Politics

NNPP asks Tinubu, Atiku to step down over corruption, drug allegations

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has urged the presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the presidential race over serious allegations of corruption and drug peddling that have made mockery of the 2023 general election.

A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, said Nigeria has been brought to ridicule and disrepute before the comity of nations over accusations of high level corruption and drug peddling against Atiku and Tinubu, adding ‘He that goes to equity must come with a clean hand.’

NNPP demanded the immediate withdrawal of both presidential candidates to answer to charges preferred against them in court.

“It is justice juxtaposed for them to continue in the presidential race with heavy allegations of wrongdoings on their shoulders. It is moral burden fie the two candidates to continue in this race at a time Nigerians are looking for a younger and unblemished crop of leaders.

“There is no moral justification for Atiku and Tinubu to strive to rule the nation until the court decides their fates one way or the other. National interest supersedes personal interests, aggrandizement and grandstanding in the quest for a better, greater, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation.

“Nigerians are tired of recycled politicians who have numerous cases of corruption, drugs, birth/educational certificates, health and questionable source of wealth. Citizens want men and women of integrity, visionary, purposeful, resourceful, dynamic and transformational leaders to usher them to a new and better Nigeria we all desire and deserve.

“Senator (Engr) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD is the man of the moment to give Nigerians a new lease of life after years of wandering in political wilderness from the oppressive APC and PDP regimes.

“Eligible Nigerians should collect their PVCs now and let their voice be heard loud and clear in the forthcoming elections. Your vote is your power to elect credible, resourceful, courageous and progressive leaders that will deliver dividends of democracy to the masses not carnage”, the party statement said.

Labour Party Presidential candidates, Peter Obi with his Vice President Candidate, Hon, Datti Baba Ahmed, addressing the Party Members during the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Rally at Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna yesterday

AMAC chairman drums support for Atiku, other PDP candidates in February polls

By Usman Shuaibu

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has charged the women, as well as the party supporters to vote for the presidential candidate of PDP, Abubakar Atiku in the forthcoming general election.

He also urged the women and his supporters to come out in mass to vote for the senatorial candidate of PDP in the FCT, Hon. Philip Tanimu Aduda, as well as the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba during the polls.

Maikalangu, gave the charge while addressing the PDP women ward leaders in politics at a meeting held at Apo Resettlement town hall in Abuja on Tuesday.

He assured the women that his administration would not hesitate to put smiles on the faces of the women, and thanked them for their support in all ramifications.

He said “With the challenges we are facing now, we cannot give up, l am being denied some things, maybe because I am in PDP”.

While fielding questions from newsmen after the occasion, the Chairman frowned at votes buying during the polls.

Maikalangu, however, advised the entire residents of Abuja to shun any act capable of generating tension during the election.

Also speaking, the candidate of PDP representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba said if elected into the House of Representatives for the second term, he would provide purposeful leadership for the people of his constituency.

POLITICS

2023: SDP will form next government in Oyo – Ex-Attorney General

By Musa Baba Adamu

Aformer attorneygeneral in Oyo State, Michael Folorunso Lana has declared that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) will form the next government in the state.

Lana who is the gubernatorial candidate of the party revealed that the party will form the next government in May this year.

He noted that this would be realised after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been defeated in the March 11 gubernatorial election by his party (SDP).

The SDP candidate made these declarations on Tuesday in Ibadan, the state capital.

The former attorneygeneral spoke while addressing thousands of supporters of the party who converged at the frontage of ancient Mapo in Ibadan, after a rally that spread across some parts of Ibadan.

The rally which started in the morning at the Ojoo area of Ibadan was attended by the Vice Presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Yusuf Buhari and the South-West Chairman of the party, Chief Alani Silas.

Others are the state Chairman, Michael Okunlade and deputy gubernatorial candidate, Abdul Rahman Aloyinlapa.

Lana while speaking, alleged the present administration in the state has disappointed the electorate.

He, however, said the party would defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties during the 2023 elections.

He added that the party would form the next government in the state in May 2023 after all the political parties have been defeated in the election.

The former attorneygeneral while speaking further, warned that the state cannot afford another four years under governor Seyi Makinde.

He alleged that the current governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, has moved the state backwards.

The SDP candidate used the avenue to charge the people of the state to guard their PVCs.

He enjoined the electorate not to be swayed by desperate politicians.

Lana while addressing the party supporters, further alleged that desperate politicians are out to deceive the people.

Lana said, “I have no doubt in my mind that our party, the SDP would coast home to victory in Oyo State during the elections as the people are eagerly waiting to send the present government of Governor Seyi Makinde packing from the Agodi Government House as it has not only to disappoint the people by succeeding in moving the state backwards”.

L-R: Representative of the Minister of State for FCT, Hayiya Aisha Baiyee, Mandate Secretary, Area Councils Service Secretariat, Hon. Abubakar Ibrahim Dantsoho, the President Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) / SA to the Minister of FCT on Youths Affairs, Amb Issac David and the FCT Youth Leader, Hon. Ibrahim Maikeri, during the flag off of sensitization campaigns for the collection of PVC in FCT, held in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

35 percent slots assured if Tinubu emergs president in 2023 - Sen. Remi tells women

By Christiana Ekpa

Wife of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday told Nigerian women that thirty five percent slots of appointive positions are already guaranteed if her husband, Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges the President of the country in the 2023 general election.

Speaking yesterday during an event organised by the APC Professionals Forum on ‘Renewed Hope 2023’ in Abuja, Tinubu’s wife said Bola will consolidate on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Social Intervention Programs with greater emphasis on empowering women and youth towards lifting more families into collective wealth and prosperity.

“Our goal is to have at least 35% female representation at all levels of government. We will also work towards progressively improving on the number of female lawmakers at state and national levels,” she said.

“I am a woman, and I am a beneficiary of Asiwaju’s commitment to empowering womenfolk. Although I have always been passionate about charity work and I invested greatly in women and youth development as First Lady of Lagos State, it was with the support of my dear husband that I was able to also take on political leadership roles.

“We need to institutionalize female inclusion and representation in politics and governance; this is Asiwaju’s pledge to the women of Nigeria.”

She further pledged that the incoming Tinubu/Shettima administration will focus on empowering our teeming 70 million youth through job creation and entrepreneurship support efforts and policies.

She added: “As a mother, I know that one of the biggest challenges youth face is the fear of tomorrow with its uncertainties. This often leads them to take poorly considered risks and make bad decisions.

“As parents, it is our job to create the right environment for our wards to flourish, to grow in self-confidence, to learn to be self-sufficient, responsible, and useful members of society. This is also a key responsibility for the leadership of the nation.

“To this end, the next APC-led administration will address the issues by: Increasing opportunities and channels for easy access to credit to start businesses. The incoming administration will work with and encourage commercial banks to provide and set aside a quota of their projected credit provisioning for youth-led enterprises at appreciably low-interestrate loans.

“We will encourage the creation of Innovation and Productivity Hubs for youth to present their ideas and have same reviewed for marketability and utility. These hubs will generate business idea validation reports which will be used in partnership with commercial banks to vet loan applications.

“Commercial banks will also be encouraged to ensure their loan application processes are simplified and that they give greater priority to young people and women with marketable ideas. This will be implemented across the federation.

“The incoming Tinubu/Shettima administration will create opportunities and channels for business mentorship for youth. The initially mentioned Innovation and Productivity Hubs will serve as incubators for intergenerational business mentoring.”

You turned NASS to rubber stamp Assembly – Aisha Yesufu slams Lawan

By Christiana Ekpa

Popular Nigerian activist and social critic, Aisha Yesufu has attacked the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, for saying the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allowed the Boko Haram insurgency to fester during its 16 years in power.

The social critic also said the All Progressives Congress, APC, had over seven years to tackle the insurgency but instead worsened it.

Yesufu expressed her feelings in a post via her verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.

The Senate President had while addressing the Presidential Campaign Rally of the ruling APC, which was held in Damaturu Yobe State, alleged PDP rally, allowed Boko Haram to fester.

Lawan’s statement was signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi.

He said, “When Boko Haram started in the northeast, in Borno state, the then leadership of PDP said it was not true. There was nothing like Boko Haram, and Boko Haram blossomed. Boko Haram flourished, and Boko Haram gained ground and took root.”

But reacting to the allegation by the Senate President, Yesufu said Lawan turned the National Assembly into “a rubber stamp Assembly”.

She wrote, “The Senate President who turned the National Assembly into a rubber stamp Assembly is accusing PDP when his own party has had over seven years to tackle the insurgency and have worsened it. Both APC and PDP are failed parties that should not be allowed into the corridors of power.”

Special Purpose Vehicle Allegation: Atiku demands apology from Tinubu

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has demanded for an unreserved apology from his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the allegation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) saga.

Atiku, who made the demand through the spokesperson of his presidential campaign organisation, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, also threatened to furnish Nigerians with a compendium of Tinubu’s alleged corrupt practices as well as the list of SPVs used by him to loot public funds in key government agencies.

He reminded the APC candidate of the age-long aphorism that those who dig pits for the innocent always fall into them.

According to him, “This is the case in the vexatious plots by Asiwaju Tinubu to divert attention from his litany of atrocities by seeking to impugn on the impeccable character of our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, with unfounded controversy of corruption”.

Atiku accused Tinubu of using one Michael Achimogu to blackmail him, stating that “no matter how much falsehood appears to thrive, the truth will always prevail at the end of the day.

His words, “Tinubu has not only failed in this mission to tarnish the clean image of Atiku Abubakar but in the process also exposed himself as the real Mr. SPV.”

He listed a number of account Tinubu allegedly used to move huge sums of money from a domiciliary account to a firstgeneration bank in a three-day lodgment scheme.

The PDP Presidential flag bearer said the money was spilt and paid in bits and pieces of $30,000, $30,000, $35,000, $30,000 into a domiciliary account in a first-generation bank.

“Nigerians are now in the know of how tranches of $35,000, $71,000, $100,000, $30,000, $200,000, $300,000, $30,000, $70,000, $80,000, $70,000 and $30,000 were alleged to have been taken by Tinubu from different branches of the said first generation bank between February 4 to February 5, 2015.

“Nigerians now know of how Tinubu has been desperately trying to divert attention from his alleged use of ... companies he reportedly owned by proxy, to loot N100 billion tax money belonging to Lagos State, since 2002.

“It is now in public domain how (the company), which has for over 20 years held the exclusive rights to collect taxes in Lagos State in return for a commission under very shady arrangements through which it reportedly siphoned billions of naira belonging to Lagos State.

“The public is now aware of a petition before an anti-corruption agency wherein Tinubu’s alleged SPV company was reported to have used another company which shares same address with Tinubu’s office on Idowu Taylor Street in Lagos to launder Lagos State funds.

“Documents sighted in one of the anti-corruption agencies reveals that Tinubu’s SPV allegedly laundered over N20 billion ($46.5 million) in different currencies to several companies, including payment of N1 billion ($2.3 million) to company that is widely known to belong to him.

“Bola Tinubu should come out clean and speak to these damning money laundering allegations against him.

“He should explain to Nigerians how billions of naira belonging to Lagos State and meant for the welfare of the people, reportedly found its way ... and ended in bits and pieces in foreign currencies into domiciliary accounts allegedly owned by him in commercial banks.

“We also challenge Asiwaju Tinubu to explain to Nigerians how, as Lagos State governor, he awarded the exclusive right of tax collection in Lagos State to his alleged proxy company ... as well as the allegations that the SPV was used to steal over N100bn belonging to Lagos State.

“Furthermore, Nigerians are still awaiting the APC presidential candidate’s still has no explanation for his conviction and criminal forfeiture of $460,000 in a criminal case of trafficking in narcotic in the United States of America, for which under section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he is not eligible to contest election in Nigeria.

“Since Asiwaju Tinubu has on his own opened up on the allegations of corruption, our campaign is prepared to help him to fill the gaps he wants closed,” Atiku threatened.

He called on Tinubu to listen to the voice within and withdraw from the presidential race, adding that “if anyone is to be arrested and disqualified from the presidential race on account of corruption, certainly, that person is not Atiku Abubakar but Bola Tinubu.

.....Tells APC presidential candidate to quit race

2023 elections will hold – Kwara REC

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Kwara State, Malam Attahiru Madami, on Wednesday declared that this year’s general elections will hold as scheduled.

He spoke at a lecture titled “Toward Peaceful 2023 General Elections” organized by the National League of Veteran Journalists, Kwara State Chapter, at the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Ilorin.

He dismissed insinuations in some quarters with the impression that the impending general elections may likely be cancelled due to the state of insecurity in some parts of the country.

Attahiru declared untrue reports making the rounds that the exercise may not hold, assuring that “the elections will hold as planned.”

He also revealed that the chieftains of political parties contesting the elections in the state have written to him pledging to abide by the rules in a bid to have a peaceful exercise in Kwara State.

Delivering the lecture, Barrister Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali, SAN, argued that for the conduct of peaceful general elections in the country, all stakeholders must be guided by the Electoral Act and obey its provisions.

Yusuf Ali, who was represented by Barrister Ibn Haruna Mahmoud, said rather than resorting to violence, aggrieved parties must direct their grievances to the election tribunals to seek redress after the elections.

He also cautioned against vote buying which Section 36 of the Electoral Act frowns upon, describing it as a criminal offence.

Yusuf Ali noted that the Electoral Act is adequate to cater for complaints of aggrieved parties seeking redress after elections instead of adopting violence.

He stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to embark on voter and civic education of the electorate before the election, describing it as fundamental toward realizing a credible and peaceful general election.

Chairman of NALVEJ, Tunde Akanbi, in his speech, said with 45 days to the general elections, politicians and their supporters could have a positive change of mind to counter the erroneous belief that “it is either them or the elections will not hold.”

2023 elections: Every vote will count – Osun INEC REC, Agboke

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun, Dr Mutiu Agboke has assured that each vote will count.

He said that despite apprehension about security, the Commission is determined to go ahead with the general elections calling on all stakeholders to work for a free, fair and transparent election.

Agboke stated this during a sensitisation visit to the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola on Wednesday.

The Osun INEC boss also maintained that the Commission has decided to carry along traditional rulers and chiefs in their locality.

According to him: “With the coming election, INEC has decided to include the kings and chiefs. We want the traditional institution to talk to the people and educate them on the election. Majority of the electorates still believe it is business as usual.”

He affirmed: “INEC is assuring that each vote will count. INEC wants all people to come out and vote and they must have their PVCs. With BVAS each vote is assured of being counted. All the news about cancellation and postponement of the vote is not an issue. We want all stakeholders to work for a free, fair and transparent election. The uncollected PVCs must be collected as part of requirements for voting.”

Responding, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola urged the Commission to ensure its machines are in working order to avoid complaints common among the electorate.

“The town has been talking to its people to ensure the election is peaceful and free from violence,” he concluded.

In a visit to the INEC local government offices in Ife North, Ife South, Ife Central, Ife East and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke, Agboke maintained that the visit is aimed at reminding the staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, that they have more work to do within this period.

He added that between now and February, INEC is going to be busy.

He warned: “Staff who don’t apply the rule will face the music. Staff should stick by the rules. The INEC chairman will not be happy seeing any staff being liable.

“INEC staff should be organized. INEC is ready because it knows that its staff are ready. We also expect performance and delivery on the INEC mandate.

“We would not tolerate any negative report. With BVAS in place, no staff can assist anybody during the election. You are advised to be in tune with the training and discharge your responsibility on election day.”