Presidential, NASS elections will hold as scheduled -Security Council

By Egena Sunday Ode

The National Security Council (NSC), has expressed satisfaction with the level of security across the country, saying that there’s no gong back on the scheduled February 25 date for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

It also assured that the exercise would be conducted in a safe, secured and peaceful atmosphere.

The Council’s verdict which came on Wednesday after its meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja has finally put paid to insinuations that the federal government might order a shift in dates scheduled for the elections.

There had been palpable fears, especially expressed by some political

Ash Wednesday: Cleric advises Christians to shun evil

Rev. Fr. Godfrey Gopep, the Parish Priest of St Finberrs’ Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos, has advised Christians and Nigerians in general to shun evil during the lenten season.

Gopep gave the advice in his sermon in commemoration of the 2023 Ash Wednesday in Jos.

The cleric, who decried the spate of evil acts among Christians, urged them to have the fear of God at all times.

”Al ot of us are deliberately doing evil to hurt others; we stay awake at night to plan evil instead to pray and think of positive things.

”So, I urge us all to use this lenten season to shun evil and be good to those who come our way; you should fear God in your thoughts and all your dealings.

”We should also use this holy season to serve God in sincerity and show love by serving the poor.

”By so doing, we will eradicate class of the poor in our society,” he said.

Gopep also advised Christians to be change agents in their families, work places and communities in general.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.

It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares christains for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

(NAN) office holders, that the various unpleasant developments, including the intermittent violence and chaos recently witnessed in different parts of the country, in reaction to the pressure mounted by the cash scarcity crisis may be a good reason for the elections to be postponed.

However, briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Council meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari , the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, said the members expressed satisfaction with the situation report and agreed that the elections are good to go.

According to Malami, Council was fully briefed by the Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs, the IGP and heads of other security agencies, about their readiness to provide the necessary security back up for Saturday’s poll.

He said flowing from this, the Council gave a marching order that the February 25 election should hold as planned.

According to him, the Council’s meeting was a follow up to earlier meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Council of States held last week to affirm the readiness of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police and security agencies to go ahead with the general elections in the country.

“Now out of desire to further consolidate and appraise the comprehensive and general preparation of the system, relating to the conduct of the election, this meeting, which is third in series of appraising and reviewing the state of preparedness is called upon by the President, which is the National Security Council meeting.

“At the National Security Council meeting, briefings were made by security agencies generally and service chiefs. National Security Adviser made submission; Chief of Defense Staff made one; Chief of Army Staff made submission; Chief of Naval Staff made submission, Chief of Air Staff did; Inspector-General of Police, who incidentally is equally addressing you, made submission; Director-General, State Security Service did; and indeed DG NIA and CDI all made submissions.

“The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the election and arising there from, the position of the government, the position of the President is to the effect that the election is holding of the 25th day of February, 2023 and Mr. President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on the ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction.

“So we have been mandated, arising from the conclusions of the Security Council meetings to now brief you accordingly, but the summary of it, the conclusion of it, the resolution of the Council, is to the effect that the elections are holding and there is no going back about it”, Malami said.