Elections: Obi has no political godfather, coalition tells Nigerians

Acoalition of Obidient groups on Saturday called on Nigerians to vote for a presidential candidate without political baggage ahead of the Feb. 25 elections.

Mr Marcel Ngobgehei, Head of Strategy and Operations, Obidient Global March, made the call on Saturday during a rally in Abuja.

Ngobgehei said that this was because the political atmosphere had been characterised with “moneybags” and godfatherism politics.

He said that the 2023 General Elections had presented Nigerians with the opportunity to change the narrative of politics in the nation .

He said that the Obidient Movement started from the idea of rescuing Nigeria by ensuring that credible leaders came into power.

“So at the inception, the obedient movement came together and said it was enough, Nigeria has to move ahead the way other civilised countries are moving.

“We deployed some strategies and identified a candidate different from what we have in the political space of the country where we have money bags.

“This is because we don’t want our candidate to carry baggage because when people sponsor your candidate, then it becomes baggage.

“When he gets into office they will want to influence him to say ‘remember we put you there’, but Peter Obi has no political baggage, nobody can say he is the one that brought him this far .”

Ngobgehei said that the masses were the structure of Labour Party and they would do their best to ensure his victory, adding that Obi had come this far because of the goodwill of the people and notary political father.

He said that the group deployed some strategies to promote his presidential ambition by mobilising resources and people.

He called on Nigerians not to sell their votes but use them wise to decide their leader .

“It is a new era where the youth decide who becomes their president and not one imposed on them by some money bags or groups of delegates anywhere, enough is enough.

Ms Nina Atalor, Focal Person for Support Groups at the Labour Party Presidential Campaign

Council (PCC), said so far the party had carried women along in its affairs .

She said it was a sign that women would benefit greatly and be supported in the govement of Peter Obi.

“The female gender is well represented, most of our regional and state coordinators are females, they are well positioned and they have proved themselves.

“This is our time, not just the youth this, it’s the time for the female gender .

“Our principal Peter Obi has always said that he is very interested in the female gender, in positioning and strengthening us .”

Atalor urged Nigerians to come out in mass and vote for Obi for a better nation.(NAN) broadcast

Keyamo recommends structural changes, more funding for NAN

Mr Festus Keyamo, spokesperson for All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Campaign (PCC) has recommended a structural change and more funding for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to enhance its operations.

He said this on Sunday in Abuja at the agency’s news forum, adding that more funding was necessary to enable it perform more effectively.

Keyamo, also the Minister for State, Ministry of Labour and Employment said that in spite of obvious handicaps, including lack of funding that affected all government agencies, NAN had leaved up to its billing.

He said the agency had been able to project Nigeria positively more than any other news platform, adding that it was in the same class with the BBC and VOA that were synonymous with some countries.

“The world sees Nigeria through the eyes of NAN and the agency has far more reach than we can imagine.

“That also, I think, is the mistake some of us in government make, they don’t know the reach of NAN.

“So for me, maybe we need some structural changes to improve the bureaucracy, or even remove it entirely from bureaucracy to make it more funtional and more effective.

“Imagine if we can give NAN more funding, more autonomy to perform more than it is doing now,” Keyamo said.

He thanked and praised those who had managed the agencies affairs over the years, saying that government was proud of them.

He added that NAN should be insulated from bureaucratic bottlenecks of core ministry and the strict bureaucratic civil service.

“NAN needs to be more independent and most have a direct funding, even if it was not first line charge.

“But it should have its own independent and direct funding, not under the envelope of the general ministry, that is what I think should happen,” Keyamo said.

NAN was established on May 10, 1976, with the primary function of gathering, processing and distributing news about Nigeria to local and foreign news media.

The agency’s mandate was to present a complete, objective and impartial information, news or news material or features on any matter of public or national interest within and outside the federation.

Its vision is to remain as the most authoritative and credible news source on Nigeria, always first with the the most accurate news. (NAN)

The Management of the University of Calabar has announced the suspension of a 400-level student of the Department of Sociology, Miss Olunkanmi Oluwafoyin, over unruly behaviour at Campus.

Her suspension is contained in a press release signed by Mr Gabriel Egbe, Registrar of the institution, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Calabar.

Egbe said that the student was suspended for allegedly violating her matriculation oath through unruly behaviour and endangering lives and property on the university campus.

Egbe said that Oluwafoyin, with registration number 18/104143018, was reported to have, on Feb. 8, driven recklessly against traffic at high speed within the campus with some students hanging precariously on the doors and booth of her car.

The Registrar said that in the course of her action, a university security personnel suffered serious bodily harm and the campus was invaded on her behest by external parties.

“The alleged action was in flagrant disregard of an earlier warning as conveyed in a circular of Jan. 30.

“Consequently, management has suspended Miss Oluwafoyin’s studentship with effect from Feb. 8, pending the outcome of the matter which has been referred to the Students’ Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.

“Meanwhile, Miss Oluwafoyin is also to stay away from campus except on invitation by the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.

“The Dean of Social Sciences, Head, Department of Sociology and the Chief Security Officer are to ensure strict compliance with the directives,” he said. “Meanwhile, Miss Oluwafoyin is also to stay away from campus except on invitation by the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.

“The Dean of Social Sciences, Head, Department of Sociology and the Chief Security Officer are to ensure strict compliance with the directives,” he said. (NAN)

Alhaji Seidu Baba, a member of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), says the forum has not adopted former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential candidate, as consensus candidate.

Baba made the clarification on Saturday at a news conference in Abuja.

According to him, though,

Atiku has been scheming to be endorsed as the sole candidate of the North, NEF has not endorsed him.

He dismissed the claims that the NEF’s 10th Anniversary was to adopt Atiku as consensus candidate for the North, “Atiku has no credentials to be a sole Northern Presidential candidate”.

Baba said: “There was an attempt to cajole and even force the NEF to adopt him (Atiku), shows how desperate he is.

“Many people believe, though the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-rufai, was condemning Northern elders, it is believed, his real target was Atiku Abubakar.

“There is no way Atiku can be a Northern candidate, because he does not know them and we do not know him.”

“It is believes Atiku got wind of his rejection the reason he failed to show up at the NEF Assembly and could not send any representative.