20 minute read
Politics
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi on Tuesday told the people of Akwa Ibom and indeed the rest of Nigerians that the era of unfulfilled promises is gone for good with him and Yusuf Ahmad Datti running the Presidency.
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Obi told the jubilant organic crowd that came to listen to him that, “When I came here, I was told that the most important thing for the people of AkwaIbom is the Deep Sea Port and I promised that when I leave this place, I will go and see the Port so that when I start as the president, I will put it in place.
“That sea port was visited in 1983. Senators came here and
The era of promises, no fulfillment is gone -Peter Obi
said it was going to be a Deep sea port, next year will be 40 years. 40 years is what the children of Israel stayed in the wilderness. It is about to work after 40 years”.
The LP flag bearer noted that for the years the Federal Government has not done anything in Akwa-Ibom. All they come here to do is to make promises, promising that that era has come to an end.
“You cannot drive from here to Calabar or to Umuahia or drive from here to Aba. Everywhere is unsecured, nothing. It has been promise and fail. This is reality now, it will happen now. You know I won’t give fake promises.
“We want to make Nigeria to work again. A new Nigeria is possible with you. What is Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed going to do? I want you to listen to me.
Addressing the rally also, the National Chairman of Labour Party, Bar Julius Abure appreciated the people of Akwa Ibom for coming out en-masse to welcome and support our presidential candidate who is their inlaw.
“Today you have shown that Akwa-Ibom state is for Labour Party. There is no gain saying the fact that Nigeria is in disarray. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is being mismanaged. There is no gainsaying the fact that the challenges we have in the country, ranging from insecurity, to hunger, to poverty, to mismanagement of the economy, is as a result of failed leadership over the years. But the LP chair noted that democracy has his best features, of giving the citizens the opportunity to vote and sack those who have not done well. Our people say every day is for the thief, one day is for the owner.
“2023 is the time for us to separate the goats from the sheep. And I know that AkwaIbom people, knowing that you are from the South South, you will do the needful.
We can build in difficult time - Tinubu tells South-South APC stakeholders
By Christiana Ekpa
All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday assured Nigerians and stakeholders of the party from South-South region that he would lead Nigeria to build back better and stronger even in difficult time if elected next President.
Tinubu made this declaration in Calabar at a TownHall meeting with party stakeholders on national transformation and industrialisation at the Cultural Centre, Calabar.
Drawing parallel from the experience of the United States during its civil war, Tinubu charged Nigerians and party members to focus on what the country can accomplish.
He said: “We can build in the middle of difficulty, the US was fighting the civil war and still building rail track. We should focus on the things that we can accomplish. We have a lot - there is the waterfront here, we have minerals here, we have arable land, we must conquer hunger, we cannot allow hunger conquer us.”
Speaking further at the wellattended event that had the VicePresidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, Governor Ben Ayade, Director-General of the campaign council and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, Deputy Director-General and former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Victor Idoma Egba, former Governor Godswill Akpabio, former Petroleum Minister Don Etiebet, Minister of State Power, Jeddy Agba, and Minister of State Labour, Festus Keyamo, Tinubu pointed out that for the nation to experience economic recovery, less focus should be placed on crude oil while harnessing other areas.
Others at the event were former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Chairman of TeTFUND, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, APC National Woman Leader, Beta Edu and other party chieftains.
The APC candidate promised to work towards industrialisation while also focusing on the production of goods and services across the country.
“My campaign is built on the firm conviction that our greatest good and best deeds still lie in front of us and not in our past.
“The industrialisation of our economy represents a most vital step towards achieving the Nigeria of our dreams.
“From its very beginnings, our nation’s economy was established on an incomplete foundation. It was built to rely too heavily on oil exports. This means we have always experienced a large gap in the national economic structure. Greater industrialisation shall fill this gap through the production of more and better goods which improve our standard of living while creating better jobs, providing workers with a living wage and establishing businesses that will drive this economy for generations to come.
“Because of this gap in our economic structure and the resultant lack of economic activity, Nigeria has experienced unacceptably high rates of unemployment for several decades. The problems this causes for our society are not limited to simply slowing our economic progress. This gap has affected our nation in profound ways, straining the social fabric in ways that no nation wishes for. Now is the time to repair these fissures our country should never have had to experience,” Tinubu said.
“Our industrial policy will prioritise strategic industries vital to the development of our national economy. We will grow the nation’s industrial base to provide decent jobs and improving wages to our nation’s ever increasing urban population.”
Speaking on how they can better achieve this, Tinubu said primary and secondary industrial hubs would be created across each geopolitical zone in the country.
He also promised to bring Cross River into the industrialisation plan through the state’s resources.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Coalition lauds Buhari over appointment of NASS acting clerk
By Abubakar Y Ojima
The Coalition of Civil Society Group for peace, security and good Governance, equity and justice has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of the acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambuwal.
The national coordinator of the group, Comrade James Okoronkwo made the commendation during a press conference in Abuja yesterday, saying Tambuwal is the most qualified and transparent management staff for the Clerkship to the National Assembly).
According to him “Our attention has been drawn to the malicious campaign of calumny against the management of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) by some mercenaries under the guise of activism”.
He also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard and discountenance the orgy of falsehood against the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) over the well- deserved appointment of Sani Magaji Tambuwal” saying that he is the most qualified and transparent management staff for the clerkship to the National Assembly).
He however reiterated that his appointment followed due process and in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s strong commitment to accountability and merit.
2023: Nigeria needs a liberal, detribalize vice president like Shettima -Group
By Abubakar Yunus
Tinubu/Shettima solidarity group called Friends of Kashim Shettima Mustapha (KSM) has said Nigeria at this time, needs a liberal and fairminded Vice President like Senator Kashim Shettima to complement the nation-building and national integration efforts of the president.
Its National Coordinator, Arc. Waziri Bulalma stated this during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday.
“We are convinced that in a diverse, and complex country like Nigeria, we need a liberal and fairminded Vice president that will complement the nation-building and national integration efforts of the president.
This is he called on the wellmeaning and patriotic Nigerians should support Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket in the forthcoming general election.
He said like Tinubu, KSM appointed non-indigenes and competent people of different faith into government positions in Borno State.
According to him, Tinubu/ Shettima has done it before in Lagos and Borno State and they will replicate the delivery of the dividends of Democracy nationwide if given the opportunity.
“In Borno State as a governor, Senator Shettima administered a state challenged by insecurity delivering through massive social and physical infrastructure in the State.
By Christiana Ekpa
ANew Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, Senatorial candidate, AbduRahman Kawu Sumaila has said the attitude of ruling governments denying opposition parties access to public spaces for campaigns, is nothing but unstable politicking.
AbduRahman Kawu Sumaila who was speaking at the Kano State Peace Summit, Tuesday said, on many occasions, they have tried to use public places for their campaigns as opposition but were denied.
He said, “sometime last week we were at Rano Local Government campaigning and
SDP chieftain drags guber candidate, Abe to court over alleged double nomination
By Musa Baba Adamu
Amember of the Social Democratic Party in Rivers State, Ataisi Fah-Ntene has dragged the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Rivers State, Magnus Abe before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over alleged double nomination.
Fah-Ntene who claimed to have won the Andoni State constituency primaries of the party is also in court on a separate suit against the SDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the State House of Assembly candidate of the SDP for Andoni State constituency, Ngboawaji Augustus over alleged unlawful substitution of her candidature.
While the plaintiff is asking the court to direct INEC to disqualify Senator Magnus Abe for alleged double nomination, she also wants the court to disqualify Ngboawaji Augustus as the state house of Assembly candidate and restore her ticket as the rightful candidate of the party.
When the matter came up in court on Tuesday, one of the defendant’s counsels informed the court of the difficulties experienced in effecting service and asked for a short adjourned date to enable him respond and serve the processes.
Presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile after listening to the lawyers, advised them to ensure an effective exchange of services and adjourned till 12th of January, 2023 for proof of service and definite adoption of all processes.
2023: Denying opposition access to public
spaces recipe for violence – NNPP
we just placed our banners on a common street light but before we knew it, they were removed with a warning not to do that again”.
Sumaila hinted that the problem the election may face is the fact that some politicians are placed above others as they do and say what they want without prejudice.
“Not until the security and the election umpire allows a true playing ground and act quickly against anybody no matter his class or position, can we will agree that the conduct would be free, fair and just”.
The State Police Commissioner, Mamman Dauda, explained that the Summit is to sensitize political stakeholders against violence and hate speeches which create uncertainty in the state.
CP Mamman Dauda noted that they also brought together the politicians, ullamas and civil society members to remind them of the provisions of the electoral laws which specifically guide against hate speeches and violent campaigns.
The State Chairman of Civil Societies Forum, Ibrahim Waiya, urged the Nigeria Police to be fair by ensuring that anybody who is caught making unremarkable, unguarded speech is arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“We have seen so many bigwigs in the political circle making unremarkable, unguided and hate speeches, but up till this moment we have not heard that anybody is arrested, this is not good. the conduct of the Police must be seen, regardless of who violates the rules.
Sheikh AbdulWahab Abdallah, the Leader of the Sunni in the State urged the Nigeria Police to ensure that any politician found giving drugs to youths to coarse them into their political campaign is arrested and dealt with.
Tinubu begs warring APC members in Cross River to sheath swords
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to aggrieved and embattled members of the party in Cross River State who lost primary elections to withdraw all lawsuits and stop internal fights against themselves.
He made the appeal today in Calabar when he called John OwanEnoh, former senator for Cross River Central Senatorial District and Mary Eta who also lost the Central senatorial ticket to current Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Jonas Eteng, to the rostrum during a town hall meeting in Calabar and begged them to sheath their swords.
Owan-Enoh lost the governorship ticket to Prince Bassey Otu and further lost the case at the high court and later at the appeal court.
Tinubu told the huge crowd of APC members and officials: “Mary Eta and I didn’t start today; We have been friends long ago. And Senator John Owan-Enoh, no matter what, you are bound to be disappointed as far as you are human but please, withdraw your lawsuits. Let us work together. I want the two of you to deflate the balloon of anger and get back together to work for the sake of our party.”
Tinubu said moving Nigeria forward was the only reason he is running to be the President in 2023. ”I am a front-wheel driver; driving Nigeria forward is the only reason I am running. Division, anger, and breaking apart will not solve Nigeria’s problem. It is only by building a team of intellectuals, and visionaries that we can.”
He commended Governor Ben Ayade for his industrialization drive in bringing the state to the limelight. He also commended Senator Florence Ita Giwa (Mama Bakassi) for her work for humanity.
Senate confirms Onochie’s appointment, 12 others for NDDC Board
By Musa Baba Adamu
Despite criticisms trailing her nomination, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of the president’s Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi-Onochie as the substantive Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The Senate at the plenary also confirmed 12 others following the screening of the nominees conducted last Friday at the National Assembly complex.
President Muhammadu Buhari had requested the Senate to confirm the appointment of his Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi-Onochie as the substantive Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, a development that drew applause and condemnation in some quarters.
Buhari had also named 14 others in the letter as Managing Director, Executive Directors and members of the Board.
They include Samuel Ogbokwu, from Bayelsa State, as the Managing Director, who would serve for a term of two years to complete the term of his predecessor in office.
The list also included Dimgba Erugba, representing Abia State, Dr. Emem Willcox Wills ( Akwa Ibom), Elder Denyanbofa Dimaro (Bayelsa State), Hon. Orok Duke (Cross River) and Dr. Pius Odudu ( Edo State).
Engineer Anthony Ekenne, (Imo State), Hon. Gbenga Edema (Ondo State), Elekwachi Dimkpa (Rivers State), Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, ( Nasarawa State, representing North-Cenral zone), Alhaji Sadiq Sami Sule – Ikoh ( Kebbi State, North-West) and Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, (Adamawa State, North-East).
The President also nominated Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) from Edo State as the (Executive Director, Finance) and Charles Ogunmola, from Ondo State, as the Executive Director, Projects also made the lists of appointees for the NDDC.
Gov Umahi swears in new aide
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State has sworn in a new Special Assistant, Emmanuel Chukwuonu.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Tuesday by Chooks Oko, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Strategy.
According to the statement, the governor said the new aide would serve as Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters.
He explained that the new aide hailed from Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
“This appointment will be the last in the category of State Executive Council until the end of my administration. I charge you, the new Special Assistant, to brace up to the service of the state,” the governor advised.
2023 presidency: If you vote wrong leader, Nigeria is finished, Fani-Kayode warns Nigerians
By Musa Baba Adamu
With the 2023 presidential election drawing closer, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, has cautioned Nigerians against picking the wrong leader.
Fani-Kayode said Nigeria would be finished if the wrong leaders were selected in 2023.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council member, PCC, pointed out that the country was at a cross-road and couldn’t afford to get it wrong.
Speaking via Twitter, the former Aviation Minister said Nigeria would not be united if the wrong leader is selected.
He said: “If we get it wrong this time around, there is no fixing it anymore. It’s as simple as that.
“If we don’t get it right this time around and have the right person in power in this country, for the next few or number of generations, Nigeria will be finished.
“Nigeria will not even be a united country again in a matter of years. Why do I say this? Look at the economy, nobody is happy with it. And it’s been like this for many years, not just this dispensation.”
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in the 2023 general elections in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has disclosed that it will be very difficult for one single political party to defeat the incumbent governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde without a coalition.
Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor (Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, made this declaration during an interactive session with some journalists in Ibadan, the state capital on Monday.
Recall that a few years back, days before a gubernatorial election, a former governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja initiated a coalition of candidates that included Seyi Makinde of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sharafadeen Alli of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde of Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Chief Femi Lanlehin of African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The coalition agreed to support Makinde during the election, the decision which gave him the edge to defeat other candidates among whom was Adelabu, who contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2019.
Adelabu has however declared that it will be very difficult for one party to defeat Makinde in 2023 unless a coalition is formed with other political parties.
Adelabu, who said that he sees the possibility of political parties forming a coalition to defeat Makinde in 2023, insisted that without a coalition in 2019, Makinde would not have won the election.
The Accord candidate while
We need coalition to defeat Makinde in 2023 – Accord’s Adelabu tells candidates
answering questions from journalists on the possibility of a coalition, recalled how Makinde emerged winner in the last election through coalition.
He however said that he (Makinde) did not win because the people liked him but because it was a survival game as the people did not have a choice.
He asserted that if the coalition is formed, he has high hope that his party, Accord will be the lead coalition partner.
Adelabu said: “I see the possibility of a coalition because it may not be so easy for one single political party to win. The PDP is not the way it was in 2019. We now have NNPP that broke away from PDP and SDP too. In APC, Accord has left. So, I see coalition parties coming together to unseat Makinde.
He expressed optimism that “Accord is now more popular than APC and PDP in Oyo State.”
Doyin Okupe resigns as LP presidential campaign DG
By Christiana Ekpa
The Director-General of the Labour Party Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe has resigned his position.
The development was contained in a letter he addressed to the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Tuesday.
Sharing the letter on his official Twitter handle, Okupe wrote, “It’s time to step aside. But I am with PO and the Obidients and the Presidential Campaigns till God gives us victory in Jesus Name”.
Okupe’s resignation followed his conviction for breaching the Money Laundering Act by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday.
The Labour Party chieftain, who was formerly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was subsequently sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, gave Okupe an option of N500,000 fine on each of the 26 count charges, totalling N13m for which he was found guilty.
•After convintion over money laundering
Doyin Okupe
Court removes Nwosu-led ADC executive
The Federal High Court, Abuja has removed the Ralph Nwosu-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and nullified all actions the executive committee took from August 21 to date.
NAN reports that Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday also affirmed Sen. Patricia Akwashiki as the authentic National Chairman of the party.
Counsel to Akwashiki, Mr Benson Igbanoi, said that by the court order, the actions of the Nwosu-led executive between August 21 and December 20 become void.
He said those actions, including the sack of the presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, had been invalidated.
According to him, the court, having perused the constitution of the ADC, held that the party was bound by its extant constitution and therefore, the actions taken by the defendants were unconstitutional, null and void, and of no legal effect whatsoever.
The matter was commenced by means of an originating summons filed on August 30, 2022. (NAN)
Bayelsa PDP candidate Ebikebena dragged to CCB over alleged salary fraud
By Musa Baba Adamu
Mitin Living Ebikebena, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bayelsa State House of Assembly candidate for Ekeremor Constituency 2, has been dragged before the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, for allegedly receiving double salaries.
Akporhona Noah and Seiyefa Captain in a petition written to CCB through their legal firm, A.O. Ishokare Esq, called for an investigation into the allegation that Ebikebena, an employee of the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe breached the provisions of the code of conduct for public servants.
The firm in the petition dated December 9 and received by CCB on December 19 claimed that the PDP candidate violated Paragraph Two, Part One of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
It was gathered that Ebikebena remains in the employment of the polytechnic as an accountant since July 10, 2014, and is currently on salary grade GL 09 CONTEDISS step five.
The petition claimed: “While still in the employ of the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe and without resigning same, the said Mitin Living Ebikebena accepted another salaried employment and was employed by the Bayelsa State Petroleum Taskforce from 2016 to 2019, as well as Bayelsa State Governor’s Special Representative, Ekeremor, between 2019 and 2020.
“Mitin Living Ebikebena was also employed by the Bayelsa State Government as the Ekeremor Constituency 2 Director, Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development from November 2020 to April 2020. He received salaries and emoluments for each of his employment from the Government of Bayelsa.
“Our clients believe that by being simultaneously employed by the federal and state governments and having received emoluments from each tier of government concurrently, Mitin Living Ebikebena, who is a public officer by virtue of Paragraph 15, Part two of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution has grossly breached the provisions of the constitution”.
Quoting part two of the Fifth Schedule, the petition said: “Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, a public officer shall not receive or be paid emoluments of any public office at the same time as he receives or is paid the emoluments of any other public officer.”
The legal firm asked the CCB to exercise the powers conferred on it by the constitution to investigate the allegation and take necessary actions as provided by the law.
