Politics

2023: Umahi bans street campaigns

by political parties in Ebonyi

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has few months to the 2023 general election banned street campaigns by political parties.

He also threatened to seal off party secretaries and offices of defaulters.

Umahi also banned pasting of posters on critical infrastructure, including electric poles, concrete medians, roads, flyover bridges and other critical infrastructure of the State by all the Political Parties in the State.

The governor, who made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki by the Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, threatened to clampdown on political parties, including his All Progressives Congress, APC, that littered the infrastructure with posters.

“The Governor has banned all street campaigns and directed all Local Government Area Chairmen, to process all the applications of any Political Party including APC that wants to use the public facilities for their campaigns,” he stated.

Umahi, however, gave a marching order to all political parties including APC to remove with immediate effect, all the posters that already littered on the critical infrastructures in the state.

According to him: “The Governor has decided to forgive all other political parties and appeal to them to remove all their posters on all the critical infrastructure before 31st December, 2022 and desist forthwith from defacing the state facilities or face similar penalty like APC, Ebonyi State chapter.

Oyo North: Ogbomoso electorate have ceded slot to OkeOgun in 2023 – Accord

Arm yourself with PVC – Gov Ortom charges Nigerians

By Christiana Ekpa

Benue State Governor Ortom has again charged Nigerians to arm themselves with their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, to enable them to vote for credible and trusted leaders in next year’s general elections.

Governor Ortom gave the charge on Sunday, December 25, 2022, at Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Gboko Road, Makurdi while delivering his goodwill message at a church service to mark this year’s Christmas celebration.

He stated that the country is going through pain, hardship, economic and security woes because those who were elected to lead the country at various levels have failed to live up to their responsibility.

In his words: “The 2023 elections is the only opportunity we have. So those who are yet to collect their PVCs, please, I beg you in the name of God to do so because that is the only way you can exercise your franchise and restore hope and dignity to our country by electing leaders that have been tested and trusted who you can rely on and work with.”

According to him: “One vote can make a difference. So if you want a change that will bring dignity and restoration to our country and promote economic development and add value to the development of humanity and restore security, that vote will count.”

He encouraged the people to ensure that they participate in the forthcoming elections, saying “this time, there is no snatching of ballot boxes because it will not be there for anybody to snatch. BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) will make a difference. And so your physical presence, [and] participation is very important.”

Head of the Operations , Monitoring Team, Office of the Chief of Army Staff, Major General AB Mohammed with his Wife Hajiya Saadatu Mohammed; on his left is Col M Bamalli shortly after AB Mohammed was decorated with his new rank of Major General in Friday in Abuja

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Chairman of Accord in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Alhaji Eddison Yekini Garuba has declared that the electorate in the Ogbomoso Zone have ceded Oyo North senatorial slot to Oke Ogun Zone.

Garuba made this disclosure in Iseyin on Saturday during a programme organised by Accord candidate for Oyo North Senatorial District, Hon. Shina Abiola Peller.

He said: “Oyo North has 13 local government areas; We have three in Ogbomoso and they have 10 in Oke Ogun. Oke Ogun has supported us for eight years; it is now time for us to support them. The people of Ogbomoso, the elders, the traditional rulers and the youths and students have told me to tell you that we are supporting the candidate from Oke Ogun this time around.”

He further disclosed: “We in Ogbomoso have decided to support the candidate from Oke Ogun under Accord [because] if we should follow the law of natural justice, it behoves Ogbomoso to support Oke Ogun now. The elders, chiefs and traditional rulers in Ogbomoso have decided that we should support Oke Ogun in 2023 to produce the senator for Oyo North.”

YPP reps candidate, Buraimoh preaches tolerance, peace at xmas

By Abubakar Yunus

Young Progressive Party(YPP), candidate Ifako-Ijaye federal constituency, Lagos State,Hon. Peter Folajimi Buraimoh has called for peace and religious tolerance among different adherents of faith as the antidote to conflicts in the country.

In his goodwill message to Nigerians to commemorate this year’s Christmas celebration issued on Saturday, Buraimoh called for interreligious cooperation that will engender peace and harmonious coexistence.

He said occasional conflicts between and among various religions would never reoccur if the inter-religious dialogue is sustained.

Buraimoh urged Christians in the country to remain steadfast in prayer to the almighty God to intervene in the myriads of security, and socio-economic and political challenges facing the nation.

He enjoined them not to undermine the essence of the Christmas celebration on the altar of merriment, saying, “the sanctity of the birth of Jesus Christ which is the reason for the celebration is to re-enact the spirit of love, peace, good neighbourliness and forgiveness which our saviour preached.”

Hon. Buraimoh particularly thanked the people of Ifako-Ijaye federal constituency, for their silence and support him come 2023 general election and enjoined them to remain steadfast to face the challenges ahead.

On the forthcoming general elections, Hon.Buraimoh called on the people of the State and Nigeria to “vote in leaders who will be committed to the security of people and promote the well-being and development of the country. This is the only way we can rescue Nigeria from the poor leadership the outgoing APC administration has taken us to.

“In the 2023 elections, we must look beyond partisan political lines to elect leaders who have been tested and trusted. Not those with criminal tendencies and thrive on lies, falsehood and deceit as their signature traits,” he emphasised.

He then urged all Nigerians to be vigilant during this festive season and cooperate with the security agencies and report every suspicious movement of criminal elements in and around their areas, particularly the terrorists invading our communities to kill and displace our people from their ancestral homes.

PAGE 16 POLITICS

Kaduna Speaker felicitates Christians at Christmas

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani felicitated with Christians all over the world as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

Zailani, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani on Sunday, said this period which called for celebration, also signified a period of reflection.

According to him, this period brings to the fore, the needed unity of Nigeria, which is sacrosanct, inviolable and paramount.

Zailani, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Speakers Forum, NSF, further said: “Allah says in the Holy Quran that he created mankind as races and tribes so that they may understand each other. Therefore, our being together as one is a divine design that should make us continue existing.”

He called for peaceful coexistence, and understanding among all Nigerians, just as he further urged them to continue to pray for peace to reign in Nigeria.

He prayed for God’s blessings, mercies and good tidings on this auspicious occasion.

2023 polls: Kwara APC, opposition trade words over Gov Abdulrazaq’s ambition

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Kwara State and opposition parties are currently in a war of words over the outburst by the State APC campaign council that the party will win the 2023 general elections in the State by a wide margin.

A statement credited to Yahaya Seriki, Director-General of the campaign council for Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq’s second term ambition, which ignited serious reaction, had insinuated that all former aggrieved members of the party who are now gubernatorial candidates of their various parties, would soon team up with the governor for his reelection in 2023.

Both the State chairman of the party, Sunday Fagbemi and Seriki disclosed that efforts were ongoing to bring back former stalwarts of the APC who are now governorship candidates of SDP, YPP and NNPP, for the 2023 gubernatorial election in the State.

“APC shall win the gubernatorial election and other elections by wide margin. The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is one of our leaders and he is still part of us. He has never said that he’s no longer part of us. He will participate in the 2023 general elections with us.

“The closer you look, the less you know as it concerns APC in Kwara. Never mind, by the time elections come you will see that we are going to win by a wider margin than what happened in 2019. There’s no cause for alarm”, Fagbemi said.

On his part, the APC campaign council Director-General, Yahaya Seriki said: “The APC campaign council is working hard to bring back APC stalwarts who have emerged as gubernatorial candidates of YPP, NNPP, SDP to APC which is their family.”

Seriki said that exodus of governorship and senatorial candidates of the YPP, SDP, NNPP and ADC from the ruling party will not have a negative effect on the chances of the governor in 2023 general elections.

He added: “If you could recall, I was the Director-General of the APC campaign council in the Kwara Central senatorial district in the 2018/2019 general elections. Many of these people that decamped from APC did not participate in the election campaign then.

“You see, all these people in the YPP, SDP, and others were part of one big family and are related one way or the other. In 2019, I approached about 13 governorship aspirants then on the need to present one person among all of us as the party’s governorship candidate. The major reason they are not in APC today is because of their personal interest or expectations which according to them might not have been met.

“My own interest is to see a better Kwara State. If they believed in the growth of the State, they would not have left the party. Kwara is bigger than anybody. Leaving the party, to me, is out of personal interest and not that of the State.

But reacting to the APC campaign council’s outburst, the State gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Professor Oba Shuaib Abdulraheem, said the statement is “arrant nonsense.”

He said the APC is jittery and panicking because of the fear of the unknown, adding that “there is no plan whatsoever to merge with anybody or party, but we are ready to accommodate whoever is ready to come and join us in our party.”

Also, in its reaction, the Young Progressives Party, YPP, in the State debunked Seriki’s statement, describing it as a “wishful thinking.”

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Oyewole Oladele, in a statement in Ilorin on Friday, dismissed the claim credited to Seriki about overtures to woo the YPP State gubernatorial candidate, Waziri Yahaya Gobir to support Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq’s second term ambition.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (middle); his wife, Tamunominini (third left) and their children cutting the cake during his 55th birthday held yesterday at Saki area of Oyo State

Christmas:If you have been blessed, reach out to brethren in need – Gov Emmanuel

By Christiana Ekpa

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has encouraged stakeholders and those who have the wherewithal in the state to reach out to people around them who are in need in the spirit of Christmas.

This was the final part of his broadcast Christmas speech on Sunday, December 25, 2022.

According to the governor: “This season is one of love, of giving and of hope. Let us show love to the infirmed and the less privileged; let us give a shoulder to those who may be consumed by hopelessness; let us offer a hand to lift up those who may be at the lowest rungs of life’s ladder; let us give them a reason to be cheerful and hopeful. If you have been blessed, please reach out to your kindred in need and show love [in] the season of the birth of our saviour.”

He also called on the political class and stakeholders to conduct themselves during this period of transition with decency, and circumspection and not to heat up the polity.

“Leaders don’t burn down the homes they had built; leaders don’t ignite violence through the words of their mouth; leaders don’t engage in peddling falsehood and misinformation, neither do they deploy violence as a means of getting elected into political offices. Leaders do not attack and insult the very institution and the symbol they aspire to represent. Leaders should and must understand that the cords of our unity, of brotherhood and of our common patrimony remain enduring and rock-solid, and that political foes you know today may be allies tomorrow,” he admonished.

He said further: “As we get ready to elect our new set of leaders, I urge our people to know that that same God who granted us a state 35 years ago, with dusty streets and thatched roofed houses sandwiched between a number of concrete structures, a state where the aspiration of some of our people was to go to Lagos and elsewhere and be domestic workers and gatekeepers, has done supreme things in our lives. Our narratives have changed, and it can only get better.”

He also advised the next government to protect his achievements and leverage them as building blocks.

“As I get ready to brace the tape, I do so, with a heart of gratitude to you my dear people, a grateful heart to the One who made all these possible through His only Begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, whose Birth, we are today celebrating,” he said.

The governor, who also used the occasion to present a brief scorecard of his administration in sectors such as aviation, education, healthcare, infrastructure and security, said there must be continuity to protect the state from going back to its dark days.

Umeh denies allegations of demanding N500m to work for Soludo’s emergence

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), and Anambra Central Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Victor Umeh has reacted to rumours of him demanding N500 million to support Prof Chukwuma Soludo in the last governorship election.

Umeh had dumped APGA for LP after he was denied the senatorial ticket of the party in what has been said to be a grand conspiracy between the leadership of the state and the party.

Umeh who spoke on Saturday during the inauguration of the state executive of Senator Victor Umeh Solidarity Network (VUSON), said his opponents in the senatorial contest are jittery and have resorted to all manner of propaganda against him.

“I was at Okpuno, where someone told me he heard something about me and felt he must enquire from me. He said he was told by Senator Uche Ekwunife that I demanded to be paid N500 million before I can work for Soludo in the last election.

“But that is not true. I never demanded any money to work for Soludo, instead, I used my funds to work for him, even as his campaign director in the last election.

“I even met some of my friends who donated money to Soludo because of my influence. So, it was Soludo who made money from me, instead.”

The former lawmaker lamented that his opponents were dishing out propaganda against him, just to whittle down his influence, ahead of the forthcoming election.

“Recently too, there was a voice note that circulated on the internet, that I was caught with a married woman and that I paid money to the woman’s husband to avoid being exposed. All these are propaganda, targeted at me.

“I’m happy that despite all these, my supporters have stood firmly behind me. I thank the executive of Victor Umeh Solidarity Network (VUSON). When I was told that some people were mobilizing to support me, I demanded to meet you, but I was told that you didn’t want to meet me yet until you were done mobilizing.

POLITICS

Gov Makinde’s Dep Chief of Staff, Ojo, 2 others not our members – APC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Oyo State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, on Sunday announced the expulsion of Ademola Ojo, from the party.

Ojo is presently the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Similarly, the party also announced the expulsion of Messrs Segun Okanlawon and Saheed Oladele, respectively from Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North local government areas of Oyo State.

Publicity Secretary of APC, Wasiu Olawale Sadare made the announcement via a statement made available to journàlists on Sunday. He insisted that the individuals were expelled over alleged political infidelity, gross misconduct and sabotage.

According to him: “They have all been active on other political platforms, while still claiming the privileges of bona fide APC members. We found it extremely funny that the three characters could be parading themselves as members of two different registered political parties at the same time even as they have lost every right and privilege available to progressives in APC.”

He said further: “It is, therefore, imperative for us to inform the whole world that the three of them are no longer members of our great party (APC ) since they have all moved on to other political platforms where they are enjoying benefits as they also work against our party and its candidates.”

L-R:Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Abayomi; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Father of the bride/Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; at the wedding of John Opeyemi and Samantha Adetutu, the Minister’s daughter, in Lagos, at the weekend.

Lawmakers appraise 9th Assembly, laud journalists for watchdog role

By Christiana Ekpa

Some Members of the House of Representatives over the weekend gave thumbs up to leadership and members of the 9tg House for the unique way in which they conducted their affairs and the successes recorded as a result.

The lawmakers who are chairmen of very key committees of the House were unanimous in their verdict regarding the performance of the 9th Assembly, crediting same the operational style of the leadership and the watchdog role of the media.

This was at the end of year get together and award ceremony organized by the House of Representatives Press Corps over the weekend in Abuja.

Chairman, House of Committee on Power, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, who was honoured with an award of the Most Impactful Power Committee Chairman of the House’ attributed the uniqueness and the success of the 9th Assembly to the leadership quality and style of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

He expressed delight at the milestone achieved by the 9th House, adding that not for the leadership quality and style of the speaker, the height attained by the House wouldn’t have been possible.

“He said, “I am proud of the 9th National Assembly. I have been around for sometime but the 9th Assembly we think we did a lot of things differently. We worked together. We worked very hard and were able to achieve our set out targets. All these goes to the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, for the kind of leadership he has offered to us.

This 9th Assembly is scandal free and we also wish to commend ourselves for that. I also wish to commend the Press Corps for keeping us on our toes trying to make us do the correct things because if you know that there are people watching you, that would make you do the right thing. we would continue to work together,” he said.

Spokesman of the House, Hon Benjamin Kalu, who also received an award as the Most Outstanding Spokesman of the House, lauded the Press Corps for its effort in strengthening democracy.

He said the Corps has given stability to the image of the National Assembly.

He also said journalists were not getting what they deserved and more should be done to take care of them.

“I appreciate the Press Corps for the stability they have given to the image of the National Assembly. It has not been like this before. Rancour free, acrimony free. There is this integrity in the mind of Nigerians about the NASS. The confidence level has gotten from where it was to where it is at the moment not because of only what we did but also because of how you showcased what we are doing to the Nigerian people. People are beginning to understand that this fulcrum of democracy is actually playing a vital role in the advancement for our democracy.

Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon Muktar Aliyu Betara, said the 9th National Assembly’s successes would not have been possible without the efforts of the Press.

Aliyu, who received an award of Excellence as the Champion of Legislative Reform, was represented by Hon Mohammed Kabiru.

Expressing appreciation for the award, he said, “Journalists are considered to be judges of any society. They see it from an eagle eye perspective and give good reportage for people to understand what is going on in the society.

Also the Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada urged journalists not to compromise in their profession.

Sharada, a governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Kano State in the 2023 election also received an award as the Most Impactful Committee Chairman on Intelligence Matters, just as he recalled his journey through the journalism profession before joining politics.