Politics

By Christiana Ekpa

Aformer chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Marcellinus Nlemigbo, has urged stakeholders to ensure a level playing ground during the 2023 general elections.

Nlemigbo, a former Chairman of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, said this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Monday.

He urged the Independent

2023 elections: Former IPAC chairman

urges level playing ground

National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the political parties to synergise for smooth elections.

He called on the electorate to support efforts by INEC and government at all levels for a hitch-free election.

He commended Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo for his efforts at addressing insecurity in the state, adding that improved security would enable a better electoral process.

“Security is everybody’s business, government and the people alike. We commend Gov. Hope Uzodimma for his efforts to create an enabling environment for a smooth electoral process. ”An enabling environment will provide a level playing ground for all actors in the electoral process and ensure that the will of the masses is respected in the long run,” he said.

He further called on youths to embrace education and pursue a career so as to have a sense of belonging rather than pursuing get-rich-quick schemes.

This, he said, would enable a better society and equip them with the requisite knowledge and experience to manage the country in the future.

L-R: The Chairman, Commerce and Industry Correspondence Association of Nigeria Abuja, (CICAN), Comrade Ifeanyi Onuba, Executive Director / CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Dr. Ezra Yakusak, Director, Corporate Services Department NEPC, Mrs Uduak Etokowoh and the Director International Export Office NEPC, Mr. Babatunde Faleke, during the Council Press Conference / the Presentation of NEPC year ended 2022 progress report on non oil Performance ,the highest yearly contribution in export history to the Nigerian Economy, held recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

NRM asks Court to disqualify Peter Obi over alleged dual citizenship

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi is facing a fresh disqualification suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged possession of dual citizenship of two countries.

Obi was dragged before the Court by another political party, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) which among others, alleged that the presidential candidate is no longer fit, proper and qualified for the highest plum office in Nigeria on account of his dual citizenship.

The plaintiff in the fresh suit against Obi is praying the court for an order to disqualify him from the presidential race on the ground of breach of the 1999 Constitution.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1842/2022, the Labour Party candidate was accused of acquiring citizenship of Dallas in Texas, United States of America in breach of sections 1 and 137 of Nigeria’s Constitution.

The party through its counsel, Mohammed Danjuma asked for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing, dealing or affording Peter Obi any right or privilege to stand for the presidential election.

In a 14-paragraph affidavit in support of the suit, Peter Obi was said to have voluntarily acquired Dallas citizenship and the certificate of citizenship presented to him by the Mayor of Dallas, Mr Eric Johnson.

The party produced the picture and video recording of the presentation of the citizenship certificate to establish its case against the defendant.

When the matter came up on Monday, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo lambasted the plaintiff for the inability to serve the originating summons on the defendants.

Justice Ekwo thereafter fixed February 10 for mention of the suit and threatened to strike out the case should the plaintiff fail to serve the court process on Peter Obi before the adjourned date.

Defendants in the suit are INEC, Peter Obi and Labour Party as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectfully.

PAGE 16 POLITICS

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the security agencies, including the Department of State Service (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) among others to arrest or invite the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for questioning over his alleged involvement in the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) saga.

Recall that a video trending in the social media by one Michael Achimugu, purportedly a former aide to ex Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, claimed that Atiku used a Special Purpose Vehicle to launder money while in power.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the joint Media Directorate of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, led by Dele Alake, Special Adviser,

2023: North paying price of voting based on religion, ethnicity – LP’s Yusuf Datti

By Christiana Ekpa

The Vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti BabaAhmed has said Northern Nigeria is paying an extremely high price for voting based on religion and ethnicity.

The former lawmaker disclosed this during ‘The Peoples Townhall’ organised by Channels Television and its partners on Sunday. The presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi also made an appearance at the event.

Baba-Ahmed said he and Obi would collectively work towards solving all problems, including insecurity and corruption.

He said, “The day you will hear the sentence “President Peter Obi”, Nigeria has already united. Once Nigerians are united, we will collectively work towards solving all problems – insecurity, failed-failing economy, and unprecedented aggravated corruption.

“We truly deserve the votes of Nigerians because this is one election that is turning out to be about character backed by record, competence and capacity. This is clearly not supposed to be an election about sentiments of religion and ethnicity because right now, Nigeria is paying a very high price; northern Nigeria is paying an extremely high price for voting based on religion and ethnicity.

“We are going to stop the killings and start the healing; stop the stealing, start the keeping; stop the slide of our currency and start the climb of our society.”

Tinubu asks DSS, EFCC, others to arrest Atiku over alleged Special Purpose Vehicle

Media, Communications and Public Affairs, said enough of playing the ostrich regarding the Special Purpose Vehicle saga.

“We strongly demand the immediate arrest and/or invitation, interrogation and possible prosecution of alhaji Atiku abubakar”, APC said regarding the alleged Special Purpose Vehicle scandal.

He said “for about a week now, Nigerians have been in deep shock over the grave revelations by a whistle-blower, Mr. Michael Achimugu, who has provided the nation with iron-cast evidence of letters of appointment by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, emails, documents, audio clips, sworn affidavit and direct oral evidence as to how Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (who happens to be the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party) during his tenure as Vice-President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, colluded with his then boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to fleece the country and steal public funds using what he termed “Special Purpose Vehicles” (SPVs).

“Those SPVs were companies Atiku admittedly registered upon assumption of office as Vice-President (with the approval of President Olusegun Obasanjo) using “trusted allies” as shareholders and Directors. The purpose was to divert government contracts to these companies as “consultants” and then paid monies into these companies and used those monies to fund the PDP and their private businesses and family activities. We can all vividly recall that during that tenure, both President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar built the Bells University and American University respectively. Now, we know from where the funds came.

“We hereby make available Certified True Copies of the affidavit sworn to and released to the public by the whistleblower, Mr. Michael Achimugu, giving graphic details of all that transpired, including attached documents. Let us also play to you the voice recording he did of Atiku Abubakar. Note that he provided the time of the call, the phone number used and the emails immediately preceding the call.

“We understand that the law enforcement agencies may be reluctant to act simply because of the perception of persecution of a Presidential candidate that this may evoke.

“However, facts are sacred. The facts so far presented to the world clearly indicate that Atiku Abubakar has a case to answer. In other climes when such serious allegations arose in the middle of campaigns, the law-enforcement agencies acted decisively. You may recall that, in 2016, in the middle of campaigns for the exalted office of the Presidency of the United States, the FBI opened investigation into allegation of misuse of private emails against Hillary Clinton when she was Secretary of State.

“In fact, the case was referred to the Justice Department for likely prosecution few weeks to actual voting. Though, she was later cleared, it bears restating that a sane and dispassionate system never allowed such side talks to dissuade or distract them from initiating a process of investigation. It is the minimum expected in a constitutional democracy. That is what we call on the authorities to do in the case of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar”, Tinubu Media team said.

To this end, APC Presidential Campaign Council called on Atiku, in the light of the revelations, to immediately tender an unreserved apology to the Nigerian people and step down from the Presidential race forthwith, and hand himself over to the law enforcement agencies.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (right) and the newly appointed acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye during her swearing-in inside the Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Yenagoa, on Monday

Tinubu will be special envoy, Obi trade minister if I become president – Imumolen

2023: Yoruba Leader tasks politicians on electioneering promises

By Usman Shuaibu

The Otunba of Yoruba community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wasiu Tunwase, has charged Nigeria politicians who are seeking for political offices to fulfil their campaign promises when elected in 2023 general elections.

He also urged the elected politicians in 2023 to remain committed in providing gains of democracy for the people in the country.

Tunwase who gave the charge while speaking with Peoples Daily correspondent to mark the new year celebration in his residence in Zuba, further tasked Nigerians to pray for peaceful election in 2023.

He then called on the youths to shun any act capable of causing rancor and acrimony in the country during the 2023 election, pointing out that nobody is above the law of the land.

He solicited the cooperation of the traditional rulers to counsel their subjects for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections, while advising the parents on moral upbringing of their children in order to shun act of thuggery in the society.

Dr. Tunwase, however, appealed to Yoruba people to come out in 2023 election to vote for the candidates of their choice and described the Yoruba people as peace-loving citizens everywhere they live.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 17 POLITICS

By Christiana Ekpa

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, was a guest of Chatham House, the famous British international Policy institute, saying that Nigeria Presidency with him and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed in charge will dismantle inefficiency and eliminate transactional policies that breed corruption in government.

Obi who took over 15 questions from the audience after his elucidating paper on various sectors said they will dismantle the structure of criminality which they have been using to hold the country.

Stating that “there will be no sacred cow” under the Obi-Datti administration, the Labour Party Presidential candidate said that “our objective is to dismantle these structures of criminality and enthrone competence, character, and capability so that talents and ideas can flourish.”

On how he intends to cope with possibly having a National Assembly that may be dominated by other parties, Obi said he went through such experience as Governor of Anambra state when none of the 30 members of the State of Assembly came from his political party, adding that what he needed to navigate such case is to do the right thing, avoid nepotism and transactional policies, because even the parliamentarians desire good governance.

Responding to question on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and why he has not condemned them, Obi said that for him and many other reasonable Nigerians including Igbos, the Biafra war ended 53 years ago. But he is not oblivious of the agitators’ demands for justice.

According to him, “we are going to look into the issue of justice and marginalization which some of them are hinging their grievances.

“We are going to apply the carrot and stick in dealing with the agitators. But in the end there can only be one government and we will be in charge.”

On the how to attract investors to Nigeria which was asked by a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, Obi likened what he intends to do to attract investors to bee and and honey, he will create enabling environment where rule of law thrives and will avoid any transactional policies which breeds corruption and weakens governance.

At Chatham House, Obi vows to dismantle inefficiency, transactional policies

On security, he said it will be his top priority because everything will be done to secure the environment and he will do this by first turning the country into production and pulling people out of poverty and adequately utilizing our military.

Obi noted: “Our military once secured Africa and they should secure Nigeria and we will provide the needed leadership and political will.”

He also answered questions on the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying that what is happening in the apex bank now is a consequence of mix up of responsibilities and not necessarily of competence, a situation he assured his regime will correct by ensuring that square pegs are in square holes both in personnel and policies.

Obi also said that the ongoing fiscal rascality in the system will be dismantled and order and discipline injected into the country’s monetary policies.

On how to navigate the so called ‘big boys’ to be able see through his beautiful policies if elected, the LP standard bearer said the challenge will be surmounted as there will be no sacred cow.

The former Anambra state Governor also provided convincing answers to questions on education, Health, debt servicing among others to win the consistent applause from the audience.

Obi gave indication of his preparedness for the program when he was offered seat by the moderator of the program and he respectfully rejected it saying the problem in Nigeria his country is so serious not for sitting down and he stood all through the nearly two hours program.

Obi-Datti Media office reports that millions of people within and outside the country followed the program via social media and 99% of the comment’s eulogized the Candidate for his fantastic outing.

L-R: Director Chemical Technology, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), Mr. Mej Bassey, Permanent Secretary FMSTI, Mrs Monilola Udoh, Minister of State, Science Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, Director, Science Technology and Innovation Promotion department FMSTI, Mr Umar Shuaib and the CEO Mirakon events, Expo event planner, Mr.Micheal Okokon, during the Minister’s media briefing and inspection of the venue of the 7th Edition of the Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2023, theme: Actualizing Effective Diversification of Nigeria Economy through

Science, Technology and innovation, held on Friday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Maikalangu appoints politician as MD Of AMAC Community radio

By Usman Shuaibu

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has appointed a politician, Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu Pam as the managing Director (MD) of AMAC Community radio located at Karshi.

This was contained a press statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the Chairman, Mr. Kingsley Madaki and made available to Peoples Daily correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu Pam is to take effect immediately as the instruction was given by the Chairman.

The statement said the Chairman had enjoined the new Managing Director to live up to the expectation by harnessing the opportunities of the present administration of the Council to widen the scope of the proposed AMAC Commercial radio station in order to generate revenue for the station.

“Pam, before his appointment was a Special Assistant on Media and ICT to the former national Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur and also a member of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State and currently Chairman of FCT Gymnastics Sports Association,” the statement explained

The statement added: “Pam was also the Executive Director, production system Designs, Ikeja Lagos, Nonlinear Editor with a Germany firm, sylvio projects studio, Asokoro, Abuja. Nonlinear Editor with Quest Media Abuja and production, manager with Elopce. Worldwide television”.

According to the statement, “Pam holds OND in Broadcast Journalism, HND in Journalism and BSC in Mass Communication as the statement said the MD of AMAC radio attended several local and international trainings.

The statement disclosed that the new managing Director is a member of Nigeria Union of Journalists as well as a Special Marshal with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).