Saturday, March 18, 2023 Weekend Edition

Guber/State Assemblies polls: CDD lists Sokoto, Delta, Rivers, Zamfara as ‘flash points’

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Ahead of today’s governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to do everything possible to make the polls free, fair, credible and transparent.

This, the CDD, maintained, is the only way the Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC will not completely betray the confidence reposed in it by the generality of the people.

The CDD said this on Friday in Abuja in its pre-election press conference on the Saturday’s governorship and states assembly elections.

The press conference was addressed by the Chairman of CDD, Prof. Adele Jinadu and CDD Director, Mrs. Idayat Hassan.

They pointed out that given that the polls have been delayed by a week, to give INEC time to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, the commission now has sufficient time conduct better elections, which will be devoid of the earlier noticed flaws.

The organization categorically tasked the

By Mohammed Adamu

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn key lessons from its conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections of February 25 and improve the conduct of the state elections.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) through its Election Analysis Centre (EAC) has equally raised the alarm that politicians are devising new and creative strategies to engage in vote trading.

In its report, which was jointly presented by the Chair, CDD-EAC, Prof. Adele Jinadu; Executive Director, CDD, Idayat Hassan; member CDD-EAC, Mrs. Ladi Bala; member EAC, Prof. Victor Adetula, and Executive Director, CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the CDD noted that though vote trading was less prominent during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, politicians have now devised new modes of vote buying.

According to the report, “Vote trading was less prominent during the presidential election but more creative, Food and material goods replaced cash in many instances, a practice that will be a feature of closely contested polls in

Sokoto, Delta, Rivers and Zamfara states.

“However, this is in tandem with presidential races where vote trading is often limited when compared to governorship races which has seen vote trading feature prominently in successive elections.

“We encourage citizens to make their decision based on choice and not in exchange for goods or cash,” they said.

They also urged investigating authorities to act against those engaged in vote trading with a view to bringing sanity to the nation’s election processes.

In order to ensure that the breaches, which occurred during the presidential and National Assembly will do not happen again, the CDD tasked INEC to reprimand and suspend those found to be colluding with political actors in their state, and support polling unit cancellations in such instances.

They said, “We encourage all ad-hoc INEC staff to abide by the commission’s code of conduct when carrying out their duties on election day and when announcing results.

“The prompt submission of polling unit results to IReV is critical and will support an

improved perception of INECs performance.

“We also urge the Commission to be both proactive and responsive in its communication with voters.”

The CDD also urged INEC to avoid elongated periods of silence as this provides fuel for misinformation and disinformation to flourish.

The CDD said, “States that will hold gubernatorial polls with the most incidents of political violence since 1 January 2023, according to the Nigeria Election Violence Tracker, are Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Delta and Anambra –with Kano the state with the most recorded deaths as a consequence at 20”.

“Osun, Imo and Ebonyi have also seen a number of incidents in the past three months that could disrupt state house of assembly polls taking place in the state. In total, 109 deaths linked to political violence have been recorded from the start of the year to 10 March 2023 according to the tracker.”

Based on its mapping, CDD predicted that violence linked to the state’s elections could worsen due to the activities of armed groups quasi-security outfits.

Ode to Mr Cashless: AParody of Shakespeare

He is no bonafide ‘apex banker’, but a villainous mountebank, A threadbare juggler, usurer and a speculative fortune-teller, Efielema, Elemafie, Efiemale; whatever thou art called or thou answereth to, Pythagoras would be right, thou art a vengeful torment from the pit of Hell.

Else what hath thy time in office ever deserved, What hath it done, That it, in golden letters, should be set,

on the high tide of the calendar? Nought hath thy time wrought but multiplying villainy on the multitude. Thus nought should thy oppressive time share in the reckoning of man. Or if thy time must stand, then let expecting mothers always pray, That the burdens that they bear be not luckless to fall on such desolate time, Lest that their motherly hopes on delivery be prodigiously crossed; With an odious epoch whereat all things begun come to cruel end.

WEEKEND PHOTO

The owl hath shrieked at thy birth, revealing an ominous sign;

The night-crow cried as thou breathed out, aboding luckless time;

Dogs howled, hideous tempest shook down trees, on hearing thy cry;

The raven rooked eerily on the chimney’s top, presaging thy presence

And chattering pies in dismal discords sung aloud: ‘here cometh Lucifer’.

Thy hapless mother at thy labor felt more than a mother’s pain,

Yet, she brought forth to life far less

than a mother’s hope,

To wit, a lump of malformed, indigested, misbegotten incubus, Not like the fruit of a goodly tree from whence thou hath come.

Because giant teeth hadst thou on thy head when thou wast born, Proof that thou camest for no goodly object but to bite the world’!

But the thunder that wouldst strike thee soon, heaven itself has not made -YET!

dankande2@gmail.com

FRSC operatives at the scene of an accident on Kwali-Abaji Road in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Guber polls: APC, PDP, LP back in the trenches amid bickerings

• Upsets likely in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Plateau, others

Voter apathy imminent

Dicey race for Assembly seats

By Our Correspondents

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the two leading opposition partiesPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labor Party (LP) will this morning return to the turf as Nigerians troop out again to elect their state’s chief executives and parliamentarians.

But they are coming into today’s contest amid bickerings over the outcome of the February 25 Presidential election in which the candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

PDP and the LP are contesting the outcome of the polls at the Presidential Election Tribunal, alleging irregularities. Already, the courts have granted leave to the two opposition parties to inspect the materials used by INEC in the February election.

The contestation of the results of the election was primarily anchored on the failure of INEC to upload the results from every polling booth to the Commission’s server as dictated by the 2022 Electoral Law.

Consequently, the ensuing disagreement between the ruling APC and the opposition parties has heightened tension in the polity which is yet to abate, and the major parties are returning to the ballot box amid the bickerings.

The governorship election will be taking place in only 26 states. Elections in Edo, Osun, Ekiti, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi and Ondo states are staggered and held off season.

Accordingly, today’s battle between the ruling and the opposition parties in those states would be to determine who controls the states’ houses of assembly as the governors wouldn’t have to worry about their own seats, at least for now.

Conversely, in the 26 states where governorship election is billed to hold alongside that of

the state assemblies, both the outgoing governors and those seeking to retain their seats for

a second term would be fighting from both ends to ensure a retention of their mandates as well as obtain dominant seats in the assemblies for stability of their administration.

Out of the 26 states where governorship election is scheduled today, eight of the governors are seeking a second term. They include Amodu Fintri (Adamawa), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Prof Babagana Zulum (Borno), Muhammadu Inuwa (Gombe), Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun). The remaining 18 will complete their second in a matter of weeks.

However, these 18 governors still have a battle of their lives to fight in the polls today in order to ensure their continuous political relevance as well a to have trusted allies that would be willing to cover their tracks while they are out of office.

The zeal with which some of them prosecuted the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly election was attributable to these variables, according to some political analysts. Notable among them are Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) among others.

Unfortunately, some of them were unable to deliver their states to their preferred parties and candidates, even as their chances of retaining power for their parties in their respective states are being threatened by activities and popularity of the opposition parties in their various domains.

Reports from the states have suggested that for both the outgoing governors and their counterparts seeking retention of their mandates for a second tenure, today’s election is a do-ordie as they all have vowed never

Nasiru Yusuf

Abacha Kano

Guber polls: APC, PDP, LP back in the trenches amid bickerings

CONTINUES FROM PG 3

to leave anything to chance in their quest for election victory.

This, analysts say, has heightened fears among the voting population across the states of a possible outbreak of violence at voting centres during today’s exercise.

According to them, these fears are likely to produce a concomitant effect of low voter turn out and apathy.

The February 25 Presidential election was marred by violence in some states including Lagos and Rivers.

Reports said some of the states’ chief executives who lost either their senatorial ambition or were unable to win their states for their preferred presidential candidates had gone back to the drawing board and come out, furiously vowing to do whatever it takes to avoid the embarrassment of losing again.

The one week postponement of the scheduled date for the election is said to have given the governors the ample chance to fine tune their “winning” strategies.

In Kano, the ruling APC suffered a humiliating defeat by the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the just concluded presidential election. And the situation is not likely to be different with regard to the outcome of today’s exercise, commentators has said.

However, the APC is said to have dotted the “is” and crossed the “ts” of its strategies ahead of the election. Reports suggest that the last couple of days had seen the ruling party in the state wooing smaller parties to its side in alliances.

Analysts are also saying that despite the landslide victory of the NNPP in the state at the presidential election, the APC could still spring a surprise.

They recalled that a similar scenario played out in the 2019 election when Ganduje was seeking re-election. Though the PDP candidate then had a resounding performance in the president election, giving hope that the governorship seat was the party’s for the taking. But overnight, the incumbent governor who was far behind the PDP candidate before the exercise was declared inconclusive, surprised everyone when he was eventually declared as winner of the election.

Accordingly, it is believed that Ganduje will re-enact that joker that had proved bookmakers wrong in 2019. Kano, therefore,

remains one of the states’where an upset is likely to occur in today’s election.

Also, in Kaduna state, the opposition PDP had the day in the just concluded presidential election. It won the state for Atiku Abubakar and cleared all the three senatorial seats, despite having a sitting APC governor.

Report said, however, that the states’ APC governorship candidate, Uba Sani, had enjoined some measure of support in some parts of the state. Last week, the candidate was said to have harvested a lot of endorsements from some not-so-visible political parties and some clerics in the state, a development that is seen

as boost to the fortunes of the ruling party.

But Sani does not seem to have monopoly of these endorsements. The PDP candidate, Ashiru has also a recipient of such support.

However, a twist has occurred whereby both the endorsers of Sani and Ashiru have been rejected by the organisations they claimed to have acted on their behalf. It goes without saying, therefore, that whoever wins today’s election between Sani and Ashiru would have created an upset. Sani for surmounting the hurdles created by the PDP outing in the presidential poll, and Ashiru for upstaging an incumbent party’s candidate.

In Nasarawa state, the governorship race is also unpredictable. Abdullahi Sule who is the APC candidate enjoys incumbency power. But the people of the state decided to embrace the Obedient movement and voted massively for Peter Obi in the February 25 poll, with the Labour Party winning the state. Not only that, the Social Democratic Party which is hardly known in the North central sprang a surprise by winning a senatorial seats. According, the APC will be facing the SDP and the PDP in today’s election.

Feelers, however, suggest that the PDP candidate, David Ombughadu is wooing the SDP to join forces with his party to terminate the APC rule in the state.

Benue is another state where the electorates are already singing the obituary of the ruling partyPDP.

The APC came out strong in the presidential election and its candidate, Very Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, despite late entry into the race has become a household name. The slogan is ‘Yes Father.”

Though from feelers received by our Correspondent in the state, the PDP has vowed to never let go of the governorship seat come what may. There are reports that the party is also wooing the smaller parties to join its rank against the APC today.

One of the major boosts in the PDP campaign was the recent endorsement of its candidate by the Obidient Movement in the state. Recall that Ortom had before the presidential election endorse LP’s Peter Obi. The Obidients said it was time to pay the governor back for his sacrifices.

But no sooner than the alliance was consumated when the LP flag bearer in the State, Herman Hembe disowned the Obidient group, saying that there were on their own as his party had already conclude it would win in the election today.

Aside from these states, political analysts have predicted upsets on a number of states, including, Lagos, Rivers and Plateau among others. The LP displaced APC in the presidential poll in Lagos and Plateau, while the outcome of the exercise in Rivers is still being fiercely disputed three weeks after.

Also, politics watchers said the race for the State Assembly seats is dicey.

David Ombugadu

Gbabebo Rhodes

NJC recommends compulsory retirement of Taraba chief judge, 4 others to face probe panel

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The National Judicial Council (NJC), Friday, recommended the compulsory retirement of the Chief Judge of Taraba State High Court, Justice Philibus F. B. Andetur with immediate effect.

A statement by NJC’S Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye said Justice Andetur is to hand over to the next most senior Judge in the State.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola presided over the NJC’S meeting where the recommendation for compulsory retirement made following his indictment in a petition written against him by Senator Muhammed Sanusi Dagash.

Senator Dagash had in the petition accused the embattled Chief Judge of suppressing judgment by failing to deliver judgment in Suit No: TRSJ/134/17 involving Mallam Kassim Yahaya Ahmad Vs Shittu Wurmo & Shuwari Farms Limited.

Against the lawfully stipulated three months to deliver judgment Justice Andetur was said to have suppressed the judgment delivery for 30 months after adoption of final addresses by the parties.

The NJC after deliberation found that the Chief Judge breached the provisions of S.294 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and therefore recommended him for compulsory retirement with immediate effect to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State.

Meanwhile, the Council in exercise of its disciplinary powers under the Constitution has suspended Justice Andetur from office pending his compulsory retirement.

The statement also said that the Council considered the Report of one of its Complaints Assessment Committees and agreed with the Committee’s recommendation to empanel four Committees to further investigate four of the seven petitions forwarded to it while it dismissed three others.

One of the three petitions was dismissed for being subjudice and the remaining two were dismissed because the Judicial Officers had retired from service and by virtue of Rule 18(2) (h) of the National Judicial Council Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, the Judicial officers are no longer under the disciplinary control of the Council.

Similarly, the Council was said to have considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberation, recommended the appointment of six Heads of Court and five Judges of Plateau State High Court as follows:

The Heads of Courts are Justice Ikpambese Maurice Ahemba as Chief Judge for Benue State, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman as Chief Judge for Adamawa State, Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara as Chief Judge for Kwara State, Justice Iyabo Subulade Yerima as Chief Judge for Oyo State, Hon. Kadi Ibrahim Wakili Sudi as Grand Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal, Adamawa State and Hon. Justice Audu James Balami as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Adamawa State.

Five Judges were recommended for High Court of Plateau State and they are. Charles Donglong, Ashahabu Suleiman Wase, Shikamma Kassam Sheltu, Mary Abah Izam and Nanle Titus Komak

Concluding, the statement further explained that the NJC received notification of retirements of eight Judicial Officers of the Federal and State Courts and notification of death of a Court of Appeal Justice.

Rights Commission raises alarm over rising hate speeches

By Albert Akota

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern about the rise in hate speech fueled by politicians seeking political patronage across the country.

This, the Commission said, has led to ethnic and religious sentiments being

used to create division, fear, and hatred among different groups.

Executive Secretary of the Commission Chief Tony Ojukwu, stated this in Abuja, in view of this Saturday’s Gubernatorial and State Assembly polls. He lamented that the menace has crept into places of worship, where religious leaders have joined the unholy enterprise of spreading hate speeches.

He particularly noted that the use and misuse of social media to spread ethnic and religious hate-laced messages is also worrisome, with farreaching and complex implications. He therefore called on the government to take all steps to reaffirm its commitment to the secular nature of the Nigerian State under section 10 of the Constitution.

Zango Kataf attack: Balarabe visits victims, as Uba Sani seeks arrest of perpetrators

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The deputy governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe has led a delegation of government officials to condole with people especially the victims of the recent killings in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, just as the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District and the State APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Senator Uba Sani called on security agencies to move into action to fish out those behind the attack.

Balarabe, while condemning the killings, said they were in the community to convey the sympathy of Governor Nasir el-Rufai and the entire people of the state to the Agwatyp, HRH Dominic Gambo Yahaya and the bereaved families.

According to her, the state government had been working tirelessly with security agencies to unravel those behind the mysterious killing and wanton destruction of properties, adding that she had directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to carry out an immediate assessment and provide assistance to the affected citizens.

Responding, HRH Dominic Gambo Yayaha thanked the Deputy Governor and the Government of Kaduna State for the visit, just as he expressed sadness over the violent attacks which he described as shocking.

He further lamented that the attack is coming after a period of relative peace amidst many spirited efforts by wellmeaning individuals to promote peaceful coexistence among all people living in the chiefdom.

Similarly, in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna recently, the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District and the State APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Senator Uba Sani said the perpetrators of the attack have no place in a decent society, lamenting that inability of security agencies to fashion effective strategies to degrade or decimate these terrorists and bandits has rendered most of the communities desolate.

Expressing dismay that the full weight of the law is hardly brought to bear on criminal elements, he said: “Our people watch helplessly as criminal elements hold sway in many communities. This must not be allowed to continue.

“Safety and security is a key plank of my manifesto. If, by the grace of God, I get the people’s mandate, I will work with security agencies to restore peace to

communities in Kaduna State.

“My sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this unfortunate attack, and the government and people of Kaduna State.

“ I have dispatched my field officers to deliver relief materials to the families of the victims. May the Almighty Allah grant the victims eternal rest and their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.

“I am deeply pained by the attack on Zangon Kataf Community and the wanton destruction of innocent lives and property. This is not only a condemnable act, but one that must propel us to take immediate and decisive action against these murderous elements.”

“Our people watch helplessly as criminal elements hold sway in many communities. This must not be allowed to continue”.

Atiku warns against actions capable of promoting violence, disunity

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has warned political leaders across the country, especially in Lagos State, to desist from actions that promote election violence, such that can compromise peace and unity and democracy in the country.The PDP presidential flag bearer gave the warning in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe yesterday in Abuja.

The former Vice President specifically frowned at how lackeys of political leaders in Lagos State continue to make ethnic slurs aimed at intimidating voters in the state. According to him, “I have watched with profound disdain a certain video in circulation where some persons known to be

associates of the leaders of the ruling party in Lagos State are issuing threats against other ethnic groups in the build up to the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state tomorrow (today)

“I condemn this uncivilized behaviour and also condemn the criminal silence of the security agencies and the political leadership in Lagos State and Abuja on this development”, he said It will be recalled that the helmsman of the Park Management System in Lagos State, Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as M C Oluomo, had threatened non-Yoruba, specifically Igbo in Lagos, not to dare vote for another political party other than the APC.

However, Atiku, in his rejection of the threats, said: “every democracy is as virile as the culture of the electoral system that

governs it.

“The democracy that we fought for and operate in Nigeria thrives on the principle of free and equal participation.

“Beyond that, I find it morally wrong and repugnant for political actors to make broad day incitements against a particular ethnic bloc, in an attempt to intimidate them from voting their choice candidate.

“It is not enough to talk about the promise of a free and fair election. The actions that we take prior to election day must have the integrity of a badge of honour.

“It is therefore on this note, that I specifically call on security agencies in the country to ensure that politicians and their protégés submit to the rules of democratic fair-play across the country, especially in Lagos State, for the sake of decency and the promotion of peace and unity,” Atiku said.

Nasarawa electorates urged to exercise franchise peacefully

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Nasarawa state Governor Engr. Abdullahi A.Sule has admonished residents especially electorates in Nasarawa State to exercise their rights to vote in this Saturday’s elections in a peaceful manner.

He made the call in a press statement issued to Journalists by the CPS Mr. Ibrahim Adara, in Lafia, the state capital, urged the people to exhibit conducts that would sustain and promote the relative peace that have prevailed in the state since 2019.

Governor Sule, who noted with sadness how in the build up to the Presidential and National Assembly election, some elements within and outside the state introduced religion and ethnicity into our body polity as tools for mischief and campaigns.

“As we go to the polls, we must shun desperation and divisive tactics that only seek to divide our closely knitted multiethnic and multi religious society.

“Social media space is awash unfortunately, with videos and posts that are full of vile planted by people who by their conduct appear bereft of deep knowledge of the teachings of God nor understanding of the dynamics of our dear state.

The Governor had promptly and in many instances held meetings with traditional and religious leaders, stressing the need to caution followers while putting in place several security measures.

“It is gratifying that, we continue to receive positive responses, assurance and support from our leaders in creating awareness among our people

“Sadly, only a few days back another video of hooded elements supposedly wielding arms, making threats and comments capable of inciting intolerance amongst unsuspecting members of our communities”, the statement added.

He however, reassured that his administration remains alive to its responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of our people at all times.

INEC: Date for Presidential, NASS supplementary polls not yet fixed

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has disclosed that it has not scheduled the conduct of supplementary elections arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Commission expressly said that for clarity, the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the Commission immediately after the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

This clarification was made yesterday by an INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the commission, Barrister Festus Okoye in Abuja.

The commission, in the statement, however said that its clarification should not be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

The statement by Okoye reads, “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a news report that conveyed the impression that the Commission intends to conduct

supplementary elections arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections together with the Governorship and State Assembly elections that will take place on Saturday 18 March 2023. This is not correct.

“The Commission has not scheduled the conduct of supplementary elections arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“For clarity, the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the Commission immediately after the

Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“However, this should not be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“First is the Enugu East Senatorial District election which was countermanded to allow the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate in line with the provision of Section 34(1) of the

Electoral Act 2022.

“The second is the Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State following issues with the ballot paper for the election.

“These are not supplementary but main elections that could not be held earlier.

“The public is advised to disregard any report alluding to the conduct of supplementary elections alongside the Governorship and State Assembly elections tomorrow Saturday 18th March 2023”, the statement concluded.

AA drags INEC, APC, Tinubu AlMustapha before elections tribunal

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance (AA) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting, in Abuja.

This was contained in a petition endorsed by the national chairman of the party, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The petition stated that the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25 did not correlate with the provisions of the electoral acts 2022.

Specifically, the party hinged its decision on the non-inclusion of its candidates in the election as against various court judgements which ordered INEC to recognize all the candidates of the party submitted to it by Omoaje.

Hon. Omo-Aje also said the Party is not challenging the person that emerged in the poll but the process.

Also, joined in the petition was the flag bearer of the party in the presidential election, Major Hamsat Al-Mustapha whose candidature did not receive the blessing of Omoaje.

Omoaje reiterated that Hon Solomon, David Okanigbuan was the sole presidential candidate of the party, having emerged at the presidential primary election of the party held in Abuja and attended by stakeholders of the party, security operatives and the media.

He said the exclusion of Okanigbuan from the presidential race and the exclusion of other candidates submitted to INEC for the National Assembly election was against the rule of law and subsisting judgment of various courts including the Court of Appeal.

The party, therefore, seeks an order of the Election Petition Tribunal to set aside the results of the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25 and organize a fresh election where its recognized candidates will participate.

The Action Alliance also urged the tribunal to declare the presidential and National Assembly elections null and invalid as it fell short of standards enshrined in the Electoral Acts 2022.

The party noted that INEC deliberately failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral

Acts and also failed to obey court judgements which were favourable to the party.

It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal and several other courts had ordered INEC to upload the names of candidates submitted to it by Omoaje on its website and paste the same on the notice boards of all its offices.

The Courts also directed INEC National Chairman, Prof Mamood Yakubu to recognize the candidates submitted to the commission by Omoaje who is the recognized national chairman of the party.

Business Feature

CBN’s Directives: Reliefs, Mixed reactions trail as banks struggle to meet customers’ demands

...Nigerians Tasks CBN to circulate both new and old notes

By Abubakar Yunusa

Despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive authorizing commercial banks to dispense and receive the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes, many Nigerians this week rejected the bank notes.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend found that some motorists and traders refused to accept the old notes amid the uncertainties surrounding the acceptance of the notes by commercial banks.

The apex bank had on Monday announced that the old and newly redesigned banknotes remain legal tender until 31 December. The move brought relief to Nigerians who had gone through hardship as a result of the cash crunch occasioned by the CBN Naira redesign policy since December.

The CBN policy caused widespread chaos across the nation, as frustrated Nigerians staged protests amid poor banking operations.

On 8 February, the Supreme Court intervened by issuing an order restraining the CBN from enforcing the deadline for the withdrawal of the N200, N500, and N1000 notes. The court granted the order following a lawsuit challenging the CBN’s currency redesign policy.

The order from the Supreme Court was met with relief from many bank customers who had faced hardship while trying to access their money. However, both President Muhammadu Buhari and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele refused to comply with the court order.

On 3 March, the Supreme Court again intervened by ruling that the CBN must extend the use of old banknotes until 31 December due to the negative impact of the policy.

In the ruling, made by a seven-member panel led by John Okoro, the court ordered the CBN to continue accepting the old notes from Nigerian citizens.

On Monday, the presidency in a statement claimed that Mr. Buhari never directed the CBN to disobey the Supreme Court’s order, prompting the apex bank to direct commercial banks to comply with the Supreme Court order.

Days after the CBN gave its directive; Peoples Daily observed that while many Nigerians now accept the old N500 and N1000 notes, some others are still rejecting the banknotes.

A visit to some Banks in the Karu Local government area of Nasarawa State, Nyanya, Asokoro and Asokoro (AYA) on Thursday and Friday also

showed that there are long queues at the banks and ATM galleries, although there has been a relative reduction in the number of customers struggling to access the banks.

Although commercial banks began issuing the old notes last week, there has been an improvement in the amount of money being dispensed to customers since the CBN announced that they should comply with the court order Monday night.

But bank officials who spoke to PEOPLES DAILY Weekend under the condition of anonymity said that the banknotes available for customers remain insufficient as of the time of filling this report

“We do not have a sufficient supply so I doubt there will be better circulation of money this week. We will wait for the CBN to supply us,” he said.

He added that the amount banks get from the CBN is not enough to meet customers’ needs.

Meanwhile, in Abuja, PEOPLES DAILY Weekend observed that some motorists refused to accept the old banknotes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday saying that President Muhammadu Buhari has not directed them to start collecting

N500 and N1000 notes.

Abdullahi Rabiu, a taxi driver that plies the Karu, NyanyaMararaba route, expressed reservations about the CBN directive.

“Honestly, I am not sure I will collect the old notes, since it is not a criminal offense yet.

“The whole back and forth of the CBN and banks on this naira note is discouraging, they don’t seem to know what they are doing.

“For now, I can’t collect it from passengers even if it will affect the amount of money I see daily, I don’t mind,” he said.

At the Sublime Super Market, while some traders received the old naira notes from their customers, others rejected the old notes and insisted on being paid with the new notes only.

Mary Victor told PEOPLES DAILY that I don’t think I would old Naira notes because our customers are not collecting them from us saying that they are waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

At the Mararaba market,

Ismaila Oiza attributed her refusal to accept the old notes to the cash crunch.

“The village people I get cassava from mostly don’t know what is going on, they won’t receive the old note and I will not put my market on hold because of that so I have to abide,” she said.

At the Masaka Market, PEOPLES DAILY Weekend found out that some traders are collecting old naira notes while others are rejecting them. One of the traders, Sanusi Jemila, argued that President Buhari has not given a clear order that the notes should be accepted.

At the Karu market, Abuja, a trader who identified himself as Maria expressed concerns about old note deposits at the bank.

“I know that the CBN has made the old note a legal tender, some people are collecting it now, while some are still not collecting. Me, I won’t collect it because I don’t know if I will be able to pass through the stress of depositing it back into the bank.

don’t think I would old Naira notes because our customers are not collecting them from us saying that they are waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive

“If you have the old note with you and you go to the bank to deposit it, you have to go through many procedures for that and this is just like having your money and also suffering to save it in the bank. So what’s

the need of collecting it,she said ”

Juliet Seember, a food at the Ado Market market in New Karu Local government, expressed delight about the new development.

“We were waiting for either Buhari or Emefiele to give go ahead, and they have so we have started collecting. Now we pray the money circulates so well so sales can pick up again,” he said.

He expressed frustration on how the policy affected sales and patronage since it was introduced in December.

“We suffered. There are times we will come to the market and there will be markets but no money and the network will even mess up,” he said.

“I lost almost N6,000 in a day due to a fake alert and since then I stopped collecting transfers.”

In a chat with Muhammed Hamza, he said “I think there is a little bit of relief now because as at last two weeks, everywhere is hurt and calm because there is no cash for the transaction.

“Despite the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria, we are here to enough in the Bank because I have been to Bank this morning and none of the ATMs is dispensing, the worrying situation is that you don’t have access to the banking Hall.

“I’m calling on CBN to make cash available so that Nigerians can have their money. You can have money and at the same time struggle to make use of it .”, he said.

Month of market fire incidents in Kano

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

In less than a month, specifically within a period of two weeks, Kano state has witnessed no fewer than four incidents of fire outbreak at some markets. Shops had been burnt, goods, worth billions of naira had been destroyed, as the victims are still counting their losses at Kurmi, Singer, Rimi, Bagwai and even an ATM Centre at Taj Bank in the Kano metropolis.

Traders at the affected markets in Kano, the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria will never forget March, 2023, as the incidents started on the first day of the month.

Kurmi Market, the oldest market in the state that has been existing for almost one thousand years, has suffer the most as no fewer than 70 permanent and temporary shops were destroyed by fire in Kano’s popular Kurmi market on the 1st of March.

The fire started in the early morning hours at about 5:am, where residents and shop owners in the Kano municipal woke up in shock to behold the quantum damage by the incident when they were alerted about the fire outbreak in the market.

Although with the intervention of fire fighters from the state fire service, the inferno was put under control but before that help came, the ferocious fire had damaged properties worth millions of naira.

Exactly seven days after, on the 8th of March 2023, at about 1:30am, another fire outbreak gutted the popular Rimi market in Kano Municipal Local Government area of the state.

19 shops and a mosque were consumed by the inferno and an unspecified nimbety of property were also lost to the outbreak.

Singer market, a popular grocery market, was also gutted with fire, few days after Rimi market incident. A number of temporary shops were razed as properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The fire, according to the Public Relations Officer of the Kano state Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, the fire outbreak started at about 1:20am but was put under control after the intervention of the fire fighters.

As if some invisible forces were at work, just during the week, specifically on 15th March, another unfortunate fire incident occurred at Dandabino tomato market in Bagwai Local

Government Area of Kano state. 40 shops were destroyed in the inferno. According to the PRO Fire Service, an area of about 500x300 size where tomatoes are sold was affected.

However, in all the cases of the outbreak, no life was lost but property worth hundreds of millions of Naira were licked by the fire.

Some of the victims of the fire incidents who spoke with Weekend Peoples Daily expressed the belief that it is an act of God, as they seek for His intervention and called on the

government to come to their aid.

Interestingly, the Kano state government had heard their cries and promptly intervened.

The governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State speedily announced a donation of N200 million and N50 million to the victims of fire disaster at Singer, Rimi and Kurmi Markets respectively.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, who disclosed this in a statement Friday, said the release

of the fund would provide succour to the affected traders who lost their wares to the fire.

He said the leadership of the traders’ associations would be formally presented with the cheques of N250 million by the governor.

The governor, according to the commissioner, made the donation after constituting an 11-man committee to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incidents. He said the assistance is to help the victims ameliorate their sufferings.

Guber polls: All eyes on INEC today

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Prior to the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, February 25, the electorates were in high spirits that another opportunity to elect a new President, Senators and House of Representatives members was around the corner.

They eagerly prepared and patiently waited for the D-Day. They were highly optimistic of a new political dawn. On the said date, Nigerians trooped out in their numbers to cast their votes, not minding the various challenges and hiccups that were associated with the process. It is, however, a known fact that the outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections generated and is still generating a lot of dust.

Tempers rose. Some persons were aggrieved. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, as well as their presidential candidates headed to court to challenge its outcome.

The parties in court have maintained that the results of the election have been heavily manipulated and doctored.

The election, they contended, was not free and fair or being fair transparent.

According to them, “There is ongoing extensive cancellation of results all over the country, especially in the areas of strength of the opposition parties to shore up the numbers of the ruling APC.

“We have, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that the presidential election of Saturday, February 25, 2023 conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been irretrievable compromised and, we have totally lost faith in the entire process.

President Muhammadu Buhari was roundly on point, when he admitted that the election was, obviously, not without a fault

In his congratulatory message to the President-elect and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Buhari said, “There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today. That is not to say the exercise was without fault.

“For instance, there were technical problems with electronic transmission of the results.

“Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further transparency

and credibility to the voting procedure.

“However, none of the issues registered represent a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.

“I know some politicians and candidates may not agree with this

view. That too is fine.

“If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence.

“If they cannot, then we must

conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will-no matter how hard that may be for the losers to accept. If they feel the need to challenge, please take it to the courts, not to the streets.

“However, to do the latter means they are not doing it in the interest of the people, but rather to inflame, to put people in harm’s way and all for personal, selfish gains.

“After a degree of polarization that necessarily accompanies any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly.

“I call on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they signed just days before the election.

“Do not undermine the credibility of INEC. Let us now move forward as one. The people have spoken”, he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, received and is still receiving bashings and knocks from several quarters. The zeal with which most of electorate came out to vote during the February 25 presidential and

Cont. on page 10

“

If they cannot, then we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will-no matter how hard that may be for the losers to accept

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman

Cont. from page 9

National Assembly elections, appeared to have waned. Apathy seemed to have crept in.

The postponement of the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections from March 11 to the 18th of same month by INEC may equally lead to negative impact on the turn out of voters for today’s elections.

The electoral body, no doubt, is not unaware of the apathy on the part of the voters. It has thus been assuring that today’s elections will be a better conducted and an improvement over the previous ones.

All noticed lapses, in the previous elections, the commission assured would be taken care of ahead of today’s polls.

INEC has, however ptomised that all the remedial issues concerning the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections will be addressed.

An INEC national commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, who gave the assurance, specifically pointed out that INEC is for the Nigeria people, stressing that the Commission’s allegiance is for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to any political party or candidate.

The INEC National Commissioner gave the assurance after receiving a protest letter from the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, l Dr. Iyorchia Ayu at its headquarters in Abuja in respect of the conduct of the last presidential election, which the party is seriously complaining about its outcome.

The national leadership of the PDP, led by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, National Chairman, Dr Ayu, Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto State) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba state) and others, had staged a protest to the INEC headquarters, few days back, to register their protest over the outcome of the last presidential candidate, faulting the announcement of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as President -elect.

Okoye, who was accompanied by two other National CommissionersProf May Agbamuche-Mbu and Mr Mohammed Haruna-to receive the protest letter from the PDP chieftains, insisted that all remedial issues will be dealt with.

According to him, “”I have received this letter on behalf of the commission, if there are remedial issues to be dealt with, we are going to deal with those remedial issues.

“This commission is for the Nigeria people. Our allegiance is for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This commission does not have allegiance to any political party or candidate, our allegiance is to the federal republic of Nigeria”, he stated.

Also, at a meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on Tuesday in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu advised candidates in the

Guber polls: All eyes on INEC today

Saturday’s forthcoming Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections as well as their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war.

Yakubu expressed the firm optimism of the commission’s improved performance in the elections holding today.

The INEC Chairman told the candidates as well as their agents and supporters to refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of its personnel, observers, the media and service providers.

Yakubu stated that INEC is encouraged by the directive to State Commands by the Inspector-General of Police to handle all cases of electoral offences expeditiously.

According to him, “The Commission is encouraged by the directive to State

Commands by the Inspector General of Police to handle all cases of electoral offences expeditiously.

“We look forward to receiving the case files. We will immediately set up a legal team to handle such cases in earnest”, he said.

Also at the meeting , the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, rtd, advised politicians to call their supporters to order to ensure peaceful conduct of Saturday’s election.

Mongonu said individuals who had plans to undermine the election process must have a re-think or face the consequences of their actions.

His words, “While commending the efforts of the various political parties and the individuals that participated in the last election, especially those of them that call for peace, I want to also urge individuals, especially at the

state level, to demonstrate the same level of maturity and demonstrate the same level of discipline by calling their supporters to conduct themselves in a manner that is congruous with the expectations of the larger Nigerian society.

“Of course, there are channels for laying complaints and addressing these complaints”, he said.

Mongonu pledged that security agencies would continue to give support to all stakeholders in the election to exercise their franchise and responsibilities.

Commending professional conduct of security personnel in the last election, the NSA advised them to ensure that no individual took law into his hands in the Saturday’s election.

He added, “ So far, so good we do not envisage anything that’s going to be terrible or apocalyptic, in terms of the next few days.

“But that does not mean that we should all do away with our state of readiness. We must comply with the rules; we must also allow everyone to exercise their fundamental rights as citizens of this country.

“What we do not want to happen is for anybody to take the law into his or her own hands”, he stressed.

With the assurances from INEC and the security agencies, Nigerians expect a better conducted, free, fair, credible, transparent and generally governorship and State Houses of the elections today.

If that can be done, it will, no doubt, help in reducing the misgivings that Nigerians presently have about the Commission.

“

Yakubu stated that INEC is encouraged by the directive to State Commands by the Inspector-General of Police to handle all cases of electoral offences expeditiously

In Benue, APC, LP lean on popularity despite harvest of endorsements by PDP

By Uche Nnorom

Though a lot has happened in and outside the political parties since the one week shift for the conduct of governorship election was announced, but in Benue state the contest still remains a threehorse race revolving around candidates of the three major political parties: the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Labor Party, LP.

PDP’s performance in the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly election in the state was described as a huge disaster as the party lost two Senatorial and nine House of Representatives seats, mostly to the APC. It was regarded as such because the PDP as the ruling party in the state was expected to have performed better as it had indicated.

The dismal outing of the party according to the Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Media and ICT, Terver Akase could be attributed to the division in the PDP particularly, orchestrated by the governor’s acclaimed support for the Labor Party, LP which finished second during the Presidential election in the State.

The one week postponement of the polls was therefore believed to have brought some relief to the embattled party. Perhaps realizing their mistakes, the PDP swung immediately in action to evolve new strategies to retain the plum seat of Governor.

One of such is wooing other smaller political parties to collapse their structures into the ruling PDP by endorsing its governorship candidate, Titus Uba. Some political analysts have, however, dismissed these gale of endorsements and alliances as inconsequential because, according to them, the parties in the alliances are paper weights.

PDP:s first prey was the Young Progressives Party, YPP. The Party’s State Executive led by Dr. Hough Gwadue had at a Press conference in Makurdi on Friday 11th March, 2023 disclosed that they had gone into an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governorship candidate Titus Uba.

Dr. Gwadue said that as far as the 2023

election is concerned,the party cannot make any impact, hence the need to align with the PDP.

Hear him,” As far as 2023 election is concerned, we have been in the race but truthfully in war situation, knowing yourself and not knowing your enemy, a battle is lost. We have taken stock of ourselves vis-a- vis others that are contesting, we have counted our votes and know that we can garner over 100,000 votes which may not be enough to win the election. We want to mitigate our disaster and not mortgage the development of the State

“We have decided to align with PDP in the Governorship election. The State has faced an existential war which the Governor has fought doggedly.If a general is retiring, his lieutenant should take over. As young people, we believe in consistency of ideologies. We are out to contribute to building of the State and we will hold those benefiting from this gesture accountable. Alliance should not be parasitic but mutually beneficial. The party is supreme and this is established.”

The action of the medical practitioner cum politician caught the ire of the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Robert Orya. Orya, a former Managing Director, NEXIM Bank swiftly distanced himself from the evil plot, avering that he is not part of the Shenigan and sham while insisting that he remains the Governorship

candidate of the YPP.

His response was contained in a press statement signed by his media Consultant Akosu Emmanuel Lubem.

Chief Roberts Orya described as ‘mischievous’,the endorsement of Uba, maintaining that it is an antics by some disgruntled elements of the YPP flying a kite and pretending to throw their weight behind the PDP Candidate come 18th March 2023.

He added that “as the undisputable governorship candidate and leader of the YPP in Benue State, the action of these disgruntled elements is lacking in credibility, substance and moral leaning”, urging the Benue public to discard same as he from inception had resolved to go into the elections to allow the Benue People express their legitimate franchise, choices and preferences as the final arbiter of their redemption and destiny, having undergone the ‘inglorious years of PDP’ in the last 8years .

“ I am assuring you all that I am fully in the race and no manipulation can change or erase that.

“As such the so-called officers or officials of the YPP that perpetrated such an illicit and undemocratic act of adopting candidate (s) of another political party in a hotel room in Makurdi have simply murdered sleep . Their sponsors or Patrons ought to have known that only desperation could have pushed them and the said officials to do such naked dance at the height of our electoral challenges,” he said.

The YPP Governorship Candidate noted that, the declaration by the so called exco of YPP is a total sham that fits into the description as a “ yahoo-yahoo “ act that cannot stand.

Chief Roberts Orya said his wealth of experience as champion of youth employment, women empowerment, economic expert and astute development banker of over 35 years cognate experience stands him out amongst others to champion and transform Benue State and improve the economic wellbeing of her People beyond 2023.

The Former MD NEXIM Bank, therefore, called on Benue citizens to shun all desperate antics employed by rejected and desperate politicians who are hell-bent

to reap from the towering manifesto of the YPP that has come to salvage and redeem the palatable story of Benue for good through robust leadership championed by a seasoned technocrat and tested administrator.

It was later gathered that the National leadership of YPP slammed suspension on the Benue State Chairman for what it termed as ‘disgraceful’ act.

Next to jump into the bandwagon was the Labor Party where 94 supposed support groups for Peter Obi, better known as Obidients under the auspices of the Coalition for Better and Brighter Nigeria, CBBN also,endorsed the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Members of the Coalition in their thousands across the 3 Senatorial districts of the State, Monday, March 13, 2023 converged at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi where they announced to Governor Samuel Ortom, their decision to back the PDP gubernatorial candidate at the Saturday polls.

Speaking during the endorsement, Coordinator of the coalition, Dr Chukwuemeka Nweze, stated that the coalition comprises 94 groups that worked for the presidential bid of Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

He disclosed that the Obidients will synergize and ensure that Engr Uba wins the governorship election, stating that in Nigeria today, it is no longer about political parties but about individual candidates who stand for the interest of the people.

Dr Nweze maintained that “the Benue valley is under threat and we need to rise in one voice to protect and defend it” stressing that the decision of the Obidients to pitch tent with the PDP candidate was in solidarity with Governor Samuel Ortom who has stood firmly to resist the invasion of the state.

According to him, “We are here today to reciprocate the magnanimity of Governor Ortom to defend Benue State,” commending the Governor for standing in solidarity with the Obidient movement, even at the expense of his Senatorial aspiration.

The Obidients affirmed that among the array of governorship candidates in the

Cont. on page 12

As far as 2023 election is concerned, we have been in the race but truthfully in war situation, knowing yourself and not knowing your enemy, a battle is lost

Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia Titus Uba of PDP

Hembe of LP

POLITICS

Kaduna guber: Alliances in dispute?

By Femi Oyelola

If there is anything that would linger in the memories of Kaduna state residents in the build up to the governorship and State assembly elections, it is the gale of endorsements that had characterised campaign activities leading to today's polls.

It is an understatement to say that the campaigns were characterized by series of endorsements of candidates by political parties, civil society groups, socio-cultural groups, individuals, and even religious institutions in Kaduna state.

The three leading contestants for the Kaduna State number one seat - Senator Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable Isa Ashiru Kudan of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Honourable Jonathan Asake, of the Labour Party (LP), have all received endorsements from one group or the other.

As candidates embarked on last minute ditch to clinch the number one seat in the state, Senator Uba Sani of the APC was recently endorsed by the Adara Community Development Association, ECWA Kaduna DCC, and the Amalgamation of De-registered Political Parties, Kaduna State chapter. Notable clergymen and clerics from the two major religions have also endorsed the candidature of Sen. Uba Sani.

Following the bandwagon was the Kaduna state chapter of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) which also endorsed Senator Uba Sani as their preferred choice for the job

Cont. from page 11

state, only Engr Uba has openly shown his disposition to sustain the struggle to keep the soul of Benue State.

The elated Governor Ortom quickly responded by commending the leadership of the coalition and the members for coming out in large numbers to endorse the PDP guber candidate.

Governor Ortom said he was proud to have supported the Obidient movement, stating “I see the movement as an emerging force for a better Nigeria where equity and justice will prevail.”

He lauded the Obidients for throwing their weight behind the PDP guber candidate, stating that “It is about the future of our state and Nigeria at large.”

The PDP governorship candidate, Engr Titus Uba who was in company of his running mate, Sir John Ngbede, said the endorsement and show of love by the Obidients was an emotional moment for him and expressed deep appreciation to members of the movement, promising not to disappoint the people when given their mandate.

Irked by the action, governorship candidate of the Labor Party, Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe described the action of the coalition as a ‘sham’.

Hembe described the group as a bunch of people who do not have electoral value and merely looking for stipends from the government.

The LP candidate took a swipe at the Peoples’ Democratic Party leadership of the State, regretting that it grossly underdeveloped the State in eight years.

“Why did the so called group and PDP not ensure the victory of Peter Obi in the Presidential election but lost two(2) Senate and nine House of Representatives seat. It is failures endorsing failures. I do not have any ties with PDP and Uba. Am set to win the governorship election”, Hembe stated confidently.

In same vein, nine political parties on Tuesday March 13th, 2023 also, threw their

of the first citizen in the state from May 29th.

In the same vein, the Southern Kaduna Youth Forum led by Chief Mock Samuel Kure, came out announcing their endorsement of Senator Uba Sani as the favoured candidate for the youth.

The Ndigbo in the state were not left out as they also recently endorsed Senator Uba Sani.

Like Uba, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan, was hosted by eight political parties in Asa'a Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna to announce his endorsement. The parties include - Young Progressive Party (YPP), AA, APM, APP, APGA NRM, Accord Party ADP and ZLP.

Ashiru also enjoyed endorsements of some Pentecostal fellowship Pastors who urged their followers to vote for him as a preferred candidate against the 'Muslim-Muslim' ticket of the APC in the state.

However, while it has been endorsement galore for Sani and Ashiru, Asake seems to have been at the receiving end, because rather than receiving endorsements like his two colleagues, he has instead received calls to step aside and collapsed his structure into that of the PDP candidate. But he has adamantly refused to tow the line of those suggestions. And that standing is believed to have earned him massive supports from the Obidient Movement in the state.

However, there is a dramatic twist in the endorsements as some political parties said to have been involved in the last 48-hrs have denied endorsing any candidates.

The National Secretary of Action Alliance, Ambassador Suleiman Abdulrashid, was in

Kaduna to debunkd his party's purported endorsement of Hon Ashiru Kudan, and declared the man who represented the party at the ceremony as a fraudster.

Similarly, the leadership of ADP in the state, expelled the acting party chairman for being part of the endorsement without the consent of the leadership of the party in the state.

Also, NRM and ADC is said to have pulled out of the endorsements of Ashiru Kudan.

But not only the political parties are recanting in their endorsements; some clerics are also uncomfortable with that development which has tended to divide especially the faiths. The ECWA DCC in Kaduna state, accordingly, came out with a statement denouncing the endorsement of Senator Uba Sani, and Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe.

The statement signed by the Chairman of the DCC, Rev. Dr Yunana Tanimu, and Secretary, Rev. Nehemiah Bature, respectively lamented what they termed a plot to divide the ECWA family, especially when some are tilting towards the candidate of the PDP.

The question being asked by politics watchers, however, is: of what significance are these endorsements for the today's elections in Kaduna State?

A legal practitioner, Barrister Cyprian Nwonu said the endorsements, especially by some political parties are criminal in nature. He explained that the party that endorsed a particular candidate for election in Nigeria would turn its face to the other side where atrocities are being committed.

He said these atrocities could include thumb printing of ballot papers in private housea without the agents of parties to the endorsement asking questions and they would be ready to sign such results sheets in as much as their endorsed candidate is favoured.

The learned man, therefore, advised political parties to take their campaigns to the grassroots rather than depend on endorsements of a few people who may not control the votes they are claiming to have.

Similarly, Alhaji Bashir Musa, a political commentator in Kaduna said the two major religions in the state will not be the same again as it will take divine intervention for brotherly unity in worship places because of the endorsement waves

Alhaji Musa asked that in a Mosque where you have all members of political parties performing prayers and the Imam announced the endorsement of a candidate from a particular party as a preferred candidate, is a called to disunity.

The same is applicable to the Churches, according to him. So, men who are called in the service of faith should stick to their calling.

He, however said, this is coming too late because some clerics have rubbish their integrity by diving into the political arena.

Analysts have contended that no matter what happened in the governorship election in Kaduna State, two things are obviousThe election would go down as one that has recorded the highest number of endorsement of candidates contesting for the governorship elections since 1999.

reinstated

Agada who thanked the Benue electorates for taking their destinies in their hands during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, by voting massively for the APC,advised them to do it again on Saturday 18th March.

Agada said “On the 18th March, the APC in Benue is ready to bury the PDP administration. The PDP is afraid of the popularity of our candidate, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the resolve of the Benue people to vote them out.

“We have listened to the character assassination of our candidate and the threats of Benue voters. We want to assure you that the APC is ready to protect every life because it matters to us and we are ready to protect your votes and ensure your mandate is not stolen.

weight behind PDP and Uba. They included, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, National Rescue Movement party, NRM, Action Alliance, AC and African Action Congress, AAC, Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Social Democratic Party, SDP, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Boot Party, BP as well as the Action Peoples Party, APP.

During the ceremony, leader of the political parties, Mr. Paul Aondofa Tor explained that their decision to support Uba was based on their conviction that he was the only candidate that would sustain the good works of Governor Samuel Ortom.

Mr Tor, who is the State Chairman of the National Rescue Movement, NRM pointed out that the nine political parties were determined to ensure that Uba would not trade the state in the hands of people who will render the state homeless.

Governor Samuel Ortom, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the political parties for their initiative to adopt and work for the victory of the PDP Governorship candidate, noting that their decision was an indication that they have placed Benue State first. The Governor also lauded them for “not chickening out and not accepting crumbs and selfish interest that would further create poverty and problems for the

people of Benue State”.

Aside the endorsements, both PDP and APC have been at each other’s throats over allegations of plot to manipulate the election. The APC at a Press conference prior to the election alleged that Governor Ortom planned to victimize and intimidate the electorates to vote the PDP candidate, Titus Uba, an allegation Special Adviser to the Governor on Media/ICT Terver Akase, swiftly debunked as ‘lies’.

State Chairman of APC Comrade Austin Agada, had alleged that the Governor threatened to depose traditional chiefs, sack permanent secretaries and several civil servants if they failed to vote for the PDP in the Governorship election.

He also, accused Ortom of holding clandestine meetings with INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC Prof. Sam Egwu and other top officials of the Commission to manipulate the election in favor of the PDP candidate.

The APC chairman who said the party is ready to bury the PDP in the Governorship poll, urged the Benue people to go ahead and exercise their franchise without fear, promising that anyone who is sacked or victimized for supporting and voting the APC in the Saturday elections will be

Agada assured that if the APC is voted into power in the forthcoming governorship elections, they will erase the inadequacies in infrastructure and implementation of policies and take the state to greater heights.

However, reacting to the allegation against his boss, Terver Akase said,”there is no truth in APC, the Governor believes in the rule of law and freedom of expression. That is why he openly declared for Peter Obi but told his aides to vote any other person. He has never met or lobbied INEC to give him result. He sees INEC as an independent body. He is not one that will call INEC to give him result.

“The APC is in a panic mood ahead of March 18 election because the people have realized their lies. I did not do any defamation against Alia, he said he will bring down the kingdom of heaven on Benue State. I just set the records straight, he(Alia) lacks everything it takes to lead a state”.

As the die is cast, can the PDP take advantage of the several endorsements to out stage the APC and remain in power or will the opposition, still basking in the euphoria of victory, maintain and sustain the momentum? This is the question that will be answered today.

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EDITORIAL In remembrance of Obiozor

The death of professor George Obiozor, last year, eclipsed a flame of hope lit in 2020 and was burning very brightly. He was elected President of Ohanaze Nd’Igbo in December of that year but died in December 2022.

Imo state governor Hope Uzodinma announced Obiozor’s death in a statement he personally signed. It read, “A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness. The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel is a big loss to Imo state, the South-east and the entire Nigeria. I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.”

The governor is absolutely correct. Obiozor’s passing due to illness, we have been made to understand, is a calamitous loss to not only his immediate Igbo speaking people but also Nigeria as a country. The Igbos are striving at being reintegrated into mainstream Nigeria after a failed secession attempt. Obiozor, everybody thought and believed, held out that torch of reunion.

In an August 3, 2021 People’s Daily editorial, we said, “It is true, in Obiozor, a well respected diplomat, the Igbo have found the right man to sell their ambition to produce Nigeria’s next president in 2023. He is the right hand to reach across the Niger for Northern solidarity if that sentiment must sell. But first, a badly politically splintered homeland must be reconciled to itself. Will Obiozor be able to pull that off? Only time will tell.

“The significance of the Obiozor victory goes beyond that narrow Igbo unity. It lies in what President Muhammadu Buhari said in his congratulatory message to Obiozor. The message sent by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, urged the ex diplomat to ‘deploy his immense experience within and outside to forge greater unity in the country.’” Our editorial continued: “The import of Buhari’s exhortation to Obiozor is in the background to his emergence as leader of Nd’Igbo. Under his predecessor, John Nwodo, Ohanaeze ceded its place to an ultra nationalist Igbo platform that stands to reenact the disastrous misadventure of Igbo secession that led to a

civil war in 1967-70. Millions lost their lives in that failed attempt at breakaway.

“Ohanaeze and the Igbo political establishment were simply overwhelmed by the frenzy whipped up by a youngster called Nnamdi Kanu until the Buhari government applied the wedge by declaring it a terror group and banning it. Even so, the group still wields much influence in Igbo land through its reign of terror. Obiozor must stop it and push for greater Igbo involvement with the Nigeria Project.”

Obiozor did push hard but the adversity against him was just as tenacious. Last year, masked gunmen attacked his house and burned down a half of the spatial compound. Luckily, the professor was out of the country. Gov. Uzodinma described the attack as “cowardly and the height of desperation” on the part of some politicians. He said at the time that the government was working with security agencies to identify and punish the perpetrators. “The time of those who unleash this kind of mayhem in the state is over. We shall hunt them down to face the full weight of the law,” he said.

Our next editorial (March 25, 2022) on Obiozor condemning the attack on his property, said he must not underestimate the enemy. That job he had taken on came with a huge risk to his personal life and family. The attack on his house in his absence, we said in the editorial, was “a foretaste of the worst to come. Kanu, the leader of IPOB, made a show of condemning the attack but he was only shedding the proverbial crocodile’s tears. We know he had a hand in the burning of Obiozor’s home.”

However, we advised the Nd’Igbo President to not abandon the noble cause he had chosen to fight. “We implore the Nd’Igbo leader to stay the course, no matter what the enemy brings his way. His role is cast in that of the biblical voice in the wilderness, crying to prepare the “way of the Lord”. Obiozor, never you waver in your duty to your mother land.”

Yes, Obiozor did stay the course and paid with his life. But he hasn’t died in vain. His effort has put an Ibo man in the presidential race coming up in February. The greatest tribute Nd’Igbo will pay Obiozor is to complete the national reconciliation project he started.

“To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

OPINION

Soludo’s one year in office: A sober reflection Demo-crazy Nigeriana

By Nwokeabia Ifeanyi John

Politics is not a game of emotion. If you cannot make proper use of your sane six senses to think properly, avoid Politics because you will resort to cheap emotional blackmail in order to tarnish another’s image. But, what do you gain in denigrating a man who never does evil to you?

Every successful man or woman takes stock of his or her trade after a certain period of time. The essence of stock taken is to help in re-strategizing for future. The boldness to face the future challenges is hinged on the experience gained in the previous encounters.

The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR (Mr Governor) was sworn in on the 17th of March 2022. The event whose earlier preparation was supposed to take place at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, had the Governor cutting cost to host the event in not so large a space in the State Government House. The initial budget appeared overwhelming to him that he decided to cut cost. However, the inauguration was not prolonged because the Governor assured Ndi Anambra of his visit to Okpoko on that same day. He believes that he is a servant employed by the people of Anambra, and that he will not sleep until the troubles in Anambra are taken care of.

Since his inauguration until this day, Mr Governor has been actively engaged in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Anambra. He is always making headlines on different newspapers for so many beautiful reasons. His efforts in a year as the present Governor, if compared with his predecessors, it is Crystal clear that history will judge him rightly as the best Governor in the state after a year in office.

He has been able to recruit five thousand teachers (5,000) for secondary and primary schools in the state to end the era of shortage of manpower in the school system. These five thousand teachers were recruited in the most transparent manner devoid of favouritism. The applicants were subjected to different professional tests to ensure that the best hands were employed to impact the best knowledge in the students.

Then, the hospitals in the state received a boost with the recruitment of over two hundred doctors and nurses. The exercises for the recruitment of these professionals were done painstakingly to ensure that applicants who are humble and humane were employed. The health sector like its educational sector had been greatly improved by the Governor through these massive employment.

Security of lives and properties is an important key to the development of any state.

Mr Governor who is delighted in seeing to the success of Anambra and Ndi Anambra had recruited over two hundred experienced Ndi Anambra into the State Vigilante(AVG) to help curb the excesses of evil men who find joy in harming others. To this end, security threat had been minimized in the state, as peace and tranquility are now being enjoyed by the residents of the state.

For a sustainable commercial and economic activities in the state, there is so much need to construct good roads. As an astute Economist, Mr Governor has awarded over 250km of roads to aid easy movement of goods and services to the right destinations. These awarded roads are going to be ready for used in separate dates as signed by the different companies handling these different roads, but the longest time amongst all is 24 months. That is soon these flagged off roads will be fully ready for use.

All the sectors of government are receiving immediate attention and support from the governor since his inauguration. He has invested so much in agriculture, youth empowerment through 1youth 2skills agenda, and other human capacity development.

A worthy mention again is the ten percent increase in the state civil servants’ salaries. If the performance rate of Mr Governor is to be continued by him, definitely, his four years in office will have him successfully achieve his dream of turning Anambra State into Dubai. So far, it is a laudable feat that he has set in the governance history of the state. No one has achieved what he has achieved in his one year in office. He deserves to be applauded. All these achievements of Mr Governor were recorded before his one year in office.

But, why do people call him bad names? Herd mentality is a disease that has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigeria Politics. Everyone wants you to drink completely whatsoever he or she drinks as water, and when you say no to it, it will be an unforgivable sin committed. Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo is a rationale man who does not know how to lie, rather he chose to tell the truth, no matter how painful it sounds. If any sane mind should study his predictions on Nigeria Politics, they turned out to be true. But because a section of the state believes that he does not speak for their preferred presidential candidate, they chose to make rubbish of all the beautiful works Mr Governor has been doing in our state. This is so bad for democracy! The same group of people who clamours for freedom of speech are still the people stampeding another’s freedom of speech. How do you expect an elderly man as Mr Governor to fold his arms and watch a goat deliver in tether? That would not be fair on his path.

Politics is not a game of emotion. If you cannot make proper use of your sane six senses to think properly, avoid Politics because you will resort to cheap emotional blackmail in order to tarnish another’s image. But, what do you gain in denigrating a man who never does evil to you?

His Excellency, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo (CFR) has done greatly within his one year in office and deserves our appreciation. You can see that I added ‘Excellency’ to his name despite his objection to it? It is because, what he has done so far for Ndi Anambra deserve the title ‘Excellency’. He has demonstrated his readiness to serve the people of Anambra right from day one. His blueprint plan for Ndi Anambra are still being followed to letter. He never stops flagging off more projects for the massive development of Anambra.

A year is not enough to judge a leader, even when the leader has performed beyond imagination, it is still required that we give him more patience and support to see other things he has in stock for Anambrarians. His thoughts for Anambrarians is not of evil, but of good. And good things come to those who patiently wait. Let us not forget that when you enviously fight a righteous man, you will end up fighting against yourself because he did not wrong you in anyway. Mr Governor did not wrong Anambrarians in anyway. He has diligently worked for the people of Anambra as he had promised.

Congratulations to you, Mr Governor on your one year in office. I wish you more success in the years to come.

Nwokeabia Ifeanyi John is a writer. He loves sharing his thoughts whenever possible for others to learn too.

By Tony Osakpamwan Agbons

The regular insanity and impunity of the `ruining crass` is blaring its horns and as it stands, the Nigerian Judiciary is the final hope of the citizens of the republic. In the final analysis, this piece is just my informed opinion on `Demo-crazy Nigeriana`. It does not support `vawulence` and if peradventure you don`t agree, you can go to court!

A few months ago, precisely in December 2022, I wrote an opinion piece titled, ‘The Land of Comedus’. It was a satire on the penchant of the Nigerian state to bastardise global best practices at the speed of light. Nigeria currently wears the badge of a land where ‘anything goes’ and we pride ourselves (unfortunately) with the toga of ‘it is the Nigerian factor’. As a country, key sectors have been mutilated and interred under the heap of ethnicity, religion, greed, corruption, mediocrity, and state capture by a few demonic political `ruining crass` (ruling class supposedly).

Take a walk down memory lane with me dear reader and name one sector in the Nigeria Project that is working. Yes, please take a moment to think and reflect. The Education, Health, Agriculture, Transportation, Aviation, Power, Housing, Technology, Sports and other critical sectors are lying in coma. Nigeria has not been able to fix electricity. Citizens have no choice than to procure Generators of all shapes and sizes to get electricity. They end up spending stupendous financial resources on petrol/ diesel to power their homes and businesses. We have not fixed our healthcare system either. Nigeria has one of the lowest life expectancy in Africa. It is 55 years and lower than our neighbours, Niger, and Benin Republic who both are 63 years. Ghana, South Africa have 65 years while Egypt is 72 years. All these failures despite our vast natural endowment is a huge shame. Yet, we pride ourselves as Giant of Africa. What a celebration of acute failure!

It is very sad that simple things that work well like A, B, C, D in other countries suddenly become complicated like Further Mathematics in Nigeria. The Nigeria state has a way of self-destruct never seen in the history of mankind. I will give a few scenarios and example. In 1977, we decided to copy the example of the British in having a national, impartial, non-partisan television station like the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). We named ours the Nigeria Television, NTV and later the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA. Ask yourself, is the NTA up to scratch today? Are they doing what they are supposed to do? No! Unlike the BBC who stayed to their purpose and waxing strong till date, the NTA has become a mouthpiece of AGIP (Any Government in Power) in Nigeria. The TV station remains analogue, substandard, and unable to compete with other TV stations. Nigerians know where to get truth and never tune in to NTA. Take a bow Arise TV and Channels TV.

Move on to Aviation. Nigeria had a national carrier – The Nigeria Airways. It was founded in 1958 and was the best airline in Africa and the Middle East. Few days ago, there was a viral video on the social media outlet, TikTok showing one of Nigeria Airways 747-200 aircraft touching down at London Heathrow Airport in 1980. Ask me what happened to Nigeria Airways. Again `Nigeria happened` to it. The Airline was killed, buried and since decayed. What happened to the Nigeria Railway Corporation? It was dealt a fatal blow by the Nigeria system. The recent window dressing and procurement of locomotives we call trains is a far cry of where we ought to be by now.

Okay, we take a walk to the Educational sector. How is the market? Our public University system is/has collapsed at all levels – primary, secondary, and tertiary. The latter in particular is beset with incessant strike actions. The most recent being the eight months industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Reason – unwillingness of the Federal Government to abide by agreements reached with the Union over the years. Like others before it, the current government treated the strike action with levity, and nothing was done. Eventually the University teachers were bullied back to the classroom by a court action. Facilities in most Nigeria universities are on the decline, and

quality receding. In the 1970s to late 1990s, we had foreign (International) students coming to study in Nigeria Universities. University hostels in the 70s and 80s were habitable and beautiful. Students had well stocked libraries and even food canteens were topnotch. University students were even paid stipends and allowances as they study. What a good life that was! As a young undergraduate in the 1990s at the prestigious University of Benin, I was privileged to have Ghanaians, Sierra Leoneans, and Kenyans and other nationalities as school mates. However, fast-forward to today, our Universities are no more than `glorified` secondary schools. Not as a result of the capacity or expertise of the personnel but due to the infrastructural decay. The same applies to public primary and secondary education. Today, it is becoming a taboo for parents/guardians to send their children/wards to public schools. Private schools (primary, secondary, tertiary) are now a booming business. Education is now a luxury beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. The sad commentary is that the demonic political `ruining crass` send their children to schools in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada et al. Do they really care about us? Of course, they don`t. Again, Nigeria happened to us.

We stroll to the Power sector – Electricity. Nigeria has failed woefully to solve this basic and all important elixir of economic development. No nation can advance without Power. It is the basis of prosperity in every part of the world. Again, despite trillions of naira pumped into the sector, it is darkness instead of light. Once again, Nigeria happened to it. We move gingerly to the `King of All` – Healthcare sector. This is the numero uno sector. Like the others, it is in shambles. The demonic political `ruining crass` run abroad for their Medicare while ordinary citizens wallow in pains. The President and other political figures, their families and proxies travel to hospitals in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, and Middle East. Why would they bother to fix healthcare at home when they can easily access healthcare abroad? Again, Nigeria happened, and the list goes on.

Alas, the last hope was Democracy. Yes, democracy. We began the journey in 1999 having tried unsuccessfully between 1960 -1966 and 1979 and 1983. We adopted the American- styled Presidential system of Government after failing with the British-styled Parliamentary model. Just like many other things in Nigeria, the `ruining crass` has/is making mockery of democracy. How else do we explain the unitary system that is practiced in Nigeria under a Federation? What indeed is Federal about our Federal system? Nigeria took a system that is serving the Americans so well and bastardise it. To worsen the already parlous situation, our Demo-crazy is not evolving. Not with the charade that happened on Saturday 25th February 2023.

An election that was touted to be the best ever in the history of Nigeria was bastardised. The last ounce of oxygen pumping the `heart of Nigeria` is ebbing away. All thanks to the connivance of INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) and the political `ruining crass`. The BVAS (Bimodal Voters Accreditation System and IREV (INEC Result Viewing Portal) technology that was brought in to correct the mistakes of the past was abandoned for the most significant aspect of the February 25th election. Nigerians are still in shock as to why INEC could not electronically transmit (in real time) the results of the Presidential election from polling units. This glitch allowed the `ruining crass` to dip their `demonic fingers` to manipulate and manufacture figures for the presidential election. Once more, Nigeria happened. Yes, Nigeria happened and the thin thread of trust binding the nexus of Nigeria is on the verge of snapping. The regular insanity and impunity of the `ruining crass` is blaring its horns and as it stands, the Nigerian Judiciary is the final hope of the citizens of the republic. In the final analysis, this piece is just my informed opinion on `Demo-crazy Nigeriana`. It does not support `vawulence` and if peradventure you don`t agree, you can go to court!

Dr Agbons is Lead of the Institute of Leadership and Good Governance @www. twin2.org

UK bans TikTok from All government devices over security concerns

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

The government of the United Kingdom has banned TikTok, a videosharing social media application, from all government-owned phones with immediate effect, over security threats.

The ban was introduced on Thursday, after cabinet office ministers ordered a security review.

According to the cabinet office, the review looked at the potential vulnerability of government data from social media apps on devices and risks around how sensitive information could be accessed and used by some platforms.

Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state in the cabinet office, told the house of commons that the ban was a “precautionary move.”

Dowden said the decision is in line with similar restrictions brought in by key international partners, including the US and Canadian governments, and the European Commission.

He said the ban does not include personal devices and there would be limited exemptions where TikTok is required on government devices for operational reasons.

“The security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices. The use of other dataextracting apps will be kept under review,” Dowden said.

“Restricting the use of TikTok on government devices is a prudent and proportionate step following advice from our cyber security experts.”

Dowden, also the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the ban applies to government corporate devices within all government departments.

He added that government devices would only be able to access third-party apps from a pre-approved list.

The latest ban comes weeks after the European Union took a similar step against TikTok — an app owned by ByteDance Ltd, a Chinese-based firm.

TikTok use may also be prohibited from government devices in United States.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the US government has asked the company to sell its stakes or face a possible ban.

The US authorities say the video-sharing app poses a national security risk through data gathered from millions of users.

It was also said that the US house of representatives has been under fire from some Republicans who accused it of not taking a ‘tough-enough’ stance to address the perceived security threat from TikTok.

Recently, the Committee on

Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), a multiagency federal task force that oversees national security risks in cross-border investments, asked the company to sell off its stake.

But TikTok has argued that 60 percent of ByteDance shares are owned by global investors, 20 percent by employees, and 20 percent by its founders.

The social media platform explained that the founders’ shares carry outsize voting rights, as is common with tech companies.

In a statement, Brooke Oberwetter, TikTok’s spokesperson, said a forced sale would not address the perceived security risk.

Oberwetter also said the company has pledged to spend $1.5 billion on a program to safeguard the US user data and content from Chinese government access or influence.

“If protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn’t solve the problem: a change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access,” Oberwetter said.

“The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, USbased protection of US user data and systems, with robust thirdparty monitoring, vetting, and verification, which we are already implementing.”

Last year, The US house of representatives ordered its staff to delete TikTok from any houseissued mobile devices.

According to the house, the office’s cybersecurity unit had found TikTok to be a “high risk to users due to a number of security risks”.

Aside from the US, some other countries have banned TikTok and blocked future downloads for “threat to security”.

FIRS signs MoU with UK’s HM revenue Customs for collaboration on capacity building

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

AMemorandum of Understanding between Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the United Kingdom’s His Royal Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was signed yesterday with the aim of fostering improved collaboration on capacity building between the two tax authorities.

The two agencies signed the agreement in London, United Kingdom, and was attended by the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami accompanied by some members of the FIRS Board and management, and Director at HMRC, Jon Sherman, alongside other members of the HMRC Executive Committee.

Mr. Muhammad Nami who led members of the Board and management of the FIRS noted that this collaboration was in line with two planks of his cardinal goals for the Service: building a data-centric tax authority and improving the Service’s collaboration and stakeholder relations.

“I am certain that this

relationship would equip our officers with the skills of the 21st century tax man,” he stated.

“Data is the new oil. Its collection, interpretation and consequent application for tax purposes has become crucial if the Service must be ahead of the taxpayer in the times we are in.

“With increased collaboration between the Service and tax authorities the world over—which is one of the cardinal pillars of this current management—meticulous and purposeful management, as well as strategic interpretation of the information we exchange between each other has become a fundamental element of inter-taxauthority relations.

“These, among several others, form the major areas where we would be collaborating on capacity building with the HMRC.

“We must be a step ahead.” Mr. Nami noted.

The FIRS boss, who is also the President of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA), further explained that with this collaboration, officers of the Service will be better equipped to improve tax revenue collection

and in turn provide government with the much needed resources to cater for Nigerians.

Commenting further on the collaboration, David Yellowly, Head of Capacity Building at the HMRC emphasized that “the MoU between the Nigerian and UK revenue authorities would see the two countries collaborating on Capacity Building, particularly on issues surrounding Countryby-Country Reporting Standards, Transfer Pricing, Exchange of Information, Data, and Audit in the Oil and Gas industry.”

As Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami has engendered numerous collaborative efforts with tax authorities domestically and across the world, in line with his agenda of improving stakeholder relations for improved tax administration.

In February this year, the FIRS signed an MoU with the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) for collaboration on Joint Tax Audit, Exchange of Information and Capacity Building.

Poultry farmers blame cash scarcity for low patronage

From Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja

The Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) says its members have lost more than N30 billion worth of eggs due to the lingering cash scarcity in the country.

In a statement on Friday, Sunday OnalloAkpa, national president of PFAN, lamented that the poultry industry was on the verge of total collapse and extermination.

“The poultry farmers in the country have lost over 15 million crates of eggs being unsold and are damaged,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“The average loss to the poultry industry as at this press release is in excess of over N30 billion.”

Onallo-Akpa described the poultry industry in Nigeria as one of the most consolidated subsectors of agriculture, contributing about 25 percent of the agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and employing over 25

million Nigerians directly and indirectly.

He said the poultry industry has been a major employer of labour and a great source of financial empowerment and livelihood for many families, especially women and youths.

“The industry is completely private sector driven and worth over N3 trillion,” he said.

Onallo-Akpa said the near absence of naira notes for Nigerians to make daily transactions have made businesses in the poultry industry more difficult.

“Eggs being daily produced by poultry farmers since the first week of February 2023 till date have never been offtaken by 20% because of the near absence and lack of the naira notes to buy basic food items and other necessary proteins like eggs and chickens,” he said.

The PFAN boss called for urgent intervention by the federal government to save the industry from imminent collapse.

He asked the government to make

available direct grants and financial support to the industry through the association.

He also appealed to the federal government to mop up the eggs through the association for distribution to the most vulnerable old populations as part of the social investment support to Nigerians.

“Encourage the Armed Forces in various peace keeping operations, the Nigerian Prisons, the Internally Displaced Persons and primary schools (School Feeding Programme) to be immediate offtakers of the eggs,” he said.

Onallo-Akpa asked the presidency to direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the directorate of peacekeeping operations of the Nigeria Armed Forces, the social investment programme of the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, to work with the association on how immediate reliefs can be extended to poultry farmers across the country.

Rivers guber candidates protest alleged intimidation by PDP, Wike

By Musa Baba Adamu

Anumber of governorship candidates in Rivers State on Friday took to the street to protest what they termed intimidation from the outgoing governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.

Some of the protesters, including Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party; Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress, Dumo Lulu-Briggs of the Accord and Tonte Ibraye of the African Democratic Congress took their grievances to the State Police Headquarters.

Recall that Senator Magnus Abe has had cause to complain that his campaign train had been severally disrupted by persons suspected to be loyal to the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wike who is serving out his second term as governor is believed to wield a high influence in the state and on his supporters.

APC Senators printed ballot papers, result sheets – Dino Melaye alleges

By Christiana Ekpa

With 24 hours to the governorship election, a former Kogi west Senator, Dino Melaye, has accused Senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of electoral malpractice.

Melaye accused an APC senator participating in the governorship election of printing ballot papers.

He also alleged that another APC Senator printed result sheets ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

In a series of tweets, Melaye wrote: “APC senator printed ballot papers, another APC senator printed result sheets. How can this election be credible, fair and transparent? Yahoo Yahoo election indeed. SDM

“How can a person who is participating in an election be the one printing security and sensitive electoral material? A sitting Senator and gubernatorial candidate of APC.

“This is a clear case of conflict of interest. This is a clear violation of the theory of participation. SDM”.

Investigate killings, disruption of campaign rallies in Jigawa – NNPP charges police

By Christiana Ekpa

The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Jigawa State, Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, has urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the killing and destruction of posters and billboards during the 2023 campaign rallies in the state.

Ringim made the call while speaking after signing the peace accord held at police headquarters in Dutse, Jigawa State.

He explained that the issue is not signing the peace agreement but the politicians following it.

Ringim said it was pathetic and disheartening with the happenings during campaign rallies, where some unscrupulous politicians who think they are above the law sponsored some youths to attack their opponents and destroyed their billboards after signing the peace accord.

Recall that two persons were killed and many injured in different instances during the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign rallies at Maigatari and Kazaure local governments.

Ringim, however, accused police of inability to prosecute the perpetrators and their candidates to prevent future occurrences and ensure a peaceful conduct of the Saturday elections.

He called on police and other security agencies to be vigilant and steadfast to ensure those behind the crises were brought to book irrespective of their positions or status.

While reacting to the allegations, the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ekot Effiom, said perpetrators of the crimes had been arrested and the cases have been transferred to courts.

According to him, “all cases related to political violence during

the 2023 campaign rallies were treated and the suspects were taken to court for prosecution.”

He noted that police will not fold their arms while innocent citizens are killed and properties destroyed.

APGA denies collapsing structure for any party in Enugu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State has said it did not collapse its structure for any party in the state in respect of the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The party disclosed this on Friday in a statement by its State Chairman, Ndubuisi EnechiOnyia.

The party chairman said the news that APGA collapsed its

structure in Enugu was a case of “mercantile political jobbers“ and said it was “laughable”.

He described the affected members of the party as political jobbers whose mercantile nature found no place in the party’s pursuit of good governance.

EnechiOnyia went on to express his gratitude for the thousands of foot soldiers who had formed an active support system to ensure the success of the party at the state elections.

“The political landscape in the country has since given more credence to a structure of people committed to values and principles.

“We have had many joining our movement in the past one year and we are not fazed by merchants who see politics as a business for pecuniary interests.

“This is the season where mercantile politicians reveal their true colours, so it is not surprising,” he said.

“If there will be a party that

people would collapse their structure for, it would be APGA because its governorship candidate in Enugu, Frank Nweke Jnr is the candidate to beat in this election”.

According to him, the party fielded the best, the most competent and is confident in the way the people of Enugu have embraced his candidacy.

“This is about the people, not a few politicians,” EnechiOnyia added.

APC yet to zone key 10th National Assembly positions

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied a report circulating on social media on

purported zoning of key positions of the incoming 10th National Assembly.

A statement by the National publicity secretary of the party,

Felix Morka, said “The report is false and misleading, and should be disregarded in its entirety.

“The Party has not made any decision on zoning of positions or

offices of the 10th Assembly.

“As soon as a decision is made on zoning, it will be made public through the Party’s official communications channel.”

Guber, State Assembly poll: Ihiala have settled for APGA candidates - Nzeribe

By Christiana Ekpa

With less than 24 hours to the much awaited March 18th House of Assembly elections in Anambra state, an indigene of Uli in Ihiala local government area, Mr. Uzodimma Enzo Nzeribe, has called on the people to vote massively for the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Barr.

Jude Ngobili.

Nzeribe who spoke with our correspondent exclusively in Awka, described Barr. Jude Ngobili as the best candidate to represent the good people of Ihiala 1 state constituency, stressing that as a former President-General of Ihiala Progressive Union, Barr.

Jude Ngobili touched many lives and improved on infrastructure as evident in the renovation and refurbishment of health centres and other facilities across Ihiala.

He said Uli and Amorka zone are solidly behind the APGA candidate contesting for Ihiala 1 state constituency seat in the incoming legislature. That Uli/ Amorka zone have endorsed and unanimously accepted the candidacy of Barr. Jude Ngobili because they want people who will have intelligent conversations with the state government and not characters whom he said were on vendetta mission.

According to Nzeribe, Barr. Jude Ngobili, if elected will deploy his wealth of knowledge

as a legal luminary to attract more developmental projects to not only Ihiala 1 constituency but also the entire council area, adding that, the APGA House of Assembly candidate is far above other contestants.

Nzeribe who is a stalwart of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, disclosed that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo recently awarded a road ravaged by erosion for construction and another road in Okija all in Ihiala, stressing that Governor Soludo has also promised to construct roads in all the 20 wards of Ihiala local government area.

Apart from road construction, Nzeribe equally stated that Soludo had assured Ndi-Ihiala

that he would renovate all the primary healthcare centres in the area coupled with other amenities to be instituted under his administration.

He said the election of Barr. Jude Ngobili and Golden Iloh would be a watershed in the constituency representation of Ihiala local government area. That there is absolutely no sense in electing those whose mission to the House of Assembly is to begin to fight the governor every now and then.

That Barr. Jude Ngobili and Golden Iloh have verifiable track records and are both in good stead to change the narratives of legislative representation for Ihiala 1 and 2 state constituencies.

Aminu Ringim

Weekend MagazineEntertainment

Tonto Dikeh’s party, ADC steps down to join APC few days to gubernatorial election

Actress, Tonto Dikeh and her principal, Tonte Ibraye have stepped down from running for the governorship and deputy governorship position.

According to reports, Tonto Dikeh took to her social media page to announce that her party ADC was no longer in the race to run for governorship in Rivers State a day before the election.

According to Tonto Dikeh, her party, ADC, has thrown its weight behind the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s candidate, Tonye Cole, and has urged her supporters to vote for Tonte Cole.

She wrote:

“Having carefully listened to the advice of elders and political leaders of Rivers

State on the need for the opposition to look inwards and present a unified, competent, and generally acceptable candidate with the capacity to win the March 18th gubernatorial elections, and the need for the opposition to prevent splitting its votes amongst several candidates, today we officially adopted Pastor Tonye Cole, Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Rivers State as the consensus and unifying Candidate of the opposition. Upon his victory, Tonye Cole will form a unity government comprising of the APC and other opposition parties in this alliance titled “Stronger Together for a United Rivers State”. I hereby call on all my supporters to vote for Tonye Cole of the APC this Saturday.”

Burna Boy set to perform at 2023 UEFA Champions League final

Nigerian megastar Burna Boy has been announced as one of the headliners who will be performing at the 2023 UEFA Champions League final.

UEFA has revealed Burna Boy has one of the performers at the 2023 Champions League Final. The announcement was made via the Champions League official Twitter handle on Thursday, 16th March 2023.

In the video posted on Twitter, a delighted Burna Boy revealed that he will be performing at the Champions League final billed for Istanbul Turkey.

In what’s a remarkable feat, Burna Boy will become the first Nigerian artist to perform on the biggest stage of European Club football.

Since gaining international success in 2018 through his hit single ‘YE,’ Burna Boy has become one of the biggest artists in the world. He has earned a Grammy award for his album ‘Twice As Tall’ while becoming one of the most awarded artists on the continent.

Burna Boy has sold out choice arenas around the world as his music continues to attract international listeners.

American DJ, artist, and Producer Marshmallow performed at the 2021 Champions League final in Portugal while Cuban Pop star Camila Cabello performed at the 2022 edition in Paris.

The 2023 Champions League Final will take place on 10th June 2023 in Istanbul Turkey and Afrobeats will share the stage as two of the finest clubs in Europe compete for the biggest price.

Weekend Magazine

Nigerian award-winning singer, Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems, has come under attack over her outfit at the Oscars

Tems, nominated for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever track, “Lift Me Up” wore a puffy white gown that wrapped around the back of her head. Her elaborate outfit blocked the view of some attendees who sat at her back at Sunday night’s Academy Awards.

Reacting on social media, some viewers criticized Tems for her view-blocking outfit while others said she stole the show.

Here are some comments gathered:

@boluxxx: “ Tems’ dress was beautiful.

Tems is drop-dead gorgeous. Tems is my star girl and all that. Tems blocking people’s views with her dress was inconsiderate. People pointing that out is not racism as long as they aren’t using derogatory language. Humans need to be more honest.”

@Snr: “ Tems didn’t win any Oscars but she’s still the conversation topic of the event, a queen.”

@pdiatiasmag: “ Tems looked gorgeous in Lever Couture but the outfit was not thought all the way through as it obscured the view of the stage for anyone sitting directly behind the singer.”

@t3niola: “ I need this ‘inconsiderate’ narrative to die! TEMS is not the first to wear a large headpiece to one of these awards shows.

“These shows are known for art that prioritises form over function and it is not when it’s Temilade’s turn that you will start expecting ‘sensible’ fits.”

@jayoverflowere: “ Tems ate last night but that was inconsiderate as hell. Poor people in the back.”

@jarrettBellini: “Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a stratus cloud.”

@Archivist1000: “ And the Oscar for the Most Ridiculous Dress worn by a SELFISH, RUDE DIVA goes to #TEMS for obstructing people’s view.”

@missboo_i: “ Tems should have had a better seat IMO. That’s the only thing she did wrong. She should have been sitting next to the ‘singer’ of HER song.”

@victoreajabukwa: “ Y’all shouldn’t forget, that night was Tems night, not the audiences night. She was an Oscar nominee. Free her to wear whatever the fuck she wants. Like Lady Gaga hasn’t worn worse. Instead of Nigerian to celebrate our first Oscar nominee, they’re bashing her for her dress.”

Source: dailypost.ng

Adekunle Gold and Zinoleesky’s “Party No Dey Stop” top Nigeria’s Apple music chart

Nigerian Afrobeat star, Adekunle Gold (AG Baby) has attained the top spot on Nigeria’s Apple music chart with his recent hit “Party no dey stop” featuring Zinoleesky. Zinoleesky and Adekunle Gold have reason to celebrate as their collaboration, “Party No Dey Stop,” is currently at the top of the Apple Music Nigeria list.

After only a few days since its debut, the song has climbed to the top of the charts.

The song rose to the number-one spot, just a couple of days after its release. It has pushed down BNXN, Kizz Daniel, and Seyi Vibez’s collaborative effort, “GWAGWALADA” down to number 2.

The amazing news was shared via the Instastory of Marialian record artist, Zinoleesky. Zino included the caption, “2023 wahala for everybody”, which has got his fans jumping for joy.

The song, “Party No Dey Stop” marks Zino and Adekunle Gold’s debut track for the year 2023. Congrats to the duo.

Naira Marley throw weight behind SanwoOlu for second term

Like the general elections, the forthcoming gubernatorial elections have also divided celebrities.

Street sensation Naira Marley has declared Governor of Lagos State Babajie Sanwo-Olu as his choice in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.

Naira Marley, in the late hours of Wednesday, March 15,

took to an Instagram live video to express himself and declare his support for Sanwo-Olu.

The ‘Soapy’ crooner claimed that Sanwo-Olu is the best man for the job. He also noted that there had been significant development in infrastructure and other aspects of the state, and this could be publicly verified.

Drumming his point home, Naira Marley noted that for the continuity and stability of Lagos, the state needs an experienced man like Sanwo-Olu, who is already knowledgeable based on what he has done so far in the state.

He said he is not a supporter of any political party, but he believes Sanwo-Olu has been

exceptional, while clarifying that this wasn’t any form of promotional deal but his choice.

“I’m not (for the) All Progressives Congress, I’m not (for the) Peoples Democratic Party, I’m not (for the) Labour Party…but where Lagos is going right now, we don’t need to start testing at all. I think SanwoOlu is the right person for the

job. This is not a paid promo or nothing. He has achieved a lot, he also has experience,” he said.

The singer, who is known for many controversial stories, said that as a Nigerian, he could not be silenced in his choice, while anticipating the regular backlash that comes with declaring one’s political choice as a celebrity.

Low sperm count curable with treatment –Fertility experts

Fertility experts have urged men battling with low sperm count to seek proper medical intervention, noting that the condition is curable with appropriate medical treatment.

The experts, however, noted that the treatment of the condition is dependent on the underlying cause, stressing that unknown to many people, most cases of low sperm count usually have an underlying cause.

For a man to be considered to have normal semen, the World Health Organisation’s criteria state that such a man must produce 15 million spermatozoa per millimetre of ejaculated volume or 39 million in the entire sample.

According to the British National Health Service, having a low sperm count can make it more difficult to conceive naturally. The BNHS, however, noted that even though it is difficult, successful pregnancies can still occur with a low sperm count.

Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise, the experts, Consultant Urologist, Dr. Gabriel Ogah, and a fertility expert, Dr. Mojisola Aderonmu noted that men suffering from low sperm count may not even be aware until they are tested.

Dr. Ogah stated that there is a need for more awareness about low sperm count in Nigeria, noting that the condition has become a common problem among men in the country.

Also, a study titled Prevalence of low sperm count and abnormal semen parameters in male partners of women consulting at a private fertility clinic in Abakaliki, Eastern Nigeria, found that 70 per cent out of the study population of 170, had low sperm count with significantly high defective parameters (64 per cent).

The research led by Emmanuel Ugwuja found that asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm morphology) were the major abnormal parameters recorded.

A higher prevalence of oligospermia (low sperm count) was found in civil servants and oligospermia semen (38) was associated with a bacterial infection.

Speaking further with PUNCH HealthWise, Ogah said, “Testicular failure is the cause of low sperm count. That is, the testes are no longer doing their work. What is the work of the testes? They produce the male hormone called testosterone which makes men develop muscles and appear masculine and produce sperm which is used to fertilise a woman’s eggs.

“When the testes have failed which means they can’t do those things, you say there’s a testicular failure and that is the commonest cause of low sperm count worldwide.

“The commonest form of testicular failure is varicocele, which is excess veins in the scrotum. When such engorged veins occur in a man’s scrotum and they have been there for some time, it is well known they can cause testicular failure.”

According to a recent article published online by Mayo Clinic – a medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research, a varicocele is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles (scrotum).

The site further explained that a varicocele may cause poor development of a testicle, low sperm production, or other problems that may lead to infertility.

Dr. Ogah also stated that other factors that could cause low sperm count include “toxins found in the environment and residues of pesticides found in food.”

He also noted that longdistance drivers who are exposed to heat around their waist area are at risk of low sperm count.

Ogah equally stated that there are hormonal factors that can lead to low sperm count, but

stressed that chronic infection in the testes like childhood mumps can equally later cause low sperm count in adulthood.

This position of Dr. Ogah is supported by an article published in the African Journal of Reproductive Health by Sunny Abarikwu.

about 40 per cent of the couples. The male factor is associated with a greater percentage of cases of primary rather than secondary infertility.”

Dr. Ogah, however, noted that “in addition to all these factors, advancement in age could also be a factor for the development of

sperm count. Dr. Aderounmu also noted that medical problems like cancers could equally cause low sperm count in men.

On the treatment for the condition, she explained that the management of low sperm count depends on what is causing it.

“Usually, the men will need to do further tests of their hormones, scans of the private parts and in some instances biopsy of the testes to look microscopically at the portions of the testes that produce the sperm.

“The treatment options include medications which may be supplements or hormones, use of donor sperm is another option,” she said.

Speaking on the length of treatment for the condition, Aderonmu stressed that the length of time taken to manage a man’s sperm count to optimise chances of fertility depends on the underlying cause, what corrective measures are being deployed, and how the man’s body is responding to those measures.

The article stated that “the level of infertility in Africa is due largely to reproductive tract infections which may be associated with abnormal semen parameters and low sperm count.

“In about 60 per cent of all couples experiencing infertility, a male factor is responsible in

low sperm count.”

He, nevertheless, stressed that low sperm count can be treated if the underlying cause is properly idenDr. Aderonmu, who is also an IVF expert added that obesity, the misuse or abuse of alcohol, smoking of cigarettes as well as shisha, can cause low

To prevent low sperm count, the experts strongly warned against unhealthy lifestyles like drinking alcohol, smoking, and obesity.

They also stressed that exposure to environmental pollutants should be reduced.

punch.ng

“ On the treatment for the condition, she explained that the management of low sperm count depends on what is causing it

NEWS ANALYSIS

Postponement of Guber/State Houses of Assembly polls: A blessing or curse?

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Since the last Wednesday’s Court of Appeal’s approval of the request of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) to reconfigure the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, it was apparent/obvious that the postponement of the two polls was inevitable.

Hours before the formal confirmation of the postponement, by one week, of the two elections came ,there had been loads of speculations over same.

The online media were awashed with the report of the shift, even when there hadn’t been official confirmation of same by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The social media too did not lag behind in the speculation. The rumour mill was agog.

The two elections were initially scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 11, this year, two weeks after the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speculations had been rife over the likelihood of the postponement of the two elections, long before their eventual rescheduling.

One of the things that fueled that speculation was the issue of configuration of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines that were used for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on Monday, approached the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, praying it (the court) for approval to reconfigure the BVAS machines.

The moment the approval was given on Wednesday, 8th March, 2023, it was almost certain that the elections will be rescheduled.

Reason is that it will take few days for the machines to be reconfigured to be in sync with the conduct of the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Shortly after the INEC approached the Court of Appeal for the approval to reconfigure the BVAS machines, it will be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had raised the alarm that the move was a ploy to destroy and erase evidence of its rigging of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.

The PDP, at a press conference addressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba in Abuja, specifically frowned at a motion filed by INEC at the court of Appeal requesting that it (the commission) be allowed to reconfigure the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines with a view to wiping out relevant information that “our party and candidate require to prosecute our case at the Presidential Election Tribunal”.

The party noted with regrets that the action of INEC was intended to frustrate the desire of Nigerians to get redress through the court, describing it as “a clear recipe for crisis and a deliberate design by the Commission to derail the democracy and trigger anarchy in the country”.

The action by INEC, according to the party, was vexatious, provocative and only points to the impunity and culpability of the Commission

with regards to the reported manipulations and alteration of results “to deny our party and its candidate their victory at the Presidential election”.

The party stressed that the move by INEC further validated the fact that PDP and it’s presidential candidate won the February 25, 2023 Presidential election, based on the actual votes cast at the Polling Units.

According to Ologunagba, “Late Monday at 10: 10 pm, INEC, in a desperate move to prevent our party and candidate from obtaining necessary evidence as ordered by the court, filed a motion requesting that it be allowed to reconfigure the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and wipe out relevant information that our party and candidate require to prosecute our case at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“This reprehensible action by INEC to frustrate the desire of Nigerians to get redress through the court is a clear recipe for crisis and a deliberate design by the Commission to derail our democracy and trigger anarchy in the country” he said.

However, on Wednesday night, the Professor Mahmood Yakubu+led INEC announced the postponement of the governorship and State Houses of Assembly by one week.

The elections, earlier scheduled to hold next Saturday, March 11 will now take place next week Saturday, March 18.

In a statement signed by one of its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye in Abuja, INEC explained that the decision was taken to ensure that there is adequate time to back up the data stored on the over 176,000 BVAS machines from the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on 25th February 2023 and then to reconfigure them for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

The statement by Okoye reads, “Following today’s ruling by the Presidential Election

Petition Tribunal (EPT) on the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used for the Presidential election held on 25th February 2023, the Commission met to assess its impact on the Commission’s preparations for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, 11th March 2023.

“Nigerians would recall that on 3rd March 2023, the Presidential EPT (Election Petition Tribunal) had given an ex- parte order for some political parties to inspect materials used for the Presidential election, including the forensic inspection of over 176,000 BVAS used in the election which are located in INEC LGA offices across the country.

“The Commission approached the Tribunal to reconsider the order, given that the BVAS Systems were to be deployed for the Governorship and State Assembly elections and that the lack of a clearly defined timeframe for the inspection could disrupt the Commission’s ability to conduct the outstanding elections.

“For instance, the BVAS can only be activated on the specific date and time of an election. Having been used for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 25th February 2023, it is necessary to reconfigure the BVAS for activation on the date of the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“While the ruling of the Tribunal makes it possible for the Commission to commence the preparation of the BVAS for the Governorship and State Assembly elections, it has come far too late for the reconfiguration to be concluded.

“Consequently, the Commission has taken the difficult but necessary decision to reschedule the Governorship and State Assembly elections which will now take place on Saturday 18th March 2023.

“By this decision, campaigns will continue until midnight of Thursday 16th March 2023 i.e. 24 hours before the new date for the election.

“This decision has not been taken lightly but

it is necessary to ensure that there is adequate time to back up the data stored on the over 176,000 BVAS machines from the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on 25th February 2023 and then to reconfigure them for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“This has been the practice for all elections, including the period when the Commission was using the Smart Card Readers.

“However, we wish to reiterate that the Commission is not against litigants inspecting election materials. Consequently, it will continue to grant all litigants access to the materials they require to pursue their cases in court.

“We wish to reassure all political parties and candidates that the data from the Presidential and National Assembly elections will be backed up and available in INEC cloud facilities, including the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). Political parties can apply for Certified True Copies of the backend data of the BVAS. Also, the results on the BVAS will continue to be available on the IReV for interested parties to access.

“We thank Nigerians and friends of Nigeria for their understanding as we continue to deal with these difficult issues and navigate these challenging times”, the statement concluded.

While the rescheduling of the two elections may be a blessing in disguise for the various governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates to continue their campaigns for an additional one week, some believe that the shift would amount to an additional expenses on their parts.

Whichever way the postponement of the two elections is looked at, the only way the move can be deemed to be justified and worthy is for INEC to give Nigerians free, fair, credible, transparent and generally acceptable elections that would be devoid of acrimony, hues and cries as currently being witnessed under the presidential election.

Mahmood Yakubu

Tambuwal

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CLUB 99

Biography

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind watershed events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.

When Was Martin Luther King Born?

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, the second child of Martin Luther King Sr., a pastor, and Alberta Williams King, a former schoolteacher.

Along with his older sister Christine and younger brother Alfred Daniel Williams, he grew up in the city’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood, then home to some of the most prominent and prosperous African Americans in the country.

Did you know? The final section of Martin Luther King Jr.’s eloquent and iconic “I Have a Dream” speech is believed to have been largely improvised.

A gifted student, King attended segregated public schools and at the age of 15 was admitted to Morehouse College, the alma mater of both his father and maternal grandfather, where he studied medicine and law.

Although he had not intended to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the ministry, he changed his mind under the mentorship of Morehouse’s president, Dr. Benjamin Mays, an influential theologian and outspoken advocate for racial equality. After graduating in 1948, King entered Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree, won a prestigious fellowship and was elected president of his predominantly white senior class.

King then enrolled in a graduate program at Boston University, completing his coursework in 1953 and earning a doctorate in systematic theology two years later. While in Boston he met Coretta Scott, a young singer from Alabama who was studying at the New England Conservatory of Music. The couple wed in 1953 and settled in Montgomery, Alabama, where King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

The Kings had four children: Yolanda Denise King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King and Bernice Albertine King.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

The King family had been living in Montgomery for less than a year when the highly segregated city became the epicenter of the burgeoning struggle for civil rights in America, galvanized by the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, secretary of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus

and was arrested. Activists coordinated a bus boycott that would continue for 381 days. The Montgomery Bus Boycott placed a severe economic strain on the public transit system and downtown business owners. They chose Martin Luther King Jr. as the protest’s leader and official spokesman.

By the time the Supreme Court ruled segregated seating on public buses unconstitutional in November 1956, King— heavily influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and the activist Bayard Rustin—had entered the national spotlight as an inspirational proponent of organized, nonviolent resistance.

King had also become a target for white supremacists, who firebombed his family

home that January.

On September 20, 1958, Izola Ware Curry walked into a Harlem department store where King was signing books and asked, “Are you Martin Luther King?” When he replied “yes,” she stabbed him in the chest with a knife. King survived, and the attempted assassination only reinforced his dedication to nonviolence: “The experience of these last few days has deepened my faith in the relevance of the spirit of nonviolence if necessary social change is peacefully to take place.”

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Emboldened by the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in 1957 he and

other civil rights activists—most of them fellow ministers—founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a group committed to achieving full equality for African Americans through nonviolent protest.

The SCLC motto was “Not one hair of one head of one person should be harmed.” King would remain at the helm of this influential organization until his death.

In his role as SCLC president, Martin Luther King Jr. traveled across the country and around the world, giving lectures on nonviolent protest and civil rights as well as meeting with religious figures, activists and political leaders.

During a month-long trip to India in 1959, he had the opportunity to meet family members and followers of Gandhi, the man he described in his autobiography as “the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change.” King also authored several books and articles during this time.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

In 1960 King and his family moved to Atlanta, his native city, where he joined his father as co-pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. This new position did not stop King and his SCLC colleagues from becoming key players in many of the most significant civil rights battles of the 1960s.

Their philosophy of nonviolence was put to a particularly severe test during the Birmingham campaign of 1963, in which activists used a boycott, sit-ins and marches to protest segregation, unfair hiring practices

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A gifted student, King attended segregated public schools and at the age of 15 was admitted to Morehouse College, the alma mater of both his father and maternal grandfather, where he studied medicine and law

Martin Luther King Jr.

and other injustices in one of America’s most racially divided cities.

Arrested for his involvement on April 12, King penned the civil rights manifesto known as the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” an eloquent defense of civil disobedience addressed to a group of white clergymen who had criticized his tactics.

March on Washington

Later that year, Martin Luther King Jr. worked with a number of civil rights and religious groups to organize the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a peaceful political rally designed to shed light on the injustices Black Americans continued to face across the country.

Held on August 28 and attended by some 200,000 to 300,000 participants, the event is widely regarded as a watershed moment in the history of the American civil rights movement and a factor in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“I Have a Dream” Speech

The March on Washington culminated in King’s most famous address, known as the “I Have a Dream” speech, a spirited call for peace and equality that many consider a masterpiece of rhetoric.

Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial—a monument to the president who a century earlier had brought down the institution of slavery in the United States— he shared his vision of a future in which “this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”

The speech and march cemented King’s reputation at home and abroad; later that year he was named “Man of the Year” by TIME magazine and in 1964 became, at the time, the youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In the spring of 1965, King’s elevated profile drew international attention to the violence that erupted between white segregationists and peaceful demonstrators in Selma, Alabama, where the SCLC and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had organized a voter registration campaign.

Captured on television, the brutal scene outraged many Americans and inspired supporters from across the country to gather in Alabama and take part in the Selma to Montgomery march led by King and supported by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who sent in federal troops to keep the peace.

That August, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which guaranteed the right to vote—first awarded by the 15th Amendment—to all African Americans.

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

The events in Selma deepened a growing rift between Martin Luther King Jr. and young radicals who repudiated his nonviolent methods and commitment to working within the established political framework.

As more militant Black leaders such as Stokely Carmichael rose to prominence, King broadened the scope of his activism to address issues such as the Vietnam War and poverty among Americans of all races. In 1967, King and the SCLC embarked on

an ambitious program known as the Poor People’s Campaign, which was to include a massive march on the capital.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated. He was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of a motel in Memphis, where King had traveled to support a sanitation workers’ strike. In the wake of his death, a wave of riots swept major cities across the country, while President Johnson declared a national day of mourning.

James Earl Ray, an escaped convict and known racist, pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He later recanted his confession and gained some unlikely advocates, including members of the King family, before his death in 1998.

MLK Day

After years of campaigning by activists,

members of Congress and Coretta Scott King, among others, in 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a U.S. federal holiday in honor of King.

Observed on the third Monday of January, Martin Luther King Day was first celebrated in 1986.

Martin

Luther King Jr. Quotes

While his “I Have a Dream” speech is the most well-known piece of his writing, Martin Luther King Jr. was the author of multiple books, include “Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story,” “Why We Can’t Wait,” “Strength to Love,” “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” and the posthumously published “Trumpet of Conscience” with a foreword by Coretta Scott King. Here are some of the most famous Martin Luther King Jr. quotes:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice

everywhere.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.”

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

“Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”

www.history.com

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The March on Washington culminated in King’s most famous address, known as the “I Have a Dream” speech, a spirited call for peace and equality that many consider a masterpiece of rhetoric

International China’s Xi to meet Putin in Moscow next week

The Kremlin said they would discuss a “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation”.

The visit comes as Beijing, an ally of Russia, has offered proposals to end the war in Ukraine, to which the West has given a lukewarm reception.

Western countries have warned Beijing against supplying Moscow with weapons.

This will be President Xi’s first visit to Russia since Russian troops invaded Ukraine. He is due to have lunch with Mr Putin on Monday followed by talks on Tuesday.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman said China would uphold “an objective and fair position” on the war in Ukraine and “play a constructive role in promoting talks for peace”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said that China playing a genuine role in restoring sovereignty to Ukraine would be welcomed.

The fact the Chinese leader is going to Russia signals Beijing’s strong support for Moscow. There’s no surprise about that: Mr Putin and Mr Xi share a similar world view, both embrace the idea of a multi-polar world.

Last year the two men declared their partnership has no limits. That’s not strictly true.

Up until now China has not supplied Russia with lethal aid

to help it win the war in Ukraine, though the US claims China is considering doing so.

As for the declared partnership between Moscow and Beijing, Russia - with an economy a 10th the size of China’s - finds itself increasingly in the role of junior partner.

So the Chinese government definitely has some sway over Russia. Other elements driving interest in this visit are Beijing’s claim to be neutral and that it has not opposed speculation that it could act as an honest broker between Moscow and Kyiv.

Crucially, China is coming off the back of a major diplomatic coup, having facilitated a deal for Middle East rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic relations.

However some argue that its stated neutrality is a sham and it is in Beijing’s geopolitical interests for the war to continue because Russia is doing its dirty work - taking on the West and eating up Western resources and money.

China’s proposals called for peace negotiations and respect for national sovereignty. But

the 12-point document did not specifically say that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to meet Mr Xi - “I really want to believe that China will not supply weapons to Russia,” he said.

Some US media have reported that Mr Xi and Mr Zelensky will speak by phone after the Chinese leader’s visit to Moscow, but this is yet to be confirmed.

Kyiv has been pushing hard for some kind of engagement. Ukraine believes President Xi is

making the visit to send a signal to the world that Russia has at least some allies.

In an interview with the BBC before President Xi’s visit was announced, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kubela said: “I don’t think China has reached the moment now when it wants to, when it’s ready to arm Russia. Nor do I think that this visit will result in peace… The visit to Moscow in itself is a message but I don’t think it will have any immediate consequences.”

The message, Mr Kuleba said, was “that China and Russia are very close, close enough for the Chinese leader to visit his Russian counterpart, who is not doing very well.

“And I think this is the message to the entire world, to the West but also most importantly, to the non-West, that Russia is not alone, that China is talking to them.”

The US is keen for Mr Xi and Mr Zelensky to be in contact. The US National Security Council’s spokesman said it would be “a very good thing if the two of them talk”.

On Thursday, China’s foreign minister urged Kyiv and Moscow to restart peace talks as soon as possible during a phone call with Mr Kuleba, who in turn said the two had discussed the “significance of the principle of territorial integrity”.

Kremlin aims to destroy Ukraine jets after Poland and Slovakia pledges

The Kremlin has threatened to destroy any fighter jets given to Ukraine by its allies, after two countries promised Soviet-era planes.

Slovakia became the second Nato country to pledge Kyiv some MiG-29 aircraft on Friday, a day after Poland.

Slovakia’s fleet was grounded last year and it no longer uses the jets.

Ukraine has asked Western countries for modern jets, but because of long training times, these are seen only as long-term options.

It sees extra aircraft as important for its defences and possible counter-attacks, a year into Russia’s invasion.

Other Nato countries are considering sending Soviet-era planes such as the MiG, which Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly.

This is a positive move for Ukraine - which has more pilots than planes - but will not make a decisive difference.

The Ukrainians say what they really need is US-made F-16 fighters.

Yuri Sak, a senior Ukrainian defence adviser, says the fourthgeneration fighters have better capabilities.

That still seems unlikely - at least for now, as it would take time to train Ukrainian pilots on Western jets.

Western military officers remain sceptical about modern fighters - their focus is on helping Ukraine win the battle on the ground.

The front lines are swamped with air defence systems on both sides. The Russian air force is

much bigger than Ukraine’s and it hasn’t been able to gain control of the skies.

News of the deliveries came amid Russian media reports that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had decorated pilots involved in an incident earlier this week which led to a US drone crashing into the Black Sea.

Washington has condemned the Russian actions, in which it

says one of the Su-27 jets clipped the drone, as reckless, but Moscow says the drone failed on its own.

Media caption,

Watch: US releases footage from its drone of the encounter with a Russian jet Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the plans by Nato countries, saying that the aircraft would not affect the outcome of Moscow’s “special

military operation”, as it calls the war, but only “bring additional woes for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people”.

“Of course, during the special military operation, all this equipment will be subject to destruction,” he added.

At the start of Russia’s fullscale invasion, Ukraine was believed to have about 120 combat capable aircraft - mainly ageing MiG-29s and Su-27s.

On Friday, Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger tweeted that his government had approved sending the country’s 13 MiG-29s.

He said “promises must be kept” and that he was glad others were answering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for more weapons.

He said Slovakia would also send Ukraine part of its Kub air defence system.

On Thursday, Poland pledged four MiG-29s, to be sent in the coming days, but more are expected to follow.

As with its pledge of Leopard tanks, it has broken a barrier. This was a step no-one was prepared to take a year ago.

It is not clear how many of the Slovakian planes are operational.

Source: BBC

China’s President Xi Jinping will travel to Moscow next week to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, officials say.

Poland pledged four MiG-29 jets on Thursday

Kenyan street artists create Ukraine solidarity murals

Agroup of artists has painted murals in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, in solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing invasion by Russia.

Dubbed “The grains of culture”, it is the fifth and last mural in a series that has been painted in Vienna, Berlin, Marseille, and Brussels.

“The policy of destruction and elimination of Ukrainian identity is one of Russia’s key elements in the war against Ukraine,” said Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraine’s deputy minister for foreign affairs.

“In our temporarily occupied territories, Russian invaders closed Ukrainian schools and imposed their language and history,” the minister added.

Kenyan artists Moha and Eliamin Ink and their Ukrainian counterparts Alina Konyk, Nikita Kravtsov, and Andrii Kovtun created the mural that stands on the wall of Phoenix House at the heart of Nairobi city.

“I am sure that our artistic collaboration is a perfect opportunity to start our diplomatical relationships in a place of culture,” said Nikita Kravtsov, a Ukrainian concept-artist.

The mural uses coffee and wheat grains to symbolise the political, economic, and diplomatic ties between Kenya and Ukraine.

Cholera kills 37 in Ethiopia drought-hit areas

Ethiopia’s Public Health Institute (EPHI) says a cholera outbreak has killed 37 people over the past six months in regions worst hit by an ongoing prolonged drought.

The outbreak began in August 2022 mainly in Oromia and Somale regions, which the UN says are experiencing the worst drought in 40 years. Treatment centres have been established to contain the situation, authorities say.

In its report, EPHI also says that a measles outbreak has claimed 148 lives in the past 18 months.

HRW urges probe on police tear gas at rapper’s funeral

Arights watch group has urged Mozambique to investigate the reported use of tear gas by police to disperse mourners during the funeral of popular rapper Edson da Luz, better known as Azagaia. Azagaia was a fierce critic of the government. He died last week at his home in the capital, Maputo, at the age of 38.

Social media footage showed police firing tear gas on a procession of mourners as it headed towards the official residence of the president - an area off limits to pedestrians.

The hearse carrying the rapper’s coffin was allowed to pass a police barricade, but pedestrians were forced to take an alternative route.

“An impartial investigation is needed to determine whether officers unnecessarily rushed to use tear gas and to hold them accountable,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, the Deputy Director of the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch.

Source: BBC

International

Christian Atsu: Ghana funeral for footballer killed by Turkey earthquake

Hundreds of people including Ghana’s president are paying their last respects to Christian Atsu, who died in last month’s earthquake in Turkey.

His funeral is being held outside State House in Ghana’s capital, Accra.

“In life I love you darling, in death I’ll do the same,” read the tearful tribute from the footballer’s widow, Marie-Claire Rupio.

She was overcome with emotion and handed her speech to Atsu’s sister to finish reading.

“You did not go alone, for part of me went with you,” it continued. “Your smile, your love I see in our children’s smiles.”

Representatives of Ghana’s national team and Atsu’s Turkish club Hatayspor were also at the ceremony for a man seen by many as a national hero.

“Even at the peak of his career, Astu remained himself and was never overtaken by pride, arrogance or indiscipline,” Sport Minister Mustapha Ussif told mourners. “His legacy will remain as an inspiration.”

Atsu’s body was recovered a fortnight after the quake from the rubble of his apartment building.

It was returned to Ghana almost a month ago. He will be buried later in his home village in

south-eastern Ghana.

Atsu, 31, spent most of his career playing in the English Premier League for clubs including Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton. He also made 65 appearances for Ghana, and helped the national side reach the finals of

the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea - where he was awarded goal and player of the tournament.

Many Ghanaians have told the BBC that Atsu will be remembered for his love for humanity, and for supporting the underprivileged in

the country.

Hundreds of mourners and well-wishers filed past Atsu’s body on Tuesday to say their farewells. Drumming and brass bands have been part of the colourful cultural display at an otherwise solemn event.

Freddy: The cyclone that lasted more than a month

Freddy has been one of the longest-lived storms ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, if not the whole world.

Southern Africa is often battered by cyclones and tropical storms coming in from the Indian Ocean but Freddy was different for several reasons.

How long has Freddy lasted?

Freddy has finally been declared over by the French Meteorological service. The storm was named by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on 4 February and and finally came to an end on 14 March.

It was strong enough to be officially classified as a tropical system for at least 36 days.

However, we need to wait for confirmation by the World Meteorological Organization before we can say whether it is officially the longest-lasting recorded storm.

What is interesting about Freddy is how far it has travelled. It began its journey off the coast of north-west Australia, crossing the Southern Indian Ocean from east to west, one of only four storms in history to do so.

How powerful was Storm Freddy?

The classic way of measuring the strength of a storm is by its wind speed. At its strongest Freddy was the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane with winds in excess of 160mph (260 km/h).

Fortunately, it was most intense over open waters.

Freddy broke the record for alltime accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) in the Southern Hemisphere, a measure of the storm’s strength over time, beating the previous record, set by Cyclone Fantala in 2016.

It was also the first storm in the Southern Hemisphere to undergo four separate rounds of rapid intensification - this is an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of at least 30 knots in just 24 hours.

Since landfall, rainfall amounts have exceeded 600mm (24 inches) in some areas with torrential rains leading to mudslides in vulnerable areas.

With hurricane-force winds, the storm also brought large storm surges as it kept re-energising over the warm waters of the Mozambique

Channel.

What is the difference between a Cyclone and a tropical storm?

A Tropical Cyclone in the Indian Ocean is stronger than a tropical storm.

Freddy first hit Mozambique as a moderate tropical storm. Its second landfall in Mozambique was as a Tropical Cyclone and by the time it reached Malawi, it had weakened to tropical storm strength - although that it where it caused most destruction.

What will Storm Freddy do next?

Freddy has now broken up, but its remnants are still causing rain across parts of Mozambique and Malawi which could worsen the flood situation.

What is the difference between a cyclone, a typhoon and a hurricane?

They are all huge storms but how they’re defined depends on where they’re formed. In the Atlantic and East Pacific they become hurricanes, in the West Pacific they’re typhoons and in the Indian Ocean and near Australia they’re called cyclones.

Was Storm Freddy caused by climate change?

This is a tricky question to answer as Freddy is certainly unusual.

We’ve seen this type of storm previously when we have seen a strong or persistent La Nina weather pattern in the Indian Ocean. The Bureau of Meteorology has just declared the end of a series of backto-back La Nina events which began in September 2020.

In terms of climate change, it’s a well-known fact that warmer air can hold more water so the amount of rain which fell, especially during its time over land, is likely to have been enhanced by climate change.

Warmer waters in the oceans hold more energy, so it follows that these storms may well become more energetic with time and be able to unleash even more rainfall.

Rapid intensification is more likely with higher sea temperatures and so the fact that this occurred multiple times may have been partly due to climate change. The slow movement of the storm at times, especially just before the second landfall in Mozambique, could also be related.

The 31-year-old footballer will be buried later on Friday in his home village

Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique are reeling from the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

Feature

Russia Ukraine invasion: Indians are braving war to study in Ukraine

Rishi Dwivedi is one of thousands of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine a year ago - but he’s now back studying in Lviv, despite the threat the war poses to his safety.

“Air raid sirens alerting us about incoming missile or drone attacks go off as many as four times a day,” Mr Dwivedi, 25, told the BBC.

The fifth-year student, from Kannauj in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery at the Lviv National Medical University.

He was rescued when Russia invaded a year ago - but decided to return last October to finish his degree.

After a 22-year-old Indian medical student was killed in shelling at the start of the war, India evacuated 23,000 of its nationals who’d been trapped, including 18,000 students.

But large numbers - most of them medics - have since gone back, defying government advice. They say they have little choice if they are to work as doctors.

Mr Dwivedi is among 1,100 Indians currently living in Ukraine. Most are students in cities like Lviv, Uzhgorod and Ternopil in the west of the country - within range of Russian air attacks but a long way from fighting in the east.

They’re not the only foreigners to return. The BBC met African students who’d gone back to Lviv, and others are considering whether they should too.

“We wonder if we’ll be able to finish our course. When helicopters or planes fly over us, we are unable to sleep. We worry if there is going to be an attack,” says Shrishti Moses, a medical student in her fourth year in Lviv.

Power supply is patchy, so Ms Moses, who’s from the northern Indian city of Dehradun, had to move to a more expensive apartment in a neighbourhood with regular electricity.

Given these conditions, why return to Ukraine?

Experts say that most Indian medical students abroad want to return to their country after graduating. But for that, they need permission from the National Medical Commission (NMC), India’s medical education regulator.

When the war forced these students out of their education, India’s education minister said the government would “do everything possible” to “make

them doctors”.

The Indian Medical Association asked for such students to be accommodated in Indian colleges. State governments made similar demands.

India’s external affairs ministry even asked for “Indian private medical institutions to enrol returnee students… on a one-time exceptional basis”.

But the health ministry ruled otherwise. It said in July that there were no provisions to “accommodate or transfer medical students from any foreign medical institutes to Indian medical colleges”.

Many students who returned from Ukraine aren’t even seeking admission to Indian collegesbecause of the fierce competition to gain entry and the high cost of medical courses.

Vaishali Sethia, who is studying medicine at the Ternopil National Medical University, left Ukraine via the Hungarian border in early March last year and returned in November.

“The NMC had issued an order declaring that Indian students who had taken admission in foreign universities after November 2021 would have to finish the course in the same university if they wanted their degrees to be recognised in

India,” says Ms Sethia, who’s from Faridabad just outside Delhi. She said she gained admission in December 2021, just a couple

of months before war forced her to leave.

“People keep asking us why we returned Ukraine. We had to,” she

says.

Last month, India’s health ministry said 3,964 Indian students who were in Ukrainian universities when the war began, had shifted to universities mostly outside Ukraine.

About 170 students have continued studying in Ukrainian universities that have temporarily shifted their operations to safer areas.

The health ministry also announced that Indian students who had completed their medical course on or before 30 June 2022, were eligible to sit the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination - an exam for students who’ve graduated abroad and want a licence to practice in India.

But all this means little to students who have now returned to Ukraine. Those who haven’t done so find themselves in a strange limbo.

Dipak Kumar, who lives in India’s northern state of Bihar, says that though he would like to go back to Ukraine and resume his studies, he can’t because of family pressure.

“My family opposes the move because they fear for my safety,” he says.

Dipak says he could have secured admission to a private medical college in India, but chose not to because of the high fees.

“We did not even have the money required for Ukraine, so my father sold some of our land to pay my fees,” he says.

Students the BBC spoke to say that the fees for the entire medical course in Ukraine works out to be less than half of what it costs to study in a private institution in India.

Mrityunjay Kumar, whose son Shashank has now returned to study in Lviv, says that while Indian private colleges charge around 7.2m rupees ($87,000; £72,000) for the course, in Ukraine it costs closer to 2.5m rupees.

Back in Lviv, Rishi Dwivedi says he now gets less attention since going back.

“We students were in the limelight for the month that we returned. People then stopped bothering about us.”

But every day is filled with uncertainty about the future.

“We have told our parents that in case the war escalates again and we need to run, then we are on our own now. We will try and find our way out from nearby border areas,” he says.

Source: BBC

“ Last month, India’s health ministry said 3,964 Indian students who were in Ukrainian universities when the war began, had shifted to universities mostly outside UkraineThe former president’s sprawling beachside property was searched in August and 11,000 documents were seized including around 100 marked as classified.

Rishi Dwivedi worries that if the war escalates again he will need to flee

The scene of a Russian attack in Lviv region last week - five people were killed

Opinions Like father like son, Prince Audu eyes Kogi top job

By Jamil a Musa

The seven point agenda of Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu is a well conceived and articulated policy document that captures the essence of the hopes and expectations the Kogi people had when they waited for the enthronement of democracy in 1999 which today has seemingly been dashed because of the present realities in the state.The seven point agenda of this capable leader is mirrored in the trajectories of programmes he has put together as the road map for the transformation of the state when by the grace of God he is elected into office as the governor of Kogi state.

The main purpose of this agenda for the transformation of the state is about reclaiming the state from those tendencies that have militated against the development of the state for which our forebears who by now would have been so dissappointed.The agenda was first of all put together to pay homage to those who came before us and fought for the creation of the state some of who have long left us to the world beyond dissappointed and upon whose labor our generation should build upon;our forebears of ages past who bequeathed before us a rich history of honour and dignity,who bound together as one indivisible Kogi Confederacy,and fought wars and battle to liberate us from external forces that sought to subjudicate us.They taught us that only in fighting together can we truly win. Shuaibu Abubakar Audu was certain that this ancestors of ours who we know and have learnt about in our history books and from the oral tradition of our griot,are similarly assembled in the great beyond as a cloud of witnesses,chearing us on as we embark on this journey set before us.This is why he wants to be the governor of the state at this time with his transformational agenda which is put before us today.

Shuiab Abubakar Audu by his coming forward to seek to be elected as the governor of the state wants to be the instruments through which this divine mandate would be given to do right by his people and honour that oath with God helping him.His agenda for the state would mark the beginning of a new phase in our history and also signals the end of an era or more appropriately the end of an error,without a doubt.Kogi state, make no mistake about it, has been through a horrible period in the wilderness because of what it has experience in the past years since the return of democracy.Our reputation as a people has been sullied and we have become the butts of jokes due to the crass ineptitude,loquacious ignorance,and raveaneous corruption masquarading as governance over the years.Shuaib Abubakar Audu therefore seeks if voted into office as governor to live up to the responsibilities of leadership by thoroughly reviewing documents,to widely disseminate the present positions of things so that all and sundry can know what has become of our Commonwealth.He would embark on this through an independent verifiable findings that would indicate this through the open governance concepts.

In his governance agenda, his administration would ensure that within 100 days of his being sworn in as Governor,the people will know the true positions of things in keeping with his ethos of transparency and accountability in governance.He would not be interested in trial by the media,witch hunting or playing to the gallery.He would seek out the truth and lay it before the people as a starting point.

Shuaib Abubakar Audu has said it time and again that his vying for the office of the governor of Kogi state is not be about self and can never

be a revenge mission but rather a healing balm on a painful wound.However, as the events of the last 20years go into the history books,we owe it a duty to ourselves and the generation coming after us to work together to ensure that never again shall we be deceived into making the grevious mistake that has set us back so steeply on the development curve.Certainly we must not all belong to the same political party nor share the same ideological beliefs,but the reins of leadership in Kogi state must never again be allowed to fall into the hands of those who do not understand what governance and development is all about.

Never again should we give up free and qualitative education for heaculean taxes and fees levied on our children;never again should we give up free health care and functional hospitals for a total neglect of the health sector;never should we give up integrated infrastrural developments for bridges that leads us nowhere;never again should we give up a burgeoning tourism industry that our state is known as it’s destination for decrepit infrastructures now occupied by reptiles;never again give up the peace and unity of the state for increased crime rates and general insecurity; never again give up transparent and accountable governance with the requisite checks and balances of an independent judiciary and legislative arms of government,for a draconian one man shows;never again allow our reputation as honourable and knowledgeable people to be known now as apostates of anything goes.Never again should we sacrifice prompt payments of salaries for indulgences in pursuance of projects of minimal benefits to the people.

Shuaib Abubakar Audu’s governance agenda therefore, is to reclaim our land for the people and restore it’s values and this is not a slogan for his campaigns but a Clarion call on all of our people to embark on this journey with him.When we together reclaim our land with his victory at the polls as governor of the state,it would mark the cusp of charting the course of sustainable development out of the quagmire we find ourselves today.In this task we are faced with a lot of threats and challenges,yet blessed with an immense amount of strengths and possibilities,we shall Outlast them.His vision for our state is that it would be a place where people

can strive and live their lives in dignity.A place where it’s workers do not work and Labour in vain.A place where our young ones do not roam the streets looking for jobs that are not there.A place where the people are not so hungry they resort to pilfering for food to survive. A place where the circle of generational poverty can be broken,and in which our elderly can reap the fruits of their labour over their children.A place where the people are safe,healthy,and prosperous.

The governance agenda of Shuaib Abubakar Audu’s administration if elected into office is compelled to focus on seven areas through which he would deliver his promises to the people. The seven pillars of his administration when voted into office will be,Social investments, Knowledge economy, Infrastructure, Industrial development, Agriculture, Job creation and economy, Security, Health care,Youth empowerment,Women and people with disability.

SOCIAL INVESTMENTS

Our greatest resource remain our people. As it is known all over the world that human beings are the measures of all things,and only a healthy and enlightened people can drive the sustainable development we want to see in the state.The Shuaib Abubakar Audu’s administration would be committed to instituting social safety nets that would bring succour to the most vulnerable segments of the Kogi society.One example of such safety nets is the social security scheme for the elderly which he plans to institute within 3months of his coming to office.This is because of his ideological position that no individual in society must be left behind,but everyone should be supported to live out their dreams to their full potential in their youth,and have a dignified retirement in their old age-this is the fundamental responsibility of any government in this age..

Likewise,delivering qualitative healthcare is a priority for his administration if voted into office as governor of Kogi state as he would ensure our hospitals are once again well equipped and functional to attend to the needs of the masses.

EDUCATION/KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY.

Kogi people are known as enlightened and knowledgeable.Our people loves,seeks,and celebrate knowledge.We have many of our citizens who are leading lights in every field of human endeavours as well as those who are frontiers in the academic and scholarstic practice all over the world.It is therefore a logical choice for him if elected,to turn to knowledge as the primary product of which we can trade successfully.To survive in today’s global economy as a people,we should be committed to using our brilliant minds to promote sustenaible development.His administration when elected will pay attention to fields such as teaching, creative arts, strengthening tertiary institutions and educational entrepreneurships.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

The advancements of the Kogi state economy is pivotal to wealth and job creation for the citizens of the state.This is crucial and relevant to the poverty reduction and revenue advancements mission of his administration when elected.In order to further advance an economic and industrial revolution in Kogi state and in furtherance of his commitments to jobs and wealth creation capacity of the state, Shuaib Abubakar Audu will revisit the commercial and technical viability of all abandoned projects scattered across the state and schemes with a view to reactivating them.These includes our vast networks of roads,our many community based projects and flagships tourism assets in the state.He shall carefully take on new Infrastructural projects that are strategic in the advancing economic growth and industrial developments in the state.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

In order to guarantee sustained operation of commerce and enterprises within the state,his administration when elected into office is going to create an enabling environment for it to flourish.An integrated networks of security infrastructure would be put in place to ensure the state is once again the safe and secure Haven for local and foreign investments.This would ensure inflows of foreign and local investments into the state. Kogi state is essentially an agrarian society with soil properties conducive for growing a wide variety of crops,in order to achieve sustainable food security, create employments opportunities and foster agro allied industrial developments for poverty alleviation and wealth creation,the approach must change from the current focus on farming and agriculture as a government focussed social services to a commercial and private sector driven approach which is now called Agribusiness.

He when elected would adopt a sustainable and commercial value chain approach which will lead to transformational agribusiness development that will enhance food and personal security,create employments opportunities,empower women and youth,reduce poverty and create wealth through viable agro allied industrial developments.

This are some of the agenda of Shuaibu Abubakar Audu that would lead to the total transformation of our state.We are on the threshold of history when he is supported and voted into office because he is our sure foot forward.

Jamila Musa (muswady@yahoo.com), Abuja

Prince Audu

SPORTS Nigeria Super Eagles squad: Onyemaechi in as Peseiro rings changes, familiar face returns

Nigeria have announced their 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Guinea-Bissau.

WHAT’S HAPPENED? Jose Peseiro has announced Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Guinea-Bissau later this month.

The squad showcases the immense depth and quality of Nigeria’s options, with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze among the star attractions.

Peseiro has opted to include several unfamiliar faces in the fold, with home-based duo Victor Sochima and Kingsley Aniagboso named as backup options to No. 1 goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

With William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun among several defensive absentees, Daniel Bameyi and in-form Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi have been included among eight defenders in Peseiro’s squad.

While Nigeria are stocked in attack, with the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Teremo Moffi and

Ademola Lookman included as back-up options to Osimhen and Chukwueze, there may be some consternation among Super Eagles fans regarding some of the more prominent absentees.

There’s no place for in-form trio Gift Orban, Folarin Balogun or Chuba Akpom, with the latter pair both eligible for other international teams, although Paul Onuachu—struggling for form at Southampton—has been named.

Nigeria have already taken control of their qualifying group with victories over Sierra Leone and Sao Tome e Principe, and currently lead the pool on six points.

They’re two ahead of Guinea-Bissau, their opponents in March, and could make sure of qualification if they dismiss the claims of the Djurtus home and away.

The pair are set to meet in Abuja on March 24, before the return match in Bissau on March 27.

FULL NIGERIA SUPER EAGLES SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia,

Cyprus); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Kingsley Aniagboso (Giant Brillars)

Defenders: Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Calvin Bassey (FC Ajax, Netherlands); Daniel Bameyi (YumYum FC); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Joe Aribo (Southampton, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal, Spain); Moses Simon (Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy); Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England). goal.com

Champions League quarter-final draw: Chelsea to face Real Madrid, Man City get Bayern Munich

Chelsea will play Real Madrid in the 2022-23 Champions League quarter-finals, while Manchester City face Bayern Munich in a blockbuster clash

Graham Potter’s Blues were drawn against the holders Madrid in what will be a repeat of the 2021-22 quarter-final. Arguably the tie of the round is City against Bayern, where Pep Guardiola will come up against his former club, and Joao Cancelo. It is an all-Italian tie between six-time winners AC Milan and Serie A highflyers Napoli, while 2010 winners Inter will also take on Benfica, who blew away Club Brugge in the last 16.

Friday’s draw also saw the potential opponents for the upcoming semi-finals. There was no luck for either Premier League side as they were placed in the same part of the draw alongside European giants Madrid and Bayern. That result does mean, though, that there is a possibility of an all-Milan semi-final, while any one of Milan, Napoli, Inter or Benfica will be guaranteed a place in the final.

The first legs of the quarter-final matches will take place on April 11 and 12, with the return fixtures arranged a week later on April 18 and 19. The semi-final first legs are then scheduled for May 9 and 10, before the return legs on May 16 and 17. All eight teams will be vying for a place in the final in Istanbul, which takes place on June 10.

Formula 1: Red Bull dominate Saudi Arabian GP first practice

Max Verstappen set the pace, 0.489 seconds ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez, with Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin third, 0.698secs off.

Alonso’s team-mate Lance Stroll was fourth fastest, ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was seventh ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

How to follow the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Ferrari came into the weekend hoping they would be able to challenge Red Bull more closely than at the opening race, but that was not the case in the first session at least.

Sainz was 1.3secs slower than Verstappen and his team-mate Charles Leclerc was 11th fastest, 1.5secs off the pace.

Leclerc has a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after already exceeding his allocation of electronic control units because of two failures in Bahrain.

And during the first session they announced that they had also changed the engines on both cars “as a precaution”

following Leclerc’s failure in Sakhir.

The session was held in daylight in the late afternoon, whereas qualifying and race are at night, so conditions will change in what should be a more representative second session at 17:00

GMT.

Despite his pace, Verstappen was complaining over the radio about understeer - a lack of front-end grip, which was also a problem for him in Bahrain, despite his domination of the

Man Utd to play Sevilla and West Ham will meet Gent

Manchester United will meet record six-time winners Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Should they advance, Erik ten Hag’s side will face either Juventuswhose squad includes former United midfielder Paul Pogba - or Arsenal’s conquerors Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.

In the other last-eight ties, Roma face Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen meet Union Saint-Gilloise.

West Ham will meet Gent in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.

It will be the first meeting between the sides since the 1964-65 Cup Winners’ Cup, which West Ham went on to win.

If they defeat their Belgian opponents, West Ham face AZ Alkmaar or Anderlecht in the semifinals.

Lech Poznan take on Fiorentina and Basel play Nice in the other ties.

The first legs of of both competitions take place on 13 April, with the return games on 20 April.

The semi-finals are scheduled to be played on 11 and 18 May.

Sevilla are recent serial winners of the Europa League, having won all of their six titles since 2006 and they defeated the Red Devils in the semi-finals on their way to winning it in 2020.

Their squad includes Brazil defender Alex Telles, who is on loan from United.

“Sevilla are very experienced in the Europa League and have won it so many times,” said United boss Ten Hag.

“We have to be aware of it.”

Ten Hag’s side, who won last month’s Carabao Cup, are also still in the FA Cup and host Fulham in the quarter-finals of that competition on Sunday (16:30 GMT).

Europa League quarter-final draw

Manchester United v Sevilla

Juventus v Sporting Lisbon

Bayer Leverkusen v Union SaintGilloise Feyenoord v Roma

Europa League semi-final draw

Juventus or Sporting Lisbon v Manchester United or Sevilla

Feyenoord or Roma v Bayer Leverkusen or Union Saint-Gilloise

Europa Conference League quarter-final draw

Lech Poznan v Fiorentina

Gent v West Ham

AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht

Basel v Nice

Europa Conference League semifinal draw

Lech Poznan or Fiorentina v Basel or Nice

Gent or West Ham v AZ Alkmaar or Anderlecht

race weekend.

And Hamilton, who announced before the session that he had split with his longtime trainer Angela Cullen, complained of a lack of grip as Mercedes lagged more than a second off Verstappen.

Cristiano Ronaldo picked in Portugal squad by new boss Roberto Martinez

Cristiano Ronaldo has been picked in Portugal’s squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg this month.

There were question marks about the 38-yearold forward’s international future following the 2022 World Cup. He left the pitch in tears after Portugal were eliminated by Morocco at the quarter-final stage.

Roberto Martinez has since replaced Fernando Santos as the team’s manager and picked Ronaldo in his first squad.

Martinez said Ronaldo “is very important for the team” and “I do not look at the age”. Portugal host Liechtenstein on 23 March and are away to Luxembourg three days later.

Ronaldo, who has scored a men’s record 118 goals in 196 appearances for Portugal, left Manchester United in November following a controversial interview in which he criticised the club before joining Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr on a free transfer in January.

He has scored eight goals in nine appearances for Al Nassr. bbc.com

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is live on 5 Live and the BBC Sport website

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

I hear the Supreme Court of Nigeria

It is just as well that less than 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari denied that he instructed the Attorneygeneral of the Federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, not to obey the Supreme Court judgement of March 3, Emefiele took immediate steps to obey it – at least partially. He instructed the commercial banks to take in and pay out N1,000 and N500 notes.

This is one of the problems wit of the naira redesign. It is not the only one. The more critical of these problems is the currency restriction on individuals. Thousands of people wait outside the gates of their banks daily to get some of their money. Think of the wasted man hours and the frustration that have become their lot. Emefiele is yet to respond to that.

We may never know the full facts about the president’s claim but at least we now know something about how the wind that blows this policy is generated. Buhari neither instructed them to disobey the judgement nor to obey it. Both men acted on the basis of precedent. The president decides and they obey. When the president is mum their own action is frozen. It is part of our tradition that if the big man denies something it is suicidal for the small man to contest it. So let it be.

Emefiele had ignored the judgement for more than two weeks. He ignored every sane and sensible critique of the monetary policy that has done more harm than good to fellow citizens and the national economy. It has sunk many more Nigerians below the poverty line and deepened our collective misery and frustrations. The policy will itself go down in our political history as the first time a central bank governor was recruited into a purely political battle using the instrumentality of a monetary policy as a deadly bazooka in the battle of the political titans.

Sometime ago, I thought someone was looking for a scapegoat for a policy that went awry. Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State has consistently blamed Emefiele for both the policy and its implementation. But the manner in which the governor has defended Buhari does not do much good to his image as a hands-on president who takes decisions he can defend. I would hate to think that the president is so manipulated by the bank chief that he submits to his every whim. However powerful Emefiele may be, he is but an adviser to the president. Buhari is not bound to take his advice if he considers it either wrong or inimical to his policy or policies.

Whatever Emefiele does or fails to do with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria fully or partially, we need to revisit the judgement because of the issues it raised which are critical to how the federal government treats the states and how we are governed as opposed to the proper and constitutional way we should be governed as a federation.

From the totality of the judgment, everything about this controversial policy was wrong. It failed to follow due process in conception and implementation. I welcome the pronouncements of the apex court because through it, it has said what it may have always wanted to say but was too diplomatic to be as brutal as this. For

Saturday Column

By Dan Agbese

the record, the judgment was delivered by Justice Agim.

I begin with the weightier issues concerning the nature of our federalism. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is made up of the centre and the constituent units, the states. The states are not administrative units of the federal government although all pupil lawyers know that successive heads of the federal government have so treated them. Ours not being a unitary system of government, without the constituent units, our federal system will merely blow in the wind. We have managed to construct a strange federal system on a unitary system, thanks to the systematic grab-grab greed of the centre.

Should a major policy, one as strange and as flawed as the Naira redesigned policy of the Buhari administration be the sole responsibility of the centre without consultations with and the inputs from the states?

The court replied in the negative. Said Justice Agim: “States have a right to be consulted by (the) president before the directive to the CBN, as constituents of the federation. The position of the president as agent of the federation imposed a duty of consultation on him. Not to do so makes him a dictator. In other countries,” he went on, “decisions to change currencies follow due process and in accordance with democratic dictates, not after a side talk with their central bank chiefs.”

I can only add that the long years of military rule necessarily left their detritus like a swirling confetto of brimstone on the federal republic. Bureaucracy represented by due process was considered too slow during the military regime and so decisions were taken and executed “with immediate effect.” I can still hear the faint ring of it among our political leaders.

The phrase became the signature of empty and misguided military radicalism. It lingers and continues to rape the system and reduce governance to a hollow ritual that bends to the big man’s whims and caprices at

the centre and the states. Without following due process, good governance becomes an inconvenient ideal to which our political leaders are loathe to aspire. We live under a stifling military federalism reflected in the uniformity that is anathema to federalism and yet believe that we are operating a federal system of government. Our unwillingness to address issues and problems that hobble us is responsible for the current confusion at the three tiers of government. Nigeria jagajaga? Right.

The court declared as invalid “The directive given by the president through a press release by the CBN” and said that “no reasonable notice was given the CBN under section 20 of the CBN act,” and therefore it was invalid. The withdrawal limit imposed by the apex bank, according to the apex court “is an infringement of people’s rights.” An anti-people policy is a hostile policy.

If the policy did not follow due process and offends the CBN act under reference above, then it is illegal and ought to be withdrawn by the president with due apologies to fellow Nigerians. Since in our tradition the president cannot be wrong, he cannot stoop so low as to admit his fault just because the apex court has chided him and reduced his major policy in the twilight zone of his administration to a product of arrested dictatorship.

But it leaves us with circling back to what happens to a policy that defies the rule of law in conception and implementation. The court invalidated the pillars of the policy but refused to deliver the killer punch: declare it as not only invalid on the whole but illegal. Laws and the rule of law may inconvenient but in their imposed inconvenience a society manages its affairs, including the protection of the rights of individuals in the larger context of societal rights and interests.

A major policy conceived in secrecy but implemented inevitably publicly faces some fundamental problems that may weaken and destroy it. To begin with, it robs itself of the benefits of public views that may help to make it a better policy than even

originally conceived. A good public policy taps from individuals and groups. More importantly, a major public policy, like the constitution, reserves the right to be reviewed once it is tested in the public and some aspects of it are found to be wanting. No public policy, no matter how well meant it might be, is cast in stone. Its review in the course of implementation benefits from public reactions to it. Buhari and Emefiele believe, quite wrongly, that their policy is cast in stone and must be rammed down our throats. The apex court disagrees.

Democracy is a government of dialogues between the leaders and the led. If a dialogue is stifled in the decision-making process, democracy is spelt authoritarianism.

Every public policy is in danger of being ruined by the law of unintended consequences resulting from the manner of its conception and implementation. A monetary policy has inherent risk factors that should not be ignored in its implementation. This appears not to have been the case here. It should have been obvious to Buhari and Emefiele that depriving the people of their right to access their legitimate money in the banks was clearly anti-people. The risk factors here were in plain view.

The apex court also touched on the growing tendency by the president and the president’s men to treat court judgements that go against the government with contempt. This has clear implications for the rule of law. The judgment under reference was similarly treated by the president and his men. So were many judgements similarly treated by President Obasanjo. Justice Muhammadu Uwais, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, was so frustrated about this that he decried it thus: “A government that does not obey the courts is a bad government.”

Justice Agim re-echoed that in these words: “Our rule of law becomes illusory if a president refuses to obey the court.”

Treating court judgements with contempt amounts to a calculated assault on the judiciary. The weakening of the judiciary through intimidation and its corruption heads the judiciary towards the Golgotha. Our political leaders must pull back from that precipice.

“

If the policy did not follow due process and offends the CBN act under reference above, then it is illegal and ought to be withdrawn by the president with due apologies to fellow Nigerians