that need to be asked.
Interestingly, ahead of the Presidential election, Tinubu hurriedly reached a secret financial settlement with Dapo Apara before a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere which involved Apara dropping the case, a development very similar to his drug settlement with US authorities. But this must not deter the NDLEA and the EFCC from investigating and prosecuting since drug trafficking is a crime against the state.
Inexplicable wealth
Tinubu’s inexplicable wealth is not new. In an interview with The News Magazine some 10 years ago, he said he returned to Nigeria after the June 12 struggle with nothing.
“They dispossessed me of the house, as well as my office on Saka Tinubu Street. My vehicles and everything else I owned. They claimed they found bombs in it and dispossessed me of it. I was totally cleaned out. I had only five shirts, £2000 pounds and jackets”, he recalled.
Today, Tinubu claims to be richer than Osun State. In a viral video which is still available online, Tinubu paid a visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, where he boasted that he was richer than Osun State.
He told a gathering ahead of the rigged 2018 election in Osun State that “Osun does not have my kind of money”. His aides immediately issued a statement, saying he was quoted out of context.
However, on February 14, 2019, Tinubu again said it publicly while addressing party faithful that he is richer than Osun State, “How much is your money that I’ll embezzle? You can’t match my pocket. I told them so, and their traditional rulers were seated.”
On the eve of the Presidential elections in Lagos, two cash laden bullion vans were seen on his premises located at 26 Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi which was ostensibly for vote buying.
When journalists asked him about the bullion vans, Tinubu again responded by saying that it was his money and he was free to spend it whichever way he liked. “Even if I have money to spend in my premises, what is your headache?” he said.
A group of forthright activists including Ariyo Dare-Atoye and Deji Adeyanju, wrote a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 25, 2019, calling for the investigation and prosecution of Tinubu for breaching the Money Laundering Act after publicly admitting to sharing millions of naira on the eve of elections.
In fairness to the EFCC, its current Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, while he was the Head of the Lagos office of the EFCC, wrote a letter to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). In the letter marked CR/3000/EFCC/LS/Vol4/322, dated November 6, 2020 Bawa requested for Tinubu’s asset declaration forms. However, The Guardian newspaper reported that the CCB said it had misplaced the forms. Since Tinubu emerged as the Presidential candidate of the APC, the EFCC has kept mum on the issue while Ariyo who wrote the petition has unfortunately died. We hereby call on the EFCC to provide an update on this matter.
Besides, Tinubu had in 2011 been charged before the same Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over allegations that he illegally operated 10 foreign accounts during his term in office as Lagos state governor between 1999 and 2007 but was discharged based on a technicality
Danladi Umar, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal admitted on March 24, 2016 in the case of FRN vs Bukola Saraki that he discharged Tinubu in error.
“On the discharge of the former Lagos State governor by the tribunal some years ago simply because the CCB failed to fulfil the condition precedent, we have since realised that we acted in error in discharging Mr. Tinubu on that ground and we have since departed from that error,” Umar said. It is therefore important for both the CCB and the EFCC to revisit the case since Tinubu was never acquitted.
Apart from his links to drug lords, Tinubu has also cornered the finances of Lagos State through several means including land grabbing. The current land where his television station, TVC, is located on Aladelola Street, Ikosi, Ketu, was owned by the Lagos State Polytechnic until the students were forcefully ejected and relocated to Ikorodu.
His current home in Asokoro, Abuja was owned by the Lagos State Government. On the eve of his departure as governor, Tinubu signed an obnoxious law that would ensure that he and his family would continue to feed fat on the finances of the state. The law known as the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law No 11 official Gazette of Lagos State, 2007 says that a former governor will be given a house in Abuja and Lagos and six brand new cars every three years, 100 per cent of the basic salary of the serving governor, (N7.7m per annum) free health care for himself and members of his family.
The law also says a former governor will be entitled to furniture allowance, which is 300 per cent of their annual basic salary (N23.3m); house maintenance allowance, which is 10 per cent of basic salary (N778, 296); utility allowance, which is 20 per cent of the salary (N1.5m) and car maintenance allowance, which is 30 per cent of the annual basic salary (N2.3m).
Other benefits include entertainment allowance, which is 10 per cent of the basic salary (N778,296) and a personal assistant, who will earn 25 per cent of the governor’s annual basic salary (N1.9m).
Ahead of his Presidential campaign, Tinubu asked his Man Friday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to repeal the law in order to endear him towards Nigerians. But this has yet to come into effect.
Tinubu has continued to brag about how he addressed the ecological problem at the Lagos Bar Beach into an avenue of prosperity through the Eko Atlantic City. But it has since been revealed that he owns a sizeable amount of property at the Eko Atlantic City.
As published by a report in The PUNCH newspaper on November 1, 2020, a Prince in Oniru, Hakeem Ajasa, who is a member of the Abisogun ruling house, said in a pre-litigation letter to Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu that that Tinubu’s former ADC, Omogbolahan Lawal, was made the Oniru of Iruland in order to protect his business interests.
In a letter dated October 27, 2020, Ajasa claimed he had been selected as the next Oniru but Tinubu called him to a meeting and informed him that he would have to give up his ambition because his business partners were not happy with his emergence.
“Chief Tinubu called our client for a meeting and informed him that his business partners with whom he had his personal project of Eko Atlantic City, had complained to him about our client that he is a meticulous person who would not compromised on merit and would scrutinise and expose certain dealings along Iru axis that they would prefer to remain a secret,” the letter read.
Tinubu’s multi-billion naira property on Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, is among the most valuable properties in the country today. He probably wants to rule from there and relocate Aso Rock to Lagos if he wins.
Super wealthy children
As the saying goes, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Tinubu’s daughter, Folashade Ojo, imposes levies on traders in Lagos State against extant laws and provisions.
At the Computer Village in Lagos, the traders stated that it was the levies being imposed on them that was contributing to the high cost of computers, telephones and electronics. Frustrated by the development, the traders eventually approached a Lagos State High Court for help.
In her judgment, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro barred Folashade and others from imposing levies on traders at the Computer Village, Lagos.
Interestingly, agents of Folahsade, who is also the Iyaloja-General of Lagos State, have headed for the Court of Appeal to upturn this judgment so that they can continue to exploit innocent traders.
Tinubu’s son, Seyi, owns Loatsad Promomedia, the young firm that owns most of the outdoor advertising on the lucrative Victoria Island corridor. Recall that it was this firm that turned out the lights on the Lekki toll plaza on the day of the EndSARS shootings. Interestingly, advertising agencies have complained bitterly about how Advertising Practioners Council Of Nigeria (APCON) and Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA) have continued to give undue advantage to Tinubu’s son’s advertising agency, according to a report by Daily Independent dated June 13, 2019. This is what they want to replicate at the federal level in the unfortunate event that they win next month.
Tinubu’s adopted son, Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo, the transport union kingpin, operates like a mafia boss, extorting money from transporters running into billions monthly. A 2021 report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting stated that commercial drivers pay an average of N225m daily or N82.125bn ($190.6m) per year to MC who is now a member of Tinubu’s Presidential council. This has contributed to an increase in the cost of goods and services in Lagos.
Integrity question
In a bid to shield his shady lifestyle from public scrutiny, the so-called godfather of Lagos politics has continued to evade debates. He will possibly also avoid future gatherings where he will have to speak extemporaneously to a crowd not pre-selected for his benefit.
Tinubu’s life, primary and secondary school records, family lineage and even work records remain fraudulent. Today, he is planning on becoming Nigeria’s President. Imagine such a man having the keys to Nigeria’s treasury and having full control of the NDLEA, the EFCC, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force? This will be the worst scandal in the history of mankind.
The effect will be far worse than the kleptocracy of the Sani Abacha years where over $5 billion were stolen. More importantly, Nigeria cannot have a Pablo Escobar as President.
For the avoidance of doubt, Waziri Atiku Abubakar is the most investigated former Vice-President in the history of Nigeria. He has been probed both locally and internationally but no dirt can be pinned on him. He also has not been charged for any crime locally or internationally.
Even during the last Presidential election, the APC made efforts to ensure that Atiku would not travel to the United States of America but this failed. Curiously, Tinubu himself has not travelled to the United States. One wonders what he is afraid of.
Tinubu does not enjoy immunity. We hereby call on the EFCC, the NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services to arrest and prosecute him.
We hereby call on Tinubu, the corn-man to drop his Presidential ambition for the sake of Nigeria
Signed:
Bashorun Dele Momodu
Director, Strategic Communication
Paul Ibe
Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar
Daniel Bwala
Spokesperson Presidential Campaign Council
Phrank Shaibu
Special Assistant, Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje unveiled state Anthem in an effort to inculcate patriotism maximally in citizens of all categories.
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Assuring that, his administration would do everything possible to continue preserving the history, culture and business excellence of the state, for the overall development of the country.
At the unveiling ceremony which took place at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, Sunday, he commended his wife, Professor Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje for her ingenuity in kick starting the process that resulted into the development of the state Anthem.
“I am glad to see that, what Her Excellency my dear wife, Prof Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje thought of, in developing State Anthem, has come to fruition. She did well and she deserves our commendation,” he appreciated.
He appreciated that, “We are here in order to show love for our state, our culture, our costumes, our history and to appreciate our state in general.”
“Ours is to promote love, deep sense of responsibility and to also show the greatness of our dear state. As our national Anthem is bringing us together for the service and unity of our motherland, so also this state Anthem will follow the same pattern at the state level,” he maintained.
For the state Anthem to gain more ground, the governor noted that, “We are taking this Anthem to the State House of Assembly for legislation. That whenever we have any public function, after singing the National Anthem, State Anthem will always follow.”
The Anthem showcases how the state excels in commerce, traditional leadership, scholarship, agriculture and hospitality, that stem from rich culture and history.
The quest by the member representing Anambra South Senatorial zone in the National Assembly Senator Ifeanyi Uba to return to the Senate in 2023 is facing danger likewise the quest by renowned political kingmaker in Anambra State Chief Chris Uba alias Eselu Uga to take over the Senate seat of Anambra South in the Senate in 2023. Uba and Eselu are leading contenders for the seat.
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24/7Ureports correspondent reports that Senator Uba who is the candidate of Young People’s Party (YPP) and Eselu Uga who is candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are facing danger with possible defeat at the polls by the Candidate of Labour Party Mr Obinna Uzor following the endorsement of Uzor by a member of Board of Trustees BoT member of the Labour Party (LP) and leader of the LP in Southeast zone Hon Godwin Agbasimelo.
Chris Uba
Hon Agbasimelo who is the founder of a popular group in Anambra State known as Oga Ndi Oga who endorsed Uzor as the choice candiate for Senate at a ceremony held at Melie Onyejepu Development Center, Nnewi yesterday vowed to mobilise their members in all the 7 Local government areas in Anambra South to vote Uzor into the Senate to represent the good people of Anambra South for the next 4years
The Agbasimelo who presented Uzor to the leaders of the LP in 7 Local government areas in Anambra South declared that he threw his weight behind Uzor and other candidates of LP for the 2023 polls to ensure that the Presidential candiates of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi will have enough hands from his party to work with when he goes in there at Aso Rock as the President of the Federal Republic.
Agbasimelo said he was sure Peter Obi is going to win the Presidential election adding that he is mobilizing support not just to deliver Peter Obi for President but also to reposition the LP towards taking over the governorship seat of Anambra State in subsequent elections. He assured Uzor that the LP has enough numerical strength in Anambra South to vote him to victory at the polls urging him to work closely with the leaders of the party who has come to receive him.
In his response Uzor said he is in the race for Senate to fight for the turn of Ihiala bloc in Anambra South noting that Ihiala is the only bloc among the three blocs in Anambra South that is yet to produce a Senator. According to him “we have three blocs in Anambra South which include Nnewi, Aguata and Ihiala. Nnewi and Aguata have continued to go to the Senate one after the other since 1999 leaving Ihiala behind. Is that fair? No it is not fair.
Uzor told the Foundation that he has been a philanthripist all his life and as a Senator he is going to ensure that Anambra South will be well represented with attraction of dividends of democracy to the Constituents with job opportunities for the youth and women in particular and other incentives for empowerment of the Constituents including delivery of facilities in education, health care, power supply and water among others.
Hear him “All my life I have been a philanthripist, I have been helping people like the youth, mothers, widows and others to engage in meaningful activities to earn a living. I build a Church in Ihiala for the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, I build a hostel for the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha at Amansea, another hostel at Madonna University. I have given scholarship to a lot of children upto University level and I will continue to do so because that’s my calling, so if you vote me into the Senate I will not disappoint you”
The journey for the continuous stability of democracy in Nigeria has gone far as elections to elective offices are scheduled to commence in February. The road to the presidential villa this time around seems to be highly competitive, expensive, tedious and exhausting.
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Becoming a contestant is only the beginning of the election process. Successful candidates must both persuade voters that they deserve their individual votes and garner the critical votes of electors within the system and persuading voters is the essence of a political campaign. Advertising, theme songs, stump speeches, and even negative campaigning have been around since our country began, and each advance in technology since then has offered new opportunities for candidates to persuade voters. This is well entrenched in our body polity, most specifically, as Africa’s most populous country, largest economy and most notable democracy.
Nigeria is a bellwether for the African continent. A weakening economy, rising insecurity and violent conflicts threatening progress made in its democratic development. Amidst deepening distrust amongst each other by reasons of ethnicity and religion, Nigeria has significant work to do in improving national, state and local security and governance ahead of national and state elections in the February/March general elections.
Fortunately enough, through concerted efforts of the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase in collaboration with security agencies, those hoodlums and bandits threatening the daily lives of his constituents (Wase federal constituency, Plateau State), have been flushed out and peace restored within the embattled areas to enable holding credible elections in February/March.
The coming elections would be conducted under a new electoral framework, the Electoral Act 2022, a law that provides a more robust legal framework for the conduct of the polls. The law gives the legislative backing for more transparent voting, collation and announcement of results. It enables the use of card readers and other technological devices in elections and political party primaries, to provide a timeline for the submission of list of candidates, limit of campaign expenses, and address the omission of names of candidates or logo of political parties.
Against this background, as a nation destined for greatness, let’s change the narratives through credible elections and good conducts.
Therefore, any presidential, gubernatorial or national assembly candidate who plays the religion or ethnic card should not only be rejected by the electorates at the polls, but sanctioned. Such a candidate may have nothing and absolutely nothing to offer if mistakenly elected. Invariably the four frontline presidential candidates have past records for which they should be appraised for consideration. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was Vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999-2007), Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was Kano State Governor for eight years and served as a cabinet Minister and later Senator.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a senator and Lagos State Governor for eight years. Peter Gregory Obi of Labor Party (LP) was the governor of Anambra State for eight uninterrupted years.
The candidates’ records, achievements and legacies in previous positions held should be the yardstick for their appraisal not religion or ethnic sentiments. So is applicable to others contesting various elective offices across. Nigerians surely need to change the narrative for a more progressing country anchored on the tenets of probity and accountability.
It should be what one has done before in similar position; what I can do and what I will do when elected or re-elected. This is certainly not the time for experiments. Anyone among the major candidates fanning the embers of religion and ethnicity simply means he/she has nothing to offer in service. Let’s call a spade a spade. Let’s deemphasize ethnicity and religion in our political discussions.
The British, Americans, Portuguese and Danish as we all know, play major roles in the spread of Christianity in Nigeria overtime. Today, the incumbent Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Rishi Sunak is not a Christian but a committed and dedicated Hindu. Therefore, let’s throw away religion and ethnic sentiments and elect leaders who have the capacity to take Nigeria to the NEXT LEVEL.
This may be our last chance to electing credible leaders that can change the narrative at all levels for the good of the country. We have credible and tested democrats that can do the needful with the support of the electorates that should not be allowed to slip our hands. In the 9th National Assembly, we have credible legislators that can perform creditably with the needed support of the electorates if re-elected.
Today, Africa is laced with some of the most obstinate conflicts, most of them constructed from myopic and imaginary differences in religion, region and ethnic identities. We should join hands to do away with parochial sentiments retarding our unity and progress.
“I believe in one indivisible Nigeria. I believe Nigerians are one. I hate to be associated with any parochial sentiment. I remain committed to the unity of Nigeria”…… Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has dared the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu to suspend the G-5 governors and see if the party would be able to withstand the storm that will follow.
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Speaking on Saturday, at the campaign flag-off rally of the State PDP Campaign Council in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the State, Governor Wike boasted that the G-5 Governors are above the threat of suspension.
“We are above that level that you think you can threaten anybody; intimidate anybody with whatever illegal decision you have taken.”
“So, we are waiting for you to announce my own and any other of my friend. Like I have said, when a man says you will not sleep, he too, will he sleep? Will Ayu sleep? Will those his cohorts sleep? So don’t worry, we have the capacity to pay back. We have the capacity to tell you that enough is enough.”
Reacting to the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee of the Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC), Wike described it as an act of tyranny that would be challenged in court.
He warned that the resort to despotism by the PDP National Working Committee would not do the party any good in the forthcoming general elections.
Governor Wike said that the reason why the dissolution of the Ekiti State working committee would be challenged in court was that there were still members of the PDP who believed in the rule of law and that the party should respect its constitution.
“Let me also use this opportunity to say to Iyorchia Ayu and his team, your dissolving Ekiti State Exco will not help you in anyway.
“Your suspending people will not help you in anyway. The battle line has been fully drawn. As I speak to you, we will do everything legally possible to challenge any decision we know is illegal.
“So, don’t think you can threaten people by saying so, so persons have been suspended. Rubbish! Completely rubbish.”
He stressed that the Ayu-led NWC resort to tyranny would do more damage to the PDP as far as the coming general election is concerned.
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![Suspend Me And See The Repercussions, Wike Dares Ayu [Channels TV]](https://247ureports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Wike-to-Judiciary.jpg "Suspend Me And See The Repercussions, Wike Dares Ayu [Channels TV]")
